328 Agricultural Chemistry — Sheep-Feeding and Manure, 



to conclude that by the conversion of the starch into sup^ar, or 

 whatever the changes may be, the loss of the admittedly valuable 

 nitrogenous compounds had been, to a certain degree, compensated. 

 Our experiments with sheep, however, have led us to no such con- 

 clusion, whilst an analytical examination of the malting process has 

 shown that in the barley submitted to it there is a reduction in 

 some of its constituents which must obviously influence the value 

 of the manure resulting from the consumption of the produced 

 malt. Whilst, however, the results detailed do not in any degree 

 encourage the idea that a much more extended use of malt for 

 feeding purposes would prove to be of essential service to the 

 farmer, we at the same time do not doubt, that, leaving out of view 

 its cost, and the consideration of the comparative value of the 

 manure produced, its occasional employment in admixture or 

 alternation witli other articles of food, may have a favourable influ- 

 ence upon the progress of the animal ; and, indeed, when used as 

 a relish rather than as a staple article of food, it is as such an use- 

 ful and genial auxiliary. But, in speculating as to the economy of 

 its adoption, the loss of manuring constituents must always be 

 charged against it ; whilst the cost of the process of manufacture, 

 as estimated by Mr. Curtis, would, at the lowest calculation, amount 

 to 2s. 6d. per quarter on the barley, provided the process were 

 conducted as is usual for brewing purposes. It is probable, how- 

 ever, that a comparatively partial growth might yield a somewhat 

 better result, with a cost and loss proportionally reduced ; and such 

 a process might indeed be suggested for trial as an improvement 

 upon that of merely steeping, in cases where it may be deemed 

 expedient to consume the highly elaborated* cereal grains upon the 

 farm. 



Having given some account of the per centage composition of 

 the several foods employed in the experiments, and of the pre- 

 paration of the malt, we now turn to the application of the in- 

 formation thus provided to the actual facts of the feeding experi- 

 ments themselves. 



In the next Table are given the total increase in live weights 

 in the several pens during the 10 weeks of the experimental 

 period, and the total amounts oi fresh food^ of dry organic matter, 

 of mineral matter, and of nitrogen consumed to produce it. 



* It is true that the samples of the cereal grains wliich are geiierall}' used as food for 

 stock are not as cereal grains "highly elaborated ;" though when compaied with other 

 articles of cattle fuod of home production they are so in an eminent degree, whilst 

 they have been produced at a cost which would require that their beneficial eflects 

 upon the animal sliould be very considerable, if it is to be repaid by their consumption 

 upon the farm to a great extent as the means of obtaining manure, the ultimate object 

 rf icliicli is the reproducii'jn (f the same description of produce, but possibly of a 

 better quality, 



