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EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



Vol. 36. Abstract Number. No. 3. 



RECENT WORK IN AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE. 



AGRICULTURAL CHEMISTRY— AGROTECHNY. 



Chemical composition of alfalfa as affected by stage of maturity, me- 

 chanical losses, and condition of drying, C. O. Swanson and W. L. Latshaw 

 {Jour. Indus, and Engin. Chem., 8 (1916), No. 8, pp. 726-729). — From a study 

 of the chemical composition of alfalfa as affected by variations in maturing and 

 curing, the authors have found at the Kansas Experiment Station that alfalfa 

 cut in the bud stage has the largest ash and crude protein and the smallest 

 crude fiber and nitrogen-free extract content. " In each successive stage the 

 crude fiber and nitrogen-free extract increases, and the crude protein and ash 

 decrease. In pounds per ton the alfalfa cut in the earlier stages has more of 

 crude protein and less of crude fiber. The total amount of any or all nutrients 

 produced per acre depends to a large extent on the yield. 



" The leaves and stems differ in content of ash, ether extract, and nitrogen- 

 free extract, but the greatest difference is in the percentage of crude protein and 

 crude fiber. The leaves contain over two and a half times as much protein as 

 the stems, while the stems contain over two and a half times as much crude fiber 

 as the leaves. 



" In harvesting and handling there is a large loss of leaves, which loss affects 

 the composition of the hay in an increase of crude fiber and a decrease of crude 

 protein. The alfalfa cured in the sun has a larger pure protein content, as 

 determined by Stutzer's method, than that cured in the shade. This difference 

 is so great as to more than offset the influence of the loss of leaves. The differ- 

 ences in respect to pure protein content were most pronounced in the alfalfa 

 cut in the earlier stages." 



The chemical composition of Oscillaria prolifica, B. B. Turner (Jour. Amer. 

 Chcm. Sac, 38 (1916), No. 7, pp. 1J,02-1417, figs. 5).— The air-dried material 

 examined was found to have the following percentage composition : Moisture, 

 9.7 per cent ; protein, 46.25 ; ether extract, 2.2 ; fiber and nitrogen-free extract, 

 35.5; and ash, 6.4 per cent (a small part due to fine sand unavoidably collected 

 with the alga). 



By extraction with various solvents no crystalline and easily identified char- 

 acteristic substances were found in any considerable quantity in the alga. A 

 small quantity of a crystalline magnesium salt of an organic acid (possibly 

 caproic) was obtained. Saponin was not obtained in any appreciable quantity. 

 A glucosid or a polysaccharid having physical properties similar to saponin was, 

 however, detected. 



" The bad smell and taste of the decaying alga appears to be due largely to 

 higher acids of the fatty (butyric) series, some of which were separated ; indol 



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