100 Agricultural Chemistry. 



of 50 per cent. This oil finds application medicinally and as a 

 lubricant. The residue of the seed is suitable for manure, but 

 cannot be used for feeding because of its poisonous properties, 

 due to a powerfully toxic protein, known as "ricin. " 



Sunflower seed is produced in yields of about 50 bushels per 

 acre. The dry seed contains 20 per cent of an oil sometimes used 

 as a substitute for olive oil. It also contains 30 per cent of fiber 

 and 16 per cent of protein, the latter giving to the seed and its 

 residue some value as poultry and cattle feeds. The crop pro- 

 duces heavily on soils high in fertility. 



Hays or fodder crops include true hays which are cut at the 

 blossoming or early seeding stage, and in which the stems so pre- 

 dominate in bulk as to make them practically straw crops. They 

 have, in fact, the same general composition and food require- 

 ments as the cereal grains, irrespective of seed production. Un- 

 der this class also fall the cereal grains, such as barley or oats, 

 when cut while succulent for soiling purposes or hay making, and 

 corn and other crops cut for silage. These differ from the cereal 

 straws as a result of their comparative immaturity. The leg- 

 uminous plants in this role differ from the corresponding legumes 

 raised for seed in the same manner as indicated for cereal plants. 

 They are cut at an immature stage of growth when the foliage 

 far outweighs the seed in amount and importance. The true 

 hays of importance are comparatively few in number. 



Timothy is perhaps most commonly grown, alone or associated 

 with clover. It is representative of the true grasses, as a class, 

 being high in fiber, comparatively low in protein, and rich in 

 potash and silica. It is shallow rooted and dependent upon 

 liberal manuring. It grows best on peaty soils and hence is fav- 

 ored by heavy applications of farm manure. The application 

 yearly per acre of 90 to 180 pounds of nitrate of soda, 300 to 600 

 pounds of bone meal and 70 to 140 pounds of chloride or sulphate 

 of potash has been recommended as a fertilizer treatment. 



Red top, Hungarian grass, Kentucky blue grass or June 

 grass, orchard grass and similar hay crops resemble timothy in 



