> i ll = » a? 
mas / 
129 
The great variation in composition of grasses becomes apparent on ex. 
amining the one hundred and thirty-six analyses ; and by selecting the 
Lighest and lowest determinations the following table of extremes has 
been prepared : 
Limits of composition of grasses. 
Dry substance. Highest. Lowest. 
oe nee oo ee Re Di BA ee el ae irc ie oe Speen ie, | 19. 24 | 3.57 
WE ene se tee eee ee ee Se a ee 5. 77 1.48 
Nitrogen-free extract ----.--.------------------------------ ---20+ ---2-----2------- | 66. OL | 34. 01 
OSES Ts See 8 ies Se ee 2S ee ee ee Se ser | of. Te | 17. 68 
neg Se ee meee Sn eg emcee ae = cama eee | 23.13 | 2. 80 
= i 
a SPSS = Fee Pcee on ede SS, Pale a ee Ss pee | 3.70 | 45 
in ann waereMeNE = Se 2 cece l ceo snasose- Ses ee se ae 1.63 | . 00 
Percent. of mitroren as non-albumineid _-. == .----<-= -------< 4 ---2----- 25-552 60.7 | . 00 
a ST Ev TS ST a a Se ee ee eee | 76. 50 | 60. 00 
| | 
The highest ash is undoubtedly owing to the presence of adherent 
soil, and the lowest carbo-hydrates are dependent relatively on the 
same cause. The wide variations in fiber and albumiuoids must be re-_ 
garded, however, as being entirely due to physiological causes, which 
are difficult toexplain. Paricum sanguinale, for instance, which in one 
specimen contains the extreme amount of albuminoids and a small 
amount of fiber has in another only half as much albumen and one and 
three quarter times as much fiber. We learn, then, that species are not 
in themselves at all fixed in their composition, there being as large vari- 
ations among specimens of the same as between specimens of diffc-rent 
species. Examples may be found in several portions of the preceding 
tables, and, for illustration, several analyses of Phleum pratense and of 
Dactylis glomerata from widely separated localities are given in the 
following tables: 
Analyses of Phieum pratense (Timothy) from various localities. 
FULL BLOOM. 
y 2 |38 
“ pa = S i 
= =e — =z 
| 2 ae he 9 |/agig=zs 
eg a ips o | Be] Sage 
Locality. | ge ae tN rs 5 l|estseosS 
: | On | = ~= 2a }atkts 
=, © = x (ee htees 
q})H 1 o q alate 
Department garden, 188! ...24.22¢72...... | 7.16 |} 4.47 | 50.03] 27.35 | 10.99] 1.75) .51] 29.1 
Department garden, 1850.-.....-....-...-. 5.65 3.5 58.93 21.98 9.90 || 1.58 38; 24.0 
iCaeeE EMR. oe rs. te sn ed a A 22 | 52.89: 1) 30.43 7.69.4) 4-23 |. -45 12.2 
Pee LinpaiINe: 22 5>- -=-2 -2-c.t= t= ... | 4.57 | 4.20 57.16 | 28.28 5. 79 9°; 107} 1v.8 
a BE Se ee es eee eee 7.05 | 2.18 | 52.99 | 32.26 5. 52 83 | .0U -0 
3094 GR——Y9 
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