Composition and Nutritive Value of Straw. 409 
In its ji^eneral cliaiacter tlio asli of bean-stiaw rcsrmblos inti- 
mately that of poa-stnuv. Liko the latter, it is rich in carbonate 
of lime, and it also contains a jjood deal of phosphoric acid and 
potash, and bnt little silica. My results differ widely from Pro- 
lessor Way's analysis of bcan-stra\y, as given by Mr. Horsfall, 
in his Essay on Dairy-farming-, where the composition of bean- 
straw is given as follows : — 
Moisture 14-47 
AlbiirainoTis matter lG-38 
Oil and fatty matters 2-23 
Starcli and gum 31-G3 
Woody fibre 25-84 
Mineral matters fl-45 
100-00 
• It will be observed among other particulars — 
1. That I do not find more oil in bean than in wheat straw. 
2. That the proportion of albuminous matters which I found 
in a very fair specimen is not quite so largo as in good oat or 
barley straw, and that it amounts to scarcely one-fourth the 
quantity which Professor Way is reported to have found in bean- 
straw. 
3. That I do not mention starch as a constituent of bean- 
stalks. 
4. That instead of only 26 per cent, of woody fibre, as stated in 
Professor Way's analysis, the bean-straw analysed in my labora- 
tory contained no less than 65^ per cent, of indigestible woody 
fibre. 
5. The proportion of matters soluble in water is by no means 
large. 
6. Lastly, that the crude woody fibre of the bean-straw exa- 
mined by me was very little acted upon by dilute alkaline and 
acid liquid, and, therefore, produced but very little digestiljlo 
fibre. 
The second sample, on analysis, gave the following results : — 
Bean-st7'aw, taken from the Farm-buildings, October 31s<, 1861. 
General Composition. 
Water 17-75 
Substances sobible in water 6-8G 
Substances insoluble in water 75-39 
100-00 
