ACIDULATED BEET LEAVES. 103 



of non-nitrogenous extractive substances? all of which are calcu- 

 lated upon the basis of soured leaves. Observations show that 

 upon an average the loss is 8.03 per cent, of the absolute quan- 

 tity of organic substances. 



Maercker declares that the losses, owing to washing, are very 

 much greater and are nearly 25.05 per cent, of the total organic 

 substance. There is lost, according to this authority, 75 per 

 cent, of ether-extractable substances, and he declares that under 

 these circumstances it is very advantageous, as these constitu- 

 ents are worthless. It is now generally admitted that washed 

 leaves have the same nutritive value as forage beets. 



The Mehay mode that gained considerable favor over thirty Acidulated bfrt 

 years ago, had for a general starting-point a cooking of the leaves< 

 leaves in water containing a small percentage of hydrochloric 

 acid. The operation was conducted in the following manner: 

 ' * A special receptacle of about 530 gallons capacity, in which 

 the boiling was done, was half filled with water, to which were 

 added about 3 quarts of hydrochloric acid at 22 Be. This was 

 well stirred so as to assure a perfect combination of the water 

 and acid, and after the boiling had lasted for a few minutes 

 1000 Ibs. of beet leaves with their tops were added just as they 

 were collected from the field subsequent to the sugar-beet 

 harvesting. The receptacle at first is too small to contain the 

 leaves in question, but as the boiling continues they settle and 

 may be readily kept beneath the surface of the acidulated 

 water. The boiling ceases after 15 minutes, when the leaves 

 are removed with wooden pitchforks and allowed to drain for a 

 short period, the liquor running off being returned to the boiler. 

 Special stress was placed upon the importance of collecting 

 the leaves upon the field as soon as possible, thus preventing 

 any possible alteration they might undergo, as during such or- 

 ganic changes they become possessed of a characteristic odor 

 which even the boiling and acid treatment do not overcome. 



After a certain number of repeated boilings there is deposited 

 at the bottom of the receptacle a certain quantity of dirt, etc. ; 

 hence it was customary to allow it to settle entirely and then 

 decant. It was noticed that the earth always neutralized a 

 certain percentage of the acid used, and hence it was import- 



