Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1846-10-01
Al c,vnrn1{lnrrsT.
"ro IMPROVE THE son. AND THE aisD.'
WHENCE DO ANIMALS DERIVE
THEIR FAT,

4 The theory has lately been put forth by some
European chemists, that such plants only as
contain oil or the element Of fat, can fatten an.
iuals A late number Of the Quarterly Jour
nal Of Agriculture, contains an article transla-
ted from the French, on the ''fattening Of cat
tie, and the formation of milk, by NJ. M. DA-
MAS, BoussrsGauLT and PAYEs." In this ar
ticle the theory above mentioned is strongly
and elaborately defended. II is obvious that
the subject involves subject of great practical
importance, viz: That Of selecting the proper
plants for la,tening Of animals and the produc-
ZION Of butter. The researches Of the chemist
and the philosopher, may be Of service in de-
Gliding this point though il appears TO us that
in lhe adoption ofthe new theories, we should
be careful that they are NO: opposed TO well es-
tablished facts. A sensible writer has well re-
marked, that perhaps nothing has done so
much 10 discredt, amongst the mass of far
mers. the probability Of probably making the
science of chemistry available Tor the purpose
of agriculture, as repeated assertions made by
chemists, either at variance with, or only par
TALLY founded on facts" 1t strikes US that the
article to which we allude, is in some partlcu-
lars obnoxious to this charge.
In advocating the theory that animals have
not been known to !aiten on food devoid Of fat,
il is stated that hogs have not been known TO
tatten on potatoesi Al the closing of the
article, the writer gives a summary of
the conclusions arrived at, among which il
is laid down "that potatoes, mangel wurtze,
and carrots, only iatten so far as they are join
cd with products containing fat substance,
such as straw, the seeds of cereal plants, bean,
or oil cake" 1t will hardly be necessary TO
refer TO particular cases TO show that this con
cusion is at variance with facts--the expe-
frt fs,t,.,
MANY persons who have fattened animals on
potatoes or carrots? We have often fattened
animals on potatoes, with no additional food
than such quantity Of straw or hay as was
necessary TO give proper distenslon TO the bow
els, and assist the animal to "raise the cud, )"
and never saw better beef than from cattle thus
fed In some of the cases we have in mind,
the whole quantity of food given, besides the
potatoes. would not have been sufficient to
sustain the animal in ordinary condition. So
in regard TO hogs, we have known many ca
ses where the accumulation of fat could be at
fibuted to nothing else but potatoes. We can
not cite cases where potatoes were the only
food given, but the quantity of other kinds
would never have fattened them.
The experiment to which these French
chemists refer in support ofthelr theory, if well
conducted in other respects. must, IN our opin-
ion, have been made with an inferior breed Of
hogs.
In a note attached to the article upon which
we have made the above comments, is re-
mark in relation to the effect of carrots when
given TO mich cows, TO which we wish 10 call
the attention Of our readers il is said, "ihis
sort Of food [carrots is reserved for those cows
which are not so good mixers, and whose
milk it is wished still farther to impoverish, in
order that il may serve as substitute 70, wo-
mans milk" Now we would inquire wheth-
er any thing like the effect here indicated is
known to follow the use Of carrots for cows
in this country7 So far as we are acquainted,
the effects of carrots is believed TO be to make
the milk richer instead Of poorer.-,4lbaty
Cuuirator.