4^ Thomson on the Food of Animals. 
With this important conclusion, which the author proceeds to 
account for by a chemical examination of barley and malt, we 
must leave this part of the subject, all his observations on which 
are highly deserving of attention. 
Various experiments were instituted wnth a view to determine 
the effect of molasses, linseed, and beans, in the production of 
milk and butter; and the result was as follows: — 
I. Milk; 
1000 lbs. of hay, barley, and molasses, produce of dry milk, 80"6 
1000 lbs. of hay, barley, and linseed, 84'5 
1000 lbs. of ditto, and bean meal, 81*3 
II. Butter; 
1000 lbs. of hay, barley, and molasses, produce butter,. . 21*9 
1000 lbs. of hay, barley, and linseed, 21*5 
1000 lbs. ditto,"and bean meal, 22*5 
or, considering the hay a constant quantity, then we have the re- 
sult as follows: — 
I. Milk; 
lbs 
1000 lbs. barley and molasses produce of milk 23*7 
1000 lbs. ditto linseed, 25-7 
1000 lbs. bean meal, 25-2 
II. Butter; 
1000 lbs. barley and molasses produce of butter, 64'5 
1000 lbs. ditto linseed, 63-7 
1000 lbs. bean meal, 70-0 
It appears that a change of food produces an increase in the 
quantity of milk; after the same diet has been continued for some 
days, the milk begins to diminish. Not only is variety requisite 
when the animal is in an artificial state, it is likewise beneficial 
when in a condition more akin to nature. It is on this principle, 
the author thinks, that we are to account for the superior influ- 
ence of old natural pastures, which consist of a variety of grasses 
and other plants, over those pastures which are formed of only 
one grass, in the production of fat cattle and good milk cows. 
He thinks, that cattle in a state of confinement would be benefited 
by a frequent, almost a daily, change or modification in their food. 
Taking the mean of the produce of the two cows experimented 
upon, we find that the relaitive influence of the diflferent kinds of 
food in the production of milk to be; malt 102-66 lbs. of milk; 
barley and molasses, 106| ; bean meal, 107.6S; barley, 108; bar- 
ley and linseed, 109. The author considers that no adequate ad- 
vantage can be attained by pushing the supply of barley to a cow 
beyond the extent of 9 lbs. daily. In general, the same induction 
