SECRETARY'S REPORT. 97 



only in my cultivation, but also in that of many of my neighbors, 

 be frequently renewed, we must necessarily ascribe to this i^lant a 

 deleterious influence. On a farm of mine, twenty five horned cattle 

 have been fed exclusively on Sorgho during a month ; and from the 

 day on which it was introduced, the journal of the farm shows a di- 

 minution of one half of the profits of the dairy ; and this decrease 

 was observed every month of feeding with it. Besides this, my 

 neighbors assert that the cows fed on it are sterile." 



Artificial Grasses. Among the plants used for the production 

 of hay, and which are not properly grasses, but in every day lan- 

 guage are spoken of as such, the one in most general cultivation is 



TrifoUum pratense — or Red Clover. Of this there are two 

 pretty distinct varieties, the one commonly known as Northern and 

 the other as Southern or Western Clover. The first attains a much 

 greater bight, has coarser stems, and ripens considerably later than 

 the last. The Southern or Western gives a better second crop, pro- 

 duces seed more freely, and by itself, makes a better quality of hay, 

 on account of the fineness of the stems and greater abundance of the 

 foliage and bloom. Each has its warm advocates for preference, 

 and both being so well known to most farmers, either from experi- 

 ence or observation, or both, it is scarcely necessary to discuss their 

 comparative merits farther. 



There is also considerable diversity of opinion among farmers with 

 regard to the value of clover hay, much of which has probably arisen 

 from the treatment bestowed in curing. If cured in the ordinary 

 manner in which other hay is treated, the stems become brittle and 

 the leaves and flowers, the most valuable part, become browned, 

 crisp, and many fall off, and are lost. In this case it is inferior to 

 herdsgrass or to good upland meadow hay from mixed grasses, but 

 when cut in season and cured so as to preserve all its natural qual- 

 ities, it is not deemed inferior, and many think it better for milch 

 cows and for young .and growing stock, while for working cattle its 

 value is fully three-quarters that of hay from mixed herdsgrass and 

 red-top, and perhaps more. The preferable mode of curing is to cut 

 after the dew is off, and when thoroughly wilted, fork it into small 

 cocks where it remains with no farther disturbance, unless it be a 

 lightening or turning of the cock with the fork, until fit for the 

 barn, whither it may be carried with safety while yet damper to 

 7 



