232 THE HORSE. 
animal once pampered on such material can hardly fall back on ordinary 
food; hence the price of fattening is greatly enhanced, but without any 
increase of the saleable carcase, for there is a natural limit in this direc- 
tion. A compound at 40/. a ton will make no more flesh than oil-cake 
at 102. ; but if the farmer approves of and will have the compound, let 
him simply mix the materials himself. ‘There is no secret in the compo- 
sition, for the test is at hand in a simple analysis. The following is an 
ordinary formula :— 
“70 MAKE ONE TON OF MEAL. 
Cwt. qrs. lb. Price. 
Locust Bean, finely ground, at 62.aton . 6 0 0—£116 O 
Indian Corn, at 7/. a ton : 910.) 0: = 393) 50 
Best Linseed Cake, at 10/. aton . ; 3 0 0— 110 0 
Powdered turmeric, at 8d.alb.. 0 040— 1 6 8 
Sulphur, at 2d. a 1b. . 0 040— 0 6 8 
Saltpetre, at 5d. a lb. 0 020— 0 8 4 
Liquorice, at 1s. a lb. 0 027 — Al ai 0 
Ginger, at 6d.alb. . OOS Ol 6 
Aniseed, at 9d.alb. . 0 0 4 0 3 O 
Coriander, at 9d. a lb. 0 010— 0 7 6 
Gentian, at 8d. a lb. 0 010— 0 6 8 
Cream of Tartar, at Is. 8d. a Ib. 00 2— 0 3 4 
Carbonate of Soda, at 4d. a lb. ONO" 0152) 0 
Levigated Antimony, at 6d. a lb. 0 0 6 Oe Se 
Common Salt, at $d.alb. . 0 030— 01 8 
Peruvian Bark, at 4s. a lb. . Oo 0 4 016 O 
Fenugreek, at 9d. alb. . 0 0 22 016 6 
Total . 20 0 0 —1218 5 
“ Looking at this composition, it will be evident at a glance that the 
chief ingredients are the ordinary commercial locust bean, Indian corn, 
and oil-cakes. These form its bulk, and constitute nine-tenths of the 
whole ; the remainder being made up of condiments and stimulants, the 
sulphur and antimony being intended to act upon the skin in the produc- 
tion of a fine coat, and the fenugreek forming a kind of mucilage to pre- 
vent any ill effects that might arise from the stimulating character of the 
food. ‘These ingredients have no doubt been selected with skill, and an 
animal may be expected, and not unreasonably, to thrive upon such 
savoury substances. For this precious article (which it unquestionably is) 
the modest sum of about 42s. a cwt. is demanded, or at the rate of 421. a 
ton, or upwards of 200 per cent. on the cost price, even taken at the 
valuation given above, which for the one-tenth or stimulating portion 
might be considerably reduced, if the several materials were bought at 
wholesale prices. We prefer, however, to take the ordinary trade valua- 
tion, in order to give the widest margin possible for the cost—this, after 
all, being the simple point at issue. Ifa farmer wishes for the article, the 
use of which, containing as it does so much stimulating matter, is very 
questionable, and chooses to pay from three to four times the intrinsic 
value, it is of course at his option to do so; but as the whole question of 
farming is one of paying, we will put it plainly: Can it pay to feed 
animals on substances costing from 402. to 50/.a ton? A knowledge of 
the constituent elements of these foods may induce a pause before the 
outlay is made. Some supposed great secret has no doubt with a few 
acted as a charm, on the principle of omne ignotum pro magnifico ; but the 
analysis at once dispels this illusion, and nothing remains but the cost and 
its result, mere matters of ordinary calculation.” 
