680 ANNUAL. REPORT OP THE Off. Doc. 



FOR ALFALFA: 



Per cent. 



Dry matter, 60 



Protein, 74 



Crude fiber, 43 



Nitrogen-free extract 66 



Ether extract, 39 



FOR CRIMSON CLOVER HAY: 



Per cent. 



Dry matter, 62 



Protein, 69 



Crude fiber, < . . 45 



Nitrogen-free extract 62 



Ether extract, 44 



FOR COW PEAS: 



Per cent. 



Dry matter, 59 



Protein, - 65 



Crude fiber, 43 



Nitrogen-free extract 71 



Ether extract, 50 



FOR SOY BEANS: 



Per cent. 



Dry matter, 62 



Protein, 71 



Crude fiber, 61 



Nitrogen-free extract, 69 



Ether extract, 29 



It is evident from the data now available that jjrotein forage 

 crops are important sources of protein. The questions of practical 

 interest to the feeder, therefore, are: First, can they be success- 

 fully grown? Second, is the yield of nutrients per acre large enough 

 to make their growth desirable? Third, the economy of their use as 

 substitutes for the concentrated feeds. 



In reference to the first point, it may be said that if all the crops 

 mentioned can be successfully grown in all parts of New Jersey, 

 and certainly in many sections of Pennsylvania, though inasmuch 

 as a number of them are relatively new crops, some knowledge 

 must be possessed concerning the proper time and method of seed- 

 ing, and of handling the crop. 



In the case of alfalfa, it has been pretty clearly proven, that the 

 plant is hardy in all of the Middle states. It is, I think, a fact that 

 there are more failures than successes. The failures are, however, 

 due in many cases to improper methods of seeding, to lack of proper 

 fertilization, preparation of soil, and to the absence of the specific 

 alfalfa bacteria in the soil. In New Jersey, where success has been 

 attained, the following points have been carefully observed: 



First, a soil naturally well drained, with a subsoil not too com- 

 pact; second, the land limed at the rate of 30 to 40 bushels per acre, 

 and thoroughly mixed with the soil ; third, an abundance of available 



