487 



tbree square {Scirpus puurjens), larger three-square {Scirpus olneyi), 

 fioriu {Agro'itL'i nlbxi), cor<l grass {Spartina cynoswoides), snip-snap or 

 two-tail (Eleocharis rostellata), wikl rice {Zizanta aqiiatica), wild rye 

 grass {Elymus virginicus), cat's- tail {Typha latifolia). 



It appears from the tables of analyses that in every case any given species contains a 

 hij>hcr perccutaj;e of alhnininoids, the most costly food ingredient, and generally also 

 of fat, which is next in value, when cnt before or at the time of bloom, than when it la 

 cut at a later period of development. The same is known to be true of the gras.ses on 

 Tipland meadows, and the fact harmonizes with the belief of some farmers that hay 

 should bo cnt at the time of bloom on salt marshes as well as on upland. * * » 



The following statement shows the average percentage composition of mixed tim- 

 othy and redtop and mixed meadow-grasses, black grass cut when seed was in the 

 milk or before, salt grass, and creek sedge, all reduced to a water free basis: 



Ash 



Albuminoids 



Fiber 



Nitrogen-free extract 

 Fat 



Total 



Timothy 

 ami red- 

 top. 



7.4 

 34 4 

 50.4 



2.3 



lUO 



Mixed 

 me.idow- 

 grasses. 



.'5.5 



7.G 



35.6 



48.9 



2.4 



Black grass 

 (Jitncns 

 (jerardi). 



7.9 

 9.2 

 29.0 

 51.3 

 2.0 



100 



100 



IJod salt 



gi-ass 

 (Spartina 

 jitncea). 



9.3 

 0.0 

 28.0 

 53.4 

 2.7 



100 



Creek 



scdgo 



(Spartiiictt 



utrUta). 



11.7 



7.2 



29.4 



40.5 



2.2 



100 



These figures show that when cnt in proper season creek sodge has practically the 

 same percentage of albuminoids and fat as good meadow hay, with less liber or woody 

 tissue. Black grass may have l.".") per cent more albuminoids, a little more fat, and 

 considerably less woody fiber than these meadow-grasses. Black grass in blossom is 

 quite as soft and line as the best meadow hay and lias a i>leasaut odor and flavor. 

 " • * Another point to be noted is this, that all the marsh grasses which arc used 

 for feed or litter bring no inconsiderable quantities of plant food from the rivers and 

 sea to the manure heaps. » * * Taking the average of determinations made, wc 

 find the following quantities, in pounds, of nitrogen, i^hosphoric acid, and potash in 

 a ton of hay of the kinds named, respectively : 



Five tons of this hay contains as much of these fertilizing materials as are con- 

 lained in a full crop of corn, including stover, from an acre of land. 



Comparison of the yield and composition of certain grasses 

 IN 18SS AND 1S80, B. IT. Jenkins, Ph. D. (pp. 240, 247).— "In the An- 

 nual Report of the station for 1888, p. 100, are described in detail certain 

 plats of grass, each containing only a single species, from which the 

 crops are to be annually gathered (each at the period of full bloom), 

 weighed, and analyzed. The weights and analyses of the cropsfor 1888 

 are also giv^en in the report for that year." 



The experiments were continued in 1881), and the results of the anal- 

 yses of nine species of grasses are tabulated in this article. 



