94-Q Summary of Agricultural experiments, [feb 



which are most affected by the presence of grass. These rootlets 

 extended beyond the limits of the original 6 ft., and therefore benefited 

 By the cultivation of the 9 ft. area. 



Effect of Grass on Fruit Trees (Harper Adams Agric. Coll., Field 

 Experiments, Report, 1908). — The difference in the growth of trees 

 on grass and those on cultivated ground has been tested since 1905, 

 and the results are much in favour of those on cultivated ground. A 

 variation was introduced in 1907, when the turf was removed from each 

 alternate tree in grass for 4 sq. yards, and the surface kept free from 

 weeds. The results are as follows : — 



Average diameter of trees in inches (45 feet above ground). 



On cultivated Portion with 

 On grass On grass ground turf removed 



1905. 1908. 1908. 1908. 



Cox's Orange Pippin ... 0 82 1 - o6 2*38 1-56 



Bramley's Seedling ... 078 1*25 2-48 I 63 



Bismark 1 03 143 2*28 1*69 



The removal of the grass has at once resulted in an increased growth. 



Summary of Foreign Experiments. 



Feeding Value of Soy Bean Cake. — The following is a summary 

 of an article on Soy Bean meal and cake, by Nils Hansson, of the 

 Swedish Central Institute for x\gricultural Experiments (U.S. Consular 

 Reports, No. 3666, 1909) : — ■ 



In connection with the experiments with soy bean meal and soy 

 bean cake, a series of analyses have been made into their chemical 

 composition, and the following figures represent the average result 



from twenty samples :— 



Soy be m caL e. Soy be «n meal, 



per cent. per cent. 



Water ... tin n '56 



Crucie piotein ... ... 43*29 45'4^ 



Crude fat 6'io I '88 



Car boh) d rates 34*04 35-33 



Ashes ... ... ... 5-46 575 



Total ioo-oo ioo-oo 



A soy bean cake meal has also appeared in the market, and differs 

 from ordinary extracted soy bean meal in that it contains the same 

 percentage of fat as the soy bean cake. 



On account of their low percentage of cellulose, which, according 

 to the tests, varies from 2*67 to 5*27 per cent., these foods are highly 

 digestible. In this respect the soy bean cake seems to be somewhat 

 better than the meal, but in comparison with other food stuffs both rank 

 very high. 



When the percentage of water has been low enough, neither the 

 cake nor meal has undergone any change during storage for four to 

 five months. On the other hand, two samples of meal which contained 

 15 per cent, of water, and were kept for some time, got mouldy, and 

 showed signs of decomposition. Buyers should therefore be careful 

 to see that the moisture does not exceed 13 or 14 per cent. 



In the feeding experiments made, it has been shown that soy bean 

 cake, as well as bean meal, is eagerly consumed by cattle, and daily 

 rations as large as 3*3 to 4*4 lb. have not caused any unfavourable 



