254 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



Actual feeding experiments, as reported by J. Kiihn in his 

 late publication, tend to prove, that, in the green-maize fod- 

 der, there are in a digestible form, of the amount stated by- 

 analysis, seventy-three per cent of the nitrogenous matter, 

 seventy-five per cent of the fat, sixty-seven per cent of the 

 non-nitrogenous extract matter, and seventy-two per cent 

 of the cellulose (cellular matter). These relative proportions 

 vary somewhat with the age of the plant, growing lower with 

 the advance of growth. Taking the difference noticed in case 

 of a good meadow-grass and a good hay obtained from it, as 

 a standard of comparison, the above-stated rate of digesti- 

 bility would be respectively from sixteen to twenty per cent 

 less in the dried state of the fodder. 



The nutritive ratio of common green-maize fodder, in case 

 of from sixteen to eighteen per cent of dry matter, is re- 

 ported equal to from 1 : 9 to 1 : 10. The green fodder from 

 the sweet-corn varieties is quite properly considered of high- 

 er feeding-value, pound for pound, on account of the large 

 percentage of sugar (six to twelve per cent) it contains : the 

 latter amounts, at certain stages of the growth, in some 

 instances, to one-half of the dry matter. The recent observa- 

 tions in young succulent crops, and root-crops in particular, 

 regarding the presence of considerable quantities of nitroge- 

 nous substances (amides) of less feeding-value than the true 

 albuminoids, in the grains, &c, recommend, for the present, 

 calculations on a somewhat lower percentage of nitrogenous 

 matter than has hitherto been accepted. 



Examinations of Several Varieties of Com regarding the 

 Amount of Sugar contained in the Juice of the Stalks. 



I. 



Common Corn-Fodder. 

 (Massachusetts Agricultural College Farm.) 



Vigorous plants, with the tassels just appearing ; the canes 

 cut six inches above the ground. Lost 84.82 per cent of 

 moisture at 212° -220° F. temperature, and left 15.18 per 

 cent of dry vegetable matter. The juice of the fresh-cut 

 canes showed, — 



„, .„ ■) 5.91° Brix's saccharometer. 



Specific gravity j at 80° F. temperature 



Grape-sugar 4.35 per cent 



Cane-sugar 0.28 per cent 



