294 THE SUGAR BEET. 



2d. Augmentation in the quantity of milk. 



3(1. Augmentation in the weight of the animal. 



This is in direct opposition to Schwertz's idea, he 

 contending that if a cow be fed on food containing any 

 proportion of beets, these will be sufficient to cause a 

 decrease in the quantity of milk after a few days, and 

 for this reason beets have not been grown in Alsace. 



Baron Crud says that in certain portions of the Pala- 

 tinate horses are fed during the entire winter on beets, 

 and remain in a perfect condition, having, on the other 

 hand to sustain the fatigue of constant hard work. In 

 direct opposition to this, Groguier contends that horses 

 eat them with little relish, and those that have this 

 food soon become feeble and lazy ; then, again, others 

 argue that the meat of animals after having been fed 

 upon roots soon becomes white and flabby, and that the 

 animals do not, as a general thing, care much for beets, 

 in consequence of the large quantity of water they 

 contain, and that they should be given in moderation 

 in winter, otherwise various diseases are to be dreaded. 

 As shown, opinions greatly differ; as for the exact 

 nourishing qualities of the beet we cannot say, but con- 

 sider the average given below is not far from the truth. 



Boussingault contends that 540 kilog. (1188 lbs.) of 

 roots are about equal to 100 kilog. (220 lbs.) of hay; 

 this represents fewer nourishing properties than the 

 greater number of well-known agriculturists are will- 

 ing to admit, as will be seen by the following estimates 

 of various authorities: — 



