166 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc. 



be possible to make some suggestions at this time that will aid or 

 point the way in making a satisfactory solution of the present dif- 

 ficulties. 



For an intelligent consideration of this question turn to the 

 figures given in Table 1 and study the various crops which are com- 

 monly raised on the farm, and see how much protein is being pro- 

 duced and then turn to those crops which are not commonly' grown, 

 but which may be adopted on the farm in question and calculate how 

 it would be best to proceed to produce that which is required. 



By observing the nutritive ratios in the two pars of Table I, it will 

 be seen that those in Part 1, with the exception of the ratio for clover, 

 hay and oats, are wider than the requirements of a standard dairy 

 ration, and also that it would be impossible to make a combination 

 of the crops in Tart 1 so as to furnish the required relation of the 

 Protein and Carbohydrates. The crops in Part 2 have relatively nar- 

 row ratios, and can be used for making balanced rations a« is mani- 

 fested by a study of the illustrations given in Tables II and V. 



There are numerous other crops that might be included in the es- 

 timates and combinations which are not given in Tables I and 11, 

 but these will serve to point the way. For instance those sections 

 which are further north, and not well adapted to cow peas, might 

 substitute the Canada pea. In this connection, be it remembered, 

 that cow peas are really beans and belong properly to the bean 

 family, and are hot weather crops. For best results they should not 

 be planted until the ground is thoroughly warm (after June 1) and 

 they will be killed off with the first frost of the fall. The Canada pea 

 is a cool weather plant and can be planted very eariy in the spring, 

 like oats and barley, but it is impatient of hot, dry weather and hence 

 not adapted to the south. 



Often considerably more forage can be grown to the acre by com- 

 bining some of the legumes with a cereal, for example, Canada peas 

 and oats; Canada peas and barley; winter oats or barley and winter 

 vetch; Winter vetch and wheat; cow peas and sorghum; cow peas 

 and corn; cow jjeas, corn and millet. All of these combinations have 

 been used in diii'erent sections with excellent results. 



In Table II are given some sample rotations which might be sug- 

 gestive as to ways in which rotations common to parts of this State 

 might be modified so as to better meet the requirements of dairj' 

 farms. Rotaticsi "A" is one that is used in part at our Station quite 

 satisfactorily, and our experiments indicate it could be used as a 

 whole. This rotation to some is objectionable as it requires frequent 

 plowing and thus incurs considerable expense for labor. Supple- 

 menting the rotations as shown in ''B," ''C" and "D," Table II, with 

 alfalfa, it will be seen is a very effective mean® of furnishing the 

 required protein and does not necessitate any more plowing than at 



