On the Kohl-Rahi. 
521 
prefer giving the roots to sheep on the grass without being cut 
or sliced." This metliod of consuming them is opposed to the 
practice of all our other correspondents. 
Mr. James Alexander, steward to the Marquis of Kildare, 
informs us that he has grown Kohl-Rabi for the last thirty years ; 
that cattle and sheep are fond of it in a raw state, and that pigs 
will thrive on it when boiled or steamed. 
Mr. William Boyle, Glasnevin, says in his letter, " I have fed 
sheep with them in the spring, and for this purpose they are 
excellent. Every description of live stock will eat the Kohl- 
Rabi." 
Mr. Towers* says, " During the parching summer of 1847, 
the plants grew on and retained their highest verdure. Sheep 
were found to thrive particularly well upon the plant in the suc- 
ceeding winter ; and we know that, ever since that year, beasts 
have been fatted by the bulbs ; and vast numbers of sheep were, 
not long since, folded on the large breadths of land occupied by 
the August transplantings, which yielded abundance of green 
fodder, after Christmas, 1850." 
Our great Scotch authority, Mr. Henry Stephens, says,t "It 
is an excellent food for cows and horses, and when boiled with 
grain for their use, will afford them true nourishment. The 
leaves may be also used, having entirely the character of a true 
cabbage ; but they should be removed with a sparing hand, else 
the enlargement of the bulb will be prevented." This recommen- 
dation is at variance with the successful experiment of Mr. Boyle 
(see supra) ; but notwithstanding, we should like to hear of his 
experiment being repeated on the Kohl-Rabi. 
Mr. Hewitt Davis observes:! — "I have given the bulbs 
without the leaves, freely to milch cows all the winter, and I find 
they prefer them to mangold-wurtzel, and thrive better on them ; 
their mUk is richer, and I have experienced no ill flavour in the 
butter. I fancy, too, the sheep I have fed on them have fattened 
faster than I have ever before had sheep do at this season. A 
flock of ewes with their lambs intended for spring killing have 
also for some time been feeding on this root, and never have I 
had a flock do better." 
Our correspondents generally are of opinion that for winter 
feeding it is advisable either to slice, pulp, or steam the bulbs 
before giving them to either cattle or sheep. For pigs, steaming 
is to be preferred. 
* Morton's ' Cyclopjedia of Agriculture.' Art. " Kolil-Kabi." 
t ' Book of the Farm,' 2nd ed. vol. ii. p. 88. 
X 'Farming Essays," p. 9o. 
