250 THE CHEMISTRY OF CATTLE FEEDING 



ordinary analyses. The first two are, however, less suitable 

 for milk cows, as they have a tendency to impart a peculiarly 

 disagreeable flavour to the milk. 



Sugar beet are not largely used for cattle feeding. When 

 the crop is grown, the roots are generally sold to the sugar 

 factories. They may, however, be fed to the stock along with 

 other foods. They are relished by the cattle, but, owing to 

 the large amount of sugar they contain, they have a very 

 sweet taste, and are apt to cloy the palate if excessive quantities 

 are given. The residues which remain after extraction of the 

 sugar (beet slices) may be used either in the fresh or dried 

 condition. They consist mainly of the pectocelluloses, but 

 contain also a certain amount of sugar. The percentage of 

 the latter substance is, however, very variable. It depends 

 largely upon the method of extraction used. When the com- 

 position of sugar beet is compared with that of swedes and 

 mangels, it is seen that i ton of the former is equal to from 

 2 to 2\ tons of the latter for feeding purposes. 



The pecuniary values assigned to the roots in the tables 

 (p. 215) are the estimated "consuming values" or cost of 

 production. At those rates it was shown that they are very 

 economical both for maintenance and for special purposes 

 (fattening, etc.). The cost of transport of such watery materials 

 is practically prohibitive, and they are rarely sold in towns. 

 When they are sold, the market prices are often nearly double 

 those assumed in the tables, and under these circumstances 

 the roots compare unfavourably with many other foods. 



Potatoes are often classified with the roots. The cultiva- 

 tion required is similar, and they are often grown in the same 

 field. The whole are referred to as green crop. The bulb or 

 tuber of the potato plant, however, is not botanically homo- 

 logous with the roots of turnips, etc. It is an underground 

 stem which is specialised for a similar purpose, i.e. for the 

 accumulation of nutrients against the time of seed for- 

 mation. 



The proportion of water in the tuber is only about 75 per 

 cent., and the carbohydrate consists mainly of starch. In 

 other respects they closely resemble the roots. The proportion 



