150 ELEMENTARY AGRICULTURAL CHEMISTRY 



generally propagated by root cuttings, planted two or three 

 feet apart. It may be cut several times in a season, and 

 the total weight per acre amounts to about 30 tons per 

 annum. It is not readily eaten by cattle until they acquire 

 the taste for it. 



Raj)e [Brassica najnis) has already been described (p. 135). 

 It is often grown as green fodder, especially for sheep. If 

 used in large quantities as food for milch cows it is liable to 

 taint the milk. 



Buckwheat is also grown for green forage. 



Sugar 'Cane (Saccharum offlcinarum) is also grown, for the 

 sake of the young shoots, which are greatly relished by stock. 

 They are either eaten green or made into ensilage. 



Pumpkins (Cacurhiia spp.) are sometimes grown in warm 

 countries as cattle food, being excellent for dairy cows and for 

 pigs. They are necessarily very watery. 



Cabbages {Brassica oleracea) with abundant manuring or on 

 rich land yield large crops of excellent green food for cattle 

 and sheep. Cabbages are gross feeders, and are greatly bene- 

 fited by nitrate of soda. Common salt also seems to be bene- 

 ficial to this crop. 



Sugar-beet leaves are sometimes used as food for cattle ; but 

 they contain a considerable proportion of oxalic acid, which pro- 

 hibits their use except in small quantities. By sprinkling lime 

 over them and keeping them in heaps for some time the oxalic 

 acid may be neutralised and its injurious effect diminished. 



Composition of Miscellaneous Forage Crops. 



