240 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



consists in growing corn and covvpeas together and ensiling the combined crop. The 

 advantages of the method are enumerated and discussed. The results of testing the 

 method are summarized as follows: "The total crop i)er acre was very slightly influ- 

 enced by the seeding of peas with corn, but the quality of the crop, from the j)rotein 

 standpoint, was improved thereby to the extent of 25 per cent. With the exception 

 of the cost of the pea seed and the expense of labor in the seeding, the mixed crop of 

 corn and peas can be worked and harvested at the cost entailed by the corn alone. 

 The density of the silage is so modified by the peas that in comparison with corn 

 alone an increase in capacity of from 35 to 40 per cent may l)e credited to a silo when 

 tilled with the nuxed crop." The cost per ton of material in the silos amounted to 

 $1.46. The method was also tested by a number of farmers and desirable results 

 were obtained. No serious ditBculties were encountered in harvesting the crops by 

 means of corn harvesters or in the use of silage cutters. The value of i)eas included 

 in the crop per acre is estimated at $2.50 based on results obtained in the most favor- 

 able case at an outlay of 50 and 20 cts. per acre for seed and labor respectively. 



The depth of plowing in flax culture, Kuhnert {Mitt. Deut. Landw. GeselL, 17 

 {190.'), No. 11, pp. 69-71). — Cooperative tests were made to determine the effect of 

 different depths of plowing on the growth of flax The land was plowed 12, 16, 20, 

 and 24 cm. deep. The results for this experiment were in favor of plowing 16 and 

 20 cm. deep, but the author does not draw definite conclusions from this single test. 



Hemp from the higher latitudes cultivated in France, E. Gain {Ann. Agron., 

 38 {1902), XiJ. '2, pip. 103-110). — Oljservations are reported on a comparison of Swed- 

 ish and French hemp at Nancy. The seed of the Swedish liemj) liad been produced 

 in Sweden at 63° north latitude, while the Freiu-h hemp was originally from Pied- 

 mont, which is at 45° north latitude. The results of experiments carried on for 

 three years show a constant proportion of 65 to 71 female plants to 100 male ]>lants 

 in the French hemp, while in the Swedish hemp the proportion of female to male 

 plants was much larger, but decreased each year. The indications are that this 

 decrease in the number of female plants is due to the change in climate and environ- 

 ment. The seed from the higlier latitude produced precocious and rajiidly develop- 

 ing i)lants, but rather light in weight. The author believes that by crossing the 

 French with the Swedish hemp a variety ripening earlier, having a shorter period 

 of growth, and producing a larger pnjportion of female plants may be obtained, but 

 that l)y such a process the size of the variety might possibly be reduced. 



Grasses and clovers in Idaho, H. T. French {Idaho Sta. Bui. S3, pp. 87-107). — 

 This bulletin describes briefly the value of orchard grass, tall meadow oat grass, 

 English rye grass, Italian rye grass, meadow fescue, Canadian blue grass, redtop, 

 timothy, brome grass, alfalfa, and the most common species of clover, and gives 

 directions for preparing the soil and seeding these different crops. 



A number of field and plat experiments are reported. Two fields of about 6 acres 

 each and each seeded down with a mixture of 40 lbs. of common red clover, 6 

 lbs. of alsike clover, 25 lbs. of orchard grass, 6 lbs. of meadow fescue, 5 11)S. of 

 English rye grass, 10 lbs. of timothy, and 4 lbs. of tall meadow oat grass at the 

 rate of 16 lbs. per acre gave good yields of hay and pasturage. A plat each 

 of orchard grass, tall meadow oat grass, meadow fescue, English rye grass and 

 brome grass sown at the rate of 20 lbs. per acre produced a good stand the 

 first season and withstood the winter perfectly. Sheep were pastured on part of 

 these plats to determine what grasses would be eaten fii'st and how they would 

 recover from close cropping. The grasses were eaten in the following order: Orchard 

 grass, meadow fescue, brome grass, rye grass, tall meadow oat grass. Orchanl grass 

 was the first to start a new growth, followed by oat grass, meadow fescue, brome 

 grass, and English rye grass in the order given. The hay harvested on the remam- 

 der of these plats showed that orchard grass and meadow fescue yielded 5,280 lbs. 



