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XIII. — On tJie Use of Rapecake as Food for Stock. By 

 Ph. Pusey, M.P. 



Two kinds of oilcake, as is well known to farmers, are used in 

 high cultivation — one, the refuse of flax-seed, linseed-cake, for 

 the feeding of stock ; the other, a less expensive article, the refuse 

 of rape-seed, as a manure for wheat. Having been informed by 

 a French farmer that it is the practice in French Flanders to mix 

 rapecake with oilcake in the proportion of one to two for the 

 nobler purpose, I tried the experiment last winter, when linseed- 

 cake cost about 9Z. and rapecake about 5Z. per ton. 



The cheaper cake, having a hot taste, was mixed with the other 

 at first in the proportion of one-tenth, and the fatting tegs, half- 

 breds chieflv, but a few of them Downs, ate the mixture with 

 little reluctance. The admixture of rapecake was gradually in- 

 creased until it reached the proportion of one to three, or one- 

 fourth of the whole, when symptoms of mutiny showed them- 

 selves, and we did not think it expedient further to adulterate the 

 rations, but continued at that proportion ; and among more than 

 400 tegs so fatted no mishap occurred from the use of rapecake, 

 though occasional symptoms of purging arose. 'J'he rapecake was 

 tried with some fatting heifers,* but as they did not take to it rea- 

 dily, and were in an advanced state, I did not think it worth while 

 to press the point with them, for fear of throwing them back in 

 condition. In Flanders, however, horned cattle are fed partly with 

 rapecake. The most decided success was with about 60 old 

 Down ewes, which, having borne twin lambs, were kept apart as 

 usual to receive better food. These being more sharply set than 

 the fatting tegs, allowed my shepherd gradually to increase the 

 proportion of rapecake until no linseed-cake was given at all. 

 This of course is an important saving, if the cheaper cake be as 

 nourishing as the dearer one. In that important respect my shep- 

 herd could observe no difference; but the question seemed to be 

 fit for chemical analysis, and was referred by me to Mr. Way, 

 whose answer was satisfactory, being as follows : — 



" I have had an analysis made of the rapecake you sent me : it contains 



Nitrogen . , . . 5*23 per cent. 



Oil or fat .... 11 '63 per cent. 



In neither of these particulars does it much differ from linseed-cake, of 

 which I have examined eleven specimens, containing on an average 



Nitrogen . . . . 4*60 per cent. 



Oil or fat .... 11 '90 per cent. 



The oil is in general about from 12 to 14 per cent." 



* I propose, however, trying it next winter for cows kept in the yard upon mangold- 

 wurzel and barley-straw, as was done successfully last year on Sir Robert Peel's 

 farm at Drayton Manor. Unless the cake scoured the cows, it must, if given in 

 moderation, improve, I should think, the quality of the milk. 



