40 
Journal of Agricultural Research 
Vol. XXVII, No. I 
The balanced basal ration consisted of the following ingredients; 
Gm. 
Wheat. 2,900 
Com. 2,800 
Oats (rolled). 750 
Green peas. 750 
Alfalfa (flour). 500 
Gm. 
Meat scraps. 1,000 
Cod liver oil. 300 
Calcium carbonate. 150 
Sodium chlorid. 100 
The pumpkin seeds used in this experiment were obtained from a seed 
store. All the grain was milled very fine and thoroughly mixed. 
Up to June 22 all experimental animals were kept on the same basal 
balanced ration, and beginning with June 1 their gain in weight was 
recorded weekly. On June 22 the animals were arranged for the 
feeding trial in the following way: Three groups of rats, two ani¬ 
mals in each group, were placed in three separate cages and fed on 
different grain mixtures. Group I, No. 41 and 43, were fed on the basal 
balanced ration and served as a control in this experiment; Group II, 
No. 45 and 46, received a grain mixture consisting of 50 parts ground 
pumpkin seeds and 50 parts of the basal balanced ration; Group III, 
No. 41 and 42, were fed ground pumpkin seeds only. The food was 
given without restriction and a constant supply of fresh tap water was 
kept before the animals. 
The all-wire cages were provided with false bottoms wherein a thin 
layer of wooden shaving served as bedding for the animals. The litter 
was removed weekly, the false bottoms disinfected, and clean bedding 
was provided for the animals. Weekly records of body weight of the 
rats were kept until the completion of the feeding trial. The results are 
given in the accompanying tables: 
Table I .—Pumpkin seed experiment 
No. of 
group. 
No. of animal. 
Initial weight. 
[ June 8 weight. 
Total gain per 
zoo gm. 
Daily gain per 
100 gm. 
June 16 weight. 
[ 
Total gain per 
100 gm. 
Daily gain per 
100 gm. live 
weight. 
1 
i 
s 
« 
c* 
a 
3 
»-» 
Total gain per 
zoo gm. 
Daily gain per 
zoo gm. 
j s 
5 
l 4 * 
Gm. 
68 
67 
65 
73 
66 
68 
Gm. 
88 
87 
8s 
89 
82 
88 
Gm. 
Gm. 
Gm. 
117 
118 
no 
113 
106 
118 
Gm. 
Gm. 
Gm. 
135 
137 
125 
127 
118 
134 
Gm. 
Gm. 
I a . .. 
▼T h 
+29.5 
+4. 22 
+ 34 -a 
+4-27 
+IS -7 
+2. 61 
II 0 .. . 
▼▼▼ « 
+26.0 
+ 3 - 71 
+28.1 
+ 3 -Si 
+Z3.0 
+2.16 
III <. 
+26.8 
+3.82 
+ 31 . 7 
+ 3 - 9 $ 
+ 12. s 
+2.08 
0 Control; fed balanced ration. 
b Fed 50 parts pumpkin seed and 50 parts balanced ration. 
c Fed pumpkin seeds only. 
