86 ON VAKIATIOXS m THE COMPOSITION OF OATS. 



The feeding value of these crops will be seen in the following 

 statement : — 



Acreage composition of 

 A B C D 



lbs. lbs. lbs. lbs. 

 Substances useful as food — 



Flesh-forming matter, . . 121 105i 133| 141 



Fat and heat-producing matter, 820| 809| 969 1246 

 Substances of little or no use as food — 



Cellulose, &c., .... 125 155 167 123| 



Mineral matter, ... 37^ 36| 45^ 49 



Water, ' 172^ 173^ 218 264^ 



1276 1280 1533 1824 



To these details I shall now only add a statement showing the 

 variations in the nutritive value of one bushel of each of these 

 crops of oats — • 



Composition of one bushel of Oats. 



Weight per bushel, ... 29 40 36h 38 



For the present it appears desirable to avoid dealing with these 

 data as if they were com23lete, or as if they afforded a safe basis 

 for fully explaining the causes of all the variations in quality and 

 in yield, which have been pointed out. It will be seen that the 

 inquiry has contributed some new facts, and has also opened up 

 some important questions for future research. These are likely 

 to influence the economical production of food, by aiding in the 

 growth of crops of the highest nutritive character. The several 

 influences which have been referred to, vary of necessity in their 

 force and intensity. The cases I have named may be dealt as 

 facts contributing some little information upon the subject, but 

 we should not be safe in considering that the fullest powers of 

 these several influences have been determined. It must, however, 

 be remembered that it is by avoiding not one, but a series of 

 unfavourable conditions, and by the adoption of all the favourable 

 influences we can command, that we shall most fully promote 

 luxuriant growth. 



