100 FLAX. 



fatting live stock. But nothing, lie says, can more 

 clearly evince the fattening properties of linseed itself, 

 than the striking effects produced by the offal, which 

 is formed into cake when the oil is extracted. Repeated 

 and extensive experiments have been made to fatten 

 cattle with the seed itself, also with the oil ; but on 

 account of the inconvenience, trouble, and expense of 

 preparing the food, with the uncertainty of a profitable 

 return, the use both of seed and oil is nearly discon- 

 tinued, and the prevailing opinion now is that the offal is 

 superior to the pure seed. " There is nothing like 

 cake !" exclaim many writers on this subject, and many 

 farmers ; indeed, the prejudices of some were carried so 

 far at one time, as to pronounce the oil pernicious, and 

 to recommend an article called double-pressed cake (we 

 have seen that it is all double-pressed), at an extra cost 

 of 2 per ton, instead of the cake commonly used. A 

 little reflection would have shown how improbable it was 

 that the seed-crusher would be so regardless of his own 

 interests as to leave oil worth from 35 to 40 per ton, 

 in the cake which he only sold for 10. 



That linseed oil will fatten bullocks, experience has 

 placed beyond a doubt. Amongst the fattest beasts ever 

 sent to the London market, from Norfolk, was a lot of 

 Scotch heifers, grazed entirely on linseed oil and hay ; 

 but, neither the quantity given per head, nor anything 

 relating to profit and loss, was ever made public: farmers 

 seldom keep account of such matters hence the frequent 

 failure of experiments. A bullock may be allowed, in 

 general, to eat as much cake in a day as he pleases, but 

 a nice regard must always be had to the quantity of 

 linseed placed before him, and especially to the oil. 

 Neither oil nor linseed should be used in a crude state, 

 but formed into mucilage by being boiled in water. The 

 seed must be first reduced to fine meal ; one pound and 

 a half of which, stirred into twelve pounds of water 

 while it is boiling, with four pounds and a half of barley, 

 beans, or pea meal, and given to a bullock of between 

 forty and fifty stone, every day, will, in addition to 



