The Dickinson press., 1902-10-11

plant tissues and food, is carried on only
in the direct influence of sunlight or its
equivalent. But there is a sunshine,
that in passing through a murky atmos-
phere hung with clouds and charged
with moisture, gives us most of its vital
or actinic rays, and allows only the pas
sage of those rays of light which have
but little inference upon the plants &C.
tivity. 1t is only in regions having a
bright, clear atmosphere that the maxi
mum number of active, vital, actinic
rays come in contact with the plant, thus
promoting those vital processes while
the food is stored up in the plant. ready
to be utilized by animal life. 1t is only
when a plant is literally bathed in this
bright, clear sunlight that those special
processes are carried on in the highest
degree. In addition t this necessary
condition, we must also have the neces-
sary amount of rainfall and a rich soil.
An excess of rainfall induces a rapid
growth, but such plants do little in the
way Of storing up albuminoids- The
class of substance known as albuminoids
constitutes the valuable portion of plants
so far as furnishing food to animals is
concerned. Albuminoids constitute the
flesh forming elements and those are
what make our grains so valuable, espe-
cially if fed to working stock, as they
supply the waste and tearing down OF
the muscles arising from the ~exertion Of
the animal.
"We do MOI expect the conditions OF
climate and soil, which we have men,
toned, to give US grasses which are rich
in a%lbuminoids, and the chemists corrob.
crate our expectations. Upon examin-
ing the tables of chemical analysis of
grasses, find that four of our leading
hay and pasture grasses, grown in North
Dakota, give an average Of 1851 pei
cent Of albuminoids, while the same
species of grass growing in the latitude
of illinois furnished an average percent.
age of albuminoids of only 7.37 per cent
Thus we see the contrast-I3.6I com.
pared with 7.37.
Another influence that may aid ir
bringing about this condition is the fac
that we have longer hours Of daylight al
the north. In the summer season We
have two hours of sunshine to one houl
of darkness. Under this influence the
plant will not only be stimulated to the
production of a larger percentage Of al
b%uminoids, but will grow proportionatel,
more rapidly than in regions having les,
sunlight.
"In the general character of its grasse!
the state may be divided intotwo parts
the eastern and western. In the eastern
the climate conditions are such as afort
a more rapid and vigorous growth o
grasses, but this rapid and vigorou
growth of soft tissues decays rather rap
idly under the action Of frost and othe
climatic influences found in this region
hence such grasses are of value only a
they are cut and cured. In the west hal
of the state, however, the climate con
ditions are of such a nature as to Undue,
a slower growth. In these grasses tn
tissues are rich in albuminoids, but a
the same time are firm and drier, ant
better withstand decay. In addition t,
this the influences that bring about de
cay are not SO actice in the western par
of the state. The general result is tina
the grasses of that region ripen and cur
in the latter part of the summer before
; the appearance of frost, with all thei
original nutriment in them. Their valu.
for pasture is as great during this perioe
as it was during the period of thei
growth.