EFFECTS OF SOUR MILK. 



133 



to the conclusion that m. whiteness of aspect 

 and more even laying on of flesh, as distinct 

 from deposits of fat, the birds fed on " pure '' oats 

 were worth about 3d. more than similar birds 

 fed on " fattening meal," and this was also the 

 opinion of the class of men described. Now 

 the cheaper meal certainly does not save 3d. 

 )n the three weeks of pen-feeding ; hence there 

 seems a loss rather than a saving from its use. 



The same applies to the fat used, about 

 which the best fatters are particular. Some 

 buy and render down whatever they can get 

 cheapest from the butchers or elsewhere. But 



cloyed the birds, and put them off their feeding. 

 This might have been expected. 



The question of sour milk or sweet is no 

 open one in Sussex, and it is strange to 

 observe how some who presume to teach on 

 this subject, decry or sneer at a 

 Question of factor which lies at the very founda- 

 Sour Milk. t;ion of the industry, next in im- 

 portance to ground oats alone. The 

 fact that sour milk is used wherever there is an 

 industry which uses milk at all, may weigh 

 nothing with people of this oracular stamp ; 

 but it determines the question. There is, how- 



(Mr. Curd's Farm, Buxled.) 



such as pride themselves on the higli class of 

 their birds, buy " mutton cauls " and other 

 parts which render into clear mutton suet, or 

 if that fails, purchase Australian tallow, which 

 was first introduced into Sussex practice by 

 Mr. Kenward, and is also of course mutton fat. 

 This fat is whiter, and makes whiter flesh and 

 skin. It is best melted and thrown into cold 

 water, which reduces it to a " pin-head " con- 

 dition in which it is easily mixed with the meal. 

 We were told by some that we should find 

 sugar now used in feeding. We only came 

 across a very few feeders who had tried it for 

 a short time ; but all had given it up again, 

 for the simple reason that the sweet taste 



ever, of course real dietetic reason for such a fact, 

 and it is simply this : the sour milk keeps the 

 digestive organs in proper activity, without 

 the use of fresh vegetables, which would other- 

 wise be necessary. Tell a Sussex fatter to use 

 " boiled milk," and the green food which would 

 then be required, and see what he would say ! 

 It is true that the odour can be detected in the 

 manure ; but it is not correct to speak of a 

 " stench " as thus caused, and thcdroppings should 

 be, and generally are, perfectly firm and healthy. 

 The same good results cannot be obtained with- 

 out an adequate supply of sour skim milk ; and 

 in several sheds we visited where there was little 

 odour, and we remarked that they did not 



