212 SCIENTIFIC FEEDING OF ANIMALS 



Even when two known materials are used for 

 soaking up the molasses it is a disadvantage, for 

 it is then very difficult to determine the proportion 

 of these two, and it is almost certain that the cheaper 

 will predominate. It is only possible to guard the 

 buyer of molasses feeds from fraud when the 

 relation between the molasses and the other sub- 

 stance can be determined by a chemical analysis. 

 Molasses feeds should be bought with a guarantee 

 for the amount of molasses, water, protein, and fat 

 which they contain, as well as information as to 

 the dry material used. The amount of water is 

 of great importance; more than 20% in ordinary 

 mixtures, and 25% in peat molasses is excessive, 

 for on storing such mixtures they are very liable 

 to ferment, whereby the greater part of the sugar 

 can be destroyed. It is often claimed in advertise- 

 ments that the mixture of molasses with some 

 other material produces results when used as a food 

 quite superior to the two substances when separate, 

 but this is not true, for the components have ex- 

 actly the same effect, whether they are fed singly 

 or mixed. 



The residues from sugar factories, which consist 

 of impure sugar, have been repeatedly tested ex- 

 perimentally for feeding purposes. This feeding 

 sugar is generally mixed with coal dust, bran, 

 oil-cake meal, or some other material (to prevent 

 it being stolen for human consumption), and may 



