TRANSACTIONS OF SECTION M. 



381 



I 



There is often some difficulty in disposing of lupin seed, owing to the fact 

 that it contains some poisonous substance, and is very bitter. In puffolk lupin 

 grain is fed to sheep at a rate not exceeding half-.a-bushel per day per 100 

 sheep, and the feeding must commence gradually. If too much is fed the sheep 

 become paralysed. It is claimed in Holland that a method has been discovered 

 whereby the poisonous principle can be extracted, and the grain rendered fit 

 for stock- feeding purposes. If this could be done it would give a great stimulus 

 to lupin-growing, and would be a considerable advantage to light-land farmers, 

 as lupins might then occupy the same place on light land as is occupied by beans 

 on heavy land. 



3. Jhe Composition of TAnseed recovered from a Flax Crop. 

 By T. W. Fagan, M.Ar 



The demand for flax fibre during the war has resulted in a great revival of 

 the ancient practice of flax cultivation in Scotland, and in 1918 over a thousand 

 acres were sown in the county of Fife. Although grown for fibre the seed was 

 also saved and the opportunity taken of obtaining samples of the seed for 

 analysis, particularly for the determination of their oil content. 



The .seed supplied was of Dutch origin and a sample taken from bulk con- 

 tained 39-20 per cent, of oil; the seed was sown at the rate of 126 to 140 lb. 

 per acre in loamy soils that varied from light to heavy and ranged in altitude 

 from 100 to 560 feet above sea-level. The yield of seed in Fife was on the 

 average 7 cwt. per acre. 



The samples received for analysis were of two kinds : (1) Linseed cleaned with 

 the usual appliances of a farm ; (2) properly cleaned and dressed linseed. 



Average of 20 samples 



Percentnge of Oil 

 (1) (2) 



32 -5 3615 



The difference was due to the high percentage of weed seeds in the uncleaned 

 sample. 



Flax having the reputation of being an exhausting crop, determinations were 

 made of the nitrogen, phosphoric acid, and potash in the seed, the capsules 

 de-seeded, and the stem and roots. 



As careful records of the whole crop were kept, the amounts of each of 

 these ingredients removed per acre by the crop were found to be as follows : — 



43 



22-2 



3810 



It will be seen that the amount of nitrogen, phosphoric acid, and potash 

 removed is very similar to that taken up by an ordinary cereal crop. 



WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10. 

 The following papers were read : — 



1. TT ar-time Food Production in England and Wales. 

 By Sir T. H. Middleton, K.B.E., C.B. 



See Scottish Journ. of Affrkiilture, Vol. ii., No. 4, Oct., 1919, 



