Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1860-04-06
Agricultural.
Catech1sm of Agricultural
Chemistry and Geology.

A. They consist chiefly of three substan-
ces, starch, gluten, and OIL or fat.
O What proportion of each of theee usu-
ally exists in wheat?
A. 100 lbs. of wheat -four contains about
50 lbs of starch, 0 lbs. of gluten, and q or
3 lbs Of oil.
Q. In what proportion do they exist in
oats
A. 100 lbs of oats contain about 60 Tbs.
of starch, Is bs. of gluten, and lbs OF OIL.
Q. What do potatoes and turnips princi-
pally consist of?
A. their principal constituent is water,
@. How much water is contained In lO0
lbs Of potatoes? -.
A. 100 lbs. Of potatoes contain about -
! lbs of water.
Q. How much water is contained in 100
| lbs of turuips
a. 100 lbs of turnips contain about e0lbs.
of water.
Q. What quantity Of starch do potatoes
contain?
A. 100 lbs of potatoes contain from Is to
! 20 lbs of starch.
O. Are these proportions Of starch, gluten
etc, always the same in the same grain or
root?
A. No. Some yarictics of wheat contain
more gluten than others, some varieties OF
oats more oil than others, and some varieties
! Of potatoes more starch than others.
.. Have the soil and climate any infu
cnce upon the proportions Of these ingredi-
ents
A. Yes the wheat of warm climates is
said to contain more gluten, and the potatoes
and barley grown upon light OF well-drained
and, more starch.
Q. When grain or potatoes are burned,do
they leave any inorganic matter or ash
A. Yes, they all leave small quantity OF
ash when burned
@. Of what does this ash consist?
A. 1t consists Of the phosphatcs OF potash,
soda, lime, and magnesia, Of common salt,
and other saline substances.
yIII.-usEs OF THE CROPS WHEN FEEDING.
Q. What natural purposes are vegetables
intended to serve
A. They are chiefly intended for the food
of animals
O. What substances must an animal de-
rive from it's food, that it may be maintain
cd in healthy state?
A. 1t must obtain starch, gluten, oil or
fat, and saline or inorganic matter.
Q. Do YOU recollect what starch consists
Of:
A. Starch consists Of carbon and water.
O. For what purlo does an animal re-
quir. starch in ito food ?
\. 1t requires starch to supply the carbon
which it throws of from its lungs during
respiration.
Q. Do YOU reeoiIect how much carbon
man throws OF from his lungs in a day?
A. Yes, be throws off from six to eight
ounces in n day.
O. What quantity Of starch must he cat.
in order to supply the quantity Of carbon
gwen Of from his lungs in u day :?
A. He will require TO eat nearly pound
Of starch II day.
(l0 o. Of starch contains about 4 l-2 Of
carbon)
Q. In what form is the carbon given of
fron tie lungs Of animals?
A. l. is given off in the form Of carbonic
acid gas.
Q. What becomes Of the carbonic acid gas
thus given OIL
\. It IS dilfised through the air, and af-
terwards absorbed again by plants, in order
that new quantities Of starch may be prodte c.
ed from il.
Q. F0rv what porpose does Oh animal re-
quire gluten in its food?
A. An animal requires gluten for the pur-
pose Of rrrairing the daily waste Of the mus
cle7 or lean part Of ito body.
@ Are tie muscles Of an animal really
subject to waste?
l. Yes, nearly all parts Of the body suffer
q certain waste every day.
@ " bat becomes of the part that thus
wastes away?
\. It is carried through the body, and
forms part of the dung and urine OF the AMI
NAL.
Q How can gluten repair the waste Of the
muscles OF lean part oi the animal :
a. Because the gluten Of plants is exactly
the same thing as the MUSCLES Of animals.
Q. Why does the animal require oil or fat
in its food!
A. To supply the natural waste Of fatty
matter which takes place
G. Does it serve any other purpose
a. Yes, when more Is given than is nee
eSsary to supply the waste It may make the
animal fit.
Q. Is food that contains much oil, then.
the best f9r fattenng?
A. Yes Of two samples Of food that which
contains the LIST oil will iattcn most quick
O. Is this one reason why oil-cake is SO
good for tatening stock?
A. Yes, il is one reason.
O. Why must the food Of animals contain
phosl hate Of lime and other inorganic mat
ter
A. T, supply the daily waste Of the bones,
Of the salts in the blood, etc.
Q D. not the gluten and the saline mat
ter serve further purpose when the animal
s growing?
4. Yes; when the animal il growing they
not only supply the daily waste, but are dai-
" adding to the weight Of the animals body.
@. VIII a growing animal on this account
require a larger supply OF these kinds Of
food?
y. Yes, growing animal of the saine
sic will require mere of these kinds OF to3d
than fall grown animal.
Q Suppo-c an equal quantity Of food CIV
en- t. a gr wing and to full-srown animal,
which Of oi them will give the richer dung?
\. The full-sroNn animal will give ths
richer dung?
Q. Why 50?
4. Because the growing animal extracts
and retain, more of the substance the food.
@. Why does it de this?
4. Be ausc it has both to supply the nat
ural waste Of itR own body, and to add to its
size, while the ful-srown animal has only to
supply the waste.
@. WHY is the dung Of fattenins stock
richer than that Of growing stock?
A. Because fattening stock extract and re-
tain only the oil and starch Of their food and
reject the remainder.