Composition and Nutritioe Value of Straw. 
411 
General Composition of Flax-chaff'. 
Water 14-00 
Soluble organic matter .S.72 
Soluble mineral matter 4-07 
Insoluble orL;anic matter G'.)'25 
Insoluble mineral matter 3-36 
100-00 
Detailed Composition of Flax-chujj'. 
Water 14-GO 
Oil 2-82 
*rrotein compounds 4-75 
Sugar, gum, mucilage. Sec 8-72 
Digestible fibre 18-56 
Indigestible woody fibre 43-12 
Soluble mineral matter 4-07 
Insoluble mineral matter 3-36 
100-00 
*Containing nitrogen '76 
Total percentage of ash 7-43 
It will be seen that this flax-straw contained nearly 3 per cent, 
of oil and fatty matters, nearly 9 per cent, of substances soluble 
in watei', and alsout as much albuminous matter as good barley- 
straw. In addition to these valuable nutritive constituents, it 
furnished 18^ per cent, of digestible fibre. I have, therefore, 
little doubt tliat, mixed with sliced or pulped roots, it may be 
advantageously given to cattle. As far as it is allowable to 
judge by its composition, flax-straw is more valuable as a feeding 
material than wheat and barley straw and bean-stalks ; it ought, 
therefore, not be employed as litter. 
Clover and Meadow-hay. 
As it may be useful for some purposes to compare the com- 
position of straw with that of hay, I have made, in connexion 
Avith these investigations on the feeding qualities of different 
kinds of straw, two complete analyses of hay — one of well made 
clover-hay, and another of good meadow-hay, and obtained the 
following results : — 
Composition of Clover and Meadoic-haj/. 
General Composition. 
Clover-bay. Sleadow-hay. 
Water 20-50 16-66 
Soluble organic matter 18-07 17-79 
Soluble inorganic matter 4-43 4-37 
Insoluble organic matter 54-38 57-78 
Insoluble mineral matter 2*62 3-40 
VOL. XXII. 
100-00 100-00 
2 F 
