264 THE KOTHAMSTED EXPEKIMENTS. 



2. The amount of food, and of its several constituents, 

 consumed to produce a given amount of increase in live- 

 weight. 



3. The proportion, and relative development, of the different 

 organs or parts of different animals. 



4. The proximate and ultimate composition of the animals, 

 in different conditions as to age and fatness ; and the probable 

 composition of their increase in live-weight during the fatten- 

 ing process. 



5. The composition of the solid and liquid excreta (the 

 manure) in relation to that of the food consumed. 



6. The loss or expenditure of constituents by respiration 

 and the cutaneous exhalations — that is, in the mere susten- 

 ance of the living meat-and-manure-making machine. 



7. The yield of milk in relation to the food consumed to 

 produce it ; and the influence of different descriptions of food 

 on the quantity, and on the composition, of the milk. 



As already said, several hundred animals, oxen, sheep, and 

 pigs, have been submitted to experiment. 



The amount, and the relative development, of the different 

 organs or parts were determined in 2 calves, 2 heifers, 14 

 bullocks, 1 lamb, 249 sheep, and 59 pigs. 



The percentages of water, mineral matter, fat, and nitro- 

 genous substance, were determined in certain separated parts, 

 and in the entire bodies, of ten animals — namely, 1 calf, 2 

 oxen, 1 lamb, 4 sheep, and 2 pigs. Complete analyses of the 

 ashes, respectively of the entire carcasses, of the mixed in- 

 ternal and other " offal " parts, and of the entire bodies, of 

 each of these ten animals, have also been made. 



From the data provided as above described, as to the chemi- 

 cal composition of the different descriptions of animal in differ- 

 ent conditions as to age and fatness, the composition of the 

 increase whilst fattening, and the relation of the constituents 

 stored up in the increase to those consumed in food, have been 

 estimated. 



To ascertain the composition of the manure in relation to 

 that of the food consumed, oxen, sheep, and pigs, have been 

 experimented upon. 



The loss or expenditure of constituents, by respiration and 

 the cutaneous exhalations, has not been determined directly 

 — that is, by means of a respiration apparatus, but only by 

 difference — that is, by calculation, founded on the amounts 

 of dry matter, ash, and nitrogen, in the food, and in the (in- 

 crease) faeces and urine. 



Independently of the points of inquiry above enumerated, 

 the results obtained have supplied data for the consideration 

 of the following questions : — 



