62 THE CATTLE OF GREAT BRITAIN. 



the common cake, further than with calves — for which it is not 

 suitable — we strongly advise our readers to buy the best decor- 

 ticated. It must be remembered that cotton-cake is a binding, 

 rather than a relaxing, food ; hence it is not suitable for animals 

 feeding entirely on dry food. Under such circumstances the addi- 

 tion of linseed cake is desirable, but as a mixture for growing 

 stock that get turnips, and especially for cattle on grass, we 

 have a very high opinion of the decorticated cotton-cake. 



Rape cake has not acquired the importance it deserves, for 

 two reasons : animals do not eat it readily, owing to its hot, 

 bitter taste, though when once accustomed there is no difficulty 

 on this score; secondly, inferior samples, especially English- 

 made, frequently contain the seeds of wild mustard, the oil of 

 which is a violent poison. Fatal cases have occurred from this 

 cause. The oil, being volatile, is easily destroyed by subjecting 

 the cake to a certain temperature : hence if we are at all in 

 doubt as to the quality of the cake, boiling or steammg is a 

 safeguard. The presence of mustard can be readily detected by 

 treating a portion of finely -powdered cake with boiling water. 

 The oil, which is very volatile, escapes, and may be recognised 

 by its pungent odour and powerful irritating action, making the 

 operator's eyes water. According to the late Dr. Voelcker's 

 analysis, good rape cake should contain — 



Moisture 10-68 



Oil 11-10 



Nitrogenised, or flesh-forming matters 29-53 



Heat-giving substances 40*90 



Mineral matter (asli) 7-79 



100-00 



It is evident from the above that rape cake is not deficient in 

 nutritive properties, and the late Mr. T. Horsfall stated, in his 

 valuable " Articles on Dairy Husbandry," that he used it with 

 marked success. His mixture for milch cows comprised rape 

 cake, 51b., and bran, 21b., for each cow, mixed with bean straw, 

 oat straw, and shells of oats, in equal proportions, supplying this 

 food three times a day ad libitum. The materials were moistened, 

 well steamed, and given in a warm state. Mr. Horsfall further 

 states that he had no difficulty in inducing his animals to eat 



