182 SCIENTIFIC FEEDING OF ANIMALS 



When the normal ripening of the seeds is hindered, 

 or prevented, then they are not only small, but have 

 also the properties of more or less unripe grains. 

 This is clearly seen where the crop is laid by wind, 

 rain, or hail, or where it is attacked by disease. 

 Drought also has the same effect, for it causes too 

 early ripening. 



In the dry matter of oat grains grown on the 

 same field it was found that the following differ- 

 ences in composition were obtained — 



Crude 

 protein. Protein. Amides. Fat. 



Badly laid 13-2 107 2-5 2-8 

 Not laid io-8 io-o o-8 4-6 



Even when no apparent obstacle has hindered the 

 formation of the seeds, it is still found that some 

 are small and others large. When during bad 

 weather the grain sprouts in the fields, the opposite 

 effects to those observed during ripening are found 

 to result. First the materials in the grain are 

 changed — protein into amides, starch and fat into 

 sugar — and these pass into the young shoot and 

 root. At the same time, a portion of the nitrogen- 

 free substance is destroyed by the respiration of the 

 young plant which has sprung from the grain. A 

 loss of 15% or more of valuable food material can 

 be lost according to the extent to which germina- 

 tion has taken place. As germinated seeds such 

 as malt contain a powerful sugar-forming ferment 



