in the Winter of 1885-6. 
519 
frequently impossible to weigh sheep at the conclusion of a set 
number of days, as the error due to increased weight of the 
fleeces through excess of moisture may be greater than any 
real difference in live-weight. It will be seen by Table III. 
that during this very trying period the sheep fed on cake had 
a most decided advantage. Not only was there a steady gain 
in live-weight as compared with the sheep fed on other foods, 
but, in spite of the cold and wet, no death occurred in either of 
these two pens. How far this was a result of circumstances 
unconnected with the foods I am unable to say ; though at the 
same time it must be said that veterinary examination of the 
cases where death occurred showed it not to be due to any 
injurious effect produced by the wheat. 
On commencing the third period of feeding, as the sheep 
did not do more than clean up their food, and as they were still 
young, it was decided not to further increase the allowances of 
food, but to keep them on the same amounts as during the pre- 
vious period. Accordingly the foods remained as before, viz., 
20 lbs. of swedes per head daily, ^ lb. of hay-chaff, and f lb. of 
cake and corn. Owing to the deaths in several of the pens, the 
total quantities of food consumed in each period are omitted, 
and only calculated for those of the sheep which went through 
the whole experiment. The third period was again a severe 
one, the sheep suffering very much. Two more died during this 
period, viz., on February 28th, a second one out of Pen III. 
(wheat), and on March 15th, a second one out of Pen V. (oats and 
beans). The others continued to feed well, but would not have 
eaten more than the quantities given to them. On March 19th, 
the third period of thirty-nine days was completed, and the 
weights taken. The swedes commencing now to show signs 
of unsoundness, the experiment was brought to a conclusion, 
having lasted 106 days. The weights for the last period 
are given in Table IV. (p. 520). 
The very great increase due to wheat during this period is 
remarkable, also that with linseed-cake. 
On the following Table (V., p. 520) is given the gain in 
each pen during the whole period of the experiment. 
The gain in individual sheep was much the same, there being 
no case of actual loss of weight. The lowest gain was above 
1 quarter for the whole period, and the highest only just over 
2 quarters. 
From Table V. it will be seen that the greatest increase in 
live-weight was obtained in Pen III., by the use of wheat. 
Pen I. (linseed-cake) being very nearly similar, while the dif- 
ferences between Pen II. (linseed and cotton-cake). Pen IV. 
(oats and barley), and Pen V. (oats and beans), were small. 
