Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-10-08

Self Fed Pigs pigs are better than
| n d-f pigs. The
are DEUEL. conclusion has been
reached after elaborate experiments
were made at the departments farm at
Beltsville, Md, just outside of Wash
ington.
The value of this self-feeder method
| of fattening pigs was demonstrated be-
yond question of doubt, according
| to those who had charge of the expert
mental work. The object was to deter
mine the value of this system as COM
pared with the ordinary hand method
| of feeding.
The pigs used in the experiment were
grade Berkshires, averaging ninety
| three pounds per head when the ex-
pertinent started. They were fairly
uniform in size and age, but were not
the best pigs in the farrow. The hand
fed lot were fed three times daily. the
amount being governed by the appe--
titles. The ration given the handled
| hogs was composed of five parts corn
| meal. four parts middlings and one
| part tankage. The corn meal and sup
Elements were mixed dry, Just before
feeding the amount to be fed was
slop, enough water being used to make
it pour out of the bucket without stick
ing. The feeding was done at Z and
11:30 o'clock in the forenoon and 4:30
o'clock in the afternoon.
Corn meal, middlings and tankage in
separate compartments of a self-feeder,
on the other hand, could be obtained
at all times by the settled lot of pigs.
Close watch was kept on the feeder,
and supply of each feed maintained.
LOTT nf loo II 10 1Yyy
lots quarter of an acre in size. The
pigs were given ample room for exer-
else and sufficient shelter
All the pigs in the self-feeder lot
maintained keen appetites. during the
seventy days of feeding. according to
the experts who kept close watch over
the experiment The handled pigs av-
eraged ninety-four pounds per head
and the settled averaged ninety-two
pounds per head at the beginning of
the handled pigs averaged 1878
pounds per head and the settled pigs
averaged 205 pounds, BIS pounds more
than the handled pigs.
1t was also noted that the settled
pigs consumed a greater quantity of
feed per head during the test than the
handled pigs, but it took only 405
pounds of feed to produce 100 pounds
gain in the case of the settled pigs.
at a cost of $5.67, while the handled
pigs produced 100 pounds gain at a
cost of 1924. AS a final result the ex-
perts found that the settled pigs made
better showing. SURPRISING the hand
fed lot in both rate and economy gains.
The officials contend that the results of
the experiment show clearly that for
quick fattening the self-feeder is very
practicable.
Experts of the public health service
have. the past year and a half. during
the course of investiga-
Backward tons of school hygiene.
made mental examina-
oA1luren. lions of more than $4,000
school children in four states. The
majority of these lived in rural dis
tricts and not in the city.
The officials say that the problems
of mental hygiene observed. while
closely related to those existing in
urban communities. present distinct
characteristics The most outstanding
of these problems. they say. are those
connected with the large number of
mentally retarded children observed
While all of the collected data bear
ing on mental retardation have not
been compiled, the studies being still
in progress. compilations have been
made in the case of the rural school
population of one entire county. The
average attendance in the rural schools
of this county was 2,512. The number
of children who were examined men
tally was 2.1S5, and the results of
these examinations. therefore. should
question.
OF these 2.1s5 children, ST per cent
were retarded. it is said. as follows;
children of 6 and years of age. re-
4 Nf
two and three years; 10 and IL years
of age. three and four years; IA and IS
years of age, five years; and 16 and II
years of age, retarded six years men
tally.
These children were not feeble mind
ed clear distinction must be made
between these two conditions for a
proper appreciation of the role of
retardation in mental deficiency. The
rate. the experts say. of intellectual
development varies at different age pc
RODS. In very young children 1t has
been found that the rate is relatively
rapid-in fact. it can be easily OBJ
served without special methods As
progress of intellectual development
from year to year Is less easily de-
tected. SO that between the ages of
twelve and thirteen it cannot be rec
ogniZed. In the case of older chill
dren. therefore. the correlation of
retardation and permanent mental de-
ficiency is relatively easy. Rural chill
dren are exposed, the experts think.
to influences causing retardation that
are quite distinct from those affecting
children in urban communities Broad
ly speaking, these influences may be
considered from the standpoint of,
first. sanitation. and. second. education.
During the course of these examina-
lions the officials have come to the
conclusion that the home envronmen t
, and the mental attitude of parents
who are themselves retarded are po-
of their children. Furthermore, the
presence of a number of retarded chill
dren in a class exerts a hampering eff
feet on the mental advancement of the
class as a whole. This condition, they
say, is very common in rural schools,
due to the absence of facilities for the
formation of special classes for the
ualized instruction.
How many people have any idea of
4, what the general land office has to do.
or how extensive it's
| Work Of the field of operations is?
! Yom This office is especially
1u oiASe. important to the people
! of the western states that still contain
lands which are open to homestead entry,
| for these people come into personal con-
tact with at least one division Of the
| offices in their immediate localities.
| During the last couple of years. &C
cording to officials OF the land office. they