GRASSES OF IOWA. 



401 



bottoms along the Boyer and Maple rivers. It attains a height of 

 three to five feet. The stem and leaves are harsh, and the 

 fodder is of a very inferior quality. It is objectionable also 

 because of the large amount of ergot found in the heads. This 

 grass, when cut early in July, would make an admirable for- 

 age plant, but when cut, as is the usual custom in this state, in 

 August or September, is of little value for fordge purposes. 



CHEMICAL COMPOSITION. 



In the investigation six samples of Elymus robustus were 

 analyzed, with the following results: 



Sample 1. Collected April 22, 1896, height 10 to 12 inches. 



Sample 2. Collected May 9, 1896, height 12 to 16 inches. 



Sample 3. Collected May 29, 1896, height 28 to 30 inches. 



Sample 4. Collected June 8, 1896, height 28 to 30 inches. 



Sample 5. Collected June 18, 1896, height 25 to 26 inches. 



Sample 6. Collected July 13, 1896, height 54 to 56 inches. 



NATURAL CONDITION. 



Sample 1. 

 Sample 2. 

 Sample 3. 

 Sample 4. 

 Sample 5 

 Sample 6. 



79.32 

 81.44 

 76 68 

 72.05 

 74.08 

 45.10 



1.40 

 1.14 



.77 



1.14 



.82 



.53 



6 04 

 3 88 

 3.64 

 2.67 

 2.32 

 2 64 



^i 



6.72 



6 24 



8 54 



H.29 



11.48 



27.43 



WATER FREE SUBSTANCE. 



Sample 1. 

 SamplB2. 

 Sample 3. 

 Sample 4. 

 Sample 5. 

 Sample 6. 



32 47 

 .3.3.55 

 36.58 

 40 35 

 44 28 

 50 03 



In the study of the analyses made of Elymus robustus, the 

 results show, as would be expected, a strong tendency for the 

 decrease in the amount of water present in the grass in the nat- 

 ural condition as the grass matures. In considering the results 

 of the water free substance it is found that the fat decreases in 

 amount as the plant matures from 6.80 per cent to .97 per cent, 

 with one exception. The percentage of protein decreases from 

 29.20 per cent to 4.72 per cent, while the albuminoids vary 



