Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1850-01-08
AGRICULTURAL.
Chemistry and Vegetable Food.
From the Edinburgh Reyiew.l

t.is!the object OF chemical research not mere
" 30 explain facts, but TO remove misapprehen-
sion and correct erroneous opinions. The recent
determinations of the proportion Of nitrogen con-
tanned in wheat have served both these purposes.
Thus it was long asserted and believed, that the
wheat Of warm climates always contained more
nitrogen, and was consequently more nutrltiYe
and Of higher money value, than the wheat Of
our more temperate countries. But later re-
searches have corrected this hasty deduction ;
and have placed our home wheat in its proper
position, economical and nutritiye, as compared
with the wheat of india, OF Southern Australia,
or of the Black Sea.
Again, the British miller usually requires
portion of foreign wheat to mingie with our ma
tive grain, both TO make it grind more easily,
and to satisfy the baker with . flour which will
stand much water. The pastrycook and the
macaroni maker also demand Of him flour
which will make q peculiarly adhesive dough-
These several qualities were supposed 10 DC III
berent only in wheat which a5ounded IN an I'M
common degree, 10 gluten, and which was pro-
duced under specially favorable conditions OIL
soil and climate. Modern chemistry has the
merit of gradually removing these miSapPrehen-
sions, and of directing US 10 the true causes OF
all such differences.
So in regard to the superior amount OF mus
cIe-forming matter supposed to exist IN wheat IN
comparison with other kinds OF native grain, such
as the oat. Experience had long taught the
Scotch that oats, such as they grow IN their Gil
mate. are most nutritious food; but the habits
Of the more influential English, and the rldiGule
of prejudiced photographer were beginning &c
make them ashamed of their national dlc''-
Chemistry has here slept in, and by her analysis
of both, has proved not only that the oat IS nchei
in muscle-formng matter than the grain oil wheat
but that oatmeal is, in all respects, better form
Of nourishment than the finest wheaton flour.
But, what is more, chemistry has brought Us
acquainted with the value of parts of the gran
formerly considered almost as waste Inc MUSK
or bran of wheat, for example, though gwen a
times to pigs, to miller's horses, and other cattle
,yos usually thought to possess but little nutrtire
virtue in itself. Analysis, however, has shown
il to be actually richer in muscular matter than
the white interior Of the grain. Thus the cause
of its answering so well as food for cattle is eX'
nlained ; and it is shown that It's use in bread
(whole-meal bread) must be no less nutrlliNe
than economical.
The true value of other kinds Of food is also
established by these enquiries. Cabbage Is
,roo which. ND to the present time, has not been
. general favorite in this country, either IN the
stall or for the table, except during early spring
and summer In North Germany and Scandha-
via. however, it appears to have oeeh long es-
teemed and various modes Of storing 1t lor WIN
eruse have been very generally practlsed' bu'
the cabbage is one of the plants when mas oeel
chemically examined, in consequence oil inc lali-
ure Of the potato with the view OF introducing It
irto GENERAL use And the result OF the eAanlha
tion is both interesting and unexpected "he"
are3 so as to bring it into state in which II car
10 ooronorcd with our kinds of food (wheat, oa's
beans. &c). it is found to be richer IN muscular
matter than any other crop We grow "he@
contains only about IL per cent, and beans % pei
cent. but dried cabbage contains from ~ 10 ~
L
ner cent. of the so-called protein compounds
According 10 our present views, therefore, 1t Is
pre-eminently nourishing. Hence, II II can ou
be made generally agreeable to the palate anc
easy of digestion, it is likely to prove the Oes
and easiest cultivated substitute for the potato
And no doubt the Irish kolcannon Cabbage ano
notatoes beat together) derives part OF It's rePu'
tation from the great muscle sustaining power Of
the cabbage property in which the potato is
most deficient.
Further, it is of interest-of national import
auce, we may say that an acre OF ordinary land
will according to tho above result, produce
greater weight Of this special kind oil nourisL'
mont in the form of cabbage than in the form Of
any other crop. Thus, twenty tons OF cabbage
and good land will produce, in good hands, lor'y
tons Of drum-head cabbage on an imperial acre
contain fifteen hundred pounds of muscular mat
ter while twenty-five bushels oil beans contain
only four hundred pounds as many oil wnea
OILY two hundred, twelve tons OF potatoes only