Feuruahy 10. 
The former method is most ■ suitable for the richest 
soils, where the use of oil-cake and artificial feeding 
I materials, iu addition to the consumption of a 
I heavy crop of roots, would be found too stimulating for 
the cereal crops which usually follow. The latter is an 
I excellent method of feeding Stock upon soils which 
I require extra manuring, and when it is desirable to 
j fatten the animals in the least time; for I consider 
the system of cake-feeding, although costly, yet 
i highly advantageous, as it may bo fairly calculated 
j that about one-half should be charged to the stock, 
the other to the land as manure. There is yet 
j another mode of feeding, whereby the Sheep are allowed 
to eat the roots on the land uncut, and receive, at the 
same time, cake, or corn, and hay ; but this only applies 
to very dry soils, where the roots can be eaten upon the 
land without waste; for upon all other soils there 
would be a loss, by waste, equivalent to the cost of cut¬ 
ting, independent of the disadvantage to the stock. 
In making a comparison *of these modes of feeding, my 
experience teaches mo that the Sheep will fatten as fast 
upon soils in general, when they get the roots cut and 
given in troughs, with a liberal allowance of good hay, 
as they will when allowed to eat the roots on the land 
uncut, and receive, at the same time, half-a-pound of 
oil-cake each, with hay. When Sheep are fed upon roots, 
for fatting, it is necessary not only that a sufficient pro¬ 
vision be made, but that different kinds of roots 
should each be consumed at the period of the year 
when they contain the greatest amount of nutrition, 
and in order to secure this advantage, I would use them 
in the following order, commencing with the varieties 
of common Turnips, which may be continued till the 
month of December; after which time, the Swedish 
Turnips will be best, and may bo continued up to the 
mouth of April—indeed, when sufficient care has been 
exercised in their preservation, they may be used with 
success through the month of May. In general, however, 
Mangold Wurtzel will be preferred at this time, and 
during the summer months. White Carrots are also 
beginning to attract the attention of graziers; and, as 
they are palatable and nutritious in an early state, 
October is not too soon for using them, and they may 
be continued in feeding up to the month of March. 
There have been tables published, showing the com¬ 
parative nutritive value of these roots, obtained 
from analysis by different chemists, the results of 
which, if not actually alike, yet serve to furnish us 
with useful information. They are, by analysis, 
classed somewhat in the following order:—Mangold 
Wurtzel, the most nutritious; Carrots next; then Swedish 
Turnips; and last, being the weakest feediug root, the 
common Turnips. There is, moreover, another excel¬ 
lent feeding plant; and, although it cannot exactly be 
classed with roots or bulbous plants, yet it must not be 
passed over in silence. I allude to Rape. I do not re¬ 
collect seeing any analysis of its feeding properties, but, 
as it is known to be very valuable and fattening, as green 
food, in the early part of the season, I consider it the 
385 j 
best farm produce for fatting Sheep, during the months 
of August and September. 
My own experience enables me to recommend the 
feeding of Sheep with artificials, as they are called, 
in most cases where the land requires the extra 
manure which will be left by their consumption. 
In this method of feeding, regard must be had not 
only to the feeding value of the materials, but also 
to the money value of the article in the market; 
. for, although the sagacity of buyers and sellers generally 
goes far towards assimilating tho two values, yet 
there is often an advantage to be gained when pur¬ 
chases are made in anticipation. There is, also, much 
difference, as well as peculiarity, in the nutritions 
and feeding value of those substances which are com¬ 
prehended in the list of artificial materials. 1 hero is 
some considerable difference in the value ol cake, as 
shown by the chemical analysis of Professor Way, 
entered in the 24th Number of the Journal of tho Royal 
Agricultural Society of England, and which places the 
English cake first as the most nutritious; it, at the 
same time, gives the feeding value of Rape cake as 
equal to Linseed cake, and also shows that the value 
of Peas and Beans are very nearly allied for feeding 
purposes. There is, also, a valuable and interesting 
statement of a series of experiments iu the 33rd number 
of the above-named journal, carried out by Mr. J. B. 
Lawes, and although it relates to Pig-feeding, it is, on 
the other hand, quite sufficient to exhibit the value of 
the materials for feeding Sheep. It is there stated that 
the feeding value of pulse and leguminous crops, such 
as Beans, Peas, Tares, Lentils, &c., is found to be 
greater than that of the cereal crops, such as Oats, 
Barley, &c. Now, although we shall do well not to 
entirely disregard the evidence of chemical analysis, it 
is, nevertheless, desirable to enquire how tar these 
results coincide with our own practical experience of 
their value. I find that American Barrel-cake is supe¬ 
rior in feeding value to any other Linseed-cake, and it 
carries in the market a higher price, showing, also, that 
it is estimated as superior by feeders in general. There 
is, however, nothing in the above-named analysis which 
justifies these conclusions. 
Another instance must be noted in which experience 
and practical application corroborates the accuracy of 
tho analysis, thus, Mr. Pusey finds that his Sheep do 
equally well upon Rape-cake as they do when fed upon 
the like quantity of Linseed-cake; my own use of it 
supports Mr. Pusey’s statement as regards the feeding 
of Tegs or Hoggets, but not so as regards the feeding 
of older Wether Sheep, or Ewes, and fatting Lambs, 
more particularly when given in admixture with Lin¬ 
seed-cake, for I find that the Stock will oat the Linseed- | 
cake in preference, it being more palatable than the 
Rape-cake, although, probably, not more nutritious. I 
find, also, that Sheep sometimes eat the Rape-cake 
very well for awhile, but after they get into good con¬ 
dition, and well-advanced in fatness, that they refuse 
it altogether, particularly when they receive an allow¬ 
ance of well-made Clover Hay. One thing, however, i 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
