28 report— 1859. 



sought and obtained for some cattle that were proved to have been poisoned 

 by rape-cake, the defence being that the cake in question was made from 

 Indian rape. 



Now it would appear that very large quantities of this seed are sold annu- 

 ally, partly to the seedsman, but more to the seed-crusher; the former mixes 

 it with turnip-seed to adulterate it, — carefully preparing it, however, to pre- 

 vent germination, as in our turnip-drilling age, a false plant would be detected 

 in the rows*. 



The seed-crusher mixes it with true rape in crushing for rape-oil, and so 

 the resulting cake appears to get poisonous properties in proportion to the 

 quantity of " Indian rape " present, the truth being that this seed has all 

 the properties of Sinapis arvensis — charlock mustard, which acts as an irri- 

 tant poison to the cattle. 



Now, although we are not quite certain as to the specific identity of our 

 Indian rape plants, we incline to the notion that it is, if not true Sinapis 

 arvensis, as we know it in this country, a variety of this plant ; but upon this 

 I shall be enabled to report more at length in another season. 



Plot R. Brassica oleracea. — I this year gathered seeds of this wild cabbage 

 from Llandudno, N.Wales, and I have some just germinated; upon these I 

 hope to carry on a series ot experiments for some years to come, with the 

 object of tracing the production of the well-marked varieties which this plant 

 is capable of producing. 



Plot S. Trigonella Fcenum-grczcum. — The Fenugreek, as a plant which is 

 likely soon to occupy a great deal of attention, has formed a subject for 

 experiment, the object being to ascertain if this eastern plant would perfect 

 its seed in this country. My plot is now in full growth, and its abundance 

 of long-pointed legumes, full of all but ripened seeds, are satisfactory as to 

 the capabilities of the plant for cultivation in even exposed situations. 



Fenugreek is now being extensively used as a flavouring ingredient for the 

 so-called " Concentrated Cattle Foods ;" and though the notion of food being 

 concentrated by the addition of this plant is proved to be a fallacy, yet I 

 think there can be little doubt that even inferior pulse or grain may be 

 made more palatable by a flavouring principle ; and it is a question of as 

 great importance to the well-being of our domestic animals as to ourselves, 

 whether nutrition is not increased by flavour. 



The whole plant, but especially the seeds of the Fenugreek, contains a 

 chemical principle which has been named " Cumarin" which is described as 

 follows : — 



" Cumarin, C 18 H B 4 , is found in Tonka Beans, in which it sometimes 

 appears in the shape of crystals; in thp flowers and whole plant of Melilotus ; 

 in Asperula odorata and Anthoxanthum odoratum, and probably in other 

 aromatic plants." — Schlossberger's ' Organic Chemistry.' 



Fenugreek is highly flavoured with cumarin ; and as the presence of this 

 in some grasses, especially in Anthoxanthum odoratum, is the cause of a good 

 flavour to hay, and for which horses always smell so carefully before eating, 

 there is every reason to believe that this principle is being extended to other 

 cattle foods, and in consequence the use of Fenugreek is rapidly extending. 

 Cattle-food manufacturers are starting up in every district, and with all of 

 them this plant is employed as the flavouring ingredient ; and it would appear 

 at a great profit; as food, which before mixing would be about £7 per ton, is 



* In reference to this I may say that in Wales drilling of turnips is almost unknown, so 

 that preparation of false seed is not required, as these simply get looked upon as weeds 

 " natural to the soil;" but I saw the other day a patch of Swedes which had been drilled, 

 and I counted 96 plants of Charlock, and 4 only ! of Swedes to each hundred in the rows. 



