mon one) seem to act in two directions,— as a partial sub- 

 stitute for tlie albuminoids, and as a body favoring the 

 thorough digestion of the carbohydrates. 



Ammonia. — Ammonia is a pungent gas, arising from the decay of 

 all nitrogenous substances such as flesh, horn, horse manure, 

 etc. Traces of ammonia are sometimes present in plants, 

 perhaps due to slight disintergratiou of the intercellular mass 

 or to incomplete assimilation. It is of no nutritive value, as 

 shown by the direct feeding of ammonia salts. 



Ash, Crude. — The ash constitutes the inorganic or mineral matter 

 of a plant. It is the portion which remains after burning, the 

 ingredients of which are potash, soda, lime, magnesia, iron, 

 alumina, manganese, sulphuric and phosphoric acids, chlorine, 

 silica, etc. The basic or metallic substances (the first seven 

 named), occur in the plant combined with other inorganic 

 and organic elements. 



In nutrition these various constituents serve to build up the 

 bony structure, and are to a limited extent a necessary com- 

 ponent of the tissues and organs. 



AsPABAGiN. — Asparagin is the most important amide present in plants. 



Calorics. — The caloric is a standard unit of heat. (French). It is 

 the amount required to raise the temperature of one kilogram 

 (2.2 lbs.) of water through 1.8° Fahr., and is equivalent in 

 mechanical energy to 1.53 foot- tons. The caloric is used by 

 physiologists to express the comparative amounts of vital 

 energy that the different feeds can produce, when consumed 

 by the animal. 



Carbohydrate. — The term carbohydrate is applied inclusively to 

 cellulose and to all such compounds as sugars, starches, gums, 

 etc., usually grouped under the head of " nitrogen free 

 extract." Their component elements are carbon, hydrogen 

 and oxygen, and the digestible portions are considered of 

 equal value and perform the same function in animal nutrition. 



Carbon. — Free carbon occurs in the form of diamond, graphite, 

 coal, etc. It is the foundation element of all organic sub- 

 stances, in which it exists in close chemical union M'ith other 

 elements such as oxygen, hydrogen and sometimes nitrogen, 

 phosphorus and sulphur. 



Cellulose. — See Fibre, crude. 



Chlorine. — Chlorine is an inorganic acid-forming element, usually 

 present in plants, but only to a limited extent. It is one of 

 the two constituents of common salt. 



Chlorophyll. — Chlorophyll is the green pigment which produces the 

 characteristic color of ordinary plants. From a nutritive 

 standpoint it is of no value, being practically indigestible- 



