and in the former as high as eleven per cent, of nitrogenous constit- 

 uents in its dry vegetable matter. The existence of similar relations 

 between the particular condition of the soil and the composition of 

 the crops has been proved in regard to most of our prominent 

 grasses, and leguminous plants as clover, as well as of mixed forage 

 crops like meadow hay. A high percentage of nitrogenous constitu- 

 ents in these crops is usually accompanied by a high percentage of 

 phosphoric acid compounds. As both are known to exert a decidedly 

 beneficial influence on the absolute and relative nutritive value of a 

 single article of fodder, may it be an entire plant or a particular part 

 of it, it needs scarcely any farther argument to prove that an econ- 

 omical system of feeding our farm stock ought to begin with an intel- 

 ligent cultivation of our leading fodder crops. We ought to raise 

 them with a view to promote the special development of their most 

 valual)le nutritive constituents ; and to select the crops for cultivation 

 with reference to the particular adaptation of soil, climate and loca- 

 tion to favor the production of the best of its kind. The introduction 

 of a greater variety of fodder croi)s cannot fail to assist materially in 

 gaining the desirable end. To raise good potatoes for family use, 

 or good sugar-beets for the sugar manufacturer, requires a different 

 condition of the soil a-* far as the character of its accumulated plant 

 food is concerned, than to raise both crops of a superior quality for 

 feeding purposes. A mealy potato is usually rich in starch and 

 comparatively speaking deficient in nitrogenous matter ; and sugar- 

 beets best adapted for the manufacture of sugar are rich in sugar and 

 contain a low percentage of nitrogenous constituents ; the}' yield to 

 the manufacturer the largest amount of sugar at the lowest expense. 

 The garden-farmer and the manufacturer of sugar judge the quality 

 of their respective crops by a standard quite different irom that of 

 the farmer, who, engaged in general farming, considers stock feed- 

 ing an important part of his industry. 



To compound an economical and suitable diet for any class of 

 farm animals requires not only a general knowledge of the composi- 

 tion of the fodder on hand, but also a fair acquaintance with the rel- 

 ative proportion of the three groups of essential nutritive constituents 

 they are apt to contain under differeut conditions of the soil. This 

 kind of information is as essential for the guidance of the experimen- 

 ter, as the knowledge of the special wants of the animal with refer- 

 ence to its organization, age, and functions. The wide range of va- 

 riations in composition which has been noticed in our leading fodder 



