16 AGRICULTURAL EXPERLMENT STATION. [Jan. 



Table of Classification. 



(h) Composition. 



All of our cattle foods have been divided into five groups 

 of substances : (1) crude ash, (2) crude cellulose, (3) crude 

 fat, (4) crude protein, (5) extract matter. Water is always 

 present, and might be called a sixth group. 



Each one of the first five groups can be resolved into 

 more simple substances. With some of the substances or 

 compounds making up the groups we have only a partial 

 knowledge. 



(i) Crude Ash. 



By crude ash is meant the mineral ingredients of the plant 

 or seed remaining behind after the organic portion has been 

 destroyed by fire. The ash or ashes of a plant consist 

 essentially of lime, potash, soda, magnesia, iron, phosphoric 

 acid, sulphuric acid, etc. 



Functions of the Ash. — It is these various mineral in- 

 gredients that serve to build up the bony structure of the 

 animal ; they also enter into and are necessary components 



of the flesh itself. 



> 



{2) Crude Cellulose. 



The crude cellulose is the coarse or woody part of the 



plant; we may term it the framework of the plant. Its 



elementary composition is carbon, o.xygen, hydrogen and a 



small percentage of ash. The crude cellulose is largel}' 



present in straws and hays ; the various grains, on the other 



