1 86 AN AGRICULTURAL WAR PROBLEM 



to comparing the prices of different foods, it must 

 be used under definite limitations. The food to 

 buy is not necessarily that which is cheapest per 

 food unit, but that which is cheapest per food unit 

 and at the same time suitable for the purpose for 

 which it is required. Fortunately a certain amount 

 of information as to the general properties of many 

 of the new foods was available from feeding trials 

 made on the University Farm, at the Norfolk Agri- 

 cultural Station, and at many of the Agricultural 

 Colleges. This was supplemented by a study of 

 the agricultural literature of Germany where the 

 new foods had been in general use for some time. 

 Altogether sufficient information was collected to 

 enable the staff to compile rations in which many 

 of the new foods were included. Further informa- 

 tion has since come to hand through the courtesy 

 of numerous correspondents who have tried the 

 rations which were recommended. 



An illustration of the method used in framing 

 a ration will explain the points just discussed. 



Table II gives the cost per food unit of about 

 30 foods on the markets in April, 1915. Oats were 

 at that date the most expensive food on the market, 

 English oats costing 3J-. id. per food unit and Ar- 

 gentine oats 2s. n^d. Farmers are accustomed to 

 use oats for their horses, but to continue to do so 

 at these prices was not only extravagant but also 

 most unpatriotic, for the oats were required for the 

 Army horses. 



