FERTILIZER CONTROL STATION. 337 



relations in the quantities of nutritive ingredients consumed, or are 

 equalh' favorable results obtained by feeding in a hit-or-miss fashion 

 such feeding stuffs as are conveniently at haud, or which the market 

 seems to afford at the least cost per pound ? 



This question is equivalent to the inquiry whether in determining 

 the purchasing power of one dollar the kind of food should not be 

 considered as well as the weight, as for instance, whether in a given 

 case the dollar should be expended for corn meal or cotton-seed 

 meal, at the same ton price. 



We have given in the German feeding tables certain definite stand- 

 ards according to wiiich rations are to be compounded for animals 

 of different kinds under varvinsj conditions. 



It is not claimed by an}' prominent agricultural chemists, and has 

 not been for years, that these standards should be strictly followed 

 in order to secure the best results from a given amount of food, but 

 being the result of extended scientific investigations they certainly 

 have some significance, and are regarded by conservative men who 

 have given them considerable study as teaching some important 

 truths and as suggesting a rational system of practice in cattle 

 feeding. 



In planning the feeding experiments conducted at tiie Station an 

 attempt has been made to so shape many of them as to give infor- 

 mation on the above general question. The dairy products of Maine 

 are largely' manufactured from purchased foods, and so this inquiry 

 is one of great practical importance. 



The experiments here reported have reference also to certain other 

 points pertaining to the economy of feeding, such as methods of 

 preparation of food, &c. 



On subsequent pages will be given the results of feeding experi- 

 ments designed to give information on the following points: 



(1) Cotton-seed meal (or linseed mealj vs. corn meal for milk 

 production. 



(2) The use of cotton-seed meal (or linseed meal) in producing 

 growth. 



(3) The relation of the quantity of the ration to the profits of 

 feeding for growth. 



(4) The use of straw in feeding for growth. 



(5) Whole corn vs. corn meal. 



(6) Corn meal vs. corn-and-cob meal. 



(7) Raw vs. boiled potatoes. 



