158 REPORT ON TIIE CULTIVATION OF MANGOLD WURZEL. 



TABLE IV. — Result of Experiments on the Keeping Properties of 

 Differently Manured and Different Varieties of Mangold. 



Feeding value. — They should not be given raw before January, 

 as they contain a quantity of pectic acid which causes scouring, 

 and even abortion sometimes it is said. In keeping this sub- 

 stance is converted into sugar in the same manner that the pec- 

 tine of sour apples becomes sugar in the process of ripening. 

 They may be given boiled or steamed,, however, as in that state 

 they are innocuous. In the absence of other experiments on the 

 comparative feeding values of mangolds and swedes, we have re- 

 course to Lord Spencer's often quoted one. His lordship put up 

 two cows, as nearly equal in age and weight as possible, and fed 

 for one month, the one with mangolds, and the other with swedes, 

 hay to both ad lib. The following month the diet was changed, 

 the one from swedes to mangolds, the other from mangolds to 

 swedes, and the third month both fed on mangolds. It appeared 

 by measurement that the greatest increase in weight of both 

 animals took place while they fed on mangolds* The following 

 experiment was made at the Albert Agricultural Institution in 

 Ireland : — 



* " Journal of Royal Society," vol. ii. For other experiments, see ",Royal 

 Society's Journal," vols. iv. and xiii., the results of which are slightly in favour of 

 swedes. We have since made some experiments, 1864 and 1865, on this subject, 

 which resulted rather in favour of Bwedes. See " Highland Society's Transac- 

 tions, 1868." 



