Cuiiijios/tioil (tiid Niitritive Value of IStnuc. 
lootl of the most nutritious cliaracter, straw will still have to bo 
regarded as a more economical feodin<f material than any other 
which can be supplied. It is undoubtedly a fact that some prac- 
tical feeders are in the possession of the secret of converting con- 
siderable quantities ol' straw into beef. What this secret is, 
perhaps, is not known even to themselves. It may be that the 
combination in which straw is given, or the preparation to 
which it is submitted before it is placed in the feeding-troughs, 
has something to do with the success that attends its use ; but it 
is yet more probable that on farms where straw is largely and 
economically cut into chaff and given to cattle, its condition, 
from early harvesting and other influences, is better than in other 
localities where the })ractice prevails of allowing corn to become 
over-ripe before it is cut. In consequence of this mischievous 
practice, straw gets more woody and less digestible than it 
would have been had the corn-crop been cut earlier. Further on 
several analyses will be given to show how much the composition 
and nutritive value of straw depend on the condition in which it is 
harvested. Indeed, the differences in tlie composition of somewhat 
under-ripe and over-ripe wlieat or oat straw, are greater than the 
variations which may be noticed on comparing with each other 
the composition of wheat, oat, and barley straw. No very broad 
or permanent distinction, in fact, exists between wheat, oat, and 
barley strav/. It would appear tliat in certain districts each 
variety in its turn becomes superior as food — each kind is pre- 
ferred and exclusively retained for that purpose ; whilst, in 
other districts, each is consumed for litter. Moreover, the 
natural preference shown by stock for one kind or the other 
affords a practical evidence that the farmer in each case may 
have a good reason for the choice which suits his locality. We 
must therefore always expect to meet with great diversity of 
opinion amongst practical men respecting tlie nutritive value of 
wheat, oat, and barley straw. That pea-haulm is too good to be 
trodden into manure is admitted by all. When properly got in, 
pea-straw is, indeed, a valuable feeding substance. With respect 
to the nutritive properties of bean-stalks, again, great diversity 
of opinion prevails — some considering them almost as nutritious 
as clover-hay, and others only fit for litter. 
The ash or the inorganic part of many varieties of wheat, oat, 
and barley straw, as well as of bean and pea straw, has been 
carefully examined hy different chemists. Whilst we have on 
record a large numljer of reliable ash-analyses, comparatively 
speaking few organic examinations of straw have been made. 
With but few exceptions the published organic analyses are not 
sufficiently explicit for practical purposes, and hence it is not 
surprising that men who base their opinion on such imperfect 
