62 REPORTS ON DIFFERENT DESCRIPTIONS OF FOOD FOR STOCK* 



and the diet changed ; lots 1 and 3 being put on mangolds, and 

 lots 2 and 4 on swedes. The same thing was gone through on 

 March 1st; and at March 29th, when the experiment was con- 

 cluded, the animals were again weighed. These weighings will 

 be found in Table IV. 



The weight of the milk given during the last twenty-one days 

 of each period is given in Table V., and all the observations on 

 the quality of the produce will be found in Table IV. 



In the experiments of both years the results have been some- 

 what in favour of swedes, so far as regards the increase of live 

 weight, and, though to a smaller extent, the quantity of milk 

 given ; and in favour of mangolds, so far as the quality of dairy 

 produce (colour excepted) is concerned. We can scarcely infer, 

 however, that in" every case these results will follow ; for the 

 feeding value of every species of plants is considerably modified 

 by the circumstances, whether as regards climate or manure, 

 under which it is grown. Professor Anderson has lately found 

 considerable difference in the composition of both swedes and 

 mangolds grown on different manures, and it is well known that 

 mangolds grown in France and Southern Germany contain much 

 more saccharine matter than those grown in England ; so much 

 so, indeed, that while the manufacture of sugar from the beet is 

 a large and important trade in these countries, an attempt made 

 in England failed owing to this circumstance. In perusing the 

 results of analyses of the mangold, we have remarked that the 

 percentage of water is almost invariably greater in mangolds 

 grown in Scotland than in those grown in England ; it is very 

 probable, therefore, that the latter may be the more nutritious 

 of the two. Is it not possible, too, that Scotch-grown swedes 

 may, on the other hand, contain more nutriment than those of 

 English growth, the climate of Scotland being so peculiarly suit- 

 able for the cultivation of the swede ? The relative sizes of the 

 crops of swedes and mangolds, which are produced under similar 

 treatment in the south of Scotland, may be pretty nearly in the 

 proportion of three of the former to two of the latter ; so that 

 unless the feeding value of mangolds can be shown to exceed 

 that of swedes in the proportion of three to two, there is no in- 

 ducement to grow a greater breadth of mangolds than is neces- 

 sary for spring use, when swedes fail. And as this ratio, judging 

 from the above detailed experiments, seems quite out of the 

 question, we do not think of investigating this subject further. 

 In those large districts, however, of central England, where as 

 large crops of mangolds as of swedes can be grown, and where 

 the relative breadths of these crops depend only on their feeding 

 values, such experiments would be of great importance. Whether 

 the same results as those given above would be got there, can 

 only be known by trial. 



