The article was of a good mechanical condition ; and its composition 

 notable on account of the exceptional high percentage of fat. The 

 statement concerning its digestibility is based on that of the corn, — 

 as no actual trials in that direction are known to us. 



ANALYSES OF GARDEN CROPS. 



280. HORSE-RADISH. 



COCHLEARIA ARMOKACIA L. ; MUSTARD FAMILY, (CRUCIFER.k) . 



The examination of this well-known garden plant was carried on at 

 the request of a farmer in Franklin county, who is engaged in the 

 preparation of horse-radish "with vinegar," for family use. The roots 

 had evidently lost some of their original moisture by storing, at the 

 time of their examination. 



One hundred parts of the fresh roots contained : 



Moisture at 100° C, 76.68 per cent. 



Dry matter, 23.32 " 

 Nitrogen in dry matter, 0.36 " 



Sulphur in dry matter, 0.06 " 



Crude ash in dry matter, 1.87 " 



The crude ash — 1.87 — consisted of 0.71 parts of insoluble silicious 

 matter (including, most likely, some soil), and of 1.16 parts of solu- 

 ble mineral constituents of plant food. 



Relative proportion oj essential ash constituents, soluble in acids, sul- 

 phur and chlorine excluded : 



Magnesium oxide, 8.24 per cent. 



Ferric oxide, 2.13 " 



Calcium oxide, 13.47 " 



Sodium oxide, 10.29 '• 



Potassium oxide, 62.06 " 



Phosphoric acid, 3.81 " 



100 00 



The roots contain, be&ides a notable amount of nitrogenous con- 

 stituents, a series of valuable non-nitrogenous substances, as starch, 

 sugar, gum, and organic acids, — a circumstance which cannot fail to 

 impart to them a considerable nutritive value, equal, if not superior, 

 to several of our most valued root-crops. Their peculiarity consists, 

 mainly, in the presence of some sulphur-containing organic constitu- 

 ents (niyrosin, etc.), which cause, in the fresh and crushed roots, the 

 production of a sulphur-containing, volatile compound. The latter 



