Composition and Nutritice Value of Straiv. 31 



Detailed Composition. 



Water 20-50 16-66 



Oil, wax, and chlorophyle 3*59 5-01 



* Albumen and other soluble protein compounds 5 '00 1*81 



28-88 

 4-37 

 6-25 . 



17-64 

 3-40 



100-00 

 -29 



{Containing nitrogen 1-40 1 00 



Total percentage of nitrogen 2-20 1-29 



Equal to protein compounds 13*75 8'06 



Total ash .. ' 7'05 7*77 



It appears from these analyses 



1. That hay, especially clover-hay, is much richer in albu- 

 minous or flesh-forming compounds than straw. 



2. That it contains also more oil and fatty matters. 



3. That both clover and meadow-hay, when well made, are 

 much richer in sugar and other soluble matters than straw. Good 

 meadow-hay especially contains a good deal of sugar, and is 

 sweet to the taste. 



4. That the proportion of indigestible woody fibre, particu- 

 larly in meadow-hay, is much smaller than in straw ; and 



5. That good meadow-hay contains more digestible fibre than 

 clover-hay. 



For these reasons, both clover and meadow-hay are, as feeding 

 substances, superior to straw. 



The kinds of straw that approach in composition the nearest 

 to hay are green oat-straw and pea-haulm. 



It has been stated already that the state of maturity in which 

 straw is harvested materially affects its composition and feeding 

 value ; likewise, that probably the climate and character of the 

 land have great influence in producing the most nutritious 

 kind of straw. It is, therefore, impossible to pronounce in 

 a general way whether wheat, oat, or barley straw is the most 

 valuable for feeding purposes. Assuming, however, the land 

 and climate to be equally well adapted for producing the best 

 kind of straw in each case, and the crops to have been harvested 

 in the same stage of maturity, I am inclined to place the dif- 

 ferent kinds of straw in the following order, beginning with the 



