ANALYSES OF GRASSES. 



Analyses of Dactylis glomerate (orchard grass) from various localities. 

 FULL BLOOM. 



The different sections furnish very different qualities of grasses, 

 and for the reason that those from the north were almost entirely 

 from cultivated soil, while those from the other sections were 

 many or most of them wild species from old sod. The improve- 

 ment brought about by cultivation is marked, and the difference 

 between a ton of wild western and eastern cultivated hay is 

 apparent. 



In comparison with German grasses our best do not equal in 

 amount of albuminoids, those classed by Wolff as fair, but they 

 are far superior in having a much smaller percentage of fiber, 

 and consequently a large amount of digestible carbohydrates. In 

 the grasses of both countries the fiber increases with regularity 

 as the nitrogenous constituents decrease, and of the latter the 

 non-albuminoid portion is relatively greatly the poorer the 

 quality of the grass. . 



Analyses have been made of series illustrating the changes in 

 composition of several species from the appearance of the blade 

 to the maturity of the seed. 



With a few exceptions the specimens were personally collected 

 in the grounds of the Department. They all grew in the sum- 

 mer of 1880 except the few series illustrative of the first year's 

 growth of certain species. The specimens were cut close to the 

 roots, weighed and dried rapidly in a current of air at 60 C. 



