180 THE COMPLETE GRAZIER. BOOK i 



richer in flesh-formers and heat-givers. As regards oat straw, it is 

 worthy of note, that when cut green the ear, however, being fully 

 formed it is highly valued as a feeding material, its value being in- 

 creased one-fourth. When used, it should be cut into half-inch lengths." 

 " Oat hay," says Dr. Voelcker, " or oats cut green, contain a large 

 proportion of soluble substances, readily digestible, but which become 

 insoluble, and less readily digestible, when allowed to ripen. Animals 

 fed upon young shoots of vegetables, which are soft and eatable, thrive 

 well, but can scarcely maintain themselves upon matured food, which 

 becomes woody and indigestible, and passes through the intestines in 

 a great measure unchanged. The reason of this difference is, that the 

 starch, gum, sugar, and other soluble and readily digestible substances 

 which we find in the young shoots of vegetables and roots, are partly 

 rendered insoluble, and gradually changed into indigestible woody fibre, 

 which substance increases with the age of the plant." 



The straws of beans and peas are more valuable as feeding-stuffs 

 than the straws of the cereals ; cut into short lengths, and mixed 

 with the chaff of cereal straw, they add value to the latter. 



Dr. Voelcker thorough!} 1 - investigated the subject of the feeding- 

 value of straws as compared with hay, and published a number of 

 analyses of the various straws. 



It appears from these analyses : 



1. That hay, especially clover hay, is much richer in albuminous or 

 flesh-forming compounds, than straw. 



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



3. That both clover and meadow ha}', when well made, are much 

 richer in sugar, and other soluble matters, than straw. Good meadow 

 hay, especially, contains a great deal of sugar, and is sweet to the 

 taste. 



4. That the proportion of indigestible woody fibre, particularly 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 degree 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 kinds 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 beeq harvested in the same stage of maturity, Dr. Voelcker was 

 inclined to place the different kinds of straw in the following order, 

 beginning with the most nutritious, and ending with the least valuable 

 for feeding purposes : 



