644 HORTICULTURE, FORESTRY, FLORICULTURE 



Dried Pulp. Dried pulp is prepared for the market usually in 

 a subsidiary plant at the sugar factory. The preparation consists in 

 driving off the moisture under a high temperature in a specially ar- 

 ranged kiln. A ton of beets usually produces half a ton of what is 

 known as wet pulp. After the sugar is extracted from the beets the 

 residue is either carried out to the pulp dump or it is run through 

 a press which extracts part of the superfluous water. If pulp is 

 allowed to stand in a dump or in a pile it naturally drains to con- 

 siderable extent, thus ridding itself of superfluous liquid the same 

 as in the press. This is the only preparation the pulp that is gen- 

 erally fed in this country receives. It is fed extensively in this form 

 in the older countries of Europe. This is known as fresh pulp, and is 

 about 90 per cent w r ater. 



Dried pulp has about the same protein content as corn, that is 

 to say, its muscle-producing qualities are about the same. The first 

 advantage of dry pulp is largely a mechanical one ; it can be sacked 

 and delivered to all parts of the country without the extravagance of 

 freight charges on waste material. It is a very profitable animal food, 

 taking the place of bran, oil meal, and other by-products used as 

 feeds. It can be baled, compressed, and shipped long distances. In 

 this form it extends the market for the pulp output of the sugar fac- 

 tories. It is customary in the older beet-sugar countries in prepar- 

 ing dried pulp to mix with it the waste molasses, forming a com- 

 bined dried molasses-pulp stock food. The sanitary effect of this 

 combination is considered excellent. The molasses contains ingre- 

 dients tending to the healthful laxity of the animal. It also con- 

 tains considerable sugar, which can be extensively used in feeding 

 animals. The best practice is to sprinkle it on the hay, alfalfa, or 

 roughage. 



The amount that should be fed depends largely upon the animal 

 and the purposes of feeding. The scientific food rations of Germany 

 contain either this dried molasses-pulp food or fresh pulp. The 

 amount is designated and differs with the size and kind of animal 

 and the purpose of feeding. 



Beet Leaves and Tops. The proper disposal of beet leaves is a 

 mooted question. The fact that the beet crop removes considerable 

 fertility from the soil is one well established. To continue the 

 process of removing without restoring it would exhaust the land. 

 This fact is not peculiar to the beet crop, but is true of any other. 

 In the leaves and crowns of the beets, removed in topping, is stored 

 considerable of the fertility taken from the soil. These tops and 

 leaves are available for general feeding purposes, and it is custom- 

 ary to so use them. Often they are gathered and sold in cities and 

 towns the same as hay or straw. Everyone is agreed as to their 

 value for animal food. In the hands of a systematic, frugal farmer 

 they can serve the purpose both of animal nutrition and fertility. 

 This is accomplished by collecting the barnyard manure resulting 

 from the feeding and spreading it on the soil. If this system is fol- 

 lowed there can be no question about the propriety of feeding the 



