THE MANAGEMENT OF EWES UP TO LAMBINO. 255 



Assuming that the silica is of the value we have supposed, it is 

 fair to calculate that the consumption of this quantity of straw 

 would increase the value of the manure from one-third to one- 

 half, which, especially on land remote from the buildings, is a 

 matter of considerable importance. So much for the manure 

 question. 



Let us see, in the second place, what the feeding value of the 

 straw is, and how far it compensates the sheep for the loss of 

 half the turnips. Fifteen tons of turnips will yield nearly 

 30241b. of dry matter ; 2 tons 4 cwt. of straw will yield 42331b. 

 The proportion of this latter that would be digested is a point 

 on which, unfortunately, we have not very precise data. The 

 value of straw depends upon soil and climate, and especially 

 upon the period of ripeness at which it is harvested. This is 

 evident from the following analyses of straw grown on the 

 Eoyal Agricultural College Farm at Cirencester, where neither 

 land nor climate was particularly favourable : 



Analysis of Oat Straw, Calculated Dry. 



Fairly ripe. Over ripe. 



on 1-25 1-49 



Soluble Protein compounda 3'13 1*54 



Insoluble Protein compounds 1*74 2'79 



Sugar, gum, mucilage, &c 12-59 3-78 



Digestible fibre 35-92 3304 



Indigestible woody fibre 37-84 49-80 



Soluble mineral matter 4-31 2-70 



Insoluble mineral matter 3-22 4*86 



The reader will carefully notice the great difference in the pro- 

 portions of sugar, and digestible and indigestible fibre, in the 

 two analyses. The totals of these three items are practically 

 identical ; but how much more valuable is the fairly ripe straw 

 — little, if at all, inferior to much of the over-ripe hay which is 

 so frequently made. We are understating the actual facts when 

 we say that 1 ton of No. 1 would go as far as 1| tons of No. 2. 

 What a lesson have we here as to the time for cutting our 

 crops ! For, be it understood, the grain was not injured by too 

 early cutting ; on the contrary, the sample was fully developed, 

 reached a great weight, and, being thin in the skin, was more 

 valuable than if it had been left to a later period. It is neces- 

 sary to explain that what the chemist distinguishes as digestible 



