SOUTHEKN CULTIVATOR. 
119 
"T%e Fancy yet I have given it without any ill results. 
Breeding from close affinities will soon destroy the best 
stud of Rabbits ; it is, therefore, necessary to introduce 
fresh blood every year into a rabbitry , which, of course, is 
most easily done through the male. 
The climate of the South must be especially favorable 
to the breeding of this little animal; and I should think 
that it would become a great favorite with the negro, and, 
consequently, be well attended to under his care. 
I am, respectfully, yours, R. 
Morris, Nev) York, Feb.-^ 1855, 
CHEMI CAL EXAMINATION OF THE COB OF MAIZE, 
OR INDIAN COEN. 
BY J. H. SALISBURY, M.D, 
It is well known that the manure of an animal varies in 
•quality with the food which it eats; and that, generally, 
manure is richer in nitrogen bodies, and less rich in non- 
nitrogenized matter than the food consumed. Probably a 
greater proportion (though I do not know' as this has actv 
ally been demonstrated) of 100 lbs. of nitrogen bodies 
would be assimilated by the system, if it were mixed with 
500 lbs., of non- nitrogenized matter; and still more if mixed 
with 1000 lbs., than if taken into the system undiluted or 
alone. It should be borne in mind that it is as essential for 
food to contain bodies destitute of nitrogen, (such as starch, 
sugar, oil, etc.,) or those that go to support animal heat and 
respiration in the body, as it is to have nitrogen compounds 
to nourish or supply the w'aste of the living tissues. 
Hence, food suited best to sustain animal life, is that which 
is made up of these two classes of bodies mixed in the pro- 
per proportion. And a deficiency in the one is equally as 
deleterious to the healthy existence of the animal, as a de- 
ficiency of the other ; therefore, we can hardly say that 
one of these classes is in reality more essential to the main- 
tenance of life than the other. They both seem to perform 
equally important offices. If this view be taken, the cob 
cannot be regarded as deficient in those bodies v/hich con- 
tribute to respiration and nutrition. The following table 
shows about the amount of the several proximate organic 
bodies thrown away in rejecting the cob, calculated from 
the analysis of the small white flint variety ; 1000 lbs. of 
ears contain not far from 20G lbs. of cob and 800 lbs. of 
grain. These contain the following bodies in the following 
proportions, expressed in pounds and decimals of a 
pound. 
200 lbs. cob. 
SOO lbs grain. 
ICOO lbs. ears. 
Sugar and extract... 
.13.582 
115.320 
128.002 
Starch 
. .003 
-487.384 
487.387 
Fibre 
127.687 
7.712 
13.:.. 399 
Oil 
39.824 
39.824 
Zein 
Matter separated by 
31.856 
31.856 
potash from fibre . . , 
, 45.404 
51.856 
97.260 
Albumen 
1.518 
37.136 
38.654 
Casein 
.288 
.688 
. 976 
Dextrine, or gum 
2.310 
28.224 
30.534 
Resin 
1.806 
.... 
1.806 
Glutinous matter 
7.402 
7.402 
destitute of those proximate principles which go to sup- 
port respiration and sustain animal heat, and those which 
are capable of being transformed into nerve, muscle, etc., 
and the phosphates which contribute so largely to the for- 
mation of bone. 
TURNIPS AS FEED. 
While in attendance upon the late National Poultry 
Show at Barnum’s IVIuseum, (says the Editor of ’The Plow, 
the Loo 771 ao.d the Aiivil') we spent a few minutes in the 
“Lecture Room.” Our friend, Mr. Solon Robinson, was 
making remarks upon the use of turnips as feed, as report- 
ed in some of the journals of the day. He took the posi- 
tion that they were good for nothing as nutriment, and 
sustained himself by giving its analysis. This is all very 
well, but unfortunately it is not in accordance with well- 
known facts. We used to talk in the same way, but 
were obliged to yield, not simply to a few doubtful experi- 
ments, but to years of experience. This the speaker 
seemed to feel, for he admitted that “in England it might 
not be so.” But we suppose a turnip in England is very 
much the same thing as a turnip in New York. He also 
added that they should be fed by turning the cattle in up- 
on them, as they are growing in the field. We can not see 
the force or propriety of this distinction. Is it not the same 
worthless thing before it is pulled, as afterwards % Must 
the cattle or sheep pull it, or bite it off, to render it nu- 
tritious 1 But even here there is no escape, for the Eng- 
lish practice is, after the animal has bit off as much as is 
practicable, the root remaining in the ground is then lifted 
by a fork and left on the top of the ground, for the cattle 
to eat at pleasure. 
We are compelled to admit that there is something in 
this foxt of nutrition, that no doctrine of chemistry or 
physiology is able to explain. The fact is unquestionable 
that turnips are excellent for fattening sheep and cattle, 
whether we can explain why it is so or not. It is equally 
true, as Mr. R. stated in the same speech, that about 97 
per cent, of the flat turnip, as shown by a chemical analy- 
sis, consists of water. These two facts, so apparently 
contradictory, are entirely above and beyond contradition. 
We subjoin the following, on this subject, which appears 
in the Northern Farmer : 
“The vegetable I wish to recommend as the best, all 
things considered, for milk-cows in winter, is white flat 
turnips. Some, perhaps, will object to the turnip, because 
it will affect the taste of the milk and butter. So it does 
if fed raw ; this can be avoided by boiling. For each cow 
boila half a bushel of turnips; while hot, add five or six 
quarts of shorts ; which will swell, and you will get the 
full worth of it. A mess like this fed to a cow once a day, 
will produce more milk of a good quality , than any other 
feed at the same cost. Turnips fed in this way do not 
‘lint either milk or butter. One thing in favor of turnips 
as food for cows, is, that they can be sown in August, or 
as late as the first of September. I sowed some as late as 
September,, last year, which were very fine. Turnips are 
also very profitable feed for pigs, when boiled in the same 
way as for cows.” 
200 lbs. 800 lbs. 1000 lbs. 
In the above table, the inorganic matter is not separate- 
ly considered, it being distributed among the several or- 
ganic bodies. By rejecting the cobs of 1000 lbs. of dry 
ears, about 200 lbs. of organic matter is lost, which con- 
sists of 13 1-2 lbs of sugar, and extsact; 127 1 -2 lbs. of 
fibre; 45 1-2 lbs. of matter, separated from fibre by a 
weak solution of potash 11-2 lbs. of albumen, .288 of a 
pound of casein, 2.31 of gum or dextrine, 1 . 8 lbs. of resin, 
and 7.4 lbs. of glutinous matter. Hence the cob, though 
not rich in nutritive matter, can by no means be said to be 
Remarks. — We have fairly tested the value of Turnips 
the past winter, and must add our testimony to the above. 
We do not know of any winter food for cattle in this cli- 
mate so economical and valuable. — Eds. 
Cure for Ringbone. — I noticed in the Cultivator for 
May 15th, an inquiry for the cure of a ringbone in a colt, 
and answer, take high wines of cider brandy, add salt- 
petre as much as will disolve, and wash the ringbone two 
or three times a day. One of my neighbors cured one of 
three or four years st nding, by the application of this a 
few times. — Boston Cultivator, 
