442 Comparative Fattening Qualities of Sheep. 



fore, to trace the comparison a little further, if only as a means of 

 pointing out the direction in which the true solution of such ques- 

 tions must be attained, involving, as it does, the value of the tur- 

 nips and that of the manure, respecting which few farmers would 

 agree ; nor have they at present the necessary data at command, 

 upon which to form any trustworthy j udgment. 

 We find, then, that — ■ 



The Hampshires with 8120 lbs. of oilcake and 7280 lbs. of 

 clover, consumed 494- tons of swedes ; and that with 6272 lbs. of 

 oilcake and 6020 lbs. of clover, the Sussex sheep have consumed 

 36^0- tons of Swedes. 



The two lots of 40 sheep each, have therefore consumed very 

 different quantities of turnips. But the farmer would of course 

 adapt the number of his flock to his breadth of turnips, and there- 

 fore in keeping Sussex sheep would, according to their size, have 

 a greater number of them than he would of Hampshires. 



The question is, then, what would have been the quantity of 

 the dry foods consumed, and the consequent relative value of the 

 manure, supposing the number of the sheep had been such, in both 

 cases, as to have consumed an equal quantity of turnips. 



Suppose then that in both cases 100 tons of swedes had been 

 eaten, we should have had consumed with them, and paid for by 

 the increase of animal, — 



Oilcake. Clover, 

 lbs. lbs. 



By the Sussex Sheep . . . . 17,374 and 16,676 

 By the Hampshires .... 16,470 „ 14,767 



Difference ... 904 „ 1,909 



That is to say, in consuming 100 tons of swedes (and the dry 

 foods), Sussex sheep would, according to our experiment, have 

 given the manure from 904 lbs. more oilcake and 1909 lbs. more 

 clover than the Hampshires. To have consumed the quantities 

 of food supposed above, however, in 26 weeks, there would have 

 been required 80 Hampshires and about 110 of the Sussex 

 sheep. 



According to this method of calculating the results, then, the 

 Sussex sheep would have a slight advantage over the Hampshires 

 as fatting stock kept upon the farm for their double produce of 

 meat and manure ; but so slight is the difference, and, as we have 

 seen, so little would have thrown the balance in the opposite direc- 

 tion, that we do not consider that the experiment has shown any 

 certain advantage in favour of either breed, but rather that the 

 two as stock for rapid fattening on a liberal supply of artificial 

 food, have very nearly equal merits in a money point of view. 



It may perhaps be objected by the advocates of the respective 

 breeds, that owing to the fluctuations which have been pointed 



