Experiments on the Feeding of Stock. 
447 
On the other hand, when placed in the stalls, they appear to 
eat only from 7 to 11 lbs. of mangold per day, with about ^ lb. 
of bran and ^ lb. of straw-chaff". In general, the carcases are 
worth 40 francs (or 325.) apiece, meat being valued at Id. per lb. ; 
and their fleece (5^ lbs.) is put at 5s. 
The great bulk of the sheep fatted were aged ewes, bought at 
16s. apiece. 
Being accustomed to sell sheep of a hardy rather than pre- 
cocious race (Blackfaced Downs), the wethers, fat at 16 months, 
weighing over 80 lbs., and worth, with the fleece, 3/., and the 
ewes for stock 3 months later, so as to realize at least the same 
value, I cannot think these French results very satisfactory ; 
though 1 must admit that my sheep would eat twice as much 
mangold, in addition to a moderate allowance of corn and cake. 
The next point to consider is the food, of which on this farm 
the main staple is mangold-pulp, the refuse of the distillery. 
The object of one of the most careful experiments is to compare 
this pulp with mangolds, raw, and steamed, only such an addition 
of straw, chaff, and bran being made as Avas considered essential 
to health. Bran and oats, either crushed or whole, with straw 
(long, or cut into chaff), are the only adjuncts in general use ; and 
on a special trial, the addition of oats to pulp and straw given 
in the rack was not found remunerative. The diet, we must 
admit, must be suited to the stock that eats it. 
The Waste of the Nitrogen in Food. 
The first experiment recorded was made for the special pur- 
pose of testing the quantity of nitrogen recovered in the manure 
and in the carcase, that so the waste by the breath, &c., might 
be arrived at. 
Five sheep were selected and weighed, of which two were 
slaughtered at once to determine the proportions of meat, wool, 
offlil, (Sec, at the starting-point. The three survivors were put 
into a stall so floored that all the excreta could be preserved 
together. The food was steamed mangolds, bran, and oats. At 
first the animals lost their appetite, so that on the fifth day the 
three only ate 3| lbs. of pulp and If lb. of oats, and consequently 
lost weight rapidly. Something was clearly amiss. Accident 
pointed out a remedy ; for the sheep, when taken, after 41 days, 
to the weigh-bridge, rushed forward greedily to devour some long 
straw which lay in the way. The hint was taken, but the straw 
supplied was cut into chaff" and placed in the manger, that the 
investigation of the manure might not be impeded. This first 
essay under difficulties may be considered useful only as bringing 
out the worth of straw as a stag to the stomach (" lest," or ballast, 
VOL. XXIV. 2 G 
