188 THE CHEMISTRY OF THE FARM 



albuminoids have been used successfully for agricul- 

 tural horses doing full work at a moderate pace. In 

 Fiji the horses in the sugar plantations receive 15 

 lbs. of molasses per day, and the ratio of nitrogenous 

 to non-nitrogenous digestible matter in their diet is 

 1 : 11 '8. It is generally recognised, however, that for 

 quick movement, and to promote activity of disposi- 

 tion, a fairly good proportion of albuminoids is advis- 

 able. The albuminoid ratio of the diet employed by 

 our tramway companies is about 1 : 7. 



The Fattening Animal — For the body to increase in 

 weight it is clear that the food supplied must be in 

 excess of the quantity demanded for mere renovation 

 of tissue, and for the production of heat and work. 

 When such an excess of food is given, a part of the 

 albuminoids and ash constituents is generally con- 

 verted into new tissue, while a part of the fat, carbo- 

 hydrates and albuminoids is stored up in the form of 

 fat. In the case of a young animal taking free exercise 

 in the field, the increase appears as a general growth 

 of the body; in the case of an animal at rest, the 

 increase consists chiefly in the deposition of fat in the 

 tissues. 



The disposition of an animal to fatten depends 

 much on breed and temperament. It is almost im- 

 possible to fatten a wild animal, while its domesti- 

 cated descendants, especially if bred with the object 

 of obtaining rapid increase, may be readily fattened. 

 The changes in organisation produced by long- 

 continued systematic breeding are most strikingly 

 shown in the case of the pig. In the wild boar the 

 intestines are six times the length of the body ; in 



