50 PROCEEDINGS: BOSTON SOCIETY NATURAL HISTORY. 



'Nitrogen in organic matter 267 



'The above three samples are similar in character, and no doubt also as to 

 origin. They may be considered as semi-decayed vegetable matter (largely 

 fibrous) and sand, and practically the only point of difference between them 

 lies in the varying proportions of these two constituents. In the air-dried 

 condition the sand can be very easily separated from the organic matter by 

 shaking and sifting, showing that there is no intimate incorporation of these 

 constituents as in the case of true soils. 



'The plant food they contain other than nitrogen is present in very small 

 amounts, and we must suppose exists in such a condition that it is only slowly 

 set free for plant use. 



'No. 5. Analysis of the (air-dried) grass or hay Ammophila arenaria [A. 

 breviligulata] from Sable Island, chiefly barren stems: 



p. c. 



'Moisture 12. 42 



'Protein 13.81 



'Fat 81 



'Fibre 41.00 



'Carbo-hydrates 26. 71 



'Ash 5.25 



100 



'In protein or albuminoids this grass makes a very good showing, being quite 

 equal in respect to these important nutrients to many of our highly esteemed 

 cultivated grasses. 



'The percentage of fibre is above the average, and this together with the 

 somewhat high protein, necessarily makes the carbo-hydrates (starch, sugar, 

 &c.) much lower than usual. This hay contains 5.25 per cent ash or mineral 

 matter, which on further examination is found to include 1.37 per cent of 

 sand. This sand had remained attached to the grass in spite of all care be- 

 ing taken to separate it. 



'The indications are that though probably somewhat less digestible than the 

 best hays made from grass cut before seeding, this Sable Island grass has a 

 distinct and even moderately high feeding value due to its comparatively 

 speaking large protein content.' 



" The results obtained by Mr. Shutt are very interesting and valu- 

 able. The ponies, of which there are four bands numbering about 

 120 in all running wild on the island, feed almost entirely on this grass 

 which looks tough and hard and does not impress one as likely to be 

 very nutritious. The ponies, however, do well on it, and even the 

 domestic cattle use it considerably, although they are said to pre- 

 fer timothy and clover. The fact that this grass has a decided nu- 

 tritive character is now demonstrated. 



