364 ANNUAL RECORD OF SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY. 



that seed potatoes taken up in February, and spread in a 

 pretty warm kitchen, germinated and grew much more quick- 

 ly, giving a greater yield by twenty-live to thirty per cent., 

 and were much less subject to the rot. The favorable result 

 is believed to be produced by the greater energy resulting 

 from the concentration of the sap in the cells. 28 (7,1872, 

 tv., 237. 



the prickly comfrey as a fodder plant. 



According to Voelcker, the prickly comfrey, a native of 

 Caucasus, is at present cultivated in some parts of Ireland as 

 food for dairy stock. The plant is perennial, is easily propa- 

 gated by cuttings from the root, and yields a heavy crop. 

 The ordinary produce is about thirty tons to the acre in sev- 

 eral cuttings, but eighty-two tons have been reached. An 

 analysis made of this substance showed that it would proba- 

 bly have the same feeding value as green mustard, turnip- 

 tops, or Italian rye-grass grown on irrigated land. 21 A, 

 November, 1871,1082. 



PREPARATION OF BEET-LEAVES FOR FODDER. 







Mehay maintains the entire success of his method of so 

 preparing the leaves of the beet as to render them capable 

 of preservation for several months as fodder, and at the same 

 time greatly improving their qualities as food for cattle. The 

 method consists simply in placing them in baskets, and im- 

 mersing them in a tank containing diluted hydrochloric acid 

 of four degrees of Beaume. The result of this is to greatly 

 condense the volume of the leaves, and to render it necessary 

 to add more fresh ones to fill up the basket, which has to be 

 again immersed, and finally allowed to drain off. The leaves 

 may then be placed in beds, in dry earth, and kept until 

 needed for use. According to a report of a committee who 

 examined the results of this process, domestic animals be- 

 come extremely fond of the leaves thus prepared ; and, in- 

 deed, milch cows fed with them are said to give a large in- 

 crease of milk, with a decided improvement in the quality of 

 the butter. The tendency to diarrhoea in cattle produced by 

 the fresh beet-leaves seems not to be developed by this pre- 

 pared fodder, and for this and many other reasons it is strong- 

 ly recommended to agriculturists. 3 J3, Dec. 21, 1871, 672. 



