SUPPLEMENT. 701 



If our population suffer at the present day from the want of that food, there is but 

 one means of remedying the evil, that is to discover a, process by which fresh meat 

 can be exported from beyond seas, produced from the numerous flocks and herds there 

 superaboundiug. After numerous trials, o'f which he has given a short account, it 

 seems he has realized all the required conditions of preserving the tissues, muscles, fat, 

 and bones in their natural freshness without introducing any strange substance. This 

 process in fresh meat being inclosed in air-tight tin boxes, after the manner of Mr. C., 

 the meat loses none of its freshness either in color or taste; at least this is the result 

 as shown to us of the veterinary laboratory belonging to the State, composed of Messrs. 

 Thiernepe, Van Schelle; Limbourg, inspector of the markets at Brussels; Coartoy, pro- 

 fessor; Burt &r Mussulman, reporters at the University. 



Alter having assisted at the preparation of five tin boxes, containing large pieces of beef, 

 mutton, veal, and pork, the commission above named has seen, after thirty-two days, the 

 meat come out as fresh as when it was put in, losing nothing either in color or taste. 



We believe it useless to insist further on tie consequences of Mr. Closset's discovery 

 or the effect it will produce on our working population, a plentiful supply of whole- 

 some animal food. Considering the importance of this communication, we have the 

 honor 



I. To address thanks to the author. 



II. The insertion of his work in the Bulletin. 

 These conclusions are adopted. 



FEEDING CATTLE ON THE SOILING SYSEM. 



REPORT PREPARED FOE CONSUL SHAW, OF MANCHESTER, BY MR. JAMES LONG, OF 



HETCH1N, ENGLAND. 



The soiling system, or the feeding of green crops where they are carried to the yards or 

 houses for the animals from spring to autumn, has been too much neglected in England, 

 perhaps owing to the excellence of our permanent pastures. Professor Brown, of the 

 Agricultural College, Ontario, has paid much attention to this system, and he estimates 

 the proportionate feeding values of various green foods as follows: Green fodder from 

 good pasture having a feeding value of 40, that of lucern is 38; of sanfoin, 28; red clover, 

 31 ; prickley comfrey, 27. 



The best green food for soiling, therefore, says Mr. Evershed, a well-known English 

 authority, is the produce of rich pastures, and Professor Brown recommends for Canada 

 the cultivation of other soiling crops only because the pastures of that country are unre- 

 liable for continuous progress in the production of beef or milk. The rich old grass lands 

 of England cannot be secured there. The droughts and frosts of an extreme climate pre- 

 vent the growth of that excellent variety of pasture plants which secures a close bottom. 

 There may be rain enough, but it is not properly distributed so as to supply what the 

 professor calls the "regular top-dressing which is essential to continuous greenness." 

 Hence the farmer himself must "make good the balancing of things that have been dis- 

 placed in nature" by the growth of crops suited for soiling. Mr. Brown does this at 

 the college farm successfully; "and with such a sun as ours," he says, "enormous agri- 

 cultural wealth may be attained by the production of repeated crops of fodder by means 

 of the plants just named. I have no doubt the old turf of England has discouraged the 

 practice of soiling, and I think we shall find that the same advantages attend the sys- 

 tem here as in Canada. ' ' 



But first let me borrow a leaf from Mr. Brown. He sows down 20 acres with soiling 

 crops in a 100-acre farm, and grows 234 tons per annum of green forage, the lucern 

 yielding 10 tons per acre; the saufoin 6 tons; the red clover, 7 tons; mixed tares and oats, 

 6 tons; prickly comfrey, 10 tons; cabbage, only 12 tons. The average is less than 12 

 tons per acre, and I think that in England the general average would be a great deal 

 more. Each animal consumes 100 pounds of green fodder daily, with other food, ac- 

 cording to circumstances, so that2G head would be maintained on the 20 acres during the 

 six months when this forage is available, or about one-and-a-sixth animal per acre as 

 against one animal on 3 acres of permanent pasture. In Canada, it seems, animals fed in 

 a 20-acre pasture walk several miles a day searching for a bellyful. Half the animals 

 on Mr. Brown's 100-acre farm are kept for feeding, the rest for the dairy. He gives some 

 of the fodder to his horses and pigs, and maintains with the rest twenty cattle instead of 

 twenty-six, as he might do. In iiict, by setting aside 20 acres in 100 acres, he claims to 



