CONCENTRATED FOODS 285 



contain about 15 per cent, of moisture, and they readily absorb 

 more. It is essential, therefore, that they should be kept in a 

 dry place, otherwise they rapidly turn mouldy and become 

 unfit for use. 



Acorns and Beechnuts. Like all fruits and seeds, acorns 

 and beechnuts contain considerable quantities of nutritive 

 substances, but owing to the large amount of tannin or other 

 astringent constituents, they are practically unfit for use, and 

 should not be given to valuable stock. The small quantities 

 which the animals pick up in the fields, when they have plenty 

 of other food, probably do no harm, but they should not 

 be forced to consume large quantities of such astringent 

 substances. 



