50 THE CATTLE OF GREAT BRITAIN, 



establislied, and has since maintained and increased its position. 

 The late Dr. Yoelcker wrote a valuable paper in the Royal Agri- 

 cultural Society's Journal for 1868, from which the following 

 figures, being the mean of seven analyses, are taken : 



Decorticated Cotton Seed Cake. 



Water 9-28 



Oil 16-05 



Albuminous compounds (flesh-forming matters)* 41*25 



Gums, mucilage, sugars, &c. (heat-producing materials) 16*45 



Indigestible fibre 8-92 



Mineral matter (ash) 8*05 



100*00 

 * Containing nitrogen 6*58 per cent. 



If we compare the above with the analysis of linseed cake, we 

 shall find the cotton-cake superior in the proportion of oil and 

 flesh-formers. The former is not like linseed, purgative in its 

 action, but is sweet and agreeable to the taste. Cattle eat it 

 readily. Dr. Voelcker considers it quite equal to linseed cake. 

 We think it very superior to much of the rubbish sold under 

 the title of linseed cake, although it can be bought at one-third 

 less price. The cake we are describing is the thin cake, imported 

 chiefly from New Orleans, and which finds its way into Liver- 

 pool. It should be of a bright yellow colour, close texture, 

 and, when cut with a knife, the surface exhibits a shining 

 appearance, caused by the oil. Only occasional specks of black 

 should be visible. Any larger portion of shell indicates imper- 

 fect decortication. This cake is admirably adapted for cattle 

 on grass, as its slightly astringent property tends to prevent 

 scouring, which the luxuriance of the grass would otherwise 

 j^roduce. The large percentage of flesh formers renders it 

 peculiarly valuable for growing animals. Decorticated cake is 

 generally about a quarter less than the best linseed cake, and for 

 many purposes we consider it decidedly superior. It must not 

 be forgotten that Mr. Lawes places it at the head of his list as 

 a manure producer, and we cannot imagine any more immediate 

 or certain way of restoring fertility to land than by applying 

 manure made from decorticated cotton- seed cake. Complaints 

 have been justly made that recent brands are so dry and hard 

 that they are imperfectly digested ; indeed, so serious is the 



