84 HATCH EXPERIMENT STATION. [Jan. 



crusting substances, which have been shown by various 

 investigators to seriously interfere Avith the digestibility of 

 the several fodder groups.^ Naturally, no positive conclu- 

 sions should be drawn from the present single investigation. 

 KnoAving, hoAvever, the phj^siological and chemical character 

 of the galactan, as Avell as the digestion coefficients obtained 

 Avith starch and Avith the pentosans, — bodies of similar 

 character, — it is reasonably safe to conclude that the results 

 secured give a tairly correct idea of the ability of the animal 

 to utilize the galactan group. 



1 The pentosans, fifteenth report of the Hatch Experiment Station, p. 118. 



