Feeding Experiments. 37 



When a bird refused for two or three days, the crammer was then used 

 once or twice a day as thought best. 



Wild Buckwheat the most palatable. — The most palatable ration 

 of the eighteen was No. 13, composed of wild buckwheat entirely. 

 This was followed very closely by N.o. 14, which had wild buckwheat 

 two parts, corn meal one part, and finely ground oats one part. Then 

 came Nos. 17 and 18. The next most palatable rations were the 

 scalpings. Scalpings two parts, with one part cornmeal and one part 

 oats, was slightly more palatable than the ration that was composed 

 of scalpings alone. 



This would indicate very clearly that poultry is very fond of wild 

 buckwheat, and the fact that Nos. 17 and 18 were more palatable than 

 Nos. 1 and 2 does not put the scalpings very far behind, as Nos. 17 

 and 18, composed as they were of corn and finely ground oats, is one 

 of the most palatable rations that has been known for crate feeding 

 poultry. 



Black seeds no good-at any price. — Wherever either of the mustards 

 or lamb's quarters was present in the mixture the birds practically 

 refused the food, and even when they were forced to take it by the use 

 of the crammer they disliked the food so much that they lost flesh 

 as long as the operation was continued. The results therefore clearly 

 indicate that any ration including black seeds should noi; be fed, and 

 though it is sometimes recommended to mix mustard with poultry 

 feeds, it might be-TveU to note that the use of commercial mustard when 

 fed in moderation is not as objectionable as this wild mustard proved 

 to be in this feeding experiment. 



Pounds of F^ed required to. make one pound of gain. — From the 

 standpoint of relative gains, that is, the amount of feed required to 

 make one pound of gain in flesh, No. 14 was first, requiring 3 • 4 pounds 

 of the rationior one poun'd of grain ; then came No. 13 with 3 • 9 pounds, 

 followed by Nos. 17 and 18 with 4 • 2 pounds and No. 1 with 4 • 7 pounds. 

 In connection with these figures, note that the cost of milk is not 

 inoluded. 



The quality of flesh good. — The quality of the flesh produced from 

 the wild buckwheat seemed to be just as good as that produced from 

 the ordinary mash, Nos. 17 and 18, and it would appear from this that 

 the wild buckwheat might become a most valuable food for crate 

 feeding poultry. The poultry thus fattened should be of a- superior 

 quality and would bring a high price when sold. 



A Solution Suggested. 



In looking for a solution of the screening problem it must be 

 remembered that practically all grain is received at the terminal 

 elevators uncleaned; that is, just as it comes from the threshing 

 machine. Relatively few of the interior elevators, except those 

 operated by farmers' co-operative organizations, have cleaning 

 machinery and even where such facilities are available, the cleaning of 

 grain hauled direct from tKe machine is impossible during the rush 



