18 UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA EXPERIMENT STATION 



In the discussion of the chemical analysis of these species, alfalfa hay 

 is selected for comparison because alfalfa seems to be the best and 

 commonest forage plant in California. A comparison with this plant, 

 then, naturally sets forth the value of oak leaves for forage to better 

 advantage than a comparison with any other stock food. 



Ash Content. In comparing the ash content of oak leaves and alfalfa, 

 it is noted that the ash of oaks varies but little in various species. This 

 variation is not more than four-tenths of one per cent, while the average 

 ash for all the species is somewhat greater than 8.75 per cent. This 

 percentage is 2 per cent greater than in alfalfa hay. 



As all the mineral, and hence the bone-forming, materials of the 

 plant are in the ash, oak leaves have thus a greater value for growing 

 stock than has alfalfa. 



Protein Content. Proceeding to the protein, or muscle-forming content, 

 greater variations are encountered. The comparison shows alfalfa to 

 contain more than twice as much protein as any of the oaks, with the 

 exception of two species, Quercus wislizeni and Q. garryana. The former 

 averages 10.11 and the latter 14.04 per cent. Quercus garryana, there- 

 fore, approaches alfalfa closely. The other species, though falling far 

 below alfalfa, are not poor in protein. The average is nearly 8 per cent, 

 which is one-half of one per cent higher than oat hay the best of 

 cereal hays. 



These analyses indicate that oak leaves are superior in muscle-forming 

 ingredients to non-leguminous hay; that one species (Quercus wislizeni) 

 is equal to bur-clover hay; and the best species (Quercus garryana) 

 almost equal to alfalfa hay. 



Crude Fiber. In oak leaves the crude fiber is as variable as the pro- 

 tein, ranging from over 30 per cent in Quercus douglasii to 15 per cent 

 in Q. garryana. With the exception of two of the deciduous oaks, 

 Quercus californica and Q. garryana, the oak leaves are considerably 

 higher in crude fiber than alfalfa. This crude fiber, or roughage, in oaks 

 tends to produce a wide nutritive ration. 



Ether Extract. The fat, or more correctly speaking, the ether extract, 

 is considerably higher than in alfalfa in all the species, and increases to 

 twice as much in Quercus wislizeni and Q. californica. This ether 

 extract does not represent pure fat, but includes the chlorophyll, waxes, 

 and resins, which can not be separated from the true fat. These waxes 

 and resins serve to protect the leaves from drying winds and inclement 

 weather, and usually occur in the tomentum or pubescence which cover 

 some leaves. In some cases, as in Quercus californica, the waxes and 

 resins are distasteful to stock, thus decreasing their forage value. 



