ON VAEIATIONS IN THE COMPOSITION OF OATS. 79 



Here we have six times as much fat and heat-producing matter 

 and twenty times as much flesh-forming matter produced from 

 the same extent of land. The variation per acre was not as great 

 as in the case of the largest and the smallest crop ; but in ex- 

 amining the composition per Ijushel we shall find that the range 

 in the relative feeding value was even greater than in those in- 

 stances — 



Composition of one bushel of 

 Hea\iest Oats. Lightest Oats. 



lbs. lbs. lbs. lbs. 



Weight per bushel, . . 49 20 



It is probable that in consequence of the very unfavourable 

 season of 1877, we have practically reached the lowest quality of 

 oats, but it is quite possible that we have not reached the highest 

 range of quality. Still, sufficient has been done for the present 

 to show some of the great variations wliich are observable in the 

 production and in the quality of oats. 



The inquiry was also extended so as to include those cases in 

 which by skilful management difficulties of soil and climate were 

 surmounted, and to show the influence which was thus exerted 

 upon the production of food. In one case we found the good 

 and the bad management of land, fairly similar in natural 

 character, and under similar conditions of climate, producing 

 crops exceedingly different in quantity and quality. Under good 

 cultivation we found 50 bushels of oats, weighing 43 pounds per 

 bushel, produced from one acre of land ; and only 10 bushels, 

 weigliing 22 pounds per bushel, yielded by another acre of 

 similar land. The chemical analysis of these specimens of oats 



gave the following results :— 



Composition of Oats grown under 

 Good cultivation. Bad cultivation. 



True albuminoid matters (gluten), . 7 "18 



Starch, gum, &c., .... 61-69 



Fatty matter, 2 "88 



Cellulose, 9-10 



Nitrogenous matter (not true albuminoids), 3 "32 



containing nitrogen, . . . (-524) (•190) 



Alkaline salts in ash, ... 1"20 



Earthy salts in ash, ... *58 



Silicious matter in ash, ... '70 



Water, 13-35 



100-00 100-00 



