490 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



season and the fact that a nurse crop was used in the shape of one bushel of 

 oats per acre, made it possible to secure a perfect stand, and the oats were left 

 as a mulch. Bromus inermis continues to give a good record, considering the 

 poor condition of the plot. Upon the lower portion the grass holds its own, 

 though the wet condition of the plot is indicated by cat tails creeping in. On the 

 dry portion of the plot the grass averaged 6i4 feet high when cut. The terraces 

 south of the creek are under way of being tile drained. When finished. It will 

 be possible to test all varieties of grasses under uniform conditions. 



Varieties of Lxipines tested for the first time, made a luxuriant growth and dis- 

 played a hardiness almost equal to Seradella, continuing to blossom until plowed 

 under in November. White Lupine. The very stout plants blossomed August 11, 

 producing numerous pods 3 to 3V2 inches long, none of which ripened seed. 

 Blossoms very large and ornamental, keel dark blue, with wings light blue tipped, 

 and standard nearly white. The very stout tap roots penetrated to a depth of 10 

 to 15 inches, many being provided with large nitrogen gathering tubercles. The 

 plants averaged 42 inches in height. Blue Lupine. Foliage darker green than the 

 last. The blossoms which appeared August 20 are equally large and ornamental; 

 base of standard golden yellow, fringed with white, balance and wings as well 

 as keel a deep sky blue. In other respects the same as the last, the plants aver- 

 aging 45 inches in height. Mixed Lupines proved to be a blue lupine of a different 

 and more slender growing variety, but fully as ornamental. Blossomed August 

 25 and reached a height of 38 inches. The varieties were not planted until June 

 20, and may possibly ripen seed if planted earlier. 



Australian Salt Bush and several varieties of Lathyrus proved to be as hardy 

 as the lupines, but were planted too late to give any definite results. Of three 

 varieties of cow-peas, Michigan Favorite, Neio Era and Black Eye none advanced 

 far enough to blossom. Soy beans are more promising of ultimate results. The 

 Ogemaw made the best growth during the season. Planted June 7, they blos- 

 somed August 7, setting numerous pods with beans in various stages of develop- 

 ment, though none ripened perfectly. The plants made a rank growth, averaging 

 38 inches in height. Two varieties of Sorghum, Amber cane and Albaugh Early 

 planted June S, were not fully headed out at the close of the season. Three 

 varieties of Broad Beans were planted June 16. Large German or Antwerp, blos- 

 somed July 20, and with earlier planting will no doubt ripen here. Except for 

 being somewhat soft, most of the beans ripened during this trial. The plants 

 are very stout and well able to stand up under the heavy load of pods which are 

 4 to 5 inches long. No injury was visible from light frosts, nor were all plants 

 destroyed by killing frosts of late September, many continuing to blossom until 

 the end of October, and when plowed under November 7 were found to have made 

 a new growth of 3 to 4 inches close to the ground. The roots were found supplied 

 with very large nodules, though none have even been found upon the roots of any 

 other variety of beans either during this or any preceding season. The plants 

 reached an average height of 42 inches. Broad Windsor blossomed July 20. The 

 plants like the last are usually single stemmed, erect and very stout. Except 

 for being smaller, the variety which averaged 38 inches high, resembles the last 

 and is equally promising. Japanese Small Soramame resembles the last two ex- 

 cept for being more dwarf and somewhat later. Blossomed August 3 and averaged 

 28 inches in height. Among the millets tested, Siberian is one of the hardiest and 

 best yielding varieties for hay. Early Fortune, a common fox tail variety has 

 some merits for hay, but proved inferior to Hungarian in this first test. Tambof 

 is a dark colored broom corn millet giving promise of better results, the variety 

 being hardy and early maturing. Owing to poor seed the stand was thin and the 

 plants short. Hog or Broom Corn millet gives best promise for ripening seed, 

 though it did not ripen perfectly during the past season. The plants averaged 

 5VL> feet high and are too coarse for hay, but would be well adapted for siloing. 

 German Edible is a variety, the seed of which is said to be used as food when 

 crushed and cooked with milk. As tested, the variety proved to be a fox tail millet 

 which could not be distinguished from the common German millet, and the seed 

 did not ripen, though planted June 6. Unsuccessful attempts have been made 

 at securing some seed of an edible millet which some years ago was introduced 

 in the northern part of the Upper Peninsula by Russian immigrants. The variety, 

 as seen at that time, was a broom corn millet, the seed of which was of large 

 size and ripened very early, the Russians claiming it to be superior to oat meal 

 for cooking purpose. Plants of the Sand or Hairy VctcJi are occasionally found as 



