206 AGRICULTURAL TEXT-BOOK. 



Magnesia, ... . 11.39 ) ,- 



Peroxide of Iron, - * - . O.G2 $ 



Phosphoric acid, 45.95 4.76 



Sulphuric acid, - . 0.53 7.60 



Carbonic acid, - - - 2.20 16.31 



Muriatic acid, - 0.11 19.93 



Silicic acid, - 1.11 0.89 



Dr Madden gives the constituents of the cake as 

 Water, ... - 10.5 



Organic matter, 85.5 



Earthy phosphates, - -3.0 



Siliciate of potash, .... 1 



Frequently as much as 9 per cent, of soil remains in the cake, 

 which affords nearly double the fattening matter of Indian corn, 

 if it should prove equally available in digestion. Cattle $*c said 

 to dislike the flavor of Rape cake, so that it is rarely used for 

 feeding. 



It may bo stated in this connection, that Boussingault and Dumas 

 Consider that the oil of seeds is intended for the production of heat by 

 undergoing combustion at the period of germination. Generally, oily 

 seeds retain their gerrninative powers for a long period, but this docs 

 not appear to be the case with the cabbage family. Such seeds should 

 always be fresh ; and certainly not more than two years old. 



Mr. Low concludes his essay on this family in the following words, 

 which are worthy of the serious consideration of American farmers : - 

 * The extended culture of the turnip has enabled us to carry the prac* 

 tice of breeding and feeding our domestic animals to a state of perfec 

 tion, in which no other country has yet been able to rival Great Britain. 

 The cultivation of the plant in rows, instead of the former method of 

 broadcast, may well be regarded as an improvement of the highest im 

 portance. It has enabled the farmer to secuie abundant returns, which 

 the former methods of cultivation did not admit of, and eo to increase 

 the number of useful animals that may be maintained upon the farm, 

 nd to subject the lighter soils to a species of culture more beneficial 

 than any other that had been befo e devised for them.&quot; 



To this it may be added, that while, in the northern United State*, 

 turnip culture may never be as profitable as in Europe, yet it may be 

 rery greatly increased, and by the production of new and hardy varie 

 ties adapted to our climate, and by improved processes of culture it may 



