EARLY EXPERIMEXES WITH PEAT MOLASSES FEEDING. 261 



Wagner attempted to overcome the action of potassic salts Early peri- 



upon the digestive system and at the same time give molasses ments Wlth * at 



. . ., .,, molasses feeding, 



certain keeping qualities by mixing it with peat. 



Among the early practical experiments in the peat-molasses 

 combinations may be mentioned those in Sallschutz (Austria) 

 in 1895, which were the outcome of the exceptionally high sell- 

 ing price of farinaceous products. The early mixtures consisted 

 of molasses containing 48 per cent, sugar, to which was added 

 oil meal. This proportion was later changed to 40 parts oil 

 meal and 60 parts molasses. The addition of molasses to other 

 feeds was abandoned after several experiments. The 60 per 

 cent, molasses fodder had the following composition: Water 

 21.4 per cent., nitrogenous substances 11.1, fatty substances 

 0.7, non-nitrogenous 53.5, of which 28.8 per cent, is sugar, 6.7 

 per cent, cellulose, and 6.9 per cent. ash. 



The peat-molasses combination became popular in 1896, 

 when 20 parts peat were combined with 80 parts molasses. 

 This combination contained 38 to 40 per cent, sugar, and the 

 product sold for 80 cents for 220 Ibs. , or J cent per pound. 



The peat absorbs the molasses, so that the ultimate forage is 

 very uniform. The acids of peat neutralize the salts of molasses 

 and render them harmless when fed. The peat used should be 

 fine in texture and possess a very considerable absorbing power. 

 This pulverized product can absorb, according to Schwartz, 

 three or four times its weight of molasses without losing the ad- 

 vantage of forming a combination that may be easily handled. 



Experience shows that for practical purposes the best results 

 are obtained by mixing it with twice its weight of molasses. 

 Under these circumstances one obtains, according to Weigmann, 

 a forage having the following composition: 



Per cent. 



Water 24.85 



Protein 8.34 



Fatty substances 0.87 



Ash 7. 54 



Cellulose 5.80 



Xon-nitrogenous 52.60 



Dr. Albert says there follows a considerable increase in weight, 



