EXAMINATION OF DR. PLAYFAIR's THEORY. 195 



potatoes were used chiefly for pigs; a few only were given to 

 the bullocks in the form of compound. 



And now a question naturally arises as to the correctness of 

 Dr. Playfair's theory, that " Oil-cake produces only fat, being 

 destitute of nitrogen ; and that by adding corn, which possesses 

 nitrogen, to linseed oil-cake, meat will be developed as well as 

 fat." To this opinion I never could accede, because I have 

 seen cattle fed in stalls exclusively with oil-cake and water, 

 which increased both in flesh and fat. In April last, my own 

 farm-horses were fed with wheat straw cut into fine chaff, and 

 immersed in boiling linseed meal and water till all was ab- 

 sorbed. With this they worked ten hours a day, and looked 

 better than when on hay and corn. I also kept some poor 

 bullocks upon the same food, which increased much in con- 

 dition. These instances, added to my present experiments, 

 led me to the conclusion, that linseed possesses both flesh and 

 fat making properties in an eminent degree. 



But perhaps Dr. Playfair will exclaim, " 'Tis the combina- 

 tion of material that develops meat as well as fat.'' True. 

 But straw incorporated with linseed or cake, is like the boy who 

 carried his father's spade, and observed on their return home, 

 "What a good day's work we have done;'' or the bellows- 

 blower, who congratulated himself and the organ-player upon 

 the plaudits obtained by their joint performance. 



The correctness of these illustrations may easily be proved 

 by giving a bullock, that would be termed " fleshy," nothing 

 but straw to eat, and he will rapidly decrease in condition. 

 At the same time,, let another, but little better than a skeleton, 

 be fed with straw well incorporated with boiling linseed meal 

 upon the above plan, and before many weeks the flesh-making 

 properties of the seed will have performed their office. In 

 making these brief observations, I wish it not to be supposed 

 that I undervalue chemical research ; on the contrary, I still 

 hope that some permanent good will be effected thereby; 

 though I fear the time is too far distant for the present 

 race of practical farmers to reap the benefit. Theories, how- 

 ever ingenious, must yield to the results of experiment ; which 

 in agricultural matters, I, in common with many others, have 

 too often proved to be fallacious. 



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