320 THE FLAX CHOP. 



Albuminous (nitrogen) compounds, 28-53 



Oil, 12-47 



Mucilage, sugar, &c., 35'78 



Fibre, 6'32 



Ash (mineral matter), 6*11 



Water, 1079 



100-00 

 The ash contains 



Earthy phosphates, 2'92 



Phosphoric acid combined with the alkalies, 0'38 



Particular samples vary to some extent from this standard, 

 but the difference is not very large, and chiefly affects the 

 proportion of oil, which is generally rather lower in British- 

 made cake, owing to the superiority of the machinery used 

 in the oil-mills of this country. When the oil is low, it 

 will generally be found that the albuminous compounds 

 are above the average. In judging of the value of any 

 cake, attention must be directed to the oil and albuminous 

 substances in the first instance, but it is also important to 

 observe that the fibre and ash should not be large. An 

 excess of the former generally indicates the presence of 

 some foreign matter, and of the latter, that the cake has 

 been made from dirty seed, probably containing a quan- 

 tity of sand, and in v that case it is objectionable, from its 

 tendency to produce intestinal irritation in the animals 

 fed on it. In estimating the value of any sample, how- 

 ever, it will not do to rely exclusively on the analysis, for 

 instances occur in which a cake may have a composition 

 but little different from the average, and yet be of inferior 

 quality. A remarkable instance has lately come under my 

 notice, in which a sample, giving the following results, 

 was analyzed: 



Albuminous compounds, 27'75 



Oil, 9-30 



Mucilage, sugar, &c., 35'93 



Fibre, 5'25 



Ash, 12-73 



Water, 9-Q4 



100-00 



