54 



HATCH EXPERIMENT STATION. 



[Jan. 



etc., because of the presence of so large an amount of fibre. 

 It contained, however, in addition, other grain refuse and 

 sweepings, for there is consideraljle more protein and extract 

 matter than would be found in clear hulls. 



The material was fed to sheep, to ascertain its digestibility. 

 These animals were induced to eat it after a little etibrt. The 

 figures following represent the percentages digestible of the 

 total amounts of the several ingredients contained in the feed, 

 and are termed digestion coefficients : — 



This lot showed a degree of digestibility approaching aver- 

 age late-cut English hay, and superior to oat hulls. How 

 much diff"erent lots are likely to vary in quality, we cannot 

 state. Considerable diflerence in quality would naturally be 

 expected. 



We endeavored to feed this material to cows, as a partial 

 hay substitute, but the animals could not l)e induced to eat it. 

 This was in the spring of the year. It is possible that in 

 the winter some of it might have been consumed with satis- 

 fiictory results. It is dry, possesses considerable fertilizing 

 value, having l.GO per cent, of nitrogen, and is chiefly use- 

 ful as an absorbent. We have not determined its content 

 of phos})horic acid and potash. Oat hulls show .45 percent, 

 of potash and .13 per cent, of phosphoric acid. A conser- 

 vative estimate of its fertilizing value would be $3 per ton. 



