228 THE AMERICAN FARMER. 



The difference in composition exhibited in the natural grasses of table III. are very 

 marked, and, of course, the value of the grasses as compared with each other, must vary 

 greatly. Still, the practical value of a grass depends somewhat upon circumstances which 

 cannot be analyzed, such as the period at which it arrives at maturity, and the particular soil 

 and location of the farmer. It might happen that a grass not in itself so rich in nutritive 

 qualities as another, would be preferred on account of its coming to maturity just at the time 

 when the farmer most needed it. But the particular value of this table is, that it shows the 

 comparative nutritive qualities of the grasses, since all the specimens were collected and 

 investigated in the same manner, at the same period of growth, or as nearly as possible, 

 when in the flower, so that whatever sources of error might exist to modify the results, they 

 would naturally apply to all alike. 



The grasses from the irrigated meadow consisted principally of June or Kentucky blue 

 grass, rough-stalked meadow grass, perennial rye grass, meadow soft grass, barley grass, 

 meadow oat grass, and a few other species, and it will be noticed that in combination they 

 abound in flesh and fat-forming principles to a greater extent than we should be led to sup 

 pose from the composition of any one of them alone. 



Our favorite timothy compares very favorably with the other grasses, containing a less 

 percentage of useless matter as woody fiber than any other, except Italian rye grass and 

 crested dog s-tail, a grass not common with us, and the irrigated grasses. In point of solu 

 ble, heat-producing principles, sugar, gum, and starch, it is surpassed by the Italian rye grass, 

 but by no others. The analyses of this grass in its green and dry states in tables I. and III., 

 fully justify the preference which we have long shown for the use of timothy; for, as taken 

 from the field at the time of blossoming, it will be found to contain less water (table I.), a 

 greater percentage of flesh and fat-forming principles, and less useless matter in the shape of 

 woody fiber, than most of the other grasses. The deductions of science certainly correspond, 

 in this case, with the results of practice. 



A comparison of tables I. and III. with tables II. and IV., will show the comparative 

 advantages of the use of the artificial grasses, in point of albuminous or flesh-forming princi 

 ples and fatty matters. The carbonaceous or heat-producing principles remain nearly the 

 same throughout, while the percentage of waste matter or woody fiber is less than in the 

 natural grasses. This is an important fact, worthy of the careful consideration of the 

 farmer. 



In the sixth column of table III. will be found the percentage of ash of each of the 

 grasses analyzed. Table V. contains a still further analysis of this ash, which gives all the 

 inorganic constituents which the plant derives from the soil and the manures furnished to it. 

 It is important and suggestive to one who will examine it carefully, as indicating the kind of 

 manure which in many cases it may be desirable to apply. 



The first peculiarity which plainly appears from a glance at the ash analyses, is the very 

 large percentage of silicates and potash contained in the natural grasses, and the very small 

 comparative percentage of silica in the artificial grasses, the red and white clovers. The large 

 percentage of lime and carbonic acid attract our attention in the latter. This tablet is exceed 

 ingly valuable, as suggesting the proper course of manuring for the most successful cultiva 

 tion of the various crops contained in it. 



If now we look at the analysis of some of our common weeds (table VI.), we shall see 

 how far superior the cultivated grasses are in nitrogenous or nutritive principles. 



The albuminous principles are very much less than in either the natural or the artificial 

 grasses. 



