HORTUS GRAMINEUS WOBURNENSIS. 7 



920 grains of the dung of sheep which fed on these grasses, 

 afforded of soluble matter thirteen grains and a half, con- 

 sisting of bitter extractive, and saline matters. 

 1920 grains of the dung of deer, which also fed on these grasses, 

 afforded eleven grains and three quarters, of the same nature 

 as that of the sheep. 



The soluble matters of the dung, or bitter extract, was exa- 

 mined chemically by Sir H. Davy ; he found its qualities to be so 

 analogous to the bitter extractive of the grasses, that they might 

 be mistaken for each other. The extractive matter obtained by 

 boiling the fresh dung of cows, gave similar results. 



From these facts Sir H. Davy observes, " it appears probable 

 that the bitter extract, though soluble in a large quantity of water, 

 is very little nutritive ; but probably it serves the purpose of pre- 

 venting, to a certain extent, the fermentation of the other vege 

 table matters in the stomach, or in modifying or assisting the 

 functions of digestion, and may thus be of considerable use in 

 forming a constituent part of the food of cattle. A small quantity 

 of bitter extract and saline matter, is probably all that is needed ; 

 and beyond this quantity the soluble matters must be more nutri- 

 tive, in proportion as they contain more albumen, sugar, and 

 mucilage ; and less nutritive, in proportion as they contain other 

 substances." 



To these, I may be permitted to add the results of another trial, 

 which I made on the dung of sheep that had fed on turnips, as it 

 may afford some information on the nature of turnips as food for 

 sheep. 



1920 grains of the yellow Scotch turnip, on which sheep were 

 feeding, afforded of nutritive matter 85 grains, which con- 

 sisted of, 



Mucilage, 9 grains. 



Saccharine matter, or sugar, - 73 



Bitter extractive and saline matters, 3 



1920 grains of the dung of the sheep which had fed on the yellow 

 turnips, afforded of soluble matter, by means of a large 

 quantity of water, 17 grains, which consisted of, 



Animal mucus and mucilage, - 3 grains. 



Bitter extractive and saline matters, 14 

 The most remarkable circumstance here, is the superior quan- 

 tity of bitter extractive in the dung, to that which is shewn to 

 exist in the turnips ; but the sheep had hay, on which they occa- 



