Colorado Fodders. 6i 
and analyzed. The water drank while feeding on corn fodder 
weighed 27^ pounds, and as the weather was cold, the water was 
warmed to about 22° C. before it was offered to the sheep. The 
weight of water consumed while feeding on sorghum was 60^ 
pounds and was not warmed, as the temperature of the water was 
at this time about 15° C. The daily consumption of water was a 
trifle over twice as much per sheep while feeding or sorghum as 
while feeding on corn fodder. In the former case, it was four 
pounds, and in the latter nearly two pounds per sheep. This amount 
of water, 4 pounds, is probably not excessive, as the sheep fed on 
alfalfa drank almost 4^ pounds daily and made a gain of about 
three pounds each in the five days, but they did appropriate nearly 
6,000,000 more calories than the sheep feeding on sorghum. The 
three sheep used in the experiment with the alfalfa were not the same 
three used in the sorghum experiment, but each of the sheep used in 
the alfalfa experiment gained about three pounds in five days, and 
each of those used in the sorghum lost about three pounds in five 
days. 
§144. It is evident from the context that the gain and loss is 
in terms of live weight, this being the only kind of gain or loss con¬ 
sidered in this bulletin. 
saltbush, a triplex argentea. 
§145. This plant is used to some extent in the eastern part of 
this state in making a hay to feed during heavy storms when the 
stock cannot otherwise obtain forage enough to sustain themselves. 
I undertook the study of this plant in the hope that it might prove 
worthy of commendation as a fodder, as some of the Australian 
saltbushes have proved to be. The uncertainty of raising crops in 
the eastern portions of the state make it desirable to find some plant 
which will serve the purpose of a good forage and which will grow 
sufficiently well under the prevailing conditions to produce a fair 
crop. The people most directly concerned in this have used this 
native plant; therefore, I.undertook its examination. 
§146. Its effects upon the sheep, three in number, were not 
injurious. They seemed to suffer no inconvenience except that they 
drank a large quantity of water and voided an excessive amount of 
urine, which had an offensive odor. They otherwise appeared 
healthy. They ate freely of this hay and chewed their cuds con¬ 
tentedly. If I had made a second experiment and not allowed them 
to drink so much water, more favorable results might have been ob¬ 
tained. 
