306 



former he sold at 3/. per ton, and part of the latter at 7*. 6d. per bushel, 

 amounting altogether to above 15/. the common expenses of harvesting 

 the crop and thrashing out the seed being only incurred. A long list 

 of similar cases might be added did space permit. 



Value of the seed. 



Under this head it is impossible to offer an adequate estimate, because 

 ivery account that has yiet reached your Committee has invariably 

 iroved that linseed, formed into compounds, according to Mr. Warnes' 

 system, surpasses every other for fattening cattle. The following extract, 

 taken from the Norfolk papers, shows that the greatest pains have been 

 taken to test the merits of native against foreign produce : — 



" The North Walsham Farmers' Club offered, by a challenge through 

 the Norwich and London Papers, to test the merits of the compound 

 with oil-cake, which challenge not being accepted, Mr. Postle of 

 Smallburgh determined to try the experiment upon his own premises. 

 Twelve bullocks being selected, and divided into two lots by competent 

 judges, were weighed and placed in separate yards ; one lot to be fed 

 on native produce at a fixed amount per week, and the other on foreign 

 oil-cake at the same cost. Each lot to be allowed as many turnips, 

 previously weighed, as they could eat per day, in order that the most 

 accurate account, both of quantity and cost for food consumed, might 

 be kept. 



" During the course of the experiment, every facility was afforded 

 the public to inspect the cattle and the new mode of grazing. In due 

 time Mr. Postle advertised the day on which his bullocks were to be 

 shown and weighed at Norwich. Numbers from distant parts came to 

 see them, and, in order to arrive at the most correct conclusion, he sold 

 all the twelve to one butcher. 



" When first selected, the six beasts fed on compound weighed 602 

 stone, and those on oil-cake 590 stone. When fat, the live weight of 

 the former was 725 stone ; of the latter, 705 stone, being a difference 

 of 8 stone (the 12 stone over-weight at the first being deducted) in 

 favour of those fed on compound. But it was in the dead weight of 

 each lot that the greatest difference was shown — the compound-fed 

 yielding 44 stone 9 lbs. of meat more than those fed on oil-cake ; but 

 taking the loose fat and hides, the difference in favour of the former 

 was 50 stone 6 lbs. or 38 stone 6 lbs. — deducting the 12 stone original 

 extra live weight. While there is this increase of meat, there is a con- 

 siderable decrease of expense between those fed on home produce, and 

 those fed on foreign oil-cake. The former consumed a smaller quantity 

 of turnips than the latter ; and the cost of the compound was only 

 19/. 6*. l^d., whilst that of the oil-cake was 21/. 14*. 9d. 



