FEEDING STUEE INSPECTION. 105 



As is shown in the table on page 112, there is about 2 dollars 

 a ton difference in value between each of these grades of cotton- 

 seed meal as a source of protein. Choice cottonseed meal at 

 $32 a ton is as economical a source of protein as prime meal at 

 28 dollars per ton. The cost of protein in each case would be 

 3.9 cents a pound. 



The hulls and cotton which should be removed from the seed 

 before it is crushed and pressed, have but little feeding value. 

 A little of these materials has always been present in the meal ; 

 with the present processes of manufacture, there is probably 

 more of these materials present than formerly. The demand 

 from feeders for cottonseed meal has so increased the value of 

 this by-product, that the temptation to include as much of the 

 hulls and cotton as practicable is great. The processes of 

 manufacture in different mills also vary so that the meal from 

 some mills will contain more of the dark hulls which gives the 

 dark colored meal of inferior feeding value. 



Strictly first-class cottonseed meal is always bright and yellow 

 and should have a pleasant nutty flavor. Not all dark colored 

 cottonseed meal is necessarily adulterated. The spontaneous 

 heating of the seed in the field, or over cooking of the " meats " 

 may render the meal dark in color without changing its compo- 

 sition. Such meal is not first quality, however, and should be 

 sold at a lower price. 



Because of the differences in the behavior of hulls, the finely 

 ground cottonseed meal, and the cotton when wet up with water, 

 the presence of undue amounts of hull and cotton can be readily 

 detected by stirring a little of the meal in a tumbler of water. 

 The hulls, unless they are very finely ground, settle out first and 

 on top of these will come the finer portions of the meal, and 

 finally the cotton by itself. By testing a meal of high grade in 

 comparison with a poor quality meal, one can so familiarize 

 himself with this test as to quite readily and accurately dis- 

 tinguish the quality of cottonseed meal.' 



The cottonseed meal situation has been ,a very unfortunate 

 one in Maine the present year. In the late fall the cotton crop 

 was very seriously damaged by a storm which resulted in a 

 smaller yield of cottonseed than was anticipated, and also made 

 considerable dark colored meal. This shortage materially 

 advanced the price of choice cottonseed meal and increased the 



