168 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 



7-8 EDWARD VII., A. 1908 



On examination, it was found to contain small and broken wheat, barley, oats, 

 fiax, weed seeds, broken straw and hulls. The sample was submitted to Dr. Fletcher, 

 the Botanist, who determined the nature of the weed seeds, as follows: Wild Buck- 

 wheat, Lamb's Quarters, Wild Sunflower, Bearded Wheat-grass, Wild Oats, Blue-bat, • 

 Wild Mustard, Sun Spurge, False Flax, Hare's-ear Mustard, Stinkweed, Great Rag- 

 Weed, Dragonhead, Canada Thistle, Green Foxtail, Barnyard grass, Wild Eose. The 

 weeds are named in order as to quantity, approximately, in sample. 



A considerable quantity of the ground or crushed sample was sown in the test 

 boxes, to ascertain the number of vital seeds present; only two plants appeared. 



From the chemical data, it is evident that this feed has a fair nutritive value; 

 compared with bran it contains about 2 per cent less protein, a slightly higher per- 

 centage of fat and about one-third more fibre. The experience of several farmers with 

 whom I have corresponded on the subject, is that ground screenings are more or less 

 nnpalatable, that some animals refuse them and that in any case they can only be used 

 ii3 a portion of the meal ration. This if confirmed is a serious objection. The dis- 

 tastefulness is caused chiefly, we presume, by the presence of sulphur oils, found in 

 iiiauy seeds of the crucifcrae (mustards) and which no doubt would impart an un- 

 pleasant pungency to the feed. 



Nos. 16, 17, IS and 19. — 'These constitute a series of by-products from the Mc- 

 Allister Milling Co., Prterboro. No. 16 consists chiefly of the hulls of oats and buck- 

 wheat, with very little fine meal. No. 17 is largely composed of the hulls of oats and 

 buckwheat, but with more fine meal than No. IG. There is a certain proportion of corn 

 present. No. 18, apparently, consists entirely of fine oat hulls and corn bran, with 

 practically no fine meal. No. 19 is largely corn meal and corn bran, with very little, 

 if any, oat hulls present. 



Feeds Nos. 16 and 17 are equal as regards protein; the lower percentage of fibre 

 in No. 17. however, makes this sample the better of the two. They must both be 

 considered low grnde feeding stuffs. 



No. 18 is an extremely poor feed, being very low in protein and exceedingly high 

 in fibre. In feeding value it \\'ould rank with straws and other coarse fodders of that 

 class. 



No. 19. Tlie best of the series; a fairly good but not a high grade feed, consider- 

 ed from the standpoint of protein co-ntent. 



Nos. 20 to 31, inclusive, were received direct from Joseph G. King & Co., Lessees 

 of the C.P.R. Elevator at Port Arthur, the analyses being undertaken to learn the 

 nutritive value of the various weed seeds, &c., as obtained from the cleaning of wheat 

 flax and other cereals at the elevator. A very large amount of such refuse or screen- 

 ings must be obtained annually, the greater proportion of which apparently is at 

 present wrstcd. If finely ground there could be no danger of disseminating noxious 

 weeds, and tlierc seems no reason, save perhaps on the ground of unpalatableness, 

 why certain classes of such refuse could not be used to advantage, especially if mixed 

 with a fair proportion of ground barley or other grain. As remarked when discussing 

 No. 15, cattle and pigs do not eat such feed with relish — indeed at first they may 

 entirely refuse it, possibly owing to a certain pungency. This flavour, however, 

 would depend upon the proportion of certain weed seeds and might in a large measure 

 be overcome by mrlxing with various meals. 



No. 20. Wild Buckwheat. — This sample contained no foreign matter or admix- 

 ture; the analysis, therefore, represents the composition of the seed of wild buck- 

 wheat. While not a highly nitrogenous or oily seed it is of fair feeding value, being 

 quite low in fibre. 



No. 21. Small seeds cleaned from Flax. — The bulk of this sample consists of 

 broken flax seeds which form probably 98 per cent of the whole. The other 2 per 

 cent is made up of seeds of Lamb's-quarters, Wild Mustard, False Flax and Hare's- 

 ear Mustard, the abundance being in the order of the names given. It is a feed very 

 rich in protein and exceedingly high in fat or oil and accordingly must be considered 

 a valuable feeding stuff. 



