On Agricultural CJiemistry. 



255 



In the ' Gardener's Chronicle,' for the year 1844, are given 

 the resuhs of some experiments upon feeding sheep conducted 

 upon the farm of the Earl of Ducie, by Mr. Morton; some of 

 these sheep were fed in the field, some under cover. Altogether 

 25 sheep were experimented upon, and they increased 611 lbs., 

 having consumed 31,580 lbs. of swedes, 2775 lbs. of oats, Calcu- 

 latino- the food to have contained 95 lbs. of nitfogfen, and the 

 increase of live weight to represent 21 lbs. of nitrogen, I lb. of 

 nitrogen produced 6^ lbs. of live weight, and for each pound of 

 nitrogen exported in meat, 3J remain for manure. 



In an experiment of my own, two pigs which consumed food, 

 containing by analysis 12 J lbs. of nitrogen, increased in weight 

 71 lbs. This gives about 5| lbs. increased live weight, and for 

 every pound of nitrogen exported in meat, and about 4 lbs. remain 

 for manure. 



In Bacon's Essay on the Agriculture of Norfolk, there is a 

 table of the feeding qualities of oil-cake and swedes, compared 

 with a compound of boiled linseed with peas and swedes ; six 

 oxen were selected for each trial, and the live weio^ht of each 

 beast was taken at the commencement and the end of the experi- 

 ments. 



The following are the results : — 



1. — 6 oxen consumed 106,792 lbs. tm-nips, 3,712 lbs. peas, 



1,110 lbs. linseed. 

 The increase of the live weight being 1,722 lbs. 



2. -6 oxen consumed 108,440 lbs. turnips, and 6,183 lbs. 



oil-cake. 



The increase of the live weight being 1,310 lbs. 



In the 1st lot the nitrogen in the food was about 335 lbs., 

 I lb. of nitrogen gave 5 lbs. of increase live weight, and for each 

 pound of nitrogen exported 4 lbs. remained for manure. 



In the 2nd lot, the nitrogen in the food was 389 lbs., 1 lb. of 

 nitrogen gave 3to- increase, and for each pound of nitrogen ex- 

 ported 7^ remain for manure. 



In consequence of turnips being employed as part of the food, 

 in all the results which I have given, it is impossible to make any 

 calculation respecting the economy arising from fatting cattle as a 

 means of obtaining manure, without first deciding at what expense 

 * turnips can be produced. Upon this subject very great difference 

 of opinion exists amongst agriculturists, and indeed the effects of 

 soil and season so materially affect the question, that it is scarcely 

 safe to make any calculations respecting it. Some would value 

 them as low as 7s, per ton, some as high as 20^. 



By the kindness of a friend, however, I have been provided 

 Avith some results obtained by feeding upon marketable food 

 alone. As the results extend over a considerable number of 



