351] 



SCIENTIFIC MANUAL. 



65 



following table, showing the chemical composition of some 

 of the principal animal and vegetable albuminoids, which 

 will convey to the reader a clear idea of the character and 

 value of this group of substances : 



COMPOSITION OF ALBUMINOIDS I 



* Gliadin and Mucedin are two albuminoids which exist in crude wheat gluten. 



Since animals have, as far as known, no power of produc- 

 ing the albuminoids, which constitute so large a part of 

 their blood and flesh, but derive them entirely from plants, 

 it is important for the farmer to acquaint himself, not only 

 with the chemical composition of the cultivated plants, 

 but also with the means of increasing, by cultivation and fer- 

 tilization, the percentage of these important substances, by 

 stimulating the production of those parts of the plants 

 which are richest in them. 



It is important also that he should know the ratio, exist- 

 ing in different plants, between \\iecarbo-hydrates, or fat and 

 heat producing principles, and the albuminoids or flesh and 

 muscle producers, that he may know what kind of food to 

 use, to accomplish given results in feeding stock, whether 

 the object be the production of fat, the maintenance of a 

 unifo*rm condition of muscular development, or to encour- 

 age the development of a well proportioned muscular 

 frame in young animals. These objects are usually best 

 accomplished by a combination of different foods, as will 

 be more fully explained under the head of Plants and 

 their products as food for animals. 



The following table from Johnson's "How CROPS GROW/' 

 5 



