DEPARTMENT REPORTS. 125 



figuring at the above cost, or 20 cents per package of three ounces, it would 

 make it cost about fourteen dolhirs per bushel. 



"White Clover seed is worth 820 per bushel. But at the above rate it would 

 cost about S()0 per bushel by purchasing in small packages. 



English Kye Grass seed is worth ^3.50 per bushel. At the above rate it 

 would cost about $21 per bushel. 



Timothy seed is worth from ^3 to $4 per bushel. At the above rate it would 

 cost about §45 per bushel. 



IMPHOTIXG THE KEEPING QUALITY OF ONIONS. 



Most onions begin to grow very soon on tlic approach of mild weather in 

 spring. 



Several years ago 1 selected in spring those White Globe onions which kept 

 the longest without sprouting and planted them for seed. This process was 

 repeated for some years. The onions were much improved in their '*' keeping 

 quality.'"' but the seeds were often of low vitality. 



In 1881 I began the same kind of experiment with Yellow Danvers. From 

 a lot of thirty bushels, those only which kept longest were used for seed. 



PLATS OF GKASSES AND OTHER FORAGE PLANTS. 



With some changes these have been kept up much as they were began nine 

 years ago, in 18?3. Each report since that time has contained some account 

 of these interesting plants. I have before referred to the assistance which we 

 have rendered to other colleges in sending seeds of grasses to Harvard 

 University, Ohio University, Purdue University, Kansas Agricultural College, 

 Illinois Industrial University. We have sent a large number of accurately 

 named bottles of grass seeds to the Agricultural Experimental Station in New 

 York. Several times bunches have been sent to our State fairs, and numer- 

 ous granges have been supplied with bunches of grasses accurately named. 



These i^lats of forage plants are almost indispensable to my students, 

 especially to advanced students, of whom we always have a number. 



In these plats it has been found best to sow the seeds in close rows, so that 

 they may be easily weeded. Experience has also taught me not to sow those 

 which closely resemble each other in contiguous plats. In such cases they 

 mix badly, and the mixing cannot be detected till the grasses send out their 

 panicles for flowering. 



Here we have tested our June grass, Poa pratensip, side by side with two 

 lots of genuine blue grass from Kentucky, and find them one and the 

 same. Here we have tested the "Evergreen Grass" of D. Caine, of Battle 

 Creek, by the side of the taller oat grass, Avena elatior, to find them 

 identical. This oat grass has been well known and grown in England and on 

 the continent for over one hundred years. It appears to be well worth culti- 

 vating in our State. It grows rapidly and makes a good stand. It seeds 

 freely and the seeds are large. Here have been tried Fowl Meadow Grass, Eye 

 grasses, Sweet Vernal, Meadow Fox Tail, Orchard Grass, Ked Top, and thir- 

 teen or more species of fescue. Here we have tested and wintered the famous 

 Burmuda Grass, Gynodou dadylon, and the equally praised Johnson Grass,. 

 Sorglhum haleinnsQ. Both of these grasses are liable to be winter killed, and 

 neither of them start early enough to be valuable for spring use. Bermuda 

 Grass blossoms but does not produce seeds ; Johnson Grass has ripened seeds 

 freely for two years past. 



I have been especially interested in selecting and testing two or three 



