Abstract
(1) Study was made on seasonal changes of moisture content, crude ash, crude fiber, ether extract, and vitamin C contained in leaves and stems. (2) Higher percentage of moisture was observed in leaves than in stems. However, at the beginning of the growth, the above relation was reversed, that is, the moisture was higher in stems than in leaves. (3) Larger percentage of crude ash was found in leaves than in stems. Quantity of crude ash in leaves was the largest in summer, and decreased afterwards. In stems, crude ash was abundant at the early stage of growth, and then decreased gradually. (4) Changes in lime content in stems were almost in parallel with that of crude ash, but phosphate in the leaves and stems decreased gradually. The Ca ratio of leaves and stems was 2.0-2.5 at the early stage of growth, which represents almost suitable ratio as a forage. (5) More ether extract was found in leaves than in stems. In leaves, it showed a slight increase in summer, but in stems it was almost constant throughout the perind of growth. (6) More crude fiber existed in stems than in leaves. In leaves, little changes were seen throughout the period of growth. In stems, however, crude fiber which was abundant at the beginning of growth, showed a temporary decrease, and again increased in and after summer. (7) Content of vitamin C (reducing type) in leaves was large at the early stage of growth.In summer, this showed a decrease, but increased again in autumn. Reducing type vitamin C was 50 % of the total vitamin C contained.
