321 



Nutrients in Green Shoots of Trees. 



Bv E. J. Tetry. 



The foods of browsing animals, both wild and domestic, have doubt- 

 k'ss engaged the Interest of many observers. 



Especially, sheep and goats consnme nmch of the succulent leafage 

 of the second growths of forest trees, while the undergrowths of forest 

 seedlings never survive the visitations of these animals, unless the species 

 have particularly olnuixious flavors or priueiiiles. 



In order to learn the comparative nutritive values in the succulent 

 I'arts of some of these plants, the writer made numerous chemical analy- 

 ses,' the results of which are given in Tables I and II. 



The samples were collected between May 3d and 17th of a very "back- 

 ward" season ; the data therefore apply only to the first crop of shoots 

 in the spring. Subsoiiuent crops of shoots would doubtless vary within 

 wide limits, dependent on moisture and other conditions. The material 

 was collected early in the forenoon, the hour depending on the disappear- 

 ance of the dew on the leaves, and only material of a certain "hardness" 

 was taken. This "hardness" or shearing quality was taken as nearly 

 uniformly for all samples as was possible. 



Branches were cut and enclosed in an airtight case. These were 

 immediately cai'ried to the balance, where only the succulent shoots, i. e., 

 new growth, was removed, and 2(X) gram samples were weighed out im- 

 mediately. They were then placed in the sun to dry. By calculating the 

 per cent, moisture of Table I to the moist sample and subtracting from the 

 moisture as given in Table II, one may find the amount of water lost by 

 drying in the sun. It will be seen that they vary from 05.9% to 81.45% 

 in the amount of water driven off by air-drying in the sun. The time 

 Consumed in drying varied from ts\'o to five days, they being considered 

 air-dry as soon as they would grind well in a drug mill. This mill was 

 thoroughly cleaned after grinding each sample. The ground sample was 

 inmiediately put into a bottle and tightly stoppered. 



' Abstract from tht'sis, Ohio State University. 

 [21—29034] 



