GREEN FORAGE AND HAY CROPS 93 
rye grass, and Bermuda grass. The characteristics and method of 
seeding, special adaptation, and agricultural value of these and other 
tame grasses are discussed in standard works on agronomy or forage 
crops, and will not be considered here (see p. 177). The various 
grasses differ considerably in chemical composition and feeding 
value, and differences due to the stage of development are also of 
importance. 
Chemical Composition.—The chemical composition of some of 
the common pasture grasses is shown in the following table: 
Composition and Digestibility of Pasture Grasses, in Per Cent 
Digestible 
Moisture Ash Carbohy- N.R., 
Protein drates 
and fat 1: 
Pasture grass........... 80.0 2.0 2.5 11.2 4.5 
Kentucky blue grass..... 65.1 2.8 “2.8 21.5 1.7 
Timothy............... 61.6 2.1 1.5 21.3 14.2 
Orchard grass........... 73.0 2.0 1.2 14.5 12.1 
Red top exes scvedeaay 65.3 2.3 1.9 22.4 11.8 
Italian rye grass......... 73.2 2.5 1.5 14.2 9.5 
Meadow fescue......... 69.9 1.8 1.6 19.7 12.3 
Bermuda grass.......... 71.7 2.1 13 14.3 11.0 
We note that the moisture contents of pasture grasses range from 
60 per cent to 80 per cent, and in the case of very young plants, 
especially of Indian corn or legumes, it may even go over 90 per cent. 
‘The proportion of nutrients that animals on pasture receive in the 
early season is, therefore, very small, and they have to consume 
large amounts thereof to maintain their body weights. Unless they 
receive a feed of dry roughage in addition, they will not be likely to 
increase in weight or maintain a fair production on such immature 
_. forage crops. Most of the analyses given in the table show the 
average composition of the grasses at the time of bloom, when they 
would be cut for hay, while the pasture grass was cut and sampled 
at a rather immature stage. This explains why the nutritive ratio 
_of pasture grass is 1:4.5, while the ratios of the other grasses 
‘approach or exceed 1:10. Timothy is seen to have the widest 
nutritive ratio, viz., 1: 14.2. 
Grasses are generally sown in mixtures with clover or other 
legumes, since the growing habits of the different plants differ, and 
'+ a permanent palatable herbage will thereby be secured throughout 
the season. Grasses and hay crops, like other crops, will yield the 
largest amount of nutritious feed when grown on well-fertilized 
