Nutritive Matter- of Grasses. 175 



is of no value in feeding animals, but its proportion is a 

 necessary element of our calculations, because, with the varia- 

 tions in quantity of moisture, will be corresponding variations, 

 though in the opposite sense, of the real nutritive matter oJf 

 the plant. 



The woody fibre of plants is considered to have no value in a 

 nutritive point of view, except that (which, by the way, is suffi- 

 ciently important) of giving bulk to the Ibod. Still its deter- 

 mination in this respect was necessary, and was indeed an indis- 

 pensable step in the process of analysis. The same may be said 

 with regard to the mineral matter or ash. 



Under the foregoing heads we have acquired, it is hoped, a 

 very important amount of information — such, too, that it can be 

 immediately brought to bear upon the practical nutritive values 

 of the different grasses. 



It is necessary to say a few words in regard to the history of 

 the specimens examined. The grasses were collected for me in 

 the spring and summer of 1849, by Mr. Bravender of Ciren- 

 cester, to whom my best thanks are due for the execution of so 

 laborious a task. It may give an idea of the labour of such a 

 collection to state that upwards of sixty or seventy specim^ens 

 were obtained by Mr. Bravender, each individual plant com- 

 posing the sample of 2 or 3 lbs. weight which was necessary for 

 the purpose of analysis, being picked separately from the 

 meadows in which they were growing. I have elsewhere, in 

 giving the analyses of the ashes of the grasses, stated my reasons 

 for preferring to take the plants from meadows in which they 

 were growing naturally and healthily, rather than seeking to 

 raise them in one soil and under one set of circumstances which 

 could not be equally favourable to all. Time also was a con- 

 sideration, and the adoption of the latter plan would have 

 entailed considerable delay.* The grasses were collected, plant 

 by plant, at the time of flowering (except where otherwise 

 stated), and forwarded immediately in tin cases to London for 

 examination. 



I shall not trouble the practical agriculturist with a descrip- 

 tion of processes which would be tedious to him and of no prac- 

 tical advantage ; but, for the information of those who may wish 

 to know the methods of analysis pursued, I shall add them in an 

 Appendix to this paper. 



To economise space and afford facilities for comparison, the 



* The analyses were in great part completed and ready for publication in 1850, 

 but from several causes their appearance in print was delayed — a circumstance 

 which I by no means regret, as it has enabled me to increase the value and extent 

 of the investigation very considerably. 



