202 



THE COMPLETE GRAZIER. 



I had cakes made up from a mixture of 5 parts of it with 95 parts of 

 linseed (of 97' 16 purity), and also other cakes containing respectively 

 10 and 30 per cent, of the refuse. Table I. represents the analyses of 

 these mixed cakes : 



TABLE I. 



" Taking these figures, there is not one single constituent that could 

 be pointed out as indicating the least suspicion of the cake being 

 impure. The sand is not high in any of them, nor is the woody fibre 

 exceptional. In the mixtures containing 5 and 10 per cent, respect- 

 ively, the fibre is but little more than in the pure linseed-cake, and 

 even where 30 per cent, of the adulterant is added, it is not more than 

 frequently occurs in pure cakes. Nothing in short is to be gathered 

 from the figures alone, so far as this particular adulterant is concerned. 



" Coming next to the appearance of the cakes, the admixture of 

 5 per cent, of rape refuse was almost impossible to detect by the eye 

 alone, and it was only when T submitted the cake to microscopical 

 examination that I was able to detect the presence of rape. It is quite 

 clear to me that the statements of the vendors of this material as to 

 the impossibility of detecting it by analysis have justification so far, 

 that, unless the cake containing it be most carefully and microscopi- 

 cally examined, the presence of the mixture may pass unheeded ; and 

 I have no hesitation in stating my belief that many a cake of this 

 nature has been passed as 'pure.' It is most difficult to distinguish by 

 the eye between the husk of this rape-seed and the husk of linseed ; 

 and as it, like linseed, gives no starchy reaction, it is not in this way 

 discernible. The admixture of 10 per cent, of the rape-seed was not 

 more than just noticeable by a practised examiner, and by any one else 

 not perceivable. When 30 per cent, was added, the cake had a some- 

 what bitter taste, but the outward appearance of it gave no indication 

 of admixture. Other cakes I had made up composed of different 

 materials mixed with linseed viz., cockle-seed, cockle and buckwheat 

 mixed, and lastly what is termed ' mill-sweepings.' In Table II. are 

 given the analyses of these materials, and also of cakes made up of 

 various mixtures of them. 



