33 



D. DISCUSSION OF THE RESULTS. 



It is not claimed tliat the number of ingredients identified in the 

 above foods is in all cases complete, for being composed of a number 

 different materials, one is likely to cover up another, and it is 

 occasionally difficult to positively identify each single ingredient. It 

 is believed, however, that the examination is sufficiently complete to 

 give a correct idea of the general character of such foods. 



All of the condimental foods have a distinct nutri- 



Character of tive value and consist principally of one or more of 



the food mate- the cereals, such as corn, wheat, wheat offal, or 



rials. barley. In many cases a few hundred pounds to the 



ton of linseed, cottonseed, corn gluten meal, and 

 occasionally meat scraps, have been added to increase the amount of 

 protein. Such mixtures contain from lo to 20 per cent of protein. 

 A few contain a considerable quantity of linseed meal, together with 

 smaller quantities of cereals, and show 20 to 25 per cent of protein. 

 The ash contained in the poultry foods is often much in excess of 

 the quantity found in the stock foods. This is due to the presence 

 of fine ground oyster shells. 



The nutrients contained in the different condimental 

 Value of the foods ca/i be purchased in the form of corn meal, 

 food materials, wheat offal and linseed or cottonseed meal for one 



cent a pound or twenty dollars a ton. The average 

 cost oi the condimental foods on the other hand varied from six to 

 eighteen cents a pound, or $120 to $360 a ton. Condition powders 

 are much higher in price ; one brand costs fifty cents to one dollar 

 a pound, depending on the quantity purchased. 



Sa/t, from 2 to 10 per cent in amount, is found in 

 Character of most of the condimental feeds. 

 the other in- Fenugreek a /id fen fi el. They are the ground seeds of 

 gredients. Trigonella Foenum-Graecum, and Foeniculum vul- 



gare, grown in Southern Europe. They are aromatic 

 substances and stomachics, being used in veterinary medicine to relieve 

 indigestion and flatulence, and also to communicate an agreeable fla- 

 vor. It was formerly believed that fenugreek increased the quantity 

 and improved the quality of milk, but such ideas are now largely 

 exploded. Fenugreek costs about 25 cents a pound and fennel 50 

 cents a pound at retail. The wholesale price is much less. The 

 quantity used is comparatively small. 



