Malt Culms, Coombs - A by product of the Malting process, used as a Feedingstuff for dairy cows, sheep and horses, after thorough soaking.

Malt Sugar - Maltose.

Maltase - An enzyme which breaks down maltose into glucose. It occurs in yeast and is an important element of the brewing process.

Malting - The process whereby barely or other gain in soaked in water and allowed to partly genninate (during which stored Starch is broken down to Maltose by the enzyme Diastase), and is then kiln dried, after which the roots and shoots are removed (malt culms) and the remaining grain (the malt) is used in brewing. The malt is steeped in water and the maltose extracted into solution (the wort) which is run-off, leaving the residual grain which is used as an animal Feedingstuff.

Malting Barley - The best quality Barely sold for malting, represent­ing about one fifth of the crop, for which a premium price is paid. It has a high Starch content (required for obtaining Maltose) and a low Protein content (determined during testing by measuring Nitrogen content). Good quality malting barley, after being harvested well, should be dry, and should smell' sweet' (with no suggestion of mustiness). Also the grain should be evenly size with few broken or damaged ones, evently coloured wite wrinkly surface, and free from weed seeds and disease. These qualities are important for malting, and tests with strict criteria are carried out by millers before grain is accepted from fermers.

Maltose - A disaccharide sugar (Carbohydrate) comprising two Glucose molecules, formed by Starch breakdown by the enzyme diastase, particularly during and seed germination (Malting). Also called malt sugar.

Mamma - Milk secreting organ of female mammals.

Mammals - A class of animals characterised mainly by hair, and the secretion of milk to feed the young (See Mammary Glands), which includes all farm livestock, except poultry.

Mammary Glands - Milk-producing glands, characteristic of female Mammals. Located in the Udder of cows. Milk production and secretion is controlled by various Hormones. (See Lactation).

Mane - 1. Long hair on the back of a horse's neck. 2. A narrow strip of grass or cereal not cut by a mower, or by a Binder or Combine Harvester.

Manettii - Name given to a strong vigorous type of rose which is often used as a stock in the propagation of cultivated rose varieties.

Manganese- (Mn) - A metallic Trace Element required for metabolic processes as an enzyme activator, it can be deficient in Neutral or Alkaline Soils rich in Organic Matter, causing Deficiency Diseases in crops (e.g., Speckled yellows in beat, Grey Leaf in cereals), which is usually rectified by spraying with manganesesulphate. Cattle infertility may result if it is deficient in pasture.

Mange - A skin disease of animals caused by mites which results in the hair dropping out in patches or, due to persistent itching, being rubbed away by the animal.

Manger - A trough in which food for cattle and horses is placed, often located in a Cowhouse or Stable.

Manioc - A tropical plant (Manihot esculenta) producing a tuber with a high Starch but low Protein content, used as a cereal substitute in animal feedingstuffs. Also called cassava or tapioca.

Manure - A general term for anything added to the soil to increase its content of plant nutrients (Fertilizers). Normally applied to organic, usually bulky, materials mostly derived from farm and animal waste products, such as Compost, Dung, Farmyard Manure, Slurry, Sewerage Sludge, etc. They are slower acting than inorganic fertilizers but have the advantage of adding Organic Matter to the soil, increasing its capacity to retain water, and improving its structure (Green Manure).

Manure Spreaders - Various types of machine used to distribute solid or liquid Manures on the land. Also called muck spreaders. The main types include:
(a) Self-emptying trailers containing a slatted conveyor in the base, delivering the (mainly solid) manure to a revolving mechanism at the rear which shreds and flings it on the field. Also called trailerspreaders.
(b) Cylindrical, open topped tanks with a p.t.o. driven, central, axial shaft which operates a set of attached flail chains, which throw the manure (usually containing Slurry) out to one side of the tank.
(c) Gun mechanisms which distribute, under pressure, slurry conveyed via a pipe from a nearby fixed tank or from a mobile vacuum tanker. The latter are sometimes used to spread slurry directly onto the land.

Manurial Residues - That proportion of a manure added to the soil but not used by the crop, or residues left in the soil by a crop, which are available to future crops.

Manurial Value - Those nutrients in a feedingstuff which an animal does not take in and pass out with the faeces so as to enrich the dung. Also called the residual value or fertilizer value of a feedingstuff.

Maran - A heavy breed of poultry with barred feathers, white legs, a single comb, producing dark brown eggs. Also used as table birds.

Marden Layer - A term for a young Ley.

Mare - A female horse of 5 years of age or more.

Marek's Disease - A virus disease of poultry causing lameness, progressing to leg paralysis drooped wings, neck twisting and greying of the iris in both eyes.

Marginal Land - Poor quality land suffering from various permanent disadvantages such as steep slopes, bad drainage, poor thin soil, harsh environmental conditions, etc.

Marked Coat - An animal's coat having two or more specific colours as distinct from a single colour (self-coloured).

Market Garden - Land used to grow produce, mainly vegetable and fruit, for sale (usually to a market, e.g., Covent Garden Market) for direct human consumption, as distinct from for processing purposes. The term is often restricted to the production of vegetables on a small scale.

Marl - Calcareous clay which is used as a dressing to improve soils particularly through the addition of clay to light soils.

Marmalades - These are made usually from citrus fruits and consist of jellies of the concerned fruit containing shreds of peels suspended in them. A good jelly marmalades can be prepared by using sweet orange (Malta) and Khatta (sour orange) in the ratio of 2 : 1 by weight, or Santra (loose orange) and Khatta 2 : 1 by weight.

Marsh - An area of usually lowlying land, often flooded by fresh or saline water, with poorly drained, impermeable mineral soil usually silt or clay (as distinct from the organic soils of Fens) which is continuously waterlogged. Characterised by sedges and rushes. Many marsh area have been artificially drained and protective embankments established to prevent flooding, with subsequent improvement of their grazing value, and in some cases the introduction of arable cropping.