166 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS. 



* 64 VICTORIA, A. 1901 



Analysis of Wool Waste, Oxford Mills, N.S. 



Per cent. 



Moisture 6-90 



Ash or mineral matter 10 '86 



Mineral matter insoluble in acid 8-50 



Phosphoric acid '09 



Potash 0-26 



Nitrogen 4 88 



The amounts of phosphoric acid and potash are so small that they may be dis- 

 regarded, the only fertilizing element of value present being nitrogen. This exists 

 to the extent of 87 pounds per ton. Since the nitrogen in wool waste is not a condition 

 assimilable by plants, it becomes necessary, or at any rate advisable, to submit the 

 material to fermentation, as in the compost heap, before application to the soil. To 

 this end it may be mixed with wood ashes or lime, or composted with actively fer- 

 menting manure. The sample under comment was found to contain 31 '15 per cent of 

 oil or fat. This would prevent the ready decomposition of the waste and certainly 

 reduce very much its fertilizing value. The amount of oil is so large that one is 

 prompted to predict its economic recovery would be quite practicable. 



FODDEKS AND FEEDING STUFFS. 



Our investigation relating to the composition of Canadian forage crops and 

 feeding stuffs has included during the past year certain leguminous plants and grasses 

 grown in the experimental plots under the direction of Dr. Fletcher, several varieties 

 of mangels, carrots, turnips and sugar beets from the crops of 1900, rape at various 

 periods of growth furnished by the Agricultural Division, besides many feeding stuffs 

 of which samples have been received for analysis. 



The value of a cattle food, from the feeding standpoint, depends upon its com- 

 position and digestibility. It becomes, therefore, important to have some knowledge 

 of the character of a fodder's constituents and of the functions of those constituents 

 in the animal system. We consequently in the following paragraphs, explain in brief 

 these matters, and thus afford information that will be of assistance in understanding 

 the data detailed in tables of analyses. 



Water. — The percentage of water present depends upon the nature of the fodder. 

 In roots there is about 90 per cent; in green fodders, e.g., corn and grass, there is 

 usually between YO per cent and 80 per cent, according to variety, time of vear, &c. ; in 

 hay we find about 14 per cent, and in cornmeal, oil-cake, and milling products generally, 

 between 7 per cent and 12 per cent. 



Although water is as necessary to the animal as it is to the plant, yet on account 

 of its abundance in nature no value can be assigned to it in fodders. It must not 

 be forgotten, however, that succulency, a most important quality, influencing greatly 

 both the palatability and digestibility of a food, is due chiefly to the preselice of 

 the natural or original water. It is succulency that gives to many green fodders a value, 

 as for milk production, above that apparently indicated by their composition. 



During the maturing of many foliaceous plants, such as grass, Indian corn, &c., 

 the withdrawal of water, accompanied by other changes, tend? to lower somewhat the 

 digestibility and henoe the value of some of the constituents. Hence some plants may 

 he more nutritious in their green and succulent state than they are when ripe and 

 dry. in spite of the fact that in the latter condition tho solid food materials may 

 largely exceed that found in the green and immature fodder. 



