392 
Composition of the Yellow Lupine, 
In the next table is stated the detailed composition of lupines, 
both in a natmal state and dried at 212'^ Fahr. : — 
Detailed Composition of Yellow Lupines (^cut down in a (/reen state). 
In Natural Pried at 
SUUf. 212" F. 
"Water 89-20 
Oil •,']7 3-42 
*Soluble albuminous compounds 1-37 12"f)8 
Soluble mineral (saline) substances .. .. -Gl 5'04 
f Insoluble albuminous compounds .. .. I'Ol O'SH 
Su<j;ar, a,uin, bitter extractive matter, audi o op qc co 
di-estible fibre / "^'''''^ 
Indigestible woody fibre (cellulose) .. .. 3-29 30-48 
Insoluble mineral matters -19 1-75 
100-00 100-00 
'Containing nitrogen -22 2-03 
fContaining nitrogen -16 1-48 
The juice of the green plants has a somewhat bitter taste, 
which is due to a bitter principle, the nature of which I have 
not further examined. 
Sheep and cattle soon get accustomed to lupine, and even like it 
much after some time ; out pigs, it appears, refuse this kind of food. 
With respect to the nutritive qualities of green lupines, I 
would observe that the plants grown by Mr. Kimber are not 
nearly so nutritious as clover, lucerne, sainfoin, green rye, and 
rape, and indeed most other crops grown as green food. The 
large proportion of woody fibre and, comparatively speaking, the 
small amount of sugar in these lupines, certainly do not speak in 
their favour. On the other hand they contain quite as large an 
amount of albuminous or flesh-forming matters as the better kinds 
of crops grown as green food ; but the amount of albuminous 
matters in food, as has been stated repeatedly in former contri- 
butions of mine, cannot be regarded as a trustworthy indication 
of the feeding or fattening qualities of any kind of green food. 
Green food, described by practical men as good, sweet, nutri- 
tious herbage, like good roots, I find, invariably contains a con- 
siderable proportion of sugar. The deficiency of this constituent 
in lupines, coupled with the large amount of woody fibre and 
water, justifies me in considering lupines decidedly inferior to 
clover and other artificial grasses usually grown in this country 
as food for cattle and sheep. 
Nevertheless, lupines cut down green imder peculiar circum- 
stances, when grown, for instance, on very poor sandy soils, on 
which more valuable crops will not thrive, will no doubt be found 
a useful auxiliary food. 
These observations, it should l)e remembered, apply more 
especially to the specimens examined by me, and not generally 
to lupines grown under other and probably more favourable 
