144 



EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 



5-6 EDWARD VII., A. 1906 



Analysis of Condimeutal Foods. 



Eerlageum. — This consists essentially of linseed and "wheat bran or some -wheat 

 refuse. Fenugreek, sugar, charcoal and salt are also present. 



International Stock Food. — Its principal ingredient is a -wheat feed. Salt, char- 

 coal, and fenugreek -were also detected and some bitter drug, probably gentian, also 

 noted. 



Anglo-Saxon StocTc Food. — Largely linseed meal. It contains charcoal, salt, sul- 

 phur, fenugreek ajid probably gentian. 



Sugar and Flax. — Its chief component is linseed meal. Fenugreek, charcoal and 

 salt "were also detected. Sugar is not present. 



Oux position -with regard to these preparations is that all the ingredients are of a 

 cheap character and the prices asked are altogetner extravaganfr, "whether they are to be 

 regarded as foods or medicine, or both. Thus, the price of herbageum is $12 per hun- 

 dred "weight, and as a food its value cannot be equal to that of oil cake meal. We do 

 not deny that such condimental foods may at times be useful, but we do not think 

 their continued or general employment is either necessary or economical. It has been 

 shown by careful experiment that animals in good health do not thrive any better from 

 the addition of such ' tonics ' to their food, and it seems only reasonable that it "would be 

 far cheaper and more rational to treat stock out of condition as their ailments require. 



THE RELATIVE VALUE OF ROOTS. 



In continuing the examination of field roots to learn their relative food value and 

 the effect of seasonal conditions upon their composition, "we have analysed this year 17 

 varieties of mangels, 20 varieties of turnips, and 11 varieties of carrots, all gro-wn on 

 the Central Experimental Farm. 



Mangels. — The percentages of dry matter and sugar are, on the "whole, considerably 

 belo"w those usually obtained here. This, "we believe, is due to the somewhat abnormal 

 character of the season, -which -was marked by high rainfall and high daily temperatures. 

 Under these conditions the roots did not thoroughly mature and the storing up of sugar 

 during September and October to a certain extent "was interfered "with. For the best 

 results it is generally conceded that an ample though not excessive precipitation during 

 the first three months of summer, with comparatively low temperatures, followed by a 

 moderately dry, warm, but not too hot, ripening season (September and October) are 

 the best conditions for the production of sugar in roots. The averages for 10 varieties 

 analysed in 1904 were: dry matter, 11 -flO per cent, sugar in juice, 6-62 per cent. This 

 season, for 20 varieties we obtained: dry matter, 10 '04 per cent, sugar in juice, 4-Gl 

 per cent. 



