AMERICAN HOME GARDEN. 499 



which may arise either from the absence of one or more ele- 

 ments from the soil, necessitating the appropriation of others 

 as substitutes, or from the simple excess or deficiency of a given 

 ingredient in such soil inducing a corresponding excess or de- 

 ficiency in its appropriation by the growing crop. 



In order to ascertain correctly the comparative value of va- 

 rious crops for supplying the wants of animal life, we need, in 

 addition to chemical analyses, carefully-performed and repeated 

 experiments in feeding with the products, noting their effects 

 upon health, with temperature, age of animals, and other cir- 

 cumstances. No knowledge of constituents, however perfect, 

 will suffice, for these, even when rich, often become of little 

 use from lack of adaptation in the form in which they are pre- 

 sented. Thus dried tea and cabbage leaves are chemically al- 

 most as rich in protein compounds as beef, but could hardly be 

 made to supply its place. The corn-stalks from an acre con- 

 tain generally more food than the corn, but in a form not well 

 adapted to consumption, even by cattle, and on this account 

 should always be cut up short and steamed for feeding. 



Such experiments as those above referred to should of course 

 include the cost of production in a given locality or climate, 

 for it is plain that a crop may be so costly in its production, 

 owing to climate or other causes, that it would become the part 

 of wisdom to prefer another, though much lower in the scale of 

 gross value, on account of its higher nett results. In New York 

 Sugar Beets would pay better than Sugar-cane. 



Though we have by no means full and reliable information 

 upon all the points involved in this matter, yet, from the vari- 

 ous experiments and analyses which have been recorded, it is 

 possible to form such a judgment in the case as may be useful. 

 We may approximate to a satisfactory estimate of the actual 

 and relative value of any ordinary crop, on the whole, in the 

 particular soil and climate in which we labor, a very brief 

 experience supplying us with the local data necessary to an 

 intelligent application of the tests which the appended table 

 of products and their constituents furnishes. 



