The daily live-weight gain of beef steers was not correlated with the weight of the pituitary gland. In the case of the thyroid gland a significant correlation was found between the absolute weight of the gland and the rate of gain. No correlation, however, was found between the relative weight of the thyroid gland and the rate of gain of the steers.

A highly significant correlation was found between the weight of both the pituitary and thyroid glands and the live weight of the steers (r = 0·44 and r = 0·55 respectively), and the slope of the regression lines showed that the weight of the pituitary gland varied with the power of 0·34 of live weight (0·34% increase in the weight of the pituitary for every 1% increase in live weight) whilst the weight of the thyroid gland varied with the power of 0·89 of the live weight.

No correlation was found between the weight of the pituitary and thyroid glands. The average weight of the pituitary was 1·89, 2·11 and 2·19 g. and the average weight of the thyroid was 16·81, 20·24 and 22·65 g. for steers of 14, 26 and 38 months respectively. The average live weights of the steers in the age groups concerned were 791, 893 and 1071 lb. respectively.

The serum protein-bound iodine concentration in the blood of beef steers varied between animals and was not correlated with the daily gain during the fattening period. The data, however, are insufficient to arrive at a definite conclusion.

The average erythrocyte counts of the blood were 7·86 (range: 5·89–8·75), 8·59 (range: 6·55–10·15), and 8·54 (range: 5·23–9·62) million per mm.3 for steers of 14, 26 and 38 months of age. The difference between the counts of the yearlings and that of the other age groups was statistically significant. The red cell fraction increased with live weight over the range 700–1230 lb. Although a significant (P < 0·01) correlation was found between the number of erythrocytes in the blood and the daily gain of the steers, the erythrocyte count cannot be employed to predict the possible gaining ability of single beef animals.

The haemoglobin content of the blood was found to be 14·02 (range: 9·8–17·4) in the case of the yearlings, 14·68 (range: 11·8–18·5)and 14·61 (range: 7·95–16·85) g./100 ml. blood in the case of the 2-year-olds and 3-year-olds respectively. These differences between age groups were not significant.

A correlation of 0·31 was found between the haemoglobin content and live weight of steers within the weight range of 600–1230 lb. The data suggest that for every 100% increase in weight, the haemoglobin in the blood increased by 17%. No correlation was found between the haemoglobin content and the rate of gain of the steers.

A technique was developed for the continuous retrograde perfusion of the muscle of the right crus. The hemidiaphragm was perfused for 3 h with a semi-synthetic medium, containing fresh sheep erythrocytes. The metabolic integrity of the perfused muscle was examined. Visual appearance was satisfactory. Perfusion pressure remained constant throughout the perfusion period. An adequate perfusate flow rate (approximately 8 ml/min) was maintained over the perfusion period. Perfusion pressure and flow rate were proportional. Perfusion was complete as indicated by staining with dye and by latex casts of perfused vessels, but there were indications of heterogeneity of perfusion (the dorsal and ventral ends of the organ). Histological changes following perfusion were minor, and the perfused muscle appeared normal under an electron microscope, with the exception of a loss of cytoplasmic granules. Increases in muscle water content (2·3%) and extracellular space were small. Muscle adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and adenosine diphosphate (ADP) concentrations declined significantly following perfusion but ATP/ADP ratio increased significantly. Muscle glycogen content was maintained only when exogenous insulin was added to the medium; significant losses occurred following perfusion in the absence of insulin. Only 2–3% of tissue glutamate-pyruvate transaminase and glutamate-oxaloacetate transaminase were released into the medium over the perfusion period, but approximately 20% of muscle potassium was lost. Lactate was produced by the perfused sheep hemidiaphragm at a rate higher than those that have been reported for the perfused rat hind-limb, but lower than those reported for perfused rat diaphragm. Ratio of lactate/pyruvate produced by the perfused muscle was also higher than values reported for the rat hind-limb. The perfused muscle actively incorporated labelled amino acids into protein, but estimated protein synthetic rate in the absence of exogenous insulin was only approximately 50% of rates reported for diaphragm muscle in vivo. While the isolated, perfused sheep hemidiaphragm shows several deficiencies, it does provide a useful method for the study of ruminant muscle metabolism under carefully controlled conditions in vitro, and overcomes many of the disadvantages of other techniques that are currently available.

German Merino, Persian Blackhead and indigenous Native rams were exposed to gradually increasing day-length simulated by use of electric light in the night pen. Between February and June experimental day-length increased from 14 hr. 35 min. to 17 hr. whereas natural day-length fell from 13 hr. 50 min. to 12 hr. An additional trial was superimposed on the main experiment to determine the effect of vitamin A injections on reproductive function and on ability to respond to photoperiodic stimuli.

A study designed to investigate the effect of K nutrition on the yield, components of yield and on macro- and micronutrient concentration of maize showed no significant effect of K on yield in forest alfisols derived from basement complex rocks and in savannah alfisols derived from sandstones in the tropics. Potassium addition significantly decreased lodging, but had little influence on cob length, ear weight, shelling percentage or moisture content.

Ear-leaf N and K were significantly increased, while Ca and Mg were decreased by K application. All the micronutrient concentrations (Zn, Fe, Mn, Cu) were significantly increased by K application in the forest and savannah zones. Yield was positively correlated with ear-leaf N on both soils.

An experiment at Rothamsted during 1958–67 measured effects on yield, on K uptake and on soil K of applying all combinations of 38, 75 and 113 kg N and 0, 31 and 62 kg K/ha per cut to grass leys, which were cut and removed. Soil K was depleted most where most N and least K were given. Annual applications of 0, 33 and 66 kg P/ha were also tested; soil P was not depleted. The grass was then ploughed.

In 1968, residual effects were measured by spring wheat. In 1969 and in 1970 104 kg/ha of fresh K was applied on half of each plot; potatoes (1969) and spring wheat (1970) valued residual and fresh effects of K.

In 1971 potatoes tested 0, 104 and 208 kg/ha of fresh K, cumulatively with the three amounts given to the grass and also extra K (104 kg/ha) on half-plots, cumulatively with that given in 1969 and 1970. In 1972 winter wheat, and in 1974 and 1975 spring barley, measured residues of all treatments previously applied (the site was fallowed in 1973).

Finally, in 1976, potatoes tested 0, 156 and 312 kg/ha of fresh K on whole plots, cumulatively with the previous dressings of K, and also 156 kg/ha of extra K on half-plots, again cumulatively. All these test crops were given basal N.

Yields and K contents of wheat at ear emergence and yields of wheat grain were largest after grass given 38 kg N and 62 kg K/ha per cut, because here soil K depletion was least. Wheat grain yields benefited consistently from fresh K. K content of the wheat at ear emergence was a good indicator of the need for K, but K content of grain was not, because it was unaltered by K fertilizer. Barley was a poor test crop for K, because yields of grain were little affected by previous treatments.

Percentage K in potato leaves (in July in 1969 and 1971, in August in 1976) and yield of tubers were well correlated. Largest yields in 1969, 1971 and 1976 came where the leaves contained 3·43, 3·76 and 2·82% K, respectively, i.e. from soil containing most exchangeable K, plus most fresh K. There was no indication that maximum yields had been obtained, so the largest amounts (kg/ha) of fresh K tested (104 in 1969, 312 in 1971 and 468 in 1976) were insufficient to counteract depletion of soil K by the grass. Because the grass did not deplete soil P, the test crops benefited only little from either residual or fresh P.

An index of feather cover is described and applied to assess the coats of various birds. Feather area indices were calculated, by analogy with the leaf area index used by crop ecologists, as the projected area of feathers above unit area of skin. Measurements were made on samples from chickens, turkeys, pheasants, sparrows and herring gulls. The index was calculated for feather tracts on six areas of the body. An overall area index was also calculated, based on the feather cover of at least 60% of the bird's body surface. Intra- and interspecific differences were large. Between species there was a positive correlation between feather index and body weight, while within species, for poultry at least, the opposite was found. This characterization of the feather coat is discussed in terms of its possible use as an index of the insulation of feathers.

A total of 25 steer carcasses from a wide range of breeds and carcass weight and fatness were used to examine the relationship between a range of fat thickness measurements and the dissected fat content of beef carcasses. Fat thickness measurements included those on the hot carcass suitable for ‘commercial’ use and others on the cold carcass commonly used in research.

The mean of the measurements of fat thickness from the two sides of the hot carcass between the 12th and 13th ribs (12H) gave the most accurate prediction of carcass fat content (FPCT). The relationship was described by the equation FPCT = 14·61 + 1·85 (12H) (R2 = 0·92; S.E. of prediction of individual FPCT at the mean= ±2·17%).

The mean of four fat thickness measurements made on the quartered surface between the 10th and 11th ribs of the cold carcass was the next most accurate predictor (S.E. = 2·28%) of fat content. Fat thickness measurements made on the hot carcass between the 10th and 11th ribs were the least satisfactory.

Although the hot carcass measurements between the 12th and 13th ribs were made under commercial conditions and included a wide range of types of cattle the prediction of fat content from these measurements had a marginally lower standard error than the prediction based on measurements made under experimental conditions.

The soil used in this experiment was a sandy clay low in phosphorus and in nitrogen from the College Farm. A (3 x 3 x 2) factorial experiment with three replications using an upland rice variety, Agbede, was carried out in the open on the College Farm between January and May 1963. Ten-litre plastic buckets 25 cm. deep and holding 11 kg. of soil, which was thoroughly mixed and the pH brought to 6.0 by liming, were used in growing the plants. These buckets were left standing on the ground, and there was no rain during the experimental period.

In a field study, the effect of N, P, K and their combinations on the growth, yield and nutrient uptake pattern by mesta (Hibiscus cannabinus L.) was studied. No effect of N, P, K on growth characteristics like plant height and base diameter occurred up to 60 days. Effect of fertilizer treatments on plant growth was observed only after 90 days. The effect of N was more pronounced than P and K. Initially, growth of leaves was higher than both the bark and the wood. Nutrient concentration was at a maximum in the early stages of growth but declined with age and became steady at about 60 days. The quality of fibre obtained after 120 days of growth was assessed and the effect of nutrients on quality is discussed.

1. The nutritive value and chemical composition of hybrid Napier, Napier and Jowar grasses and also a leguminous fodder, berseem, were studied using adult kumaoni steers.

A field experiment was conducted for 3 years to study the effect of Rhizobium inoculation, mulch and N and P fertilizers on soya bean. The application of wheat straw mulch helped greatly in lowering the maximum soil temperature but failed to increase the yield, particularly on the fields where soya bean was raised for the first time. Seed inoculation gave significantly greater yield than control (no inoculation and no mulching). The combination of mulch and seed inoculation, on average, produced 0·76, 0·43 and 0·84 t/ha more grain than inoculation alone in 1976, 1977 and 1978 respectively. A basal dose of 15 kg N/ha increased the yield when seed was inoculated but no mulch applied whereas the dressing of N did not prove beneficial when mulching was combined with inoculation. The grain yield, however, increased up to 180 kg N/ha in the case of mulch alone and control treatments. The response of soya bean to phosphorus application was inconsistent.

Stem-rot, caused by Magnaporthe salvinii (Catt.) Krause & Webster, is a major rice disease in the Punjab. Varieties of the ‘Basmati’ group, especially Basmati-370, widely grown for its quality, have long been reported resistant to stem-rot (Paracer & Luthra, 1944; Srivastava, Maheshwari & Saini, 1971). Its cultivation in stem-rot-prone areas have been recommended (Grewal, 1975). Recently, however, the authors observed severe stem-rot on Basmati-370 and recorded the variety susceptible (Rattan & Mayee, 1975). Investigation into the causes of breakdown revealed that, wherever the variety had node infection by Pyricularia oryzae Cav., to which it is known to be susceptible, stemrot damage was exaggerated. In the present note, the analysis of breakdown is described.

The present investigation was intended to furnish information concerning:

(1) The movement of water-soluble and exchangeable potassium in the soil profile after successive fertilizer applications.

(2) The form of potassium—exchangeable, soluble, or non-exchangeable—into which added potassium fertilizer is converted in the soil.

(3) The effect of doubling the fertilizer ration on the absorption of potassium by the soil; and the effect of doubling the ration of irrigation water on the absorption and accumulation of potassium in the soil.

(4) The effect of frequent successive summer irrigation following fertilizer application on the distribution of the three forms of soil potassium.

(5) The effect of fertilization followed by irrigation on soil pH. value.

In the accompanying article attention is drawn to a source of error which arises in grading coarse and fine sand subsequent to dispersion. The method of mechanical analysis in which the error arises, and to which the writer refers, is the revised official method adopted several years ago by the Agricultural Education Association(1). The usual procedure is to wash the dispersed soil on to a No. 70 I.M.M. sieve with a jet of hot water, and to rub it gently with a rubber pestle or the finger until no more will pass through. Robinson(2) states that this rubbing is generally unnecessary. The writer has found, however, that even prolonged washing and rubbing with a rubber pestle are ineffective in removing all the fine sand. In the wet mixture the sands are held together closely by surface tension. In order to overcome this, it would seem reasonable first to dry the sieve and its contents at 105° C. and give a further light sieving. This has been done with a large variety of soils, and it has been found that an extremely high proportion of fine sand is withheld when working with certain soils. The amount of fine sand sieved out of the dried mixture increases or decreases in proportion to the amount of total sands present. This is illustrated in the accompanying graph (Fig. 1), where it is to be noticed that, in soils increasing in total sands from 50 per cent (or thereabouts) upwards, the error begins to assume serious proportions.

Four inexperienced operators used a Smith's Essem Metatest ultrasonic grader and a Philips Sonatest instrument to estimate the thickness of tissue overlying the M. longissimus dorsi at three sites over the tenth intercostal space of live steers. They also measured skin fold thickness over the central site using a micrometer. Suprafascial (selvedge) and total carcass fat were measured at corresponding sites on the chilled carcasses.

The residual standard deviations from multiple and simple regressions of suprafascial and total carcass fat thickness on the ultrasonic readings of different operators, using both instruments over the three sites with and without a measurement of skin thickness were compared.

The following conclusions were drawn. Use of a constant distance from the midline of the live animal to locate the site for ultrasonic point measurement would lead to errors in estimating fat thickness at a specific anatomical location. If the edge of the M. 1. dorsi is palpated to locate the measurement site, estimates of carcass fat thickness with a residual standard deviation of 2·5 mm are possible by relatively inexperienced operators using single point reading ultrasonic instruments. Fat deposition between the fascial sheath and the underlying M. 1. dorsi is a source of inaccuracy when estimating carcass fat cover particularly at sites closer to the midline and on fatter animals.

Using the Metatest instrument, fat cover could bo estimated in the live animal with an accuracy similar to that reported by other workers using the Scanogram. Using the Sonatest instrument the estimates were generally slightly less accurate especially at the most lateral site. Inclusion of a measurement of skin thickness gave a very slight but consistent improvement in accuracy of estimation of carcass fat cover.