APPLES AS FOOD FOR ANIMALS. 71 



The unripe Baldwins gave eighty-seven per cent water, 

 with a less amount of albuminoids and sugar than the others, 

 and considerable free hydrated malic acid. The sugar varied 

 from about five per cent in the Baldwins to nine per cent 

 in the Sweets. The total insoluble matters, including skin, 

 seeds, pectine, ash, etc., averaged about 3.25 per cent. 



These results show how largely preponderating in apples 

 is the water, which in amount is about eighty-five per cent 

 of their weight. Therefore a tree bearing thirty bushels 

 (forty -six pounds to the bushel) holds up- in the fruit about 

 half a ton of water. The nutritive value of apples is, of course, 

 not in the water, but in the solids, — albuminoids, sugar, and 

 gum. In a bushel of Ilubbardstons there is about six pounds 

 of soluble nutritive material at the period of ripening; in 

 Tolman's Sweets, about seven pounds ; in Baldwins, five 

 pounds ; and this material will vary to a considerable extent 

 in value. Sugar is a carbonaceous substance, and nutritive 

 in a certain direction. It is mainly useful as fuel, and by 

 oxidation serves to maintain animal warmth. The albumi- 

 noids are nitrogenous, and therefore are foods proper; the 

 gum is also a food. 



The albuminoids are seldom found above half of one per 

 cent in any varieties, and this would give us less than four 

 ounces in the bushel ; of sugar we find in a bushel about 

 two pounds and a half in acid fruits, and considerably more 

 in sweets. 



Our analysis of apples as presented shows that the amount 

 of nutriment, or absolute food they contain in proportion to 

 bulk, is small. In order to bring the facts home to the under- 

 standing of our farmers, let us contrast them with potatoes 

 and some other vegetable foods. The following is an analy- 

 sis of the Early Rose Potato, a variety extensively raised in 

 New England : — 



Water 78.01 



Albumen, caseine, vegetable fibrine . . . 3.19 



Gum, pectine, and organic acids .... 3.06 



Fat 05 



Starch 13.40 



Cellulose and ash 2.29 



100.00 



