17 



RESULTS OF INSPECTION. 



In the preceding tables it has seemed best to adopt a new basis of classifi- 

 cation, somewhat different from that used in former bulletins. In the present 

 bulletin, feeding stuffs collected and analyzed have been grouped into two 

 general classes, — unmixed by-products and preimred feeds. By an unmixed 

 by-product is meant a feeding stuff which is sold as it comes from the factory 

 where it is made. A prepared or mixed feed is the result of assembling two 

 or more unmixed feeds for the purpose of forming a better ration or to in- 

 crease the salability of one or more of the components of the mixture. 



Unmixed By-Products. 



The Oil Cakes, — Cottonseed Meal, Linseed Meal and Peanut 

 Oil Meal. — The average quality of cottonseed meal was somewhat im- 

 proved over that analyzed the preceding year. The greater part of the 

 material sold in Massachusetts is obtained by brokers from oil mills scattered 

 through the cotton-growing districts, and is tagged by the brokers with their 

 own brand and guarantee. Under such conditions, while the brokers may 

 intend to furnish meal true to guarantee, the brand is not always as good 

 an indication of uniform quality as might be desired. The principal factor 

 affecting quality is the attempt to mix with the meal a maximum amount of 

 hulls in order to bring it to the grade desired. Season and section in which 

 the seed is grown also affect the chemical composition of the meal. Where 

 cottonseed meal is purchased in quantity by the consumer, it should be taken 

 with the understanding that a rebate will be required if the product does not 

 fully meet its guarantee. 



Linseed meal is usually sold under the name and guarantee of the manu- 

 facturer, and is much more uniform in quality than cottonseed meal. 



The two samples of Alaga brand peanut oil feed cannot be considered as 

 satisfactory as either the cottonseed or linseed meal, in that it contained the 

 shell as well as the meat of the nut. Peanut oil meal obtained from the 

 peanut kernel without the shell is fully equal or somewhat superior to cotton- 

 seed or linseed meal for milk production. 



Two oil cakes occasionally found, but not collected during the past year, 

 are corn germ meal and coconut oil meal. Both products are fairly satis- 

 factory, and are used to a considerable extent in prepared mixtures. 



The Gluten Products. — Gluten meal, of which only one brand is now 

 on the market, consists of the protein of the corn kernel after the removal of 



