424 Report of Experiments vjitli different Mamires 
borne in mind, that a certain proportion of this otherwise use- 
less and effete matter, is absolutely essential to give bulk, and to 
aid the digestion of the otlier constituents of the food, especially 
of our ruminant animals. 
With these brief observations on the character and relation- 
ships of the substance, the amounts of which, in the respective 
hays, are recorded in the Table, attention may now be directed 
to the results there given. 
In the upper portion of Table XVI., the percentages of tooodi/- 
Jihre, or more properly of comparatively indurated Cellular matter, 
in the fresh hay are given ; and in the lower Division, the per- 
centages in the Dri/ substance oi \\\e hay. The latter indicate the 
most clearly the differences in the composition of the vegetable 
substance of the hay. Comparing the produce of one season with 
itiat of another, the percentage of this comparatively insoluble 
\Voody-fibre is, on the average, considerably the highest in that of 
the wet, cold, and ungenial season 1856, and the lowest in that of 
1857. It will be remembered that the produce of 1856, which 
shows the largest proportion of comparatively refractory Woody 
matter in its Dry substance, gave a very low percentage of Dry 
substance ; but high percentages of both Mineral matter and Nitro- 
gen (in a questionable degree of elaboration), in that Dry sub- 
stance. And conversely, the produce of 1857, which now gives 
the lowest proportion of such Woody fibre in its Dry substance, 
gave the higliest proportion of Dry substance and the lowest pro- 
portion of Mineral matter and Nitrogen, in that Dry substance. 
It might perhaps not have been anticipated, that the season 
which gave the most crude, succulent, and ill-conditioned 
produce, would at the same time give a vegetable sub- 
stance containing a high proportion of comparatively indu- 
rated cellular or woody matter. In all cases, the specimens 
were so far dried soon after they were collected, as to leave 
in them only about 5 per cent., or less, of moisture ; and in 
this condition they were ground and preserved. And, as the 
Woody-fibre determinations have only recently been made, the 
produce of 1856 has had some considerable time for change, 
Avere it liable to it. Uniler the circumstances of the ])reparation 
and preservation of the specimens, liowever, it would be difficult 
to conceive of any changes that would raise the percentage of 
indurated cellular matter in the remaining substance, to the 
(^xtent indicated in the Table above that in the produce of the 
other years. Against the probability of such change, may be 
noted the fact, that the produce of 1857 Avhich had been pre- 
served for nearly 2 years when examined, gave a lower per- 
centage of this Woody-fibre in its Dry substance, than tliat ol 
1858 wliich, of course, had not been preserved so long. On the 
