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CHEMICAL ANALYSES 
OF 
SOME NATIVE NORTH CAROLINA GRASSES, FORAGE PLATNS, GRAINS, SEEDS, 
AND BY-PRODUCTS. 
By B. W. KILGORE, Assistant Chemist. 
The present bulletin contains the result of recent chemical analyses 
at this Station of some native North Carolina grasses not heretofore 
analyzed, as well as some food materials and by-products.^f 
The analyses are presented on the basis of air-dry hay, and as they 
would ordinarily be fed, as well as on the basis of dry matter, or 
water-free substance. The latter is the better basis, at least for com¬ 
paring the composition of the different grasses, inasmuch as the 
water in the air-dry hay varies greatly under different conditions. 
I. SOME NATIVE NORTH CAROLINA GRASSES. 
In Table I is presented the analyses of wild grasses made at the 
Station during the past two or three years, and it is hoped they will 
prove of interest by contributing to our knowledge of their values 
as foods. Those marked (*) were collected by the Botanist of the 
Station, Mr. Gerald McCarthy, around Wilmington, N. C.,in Septem¬ 
ber, 1890. The marsh-grass hav (the last in the table) was sent by 
Messrs. Cronly & Morris, of Wilmington, for analysis, with the claim 
that the process of preparation which it had undergone had greatly 
enhanced its value as a hay. All the others were obtained from 
the different county exhibits (mainly Warren, Buncombe, For¬ 
syth, and Ashe) at the Southern-Interstate Exposition at Raleigh, 
in October and November, 1891. 
The composition and value of grasses as cattle foods vary, with the 
stage of growth. It is to be regretted that most of the samples pre¬ 
sented here were ripe or nearly ripe , which is beyond the stage for 
making the best hay; and, in addition, the Exposition samples had 
been somewhat damaged in being exposed to the dust for two 
months. The stage of growth, as far as could be, has been repre¬ 
sented in the table, and allowances can be made for the advanced 
stage of maturity, and a better hay be expected if cut at the proper 
haying stage. Even those that were not collected at the best time 
are of value in giving an idea of what to expect of them when they 
are so harvested. Taking them as they are here, those specially 
promising, judging from composition (but this must not be followed 
blindly), are marked (f) in the table, while those comparing fairly 
well with the average timothy, red top, and orchard grass are desig¬ 
nated with (t). 
HThe analyses were made by Messrs. Kilgore, Carpenter, Meng, and Noble. 
