278 FEEDS AND FEEDING 



of his farm without the use of any commercial fertilizers, except lime to 

 correct soil acidity and perhaps phosphate to balance the farm manure, 

 which is ordinarily much richer in nitrogen than in phosphoric acid. 



In purchasing feeds one should always consider their manurial value 

 as well as their feeding value, in determining which are really the most 

 economical to buy. From the actual cost or value per ton there should 

 be deducted the manurial value per ton computed on the basis given in 

 Article 435, and taking the current prices for nitrogen, phosphoric 

 acid, and potash. To illustrate this method of comparing the actual 

 relative economy of various concentrates, the following table is pre- 

 sented. The gross price per ton given for each feed is the same as was 

 assumed for the corn-belt dairyman in Chapter VIII. (193) 



Comparing cost of concentrates, after crediting manurial values 



Net cost per 



Actual gross Manurial value Net cost pound total dig. 

 price per ton per ton per ton nutrients 



Dollars Dollars Dollars Cents 



Dent corn, ground 22.00 5.43 16.57 0.97 



Oats, ground 23.88 6.68 17.20 1.22 



Hominy feed 25.00 6.87 18.13 1.07 



Corn-and-oat feed 24 . 00 5 . 38 18 . 62 1 . 23 



Wheatbran 25.00 11.78 13.22 1.08 



Gluten feed 30.00 11.51 18.49 1.46 



Cottonseed meal, choice 35 . 00 23 . 37 11.63 0.74 



Linseed meal, old process ... 35 . 00 17 . 42 17 . 58 1.13 



The table shows clearly that for this corn-belt dairyman the actual 

 gross price of the carbonaceous feeds corn, oats, hominy feed, and corn- 

 and-oat feed was less per ton than the actual gross price of the 

 protein-rich concentrates. But when credit is given, as should generally 

 be, for the manurial value of the different feeds, the net cost per ton for 

 cottonseed meal and wheat bran is actually lower than for the farm 

 grown grains. Where proper use is made of the farm manure, the net cost 

 per pound of total digestible nutrients is only 0.74 cent in cottonseed meal, 

 while it is 0.97 cent in dent corn and 1.22 cents in oats. Thus without 

 considering their value as protein-rich supplements to balance the farm 

 grown feeds, but taking into account merely their manurial value, such 

 feeds as cottonseed meal are cheap. Under such conditions they are far 

 from being ' l high-priced purchased feeds, ' ' as they are often termed by 

 those who do not realize the importance of the fertilizing constituents 

 they return to the land. 



438. British practice. In Great Britain, where many of the farmers 

 are long-period tenants, the manurial value of feeding stuffs is recognized 

 by law in a manner that tends greatly to the betterment and permanence 

 of her agriculture. The Agricultural Holdings Act, which is the law 

 governing the relations between landlord and tenant, directs that when 

 a tenant is vacating his leasehold he shall be reasonably compensated 

 for the improvements he has made. Among these, credit must be given 

 for the fertilizing value of feeding stuffs which the tenant may have 



