1910.] PUBLIC DOCUMENT — No. 31. 35 



present cases was made up of snch mineral substances as oyster 

 shells, bone, sand, common salt (2 to 20 per cent.), Epsom or 

 Glaubers salts (about 5 per cent.), niter (1 or more per cent.) 

 and Venetian red. The vegetable drugs — fenugreek, fennel, 

 anise, gentian, ginger and pepper — were employed in suffi- 

 cient quantities to produce an agreeable odor and smart taste, 

 probably in quantities varying from 5 to 10 per cent, of the 

 whole mixture. In some cases the total quantity of mineral and 

 vegetable drugs constituted from one-sixth to one-third of the 

 mixture, while in other cases the amount of such substances was 

 very much less. 



Cost and Selling Price compared. 



None of the mineral drugs, excepting niter, cost much over 1 

 cent a pound ; the vegetable drugs vary in price from 3 to 12 

 cents a pound. Judging from all the data at hand, the cost of 

 the entire mixtures — grains and drugs — could rarely have 

 exceeded 3 to 4 cents a pound. In many cases it could not have 

 been more than 2 cents a pound. 



The initial cost of the condition powders is probably some- 

 what greater than the ordinary stock foods. The retail prices of 

 the latter vary from G to 25 cents a pound, depending on the 

 brand and quantity purchased. Condition powders are much 

 higher priced, varying from 30 cents to $1 a pound. Is it not 

 strange that many are willing to pay extravagant i:»riccs for ma- 

 terials possessing such ordinary feeding and medicinal values ? 

 It is hoped that poultrymen have sufficient common sense to pur- 

 chase bran, corn meal, salt, oyster shells, charcoal and meat 

 scraps separately, rather than pay from 10 to 20 cents a pound 

 for such mixtures put up in attractive packages, for which the 

 manufacturers make the most astounding and unreasonable 

 claims. 



Utility of these Foods. 

 Their food value cannot be greater than the ordinary grains, 

 of which they are largely composed. Their medicinal value de- 

 pends largely upon the aromatic seeds and roots used as a tonic 

 for the stomach, on charcoal as an absorbent and on the purga- 

 tive effect of the Ei:)Som or Glaubers salts. The quantity recom- 



