Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1914-08-20
The Strawpile
Feed For Yellow Butter.


Yellow butter is due, primarily. to
the character of the feed the cow re-
ceives. This is the conclusion drawn
by the United States department OF
agriculture from the results of expert
ments conducted in cooperation with
the Missouri experiment station. These
experiments show that while the color
of butter is to some extent breed
characteristic it can be increased or
diminished by changing the animals
ration. ~
Chemical tests show that the yellow
pigment OF milk consists OF several
pigments found in green plants. car
rots. and yellow autumn leaves. These
pigments pass directly from the plant
into the milk. This explains the well
known fact that fresh green grass and
carrots increase the yellowness of but
ter. which Is the only standard by
which the average person judges its
richness. A large portion Of these pig
ments are deposited in the body fat
and elsewhere in the COW. The yell
lowness of the milk does not diminish
as rapidly as it otherwise would, when
the ration is changed to one having
less pigment because the cow draws on
this stored up supply. The yellowness
increases. however, as soon as the nee
essary plant pigments are restored to
the ration.
Green grass and green corn will proc
duce the highest coIored butter while
bleached clover hay and yellow corn
will produce butter lacking in color.
1t is indisputably true that the breed
does influence the color of the milk
fat. but If the ration is varied there
will be corresponding variation of
the color Of the milk fat of any breed.
The body fat of cattle Of the Jersey
and Guernsey breeds frequently is Ct
such a deep yellow color that butchers
and consumers discriminate against it.
The prejudice has no justification.
The yellowness OF the body fat comes
from the same source as the yellow
ness of the milk fat. There is no rea-
son why consumers should object to
one and demand the other.
The Potato.
Let not an oppressed world overlook
the fact that the rise in the cost OF
food is not unanimous. Meats, ever
treacherous, go out Of hight. Sugar,
tickle sweetness. scars. Bread, stan of
life, fails US. The humble potato goes
on beneficiently as before. You can
still buy potatoes for less than a dollar
a bushel. Joy Of the desolate, 1t has
even come down bit in price since all
else went up.
Some day the potato will be appreci-
ated in song and story for such services
as this to humanity. This is not the
first occasion on which the potato has
rescued the starving. Where would Ire
land be but for the potato? To the
credit of Ireland be it said that 1t has
shown It's gratitude by giving its name
! to the species. We speak Of them o.
Irish potatoes, notwithstanding that
they are an American contribution 70
the nOurishment OF the world.
Indeed, the case Of the potato Is but
one more instance of prophet not
without honor save in his own country.
At Gutenberg, Germany. q monument
has been erected to the potato. Sir
Francis Drake IL honored in name and
figure In this statue for introducing the
plant into Europe, and praise Of the p0-
| tato is carved on the pedestal. Murs
also has monument to the potato
Well 1t may. The potato has done
everything for Germany. furnishing
| food for its people and alchol for its
engines.
Now the potato holds down the CO.'S