120 SCIENTIFIC FEEDING OF ANIMALS 



stuffs is greater after they begin to thaw, for they 

 then readily undergo decomposition. By drying 

 or making into silage or sour fodder (p. 126) it is 

 possible to utilise frozen food. 



6. To complete this subject mention may be 

 made of the fact that many weeds have injurious 

 effects. Amongst these are the field poppy, deadly 

 nightshade, corn cockle, and charlock. In some 

 of these plants it is the seeds that are poisonous, 

 and in others the stems, leaves, and seeds. 



All food-stuffs, the action of which is doubtful, 

 are best not given to young or pregnant animals 

 or horses. 



The durability or keeping properties of the feed- 

 ing-stuffs depends in a large measure upon the 

 amount of water they contain. Usually the quan- 

 tity should not exceed 14% in the ordinary foods 

 of commerce, and even with this amount decom- 

 position can set in if in the storage an insufficient 

 amount of air is admitted to the bulk. Malt 

 coombs, rape cake, also cotton and earth-nut cakes 

 are particularly susceptible in this respect. In the 

 next three chapters further particulars on this sub- 

 ject will be given. 



