120 



OIL CAKE AND COTTON-SEKD MEAL. 



These fodders are particularly rich in albuminoids — the nutritive ratio 

 approaching in some samples to 1:1. They also contain large amounts of fat and 

 mineral matter, in which latter j^hosphates are abundant. 



For these leasons, they are particularly valuable to the stock-raiser and dairy- 

 man as cattle foods for the production of flesh and milk. 



The manure from animals fed with these highly nitrogenous foods is of great 

 value — a value enhanced in the materials under discussion by the presence of a large 

 amount of phosphates. Such manure returns to the soil the most important of the 

 fertilizing elements for future crops. 



As these are concentrated and expensive foods, their use in small quantities, and 

 mixed with fodders low in albuminoids and fat (such as straw, roots, corn fodder, 

 &c.,) must be practised, if profit is to be expected. The amount that can be econo- 

 mically fed, will depend upon the composition and quantity of the other food ingre- 

 dients and the age and function of the animal fed. 



" GERM MEAL. 



This is manufactured from Indian corn. It differs from thefodder just discussed 

 in containing less albuminoids and more carbo-hydrates. While therefore, compared 

 with them, it is wanting in muscle or flesh-forming ingredients, it is richer in 

 those nutrients that develop heat. 



Corn-meal has high digestive co-efficients. It contains a large percentage of 

 fat, and is well and widely known for its fattening qualities when fed to stock. 



ROOTS. 



Eoots in genei'al have a low feeding value, being very rich in water and very 

 poor in albuminoids, Eoots, however, are very easily digested, and therefore are 

 valuable for their non-nitrogenous constituents. Owing to their large percentage of 

 water they furnish a succulent food ; and as they are also palatable, they are relished 

 by cattle. 



The sample of Golden Tankard mangel analysed contained somewhat less than 

 150 lbs. of digestible matter per ton, with a nutritive ratio of nearly 1:9 ; whereas, 

 oil-cake meal contains about 1,400 lbs. of digestible matter, with a nutritive ratio of 

 1:1*5. From these figures and the explanations already given, the comparative 

 values of roots and oil-cake meal as food may be easily ascertained. 



lamb's QUARTER {Chenopodium album). 



Throughout Manitoba and the North-West Territories, this well known weed is 

 abundantly prevalent, lai-ge tracts of lands often being entirely covered with it. 

 The high winds, so common in these districts, serve to scatter the seed over veiy 

 wide areas, and, being a vigorous grower, the plant when left alone soon crowds out 

 other vegetatiop. 



Several enquiries have been received from fai-mers residing in such parts con- 

 cerning the probable value of the weed as a fodder plant, and whether it Avould be 

 useful as a crop for ensilage. To answer these questions, the plant has been analysed 

 and a determination of its food constituents made. These are found in the table of 

 fodder analyses. In another place Avill be found the results of the analysis of the 

 plant's ash, which show its value as a fertilizer. 



The specimen was taken at Ottawa late in autumn, after the first fi-ost. It was 

 quite green, and had evidently flowered but recently. From its analysis it compares 

 veiy favourablj' with good pasture grass. The true albuminoids are probably some- 

 what lowei- than what is represented in the table, as in plants of this nature a part 

 of the nitrogen is present in less nutritive compounds. The percentage of fat is 

 low, that of the ash high, while the amount of fibre is about equal to that in coin 

 ensilage. This weed belongs to the same botanical order as the beet, mangel and 



