Stock Feeding.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 7886, 31 July 1905, Page 4

Stock Feeding.

THE PRINCIPLES OF LIFE. At the Agriculture Conference Dr. King gave tbe results ot a series of experimental ieedings at Seacliii for several months of five young pigs ot diets composed of varying quantities o- skim milk, oatmeal, molasses, and a patent food. This foods advantages as a food stuff had been so proclaimed that calculating at the price for which it is sold in New Zealand (£lO per ton) the annual sales in the Old World would have a value of about £1,000,000. Testimonials from authorities in various European countries show that most striking results had been obtained. The chemical analysis supplied would •onvey the idea of a food of hip nutritive value, ami tire proprietor} proclaim that the actual it suits show virtues quite beyond whai might be inferred from the analysis A'sheaf of the most favourable testimonials seemed to confirm this, ihe results of the, experiments carried out by Dr. King tended to show that the available nutrient material in the food was about one-third of that contained in molasses, whic'., can be procured in the colony at £4 per ton. In other words, £4 expended od molasses would appear to give as much increase in weight as £3(l expended on the food used. The inert indigestible material in the latter appeared to act prejudicially on the health of tbe pigs. A series of experiments in tiie rearing of calves on skim milk, linseed, and oatmeal showed apparently complete success in substituting the oatmeal and linseed for the butter fat which had been removed from the cow's milk. Though the calves at Seacliff had fcwn fed for eight, successive years with perfect success in this way, Dr. King said he would not me any such food for the highest class ot breeding stock, bei cause there was no reason to justify the assumption that any substitute, however good its results might be, would build up as perfect a being as mother's milk. He submitted that there could be no stronger argument than this ••gainst any kind of feeding by other than natural means In the case '■( infants except where there was iisolutie toeoesKity. In human <Dengs, there bad to be considered not i nerely the building of an animal ■ i,ody, but the question of mind and emotion as well.

Subsequently some potatoes were shown to illustrate the best method nf keeping them for seed purposes, md tlie same moral was tirawn, amely. that in the vegetable, just is in the animal kingdom, (he bighst wisdom lav in sparing no pains to maintain the young organism throughout is the best possible condition. In the case of plants, just s in the case of animals, the inroads of disease were best avaided ''V keeping the organism well nourshed, vigorous and hardy. It was better to be prepared to fight one's ! neniies rather than poison their i veils. The potato plants which suf■r most from various blights are hose which have the least vital energy and resistance ; the turnips attacked by aphidis in a field arc not, as one might expect, the healthiest and mast appetising, but the weakst ami least resistive. The broader principles of life apply equally to dants and animals. Such Taws and principles ought to be conveyed to the rising generation, and could be asily illustrated to children; in chools, and would be appreciated by them. A practical demonstration of Pro?ssor Hatch's method of bringing •ows milk into approximate conformity with that of human beings wa; iven, the essentials of the process <eing the removal of nearly two birds of the curd by syphoning off be "greater part of the skim-milk nd the addition of a solution of -atural sugar and milk, together >"itb a small quantity of lime-water or fluid magnesia to prevent acidity.