47O FEEDING FARM ANIMALS 



food or to mix it with the same in order to improve its 

 palatability. As the amount fed is usually not more than 

 a tablespoonful at one time, and in some instances it is 

 less, the necessity for such blending will be apparent. 



At the present time, it is popular to write and speak 

 against the use of such foods. The more vehement char- 

 acterize them as absolute frauds. The more temperate 

 argue that when animals are in health and provided with 

 good wholesome food, condiments are not needed, and 

 that since wholesome food is always accessible, they are 

 never needed. As a result of various experiments con- 

 ducted to test their worth, the conclusion has been reached 

 in some instances, that they are practically valueless, and 

 in nearly all instances that to feed them is unprofitable. 

 In the judgment of the author, all three classes have erred 

 in the conclusions reached. To grant the correctness of 

 the first view would be to assume that no honest person 

 could engage in compounding them, a conclusion that is 

 not tenable as some of these foods have merit for certain 

 lines of feeding as is shown below. To grant the correct- 

 ness of the second view, would imply by parity of reasoning 

 that foods are always good, that animals are always healthy, 

 and that when members of the human family are ailing, 

 they should use no stimulant or tonic to promote recovery. 

 To grant the correctness of the third view would be sub- 

 stantially to sustain the correctness of the first and second 

 views. 



The author believes that these so-called foods as a 

 rule contain ingredients that are seldom, if ever harmful, 

 when judiciously fed to animals, and that on the other hand, 

 they may be so fed that they will be helpful and in some 

 instances profitable, dependent on the conditions that at- 

 tend the feeding. They are appetizing, stimulating, and act 

 as tonics, consequently, they should not be fed when animals 

 are in good health. But when domestic animals are ailing, 

 or unthrifty, a suitable condiment given to them for a time 

 will frequently aid in restoring normal conditions. Some 



