236 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



them. They are accompanied by substances of an apparently 

 indifferent character, as far as their feeding-effect is concerned. 



The entire mass which any fodder substance leaves be- 

 hind after being heated at a hundred and ten degrees cen- 

 tigrade temperature, until it suffers no further loss of mois- 

 ture, is called its dry substance. An increase in dry substance, 

 in case of any plant or part of plant at the same stage of 

 growth, indicates usually a higher feeding-value. To sat- 

 isfy the craving of the animal, a certain quantity of dry 

 matter becomes an important consideration in making up 

 the fodder-rations for different classes of animals. In raising 

 young stock for fattening purposes a liberal supply is also 

 desirable, to effect a proper extension of the digestive organs, 

 to make them good feeders hereafter. 



Nitrogenous substances, or proteine matter, refer to three 

 great groups of nitrogen containing compounds, of plants 

 in particular, — albumen, fibrine, caseine, — which are essen- 

 tial for the formation of blood and tissues. The members 

 of these groups differ more or less in their mode of action 

 and their feeding- value. Those contained in animal-matter, 

 as meat refuse, are frequently considered of a higher value 

 than those in many plants.. An important improvement has 

 been introduced of late, in determining the amount of the 

 nitrogenous matter by aiming at a better distinction be- 

 tween the more or less valuable members of a group; for 

 instance, between true albuminoids and amides : the latter 

 are considered almost worthless by some investigators (Kel- 

 ler). The earlier chemical analyses of root-crops, and young 

 forage plants in particular, are now receiving attention in 

 that direction. 



Fatty substances include all the various natural fats of the 

 plant : most plants contain more than was assumed at an 

 earlier stage of inquiry. As the separation of the fat takes 

 place by means of ether, the statements in the analyses 

 do not exactly express the amount of fatty matter alone, 

 but include more or less wax and resinous substances, &c, 

 which are equally soluble in ether. The fat of the fodder 

 seems to serve, in case of judicious fodder-rations, mainly 

 to increase the stock of fat in the animal which consumes 

 the fodder : its high physiological value is generally recog- 

 nized by recording its amount separately in the analytical 

 record of the analyses. 



