GERMANY. 



407 



When sugar-bec^t residue is covered in pits for safe-keeping, and to 

 likewise increase its digestible value, there takes place very shortly 

 afterwards, with a rapid rising of temperature, a lively fermentation, 

 and alcohol and acetic acid and 'lactic acid and ammonia are formed. 

 The so-formed acid residue may be preserved for a long time. 



The chief constituents of this acid residue, as determined by Professor 

 Maecker, are as follows : Water, 75.54 per cent.; dried substance, 2446 

 per cent. ; nitrogen in dried substance, 1.22, in the fresh, 0.03 per cent. 

 In the fresh and dried substance there are contained, respectively, 

 2.573 per cent, and 10.519 per cent, albuminoids. 



Cotton-seed cake : Of the latterly imported food stuffs into Germany 

 for animals, that of cotton-seed cake stands very high as a valuable 

 material for fattening cattle, owing to its containing much albumen (40 

 to 50 per cent.) and a considerable amount of fat (10 to 20 per cent.). 



STATISTICS OF OX FATTENING. 



The following table of calculations on the fattening of oxen have been 

 furnished by Mr. Valentine Pfeifer, the proprietor of a cattle farm in 

 the Rhenish Province, who has continually in his stables about forty 

 head of oxen of the Alsatian and Glau breeds, they being considered 

 here the best for labor and fattening. The manure is removed from the 

 stables at intervals of every three and four months, the racks being so 

 arranged that they can be raised in proportion to the accumulation of 

 the manure. The food consists of beet-root residue, chaff, hay, oil cake, 

 and wheat clover ( Weizen Klee). They are fed three times daily. Dura- 

 tion of labor of the oxen is limited to two years. Afterwards they are 

 turned over to the fattening stables (Masts tall). According to the books 

 kept the fattening lasts about forty-four clays. 



Six oxen fed with various quantities of the above food by Mr. Pfeiffer 

 for fattening : 



Weight on the 10th of March : (I) 1,040 pounds ; (2) 1,080 pounds; (3) 

 1,225 pounds; (4) 1,145 pounds ; (5) 1,200 pounds ; (6) 1,210 pounds. 



They were put up for fattening on the 5th of September, and showed 

 the following progress : 



PRICES OF GERMAN CATTLE. 



The last market report for this fall, published by reliable authority, 

 states, among other facts 



The position of our northern land owners has not exactly improved, and many of 

 them are necessarily forced to reduce their expenses as much as possible. 



In the lowlands of Northwestern Germany heifers of first quality 

 bring $100 to $105 ; calves, born in February and March, 832 to 836; 

 good bulls, 8 120 to $143. In the Angel district (Schleswig-Holstein) 

 there are paid for heife*s of first quality 870 to 88G. Older cows for 

 milking off, 854 to 860. Denmark is, in these parts, the best purchaser. 



