102 FLAX. 



smooth cylinders. Pat 168 Ibs. of water into an iron 

 copper, and as soon as it boils not before stir in 21 Ibs. 

 of linseed meal ; continue to stir it for about five minutes ; 

 then let 63 Ibs. of the crushed barley be sprinkled by the 

 hand of one person upon the boiling mucilage, while 

 another rapidly stirs and crams it in. After the whole 

 has been carefully incorporated, which will not occupy 

 more than five or ten minutes, cover it down and throw 

 the furnace-door open. Should there be much fire, put 

 it out. The mass will continue to simmer, from the heat 

 of the cauldron, till the barley has absorbed the muci- 

 lage, when the kernels will have resumed nearly their 

 original shape, and may justly be compared to little oil- 

 cakes, which, when cold, will be devoured with avidity. 



FOR BULLOCKS the same process is to be observed ; 

 but the barley must be ground to the finest meal by mill- 

 stones, and the quantity of water reduced to about 150 Ibs. 

 There is this difference also : in the former case the fire 

 need not be extinguished, but in the latter it must, or at 

 least be damped. The reason is obvious ; for flattened 

 barley requires heat to carry on absorption, while meal 

 is sufficiently cooked by immersion. 



The reason why the compound for sheep is not equally 

 adapted for bullocks is, that sheep are close-ruminating 

 animals, and pass nothing undigested ; while with bullocks 

 it is far otherwise. This the practical observer will soon 

 discover. JSTor let the amateur disdain the inquiry ; 

 because his success as a farmer mainly depends upon the 

 fattening of cattle. He must now think and act for 

 himself, and no longer be guided by antiquated maxims 

 and customs founded upon idleness, ignorance, and pre- 

 judice. Therefore, it is not necessary for barley, or even 

 linseed, to be reduced to fine meal for sheep ; but for 

 bullocks it is indispensable that linseed should be crushed, 

 and barley ground as fine as possible. 



On the compound being removed into tubs, it must be 

 rammed down to exclude the air, and to prevent it from 

 turning rancid. After a little practice the eye will be a 

 sufficient guide to the proportions, without the trouble 



