188 Publications of Interest to Agriculturists. 
ANALYSES OF AMERICAN FEEDING STUFFS . 1 
The compilers have presented in an accessible form a complete 
record of the work which has in recent years been done in America, 
in the direction of the proximate analysis of feeding- stuffs. The 
analyses of a vast number of samples of green fodders, silage, hay, 
roots, grain, mill-products, and miscellaneous waste materials have 
been collected, and, from these data, tables showing the “ average ” 
composition, and the maxima and minima results obtained with 
most of the varieties of American feeding-stuff's, are given. 
The value of such tables is undoubtedly very great, provided the 
data from which they are computed are reliable. The compilers 
admit the difficulty and uncertainty of calculating the average com- 
positions from the data they have collected, many of the analyses 
which are recorded being clearly incorrect. In addition, also, it may 
be seen that, in many cases, the differences between the maxima and 
minima results are too great to be fairly averaged. For instance, in 
the tables giving the analyses of maize fodder, the percentage of water 
varies from a maximum of 93'6 to a minimum of 51 '5, and the 
maximum and minimum figures for the percentages of ash, protein, 
fibre, and fat, calculated on the dry matter of the fodder, are widely 
different. 
A very large number of analyses of maize and wheat grown in 
different States are given, and it is interesting to note how little 
variation there is in the average results of the various analyses. 
The analyses of a large and varied selection of mill-products and by- 
products are quoted ; of the latter the most important are the by- 
products from linseed and cotton seed. These appear in the form 
of “ meals,” hardly any analyses of linseed-cake or cotton-cake 
being given. In the case of linseed, it is noticeable that the “ old ” 
process meal contained an average of 8 per cent, of oil, but that by 
the “ new ” process, this valuable constituent is so thoroughly 
extracted that only 3 per cent, is left in the meal. 
While much useful information is collected in these tables, there 
is, at the same time, much which might well have been omitted. 
It is difficult to understand why, in a list of feeding-stuff's, the 
analyses of such materials as “ vegetable ivory sawdust,” “ ground 
peach-stones,” and dried blood should be recorded. The celebrated 
American wooden nutmegs would be equally in place. 
E. W. Voelcker. 
NATURAL HISTORY OF ANIMALS OF THE FARM . 2 
In this presentable volume we have an example of the capable 
working out of a good idea. It embraces a full descriptive account 
of the animals of the farm, not only of the animals which are the 
1 A Compilation of Analyses of American Feeding Stuffs, by E. H. Jenkins, 
Ph.D.,and A. L. Winton, Ph.B. Pp. 155 ; paper covers. Washington: Govern- 
ment Printing Office, 1892. 
2 Histoire Natwrelle Agricole du Gros et Petit Bit ail. Parle Dr. Georges 
Pennetieb, Directeur du Mus6um d’Histoire Naturelle de Rouen. Pp. xi + 779, 
with 108 illustrations. Paris : Baudry et Cie., 1893. 205. 
