342 AGRICULTURAL CHEMISTRY 



vary. It is possible by giving due care to the production 

 of crops to secure those containing the largest amounts 

 of nutrients, and then to feed the crops so as to secure 

 the highest degree of digestibility, and more nutrients 

 than are given in the tables at the close of the chapter. 

 For example, timothy hay may contain from 5 to 9 per 

 cent, protein. That which contains 5 per cent, is less 

 completely digested than that containing 9 per cent. 

 From the timothy with the highest degree of digestibil- 

 ity, there is about 7 per cent, of the protein digestible 

 and available, while from that with 5 per cent, of crude 

 protein, there is from 2.5 to 3 per cent, available. The 

 availability of the other nutrients also is in favor of the 

 timothy hay with the larger amount of protein. In the 

 feeding of farm animals, particular attention should be 

 given to the production of foods which contain the 

 largest amounts of nutrients and to combining and using 

 them so as to secure the highest degree of digestibility. 

 Digestion experiments have pointed out many ways in 

 which these objects may be accomplished, and the ex- 

 periments are valuable because they indicate ways in 

 which the largest returns can be secured from the fodders 

 and grains raised and fed upon the farm. 



Experiment 77. Digestible nutrients of foods. Take the di- 

 mensions of one of the measures given out for the experiment and 

 calculate its capacity in quarts, dry measure (i quart 67.2 cubic 

 inches). Weigh the measure, fill it with oats and weigh again. 

 From the tables, calculate the pounds of digestible fat, protein and 

 carbohydrates in one quart of each of the foodstuffs. Tabulate 

 the results as follows : 



