The southern sentinel. (Winnfield, La.) 1883-1910, 1886-04-16
LlhsEED ron ANIMALS.
Extracts From : Report OF Prof. Gibson,
Of London.

liNSEED FOR ANIMALS.
Extracts From : Report OF Prof Gibson,
Of London.
Linseed cake probably stands frs,
among purchasable foods, and although
necessarily expensive, is one of the most
economical when properly used. 1t is
almost the only feeding material which
supplies in large quantity the organic
principle termed mucilage, which is
non-nitrogenous compound containing
phosphate Of lime chemically combined,
and is specially fitted for the develop
ment of the animal frame; its peculiar
gelatinous character when expanded by
water also has an important effect on
coarser food, and renders it palatable
and more nutritious. The albuminous
compounds of linseed cake are in high
proportion, and all in wholesome
form; it constitutes one of the richest
sources of heterogeneous food constitu-
ents, containing when pure more than
double as much as ordinary grain.
Perhaps the most important constitu-
emit OF linseed cakes is the oil. as apart
from the high value OF this body as
ready formed f3ttxSc tier, and its COM
cake eake:'st .ii2 sp0r raries IN wi aRe
y even in pds cakes Of the same price
and supposed quality, and may be taken
to determine the practical worth of cakes
when{jp. other respects much alike.
C0ll0 bn" is also an essential element
in the quality of linseed cakes, and
must be well considered, in conjunction
with their entire composition, in form
ing reliable opinion of their value. l
have lately been much struck with the
extent of these variations; thus in one
week | had samples yielding respectively
about 20, Is and s per cent. of oil. The
two first were foreign cakes; the first
very thick, and not half pressed, but
very free from other seeds and dirt,
which is not always the case with such
cakes. These were of course excep-
tional samrles. but even ordinary cakes,
made in mills with the best machinery,
present wide differences in the percent
ages of oil; thus, in a parcel of seven
cakes sent at one time by a farmers as
sociation, the oil ranged between IL
and Is. There is here, therefore, a con-
siderable difference in practical value,
though perhaps little difference in price.
and It may sometimes happen that the
price is in favor of the best cake. The
correct estimation of oil by the chemist
requires much experience and care, both
in the operation itself and in preparing
the sample to very fine powder, which
is essential for extracting the whole of
the oil,
The lighter pressed cakes are of
course the better for agricultural pur-
poses, provided they are good in other
respects; but it is the interest of the
crusher to leave as little oil in them as
possible, and by recent machinery this
may be carried so far as seriously to inn
pair the value of the cake for feeding
both by the lowness of the oil and the
extreme hardness. This can only be as
certained by analysis. and with the view
of rendering it more useful in this way.
both to buyers and crushers. have now
reduced the fee for oil determinations,
when two or more samples are sent at
one time. Linseed oil cake is un-
fortunately very liable to adulteration,
the facility with which this can be done
being temptation to dishonest persons.
although the desire for cheapness and
the undue profits of middlemen have
much to answer for on this point. With
out any admixture, it is often much de-
Perforated by the presence of foreign
seeds naturally associated with the lin
seed. through careless cultivation or inn
perfect screening, and the cake made
from such seed is of course less valuable
than that free from such extraneous
matters.
should advise none but pure cakes
to be used, because / believe they are
cheapest in the end; and provided they
meet the above requirements in the way
Of oil and general composition, and are
in fresh and sweet condition, it matters
little, consider, where they come from
or what kind of linseed they are made
from, or what brands they bear. Buyers
must of course expect to pay = fair price
for such cakes, and unduly cheap ones,
alleged to be IS good, should be re-
garded with suspicion. A word, also,
to crushers as to the kind of seed they
should use in making pure cakes; # this
contains any kind of farinaceous seeds
accidentally present, the cake made
from it may be unjustly condemned as
adulterated, instances Of which have
come under my notice. Country Gen.
flexsGM. 80 49,
GENERAL.