228 
On the Theoretical and Practical Value of 
for instance, on the face of comparative analyses of linseed;-) 
and rape-cake which affords any indication of the great differ- 
ence in the money-value of the two kinds of cake. Rape- 
cake contains nearly as much oil as linseed-cake, and rather 
more albuminous substances, and not a much larger proportion 
of indigestible fibre ; and there is nothing in the analytical 
results representing the composition of the two cakes contrary 
to the supposition that the one is as valuable a feeding cake as 
the other ; and yet the market price of linseed-cake is 121. IQs., 
and that of feeding rape-cake about 8/. 10s. to SI. 15s. per ton. 
For certain purposes it is true that rape-cake is quite as useful; 
as linseed-cake. For instance, for young growing stock, or as an 
auxiliary food for milch-cows, rape-cake goes as far as an equall 
weight of linseed-cake ; but general preference is given to the 
much more expensive linseed-cake as a food for fattening-stock.i 
This preference cannot reasonably be ascribed to blind pre- 
judice ; for surely fatteners of stock would prefer to buy cak« 
at 8/. 10s. per ton, if it answered their purpose as well as cak< 
which is sold at 12/. 10s. per ton? The reasons which decidr 
men to use linseed-cake in preference to rape-cake, in orde 
to fatten off oxen or sheep for the butcher, lie close at hand 
if we look practically into this matter. The art of getting ai 
animal ready for the butcher in the shortest possible time ma 
be said to consist in passing through it the largest possibl 
amount of well selected, properly prepared, and readily digestibl 
food. These conditions are given in a mixed food, of whic 
linseed-cake forms no inconsiderable item. Fattening-oxe 
or sheep are fond of this cake, do well upon it, and consum 
large quantities. On the other hand, accustomed to palatabh 
readily digestible food, fattening-beasts dislike the bitter, an' 
somewhat acrid, taste of rape-cake, and in consequence do n< 
eat more of it than they can help ; and altogether do not get o 
so well upon rape- as upon linseed-cake. 
Bearing in mind that fully one-half of the weight of the foe 
supplied to animals is wasted by respiration and other exhal; 
tions, and that the longer an animal is kept in the» feeding-st;i 
the larger the waste in food, it is clearly a good policy to give 
fattening-stock a food which agrees with their appetite and digo 
tive powers. Notwithstanding its higher price, linseed-cako 
the end is a more economical food than rape-cake, if it be us< 
in the later stages of the fattening process, as a means of bringii 
on the animal rapidly for the butcher. Similar purely pra 
tical considerations frequently decide the choice of feeding inn 
ters, and in a large measure influence their markct-vah 
Another example illustrating the truth of the preceding remar 
is presented lo us in cotton-cake. On comparing the coi i 
