394 
Composition and Nutritive Votae of Straw. 
Detailed Composition. 
"Water 8-14 U-17 
Oil 1-10 -65 
*Solublc protein compouutls -50 "OG 
tlnsoluble protein compounds 1-62 2'OG 
Gum, sugar, and extractive matters G-28 3'4G 
Crude woody fibre 79-31 82-26 
Soluble mineral matters 1-99 1-29 
Insoluble mineral matters 1-06 1-05 
100-00 100-00 
♦Containing nitrogen '08 '01 
fContaining nitrogen -a'G -33 
Total percentage of nitrogen '34 '34 
Equal to protein compounds (flesli-forming matters) 2*12 2*12 
Percentage of ash 3-05 2-34 
In explanation of these results, it is necessary to state that both 
samples were kept in a warm room for some days before they 
were analysed, which accounts for the small percentage of 
moisture found in them. The principal points of interest to be 
remarked are — 1st, the greater amount of sugar, gum, and 
extractive matters (nearly twofold) ; next, the greater amount of 
oil ; and lastly, the smaller proportion of woody fibre found in 
the fairly-ripc sample as compared with that Avhich was over- 
ripe, by which the superiority of the former as feeding material 
is sufficiently proved. Indeed, whereas the former is nutritious 
and well fitted for cutting into chaff and mixing with sliced or 
pulped roots, the over-ripe sample is hardly suited for feeding 
purposes, and should be trodden into manure. 
A striking difference will be noticed in the relative proportions 
of soluble and insoluble albuminous compounds in the fairly-ripe 
and in the over-ripe specimens ; in the latter there is scarcely 
any soluble albuminous matter, nearly the whole having become 
insoluble. In both samples the total amount of albuminous or 
flesh-forming compounds is smaller than that given in the pre- 
ceding full analysis of another sample. The percentage of ash 
in both these last specimens is unusually low. 
The ashes of several varieties of wheat-straw have been ana- 
lysed by Messrs. Way and Ogston, who give as the mean result 
of ten analyses the following numbers : — 
Potash 12-14 
Soda -60 
Magnesia 2-74 
Lime 6-23 
Phosphoric acid 5-43 
Sulphuric acid 3-88 
Silica G7-88 
Peroxide ot iron '74 
Chloride of sodium '22 
99-86 
