REPORT OF THE CHEMIST X43 



SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 



tlmt Bromus inermis, owing to the smaller percentage of filjre, will not be less digestible 

 than Bromus arvensis. If this be granted, the superiority of the former will be obvious. 

 The examination of the crude protein furnishes further results of a confirmatory cha- 

 racter and justiiies the conclusion that Bromus inermis is the more nutritious. 



In Bulletin No. 17 of the Experimental Farm Series the writer pointed out that 

 grasses ](^)se somewhat in nutritive value as they approach maturity and the seed ripens. 

 It is probable, therefore, that the analysis of Broimis arvensis would have been more 

 favourable to that hay if it had been cut earlier. A similar comparative study will be 

 m;iilo next season with the grasses taken at the same stage of growth, in order to obtain 

 further data as to the relative values of these important grasses. 



I 



UPLAND AND LOWLAND HAY. 



Tlie question has frequently been asked by farmers in IVIanitoba and the North-west 

 Territories : 'which is the more nutritive, hay cut from the uplands or that from the 

 sloughs'?' To obtain data on this important matter we have submitted to analysis two 

 samples collected and forwarded through the kindness of L. G. Bell, Esq., Qu'Appelle 

 Station, Assa. One taken from the ' upland ' or prairie, the other from the ' lowland ' 

 or swamp or slough. 



On arrival the samples were submitted to Dr. Fletcher, botanist of the Experimental 

 Farms, who has furnished the following note regarding their botanical composition : — 



Upland hay. — The sample of upland hay consisted chiefly of barren stems of 

 grasses. There were also a few seed-bearing stems of the Rough Fescue (Festuca scab- 

 rella) and several of the ripe seeds of the Porcupine grass (Stipa spartea). The barren 

 stems were apparently Ayropyrum, teyierum^ the Western Rye Grass, Stipa sj^artea and 

 Festuca scabrella, together with the leaves of one of the small prairie sedges. 



Lowland hay. — The sample of lowland hay consisted chiefly of Poa serotina and 

 Deyeuxia neglecta (grasses) and Carex aristata (a sedge) with a few stems with seed on 

 them. All common plants in prairie sloughs. 



The analysis of the hays afforded the following data : — 



Analysis of Hays. 



Upland. Lowland. 



Moisture 4-91 4-95 



Crude protein"-" 7 • 63 5-46 



Ether extract, (fat.) 0-96 0-57 



Carbo-hydrates (starch, gum, itc.) 40 • 30 48-95 



Fibre 38-46 35 19 



Ash 7-74 4-88 



*Nitrogenous compounds — 



Albuminoids 



Non-albuminoids 



There are certain somewhat remarkable differences to be noted. The most import- 

 ant of these, from the feeding standpoint, is the much larger percentage of crude protein 

 in the upland hay, making it naturally the more nutritious of the two. The crude protein 

 includes the albuminoids or so-called flesh formers, and the amides, etc., of much less 

 feeding value. The percentage of albuminoids is approximately one-fifth higher in the 

 upland than in the lowland hay. The larger percentage of ether extract (crude fat) in 

 the upland hay would also tend to increase its feeding properties, though its somewhat 

 larger fibre-content is against it. Other matters, such as the noticeable increase of ash 

 in the upland over that in the lowland hay, are of no particular interest from thi feed- 

 ing standpoint and, therefore, need not be discussed here. 



