The Feeding Value of Salt Marsh Hay. 



J. B. LiNDSEY AND R. K. JoNES.* 



SUMMARY OF RESULTS. 



November, 1896— June, 1897. 



I. The salt marsh hays are locally known as black grass, fox 

 grass, branch grass, blue grass, (variety of red top) cove hay, salt 

 hay mixture, and flat sage. The botanical names and their local 

 equivalents, together with a description of the hays, will be found 

 within the bulletin. 



II. The hays were analyzed, their digestibilities were determined 

 by the aid of sheep, and their effects upon the quantit}', as well as 

 their influence upon the quality of both milk and butter were care- 

 fully noted. 



III. In chemical composition they quite closely resembled an 

 average quality of English hay. They contained about the same 

 amount of protein, less fiber, and rather more extract or starchy 

 matter, and ash. The excess of ash is due to the presence of 

 salt. In fertilizing constituents, the same amount of nitrogen 

 was found as in English hay, and two-thirds as much phos- 

 phoric acid and potash. 



IV. Salt hay, cut when in blossom and well cured, contains 

 rather less digestible matter than average English hay cut under sim- 

 ilar conditions. A ton of P^nglish hay with 14 per cent water 

 (average amount when barn dry) being represented by 100, a ton of 

 the several salt hays with 18 per cent water (average amount) 

 would be equal to black grass 90, fox grass 85, branch grass 84, 

 variety of red topf 84, cove mixture 88, salt hay mixture 82, and flat 

 sage 88. Hence these salt hays, ton for ton, have/z'owi, 10 to 18 x>er 

 cent less feeding value than average English hay. 



* The laboratory work in connection with tliese experiments was performed 

 chiefly by E. B. Holland and F. W. Mossman. 



t This hay contained 14 per cent water. It was over ripe hence its low value. 

 If cut in blossom and well cured, it would probably be nearly as valuable as 

 English hay. 



