192 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



Composition of Grasses. 

 The value of hay as indicated by the composition is de- 

 pendent upon two factors, — the digestibility, and the pro- 

 portion of the various food nutrients which it contains 

 when calculated to a digestible basis. The feeding: value is 

 regulated largely by the percentage of digestible protein 

 which the hay contains. From the table it will be seen 

 that of the pure species of grasses timothy contains the 

 lowest percentage of digestible protein, while orchard 

 grass, red-top and Kentucky blue-grass are the richest in 

 protein, containing about 5 per cent, against a little less 

 than 3 per cent in the case of timothy. From this table it 

 will also be seen that rowen hay ranks with the clovers in 

 composition. This is due to the fact that young, immature 

 grasses always contain a higher percentage of protein than 

 those which are fully grown. The high feeding value of 

 the clovers is also due to the high percentage of protein 

 which they contain. Early cut clover will contain about 

 twice as high a percentage of protein as our common 

 grasses. For the same reason clovers aud other legumes, 

 when used for silage, have a much higher feeding value than 

 the silage of corn, sorghum, or grass. 



Seeding Grass Lands. 

 There is much difference of opinion among good farmers 

 with regard to the best time for seeding grass lands, and as 

 to the advisability of seeding the crop alone or in connec- 

 tion with some of the grains, as rye, wheat or oats. The 

 use of a " nurse" crop in which the grass is to grow the 

 first season is highly recommended by many. The claim is 

 made that grass makes bat little growth the first season, 

 anyway, and that it is almost sure to become well estab- 

 lished after the grain or "nurse" crop is harvested, and 

 thus a good crop will be secured the following year. The 

 drawback in seeding in connection with grain lies in the 

 fact that the grain occupies the ground to the disadvantage 

 of the grass until the grain crop is harvested, and in many 

 cases severe drouths, following close after the harvesting 

 of the grain, will destroy the young, tender grass plants. 



