GRASSES OF IOWA. 



345 



NATURAL CONDITION. 



Sample 1. 

 Sample 2. 

 Sample 3. 



o 



O -S 

 .1^ a> 



8.91 

 10.21 



11.9a 



WATER FREE SUBSTANCE. 



Sample 1. 

 Sample 2. 

 Sample 3. 



44.42 

 38.59 

 36.90 



In the consideration of the above samples we find that the 

 amount of water decreases from 79.97 per cent to 67.66 per 

 cent, and it is a regular decrease as the plant becomes older. 

 In the water free substance we find, however, that the per- 

 centage of fat varies from 5.26 per cent to 2.00 per cent, and the 

 change is an irregular one. The protein varies from 16.06 to^ 

 12.26 per cent, decreasing as the growth of the plant increases, 

 but it will be noticed that the sample 38 to 40 inches high has 

 only 1.96 p3r cent less of protein than the sample 6 to 12 

 inches high. The difference between the albuminoids is 

 greater than that of the proteio, that is 15.19 to 7.69 per cent„ 

 and in the samples 2 and 3, while there is only a difference in 

 height of 2 or 3 inches, yet the difference in the amount of 

 albuminoids present is 3.85 per cent in favor of the second 

 sample. The crude fiber is naturally much less in the young^ 

 sample, while the two latter samples have nearly the same 

 amount present. The first sample of the grass has the largest 

 amount of nitrogen free extract, and this decreases as the plant 

 becomes older, while the amount of the ash varies without 

 regard to the growth of the plant. 



