A series of preliminary tests dealing with mulching with grain straw and with lespedeza straw of annual lespedeza seedings on thin, steep, clay-gall lands is reported in connection with which beneficial effects due to mulching have been obtained on stands, growth, yields of the crops, and reduction of soil and water losses. The plan of growing mulches in place or of self-mulching cropping practices for the better crop lands is suggested by the results obtained in these tests on practically sterile, waste land.

Although south Georgia has long been noted for its extensive forests and diversified forest-using industries, there is an excellent opportunity here to build up (perhaps to double) the present growing stock. To do so would assure a permanent supply of raw material and thus permit additional industrial expansion. Many areas are still unprotected from fires: openings are in need of artificial restocking; turpentine practices, especially those of the many small gum producers, need further improvement; and many forest stands are stagnated with worked-out turpentine pines, cull trees, and inferior species.

By means of metabolism experiments on rats it was shown that the biological value of the rumen ingesta is better than that of lucerne. When rumen ingesta are supplemented by cystine their biological value is significantly enhanced. In sheep experiments it was shown that the inclusion of cystine in a lucerne ration for mature sheep did not influence the biological value of the latter. For growing sheep the supplementation of lucerne by cystine increased its biological value by 10 per cent. It is concluded that the action of the micro-organisms is purely a question of interception, that is, utilizing exogenous protein for its own use and supplying it back to the animal in the bacterial and infusorial form.

"Soybeans have become a major crop in Iowa. They are well adapted to Iowa's climate and to general growing on the level Iowa soils where erosion is not a problem. The crop has more uses than most crops, both on the farm and in industry. Soybeans were first grown in Iowa for the home production of high-protein seed and hay. The seed has been used to substitute for purchased high-protein concentrates and the hay where legume hay is needed in the ration. More than half of the acreage has been harvested as hay. During the 10 years, 1929-1938, 64.5 percent has been harvested as hay, 30.5 percent for beans and the remaining 6 percent plowed under or grazed."--Page [35].