354 THE HOTHAMSTED EXPERIMENTS. 



Uncer- in regard to the position of the various amides, which enter 

 functi&n of s0 l ar g e ty ^ nto tne composition of feeding roots and hays — in 

 food con- fact of all succulent and unripened products. Indeed, in the 

 stituents. calculation of " nutritive ratios," the amides have sometimes 

 been classed with the albuminoids, and sometimes in large 

 proportion with the non-nitrogenous constituents. We have, 

 from time to time, had the results of our numerous feeding 

 experiments, with both sheep and pigs, calculated according 

 to the published tables of digestibility. But the so-cal- 

 culated " ratios " varied so considerably for different rations 

 within the range of good practice, that it would be mis- 

 leading to attempt to give anything like a summary of the 

 results, and general conclusions therefrom, without full 

 discussion. 

 Relative In conclusion, as our current fattening food- stuffs go, as- 



calue of suming, of course, that they are not abnormally low in the 

 'andwn-^ nitrogenous constituents, they are, as foods, more valuable in 

 nitrogenous proportion to their richness in digestible and available non- 

 tnls. l U ~ nitrogenous than to that of their nitrogenous constituents. 

 As, however, the manure of the animals of the farm is valu- 

 able largely in proportion to the nitrogen it contains, there is, 

 so far, an advantage in giving a food somewhat rich in nitro- 

 gen, provided it is in other respects a good one, and, weight 

 for weight, not much more costly. 



