264 



AGRICULTURAL CHEMISTRY 



the lowest place in the list of animal foods. The various 

 factors which influence the composition of plants (see 

 Chapter XXVII) affect the composition of the straw. 

 That from grain immaturely ripened has higher feeding 

 value than from grain fully ripened, because in the unripe 

 state less of the nutrients have been removed for seed 

 formation. The greener the straw, the higher its food 

 value. 



368. Timothy Hay. Timothy hay has more protein, 

 but in many respects the same general characteristics as 

 straw. The per cent, of fiber usually ranges from 28 to 

 32 per cent, or more, which is from 6 to 10 per cent, less 



than in straw. The 

 amount of crude pro- 

 tein ranges from 5.5 to 

 9 per cent, according 

 to the conditions under 

 which the crop was 

 grown. Average tim- 

 TIMOTHYHAY othy hay contains 7.5 



Fig. 85. Composition of a bale of per Cent, which is 



about twice as much 



as found in straw . The amount of ether extract is about 

 2.25 per cent., of which a large portion is non-fatty mate- 

 rial. As in the case of straw, the nitrogen-free extract of 

 timothy consists largely of pentose bodies ; there is also a 

 small amount of soluble carbohydrates. While timothy 

 hay is not rich in protein, it is a valuable fodder, particu- 

 larly when one of fair energy-producing power is desired, 

 as for feeding work horses. 



