318 ON THE MILK OF THE COW. 



Having a quantity of turnip tops, intermixed with small turnips, the cow, in the next place, 

 was confined to that diet for five duys. The milk, on being analyzed, gave the following 

 results : 



Water, 84-73 



Solid matter 15'26 



Butter 4-76 



Casein, 7'55 



Sugar and extract 3-60 



Salts, 0-78 



A single analysis, if it may be depended upon, shows an increase of casein, or cheese, and a 

 cerresponding diminution of butter. The result is one which I believe might be expected, 

 although a single analysis should not be relied upon, when a principle is to be established. 

 The cow was fed upon the tops to her satisfaction, and was apparently fond of the food, but it 

 imparted to the milk a turnip taste. The ash of turnip tops has the following composition : 



Silex 16-60 



Earthy phosphates, 13-20 



Carbonate of lime, 38-60 



Magnesia, 1 '51 



Potash 9-13 



Soda, 3-94 



Sulphuric acid, 5-92 



Chlorine 6- 05 



Five hundred grains of fresh turnip tops gave 80- 1 grains of dry matter j water, 419-9 ; 

 ash from the same, 14-4, or 2 -88 per cent. Turnip tops are rich in lim^ ^nd only moderately 

 so in the earthy phosphates and in potash. The silex is liable to some v ations in the results, 

 from adherence of dust to the rough leaf; and therefore probably is in excess, or greater than 

 belongs really to the composition of the leaf. 



The value of hay, as a ration for milch cows, has never been fully determined. It is, however, 

 the most important of all kinds of food : it is the main dependance, except in cities, where 

 brewers' grains and distillery slops can not be obtained. It is the natural food, and animals 

 always eat it without beng cloyed. The proximate organic analysis of hay yields the following 

 results : 



Timothy. Red top. 



Fibre, 68-14 65-00 



Wax and chlorophyl, 2-80 11-62 



Albuminous matters, 4-13 3-29 



De-xtrine, 2-00 



Sugar and extract, 6-20 9-00 



Water, 12-30 10-00 



Resin, 2-08 



