On the Kohl-Rabi. 
523 
In 1850, Messrs. Way and Ogston published their inorganic 
analysis of the Kohl-Rabi.* It is as follows : — 
Agh calculated 
Water. Ash. on Dry Substance. 
Bulbs 88-24 0-95 8-09 
Leaves : 84-89 2 80 18-54 
The composition of the ash in 100 parts is as follows : — 
Bulbs. Leaves. 
Silica 0-82 9-57 
Phosphoric acid 13-46 9-43 
Sulphuric acid 11-43 10-63 
Carbonic acid 10-24 8-97 
Lime 10-20 30-31 
Magnesia 2-36 3-62 
Peroxide of iron 0-38 5-50 
Potash 36-27 9-31 
Soda 2-84 0- 0 
Chloride of potassium 0-0 5-99 
Chloride of sodium 11-90 6-66 
100-00 99-99 
" The above composition is in many respects similar to that of turnips, and 
does not require any special comment." 
Being desirous of ascertaining the actual amount of nutritive 
matter in the Kohl-Rabi, as compared with Swedish and common 
turnips, our friend Dr. Anderson, chemist to the Highland and 
Agricultural Society of Scotland, kindly undertook the investiga- 
tion ; and his report, sent to us only on the 4th of January, is as 
follows : — 
Bulbs. Leaves. 
Water 86-74 86-68 
Albuminous compoimds .. ' .. .. 2*75 2-37 
Respiratory principles 8-62 8-29 
Fibre 0 77 1-21 
Ash 1-12 1-45 
100-00 100-00 
Nitrogen 0-44 0-38 
In a note, accompanying the analysis. Dr. Anderson says : — 
" You will observe that, both in point of composition and feeding value, the 
bulbs and leaves are quite identical. They are about twice as valuable as 
ordinary turnips, and materially surpass the best swedes, which rarely contain 
more than 9 or 10 per cent, of solid matters, and about 1-5 per cent, of albu- 
minous compounds." 
This investigation is very satisfactory, in so far as its results 
show the importance of the Kohl-Rabi as a feeding plant, and 
as a profitable substitute for the turnip ; independently of its 
valuable properties as a field crop, in its freedom from disease, 
and its power of withstanding frost. 
* ' Journal of the R. A. S. E.,' vol. xi. p. 511. 
