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IX. — Observations on the recently-introduced Manufactured Foods 

 for AgricultiLral Stock. By J. B. Lawes, F.R.S. 



In common with other agricviltu lists I have been invited, by 

 advertiseraents in the papers, by placards on the walls, and by 

 circulars containing numerous testimonials from distinguished 

 persons, to employ certain manufactured foods in the feeding of 

 the animals on my farm. These foods frequently cost from 40^. 

 to hOs. per cwt. Taking, for those for which it is given, the pub- 

 lished average prices for the 6 weeks ending July 1 7th, 1 cwt. of 

 the following: stock foods would cost as under : — 



s. d. 



1 cwt. barley 8 4 



„ oats 9 2 



,, beans 9 4 



„ peas 9 6 



„ IcntilF, 10 



„ oilcake 10 



„ linseed 16 6 



,, hay 4 



The manufactured foods thus cost, weight for weight, 4 or 5 

 times as much as the most nutritive of the oi"dinary stock foods 

 on our farms.* Very undeniable evidence of the superiority of 

 the former should therefore be required, to induce the farmer ex- 

 tensively to employ them. But it is rather strange that among 

 the numerous testimonials in general terms, no evidence based 

 upon exact comparative experiment, showing actual weights of 

 food consumed and increase in live-weight obtained, has been 

 brought forward in favour of these costly foods ; nor does a re- 

 ference to the circulars give much insight into their compo- 

 sition. 



We do, however, in one circular, find the report of a Professor 

 of Chemistry, stating that the food sent to him for analysis con- 

 tained, besides nitrogenous and mineral matters, upwards of 50 

 per cent, of respiratory matter. It is further added, that if given 

 to cattle in the proportions stated in the prospectus they must 

 thrive. In reference to the above statement of composition, it 

 may be observed, that it would apply almost equally well to 

 any of the substances, except the hay, in the foregoing list of or- 

 dinary foods, which cost only about one-fourth or one-fifth as 

 much. 



The following is the result of an analysis in the Rothamsted 



''■' * Of course the relation -will^vary with the market prices ; but the prices per cwt. 

 can at any time be easily calculated for the purpose of the comparison. 



