The fat cow syndrome developed over a two year period in a 100 cow dairy herd following overfeeding in late lactation and the dry period. It was characterised clinically by a high incidence of parturient paresis and chronic unresponsive ketosis in early lactation. The reproductive performance of the herd was poor throughout this period, with extended calving indices confirming a suggested link between fatty liver and infertility.

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The present study was undertaken to determine the genieral nutrient requirements of the sweetpotato since field fertilizer tests have yielded a variety of responses with different fertilizer treatments. Sweetpotatoes usually respond to small applications of nitrogen fertilizers but excessive fertility often results in too much vine growth and few storage roots.The study to be reported was conducted on the influence of three or more concentrations of the following chemicals upon vine growth, storage root production, and chemical composition of the sweetpotato plant: NaNo,, NaH2PO4, CaCl2, MgSO4, KCl, KCl plus NaCl, K2SO4 and H,BO,.Data are presented in the present paper on the relationships between mineral nutrition and (1) storage root and vine weight; (2) general appearance of the leaf blades, storage roots, and fibrous roots; (3) mineral composition of the leaf blades, petioles, stems, storage roots and vines; and (4) carbohydrate composition of the leaf blades. MethodsTwo-gallon, ulazed crocks were filled with Ottawa silica sand. The opening for drainage near the base of the crocks was filled loosely with glass wool to prevent escape of the sand. The crocks were placed out-of-doors on two benches raised about 3 feet above the ground, in 32 groups of 12 each. The benches were located in the open away from the shading effects of trees and buildings. Glazed, 50-liter crocks were placed in front of each group of 12 two-gallon crocks, and used as reservoirs for holding nutrient solutions. The 50-liter crocks containing nutrient solutions were covered to exclude sunlight and rain.Uniform Triumph sweetpotato sprouts were planted one to a crock on May 9, 1945. The nutrient solutions were added as frequently as seemed necessary to supply moisture and nutrients. The

SUMMARYRecent epidemiological studies have shown that death-rates from certain chronic diseases are higher in areas with soft than in areas with hard drinkingwater. In the striking negative correlation found in the county boroughs of England and Wales between cardiovascular mortality and water hardness the important underlying factor is apparently the water calcium. Interest is therefore focused on the dietary significance of calcium present in drinking-water. In relation to that interest, the present report gives a quantitative account of the composition of tea infusions prepared with waters containing different amounts of calcium. It is shown that a substantial part of water calcium is taken up by the tea leaf during the preparation of infusions. The analysis of the infusions covers a wide range of individual components, including trace metals and polyphenolic substances. It appears that the principal change caused in infusion composition by the presence of calcium in the water is a substantial reduction in the relatively high oxalate content. The question is raised whether there may be some connexion between the 'water factor' in cardiovascular disease and the absorption of oxalates from foods.

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