292 Agricultural Chemistry — Sheep-Feeding and Manure. 



We have now given an account of the first series of experiments 

 with sheep, so far as they relate to the production of increase in 

 gross live weight of animal, to which point we for the present 

 confine our attention. In so doing it has been our endeavour to 

 arrange them in such form as would be convenient for their study, 

 and to make such remarks respecting them, as may serve usefully 

 to direct the attention of the reader to the chief points of interest 

 in the results ; at the same time pointing out several sources of 

 irregularity, which seem to demand that great caution should be 

 exercised both in the conduct and the interpretation of such ex- 

 periments. 



We shall now proceed to consider the results of a second series, 

 in relation, first, also to that branch of the subject to which alone 

 we have as yet referred — viz. that of the production of gross live 

 weight; leaving the question of the probable qualities or composi- 

 tion of the increase obtained, for consideration further on, in refe- 

 rence to all the series collectively. 



Experiments with Sheep. — Series II. 

 This series, like the former one, comprised 4 pens of 5 sheep 

 each. On June 5, 1848, 80 yearling wethers (part of a flock of 

 200) were weighed, from which the selection was made. In 

 matching the animals in sets of 4, for the distribution of one of 

 them into each pen, attention was paid rather more to the breed 

 and make than to actual identity in weight, any discrepancy in re- 

 spect to the latter in one distribution, being compensated for, as far 

 as possible, in the next ; so that eventually a sufficiently equal 

 weight was obtained in each pen, as the following Table will show: 



SERIES II. 



Table 1. — Showing the weight of sheep in pounds when put up, 

 June 5, 1848. 





Sheep Numbers. 



Pen 1. 



Pen 2. 



Pen 3. 



Pen 4. 









lbs. 



lbs. 



lbs. 



lbs. 







No. 1 . . . 



120 



125 



122 



117 







2 . . . 



121 



123 



117 



122 







3 . . . 



125 



117 



120 



120 







4 . . . 



121 



123 



113 



119 







5 . . . 



117 



119 



125 



121 







Total weight per Pen 



007 



607 



602 



002 





The sheep having corresponding numbers in the several pens 

 do not agree here so well as in the former series. The result will 

 show, however, that the selection was probably somewhat an im- 

 provement upon the last ; at least, with one or two exceptions, the 

 variations upon the same food are much less, and do not so seriously 

 interfere with the legitimacy of the comparisons between pen and 

 pen, unless, indeed, moderate uniformity be insmTicient to give 



