AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. 



39 



The relative composition of the various hays can be more 

 accurately shown by comparing the averages of the analyses for 

 several years. 



AVKRAGE COMPOSITION OF HATS FKOM VARIOUS GRASSES CUT ON 



SAME FARM. 



In 100 parts water-free substance. 



Ash. 



Protein 



IXitrogen 



Fiber, f"™ .^^ 

 tractive 

 matter. 



Fat. 



Timothy Hay, '84, from general lot of hay* 

 Timothy Hay, " " '" " " * 



Timothy Hay, '85, in bloom* 



Timothy Ha3\ "86, two weeks past hloom, 



average two analysesf 



Timothy Hay, "87. in full bloom J 



Timothy Hay, *87, somewhat past bloom J . . 



Timothy Hay. '88, in early bloom 



Timothy Hay, '88. ten days past bloom. .. 



Red Top Hay, '87, in full bloom§ 



Ked Top Hay. '88, '' '' 



Witch Grass Hay, '85, in bloom* 



Witch Grass Hay, '87, •' " X 



Witch Grass Hay, '88. •' " 



Wild Oat Grass Hay, "87. in bloomj 



Wild Oat Grass Hay, '88. •• " 



Blue Joint Hay. '86, in bloom* 



Blue Joint Hay, '87. '• *' J 



Blue Joint Hay, '88, " " 



4.49 

 4.00 

 6.47 



4.03 



4.58 

 5.17 

 5.21 



3.99 



06 



4.46 



6.79 



5.41 



61 



.81 



.61 



.88 



.97 



• 70 



Timothy Hay, average 3 j^ears, in bloom 5.42 

 Red Top Hay. '• 2 •' - •' 4.76 

 Witch Grass Hay, '• 3 '• '■• " 5.94 

 Wild Oat Grass Hay, average 2yrs. in '•• 4.21 

 Blue Joint Hay, average 3yrs. in bloom .15.85 



7.86 

 7.10 

 7.67 



6.21 



8.18 



7.84 



9.54 



7.60 



9.69 



9.25 



9.33 



9 53 



7.81 



7.49 



9.54 



12.00 



10.06 



10.19 



8.46 

 9.47 

 8.89 

 8 51 

 10.75 



34.36 50.65 

 34.50, 52.07 

 38.50 43.70 



32.07 



32.66 

 32.10 

 29.19 

 29.14 

 30.98 

 28.94 

 36.88 

 38.07 

 30.71 

 34.10 

 30.23 

 39.88 

 36.22 

 36.32 



33.45 

 29.96 

 35.22 

 32.16 

 37.47 



54.61 

 50.98 

 51.30 

 51.94 

 55.51 

 50.64 

 53.43 

 43.86 

 43.21 

 52.94 

 51.74 

 52.07 

 38.54 

 44.66 

 45.25 



48.88 

 52.03 

 46.67 

 51.91 

 42.82 



2.64 

 2.33 

 3.66 



3.08 

 3.60 

 3.59 

 4.12 

 3.76 

 3.63 

 3.92 

 3.14 

 3.78 

 2.93 

 •2 



86 



55 



70 



3.09 



2.54 



3.79 

 3.78 

 3.28 

 3.21 

 3.11 



* Report Maine Experiment Slutiou, 1885-6. page 51. 

 t Ibid, 1886-7, page 68. 

 X Ibid, 1888, page 86. 



A study of the above figures reveals the following facts ; 



(1.) The same species of grass may vary greatly in composi- 

 tion from year to year, even in the same locality, and at the same 

 stage of growth as, for instance, in the case of the Timothy and 

 Witch Grass. 



(2.) The upland species of grass, so far examined at the same 

 stage of growth do not differ in composition in a marked manner, 

 except that Witch Grass appears to contain a rather large relative 

 percentage of fiber. The Red Top compares very favorabl}' with 

 the other grasses. The texture, composition and digestibility 

 (see later) of this grass commend it as one that should more 

 frequently find a place in seed mixtures for permanent grass 

 lands. Blue Joint, probably the most valuable of lowland grasses, 



