50 The Colorado Experiment Station. 
fed digested a larger amount of dry matter than those receiving 
saltbush, but not so much more as the difference of 17jA pounds 
of flesh would apparently indicate. The sheep receiving alfalfa di¬ 
gested 7,246 grams of dry matter, containing 1,315 grams of pro- 
teids, 3,274 grams of nitrogen-free extract and 1,875 grams of 
crude fibre; those receiving saltbush digested 7,051 grams of dry 
matter, containing I,ii6 grams of proteids; 3,011 grams of nitro¬ 
gen-free extract and 342 grams of crude fibre. The mineral matter 
contained in the saltbush and digested was very large, 2,315 grams 
against 779 grams digested with the alfalfa. These are the differ¬ 
ences, total dry matter, 195 grams; crude proteids, 199 grams; 
nitrogen-free extract, 263 grams; crude fibre, 1,533 grams—all 
the differences so far being in favor of the alfalfa. In the case of 
the mineral matter, the sheep fed on the saltbush digested 1,536 
grams more than those receiving alfalfa. The daily differences in 
the amounts digested per sheep for the various fodder constituents 
were as follows: Crude proteids 12.66 grams, nitrogen-free ex¬ 
tract 17.5 grams, both in favor of the alfalfa-fed sheep, which were 
gaining six-tenths of a pound daily, while the saltbush-fed sheep 
were losing almost exactly the same amount. The only food ele¬ 
ment digested in considerable excess by the alfalfa-fed sheep, 102 
grams daily per sheep, was the crude fibre. This may be the cause 
of the great difference in the results. 
§122. It is not evident what part the mineral matter may 
have played, though the amount actually absorbed by the sheep was 
large, 2,315 grams for the three sheep in five days, it produced no 
looseness of the bowels or other inconveniences that we could ob¬ 
serve. This fodder did provoke a marked thirst, but the sheep 
did not suffer on this account. It does not seem probable that the 
loss of flesh was due to the mineral constituents contained in the 
plant. If we may reason from analogy in this case, we would be 
justified in comparing its results with those produced by sugar beet 
tops, which contain from 22 to 30 per cent, of ash when dried. The 
compounds absorbed in the case of the saltbush appear to be the 
sulfuric acid, chlorin and the alkalies. In eating a like amount of 
dried sugar beet tops the animals would consume larger amounts 
of these compounds than in the case of the saltbush, but it is a 
matter of common experience and knowledge that sheep thrive on 
the beet tops. If analogy holds in the case, we are justified in 
adopting the proposition that the loss is probably not due to the 
inorganic matter digested. 
§123. Returning to our comparison of the energy relations of 
the alfalfa and the corn fodder, it is to be remembered that both 
fodders proved to be good ones. The alfalfa, however, producing 
a much greater gain in live weight than the corn fodder did under 
