G26 MANUAL OF OATTLE-FEEDIISrG. 



It is a very good practice to let all tlie straw wliicli Is to 

 serve for litter be first put before slieep. In the liner and 

 more tender parts wlxicli tliey seek out and consume, a 

 much larger percentage of protein and a muclx nariower 

 nutritive ratio is found than is shown by an analysis of the 

 whole straw. According to Krocker's investigations "^ the 

 nitrogen content of the stalk of barley and rye straw is to 

 that of the leaves, leaf -sheaths, and ear-stalks as 1 to 1.9. 

 That is, the latter contain nearly twice as ixiuch protein as 

 the former, and when sheep have laid before them so much 

 straw that they eat only these tender parts, they actually 

 receive a fodder which differs little from hay in value. 



Similar results were obtained by Arendt f in his investi- 

 gation on the growth of the oat plant. In 100 granmies 

 of dry matter from the various parts of the ripe plant the 

 following quantities of nitrogen were found : 



Grms, 



Three lower joints of the stem ,.,...... 79 



'- middle " *' 1.17 



*' upper " " 1.56 



'* lower leaves. 1.43 



Two upper * ' 1 - 74 



Ears , 3.04 



g 7. Steaw oy THE Legtjjvdss. 



Composition and Digestibility. — Much of what has 

 been said of the straw of the cereals is true of that of the 

 leguminous plants, but the latter differs very considerably 

 in composition from the former, just as clover hay does 

 from meadow hay. The straw of the cereals is poor in 

 protein and rich in non-nitrogenous matter ; that of the 



* Annalen der Landwirfchscliaft, 18G1, XII, 415. 

 f Compare *'How Oiops Grow," pp. 204-319. 



