238 OIL-CAKE. 



themselves, for which, indeed, the largest amount of 

 benefit may be expected, because they find in it all 

 the substances they require for the formation of their 

 seeds, and, moreover, in the proportionate quantities 

 in which they require them. 



Since, as already mentioned, experience has some- 

 times shown, that, in the event of direct contact be- 

 tween oil-cake and seed, when both are deposited in 

 the earth, the latter may lose its germinating power, 

 it may be best to harrow the oil-cake lightly into the 

 ground before sowing. In England, the powdered 

 cake and seed are generally sown at the same time 

 by the drill, without the injurious consequence just 

 described. Hence it appears, that it is only to be 

 feared under some peculiar circumstances, or with a 

 great excess of cake. 



In Belgium, oil-cake is most usually employed as 

 a liquid manure, inasmuch as it is thrown into the 

 drainings-reservoir, and poured on to the land when it 

 has softened and commenced putrefaction. By this 

 means the manuring ingredients of the oil-cake are 

 brought into such a form as at once to take effect. 

 It is granted, that the duration of their action is not 

 considerable; but this is not demanded by the Bel- 

 gian farmer, if the dressing has remunerated him in 

 the first year of its application, since, in compensa- 

 tion, he manures every year afresh, and can thereby 

 calculate every year upon Q.full harvest. The amount 

 of produce is, in truth, astonishing, which is under- 

 stood to be obtained from the land in this country 



