172 SECONDARY FEEDING STUFFS 



flat-bottomed shallow dishes containing dried fragments 

 of pumice. Dishes and contents are then dried in 

 vacuum at a temperature not exceeding 75° to 80° C. 



(J?) Insoluble Matter. — A weighed quantity of molasses 

 is dissolved in water and filtered. The residue, if any, 

 should be examined qualitatively, and if large in amount 

 must be weighed after drying. Coal dust and similar 

 substances are sometimes added to feeding molasses in 

 order to prevent depredation at the farm. 



{c) Ash. — This is also an important determination ; the ash 

 content of beet molasses is much higher than that from canes, the 

 salts sometimes giving the product a peculiar saline taste, and 

 causing scouring in animals which are fed with it. 



About 5 grams of the molasses are mixed with a few 

 drops of sulphuric acid and the mixture gently and 

 carefully incinerated. The presence of the acid is of 

 some advantage at the commencement of carbonisation, 

 and renders the process easier of accomplishment. The 

 weight of the ash obtained is diminished by one-tenth 

 to allow for the conversion of the carbonates, etc., into 

 sulphates. 



{d) Reducing Sugars. — The quantity of dextrose in 

 molasses is generally not very large. Reducing sugars 

 may be detected and estimated by the usual methods. 



171. Molasses Feeds. 



(a) Absorbent Base. — About 50 grams of the feed 

 are extracted with warm water and the residue washed 

 until no further soluble material is removed. The 

 residual material is examined under the lens or micro- 

 scope and identified if possible. Special search should 

 be made for worthless hulls like those of coffee, earth- 

 nut or rice, or for sawdust or other woody fibrous 

 material. 



