SECRETARY'S REPORT. 



133 



Table XII. Analysis of Specimens of Weeds, as taken from the 



fieJd, and when dried. 



moil weeds, we shall see how far superior the cultivated grasses 

 are in nitrogenous or nutritive principles. 



The albuminous principles are very much less than in either 

 the natural or the artificial grasses. 



A line of investigation, both scientific and practical, equally 

 interesting and valuable with the foregoing, would lead into the 

 comparative nutritive equivalents of hay and other feeding sub- 

 stances. This is not the place to discuss that subject in full, 

 the line of our present inquiry embracing only the compara- 

 tive nutritive values of the grasses themselves. For convenience 

 of reference, however, I subjoin the following table, (XIII.,) 

 embracing the results of the profoiindest researches of many 

 distinguished chemists and practical men, both in the labora- 

 tory and the barn. Boussingault and others in France, and 

 Fresenius, Thaer and others in Germany, have devoted to these 

 and similar investigations the best part of their lives. 



It is necessary to remark that tables of nutritive equivalents 

 are liable to imperfections, on account of sources of error which 

 must exist in the nature of things, as difference of soil, climate, 

 season, imperfection of methods of analysis, &c. ; but making 

 all allowance for these, and admitting that the table cannot be 

 absolutely, and literally correct or perfect, it possesses great 

 jiKactical value and interest as giving a good general idea of the 

 relative value for feeding purposes, of various agricultural 

 products. 



