No. 7. 



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



563 



Plumb (Indiana B. 93) reports two experiments with pigs. In the 

 first experiment, lasting 122 days, two lots of 4 pigs each were used. 

 The results were: 



In the second experiment, two lots of 3 pigs each were fed for 12 

 weeks: 



G. Fingerling (Jour. Landwirthschaft, 51, 287-8; 52, 145-6) experi- 

 mented upon the influence of fenugreek and fennel on the milk flow 

 of goat and sheep, and observed differences which he attributed to 

 the influence of these aromatics; fennel, in particular, he declared 

 to increase both yield and richness in milk solids. He failed, how- 

 ever, to find any influence of fennel, fenugreek or anise upon digesti- 

 bility of foods, and believes, therefore, that such condiments can 

 not induce fattening. 



In brief, the only digestion experiments, those of Fingerling, fail 

 to show any gain from the use of the commonly employed aromatics, 

 fenugreek, fennel and anise, in spite of their tendency to promote 

 increased secretion of the digestive fluids. 



Out of three experiments relative to the influence of condiments 

 upon milk secretion, two exhibit no gain in flow or richness; the 

 third set, by Fingerling, has not been described in detail, so that no 

 critical judgment respecting the sufficiency of the experimental 

 methods is possible. 



Of five experiments relative to the influence of condiments upon 

 meat production, only one shows any gain from their use, and in this 

 case, the gain is entirely too small to correspond to the large claims 

 put forth by the makers of condimental foods and condition powders. 



