REPORT OF THE CHEMIST 



177 



SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 



Alfalfa. — (Four Cuttings) — Percentages of Albuminoids and Non-albuminoids in 



Dry Matter. 



North Side. 



First cutting (June 4) . . . 

 Second cutting (July 15) 

 Third cutting (Aug. 19).. 

 Fourth cutting (Sept. 18) 



Albu- 

 minoids. 



Per cent. 



113 

 12 2 



14-2 

 171 



Non-albu- 

 minoids. 



Per cent. 



86 

 3 

 59 



80 



The Alfalfa differs from the clover in that the non-albuminoids do not decline in 

 the third and fourth cuttings. The percentage of the albuminoids, however, markedly 

 increases in the latter cuttings, as was noticed in the case of the clover. We have seen 

 that, weight for weight, the crops of the first, third and fourth cuttings contain prac- 

 tically the same amount of dry matter, but since, as we have observed, this dry matter 

 cf the August and September cuttings is richer in albuminoids, it follows that the 

 crops of these later dates have the greater feeding value. 



In conclusion, we may place side by side the pounds per acre of albuminoids ob- 

 tained from the two and four cuttings of the alfalfa, respectively. 



It is somewhat remarkable that although we obtained a larger total yield, includ- 

 ing a larger amount of dry matter, from the alfalfa than from the clover, the difference 

 in albuminoids between that of the two cuttings and the four cuttings is the same, 

 practically, for each crop. 



CLOVER AND CLOVER ENSILAGE. 



The especial value of clover as a roughage lies in the fact that it contains, in 

 common with other legumes, a large proportion of flesh-forming constituents (albu- 

 minoids), thus allowing the use of a less weight of concentrated feed stuffs in the 

 ration than when corn or hay forms the bulky part of the feed. 



Though some farmers have not met with success in siloing clover, the causes of 

 failure are apparently known and may be removed. Woll, in his Booh of Silage says : 

 ' Clover does not pack as well as the heavy, juicy corn, and, therefore, requires more 

 weighting, or more depth in the silo, in order to sufficiently exclude the air.' Further, 

 it is possible that the condition of the clover when put into the silo has much to do 

 with the quality of the resulting ensilage, and regarding this point we may say that 

 the best practice indicates that clover should be in full bloom. If allowed to remain 

 uncut until the flower heads have withered, the clover is apparently too dry to make 

 the best quality of ensilage. For the same reason the clover should not be allowed to 

 wilt, but at isnee put into the silo. 



16—12 



