890 



APPENDIX. — HORSFALL'S SYSTEM. 



butter melted with far greater rapidity — by no means 

 an unsafe test of a greater proportion of oleine. 



The chemical investigation of our natural and other 

 grasses has hitherto scarcely had the attention which it 

 deserves. The most valuable information on this sub- 

 ject is in the paper by Professor Way, on the nutritive 

 and fattening properties of the grasses, in vol. xiv., p. 

 171, of the Royal Agricultural Society's Journal. 

 These grasses were nearly all analyzed at the flowering 

 time, a stage at which no occupier of grass-land would 

 expect so favorable a result in fattening. We much 

 prefer pastures with young grass not more than a few 

 inches high, sufficient to afford a good bite. With a 

 view to satisfy myself as to the difference of compo- 

 sition of the like grasses at different stages of growth, 

 I sent to Professor Way a specimen of the first crop of 

 hay, cut in the end of June, when the grass was in the 

 early stage of flowering, and one of aftermath, cut 

 towards the close of September, from the same meadow, 

 the analyses of which 1 give : 



HAY, FIRST CROP. 



Moisture, 12.02 



9.24 



, 2.68 



, 39.75 



, 27.41 



8.90 



Albuminous matter, 

 Oil and fatty matter, 

 Starch, gum, sugar, 

 Woody fibre, . . 

 Mineral matter, 



100.00 



AFTERMATH HAT. 



Moisture, 11.87 



Oil and fatty matter, . . 6.84 



Albuminous matter, . . 9.84 



Starch, gum, sugar, . . 42.25 



Woody fibre, .... 19.77 



Mineral matter, . . 9.43 



100.00 



A comparison between these will show a much 

 greater percentage of woody fibre, — 27.41 in the first 

 crop to 19.77 in the aftermath. The most remarkable 

 difference, however, is in the proportion of oil, being 

 2.68 in the first crop to 6.84 in the aftermath. 



On inquiry from an observing tenant of a small dairy 

 farm of mine, who has frequently used aftermath hay, I 

 learn that, as compared with the first crop, he finds it 

 induce a greater yield of milk, but attended with some 

 impoverishment in the condition of the cow, and that he 

 uses it without addition of turnips or other roots, which 



