438 
Keport of the Assistant Chemist of the 
Per cent of water. 
1886. 1887. 
Timothy (Herdsgrass) 71 . 36 59 . 85 
Orchard grass 65 . 00 73 . 19 
Tall Meadow oat grass 69 . 07 69 . 86 
Fort Bellingham 61.78 63 . 38 
Reed Canary grass 65 . 23 66 . 52 
Meadow Fescue 68 . 70 66 . 52 
Lucerne: Alfalfa 56.73 70.91 
Medium Red Clover 75 . 63 72 . 96 
It will be observed from the above table that there may be a con- 
siderable variation in the amount of water for the same kind of grass 
for different years at the same stage of growth, also between the dif- 
ferent varieties for the same year, but, on the whole, the amount of 
water in the grasses at date of harvesting was greater in 1887 than in 
the preceding year. 
Amount of Water in Hay. 
The amount of water contained in hay, in mows, during the feeding 
season, is one of considerable importance, especially to those who have 
to buy hay, and probably varies according to locality. I have brought 
together here the data gathered from my own determinations, using 
only those results where the conditions of sampling were known, and 
the most of the samples were taken for the purpose of water determi- 
nation. Considerable of the surface hay was removed before taking 
the sample, in order to avoid, as far as possible, surface hygroscopic 
influences. The hays were dried at about 100° C, until the weight 
was constant and the loss calculated as water: 
Per cent 
of water. 
September 3. Clover and timothy 14.77 
November 4. Mixed hay, two years in mow 16 . 04 
November 29. Hay from mow, loft of barn 15 . 41 
January 31. Hay from mow 14.98 
February 1. Hay from mow, loft of barn 16.27 
February 7. Hay from horse barn 15 . 35 
February 24. Hay in mow, one year past 13 . 94 
March 4. Hay from horse barn 16 . 02 
The above for a single year's determination shows for hay in the 
locality of the Station as found in mows an average of 15.35 per cent 
of water, a minimum of 13.94 (old hay) and a maximum of 16.27 
per cent. 
