Annual Report. 147 



The proportion of water in the cattle-melon, as in other succu- 

 lent vegetable productions, is subject to considerable variations ; as 

 far as my experience goes, it is much larger than in mangolds, 

 approaching more nearly to the character of white turnips. 



Analyses. 



The number of analyses made for members of the Society 

 during the past season was a full average. Amongst the analyses 

 the following are of interest to the feeder of stock. 



Composition of Pea-shells. 



Moisture 13-68 



Oil 1-09 



*Albuminous compounds (flesh-forming matters) . . 7*12 



'. Mucilage, starch and digestible fibre 21-65 



Woody fibre (cellulose) .. .. 53-71 



Mineral matters (ash) 2-75 



100-00 

 *Containing nitrogen I'H 



The nutritive value of pea-shells is not great ; still, it will be 

 seen, that they contain some starch, a little oil, and 7 per cent, of 

 flesh-forming matters, and as this is a cheap food, it may be given 

 to cattle in time of scarcity with advantage. 



Composition of Locust-meal. 



A sample of locust-meal, on analysis, gave the following 



results : — 



Moisture 12-61 



Oil 1-08 



Albuminous compounds (flesh- forming matters) .. 5-87 



Sugar 44-30 ' 



Tectin, mucilage and digestible fibre 26-13 | 



"Woody fibre (cellulose) 7-14 ; 



Mineral matters (ash) 2-87 



100-00 



Locust-beans, as will be seen, are very rich in sugar, and con- 

 sequently very sweet and fat-producing ; in the shape of meal 

 they may be added with great advantage to other less palatable 

 nutritious food, such as palm-nut kernel meal. 



Biscuit-meal. 



Under this name a meal is now sold by the Metropolitan 

 Farina Company, at the price of 9/. a ton. 



L 2 



