REPORT OF THE CHEMIST. 109 



He shows that the amount varies, decreasing from the early stages of 

 giowth to maturity, and in tliis connection it is of interest to discover 

 Avh other a young hay containing a large amount of amides possesses the 

 nutritive value of one cut later. The only experiuients in this country 

 are those lately carried out by Mr. J. W. Sanborn, of New Hampshire, 

 from which he concludes that, weight for weight, his cattle do better on 

 the older or later cut hay, while they will eat more of the early cut. 

 This single experiment of course needs confirmation, and it is in this di- 

 rection that the farmer should work to aid the chemist to a practical 

 application of the results of his laboratory work. 



It is to be regretted that more accurate data are not at hand as to the 

 development of the grasses analyzed by us. At present, however, series 

 of the most important grasses are being collected, which will be analyzed 

 to show the effect of development on their nitrogen content and condi- 

 tion. 



EXPLANATION OF TABLE ni. 



Table III contains all the analyses of fodder plants made during the 

 past two years stated according to the Weende method, which is em- 

 ployed generally in Europe and by many analysts in this country. It 

 l)0ssesses the advantage of simplicity, and, as far as judging of fodder 

 values is concerned, furnishes us with all the data which we are able to 

 interpret with our present knoweldge of the digestibility of the various 

 constituents of grasses, &c. By means of this table we are able to com- 

 pare the American grasses with those examined in Germany ; to apply 

 as far as is suitable the conclusions drawn from long, years of work in 

 that country to the results which we have obtained. 



Under this arrangement everything not ash, fat, crude fiber, nitrogenous 

 substance, and moisture is included under the designation "nitrogen 

 free substance." 



In the analyses from 1 to 33, the ash differs from that given last year 

 by including the sand. One or two corrections have also been made in 

 the amount of albumen. In the latter columns of the table the quality 

 of the grass and the ratio of the nutritive ingredients are given. 



The former is a mere arbitrary designation, based upon the average 

 composition of American grasses. 



The latter is the ratio between the fats and carbohydrates and the 

 albuminoids, and is commonly known as the nutriti^'C ratio. It shows 

 whether the fodder is complete in itself, or whether, in order to obtain 

 its fuU value, it must be combined with some other having an excess 

 of that constituent wanting in the fodder in question. It has been found 

 that the animal requires the ratio of carbohydrates and fats to albu- 

 minoids to be in the proportion of about five to one in order to live with 

 the greatest advantage and most economically, since this proportion 

 represents tlie ordinary demands of the animal economy. 



To more fully understand this matter, it is necessary to consider the 

 different functions of food in the animal. These functions are mainly 

 these : 



1st. The supplying of material necessary to the development of the 

 growing animal. 



2d. To provide for waste of tissue constantly going on. 



3d. To furnish muscular force. 



4th. To furnish animal heat. 



The above represents what may be regarded as the normal wants oi 

 the animal J but in the case of cows giviug milk, for example, there is 



