428 Abstract Report of Agricultural Discussions. 
food — one from Mr. Lawes, and the other from our veterinary pro- 
fessor. Mr. Bcale Browne, speaking from experience, lias told us 
that this food of Thorley's is both uoiu-ishing and medicinal. Our 
veterinary professor confirms his statement as to the medicinal qualities 
of some of the ingredients. So far, then, we are no longer acting in 
the dark. If any gentleman has cattle that are not well, he will 
naturally try this Thorley's Food, and at the same time try common 
food upon animals that are in perfect health. Then, if ho brings the 
two — those fed on Thorley's Food, and those that are fed on common 
food — to the same condition, he will have established the fact that 
Thorley's Food is a valuable thing for an animal not in sound health. 
It remains for gentlemen to try this without prejudice on one side or 
the other. 
Meeting of Weeldy Council, Marcli 26ih. Mr. W. Fishee Hobbs, V.P., 
in the Chair. 
On Agricultural Steam-boilers and their proper Management. 
Mr. Holland, M.P., in introducing this subject, said, — This subject 
could hardly have been brought with propriety before the Council 
and Members of this Society a few years ago, when steam was only 
gi-adually making its way into use for agi-icultural purposes. Now, 
however, that we are not only thrashing, chaflf-cutting, and performing 
other operations by steam-power, but are introducing it into our 
fields for ploughing and cultivation, it behoves us to have some know- 
ledge of the phenomena connected with steam and water, and also to 
be cautious how we use what is a most excellent servant if properly 
dealt with, but a most terrible master if it escape from our control. 
The small number of cases of boiler explosions in proportion to the 
quantity of steam-power used in agriculture arises in a great measure 
from the perfect way in which boilers and engines are made and sent 
out by the leading manufactui'ers, and partly also from the unexpected 
but gratifying fact that oiu* labourers have tui-ned out to be most excel- 
lent and efiicient engine-di'ivers when once initiated by a mechanic 
who knows his duty, and especially after they have been — say for 
the first twelve months — well looked after by the master or owner of 
the engine. 
The total quantity of steam-power in agricultural use in England 
cannot be accurately ascertained ; but, according to Mr. Morton, in 
his ' Handbook of Farm Laboiu-,' it has been increased during the last 
four years by the addition of upwards of 40,000 horse-power, of which 
a very large proportion is employed in portable engines, and only a 
very small percentage in fixed engines. 
In dealing with this subject I have not trusted to my own scientific 
knowledge, but have consulted men of eminence and reputation in the 
country ; and I must be pardoned for calling attention, in a few words, 
to some of the phenomena of steam itself. 
