344 AMERICAN CATTLE. 



tributes to the formation of fat in animals. His theory is, no 

 doubt, well founded, and explains the fattening of animals when 

 fed upon Indian corn. 



VALUE OF STRAW, ANALYSES, ETC. 



"Few farmers are aware of the value of straw. By the pres- 

 ent system of feeding in this country, little or no account is 

 made of it. It serves mostly as litter for animals. Let us 

 examine the general analysis of straw, as compared with the for- 

 age crops and grains. The following table is from the Cyclo- 

 paedia of Agriculture: 



Average composition of wheat straw. 

 "Dried at 212 Fahrenheit, 100 parts con- 

 tain nitrogenous substances, or 

 Muscle-producing substances, . . . 2.05 



Heat-producing substances, . . . 35.06 

 "Woody fibre, . . . . . . 56.87 



Mineral substances, . . . . . 6.02 



100.00 

 Corn fodder and lean straw. 



(J. H. Salisbury.) (Prof. Way.) 

 Corn fodder. Bean straw. 



'Flesh-forming matters, . . 8.200 16.38 



Heat and fat-producing matters, 35.273 33.86 



"Woody fibre, .... 50.251 25.84 



Mineral matters, . . . 9.45 



Water. 6.276 14.47 



100.000 100.00 



Cultivated grasses, average, dried at 213 Fahrenheit. 



(Prof. Way.) 



" Flesh-forming principles, .... 10.34 

 Fat-producing principles, . . . . 2.51 



