no T\VENT>-F[VK YEARS OF CHEMICAL INVESTIGATION. 



manufacture of maize vinegar as a staple South African industry 

 has been considered, and in this connection the analyses of 

 seventy-two vinegars were recently discussed by me before the 

 Cape Chemical Society,*" the conclusion being arrived at that 

 whole maize and not maize grits would have to be employed for 

 such a manufacture if it were desired to avoid the overwhelming 

 competition of an imported vinegar prepared from damaged 

 rice. • 



The present paper has already attained such a length that 

 records of other investigations made in the Cape laboratories 

 must either be condensed or omitted. So I shall just say, before 

 leaving the subject of stock food plants, that, in addition to cul- 

 tivated fodders, the nutritive values of several indigenous or im- 

 ported stock food plants have formed the subjects of prelimin- 

 ary investigation. Of these plants I can do hardly more than 

 mention the names. 



Many years ago these investigations were commenced by 

 determining the food values for stock of some of the commonest 

 of the Karroo bushes, the " Draai bosje," as it is known vernacu- 

 larly {Diplopappns filifoliiis). the " schaap bosje" {Pcntaia vir- 

 gatc), the " vaal bosje" {Airiplcx Iwliinus), the " ganna " 

 {Salsola aphylla), the " kouw goed " {Augea capensis), and 

 the " vijge bosje," or rather one of the many plants that are 

 spoken of by that name, that is to say, Mescinbrtantheiniiiii spino- 

 suiii*. In 1896 some determinations were made of tlie rela- 

 tive feeding values of the leaves and stalks of lucerne plants, 

 and of the leaves, light stalks, and woody stalks of " tagasaste." 

 The opinion was then expressed that, provided the difficulties 

 as to acclimatisation could be overcome, the last named might 

 prove a valuable addition to our fodder plants, notwithstanding 

 its volatile oil, which was apt to cause flatulency in horses.t 

 Two years later a series of analyses of prickly pear (Opiiutia) 

 leaves were made, and comments made on the place that this 

 article could take as part of a ration for pigs.J In 1900 a short 

 investigation into the value of Euphorbia caput medusa (" vinger- 

 pol") as a fodder was undertaken: as a succulent, nutritious 

 fodder it compared, in general, favourably with the " ganna " 

 bushes previously analysed, but its dietetic properties were in- 

 terfered with by the presence of a resin. This resin, might, 

 however, possibly be got rid of by boiling§. The next investiga- 

 tion of this kind pertained to Er odium moschatmn, and repre- 

 sented the leaves and stems, gathered at a time when the plant 

 was in vigorous growth, flowering and seeding freely. || Other 

 plants have been analysed with the same object, comprising 

 amongst their number the vlei grass from the vicinity of Mulder's 



** Vide " Malt Vinegar and Maize Vinegar," in C-G-H- Agricultural 

 Journal." of December, 19 ro. 



* See " Colonial Fodder Plants and Woods," 1890- 

 t Report of the Senior Analyst, 1896. pp. 6t, 62. 

 X Report of the Senior Analyst, 1808, pp. 63-66. 

 § Report of the Senior Analyst. 1900. pp- 50. Si- 

 ll Report of the Senior Analyst. Jannary-Tune, 1904. pp. 31, 32. 



