120 STATE AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE BULLETINS. 



season was a most unusual one throughout Michigan. The temperature at 

 the surface of the soil as shown by an uncovered thermometer is known to 

 be eight to ten degrees lower than the temperature at an elevation of four 

 feet indicated by a covered thermometer. Taking the record of a self- 

 registering covered thermometer at the college, at the elevation of four 

 feet, and calculating from it the temperature at the surface, it is shown 

 that there was frost several times during every month of that summer, 

 except July. At Grayling, which is 180 miles further north, the frosts 

 would be still more frequent and severe. To cold was added drouth, 

 which was probably more severe at Grayling than in the southern part of 

 the State. In spite of the cold and the drouth the action of spurry this 

 first season was encouraging. Is was placed next to winter vetch as a 

 promising plant for the plains. 



The next year gave better climatic conditions. The report says: 



The spurry has shown wonderful poductiveness and seed production. When partially 

 ripened and plowed under with a very shallow furrow it is self seeding, and produces 

 an abundant crop. Its value as a manurial plant on these light sands is pronounced. 

 When plowed under it seems to enrich the soil the most rapidly of all plants used. It 

 is valuable for a fodder plant, being eaten readily by cows and sheep. It is said to be 

 very valuable for cowS" giving milk. It is a plant of first value in bringing these sands 

 into productive fields. {Report Michigan State Board of Agriculture. 1889, page 81.) 



In 1890 the good opinion of spurry continued and increased. The 

 report says: 



Spurry still holds its high rank, and this crop is rapidly spreading in this region. 

 With many farmers it yields a great amount of forage and they find it is a profitable 

 crop to feed stock. 



The wonderful seed production gives it a good foothold in soils when once sown. 

 The introduction of this plant is a permanent benefit to the jack pine barrens. 



The work at the Grayling station has now been for two years in charge 

 of Dr. O. Palmer, who has become a strong advocate of spurry for light 

 lands. The use of it has spread to a considerable extent among the 

 farmers in that section, whose experience and opinions will be quoted 

 further on. Dr. Palmer writes me that every seed has seemed to ger- 

 minate, and the fields have presented a perfectly even growth of this 

 vine like plant, so thick and thoroughly entwined, that in walking through 

 it the foot has to be lifted entirely over it. or sufficient force used to 

 break the way for each succeeding step. Its average growth has been 

 from 12 to 15 inches in height on the natural soil, but reaching two 

 feet or more on some of the surrounding farms which have been enriched 

 to a greater or less extent, and cutting from one to two tons of forage 

 per acre. When ripe there is at the end of each stalk a round seed 

 vessel, about the size of a No. 6 shot, each vessel containing from one 

 to six seeds. The yield has been from eight to twelve bushels of seed 

 per acre. 



The soil for spurry requires the same preparation as for clover. The 

 seed may be sown and harrowed in the saine as clover seed. The seed 

 is smaller than clover seed, hence there are more in number to the 

 pound. When sown for fertilizer and forage, from six to eight quarts 

 should be sown per acre. This thick seeding gives an even field of 

 fine pasture and a heavy sward when cut for hay. When desired for 

 hay it should be cut after the seed has formed, but before it is ripe. 



