597 



With tliis season, and (lio lent^Mi of tiiiid allowed in So])t(*inber before harvesting, 

 ^iviiig 145 days hetweon phmtiiif; and hai'vest, the largo late-growing varieties have 

 liroved to yield greater crops, and ajso larger amounts of dry matter per acre than the 

 smaller varieties. * * * To shorten tlicrsc^ason much would pnt a different aspect 

 on the ratio of yields from all our varieties, and it is doubtful if the large varieties 

 could still lead under the dill'erent order of things. 



It is probable that the dry matter of these varieties which have been cut at differ- 

 ent periods of growth, has a different relative composition, and hence a somewhat 

 dill'erent feeding value. But it is hardly to bo expected that these changes in the 

 aliovecrop could etiual the din'eiouces in yield in favor of the large varieties. 



Tests of varieties of beets and carrots for cattle food (pp. 273-275). — 

 Tabulated data ibr 15 varieties of beets and 5 oi' carrots. 

 ' Fertilizer experiments tvith grass (pp. 275-288). — An experiment made 

 in 18S8 was reported in Bulletin No. 13 (new series) and the Annual 

 Report of the station for 1888, pp. 310-313 (See Ex[)eriment Station 

 Bulletin No. 2, p. 165). The experiments in this line in 1881) were (1) 

 on one of the series of plats used in 1888, which received no further 

 ap[)lications of fertilizers; (2) on a new series of plats fertilized in the 

 same way as those used in 1888, except that the sulphate of potash was 

 of double strength but in half the amount used the previous year; (3) 

 on a third series of plats where nitrooenousfertilizers were chiefly used. 

 Timothy, alsike and red clover, yellow trefoil, and wiro-grass {Poa 

 compressa) were the varieties grown on all the plats in 1889. Details 

 are given in notes and tables. The following summary is taken from 

 the report : 



(1) On this farm, with our heavy clay soil, nitrogen in an easily soluble form is the 

 predominant element for the grass family. 



(2) Together with other elements, phosphoric acid and potash do not seem to bo 

 needed by this soil, though applications of Ihcse two elements, separately and com- 

 bined, add a considerable percentage to the crop, yet not enough to bring a i:)rofit for 

 the application. 



(:'.) Of the. easily soluble but costly nitrogen salts, light applications are more 

 proiitalile than greater, and the cheaper and more soluble sodium nitrate than the 

 other lV>rms tried. 



(4) It is probable that two or three applications, preceding light rain, wouldprove 

 more piolitable than a single ai)plication, especially if it should be followed by heavy 

 rain. 



(;')) This single season's trials of cotton-seed meal and wheat bran indicate that 

 they can be profitably used as sources of nitrogen for top dressing grass lands. 



(G) The effect of sjiiing a])plications of easily soluble nitrogenous fertilizers seems 

 to be aViout exhausted during the season. 



(7) Tlio second season's influence of phosphoric acid and potash seems to have been 

 to increase the clover or leguminous idants relatively to timothy or graminaceous 

 ]»lants. 



Test of varieties of harley {\^Y,. 2^^, 289).— Notes and tabulated data 

 for 1 varieties. 



Warm water for milch cotvs (pp. 290-294). — Notes and tabulated data 



are given for an experiment in which one cow was given water at 90^ 



Fah. for 10 days (March 5-14), and at 3()0 Fah. for 10 days (March 15-24). 



A contrivance used in heating the water is described and illustrated. 



L'.jDOU— No. 10 5 



