466 
ON BEET-ROOT PULP. 
Composition of a Specimen of Beet-root Pulp produced in France 
Moisture ...... 
. 70-88 
^Albuminous compounds (flesh-forming matters) . 
. 2-38 
Mucilage, pectinous compounds, and a little sugar 
. 6-59 
Crude cellular fibre .... 
. 16-43 
Mineral matter (ash) .... 
. 3-72 
100-00 
* Containing nitrogen 
, -382 
It will be seen that the French pulp resembled closely in 
composition the English specimen. Both contained about 
the same percentages of water and of flesh-forming com- 
pounds; and both may be regarded as equally useful for 
feeding purposes. 
In a second specimen of French pulp, which evidently had 
been kept for a considerable length of time in an unsheltered 
place, I found a good deal more water, as will be seen by the 
subjoined analysis : 
Composition of Second Specimen of French Beet-root Pulp , 
Moisture ....... 77* 10 
# Albuminous compounds (flesh-forming matters) . . T93 
Mucilage, pectinous compounds, and a little sugar . L19 
Lactic acid ...... 1*12 
Crude cellular fibre ..... 16'07 
Mineral matter (ash) ..... 259 
100-00 
# Containing nitrogen . . *39 
This refuse pulp thus contained nearly 7 per cent, more 
water than the preceding one. Its taste was strongly acid, 
and on examination I found that the sour taste was due to 
lactic acid, of which the pulp contained fully 1 per cent. 
When beet-root pulp is kept for any length of time it turns 
decidedly acid, and in that state is quite as much relished by 
cattle and sheep as when fresh. Practical feeders with whom 
I came in contact maintain that old pulp is superior to new 
for fattening purposes. Be this as it may, the lactic acid 
which is generated during the time of keeping certainly has 
the effect of preserving the feeding qualities of the pulp and 
of rendering it more digestible. 
Except in its more acid taste old pulp differs but slightly in 
its appearance and general characters from new. The plan 
of preserving beet-root pulp in a good condition for feeding 
purposes is extremely simple. All that is necessary is to dig 
a trench in the earth, to place in it the pulp, and to pile it up 
in the same w r ay as a heap of mangolds or swedes, and to 
cover the heaps with the earth from the trench. In this way 
the residue may be kept for years in a good condition. 
