:..'. PREFACE 



IN the present volume the aim is to develop and explain 

 those fundamental principles which are the basis of all effective 

 control in farming operations rather than to prescribe rules 

 for particular cases. The more important conclusions are, 

 however, brought to the test of comparison with rations actually 

 used by farmers. Numerous examples of the latter are 

 described and criticised in the light of the principles from the 

 dual point of view of efficiency and pecuniary economy. 



It is assumed that the reader is familiar with the rudiments 

 of inorganic and organic chemistry, but not necessarily with 

 the more advanced work on proteins, carbohydrates, etc. 

 This is given in condensed form in Part I. together with 

 some constitutional formulae and other matter occasionally 

 required for reference. It is possible, therefore, to avoid 

 digression in the remaining sections which deal with the 

 requirements of the animals, the feeding stuffs and the 

 chemistry of dairying, respectively. The last-mentioned 

 subject cannot well be separated either from the preliminary 

 matter above referred to or from the question of milk produc- 

 tion which, of course, is dealt with in Part II. 



The data are derived partly from the German and partly 

 from American experiments, and the interpretation of them is 

 based largely upon the Rothamsted investigations. The 

 feeding standards of Wolff and Kellner's system of starch 

 equivalents are examined ; but an attempt is made to break 

 away, more or less completely, from both, and from the tyranny 

 of the rule of three in which they are involved. It is now 

 generally acknowledged that the requirements of animals are 

 not proportional to the mass. The idea is to dissociate the 

 several elements the requirements for maintenance* fattening, 

 etc. comprised in the various feeding standards, and to 



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