Composition and Nutritive Value of Straw. 



crop was cut down, I found as much as 77 per cent, of moisture ; 

 and in the fairly ripe sample, gathered on the same day, 46J per 

 cent, in round numbers. In perfectly ripe straw, taken directly 

 from the field, the proportion of moisture amounts to 30 to 40 per 

 cent. 



Both samples were submitted to complete analysis. The first 

 that is, the straw which was somewhat green throughout its 

 length, and decidedly so in the upper portion, yielded the fol- 

 lowing results : 



Oat-straw (Green). ' 

 General Composition. 



Water 



Soluble organic matter 

 Soluble mineral matter 

 Insoluble organic matter .. 

 Insoluble mineral matter .. 



Detailed Composition. 



Water 



Oil 



* Soluble protein compounds 



Sugar, gum, mucilage 



Digestible fibre 



flnsoluble protein compounds .. 



Indigestible woody fibre 



Soluble mineral matter 



Insoluble mineral matter 



""Containing nitrogen 

 (Containing nitrogen 



Total percentage of nitrogen . . 



Total percentage of ash . . 



100-00 



77-14 



43 



1-50 



4-36 



7'17 



81 



6'76 



1-57 



26 



100-00 



24 

 13 



37 

 1-85 



Notwithstanding the large quantity of moisture in this sample, 

 a very considerable amount of sugar and other substances soluble 

 in water was obtained, and nearly as much albuminous matter as 

 in ripe oat-straw, with only 14 per cent, of moisture. The fairly 

 ripe sample gave the following results : 



Oat-straw (fairly ripe). 



Water 46'64 



Soluble organic matter 9 '06 



Soluble mineral matter .' . .'. .. .. 2*30 



Insoluble organic matter 40*28 



Insoluble mineral matter 1-72 



100-00 



