1896.] 



PUBLIC DOCUMENT — No. 33. 



75 



The low meadow fox grass appeared to consist practically 

 of what is also called rush salt grass (Spartina jimcea), and 

 both the high-grown salt hay and the branch grass were 

 composed of this as a basis, mixed with more or less coarse 

 grass, probably Spartina stricta, variety glabra. The branch 

 grass contained rather more of the coarse material than did 

 the high-grown salt hay. 



A sample of meadow or swale hay was also obtained, 

 through the kindness of Mr. Chas. J. Peabody of Topsfield, 

 in which vicinity large quantities are cut yearly. This hay 

 grows in the fresh-water meadows, and is composed of fresh- 

 water grasses, sedges, brakes and wild flowers. 



The digestion tests were made with sheep, because these 

 animals are much easier to work with, and give at the same 

 time similar results as do cows and steers. 



How the Digestible Matter of a Feed is determined. 



First ascertain the amount and composition of the feed 

 consumed by an animal in a given length of time, also the 

 amount and composition of the feces or undigested portion 

 excreted in the same time on the basis of dry matter. The 

 difference between them will represent the amount of the 

 various constituents of the food digested. 



The percentages of the constituents digested are called the 

 digestion coefficients. 



Table I. — Composition of Hays. 



[The analysis of each hay is given on the basis of 15 per cent, of water, for the sake 



of comparison.] 



