NATURE AND VALUE OF FOOD. 55 



The following, in explanation of the above, is extracted from 

 the report which will be found in the fourteenth volume of the 

 " Eojal Agricultural Society's Journal," page 472 : — " One of 

 the pigs gained more than 21b. a day during the first fortnight 

 of the experiment, but the other two only about half as much. 

 Before the end of the first period it was observed, however, that 

 this fast-gaining pig, and one of the others (No. 3), had large 

 swellings on the side of their necks, and that at the same time 

 their breathing had become much laboured. It was obvious 

 that the Indian corn meal was in some way defective diet, and 

 it occurred to us that it was comparatively poor both in nitrogen 

 and mineral matter, though we were inclined to suspect that it 

 was a deficency of the latter rather than of the former, that was 

 the cause of the ill effects produced. We accordingly deter- 

 mined to continue the food as before, but at least to try the 

 effect of putting before the pigs a trough of some mineral 

 substances, of which they could take if they were disposed. 

 The mixture which we prepared was as follows : 201b. of finely- 

 sifted coal ashes, 41b. of common salt, and lib. of super- 

 phosphate of lime. A trough, containing this mineral mixture, 

 was put into the pen at the commencement of the second period, 

 and the pigs soon began to lick it with evident relish. From 

 this time the swellings or tumours, as well as the difficulty of 

 breathing, which probably arose from the swellings, began to 

 diminish rapidly. Indeed, at the end of the second period, the 

 swellings were very much reduced ; and at the end of the third 

 they had disappeared entirely. Notwithstanding this serious 

 drawback, it was found that the animals were satisfied with less 

 of this food, though so poor in nitrogen, in proportion to their 

 weight, than, with one exception, of any of the others ; and it 

 will be found that the increase is satisfactory when compared 

 with the food consumed." Indian corn, at any rate for pigs, 

 possesses considerable feeding properties, and there is no reason 

 to doubt its value for cattle when judiciously mixed with other 

 food. As a general rule, we may consider it cheap when it rules 

 4)8. to Bs. a quarter below grinding barleys. 



Barley is largely used for feeding. Either the coarser 

 samples of home -growth, which are not suitable for malting, or 

 the hinder ends — that is the tail corn which comes out of finer 



