CATXLE-rEEDiKO.] CATTLE, AND THEIR VAEIETIES. [cATTLE-rEEDiNG. 



effect of boiled barley, and other food ou 

 various animals. These ultimately led him to 

 adopt a mode of feeding on what be termed 

 linseed compound. This was carried out in 

 connection with his experiments in growing, 

 dressing, and preparing the flax, the feeding of 

 bis cattle with the prepared seed, which be 

 put into boxes as being opposite to tying up, 

 and to the summer grazing by soiling. 



These processes excited much attention, not 

 only in England, but also in Scotland and 

 Ireland, and were the cause of many visits 

 being paid to Trimmingham, that agriculturists 

 might see for themselves. On such occasions, 

 Mr. AYarnes was by no means niggardly, either 

 in his hospitality, or in laying the whole secret 

 of his experience before his visitors. Among 

 these was Mr. Milburn, who describes the 

 cooking apparatus as so simple, "that it is 

 managed by a blind man, whose bappy coun- 

 tenance bespeaks neither over-weening anxiety 

 nor unremunerated toil. The apparatus con- 

 sists of two cast-metal boilers, fixed in brick, 

 witli a fire-place beneatli them. The water is 

 made to boil before the linseed is put iu. The 

 seed is crushed by a very powerful implement, 

 made by Messrs. Harwood, of Ipswich, con- 

 sisting of two cylinders, one of them of large 

 diameter. They 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 linseed is sprinkled upon 

 the boiling water at the rate of one gallon of 

 seed to eight gallons of water. Great stress is 

 laid on sprinkling the linseed very gradually ; 

 otherwise, it is apt to adhere in lumps, and 

 cleave to the sides or bottom of the boiler. 

 With tins precaution, however, Mr. Warnes 

 assui'es us that he has had no instance for 

 several years of this occurrence. This mixture 

 is boiled six miiuites, and for that period is 

 slightly stirred. At the end of that time it is 

 found to be a thick gelatinous mass. In about 

 one minute the mass appeared more mucilagi- 

 nous, and we think was impi-uved. Nine 

 bushels of cut pea-straw were then placed very 

 gradually, and by one bushel at a time, in a tub 

 twenty-eight inches higli. The liquid jelly was 

 now taken out in the scoop, and poured upon 

 G66 



it. As each addition was made, the whole was 

 rammed down by a kind of beater, more for the 

 purpose of mixing the mass, and confining the 

 heat, than for any other object. The present 

 cost of the 'animals in linseed, is 35. per head 

 per week. In addition to this, they have about 

 one bushel of cut Swedes per day. The animals 

 to which Mr. Warues at present gives the 

 compound, are seven cattle, nine horses, and 

 forty sheep. Occasionally he mixes his com- 

 pound with corn, or rather with meal. This, 

 when used, is also sprinkled over the boiling 

 mucilage ; but when we saw the process, corn 

 was not used. So soon as the first boiling was 

 nearly emptied from the boiler, it was again 

 filled with water, and was ready for another 

 boil when required." 



As a test of the value of his system, Mr. 

 "Warnes furnished the following remarks and 

 experiments, as illustrative of the general 

 effects : — " Linseed," he says, "has five essential 

 properties — viz., mucilage, oil, albumen, gluten, 

 and sugar. The shell, or external crust, is the 

 hardest of all seeds, and the most difficult to 

 break in pieces ; but not too hard for the 

 miller, who has every particle gi'ound almost to 

 powder, in order that all the oil may be ex- 

 pressed, which it could not be if coarsely 

 crushed. This is demonstrated by the cake, in 

 which the presence of linseed is scarcely 

 apparent. To a similar state, linseed for the 

 cattle compounds ought to be reduced ; other- 

 wise some, at least, of the properties above 

 described, will pass off without benefit to the 

 fattening animals. This the scientific grazier 

 will discover by the excrements, in which he 

 will find sufficient cause not only for grinding 

 linseed, but also for grinding all grain or pulse, 

 if possible, into flour. From researches like 

 these, the profitable returns for grazing upon 

 my premises may be dated — returns such as 

 are represented by the following figures : — 



7 Diirliam bul- 



looks cost . . 



10 Scotch ditto . 



I Cow .... 



10 Miscellanoous 



small cattle . 



Balance down . 



} 



£502 10 



Deduct for 14 qrs. of linspod, mostly grown upon the 

 farm, £35 ; and £i for barley meal 



lleturn for 19 acres of turnips, several acres of pea 

 straw, and about 3 months' autumnal grass for the 

 10 miscellaneous cattle .... £258 10 



