114 



IOWA ACADEMY OP SCIENCES. 



and hard. The grass is widely distributed in the state but is 

 grown very little for forage purposes. 



The following analyses of orchard grass were made in the 

 laboratory of this station: 



Sample 1. April 24, 1896, 7 to 16 inches high. 



Sample 2. May 4, 1896, 14 to 18 inches high. 



Sample 3. May 18, 1896, sample very wet 



Sample 4. May 26, 1896, 38 to 42 inches high. 



Sample 5 June 5, 1896, 28 to 30 inches high. 



Sample 6. June 17, 1896, 40 to 45 inches high. 



NATURAL CONDITION. 



Sample 1. 

 Sample 3. 

 Sample 3. 

 Sample 4. 

 Samples. 

 Sample 6. 



3.77 

 5.21 

 5.81 

 7.99 

 5.57 

 11 96 



WATE FREE SUBSTANCE. 



Sample 1. 

 Sample 2. 

 Sample 3. 

 Sample 4 

 Sample 5. 

 Sample 6. 



26.00 

 33.67 

 34.72 

 36.61 

 28.15 

 39 55 



From these results it is readily seen that there is a decrease 

 in the amount of water present in the samples as the growth 

 increases. In the water free substance we find that the fat varies 

 in the sample from 6.62 per cent to 4.04 per cent. There is not a 

 regular decrease in this constituent, but it is somewhat irregu- 

 lar. Regarding the amount of protein we might say that there 

 is a regular decrease with one exception from 30.25 per cent to 

 9.11 per cent. With the crude fiber there is a tendency for the 

 amount to increase as the plant grows older as we have in the 

 first sample 23.01 percent and in samples five and six 40.60 

 per cent and 38.76 per cent respectively, and the same may 

 be said regarding the amount of nitrogen free extract, 



