20 



GRASS LANDS OF THE SOUTH ALASKA COAST. 



l^robable, however, that a variety of timothy suited to the conditions 

 might readily be secured by selection, as chance specimens of the 

 plant seen Avere very fine. The success of such a selection, however, 

 will largely depend on the jjossibility of growing seed in Alaska. 



Among other useful grasses that have become accidentally intro- 

 duced and show marked adaptability to the conditions are redtop, 

 rough-stalk meadow grass, bluegrass, and fowl meadow grass. 



AVhite clover thrives everywhere along the coast and is an aggres- 

 sive plant. Red clover and alsike are not promising and alfalfa 

 does not thrive. 



In the way of cereals, the earliest varieties of oats and barley will 

 mature for two or possibly three out of five seasons. Of course, such 

 a crop is not entirely lost if the grain fails to mature, as it can be 

 utilized as hay or silage. On this account it will probably be w'isest 

 to grow the crop mixed with field peas, as such a mixture will make 

 excellent silage, whereas oats alone could only be preserved as hay, a 

 difficult thing to do so late in the season. It is to be clearly under- 

 stood that under j^resent conditions it is unnecessary to plant any 

 cultivated ground in such crops as grass, or perhaps even legumes. 

 The above facts are of value simply as indicating what well-known 

 forage plants will thrive, thus to some extent showing the future 

 agricultural possibilities of Alaska. 



SILAGE ALONE AS A RATION FOR MILCH COWS. 



The writer has been unable to find any published data on results 

 obtained by feeding milch cows nothing but grass silage. Presuma- 

 bly the best of results would not thus be obtained. 



In order to obtain some light on the subject. Dr. James Withy- 

 combe, director of the Oregon Exjjeriment Station, Avas requested to 

 conduct such a test. The results of his experiment are reported as 

 follows : 



The silage test was made on a nonbreeding Jersey cow which fi-eshened in 

 February, 1902. In January, 1904, this cow Avas fed largely on silage, with a 

 moderate amount of mill feed and light ration of hay as a preliminary prepara- 

 tion. From February 1 to April 30 she was fed wholly on corn silage and a light 

 ration of ground oats daily. She consumed during the ninety days' feeding 

 3,78.5 pounds of corn silage and 270 pounds of the oat chop. The following table 

 shows variation in weight and her production : 



Date. 



December 1. 



January 1 



February 1 . 



Date. 



Weight. 



March 1 

 April 1. 

 April ,30 



Lbs. 

 925 



890 

 860 



Milk. 



Lbs. 

 195 

 221 



Aver- 

 age 



test. 



P. ft. 

 5.8 

 5.5 



Fat. 



Lbs. 

 11.31 

 12.15 



