04 



THE CHEMISTRY OF THE FARM. 



from 102 lb. to 155 lb., about 68 per cent, of the increase 

 was carcase. With "fat" sheep passing to the "very- 

 fat " state, increasing from 144 lb. to 202 lb. live weight, 

 the proportion of carcase in the increase was about 77 per 

 cent. With a fattening pig, increasing from 103 lb. to 

 191 lb. live weight, the proportion of carcase in the 

 increase was found to be 91 per cent. 



The percentage composition of the increase of sheep and 

 pigs when passing from the "store" to the "fjit" con- 

 dition is about as follows. The increase of fattening oxen 

 will have a similar composition. 



PERCENTAGE COMPOSITION OF THE INCREASE WHILST 

 FATTENING. 



The increase during the fattening stage of growth is 

 thus chiefly an increase in fat, eight to nine parts of fat 

 being laid on for one of nitrogenous matter. The pro- 

 portion of fat would be somewhat greater still in the 

 increase of highly fattened animals, as, for instance, of 

 pigs fed for bacon. 



The Processes of Nutrition. — We have already seen 

 that the food of plants is of the simplest character. From 

 such simple substances as carbonic acid, nitric acid, water, 

 and salts, a plant is able to construct a great variety of 

 elaborate compounds. It accomplishes these surprising 

 transformations by a consumption of force (sunlight) 



