THE EXPERIMENT IN MINNESOTA. 31 



Russian strains, but it outyielded every other variety used in the 

 experiment. It produced 5,610 pounds of cured hay to the acre, 

 whicli is more than three-fourths of a ton (1,612 pounds) better 

 than the average for all plats, almost 1,000 jiounds more than the 

 best American strain (that hoin eastern Ohio), and more than a 

 ton and a quarter (2,640 pounds) more than the lowest yield of the 

 domestic strains growing under like conditions (that from Wisconsin). 

 In addition to its great yielding power, the other excellent quahties 

 of this strain as observed in Nebraska were reproduced in South 

 Dakota. The marked absence of hairiness on both stems and leaves, 

 the erectness of habit, the profuseness of leafage, the comparative 

 lack of waste on account of hard, woody stems, and a number of 

 other desirable qualities were all strikingly apparent. 



THE EXPERIMENT IN MINNESOTA. 



LOCATIOX, SOir., AND DRAINAGE. 



The experiments in Minnesota were carried on on the University 

 farm at St. Anthony Park, with the cooperation of the division of 

 agriculture of the Experiment Station and School of Agriculture. 

 The w'ork here was instituted under the direction of Prof. W. M. Hays, 

 and is now being carried forward with the assistance of Mr. A. D. 

 Wilson, of the station staff. St. Anthony Park is located midway 

 between Minneapolis and St. Paul at about latitude 44° 58' N. and 

 longitude 93° 90' W. 



In this experiment tw^o series of plats were used on rather widely 

 separated fields. The plats of one series w^ere one-tw^entieth of an 

 acre in extent, and the product of these w^as used in determining by 

 weight the amount of green matter produced by each strain. The 

 plats of the other series had an area of one-fourth of an acre each, 

 and were devoted to securing data as to the production of cured hay. 

 According to Hays and Boss" both the soil and immediate subsoil 

 of the University farm are of medium texture, containing clay and 

 sand mixed in such proportions as to facilitate a rather free absorp- 

 tion of the rainfall which penetrates to a considerable depth and is 

 well conserved in seasons of moderate drought. At a depth of 5 

 or 6 feet, how^ever, the mixture of clay and sand gives way to gravel 

 and sand. This furnishes excellent underdrainage in years of 

 abundant or superabundant rainfall, but is a serious drawback in 

 years of drought, as it tends toward the dissipation of a part of the 

 w^ater supply of the crops through this deeper porous subsoil. The 

 surface drainage, as well as the underdrainage, of both areas used in 

 this experiment w^as excellent. 



a Bulletin No. 62, Agricultural Experiment Station, Uniyersity of Minnesota, March, 1899. 

 95 



