DESCRIPTION OF FEEDING-STUFFS 167 



ill effects, but increased amounts cause symptoms 

 of poisoning and may lead to death. Generally 

 oxalic acid undergoes partial fermentation in the 

 first stomach of the ruminants, but in pigs and 

 horses this preventative arrangement fails. It is, 

 therefore, advisable to give some carbonate of lime 

 (precipitated chalk) along with the beet tops to 

 render the oxalic acid insoluble ; a similar addition 

 should also be made when sour fodder or silage are 

 fed. On an average a quarter-pound of chalk may 

 be given to 250 lbs. of leaves. 



Mangel or beet leaves have, in any form, a 

 loosening effect on the bowels, and should, therefore, 

 be given along with straw or hay. A third of the 

 total ration of a dairy cow might be composed of 

 these leaves, whilst a fattening bullock could be 

 given more. The earth which often adheres in 

 large amounts to the leaves and heads should al- 

 ways be washed off. Generally, the greater part 

 of the mangel leaves are made into sour fodder, 

 but lately machinery has been erected for the 

 purpose of drying this valuable food (p. 135). Up 

 to the present, however, the adhering soil has 

 generally not been sufficiently removed before 

 drying, and that has led in some instances to a 

 partial charring of the material. The dried leaves, 

 when properly prepared, have a^ feeding value equal 

 to moderately good meadow hay. 



The leaves of carrots, kohl-rabi, and turnips do 



