CATTLE. 133 



thoroughly cstahlishcd as one of tlie best of fattenino; products ; and the 

 extensive fanners of Lincohisliire and other places expend upon a single 

 farm, in one year, as much as £400 to £500, for this article of food ; 

 and so well understood is its fertilizing character, that many land-owners 

 are willing to make themselves and their incoming tenants, chargeahle 

 with proportions of the money so expended, at the rate of one-half to 

 one-third. It is the o})inion of some of the best farmers, that when 

 cake can be purchased at the same price per ton, in pounds, that beef 

 and mutton can be sold at per stone in shillings, it will be paid for in the 

 cattle and animals fed, without reference to the manure.* The price 

 of cake, however, depends on no such element of calculation ; the de- 

 mand for it has increased far beyond that of the oil, and in some seasons 

 it has been so great, that the former became an object of commerce 

 rather than the latter. 



Attempts have been occasionally made to render the uncrushed seed 

 available by a cooking process, but it has been generally found more 

 adapted for calves than for store stock or for fattening; where used 

 at all for the latter purpose, it has only been to supply a deficiency in 

 turnips. 



The most decisive step, however, in the use of cooked linseed, was 

 taken by Mr. Warnes, of Trimmingliam, near North Walsham, in Nor- 

 folk, in 1841, when a discussion was appointed by the Farmers' Club 

 there, on feeding cattle with linseed cake. Mr. Warnes commenced by 

 inquiring into the nature of cake. He immediately commenced a series 

 of experiments with flax-seed in various forms — both crushed, steeped, 

 boiled, and cocked in various ways. lie also tried the boiling of bar- 

 ley and other food on various animals. He ultimately adopted a mode 

 of feeding, on what was called by him flax-seed compound. He carried 

 out, in connection with his experiments, growing, dressing and prepar- 

 ing the flax, the feeding of cattle with the prepared seed in boxes as 

 antMgonist to tying up, and the summer grazing of cattle by soiling. 



His cooking apparatus is so simple, that it is managed by a blind 

 man, whose happy countenance bespeaks neither over-weening anxiety, 

 nor unrenuuierated toil. The apparatus consists of two cast-metal boil- 

 ers, fixed in brick, and having a fire-place beneath them ; the water is 

 made to boil before the flax-seed is put in. The seed is crushed by a 

 very powerful implement, consisting of two cylinders, one of them be- 

 ing of large diameter; tl.iey are made to press upon each other in their 

 revolutions by two lunar springs, and two men will thoroughly grind 

 two bushels in ten minutes; at this rate the men are able to work the 

 whole day. The mill is, however, capable of being reduced to the 

 capacity of one man. The crushed flax-seed is sprinkled upon the boil- 

 ing water at the rate of one gallon of seed to eight gallons of water; 

 great stress is laid on sprinkling the seed very gradually, otherwise it is 

 apt to adhere in lumps, and cleave to the sides or bottom of the boiler. 

 AVitli this precaution, however, Mr. Warnes assures us he has had no 

 instance, for several years, of this occurrence. This mixture is boiled 

 bix minutes, and for that period is slightly stirred; at the end of that 



* The pound sterling is $4.85 ; tlie shilling is 24 ceDts; the stone weight 14 lbs. 



41 



