FOODS. 75 



contains a smaller proportion of indigestible fibre than 

 older grass, and is consequently more nourishing. The 

 same comparison may be made between young clover and 

 that which is allowed to mature for hay. Hay should 

 always be cut immediately full bloom is reached ; after 

 this point the quality of the crop will considerably de- 

 teriorate. 



While fodder crops deteriorate towards maturity, from 

 the conversion of soluble carbo-hydrates into fibre, crops 

 such as potatos and mangel improve, the carbo-hydrates- 

 produced in their case being respectively starch and sugar,. 

 both of them substances of great feeding value. 



The influence of high manuring is naturally to increase 

 the luxuriance of a crop; a luxuriant crop will always 

 contain more water than one in less active growth. Very 

 large mangels often contain only 6 per cent, of dry matter,, 

 while in quite small roots the proportion may be as high 

 as 15 per cent. Luxuriance also retards maturity. A 

 heavily manured mangel will contain, at the same date, 

 a much smaller proportion of sugar than a similar mangel 

 grown on poor soil. The result of high manuring is thus 

 not only to increase the bulk of the crop, but also generally 

 to diminish the proportion of carbo-hydrates, and increase 

 the nitrogen, ash constituents, and water. In highly 

 manured crops a smaller proportion of the nitrogen will 

 exist as albuminoids than in crops less heavily manured 

 and more mature. 



In the case of hay the composition is further affected by 

 the conditions of harvesting. Grass that has suffered from 

 rain during haymaking will contain less soluble matter 

 (carbo-hydrates and albuminoids) than well made hay; 

 this loss will be greatly increased if the hay has been 



