MANAGEMENT OF MEADOWS AND PASTURES. 97 



soluble products, consists for the most part of five distinct vege- 

 table substances, viz. — mucilaginous, saccharine, albuminous, 

 bitter extractive and saline matter, and that " it is probable that 

 the excellence of the different articles as food will be found in a 

 great measure proportioned to the quantities of soluble or nutritive 

 matters they afford ; but still these quantities cannot be regarded 

 as absolutely denoting their value, — albuminous or glutinous mat- 

 ters have the characters of animal substances ; sugar is more 

 nourishing, and extractive less nourishing, than any other prin- 

 ciples composed of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen ; certain com- 

 binations of these substances likewise may be more nourishing 

 than others." 



Mr. Way, guided by the more accurate knowledge which 

 modern researches in chemistry have disclosed, has been enabled 

 to give a more trustworthy exhibition of the real compositiou 

 of the grasses than we have heretofore possessed, and has dis- 

 closed to u£ as accurately as chemistry can do it, their relative 

 values in the feeding of animals. 



It is to be regretted, however, that he has omitted the analysis 

 of several of the most important of our grasses, such as the red- 

 top (Agrostis vulgaris,) blue grass (Poa compressa,) bastard fowl 

 meadow ( Glyceria nervata,) and fowl meadow (Poa serolina.) 

 Still his experiments constitute one of the most valuable contri- 

 butions which chemistry has ever made to agriculture. 



These experiments' show that 100 lbs. of quaking grass (Briza 

 media,) will give 28| lbs. more of dry hay than 100. lbs of vernal 

 grass ( Anthoxanlhum odoralum.) That it will require 237 lbs. of 

 vernal grass to supply an animal with as much of the muscle 

 making elements as is afforded by 100 lbs. of timothy. 



It will take 319 lbs. of soft brome grass to lay as much fat on 

 an animal as 100 lbs. of timothy would; 100 lbs. of timothy 

 will support the respiratory process as long, and afford as much 

 animal heat as 260 lbs. of vernal grass. 



I think most of you will be surprised at the disparity of value 

 among the grasses as disclosed by these numerical statements, and 

 if they make a tolerable approximation to practical accuracy, you 

 will be convinced that your interest as farmers demands that you 

 should pay more attention to this subject than you have heretofore 

 given it. I should, however, be untrue to my own convictions, if 

 I did not warn you against too suddenly accepting the indications 

 of pure chemistry as a conclusive guide in practice, for there is 

 7 



