an average from 35 ])er cent, tu 45 i)er cent, of their nitrogen in other 

 and less vahied combinations than the typical albuminous matter or 

 the genuine ])rotein substances. An examination of the subsequent 

 tabular statement of some tests in that direction, shows that 

 our roots, as far as they have been submitted to an actual obser- 

 vation (1 — 6), contained from 52 to 70 per cent, of their 

 nitrog(Mi in various combinations quite generally considered of less 

 nutritive value than the group of typical albuminous substances. 

 The last-named class of compounds reaches usually its highest attain- 

 able proportion in a plant or part of a plant, at the state of maturity. 

 Determination of Albuminoid Nitrogen in Roots Raised upon 

 THE Fields of the Station. 



Total Allnitninoid Non-Albtmiinoid 



Root No. 



The various kinds of roots usually raised on farms for feeding- 

 purposes, differ essentially in regard to the amount of dry vegetable 

 matter they contain. Turnips contain from 7 to 8 per cent. ; ordin- 

 ary mangolds from 11 to 12 per cent. ; improved varieties of beet 

 roots, like Lane's, from 15 to 16 per cent. ; good carrots from 14 to 

 15 per cent. ; a good sugar beet from 18 to 20 per cent, of solids ; 

 or, in other words, one ton of an improved variety of good sugar 

 beets is equal to from two to two and one-half tons of ordinary tur- 

 nips, as far as the amount of dry vegetable matter is concerned. 



Modes of cultivation and of manuring exert a decided influence, 

 in this direction, on the composition of the roots. Large roots of 

 the same variety contain quite frequently less solid matter than the 

 smaller ones. Close cultivation in the rows, in connection with the 

 use of well-decayed manorial matter as fertilizer, tends to produce 

 good results. 



The difference in the amount of solids, as far as each kind of 

 root is concerned, is otherwise due, in the majority of cases, to a 

 more or less perfect maturity. A liberal manuring with potash and 

 nitrogen, in connection with a scanty supply of phosphoric acid, is 

 frequently the cause of immatured roots at the ordinary harvest 

 time. 



