REPORT OF TEE CHEMIST 



171 



SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 



South Side — Two Cuttings. — This half of the plot was in full bloom at the time 

 of the first cutting, June 20, the average height of the plants being 30 inches. 



The second cutting was made just one month later, July 20, the clover being again 

 in full bloom, but with some heads withered. The condition of the crop was considered 

 excellent for hay making. 



Comparative Yields from Two and Four Cuttings. 



The yields from the north side and south side and their food value may now be 

 compared : — 



Clover. 



North side (four cuttings) , 

 South side (two cuttings). . 



Weight of 

 Crop per acre. 



Lbs. 

 8,905 

 6,900 



Weight of Dry 

 Mattel per acre. 



Lba. 

 1,703 

 1,445 



Weight of 



Crude Protein 



per acre. 



Lbs. 

 333 

 234 



From these data, it will be observed, there was obtained for the extra labour ex- 

 pended in two additional cuttings 258 pounds more dry matter per acre, which con- 

 tained 104 pounds more crude protein than in the yield from two cuttings. We are 

 of the opinion from a consideration of the whole experiment that the difference in 

 yield between the two methods (though most probably always in favour of the more 

 frequent cutting) will depend to a large degree on the stage of growth when the cut- 

 tings are made, and the time and amount of rain-fall throughout the season. With 

 regard to the former, it is no doubt true that if the plant once forms its seed there will 

 not be the subsequent effort to vegetative growth that there would be if the cutting 

 were made previous to that period; and respecting the latter point, we know that clover 

 being a moisture-loving plant a period of drought after cutting will greatly retard its 

 future growth. 



The results of this investigation can scarcely be interpreted as justifying the prac- 

 tice of four cuttings when the crop is to be made into hay, for we think that the extra 

 weight and value obtained would be more than offset by the additional labour involved 

 and the increased difficidty encountered in the drying and curing of the clover, which 

 would contain practically about 5 per cent more moisture than if allowed to come to 

 the period at which it is usually cut for hay. On the other hand, when the crop is in- 

 tended to enrich the soil or for ' soiling ' purposes the data may be taken to indicate 

 that the more frequent cutting of the clover will prove the mere advantageous, as yield- 

 ing the greater amount of material that can be used either as a fertilizer or for feed- 

 ing in the fresh condition. 



Weights and Composition of Dry flatter in Crops of Various Cuttings. 



South Side, Two Cuttings. — Compared, weight for weight, the crop of the second 

 cutting (July 20) of the south side is worth more than that of the first cutting (June 

 20), from the fact that it is richer in dry matter and albuminoids. Thus we have 

 the following data for one ton of each cutting : — 



