Composition and Nutritive Value^of Straw. 13 



Detailed Composition. 



Water 8'14 9'17 



Oil 1-10 -65 



* Soluble protein compounds -50 "06 



flnsoluble protein compounds T62 2*06 



Gum, sugar, and extractive matters 6'28 . 3 '46 



Crude woody fibre 79'31 82-26 



Soluble mineral matters 1-99 T29 



Insoluble mineral matters 1*06 . 1'05 



100-00 lOO'OO 



*Contaiuing nitrogen -08 '01 



fContaining nitrogen 26 '33 



Total percentage of nitrogen 34 -34 



Equal to protein compounds (flesh-forming matters) 2*12 2' 12 



Percentage of ash 3-05 2'34 



In explanation of these results, it is necessary to state that both 

 samples were kept in a warm room for some days before they 

 were analysed, which accounts for the small percentage of 

 moisture found in them. The principal points of interest to be 

 remarked are 1st, the greater amount of sugar, gum, and 

 extractive matters (nearly twofold) ; next, the greater amount of 

 oil ; and lastly, the smaller proportion of woody fibre found in 

 the fairly-ripe sample as compared with that which was over- 

 ripe, by which the superiority of the former as feeding material 

 is sufficiently proved. Indeed, whereas the former is nutritious 

 and well fitted for cutting into chaff and mixing with sliced or 

 pulped roots, the over-ripe sample is hardly suited for feeding 

 purposes, and should be trodden into manure. 



A striking difference will be noticed in the relative proportions 

 of soluble and insoluble albuminous compounds in the fairly-ripe 

 and in the over-ripe specimens ; in the latter there is scarcely 

 any soluble albuminous matter, nearly the whole having become 

 insoluble. In both samples the total amount of albuminous or 

 flesh-forming compounds is smaller than that given in the pre- 

 ceding full analysis of another sample. The percentage of ash 

 in both these last specimens is unusually low. 



The ashes of several varieties of wheat-straw have been ana- 

 lysed by Messrs. Way and Ogston, who give as the mean result 

 of ten analyses the following numbers : 



Potash 12-14 



Soda -60 



Magnesia 2-74 



Lime .. 6'23 



Phosphoric acid .. .. 5'43 



Sulphuric acid 3-88 



Silica 67-88 



Peroxide of iron -74 



Chloride of sodium .. .. -22 



99-86 



