Oil the FcciUiiij of Stock tcitli prepared Food. 403 
Linseed may be boiled three times during the day in the same 
pan ; twice for the feeding beasts, and once for the store beasts; 
consuming about 1 cwt. of the best coal. By diis method, linseed 
never burns to the pan; boiling over is prevented; and constant; 
attendance during the process unnecessary. 
For steaming potatoes, the steam passes through a pipe from 
the boiler into a closet formed of cast-iron plates, having a lid 
fitted up to be steam tight, and having a false bottom perforated 
with holes, through which the condensed steam passes from the 
potatoes to the true bottom, wlience it is discharged by a small 
tap inserted for the purpose. For getting the potatoes out of the 
steamer, a loose door 9 inches square, in the low part of one of 
the sides, is necessary, from which the potatoes are discharged 
upon the floor, or into any vessel adapted to receive them, and 
may be taken thence to their destination. 
The steaming of hay or straw, when cut, is most easily effected 
by having the steam conducted into the lower part of a large box, 
so as to allow of the hay or straw being trodden down into a firm 
mass, before the steam is admitted to it. The steam being turned 
on, as soon as it has found its way through, the operation has- 
been continued long enough. It is not, perhaps, generally known, 
that mouldv hay, having imdergone the action of steam, loses all 
its noxious properties. 
The expense of the apparatus described, for boiling linseed 
and steaming potatoes, would be 40/. ; — this does not include 
carriage, or men's expenses from home when fixing it. An extra 
double pan with taps, would be bl. \0s., and if a potato-steamer 
be not attached, the cost would be reduced 5A 
Many objections, and some of them plausible enough, may no 
doubt be advanced against the system just described. In opposi- 
tion to these, n othinor will be offered beyond the statement of facts 
and figures already given. Not that arguments are wanting on 
our side of the question ; but because all reasoning would be 
thrown away upon one who rejects the evidence of the foregoing 
facts. Experience has taught the writer, that men of strong pre- 
judices are convinced by no argument whatever — no, not even by 
the testimony of their own senses. There are persons who have 
actually seen the cattle feeding on this system, have watched their 
progress, and have had satisfactory answers to every inquiry by 
which such progress was made, and have at last gone away con- 
vinced the whole scheme was a delusion. Others more charitaV)ly 
inclined to give their neighbours credit for vcacity and common 
sense, have witnessed the same things, made the same inquiries, 
liave consequently adopted the system, and been perfectly satis- 
fied with its success; — and so will every one else, who shall set 
about tlie undertaking with a persevering and unprejudiced mind. 
In conclusionj I beg to thank those gentlemen who have favoured 
