REPORT OF THE CHEMIST. 173 



SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 



Since the ' dry matter ' of roots may for practical purposes be considered as 

 entirely digestible, the relative feeding value of the different varieties will be in pro- 

 portion to the percentage of dry matter they corrtain and the richness of that dry matter 

 in protein. The r.mount of fat present is so small that it does not call for special con- 

 sideration. In addition to the usual fodder analysis, a determination of sugar in the 

 juice of the root was made. 



Mangels. 



The percentages of dry matter in the three varieties examined are : — 



Per cent. 



Gate-Post, red 11-14 



Giant Yellow Globe 8-19 



Golden Fleshed Tankard 10-25 



Weight for weight, therefore, the ' Gate-Post ' is irruch the more valuable 

 mangel, contaiiriirg approximately one-fourth nrore dry matter than the ' Giarrt Yellow 

 Globe ', which in this respect, it will be remarked, is the poorest of the three varieties 

 examiired. The ' Gate-Post ' mangel is, further, characterijted by a high sugar content, 

 a feature of considerable importance from the feeding standpoint. 



The ' Giant Yellow Globe ' mangel presents several peculiarities of composition. 

 In the first place, the percentage of dry matter is small, while that of the nitrogenous 

 organic matter is exceptionally large for this class of root. Our experiments go to 

 show that approximately 50 per cent of the nitrogenous matter exists as true protein. 

 The ' Golden Pleshed Tankard ' occupies a place very close to that of the Gate-Post.' 



Carrots. 



The dry matter of the varieties examined may be stated as follows : — 



Per cent. 



Improved Short White 8 46 



Guerande or Ox-Heart 11 -64 



From these data we may coirclude the last named variety to have the greater 

 feeding value. Not only is it the more valuable from a larger percentage of dry 

 matter, but also from the better quality of that dry matter. This fact is revealed by 

 the data expressing the percentages of sugar/ in juice, of protein and of fat, all of 

 which are higher in the case of tlie Ox-Heart carrot. 



Turnips. 



The three varieties of turnips analysed yielded the following perceirtages of dry 

 matter : — 



Per cent. 



Skirvings 10-35 



Champion Purple Top 10 -77 



Eennie's Prize Purple Top 10-36 



Not only from the above data, but also from those of the detailed analysis, it 

 will be observed that such differences in composition as exist are very slight. 



