121 



spinach, and in its young condition is often used as as a pot-lierb. Whether the 

 continued use of it would affect the digestion remains to be seen ; but judging from 

 its composition and relationship to other edible plants there seems no reason why it 

 should not make a nutritive fodder if cut young and in a succulent condition. As 

 the plant matures there appears to be a considerable deposition of woody fibre or 

 lignin, which would lower the digestibility of the plant considerably. It< preserva- 

 tion in the silo could be accomplished with the same care as thai given to any 

 fodder crop. 



The fertilizing elements which this weed extracts from the ground are discussed 

 in another part of" this report, 



CORN FODDER AND ENSILAGE. 



Experiments with fodder corn have been carried on during the past two seasons, 

 both in the field and in the laboi-atory. The results of these experiments will 

 shortly be published in detail in bulletin form. For the purpose of comparing the 

 composition of corn fodder and ensilage with the food-stuffs just discussed, several of 

 the analyses are here given. 



Corn Fodder. — The averages representing the composition at two stages of 

 growth of the corn plant are given. The average in each case is from the same 

 seven varieties of Indian corn. 



On account of the large yield per acre, and the succulency and easy digestibility, 

 of the corn plant, it is one of the most valuable of all fodder crops. It is low in albumi- 

 noids, having a nutritive ratio of about 1:9-5, and consequently requires the judicious 

 addition of nitrogenous food to make it a nutritious and well balanced fodder. Accord- 

 ing to our analyses, corn fodder at the " glazing " condition contains about twice as 

 much digestible matter as mangels, and about two-thirds as much as timothy and red- 

 top grass cut at their best. Corn fodder is chiefly valued for its milk-producing 

 properties, and on this account is used by many dairymen as the staple green fodder 

 during those summer months when the grass is short and withered. 



Corn ensilage is also a fodder very widely known and used. The analyses of 

 two samples taken 4th December and 5th March respectively, are given in the table. 

 These prove the ensilage to be fairly similar in composition to the corn fodder 

 from which it was made. Good corn ensilage should contain from 250 lbs. to 300 lbs. 

 of digestible matter per ton; and its nutritive ratio should lie between 1:9 and 1:10.5. 



Further information regarding the composition of the Indian corn and the en- 

 silage will be found in the bulletin referred to. 



A sample of ensilage made from thistles and wheat (about f of the latter to ^ of 

 the former) was sent in for analysis by Messrs. Holland Bros., Ottawa, who reported 

 it as readily eaten by their cattle. The specimen was very dark in colour and more 

 distinctly acid than the corn ensilage. It will be observed that the fibre and ash are 

 very high compared with corn ensilage, and that the carbo-hydrates are correspond- 

 ingly low. Its feeding value would therefore be less than that of corn ensilage. 



GRASSES. 



Fifty-two samples of grasses, comprising forty-one varieties, have been analysed 

 during the past year. These were all grown on experimental plots at the Central 

 Experimental Farm, Most of the grasses were analyzed at two stages of their 

 growth. From the results so obtained the analyses of several have been selected and 

 inserted in the present table. The work in detail will be published separately, when 

 the character of the grasses of the North-West will be discussed. 



It is to be noticed that the percentage of albuminoids is higher in a grass before 

 flowering or when in flower than when the seed is fully formed. As the seed matures 

 there is a migration of the albuminoids of the leaf and stalk into the seed. As the 

 grass ripens the seed is liable to be shed — when there will be also an additional loss 

 in harvesting — and thus it becomes the most economical plan to cut foi- hay before 

 the seed is fully formed. The best time for harvesting will vary for different 

 grasses; but as far as general advice can be giv^en, they should be cut while in 



