IOWA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES, 



117 



Spartina cynosuroides, fresh water cord grass, grows from 

 two to nine feet high and in this state is known by the name of 

 slough grass, on account of occurring in low grounds. It is cut 

 for hay along the Missouri and Mississippi rivers and is regarded 

 very highly by many on account of the large growth produced 

 by the grass, although it is not as valuable as some of the wild 

 grasses. 



The chemical composition of Spartina cynosuroides may be 

 shown by the following analyses made in the laboratory: 



Sample 1. Collected April 23, 1896, 6 inches to 1 foot high. 



Sample 2. Collected May 7, 1896, 16 to 24 laches high. 



Sample 3. Collected May 20, 1896, 36 to 33 inches high. 



Sample 4. Collected June 1, 1896, 46 to 4S inches high. 



Sample 5. Collected June 10, 1896, 50 to 56 inches high. 



Sample 6. Collected June 20, 1S96, 53 to 55 inches high. 



Sample 7. Collected July 20, 1896, 62 to 63 inches high, 



NA.TURA.L CONDITION. 



WATER FREE SUBSTANCE. 



Sample 1 

 Sample 2. 

 Sample 3. 

 Sample 4. 

 Sample 5. 

 Sample 6. 

 Sample 7. 



40.02 

 41.09 

 43.54 

 42.33 

 45.53 

 47.17 

 43.57 



It will be noticed that the above results show that the water 

 content decreases gradually, with one exception, as the grass 

 matures. The fat in the water frae substance is largest in the 

 youngest sample and varies in the others. The percentage of 

 protein gradually decreases from 15.34 per cent to 5.52 per 

 cent in the first six samples and then we find 7.29 per cent in 

 the last sample. In the albuminoids we find that the amounts 

 are not constant in their changes, the second sample having 

 10.17 per cant and the fifth sample 4.24 per cent. In the fiber 

 there is a constant increase as the plant becomes matured. 

 The nitrogen, free extract increases from 40.02 per cent in the 



