232 COMPOSITION OF SOMK IXOIGEXOUS GRASSES. 



7. A cross section of the leaf shows by inspection the approxi- 

 mate relative fibre content, and hence the relative feeding 

 value of the grasses. 



8. Hottboellia conipressa, a vlei grass, grows well in an experi- 

 mental plot on hillside soil at Cedara, giving a large yield 

 per acre, and greatly increasing the protein content, the main 

 defect of this grass as naturally occurring on the vlei. On 

 hillside soils RottboelUa tends towards the composition of 

 climax veld gi'asses. 



9. The phosphate content is very constant for the average veld 

 grass, being about 0'^ P^r cent, of the dry matter of the 

 grass. In ruderal species the amount is about 0'3 per cent, to 

 0"4 per cent., and this is rather variable. 



In conclusion, the writer wishes to acknowledge his indebted- 

 ness to Dr. Bews, of the Natal University College, and to Mr. C. 

 O. Williams, Chemist, School of Agriculture, Cedara, Natal, for 

 advice and assistance so Avillingly given. 



References. 



1 Marchand, B. de C, and Smit, B. J. " The Compobition of Some Feeding 



Stuffs," Union Department of Agriculture, Bulletin 5, 1919. 



2 Bews, J. W. " The Grasses and Grasslands of South Africa," 1918. 



^ JuRiTZ, C. F. " The Chemical Constitution of South African Fodder 

 Plants," 1890. 



■' Ingle, H. Annual Eeport, Division of Chemistry, Transvaal, 1905-6. 



^ Ingle, H. " A Manual of Agricultural Chemistry," 1913. 



■^ ViPOND, H. J. " The Composition of Crops and Feeding Stuffs," Union 

 Department of Agriculture, Bulletin 1, 1914. 



'■ Sawer, E. R. Cedara Memoirs on South African Agriculture, 1911. 



* Barnstein, F. Landw. Versuchs-Stationen, 54, 327, 1900. 



' Armsby, H. p. " The Nutritive Value of Non-Protein of Feeding 

 Stuffs," U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, Bulletin 139, 1911. 



10 Henry, W. A., and Morrison, F. B. " Feeds and Feeding," 1918. 



11 Rubner, quoted by Atwater. U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, Bulletin 21. 

 1- Armsby, H. P. " The Nutrition of Farm Animals," 1917. 



1' Report of the Storrs Agricultural Experimental Station, 1899. 



1* Theiler, Sir Arnold. " The Cause and Prevention of Lamziekte," 

 Journal of Agriculture, South Africa, 1920. 



1^ Crowther, C. " Composition, Nutritive and Manurial Value of Farm 

 Foods," Leeds University, 1916. 



I'' Marchand, B. de C. " The Determination of Phosphoric Acid," South 

 African Journal of Science, 15, 5, 357, 1918-1919. 



