38 CHEMICAL DEPAliTMENT. 



FEEDING STUFFS— THEIR COMPOSITION AND 

 CHARACTERISTICS. 



These are concentrated forms of fodder, whose value depends upon 

 their alhuminoid matter and oil, and in a subordinate degree upon 

 their mrbohytJ rates. 

 Linseed (Seed of Linuni usifatisdmum, Common Flax). — Boml^ay seed 

 large and pale ; Baltic seed smaller an<l dark brown, more liable to 

 impurities than Bombay seed; should be crushed and plotted before 

 feeding. Useful in calf- fodders, also for milk-giving, and in the last 

 stage of masting. Quantity, 1 to 3 lbs. per 1000 lbs. L.W. 

 Linseed Cake. — Much approved feeding cake, merits well known. 

 Home-made cake usually softer and more oily than foreign. Very 

 hard pressed cake should be avoided, as it is low in oil, and not easily 

 digested. Linseed cakes usually impure. Chief impurities, rape 

 cake and loci;st beans, less frequently chaff, and weed seeds from 

 badly screened seed. Should be broken to small pieces before 

 feeding. Quantity, 2 to 12 lbs. per 1000 lbs. L.W. 

 Rape Cake (Seed of Brassica Najius and B. campestris. — It has a 

 greenish mottled appearance, and a bitter taste, which renders it dis- 

 tasteful to cattle at first. Should be given in small quantity to begin 

 with. Not suited for calves. When given to milch cows, the quantity 

 should not exceed 2 or 3 lbs. per head per day, or it will give a dis- 

 agreeable taste to milk and butter. Sometimes very impure. A 

 dangerous impurity is mustard seed. May be detected by steeping 

 in cold water for some hours, and noting smell of mustard. Danger 

 may be avoided by steeping the ground cake in boiling water. 

 Poppy Cake (Seed of Papaver somniferum). — Contains a savoury and 

 easily digestible oil. May be fed to stock in considerable c|uantity — 

 5 to 8 lbs per head per day. ]\Iore than 5 lbs. per head per day 

 to milch cows detracts from flavour of butter. 

 Hemp Cake (Seed of Cannabis sativa). — Not much used for feeding. 

 Not so digestible as the above, owing to abundance of woody fibre (25 

 per cent.). Fed chiefly to horses and sheep. To milch cows not 

 more than 1 lb. per head per day. Apt to grow mouldy in summer. 

 Sunflower Cake (Seed of Helianthus annuus). — Relished by stock, 



and well digested. 

 Cotton Cake (Seed of Gossypium hirsutum, &c.). Undecorticated. — Best 

 quality from Egyptian and Sea Island seed. Inferior qualities are 

 woolly, and to be avoided. Husk has astringent properties, and is 

 a good cure for scour. Should be ground to the size of linseed. Not 

 very digestible, owing to abundance of woody fibre (28 per cent.). 

 Should be used freshly made, because liable to mould on keeping. 



Decorticated, viz., cotton cake deprived of the husk. — A very con- 

 centrated and powerful bye-fodder. Should be given with caution, 

 crushed fine, and mixed with Indian corn, oats, or other farinaceous 

 food. Large quantity is injurious, and may even be fatal. Very 

 variable in composition. Frequentl)^ very hard pressed, and therefore 

 indigestible. When freshly made, softly pressed, and of good quality, 

 it is a valuable bye fodder. Oil very bland and digestible, used to 

 adulterate olive oil. 

 Sesame Cake (Seed of Sesamum orientale). — Seed imported from 

 India. Excellent bye-fodder, easily digested, much relished by all 

 kinds of stock. Favourable for milk-giving, and also for masting. 

 Oil bland and digestible, and much in favour for making butterine. 

 Rice ^Ieal (Seed of Oryza sativa). — The meal is a bye-product 

 obtained in preparing rice for the market. A very good, safe, and 



