218 



STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



Results of yields and analyses of sand lucerne hay grown at the Michigan Experiment 



Station. 



Dates of harvest. 



Yields per acre 



Total moisture 

 Crude protein.. 



Ash 



Ether extract.. 

 Crude fibre. . 

 Carbo-hydrates 



1901. 



June 18. 



Pounds, 

 4,263 



9.56 



16.63 



7.35 



3.26 



29.04 



34.16 



July 13. Aug. 14. 



Pounds. 

 4,350 



Pounds, 

 3,538 



Oct. 1. 



Pounds. 



1,688 



17.95 

 12.92 

 7.31 

 21.16 

 25.44 

 35.22 



Total. 



Pounds. 

 13,839 



19.44 

 14.92 

 7.69 

 2.57 

 25.13 

 30.78 



The following table gives the dry matter, the digestible nutrients according to the 

 coefficients of digestibility of alfalfa, as given in Henry's book on "Feeds and Feeding," 

 together with the fertilizer analyses of the several crops: 



The above Louisiana experiments were reported by Stubbs in a Louisiana Station 

 Bulletin 55. The cuttings were made May 9, June 8, July 1, and August 1. 



The nutritive ratio of the average of the Michigan Experiment Station results is 1:3. 



According to the Kansas Experiment Station Press Bulletin 41, 100 pounds of alfalfa 

 hay contains 11.3 pounds more digestible matter than red clover, and \y z times as much 

 protein. It contains five times as much digestible protein as corn fodder, almost as 

 much as wheat bran, and more than wheat, corn, oats, rye, barley, kafir corn and 

 sorghum seed. 



According to Zuentz, Hagemann and others, the true nutritive value of alfalfa in terms 

 of energy are 928 Calories as compared with medium hay with 721 Calories, and red 

 clover with 667 Calories. 



It will be seen by the above that the annual yield gradually increased to the fourth 

 year, when the crop of cured hay was nearly seven tons per acre. Another plot, seeded 

 in 1900, gave the next year three crops, amounting to 6,580 pounds of dry hay per acre. 

 A fourth crop was ready to cut on October 1, but was left as a mulch protection during 

 the winter. 



The feeding analysis, as compared with the Louisiana results, would be more closely 

 parallel were they figured from a water free basis. Taking the June 18th cutting, 

 which was more thoroughly dried than any of the rest, we find them to differ but 



