ARTIFICIAL CONDIMENTAL FOODS 2G3 



"Lookinc; at this composition, it will be evident at a glance that the 

 chief ingredients are the ordinary commercial locust-bean, Indian corn, 

 and oil-cakes. These form its bulk, and constitute nine-tenths of the 

 whole ; the remainder being made up of condiments and stimulants, the 

 sulphur and antimony being intended to act upon the skin in the pro- 

 duction of a fine coat, and the fenugreek forming a kind of mucilage to 

 prevent any ill effects that might arise from the stimulating character of 

 the food. These ingredients have no doubt been selected with skill, and 

 an animal may be expected, and not unreasonably, to thrive upon such 

 savoury substances. For this precious article (which it unquestionably is) 

 the modest sum of about 425. a cwt. is demanded, or at the rate of £42 

 a ton, or upwards of 200 per cent, on the cost price, even taken at the 

 valuation given above, which for the one-tenth or stimulating portion 

 might be considerably reduced, if the several materials were bought at 

 wholesale prices. We prefer, however, to take the ordinary trade valua- 

 tion, in order to give the widest margin possible for the cost — this, after 

 all, being the simple point at issue. If a farmer wishes for the article, the 

 use of which, containing as it does so much stimulating matter, is very 

 questionable, and chooses to pay from three to four times the intrinsic 

 value, it is of course at his option to do so ; but as the whole question of 

 farming is one of paying, we will put it plainly — Can it pay to feed 

 animals on substances costing from £4:0 to £50 a ton 1 A knowledge of 

 the constituent elements of these foods may induce a pause before the 

 outlay is made. Some supposed great secret has no doubt with a few 

 acted as a charm, on the principle of omne ignotum fro mirifico ; but the 

 analysis at once dispels this illusion, and nothing remains but the cost 

 and its result, mere matters of ordinary calculation." 



But though this view of artificial condimental foods is quite correct, it is 

 also true that as an occasional stimulus to a feeble stomach, they are highly 

 useful. I have known horses terribly out of condition brought round by 

 the use of them in an incredibly short space of time ; and used in this way, 

 I believe them to be highly beneficial. But no stomach will go on for ever 

 answering to the same stimulus. I can confidently recommend them for the 

 former purpose, but for the latter they are dear even at the reduced rate of 

 about half that named above. 



Salt is the only kind of seasoning which has stood the test of experience 

 in this country, and even it is by no means generally employed. Some 

 grooms give an ounce of common salt in the water daily, others give it by 

 sprinkling it on the hay, while a third set leave a lump of rock-salt con- 

 stantly in the manger for the horse to lick. The last is the only really safe 

 and useful mode of using this article, and I am persuaded that all horses 

 will thriA^e better if they are allowed a lump of rock-salt constantly within 

 their reach. The quantity which is thus taken is by no means large, for 

 rock-salt does not easily dissolve by the mere contact of the moist tongue. 

 It is only to be procured in certain localities, where it is found in the earth 

 in large quantities, the salt mines of Cheshire affording the chief supply for 

 England and Scotland. A lump weighing two or three pounds is placed in 

 the manger, and it will generally be found that a pound will last nearly a 

 month, but there is a great variation in the quantity consumed by different 

 horses. 



