234 BOARD OF AGEICULTURE. [Jan. 



cotton-seed, corn meal and similar feeds they are not all 

 digestible. On the average, in such feeds about one-seventh 

 of the albuminoids, one-fourth of the fat, and one-eleventh 

 of the carbohydrates, are indigestible. A pound of albu- 

 minoids in skim-milk, then, should be worth 1.87 cents; a 

 pound of fat, 5.6 cents. ; and a pound of carbohydrates^ 

 1.05 cents. The value per 100 pounds of skim-milk would 

 then stand as follows : — 



3.7 pounds of albuminoids, . . . .6.9 cents. 

 0.8 pounds of fat, 4.48 cents. 



4.8 pounds of carbohydrates, .... .5.04 cents. 



Total valuation of 100 pounds of .skim-milk, 16.42 cents. 



If we estimate a gallon to weigh nine pounds, we shall 

 then have a valuation of 1.6 cents per gallon, which is a 

 little below Dr. Goessmann's valuation of 1.8 cents per 

 gallon. We see, then, that, as compared with other feeds 

 on the basis of valuation of the nutrients, Dr. Goessmann's 

 figure for skim-milk is high rather than otherwise. I do not 

 see, then, that his results, which are wonderfully good, can 

 be assailed on any side. He estimates purchased feeds at 

 market prices ; he allows too little rather than otherwise for 

 the manurial value of the excrements ; he estimates the 

 skim-milk at a fair figure ; and yet he makes a net profit of 

 four and three-quarters cents per pound on the cost of pro- 

 duction, to pay for care and interest on investment. Farm- 

 ers, can you do as well? I believe you can, if you heed the 

 lessons which I have sought to impress upon you ; if you 

 follow the advice of the learned doctor. 



Select suitable animals, feed at first a rich food with a 

 narrow nutritive ratio, make the food less rich (widen the 

 ratio) from time to time as the animals grow, and finally 

 slaughter before the animals reach the live weight of 200 

 pounds. As to foods for combining with the skim-milk, 

 you have a considerable range of choice. Select those the 

 valuation of which exceeds largely the selling price, in so far 

 as may be possible. With the observance of these rules, you 

 can hardly fail, with the exercise of good judgment, intelli- 

 gence and proper care, in obtaining satisfactory results. 



One more point brought out by Dr. Goessmann's ex- 



