330 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS. 



From the above it would appear that the cultivated native hay is worth rather 

 more per ton than oat sheaves, for fattening purposes. 



The yield of hay from this grass varies greatly from year to year, depending on the 

 rainfall, but it averages somewhat less than the yield of oat sheaves, under the same 

 conditions. 



This grass succeeds remarkably well on dry uplands where an oat crop would give 

 small returns ; its roots are also very useful in preventing the drifting of soil. 



EXPERIMENTS FOR THE PURPOSE OP MAINTAINING THE FLOW OF MILK DURING 



THE AUTUMN MONTHS. 



Last year's report contained the particulars of an experiment with Awnless Brome 

 Grass for the above purpose. During the past season the experiment was repeated with 

 equally satisfactory results, and an additional test with fodder corn was undertaken. 



Four cows were selected for this test, and, after several weeks of uniform feeding to 

 ascertain the normal yield of milk, two were fed for three weeks commencing on fair 

 native pasture, and the other two on the same pasture, with the average addition of 755 

 pounds of green fodder corn per week for the two. 



The. following table gives the details of the experiment. 



First Week Aug. 22nd to 28th or Normal Yield. 



How Fed. Yield of Milk. 



No. 1. Pasture alone 317 lbs. 



No. 2. do 241 lbs. 



Second Week. 



How Fed. Yield of Milk. Gain over NormaL 



No. 1. Pasture and 665 lbs. corn 343 lbs. 26 lbs. gain. 



No. 2. Pasture alone 226 " 15 " loss. 



* Third Week. 

 How Fed. Yield of Milk. 



No, 1. Pasture and 750 lbs. corn . . . , 330 lbs. 13 lbs. gain. 



No. 2. Pasture alone 231 " 10 " loss. 



Fourth Week. 

 How Fed. Yield of Milk. 



No. 1. Pasture and 850 lbs. corn 319 lbs. 2 lbs. gain. 



No. 2. Pasture alone 209 " 32 " loss. 



Summary, 



No. 1. Two cows with corn and pasture average weekly gain "over normal 13 pounds. 



No. 2. Two cows with pasture alone weekly loss below normal 19 pounds. 



From the above it will be seen that the yield of milk from the two fed on 

 pasture decreased at the average rate of 19 pounds per week while the two cows receiv- 

 ing the additional feed of corn made an average gain of 13 pounds per week for the 

 three weeks, showing that this useful fodder plant can be utilized for the purpose of main- 

 taining the flow of milk until severe frost, when the cows can be turned into Brome 

 Grass aftermath ; which is not affected by even severe frosts. 



BroTne Grass pasture in comparison toith native grass pasture during the autumn months. 



For this test the same cows were used as in the experiment just mentioned, but in 

 thifl case the No. 1 group of two cows were fed on native pasture while the No. 2 group 

 were kept on Brome Grass pasture. 



