140 BEET-ROOT SUGAR AND 



removal of the foliage impairs those functions. Na- 

 ture also makes an effort to repair the loss, and new 

 leaves form at the expense of sugar in the root. The 

 period of maturity is also retarded ; consequently the 

 crop is less likely to keep well, beets perfectly ripened 

 being more easily preserved than those which are less 

 ripe. 



The general custom is at the time of harvest to feed 

 to the stock all the leaves they require, and to spread 

 the remainder on the fields when they are cut off, and 

 plough them in while yet fresh and green. In this 

 way they serve an admirable purpose as manure. 



But they are sometimes gathered and put in layers 

 into trenches. Between each layer coarse salt is sprin- 

 kled ; the pile is then covered with a layer of straw, and 

 finally a thick coat of earth is added. 



LEAVES USED AS FODDER FOR MILCH Cows. 



The effect produced on milch cows by this food, 

 and also the method adopted for preserving the leaves, 

 are shown in the recorded experiments of Drs. Wels 

 and Tod of Maiz-Blanco, in Moravia. 



The experiment was made with six cows of the 

 race of that country. Their conditions were as nearly 

 similar in age, size, weight, yield of milk, and dura- 

 tion of milking, as could be desired for a fair test. 



For eight to twelve weeks they were fed daily with 

 thirty-five pounds of beet pulp, five pounds of salted 

 leaves, and six pounds of chopped barley straw. They 

 gave regularly about the same quantity of milk in the 

 aggregate and individually. After that time, com- 



