972 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 



5 GEORGE v., A. 1915 



Bation No. 5. — " Black seeds." The finer weed seeds remaining after the scalpings 

 have been removed from the screenings. The birds did not take to the ration at all, 

 and on the third day cramming was commenced and continued until the ninth day, 

 when they ate of their own accord. 



Ration No. 6. — One part black weed seeds as per No. 5, and one part mash. The 

 mash did not seem to improve matters, and the cramming was about the same as in 

 No. 5. 



Ration No. 7. — The same as No. 5 except that it was boiled. The boiling rendered 

 it more palatable, and the birds ate fairly well throughout the period, without cram- 

 ming. 



Ration No. 8. — One part " Black seeds " and one part mash, boiled. The birds took 

 to this mash just about the same as in No. 7, though they grew a little more fond of 

 it towards the latter part of the feeding experiment. No cramming was necessary in 

 this lot. 



Ration No. 9.— Wild mustard and corn. The birds did not take to this, and on 

 the third day cramming was started and continued until the end. 



Ration No. 10. — Wild mustard and corn, one part and one part mash. The birds 

 did not take to this any more readily than to No. 9, and cramming was commenced 

 on the second day and was continued right through. 



Ration No. 11. — Tumbling mustard. This was no more palatable than the wild 

 mustard, and cramming had to be resorted to throughout the whole feed. 



Ration No. 12. — Tumbling mustard and mash. Practically the same experience 

 in feeding this with similar results. 



Ration No. 13. — Wild buckwheat. The most palatable ration of the whole experi- 

 ment. The birds were eager for their food and ate very well throughout the whole 

 period, with consequently high increase, as shown by table above. 



Ration No. IJf. — Wild buckwheat one part and mash one part. The birds ate 

 very well of this, though no better than they did in No. 13, and in fact the No. 13 

 ration seemed to be more palatable throughout the period than when half mash was 

 included. 



Ration No. 15. — Lambs quarter. The chicks did not take to the lambs quarter, 

 and cramming had to be resorted to on the second day and continued throughout the 

 period. 



Ration No. 16. — Lambs quarter and mash. Practically the same results as in 

 No. 15. 



Ration No. 17. — Mash. The feed was palatable, the birds ate well and made good 

 gains. 



Ration No. 18. — Same as No. 17. The comparative palatability of Nos 17 and 

 18, when compared with the buckwheat Nos. 13 and 14 would leave, if anything, the 

 preference in favour of the buckwheat over the corn and oat mash, 



SUMMARY. 



The presence of " Black seeds " in the ration not only makes it unpalatable but 

 unprofitable as well, with these eliminated the ration is good. 



The wild buckwheat makes a very desirable food, and as it is comparatively easy 

 to separate it from the whole grain and the " Black seeds," it should make a valuable 

 fleshing food for poultry. 



Loss in weight was experienced from feeding rations Nos. 5, 15, 16, 4, 11, 9, 12, 7, 

 10, and the proportion of loss occurred in the order named, the heaviest loss being 



Ottawa. 



