316 ANNUAL RECORD OF SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY. 



PRESERVATION OF BEET-LEAVES FOR FODDER. 



It is well known that in France the beet is cultivated on a 

 large scale mainly for the preparation of beet sugar, and that 

 the leaves are used very largely as food for cattle. A diffi- 

 culty has hitherto existed in reference to this latter applica- 

 tion, on account of the readiness with which the leaves be- 

 come decomposed, and the impossibility of keeping them 

 fresh for any considerable length of time. We are now in- 

 formed that this has been overcome by M. Mehay, who sub- 

 jects the leaves to the action of dilute hydrochloric acid, by 

 means of which, after undergoing a special treatment, they 

 can be stacked away in large quantities and kept indefinitely 

 for future use. The application of the acid employed, so far 

 from injuring these leaves as food, seems to impart to them 

 special alimentary peculiarities, seen in the production of an 

 improved quality of butter. Several veterinary surgeons 

 have certified, as the result of a critical examination of the 

 experiments, that the food gave rise to no disturbance of the 

 digestive system, and that in every respect the new prepa- 

 ration was to be considered a success. 3 B, August 8, 1870, 

 705. 



ADULTERATION OF CLOVER-SEED. 



A confidential circular from an enterprising German in 

 Hamburg has lately come to light containing an offer to sell 

 several tons of sand suitable for mixture with clover-seed, 

 the grains of which resemble the seed so closely that it is al- 

 most impossible to distinguish them by the eye. The writer 

 of this circular announces that this sand is in great demand, 

 especially in England, for purposes of adulteration. Two col- 

 ors are supplied, one for red clover and one for white. 10 (7, 

 June 1, 70. 



VALUE OF THE SUNFLOWER PLANT. 



Attention is called by the editor of the Journal of Applied 

 Science to the great value of the sunflower plant in various 

 economical applications. According to this article, the sun- 

 flower can be cultivated very readily, an acre of land sustain- 

 ing 25,000 plants at twelve inches distance from each other. 

 The flowers are very attractive to bees and furnish a great 



