42 
Journal of Agricultural Research voi. xxvn, no. i 
ing the total weekly gain by the total body weight of each group of the 
preceding week and multiplying the quotient by ioo. The daily gain 
per ioo gm. body weight was derived by dividing the total weekly gain 
per ioo gm. body weight by the number of days in the week. 
In studying the figures and the records given above it will be noticed 
that the change of environment and ration shortly after grouping of the 
experimental animals was most pronounced in Group II, i. e., on June 30 
the daily gain per 100 gm. 
body weight for Group 
II was 1.83 gm. greater 
than that of Group III 
and 1.58 gm. greater than 
that of the control, 
Group I. 
As will be noted from 
Figure 1, the animals of 
Group II show smooth 
growth curves similar to 
those of the control, while 
the animals in Group III 
depart considerably, a break being noticeable in their growth curves when 
compared either with those of Group I or Group II. 
Figure 2 shows the stimulating effect of pumpkin seeds when mixed 
with the basal ration, 50 per cent of each, as fed to Group II. It also 
demonstrates the poor effect of pumpkin seeds, as the sole food, on gain 
in weight of growing rats. 
SUMMARY 
A seven-weeks feeding-trial of pumpkin seeds (Cucurbita pepo) was 
conducted with six rats of the same age and of the same litter. The 
animals were arranged in three separate groups; Group I received a 
grain mixture constituting the basal balanced ration; Group II received 
5a parts of ground pumpkin seeds to every 50 parts of the basal bal¬ 
anced grain mixture; and Group III was fed on ground pumpkin seeds 
only. The results obtained in the experiment suggest the following 
conclusions: 
Pumpkin seeds fed in as high a quantity as 50 per cent of the grain 
mixture show no injurious effects upon the growth of rats. 
Rats fed only on pumpkin seeds exhibit poor growth. 
A pronounced increase was noted in the daily gain of body weight in 
Group II during the first week, this being 1.58 gm. greater than that of 
Group I, the control, and 1.83 gm. greater than the gain of Group III. 
Fig. 2.—The curves represent the daily gain per ioo gm. body 
weight of each group of rats beginning June i and ending Au¬ 
gust 10. The broken lines pass through the points at which the 
feeding trial of pumpkin seeds started. 
