CROPS AS FOOD FOR CATTLE. 51 



straw, together with grain rich in albuminoids. This is so, 

 because iu poor hay and straw the per cent, of indigestible 

 organic matter is large, in all root crops it is small, and by 

 feeding them together, the per cent, of indigestible matter is 

 reduced ; and if care is taken to get the proportion of albu- 

 minoids and carbo-hydrates right, roots are profitable. This 

 shows us why it is that the English buy so much of the Ameri- 

 can oil-meals. Their climate is well suited to turnip growing ; 

 they feed turnips with their straw to get the proportion of 

 digestible matter right, and feed oil-meal to get the proportion 

 of albuminoids right. Whether it is economy to grow roots, 

 depends upon what one has to feed with them. 



There are other branches of this subject which it would be 

 pleasant to follow, but space forbids. 



