■ wi] 



121 



I 



will, in addition to Swedish turnips, be quite sufficient, or per- 

 haps rather more than he would be inclined to eat. This small 

 quantity of linseed will act well on the stomach, and the 

 bullocks Avill thrive and fatten in a degree that can scarcely be 

 credited, except by the person who tries the experiment. In no 

 instance has it failed. The quantity of seed may be increased 

 after the animal has been accustomed to it for some time, but I 

 believe to no great extent. I have reduced this to a certainty 

 from repeated tests : therefore, as oil is stored so abundantly in 

 linseed, I think I may fairly attribute the failure of those who 

 have so freely condemned the use of both oil and seed to a 

 want of proper inquiry into, and a prudent and systematic 

 employment of, their extraordinary fattening properties. 



It is but just to state that the above investigation originated 

 in the formation of one of those useful and patriotic institutions, 

 called " Farmers' Clubs," at North Walsham, in the autumn 

 of 1840. The club meets once in each month. The desir- 

 ableness of fattening cattle on home-made food rather than on 

 foreign produce, was a subject brought forward at one of those 

 meetings. I therefore had coppers erected, and commenced a 

 series of experiments by incorporating linseed with corn or 

 pulse, which ended in the production of the desired substitute 

 for foreign oil-cake. 



The last of my experimental bullocks for 1841 was dis- 

 posed of at Christmas, at 85. Q)d. per stone. He weighed 

 60 stone 5 lbs., at 14 lbs. to the stone; cost 71. \7s. 6d. 

 thirteen months previously : so that he paid 171. 10s, 

 for little more than one year's keeping. His common food 

 was turnips or grass : 14 lbs. a-day of barley or peas com- 

 pound were given him for forty-eight weeks, and an un- 

 limited quantity the last five weeks ; when, considering the 

 shortness of that time, his progress was perfectly astonishing 

 — not only to myself, a constant observer, but to many graziers 

 and butchers who had had occasional opportunities of examin- 

 ing him. Altogether the weight of compound consumed did 

 not exceed two tons four hundred weight, at the cost of only 

 3/. 16«. per ton. 



From the above period the same practice has been continued 

 upon my farm, both in summer and in winter, with never-fail- 



