222 MR. KARKEKK’S LECTURE ON FAT AND MUSCLE. 
The next part of his lecture went to shew the manner in which 
muscle or flesh was produced. This was also clearly exhibited to 
the farmers by reference to tables containing analyses of different 
kinds of food, which proved very satisfactorily that an immense 
difference existed on account of some kinds producing fat and 
others producing muscle. 
According to those tables, which were the result of the ana- 
lyses of professor Playfair and Boussingault, peas contain 15 per 
cent, more of the muscle-forming principle than barley-meal ; 
barley-meal 12 per cent, more than potatoes ; and potatoes 1 per 
cent, more than white turnips. 
He strongly recommended that barley-meal, when it was cheap 
enough, as it is at present, should be given to growing stock, 
particularly to sheep, while feeding on white turnips. A pint of 
barley-meal a day would increase tbe quantity and quality of the 
flesh and wool at the same time ; it would also tend to prevent 
scouring — the frequent consequence of so much watery food. For 
the rearing of breeding animals of all descriptions, he recom- 
mended the use of barley-meal, or ground oats, and strongly con- 
demned the practice which was frequently pursued of feeding 
young stock on linseed-cake, which is a very excellent food for 
producing fat, but not flesh. He also condemned the very com- 
mon practice of tying up the young bull at so early an age as 
eight or nine months’ old, and fed at the same time as a calf in- 
tended for the butcher. Too much liberty, he considered, could 
not possibly be given for the first two years, as far as was consist- 
ent with warmth and shelter in the winter months. Where the 
pastures were small and convenient, there was no difficulty or 
danger in allowing the young animal to graze during the second 
summer, and, if not convenient, a large covered shed, with a 
straw yard attached, would answer the purpose, with a comfort- 
able loose box adjoining a straw yard in the winter, in which he 
might be allowed to range when the weather permitted. 
Without exercise in a moderate way, the young animal could 
never obtain that proper development of muscle which is required. 
This, he said, was dependent on an admirable law, that within 
certain limits, in proportion to the exertion that it is required 
to make, a part increases in strength, fitness, and size. It was 
from the want of a proper supply of nitrogenized food, and also of 
sufficient exercise, that so many of our best bred animals, parti- 
cularly cattle and pigs, were prevented from breeding at a time 
when the greatest benefits and profits might be expected by in- 
creasing their race. He alluded more particularly to the North 
Devon cattle, and those of the improved breed — as well as to a 
number of the Chinese breed of pigs. 
