To illustrate the method of obtaining the nutritive ratio of a fodder, the following example of a timothy hay is here given. By digestion experiments we find: Thus the protein is in proportion to the carbohydrates as 3.00 is to 46.78; or, reducing protein to unity, (dividing both terms of the proportion by 3.00), we have I is to 15.59; that is, it has one part of digestible nitrogenous matter or protein, to 15.59 parts of non-nitrogenous matter, or carbohydrates. And we say the nutritive ratio of timothy hay is 1 to 15.59-a wide nutritive ratio. DESCRIPTION OF PLANTS AND ANALYSES EXPERIMENT NO. I INDIAN POTATO PLATE V. (Ataenia Gairdneri) The Indian potato is one of the most abundant and best liked forage plants on the range. The feed consists mainly of a stem with a ball of small white flowers at the top. It grows in among the sagebrush which occupies the open spaces in the timber. Although belonging to the parsley family, it does not have any objectionable features like its relative, the poison wild parsnip. Its tuberous root has been an important article of food for the Indian tribes, as it contains much starch, and has a sweet and pleasant taste. The average number of pounds of this plant eaten by the two sheep during the six days of the experiment was 32 pounds 8 ounces. It will be noticed by examination of the above table that he Indian Potato is a good feed with a wide nutritive ratio and well supplied with starchy matter. EXPERIMENT NO. II. PLATE VI. COMMON SUNFLOWER (Wyethia mollis) The common sunflower is relied upon for a considerable portion of the feed on the ranges. Unfortunately in this experiment the flowers are not included, as the buds were destroyed by heavy frosts. During the average season, however, each individual plant produces from 15 to 20 heads of yellow flowers. The sheep are so fond of the flowers that until they are all eaten off they pay little or no attention to the leaves. On account of the dense woolly character of the leaves, the sheep usually avoid the older ones and eat out the young ones from the centre of the clump. Its strong roots make it a valuable plant where the ranges are severely grazed. From a forage standpoint it is not relished by stock like the balsam root sunflower. The common sunflower may be distinguished by its woolly leaves which are not lobed at the base, and by the flowers which rarely exceed the leaves in length. The average amount of green leaves of this plant eaten during the six days experiment was 52 pounds 9 ounces. Amount of fodder eaten, 4260.0 grams, dry matter. Fodder constituents consumed grams |