BARLEY MAY BE MIXED WITH COMPOUND. 135 



bullocks it is indispensable that linseed should be crushed^ and 

 barley ground as fine as possible. 



On the compound being removed into tubs^ it must be 

 rammed down to exclude the air, and to prevent it from turn- 

 ing rancid. After a little practice the eye will be a suffi- 

 cient guide to the proportions, without the trouble of weigh- 

 ing. The compound will keep a long time if properly pre- 

 pared. The consistency ought to be like clay when made into 

 bricks. 



Indeed, many farmers in the neighbourhood of North 

 Walsham put the compound while hot into shapes, like brick- 

 moulds. The frame is about 28 inches long, and 10 wide; it 



has neither top nor bottom ; and when used is placed on a 

 piece of board rather longer and wider than the frame. The 

 compound is firmly pressed into the moulds with a gardener's 

 trowel, and on the frame being lifted up will be formed into 

 cakes. Another board is then placed under the frame as 

 before ; and so on till the copper is empty. When cold, the 

 cakes may be cut into pieces like bread, and given to the 

 cattle. It will be seen that many boards are required, and a 

 convenient place for stowing the cakes. I have tried this plan 

 myself, but found it troublesome, expensive, and unnecessary. 

 Observe, the inside of the moulds should be made rather larger 

 at the bottom than at the top, in order to prevent the com- 

 pound from sticking when the frame is lifted up. 



In the spring and summer months, germinated barley might 

 be made into compound with great advantage. Bullocks will 

 eat it with avidity and thrive fast upon it. The process is 

 simple. Let some barley be steeped about two days, and the 

 water drained oif. After the radical or root has grown to 

 nearly a quarter of an inch in length, it must be well bruised 

 with the crushing- machine, and as much as possible forced into 

 some boiling mucilage, containing the same quantity of linseed. 



