DAIRY FARMING DAIRYING. 483 



The arrangement of soiling crops in 1896 and 1897 is described and 

 the yields in each case are given. In 1890 they furnished "a continu- 

 ous supply of food from May 1 to November 1, and the produce from 7 

 acres will supply sufficient roughage for 25 cows for the entire period." 

 In 1897, " with the exception of a week in June, when silage was used, 

 the dairy herd was fed entirely upon soiling crops from May 1 to Octo- 

 ber 20." The soiling crops in both years consisted largely of legumi- 

 nous crops grown alone or with oats or barley. 



Notes are given on the growing of the different soiling crops and 

 a test is reported on the comparative earliness, manner of growth, 

 and yield of 8 standard varieties of Canada field peas. "All varieties 

 stood up well. The crop was cut with a mowing machine while most 

 of the peas were in bloom. The Prussian Blue proved to be the best 

 yielder, while the Mummy, Green Field, and Green Scotch all made a 

 vigorous growth." 



The yields of milk upon the different soiling crops are tubulated. 

 The aim was to furnish an equivalent amount of dry matter from each 

 crop. 



"The feeding of the crimson clover resulted in a, gain iu milk flow on the part of 

 all the animals, the gain per day ranging from 3 to 3.5 lbs., an average per cow for 

 the whole of 1.8 lbs., or 8 per cent. In the comparison of the crimson clover and 

 mixed grasses there are 12 cases ranging from 0.7 to 2.2 lbs., with ;iu average of 1.3 

 lbs., or over 6 per cent. The mixed grasses consisted chiefly of red and white clover 

 and redtop. In the case of silage and mixed grasses, the silage being introduced for 

 comparison with green forage, there was a loss [on silage] in every case varying 

 from 0.1 to 2.8 lbs., with an average loss of 1.9, or over 7 per cent. 



"In the case of silage vs. oats and peas, and oats and peas vs. peas, but little differ- 

 ence in the average yield per cow is noticed, though individual differences are quite 

 marked. In the case of oats and peas rs. oats, and oats and peas vs. corn fodder, and 

 in corn fodder vs. millet, there are decided losses [on silage], ranging from 3 per 

 cent to over 7 per cent." 



The cost of milk production for one year, ending April 1, 1897, is 

 given. The herd averaged 23 cows for the year. 



"The average cost of the daily ration is 11.6 cts., and of this 4.99 is due to pur- 

 chased feeds and 6.61 to the cost of farm foods, so that the farm furnished 57 per 

 cent of the total food. This is not so large a proportion as is desirable, and is due 

 in part to the fact that there was but little roughage on hand when the station took 

 charge of the farm, on April 1, 1896; besides, no provision had been made for early 

 forage crops, as rye and clover, consequently a larger proportion of feeds was used 

 during the first 3 months of the year. The cost of food per quart of milk was 1.5 cts., 

 of which 0.646 is due to purchased feeds and 0.854 to farm crops. 



"[Taking into account the cost of labor and the interest on and the decrease iu 

 the value of the herd] the cost per hundred was $1.14. At $1 per hundred, the price 

 received in rural districts, cash profits from the business are not apparent. The 

 profits, if any, must be found in the manure heap. Iu the calculation of the cost of 

 farm foods the manure was charged at the rate of $1.50 per ton. Careful weighing 

 of the manure deposited in the stable shows that the amount produced averaged 60 

 lhs. per day per cow, or a total for the herd of 252 tous per year. 



"In selling for $1 per hundred, the receipts are $203.95 less than the expenses, this 

 difference representing the cost of the manure, which would be 81 cts. per ton. The 



