56 THE CATTLE OF GREAT BRITAIN. 



samples — is available for meal, and when well harvested, has 

 a marked effect in the production of flesh. Foreign barley 

 makes excellent meal, being generally drier and harder. The 

 advocates for the remission of the malt tax argued that better 

 results would be obtained on malt. Sir J. Lawes, however, 

 is of a different opinion, and as his conclusions are the results 

 of direct experiments, we place most confidence in them. The 

 increase in weight of sheep on a certain quantity of barley was 

 considerably greater than on the same after being subjected to 

 the malting process ; and he says, " Not only is the weight of 

 the malt considerably less than that of the barley from which it 

 was produced, but that weight for weight, independently of loss 

 and cost of process (estimated at 2s. per quarter), the feeding 

 qualities of malt are not superior to barley. At the same time, 

 he admits that, as a mixture with other food, or as an occasional 

 stimulant to digestion, malt may be usefully employed. The 

 composition of bar^oy is as follows : — 



Water 14 



Flesh-formers 14 



Starch, &c 68 



Fatty matter 2 



Ash 2 



100 

 As a confirmation of Sir J. Lawes*s researches, it may be 

 noted that, though the tax has been removed for some years, 

 malt is very little used for feeding purposes ; and hence we may 

 conclude that, taking into account the cost of the operation and 

 the loss of weight, it is not found advantageous. 



Beans, peas, and lentils are so identical in composition, and 

 similar in their effect, that they may be substituted for each 

 other according to our convenience, and may be considered 

 together. These are valuable feeding materials, and, when used 

 with judgment, give satisfactory results. Owing to mechanical 

 condition, and also to the large proportion of flesh-forming 

 elements, all three are more or less indigestible if given without 

 due preparation, are partially wasted, and if largely used, are 

 apt to cause constipation of the bowels. Beans, which are the 

 hardest, should either be broken small or ground into meal. 

 Peas are much softer in their nature, and will be sufficiently 



