1 



German observers have found it helpful, in order to guard 

 against the unfavorable action of the oxalic acid, to feed one 

 ounce of precipitated chalk to every 50 pounds of leaves. It is 

 not advisable to feed the leaves when the milk is intended for 

 young children. Before feeding, the leaves should be made as 

 free from soil as possible. This can in a measure be accompHshed 

 by shaking off the dirt with the aid of a fork, or by placing them 

 in slatted drums or on sieves made of slats. It is not economical 

 to wash them, as too much of the water-soluble nutrients is lost. 



Beet leaves may be ensiled, and thus treated have been found 

 to be less laxative in their effect. The oxalic acid is also partly 

 decomposed. The leaves should be allowed to wilt, freed from 

 excessive earth or sand, and then placed in pits in the earth or in 

 ordinary wooden silos and thoroughly tramped. Excess of mois- 

 ture is to be avoided. In case of necessity the leaves may be 

 placed in small piles, and will keep very well from one to two 

 weeks. The ensiled material contains approximately 76 per cent 

 of water, and E. Wildt ' has shown it to have the following per- 

 centages digestible : 



Per Cent. 

 Protein, ..... 65 



Fat, 60 



Extract matter, ... 54 



It is not advisable to feed to cows over 25 pounds daily of the 

 ensilage, together with hay, straw and grain. Larger amounts 

 frequently act unfavorably on the animal, and are likely to pro- 

 duce a strong taste in the milk. German authorities are incHned 

 to prefer the ensiled to the fresh leaves, especially if the latter are 

 at all frosted or decayed. 



' E. Pott, already cited, p. 207. 



