147 



entire success of Lis metliod of so preparing tbo leaves of tlio beet as to 

 render llicni capable of preservation for several months as fodder; and 

 at the same time greatly improving tlieir qualities as food for cattle. 

 Tlie method consists simply in placing them in baskets, and immersing 

 them in a tank containing diluted hydrochloric acid of 4 degrees of 

 Beaume. The result of this is to greatly condense the volume of the 

 leaves, and to render it necessary to add more fresh ones to fill up the 

 basket, which has to be again immersed, and finally allowed to drain 

 off. The leaves may then be placed in beds, in dry earth, and kept 

 until needed for use. According to a report of a committee v»'ho exam- 

 ned the results of this process, domestic animalsbecome extremely fond 

 of the leaves thus prepared; and, indeed, milch cows fed with them are 

 said to give a large increase of milk, with a decided improvement in the 

 quality of the butter. The tendency to diarrhea in cattle produced by 

 the fresh beet leaves seems not to be aeveloped by this prepared fod- 

 der, and for this and many other reasons it is strongly recommended 

 to agriculturists. 



Milk op diseased cattle.— ]\Ir. Hnsson, in a paper upon the milk 

 of animals diseased vrith the cattle plague, announces, as the result of 

 one of his researches, that neither the flesh nor the milk of animals suf- 

 fering from this cattle plague — contagious typhus — will convey the dis- 

 ease, although they may suffer greatly in their nutritive properties. The 

 milk of diseased cows he found to have a more or less marked reddish- 

 yellow tinge, and a disagreeable flavor, although cats fed upon it seemed 

 to suffer no inconvenience. 



As general conclusions, Mr. Husson remarks: First, that when the 

 typhus breaks out in a cow-house, all the beasts therein are subjected, 

 although in different degrees, to the epidemic influence. In fact, in one 

 instance, the whole herd died, with the exception of four cows, which 

 never seemed to be ill, although they furnished one of the three speci- 

 mens of milk analyzed. Second, milk cannot, any more than flesh, 

 transmit the disease to man, nor to animals that do not belong to the 

 ruminant family. Third, notwithstanding this, even during the first 

 stage of the disease, when the yield still continues normal, the milk 

 should not be employed as food for young children, in consequence of the 

 modification that has taken place in its principles. Fourth, from the com- 

 mencement of the disease, the combustible elements of the milk, in great 

 part, disappear, while the azotised elements, on the contrary, are increased 

 in considerable proportions, and are soon found commingled with san- 

 guinolent matters. Frequently there may be observed, under the mi- 

 croscope, agglutinated globules, either mucous or i^uruleut. 



New vakiety of cucibibee.— In "Laud and Water" we have a 

 figure and description of what is called the new white-spine encumber. 

 This, when raised on a trellis, gTows to an enormous size, one vine 

 having three specimens, each of them three feet in length, besides many 

 others over two feet long. The flesh is said to be very solid, with but 

 few seeds, and the flavor very fine. This method of growing cucum- 

 bers 'is recommended as furnishing a much superior result to that of 

 allowing them to trail on the ground, as they thus grovf finer, straighter, 

 and with a larger yield. This new cucumber has the skin perfectly 

 smooth. It is very short in the neck, and it is considered a decided 

 gain to the resources of the vegetable gardener. 



Origin oe breeds of British cattle. — In a communication to 

 the Literary and Philosophical Society of Manchester, by Mr. William 

 Boyd Dawkins, on the '• Origin of our domestic breeds of cattle," -he re- 



