54 FORAGE CROPS 



start later in spring and will therefore be ready 

 for feeding a week or ten days later than that from 

 the first seeding, and which has been stimulated 

 as outlined. 



Chemical composition of the rye crop 



If the rye crop is used when in the best condi- 

 tion for forage, it contains a high content of water, 

 or an average of only about 18 per cent of dry 

 matter. In this stage of growth, the content of 

 nitrogenous matter is relatively large, although it 

 is not entirely organized into albuminoids. As the 

 crop matures, the dry matter increases and the 

 crude fiber and nitrogen -free extract increase rela- 

 tively much more rapidly than the nitrogenous 

 compounds, and the nutritive ratio is widened. 

 The average composition of green rye and yield of 

 nutrients are as follows: 



One ton ^^ average 



contains acre-yield 



Per cent Lbs. . * Lbs. 



Water 81.95 ... ... 



Dry matter 18.05 361.0 2527.0 



Ether extract 0.65 13.0 91.0 



Crude fiber 4.29 85.8 600.6 



Protein 2.13 42.6 298.2 



Ash 1.36 37.2 259.4 



Nitrogen -free extract .... 9.61 192.2 1345.4 



A yield of seven tons, therefore, will furnish 

 about one and one -fourths tons of dry matter, 

 which will contain about 300 pounds of protein, 



