1913.1 



PUBLIC DOCUMENT — No. 31. 



53 



those that have been well formed. The percentage of hulls 

 varies between 20 and 35, with a probable; average of 2G. It 

 was held formerly that they contained an alkaloid avcniii which 

 accounted for their j^eculiar etl'ect in imi)arting spirit to horses, 

 but more recent investigations have failed to identify this 

 product. E. Schulze identified an alkaloid Trigonellum in the 

 oat, but the amount found was so small as to be without in- 

 fluence as a stimulant. 



The corn meal fed in the present experiment was the usual 

 m.aterial now offered in the general markets. It evidently was 

 not ground corn kernels, but a sifted product resulting from 

 the manufacture of cracked corn. The analysis of corn meal 

 given for comparison represented the average of 119 samples 

 of ground corn kernels. It is higher in protein and fiber and 

 lower in fat than the sifted product. 



Oats differ from corn in having noticeably more ash, rather 

 more protein and decidedly more fiber. 



The Digesttbiltty of Oats, 

 The coeiEcients of digestibility were not determined in the 

 particular sample fed. Here follow the average cc/cfficierits ob- 

 tained for American and German oats : — 



American.' 



Foreign. 2 



(\jrn Meal 

 for Com- 

 Dari.son. 



Dry matter, 



Ash, . 



Protein, 



Fiber, 



Extract matter. 



Fat, . 



' I/inrl.soy. 



' Kellner. 



A])plying the above eoefncients to the average composition of 

 American ami foreign oat^;. and to the average analysis for 

 corn meal, we have the following amounts of digestible matter 

 in 100 pounds: — 



