26 EXPERIMENT STATION. [Jan. 



acid act to an extent iipou the oxalic acid and partially decom- 

 pose it. It is advisable to feed not over 50 pounds daily of the 

 green leaves to dairy cows, together with dry hay and grain. In 

 case of cows that are near to calving one-half of this amount is 

 preferable. It is stated that dry cows and thin steers will take 

 larger amounts without bad effect. 



German observers have found it helpful, in order to guard 

 against the unfavorable action of the oxalic acid, to feed 1 ounce 

 of precijiitated 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 accomplished 

 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 eifect. The oxalic acid is also partly 

 decomposed. The leaves should bo 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 

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

 be j)laced in small piles, and Avill keep very well for from one to 

 two weeks. The ensiled material contains approximately 7G 

 l)er cent, of water, and E. Wildt^ has shown it to have the fol- 

 lowing percentages digestible : — 



Per Cent. 



Pi'otein, 65 



Fat, 60 



Extract matter, . 54 



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

 the ensilage, together willi hay, straw and grain. Larger 

 amounts frequently act unfavorably on the animal, and are 

 likely to produce a strong taste in the milk. German authorities 

 are inclined to prefer the ensiled to the fresh leaves, especially 

 if the latter arc at all frosted or decayed. 



> Loco citato, p. 207. 



