1906.] DISCUSSION. 263 



Prof. Shaw. I cannot understand how that can be. I 

 am told that they can do it in Massachusetts and in northern 

 New York. They also do it in New Hampshire, 



The President. I do not think that they can do it here. 



A Member. I think there has been quite a change in 

 the last few years in the method of feeding oats. The prac- 

 tice of thrashing seems to have completely died out so that it 

 is a rare thing to even see a thrashing machine. I think the 

 modern practice has been very successful. People would not 

 have been doing this for twenty or twenty-five years unless the 

 majority of the farmers thought it was the more practical 

 method. We have a good market here for our hay. We can 

 get for a good part of the time from eighteen to twenty dollars 

 a ton, and if we can feed these oats it is just as well to do it 

 and sell your hay at twenty dollars or thereabouts. 



Prof, Shaw. I would like to ask if the farmers of Con- 

 necticut grow sorghum to any extent for feeding cows? Has 

 anybody present done that? 



A Member. I have tried that. I also know that some 

 other people have tried it here, and I have heard some people 

 speak of it very highly. I tried it in an experimental way for 

 two years, but I think there is something about the New Eng- 

 land climatic conditions which militate against its successful 

 cultivation here. It does not seem to do well. 



Prof. Shaw. In the west we can get more bulk with it 

 than in corn. 



A Member. My experience with it extended over two 

 years, and that was some time ago. Perhaps the cultivation 

 of it in a New England climate is better understood now, but 

 I have not tried it lately. 



Prof, Shaw, Did you grow it thickly? 



A Member, Yes, I put it into drills and aiso sowed it 

 broadcast. I tried it both ways. 



Prof, Shaw, It is a particularly valuable crop in the west 

 because of its palatability. 



