212 



CHEMICAL DEPARTMENT. 



Solids dried at 212° F.— 



Albumen, 8-51 



Non-albuminoid nitrogen X 6-25, . . . 2-79 



Carbohydrates, &c., ...... 50-17 



Oil (ether extract), 2-35 



Woody fibre, 28-30 



Ash, 7-88 



100-00 



It will be seen that the result of leaving the bracken growing 

 so long is to diminish the amount of albumen and to increase 

 the amount of woody fibre. The carbohydrates are also in- 

 creased, but the quantity of the albuminoids and carbohydrates 

 is not of so much importance as their quality ; their digesti- 

 bility and the practical test of feeding is required to settle the 

 value of bracken and bracken silage as a fodder. There is a very 

 natural antipathy to cutting a plant before it has attained its 

 full size. It seems an extravagant practice, but that is a. senti- 

 ment that must be got over. The indulgence of that sentiment 

 spoils the feeding quality of a large proportion of the hay that 

 is annually cut in this country, and if it does so in the case of 

 a tender crop like ryegrass, it will do so to a far greater extent 

 in the case of a hard crop like bracken. It is probable, how- 

 ever, that even fully-grown bracken might make good silage if 

 cut fine with a chaff-cutter ; and it may even be found that 

 bracken hay, if finely chaffed and fed with pulped turnips, or 

 steamed, so as to be easily masticated, might be found to be a 

 very nutritious diet. 



Grass Silage. — The following is the composition of three 

 samples silage from the silos at Portmore : — 



No. 1 is sweet silage, from Whinny Knowe field at Harcus. 



No. 2 is somewhat sour, from Denhead field, Earl}'pier. 



No. 3 is sour silage, from Borland Meadow. 



