334 



GRASSES OF IOWA. 



WATER FREE SUBSTANCE. 



Sample 1. 

 Sample 2. 

 sample 3. 

 Sample 4. 

 Sample 5. 



37.11 

 37.80 

 42.03 

 39.83 

 46.75 



The first four samples have an amount of water which varies 

 from 71.76 to 78.04 per cent, while the fifth has -only 60.62 

 per cent. The constituents of the grass based on the dry mat- 

 ter vary to a large extent. For example, the fat in the sam- 

 ples varies from 3.18 per cent to 8.56 per cent, while the pro- 

 tein gradually becomes less, from 15.49 in the sample collected 

 May 8th, to8.56p3r cent in the sample collected June 22d. 

 The albuminoids vary in the same way, with one exception. 

 The crude fiber varies from 27.35 per cent in sample 1 to 35 75 

 per cent in sample 4. The ash constituents remain quite con- 

 stant, while the amount of nitrogen free extract varies from 

 37.11 to 46 75 per cent. Samples 3 and 4 would represent the 

 grass in its most favorable condition from a chemical consid- 

 eration as a food. The following results have been selected 

 f r comparison with the results of this investigation: 



FRESH OR AIR-DRY MATERIAL. 



Tennes-ee (I): 



Cut May 12, 8 in. high 



Cut June 3, coming in flower, 

 9 in. high 



Cut June 13, seed in milky 



stage, 9 in. high 



As hay; 



Cut before heading 



Cut when heading 



Cut in b'.oom 



Seed fully formed 



Cut July 1. 1891 



Cut June 15, 1895 



2.69 



2.23 



2.29 



10.33 



6.99 



6.27 



10.04 



12.51 



5.*-6 



OTHER MEADOW GRASSES. 



Of these the Poa trivialis, L., has been under cultivation 

 longer than any other Poa. It has been tried in a limited way 



1 Bull. Tenn. Agrl. Exp. Sta. 9:101-114. 1S03. 



