MxVNUAL OF CATTLE-FEEDING. 469 



yet observed, and also gives the probable average composi- 

 tion. In using tlie table, it is to be remembered tbat in 

 many cases tlie extreme numbers represent tlie composi- 

 tion of exceptional samples, and that the ordinary range 

 of composition of the material under consideration may be 

 considerably less than appears from the table. It is sel- 

 dom that ordinarily good fodders will reach either the 

 maxinmm or minimum of any ingredient, and the judg- 

 ment of the feeder will be exercised in determining how 

 great a variation from the average is to be expected in 

 the particular case under consideration- To this end he 

 will take into account the richness of the soil on which 

 the fodder was grown, its stage of gi'owth, and, in short, 

 all those influences mentioned in Part n,, Chapters II. 

 and III-, as affecting tbe composition of coarse fodder in 

 particular. Under meadow hay and clover hay, in the 

 table, Wolff's classification of these feeding-stuffs has been 

 introduced. The '' inferior " hay corresponds to that cut 

 at an advanced stage of growth, or damaged by rain, or to 

 the rank hay of low and shady places, and is characterized 

 by a large percentage of crude fibre and a small percent- 

 age of protein. The better qualities of meadow and clo- 

 ver hay are those obtained by early cutting from a rich 

 soil and careful curing without loss. The figures given 

 by Wolff for the protein of these classes of hay are consid- 

 erably higher than those that have been found for American 

 hay of apparently equal quality and containing no more 

 crude fibre. This fact must, of course, be borne in mind in 

 using Wolff's figures. 



In the case which we have selected for an example, we 

 will suppose that by one or the other of the above meth- 

 ods we have found the composition of our feeding-stuffs to 

 be approximately the following : 



