442 



GRASSES OF IOWA. 



It will be noticed that the amount of water varies from 76.91 

 to 86.02 per cent. This change in the amount of water is not 

 a constant one and is rather irregular. In the water free sub- 

 stance there is a decrease in the amount of fat as the plant 

 matures, with the exception of sample live, the decrease being 

 from 6. OB to 3.00 per cent. In the percentages of protein we 

 find that it varies from 28.17 to 9.54 per cent, and that the 

 decrease is a constant one with the exception of the last sam- 

 ple; however, in the albuminoids we find that the change is 

 from 20.95 to 6.92 per cent, which is a constant decrease as 

 the plant matures. In the crude fiber we have a constant 

 increase of the amount present in the grass as it matures from 

 21.03 to 37.10 per cent. The ash present in the grass varies 

 from 7.31 to 13.43 per cent and is very irregular. The nitrogen 

 free extract is also irregular in its changes and varies from 

 32.66 to 43.32 per cent. 



The following analyses are added for comparison with the 



above : 



NATURAL CONDITION. 



Tenn. (1): 



Green fodders, sown in Sept. 



used for soiling in winter 



No description 



No description 



No description 



Averasre of four 



1.26 

 .89 

 .62 

 .56 

 83 



WATER FREE SUBSTANCE. 



Samples in same order as those abuve. 



4 41 

 4 50 

 3.51 

 2.75 

 3.79 



Sorghum {Andropogon sorghum Brot.) is coming into more 

 general use as a forage plant in this state. A great deal of it 

 is now grown in Shelby and Jones counties for forage pur- 

 poses, but its cultivation for that purpose does not compare 

 with the area devoted to it in Kansas, as shown by Coburn.* 



1. Bull. Tenn. Agrl. Exp. 8ta. 9:100. 



*Corn and Sorghum Rep. Kansas State Board of Agrl. 1896: 115:31. 



