FOOD OF ANIMALS. 215 



plants contain a certain proportion of starch or sugar, and 

 of saline or earthy matter all of which are required in a 

 mixture which will most easily sustain an animal in a healthy 

 condition ; so that the proportion of nitrogen in a substance 

 may be considered as a rough practical index of the propor- 

 tion of the more important saline and earthy ingredients 

 also. 



TABLE, showing the effects produced by an equal quantity 

 of the following substances, as food for sheep. 



Increased weight of Produced Produced 



living animal in WooL Tallow. 



Lbs. Designation. Lbs. Lbs. Lbs. 



1000 potatoes, raw with salt 46 6 12 



" u without salt 44 6| 11| 



mangel-wurtzel, raw . 38| 5J G| 



wheat 155 14 59 



oats 146 10 42 



barley. 136 11| 60 



peas 134 14| 41 



rye, with salt 133 14 35 



" without salt 90 12 43 



" corn meal, wet 129 13 17 



" buckwheat 120 10 83 



NOTE. The above are the results of numerous experi- 

 ments by De Kaumer. 



