296 HOKTUS GRAMINEUS W OB U UN E N SIS. 



attributed to the pasture containing a large share of the 

 superior grasses ; which grasses are those that have been 

 tested and botanically described by our author. But what 

 we have to remark concerning these tests, is this, — that they 

 completely justify the preference previously given by cattle 

 and their intelligent owners ; all being found, by chemical 

 analysis, to be superior in nutritive qualities to those plants 

 which were neglected. 



We know well, that it has been objected to chemical 

 tests, that they do not always accord with the tastes of ani- 

 mals. It is difficult to say what are really the most nutri- 

 tious qualities of plants : sugar and albumen may be con- 

 sidered as such. But we know that neither of these, how- 

 ever pure, singly or together, would ensure the ready fatten- 

 ing of an animal. The food requires an admixture of fibrous 

 matter with that which is mucilaginous. And besides, we 

 know that fodder, whether green or dry, and which, if tested 

 chemically, would be declared worthless, would, if previously 

 sprinkled with either salt or sugar, particularly the former, 

 be eagerly devoured by cattle of any kind. And we always 

 observe that the instinct of brute animals invariably leads 

 them to choose that which is most suitable to them, their 

 olfactory and palative faculties acting in their service instead 

 of judgment. And yet we often hear of cattle picking up 

 noxious herbage : and we know that they will eat what will 

 kill. The preferences shown by cattle are therefore sup- 

 posed to be better proofs than those obtained from the ana- 

 lysis of the chemist. 



The chemical analysis of oil-cake shows how rich it is in 

 oleaceous, fattening qualities ; and we know the rapid im- 

 provement in the weight of beasts fed with it : but neither 

 the scent nor taste of this substance is inviting to cattle 

 when it is first presented to them, it often lying two or three 

 days in the manger or troughs before they will touch the 

 cake, though at last they become exceedingly fond of such 

 unnatural food. This would tend to show that cattle are 

 not judges of what is best for themselves, and that in the 

 process of artificial or stall-feeding, the chemist could pre- 



