742 TRANSACTIONS OF SECTION M. 
for the liberation of hydrocyanie acid, that acidity only one two-hundredth 
normal in strength is sufficient greatly to retard the liberation of hydrocyanic 
acid. Under no ordinary conditions can linseed liberate hydrocyanic acid in the 
acid juices of the stomach. When ‘mash’ is used for feeding cattle, linseed 
is often left for a short time, sufficient to liberate much of the hydrocyanic acid 
contained in the glucoside of the linseed. In such circumstances ‘ mash’ 
might be dangerous, but the danger could be completely removed by making the 
‘mash’ slightly acid. Hay, straw, pulped roots, and many. other ingredients of 
‘mash’ contain traces of acids which would generally be sufficient to check the 
rate of liberation of hydrocyanic acid. Hence in practice hydrocyanic acid is 
rarely liberated from linseed, either before or after eating. 
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10. 
Joint Discussion with Section I on Animal Nutrition. 
The following Papers were read :— 
1. Sheep and Cattle Feeding Experiments, to test the Value of 
Feeding-Stuffs. By Wiuutam Brucz, B.Sc. 
The experiments in the winter feeding of cattle and sheep which have been 
conducted under my care by the Edinburgh and East of Scotland College of 
Agriculture were designed with the purpose of testing feeding-stuffs and rations 
as used in the ordinary conditions of farm practice. The objeet was to secure 
results of immediate practical guidance to farmers rather than to establish 
scientific principles. Exceptionally large numbers of animals have been used, 
and in most cases the results have been checked by repetition. All the con- 
centrated feeding-stuffs have been analysed, and in many cases also the straw 
and turnips. 
These experiments have been in progress annually since 1903. They may be 
enumerated as follows :— 
1903-1906.—A series of three trials of feeding-stuffs with 228, 132, and 192 
sheep respectively. 
1903-1904.—Trial of compound versus Bombay cotton-cake and also of 
intensive feeding with lots of 8 cattle. 
1904-1905.—Trials of decorticated cotton-cake, undecorticated Egyptian 
and Bombay cotton-cakes with lots of § cattle. 
1905-1906.—Trial of a limited versus an unlimited ration of turnips; and 
of ‘moderate’ versus ‘heavy’ feeding. Four lots of 8 cattle. 
1909-1910.—Trial of soya-bean cake versus linseed-cake. Four lots of 16 
cattle. 
1910-1911.—Trial of soya-bean cake versus linseed-cake. Two lots of 20 
cattle. 
1911-1912.—Trials of (1) coconut-cake, (2) wheat bran, versus linseed- 
cake. Three lots of 14 cattle. 
The chief features of these experiments are too numerous for even brief con- 
sideration on this occasion. Attention may be directed to two that are of 
special practical and scientific interest :— 
(1) Want of agreement with the scientific method of estimating the value of 
ration by starch equivalents as applied by Kellner. 
(2) An attempt to value one feeding-stuff in terms of another. 
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