a20
T H E J O U R N A L OF I N D U S T R I A L A N D ENGINEERING CHEMISTRY
every case, averaging 250 per cent as much as b y t h e Et her Extraction M et h o d . T H E U K S A P O N I F I E D MATTER-The unsaponified m a t t e r in t h e ether-soluble portion of t h e alcoholic soda extracts of t h e concentrates varied from 0 . 2 1 per cent in red rice t o 0.65 per cent in rice bran, and averaged 0 . 3 2 per cent. T h e unsaponified matter in the ether *>extract of t h e concentrates is essentially t h e same in amount as t h a t in the alcoholic soda extract, averaging 0.02 per cent lower t h a n t h e latter. The unsaponified matter in t h e alcoholic soda extracts of t h e hays and excrements from t h e m varied from 0.44 per cent in Tobosa grass t o 2 . 2 0 per cent in excrement from mothbean h a y and averaged 1.06 per cent. T h e unsaponified matter in t h e alcoholic soda extract averages 0.07 per cent (in per cent of sample) higher t h a n t h e ' corresponding fraction of t h e ether extract. THE S A P O N I F I E D RESIDUE-under this head we include all ether-soluble, saponifiable material difficultly soluble in petroleum ether. Practically all of t h e chlorophyll, when present, is found in this fraction. The saponified residue in t h e alcoholic soda extract of t h e concentrates varied from 0.19 per cent in milo maize chops t o 1.01 per cent in wheat bran, and average 0.48 per cent. The similar fraction in t h e ether extract varies considerably, b u t averages t h e same. T h e saponified residue in t h e alcoholic soda extract of hays and excrements varied from 1.25 per cent t o 3 . 0 2 per cent, and averaged 2 . 1 0 per cent. This is over twice as much as t h e average for the ether extracts of t h e same samples. The saponified residue of t h e ether extract of t h e hays and excrements was, in every case, much higher, averaging 0.28 per cent, less t h a n 15 per cent of t h e average for t h e saponified residue of t h e alcoholic soda extract. T h e nature of the f a t t y acids not extracted b y ether, and t h e reasons f o r considering t h a t t h e fraction, saponified residue, contains no f a t t y acids are discussed in another place.' It may be stated here, however, t h a t these f a t t y acids have mean molecular \?.eights of about t h e same magnitude as several of t h e most common f a t t y acids. The presented here shou' that On an average 14 per cent of t h e ether extract of these concentrates a n d 68 per cent of t h e ether extract of hays, and excrements from them, consist of non-fats. If anything more t h a n a n approximation of t h e f a t content of a h a y is desired, some method must be resorted t o which will remove unsaponifiable matter and saponifiable non-fats soluble in ether. We believe t h a t t h e Precipitation Method described elsewherel is rapid, accurate a n d simple enough t o be used as a routine as well as a research method for this purpose. The results show t h a t ether is a t best a very imperfect medium for t h e extraction of t h e total f a t t y acids of feedstuffs, and t h a t alcoholic soda gives much higher results in most cases. S C 3IMA R Y
A method for t h e determination and fractionation of t h e total f a t t y acids and other ether-soluble con8
Texas Experiment Station, Bull. 169.
Vol. 7 , S o . 3
stituents of plant products is proposed which gives much higher results t h a n does extraction with ether. Total f a t t y acids b y this process were one-fifth higher in t h e concentrates and more t h a n twice as high in the hays and excrements, t h a n b y extraction with ether. The ether extract of these concentrated feedingstuffs contained on an average 14 per cent non-fats, a n d t h a t of the hays and excrements 68 per cent non-fats. E t h e r extraction is a very imperfect method of determining fats or of total f a t t y acids in plant products. TEXAS EXPERIMENT STATION COLLEGESTATION,TEXAS
A CHEMICAL STUDY OF TWO DROUGHT-RESISTING FORAGE PLANTS B y S LOMANITZ Received November 25, 1914
The two plants, t h e analyses of which are givcn below, have been introduced into Mexico for experimental purposes by Dr. Mario Calvino, now Chief of t h e Central Agricultural Experiment. Station of Mexico. The first, commonly known as "Rhodes Grass" (Chloris virgata or Ch. A b y s s i n i c a or Ch. G a y a n a ) , has been grown with great success in t h e dry arid regions of Australia, Costa Rica and Mexico. T h e second, Y h a l a r i s nodosa or Ph. bulbosa, called erroneously Ph. cornrnutata, has been grown in I'taly, Algeria and Mexico. Freezing has very slight effect on t h e former b u t none on the latter. Both are practically unaffected b y drought and are excellent forage plants since cattle eat them very readily and they exert no harmful effects upon t h e milk. The plants grow well under a wide range of conditions and give very good vields. Per cent Moisture (at 1000 c.), , . , . . . . . . Crude protein ( N X 6.25). , . . . ,
,...,....
RHODES GRASS Air- Dried a t dry 100OC. Green 8.30 0 . 0 68.83 6.87 7.49 2 . 3 3 1.64 1.79 0 . 5 6 11.39 12.42 3.87 28.42 30.99 9 . 6 6 43.38 47.31 14.75
PHALARIS NODOSA Air- Dried at dry l00'C. Green 9 . i s 0 . 0 77.84 1 0 . 5 4 11.60 2 . 5 7 2.66 2.93 0.65 12.77 1 4 . 0 5 3 . 1 1 25.82 28.42 6 . 3 0 39.06 4 3 . 0 0 9 . 5 3
1.70
7.81
8.59
pepsin method) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 . 2 5 3 . 5 4 Amide etc. n i t r o g e n . , . , , , , , , , 0 . 3 0 0 . 3 3 R ~ : ~ ~ , , $ j g a r s , , ( * l l t h n ' s ,, ,,
1.10 0.10 0,46
6.25 0.44
6.88 1.52 0 . 4 8 0,11 0,41
Sucrose (Clerget'smethod) . . . . . Soluble starch a n d d e x t r i n . , . . . .
0.44 0.26
2.02 1 19
2.22 0 . 4 9 1.31 0.29
1.31 0.76
1.43 0.83
1.90
T h e analyses given above were made of plants furnished b y Dr. Calvino, and grown in t h e experimental plots of the Division of Horticulture of this Experiment Station. T h e y were of about a meter length, the secds being already formed b u t not ripened. For t h e analyses the whole plant, stalk and ear, were taken. From the above analyses i t can be seen t h a t both these grasses have a comparatively high nutritive value, Especially is this t h e case with t h e Phalaris. The proportion of t h e digestible protein is especially high in this last-named plant, The proportion of ash is rather high b u t this seems t o be a characteristic of quite a number of grasses grown here. NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION TACUBA, D. F., MEXICO
,
