33 
Albumin (Nitrogen < 6.25)  . . 10.2 °/o*) 
tad Oe A ee ee a 3 ok 
Non-nitrogenous extractives . . 38.0 °/o 
cae Swe te OF y 
As yet, there are no data regarding the proportions of organic matter which are assi- 
milable. Comparison of the first and second cuttings, shows that the second is richer in 
albumin and fat, and has less woody fibre. 
Harvesting, impurities and adulterations of seed. At present, if properly accomplished, 
there is probably no other grass whose seed-harvest is so profitable as this. The first cut- 
ting should be used, because the second produces fewer culms, and does not mature pro- 
perly. By the end of July, maturity is reached. The proper time for cutting has come 
when the culins begin to turn yellow beneath the panicle, when the spikelets have assumed 
a straw-colour, and when the grains have a leathery consistence. If sufficient attention 
is paid to these points, no seeds are lost during harvesting, because, at this stage, the seeds 
do not readily detach. 
If Cocksfoot is grown by itself, seed can be obtained in the same way as from cereals. 
The crop is cut with a scythe, allowed to dry for a few days, turned once or twice and 
made into in small sheaves. If the weather is showery the plants should be formed into 
stooks, as soon as they are somewhat dry. Then rain can do no damage. If the plants 
lie on the ground, the seeds are discoloured, and the quality is low. If especially cultivated 
for seed, the grass is grown in rows, about 1 ft. apart. These when ready, are cut with 
the sickle, and made into small sheaves. Further treatment goes on under cover in an 
airy place, the sheaves being arranged across horizontal bars, so that a current of air passes 
from below upwards. In this way, seed properly ripened and of the highest quality is ob- 
tained. In Dauphiny, where most of the seed is produced, it is harvested like False oat- 
grass (which see). When ripe, the culms are cut about 1 ft. beneath the panicle made into 
small sheaves, and allowed to ripen in large stooks; the remainder is then made into hay. 
As with false oat-grass, so here, the seeds are very impure, because they have been ob- 
tained from a mixture. The impurities consist mainly of good seeds: Meadow Fescue, 
Golden oat-grass, False oat-grass and a small proportion of chaff and weeds. The aver- 
age composition of 55 samples of cocksfoot imported from Dauphiny in 1881—82 was as 
follows : — 
Pure seeds ... . . . 66,9 Jo 
Meadow Fescue . . . . . 42.0 %%o : 
Golden Oat-grass and Poas . 3.2 °/o 84 ‘/o Good seeds. 
False Oat-grass . .. 1.9 %/o 
Bromes (Mainly Bromus erectus) 2.3 °/0 
Quaking grass, Yellow clover, 
GorsaleeOtss ea se alekteyya Ge 7o 
Weeds . 3.98 VaRia rae eee se 
Ghat oe Bk ee TO P/o 
Total 100 %/o 
*) Total Nitrogen = 1.627 °/o, Non-albuminoid nitrogen = 0.170 °/o, in hay containing 14 °/o of water. — 
O. Kellner found the following amounts of nitrogen in coeksfoot of the second year. On the 14th April, height 6 inches, total 
nitrogen = 5.091 °/o, non-albuminoid nitrogen = 1.306 °/o. On the 234 May, height 22 inches, a total of 2.533 Jo, 
the non-albuminoid nitrogen = 0.452 °/o; all these figures refer to the dry substance. 
5 
Harvesting 
the seed. 
