ANALYSES OF GRASSES. 59 



The preceding analyses furnish the data from which is derived 

 the general conclusion that as a grass grows older its content of 

 water decreases, ash decreases, fat decreases, albuminoids decrease, 

 carbo-hydrates increase, crude fiber increases, non-albuminoids 

 decrease till bloom or slightly after, when it is at its lowest, and 

 then increases again during the formation of the seed. 



There are exceptions to these rules, but for the large majority 

 of species, under ordinary conditions of environment they hold 

 good. 



There are almost no exceptions to the fact, that water decreases 

 in the maturer specimens ; that is to say the plant gradually dries 

 up and becomes less succulent. The ash is very dependent on 

 locality and surroundings. 



The albuminoids decrease in amount with great regularity, the 

 few cases where an increase appears being owing to the fact, that 

 the specimens were probably grown under varying conditions. 



Although largely a matter of opinion, it would seem from the 

 foregoing results that the time of bloom or very little later is the 

 time for cutting grasses to be cured as hay. The amount of 

 water has diminished relatively, and there is a proportionately 

 larger amount of nutriment, in the material cut, and the weight 

 of the latter will be at its highest point, economically considered. 

 Later on, the amount of fiber becomes too prominent, the stalk 

 grows hard, arid, and indigestible, and the albuminoids decrease, 

 while the dry seeds are readily detached from their glumes and 

 lost with their store of nitrogen. 



For different species, however, different times are undoubtedly 

 suitable, and experience must be added to our chemical knowl- 

 edge to enable a rational decision to be arrived at. 



This work was inaugurated by Dr. Peter Collier, as chemist to 

 this Department, and the laboratory work for the first year was 

 in the hands of Henry B. Parsons, Mr. Charles Wellington, and 

 myself. The remainder of the work has been under my own 



