330 
IOWA ACADEMY OF SCIENCE 
Realizing that the development of the organism may he hindered as 
early as the embryonic and uterine stages is quite suggestive of a rational 
diet during the entire period of gestation. Those animals which are 
forced to subsist upon grain diets are much more unfortunate than those 
which have their digestive system so constituted as to avail themselves 
of considerable roughage, which if they be legumes, are very advantageous 
in the production of vigorous new-born offspring. It is quite fortunate 
indeed that the mother is able to store in the bones and tissues of her 
body a considerable amount of material which will tide her over periods 
of . scarcity and enable her to give birth to her young even though the 
essential constituents are lacking to a large extent in the pregnancy feed. 
* Report of progress. 
** Cooperative project undertaken by the Chemical (Dr. A. W. D>ox and S'. C. 
Guernsey) and Animal Husbandry Sections. 
