The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1881-05-04

generally killed, and in some of the
northwestern counties it is stated the
trees themselves are much injured by
the cold. The pears and apples are not
injured, and the cherries not much. Of
the latter fruits we shall have an abund-
ance. From the North we shall not
get many peaches, but suppose they will
come here from the South.
Apples as Food for Animals.
BY JAMES R. NICHOLS.
The enormous crop of apples the past
season has awakened much inquiry with
regard to their food value for animals,
cows, pigs, horses, etc.,-and many state
ments have been made in the papers
which are erroneous and calculated to
lead farmers and others astray upon the
subject. We could not find at hand any
reliable analysis of the fruit of the varie-
ties such as are raised largely in our
Northern States, and this circumstance
determined us. to make analysis of seve-
raj prominent kinds, as the Tolmans
Sweets, Hubbardston Nonesuch, and
Baldwins. The apples selected were
In different stages of ripeness, the Hub
bardston being more advanced than the
others. Very important notifications
are produced by the chemical changes
in apples as they approach the stage of
maturity, or the period when they be-
come mellow and ready for the table.
The amount of sugar increases, and the
hydrated malic acid decreases, or disap-
pears altogether in some fruits. The
cell walls of the structure become soft
ened, and readily break down; oxidation
begins at any point where imperfection
or abrasions in the skin occur. The
amount of nutritive material is to some
extent increased in ripe apples, and they
are much more easily digested and as
simulated by men and animals
The results of the analysis were as fol-
lows.
HUBBARDsToYs
Water. 1857
AlbuminOids, pectose gum and sugar, 1l27
Ash, Ol6I
100000
ToLMAN's SWEETS
Water. 1929
Albuminoids, sugar, pectose gum, etc, 1854
Ash, OH
100000
The unripe Baldwins gave 81 per cent
water, with a less amount of albuminoids
and sugar than the others, and consid-
cradle free hydrated malic acid. The
sugar varied from about 5 per cent in
the Baldwins to 9 per cent in the Sweets.
The total insoluble matters, including
skins, seeds, pectine, ash, etc., averaged
about 3 25 per cent
These results show how largely pre-
ponderating in apples is the water, which
in amount is about IS per cent of their
weight. Therefore a tree bearing 30
bushels GAG pounds to the bushel) holds
up in the fruit about half q tom of water
The nutritive value of apples is of course
not IN the water, but in solids, -albumi-
noids, sugar and gum In a bushel of
Hubbardstons there is about six pounds
of soluble nutritive material at the pc
riod of ripening; in Tolman's Sweets,
about seven pounds; in Baldwins, FIVE
pounds; and this material will vary to a
considerable extent in value. Sugar is
a carbonaceous substance, and nutritive
in certain direction. 1t is mainly use
full as fuel, and by oxidation serves to
maintain animal warmth. The album
noids are heterogeneous, ana therefore are
foods proper; the gum is also food.
The albuminoids are seldom found
above half of one per cent in any varie-
ties, and this would give us less than
four ounces in the bushel; of sugar we
find in bushel about two and half
pounds in acid fruits, and considerably
more in sweets.
ITO be Continued.)