176 FIELD AND GARDEN PRODUCTS 



used for practically the same purpose for which coal or wood is used 

 in the steam engine, namely, to furnish energy and neat. 



The third important constituent of hay is its oils. Small quan- 

 tities of oil are present in all kinds of hay. These oils serve the same 

 purpose as the carbohydrates. A pound of these, however, will fur- 

 nish two and one-fourth times as much energy or heat as the same 

 quantity of carbohydrates. It can readily be seen, when the chem- 

 ical analysis of hay is considered, why the price of the different 

 grades or kinds of hay should depend, first, upon the amount of di- 

 gestible nutrients contained, and, second, upon the purpose for 

 which the hay is fed. If the concentrated feed i. e., the grain in 

 the ration lacks protein, then the hay that is high in this sub- 

 stance is more valuable than one which contains little but carbo- 

 hydrates, and vice versa. There is quite a range in the amount of 

 the different classes of nutrients in the various kinds of hay. 



On an average, the digestible protein in 100 pounds of alfalfa 

 hay amounts to 10.58 pounds; in cowpea hay, 10.79 pounds; in al- 

 sike clover hay, 8.15 pounds; in red clover hay, 7.38 pounds; in 

 redtop hay, 4.80 pounds; and in timothy hay, 2.89 pounds. In 100 

 pounds of redtop hay the digestible carbohydrates amount to 47 

 pounds; in timothy hay, 43.72 pounds; in alsike clover hay, 41.70 

 pounds; in alfalfa hay, 37.33 pounds; in cowpea hay, 38.40 pounds; 

 in red clover hay, 36.15 pounds. When fed for protein, timothy 

 hay ranks last, but when fed for carbohydrates it stands next to red- 

 top, which heads the list. If the total nutrients are considered there 

 are a number of different kinds of hay which are equal, if not su- 

 perior, to timothy hay for feeding purposes. If cut at the right time 

 and properly cured, Johnson grass and Bermuda grass hay are about 

 equal to timothy in amount of nutriment contained. 



| \ALFALFA. 



I I 



COWPEA. 



ALSIKE CLOVER. 



| | RED CLO VER. 



n 



REDTOP. 



n 



TIMOTHY. 



Diagram showing the relative amounts of digestible protein and carbohydrates in different kinds 

 of hay. The sections inclosed in light lines represent the carbohydrates: those inclosed in heavy 

 lines, the protein. 



