InquIiiies and Replies. 369 



INQUIRIES AND REPLIES. 



SELECTED LETTERS FROM FARMERS. 



[Hereunder arc a number of recent letters replied to by the various Divisions and 

 Schools of Agriculture coocerned. They are selected for publication as lieing of interest to 

 farmers generally in the localities affected. In each case the area only from which the 

 inquiry emanates is given : as the replies must necessarily be curtailed, they will indicate, 

 when retjuired, literature from which further information may be had. All departmental 

 bulletins (piotcd are obtainable on aiiplication to the Editor.] 



Cotton-seed Meal. 



SivdzihiruJ. — (1) What is ilie analysis of cotton seed (undelinted) 

 fi'iound with the husk on (oil not extracted). (2) Would this meal be 

 a suitable feed for cattle? (3) What should be mixed with it to form 

 a complete ration? Could mealie bran form one of the components? 

 Could the meal be fed alone in small quantities to cattle that are 

 grazing' all day? (4) What could a farmer afford to pay for it in order 

 to make a profit by feeding it to his cattle ? (5) Is this meal suitable 

 as a feed for all animals, with the exception of pigs? (6) What is its 

 value as a fertilizer as compared with a cattle feed ? 



71ie Chief, Division of Tobacco and Cotton, replies: — 



(1) Analysis of Rustenburg cotton seed: — Water, 5.03 per 

 cent. ; ash, 3.50 per cent. ; protein, 24.33 per cent. ; crude fibre, 23.28 

 per cent. ; nitrogen fibre, 23.39 per cent. ; fat, 20.47 per cent. 



(2) The meal would be better with the oil extracted, as the oil is 

 a laxative and is excessive ; feed in conjunction with maize meal, 

 forage, or ensilage. Begin w'ith about 2 lb. per day of cotton-seed 

 meal and gradually increase up to 5 or 6 lb. 



(;>) Mix with mealie meal or bran; feed in addition to plenty of 

 grazing, or forage, or ensilage. 



(4) It would be cheap at £0 per ton, and is good for either milk 

 cows or for beef. 



(5) It is not g'ood for young- calves or pigs, as there appears to 

 be a toxic poisoning- for them. 



(6) It is more valuable as a feed than as a fertilizer, as the latter 

 use woubl be wasteful. Its fertilizing constituents areas follows: — 

 Ash, 3.78 per cent. ; nitrogen, 3.13 per cent. ; phosphates, 1.27 per 

 cent.; potasli, 1.17 per cent.; lime, 0.25 per cent.; magnesia, 0.55 

 per cent. 



1 lb. cotton seed is eciual io 1.13 lb. mealies or mealie meal. 

 1 lb. cotton seed (oil extracted) is equal to 1.75 lb. mealies or 

 mealie meal. 



1 lb. cotton seed (oil extracted) is equal to 1.50 lb. cotton seed. 

 1 lb. seed hulls is equal to \ to grds of grass hay. 



