250 ANNUAL REPORT OF NEW- YORK 



" The first column of this table exhibits numbers which differ 

 very much from each other. Whilst in some cases the percentage 

 of water is as high as 80, in others it only amounts to 60; in one 

 instance (Briza media) being as low as 51 — (the second sample 

 of Dactylis glomerata, which was fully ripe is excepted.) 



" The proportion of water is evidently connected with the 

 period at which the grass comes into flower, the earliest grasses 

 being generally the most succulent, although a careful examina- 

 tion of the table will show that this is not always the case. Thus 

 the specimens Briza media, and Holcus lanatus, both gathered on 

 the 29th of June, contain respectively in round numbers 52 and 

 70 per cent, of water. 



" The proportion of water in a plant becomes interesting chiefly 

 when it is considered as influencing the proportion of dry matter or 

 actual feeding material of the plant. Thus, for instance, the quan- 

 tity of dry or solid matter in 100 parts of Anthoxanthum odoratum 

 or Alopecurus pratensis is 20 parts; whilst in Avena flavescens or 

 pubescens it reaches as much as 39 or 40 parts. The immediate 

 interest of this circumstance to the farmer is, that in judging of 

 the quantity of hay which will be produced from a meadow, he 

 must take into account the nature of the grasses composing it, 

 since it is plain that in the instances mentioned a given weight 

 of one kind of grass will produce twice as much hay as another. 



" In looking down the columns of this table, especially Nos. 1, 

 2, 3 and 4, which are most important, very great differences will 

 be seen; the albuminous matters, for instance, being in some cases 

 double what they are in others. In some instances these are 

 differences really in the proportion of the various principles in 

 relation to each other; but an apparent variation is very often 

 produced by the greater or less amount of water contained in the 

 plant. Such differences are real so far as the comparison of the 

 fresh- cut grass is concerned, but they in many cases cease to exist 

 when the grasses being made into hay, are carried to the same 

 point of dryness. 



" I believe this latter to be the most important point of view, 

 both practically and scientifically, and I shall therefore reserve 

 any further remarks on tliis head, until the composition of the 

 dry grasses is before us. 



