454 THE MANGOLD-WURZEL CEOP. 



an experiment carried on in October and November, the 

 conditions would be in favour of the turnips; whereas, 

 if the experiments were carried on in March and April, 

 they would be greatly in favour of the mangold ; and to 

 render a practical experiment of any real value, it is of 

 vital importance that the conditions throughout should 

 be equal and strictly comparative. In reference to this 

 peculiar feature in mangolds, Dr. Voelcker has found 

 " that in keeping, the proportion of sugar in the root in- 

 creases considerably, whilst the 'pectin' diminishes. As 

 ' pectic acid ' is readily changed by weak acid into sugar, 

 and as it is also transformed into sugar during the ripen- 

 ing process of apples, pears, and other fruit, there can be 

 little doubt that the additional quantity of sugar in old 

 mangolds has been formed at the expense of the 'pectin/ 

 which is found in all varieties of mangolds/' 



The results of several feeding experiments have been 

 from time to time recorded ; the evidence given, however, 

 as to the mode in which the experiments were conducted, 

 is not such as to enable us to make any very satisfactory 

 deductions from them. Lord Spencer's experiments, 1 

 though somewhat incomplete, and of not very recent date, 

 give us, as far as they go, reliable information in favour of 

 mangold. The more recent "Experiments on Fattening 



1 At Christmas I put two Durham steers to feeding, the one upon Swedish 

 turnips, the other upon inangold-wurzel. I ascertained the weight of the 

 steers by measurement. 



1st month. No. 1. Fed on Swedes, gained 34 Ibs. consuming 1624 Ibs. 

 No. 2. , mangold, , 52 , 1848 



2d month. No. 1. 



No. 2. 

 3d month. No. 1. 



No. 2. 



Swedes, 

 mangold, 



32 

 14 

 50 

 31 



1884 

 3880 

 1792 

 1792 



His lordship says "The comparison between the increments of the two 

 animals during the two first months should not only be observed, but the fact 

 that when No. 2 was changed from mangold to Swedes in the second month, 

 his growth was nearly stopped, but as soon as he was put on mangold again 

 in the third month, he began at once to increase." British Husbandry, vol. ii. 

 p. 254. 



