CHEMISTRY OF THE CROP. 



363 



value for feeding purposes is estimated, have been investi- 

 gated by Dr. Voelcker, who has determined their compo- 

 sition as follows : 



Compounds containing nitrogen (flesh-formers), 3 '133 



Compounds not containing nitrogen (heat-giving and fat-formers), 8 '209 



Ash (inorganic or mineral matters), 1*608 



Water, 87*050 



100-000 



These results compare very favourably with those ob- 

 tained from the analyses of turnips and our other crops, 

 used in a similar way for feeding purposes. Not only 

 are the nitrogen compounds present in greatly increased 

 proportions, but the other compounds, sugar, oil, &c., are 

 also in excess, and therefore fully explain and support 

 the character which rape has received as being a crop 

 admirably adapted for fattening and milk-producing, as 

 well as for growing animals. 



For our knowledge of the composition of rape seed we 

 are indebted chiefly to foreign chemists. It has been in- 

 vestigated by Rammelsberg, Erdmann, Muller, and others, 

 from whose analyses it appears to contain, on the average, 

 from 4 to 4'5 per cent, of ash, which consists of the follow- 

 ing substances : 



The rape seed is found to contain on the average from 

 about 35 to 40 per cent, of oil, which possesses a disagree- 



