428 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



results of careful feeding experiments, as far as the various 

 fodder articles have proved digestible, and were thus qualified 

 for the support of the life and the functions of the particular 

 kind of animal on trial. In stating the amount of the digesti- 

 ble portion of the fodder consumed in a feeding experiment, it 

 has also proved useful for comparing different fodder rations, 

 etc., to make known by a distinct record the relative propor- 

 tion which has been noticed to exist between the amount of 

 nitrorjenous constituents and the non-nitrogenous organic 

 constituents. This relation is expressed by the name of 

 "Nutritive Ratio." An examination of the subsequent short 

 description of our feeding experiments will show, for instance, 

 that the corn meal we fed contained one part of digestible 

 nitrogenous matter, to 8.76 parts of digestible non-nitrogenous 

 organic matter, making the customary allowance for the higher 

 physiological value of the fat as compared with that of starch, 

 sugar, etc. (2.5 times higher). The "Nutritive Ratio" of 

 the corn meal is subsequently stated as follows, — 1 : 8.76. Our 

 different combinations of fodder articles, to constitute the daily 

 diet during different feeding periods, vary as far as their nutri- 

 tive ratios are concerned from 1 : 6.7 to 1 : 10.17. The closer 

 relation (1 : 6.7) was obtained by an exceptionally large amount 

 of roots, with hay and wheat bran without corn meal ; and the 

 wider relation (I : 10.17), by feeding a liberal amount of corn 

 ensilage with hay and corn meal without bran. A closer rela- 

 tion of nitrogenous and non-nitrogenous digestible constituents 

 of an otherwise suitable fodder mixture is considered more nec- 

 essary for growing animals and dairy cows, than for full-grown 

 animals and moderately worked horses and oxen. German 

 investigators recommend for dairy cows a diet which confor'ms 

 to a nutritive ratio of 1 : 5.4. Arrangements will be made 

 during the coming winter season to repeat our feeding experi- 

 ments with essentially the same coarse fodder articles, but 

 modified by a suitable increase and addition of concentrated 

 feed stuffs to secure daily diet of a closer nutritive ratio, than 

 has been used on the present occasion. 



An examination of the subsequent tabulated statement of the 

 results of our experiments shows, among other interesting facts, 

 the marked influence of the feeding of dried corn fodder and of 



