26 

 SCIENTIFIC NOTES. 



SULPHATE OF MAGNESIA AS A MANURE. 



The accumulation of sulphate of magnesia, or epsom salts, as a waste 

 product at a mineral-water establishment in Konigsberg, where it is 

 ofiered for sale at about 15 cents per hundred weight, has suggested its 

 use for agricultural purposes, as its constituents enter largely into the 

 composition of most vegetable substances. Magnesia, especially, is 

 found in considerable quanrity in the seeds of various cultivated plants, 

 and especially in corn, &c. The experiment has already been tried of 

 applying the sulphate of magnesia to one part of the field, and the sul- 

 phate of lime, or gypsum, to the other; and, according to Professor 

 Goltz, it is stated that in the case of clover especially, the difference 

 was very markedly in favor of the magnesia, although the general nature 

 of its agency appears to be quite similar to that of the gypsum. Both 

 seem particularly valuable in this connection, on account of enterincr 

 directly into the composition of the plant instead of requiring a certain 

 transformation before being taken up. The sulphate of magnesia, as 

 stated by Professor Goltz, has a perhaps still more important applica- 

 tion in the stable, acting like gypsam in retarding the decomposition of 

 the manure, and fixing the ammonia developed from it. The sulphate 

 of magnesia, howe^^er, acts more quickly and energetically than gypsum, 

 in consequence of being very soluble in water; quite the contrary being 

 the case with gypsum. From the preceding considerations, therefore, 

 it is inferred that sulphate of magnesia is quite equal to gypsum as a 

 fertilizer, and decidedly superior for use in stables. From one pound to 

 one and a half pounds per day, per head, will suffice for the latter object, 

 or from four to five hundred weight per annum. The cost in the vicinity 

 of Konigsberg being less than one-half that of gypsum, is an important 

 point in favor of the epsom salt. 



CONSTITUENTS OF THE MILK OF DIFFERENT ANIMALS. 



From a late examination of different kinds of milk, with reference 

 to their solid constituents, it has been ascertained that asses' milk is 

 most diluted, containing scarcely 9 per cent, of solid matter. Next 

 comes human milk, with somewhat over 11 per cent., while mares' milk 

 contains 17 per cent. The average is seen in the milk of the goat and 

 of the cow. In reference to the percentage of casein and albumen, human 

 milk is poorest, containing only 4 per cent, of casein ; cows' milk nearly 

 5 per cent., with more than one half per cent, of albumen. Again, goats' 

 milk, with nearly per cent, of casein and albumen, as far as known, 

 has a larger amount of albumen than that of any other mammal. Tiie 

 smallest quantity of butter is found in asses' milk ; that of the goat 

 containing the largest, or nearly 7 per cent. Sheeps' milk is most nutri- 

 tious, as it contains 11^ per cent, of protein matters and hydrocarbons; 

 and while the milk of the cow contains only about 4 per cent, of milk 

 sugar, that of the mare has 8 per cent., which renders it very i)rone to 

 alcoholic fermentation, and has given rise to its employment by the 

 Tartars in the production of an intoxicating liquor, known as quass. 



THEORY OF FATTENING ANIMALS. 



An important suggestion has lately been made by Mr. Lawes, of Eng- 

 land, on the waste of food during respiration, and its relationship to the 

 fattening of animals. He remarks that in the case of animals fed for 



