284 



ELEMENTS OF AGRICULTURE 



Corn is very high in fat, containing 5 per cent; wheat 

 contains 2 per cent. 



255. Crude Fiber. The crude fiber is found by boiling 

 the feed first in a weak acid and then in a weak alkali. 

 These dissolve all of the softer substances and leave the 

 insoluble crude fiber behind. It consists, for the most 

 part, of the cell-walls or framework of the plant. The 

 amount of crude fiber is greatest in the coarse feeds. 

 The stalks of corn contain 20 per cent, the grain only 

 2.2 per cent. 



256. Nitrogen-Free Extract. What is left of the organic 

 matter of the plant after taking out the above substances 

 is called nitrogen-free extract. It is determined by sub- 

 tracting the ash, protein, crude fiber and fat from the 

 total dry matter. It contains starch, sugar and a number 

 of other substances. The crude fiber and the nitrogen- 

 free extract together make up the carbohydrates. 



257. Composition of Feeds and Products Compared. 

 Notice the similarity in composition between the foods 

 or raw materials and the animal body. It is evident that 

 one cannot hope to secure a protein product without using 

 a protein feed. 



RAW MATERIALS FOODS 



