604 . EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



Experiments vithfeedimj oat and jjea feed and straw v. oat and pea hay (pp. 278-284) . — 

 Oat and pea straw and oat and pea feed combined was compared with oat and pea 

 hay in rations containing silage and cotton-seed meal in addition. The protein and 

 fat were practically the same in both rations. The hay ration contained more dry 

 matter and carbohydrates. The test was made with 2 lots of 2 cows each and lasted 

 30 days. The straw and feed ration produced 2.6 per cent more milk and 5.96 per 

 cent more fat than the hay ration. The cost of milk production on the 2 rations was 

 respectively 61.6 cts. and 49.9 cts. per 100 lbs., and the cost of butter production 11.9 

 and 10 cts. per pound. The hay ration, though producing less milk, was more profit- 

 able. A greater gain in live Aveight was also made on this ration. 



Farm roads (pp. 284, 285). — Roads were constructed of (1) cinders, (2) cinders and 

 gas lime, and (3) cinders and stone lime. The road constructed of cinders alone was 

 always dry and stood traffic well for a short time but needed frequent repairs. The 

 road constructed of gas lime and cinders in the proportion of 1 to 5 has been in use 

 for 3 years and required no repairs. The odor of the lime is considered the only 

 objection to this form of farm road. The use of slaked lime in place of gas lime, 

 while more expensive, has given equally good results, without the presence of the 

 disagreeable odor. 



Description of the nev) wing of the dairy barn (jip. 286, 287). — The building is a one 

 story frame structure 32 by 38 ft. providing stalls for dairy cattle. 



Cost of producing milk (pp. 287-290). — Data for the cost of producing milk during 

 the year are given and compared with similar data for previous years. The average 

 cost of milk pioduction for 5 years, including food, labor, and interest and decrease 

 in the value of the herd, was 2.38 cts. per quart. 



Soiling crop rotation (pp. 291-293). — Tal)ulated data are given for the various 

 combinations of crops supplying forage to the dairy herd from May 1 to November 1. 



Dairying in relation to soil exhaustion (i^p. 293-295). — The amounts of fertilizing 

 elements contained in the feeds purchased and in the milk produced by the dairy 

 herd for 5 years are shown in tabular form. The total gain in fertilizing elements 

 to the farm is estimated as equivalent to the nitrogen in 18.5 tons nitrate of soda, the 

 phosphoric acid in 20.4 tons acid phosphate, and the potash in 1.78 tons of high 

 grade muriate of potash. If no feeds had been purchased the exhaustion of nitrogen 

 would have been in greater jiroportion than the mineral elements. 



Record of dairy herd (pp. 295-303). — A monthly record of 26 cows is given for the 

 year ended April 1, 1901. The average yield of milk per cow was 6,545 11 )S. and the 

 average fat content of the milk 4.29 per cent. The waste in handling and delivering 

 milk (luring the year was 5.5 per cent. 



Alfalfa, cQ-wpeas, and crimson clover as substitutes for purchase feeds. 

 Home-grown protein /■. purchased protein, C. B. Lane {Netv Jersey Stas. Bui. 

 161, pp. 23, pis. 4)- — In 3 feeding experiments which are reported in detail compari- 

 sons were made of home-grown rations and rations containing purchased feeds. 



Alfalfa hay V. purchased feeds (pp. 4-11). — The alfalfa hay ration consisted of 13 

 lbs. of alfalfa hay and 30 lbs. corn silage, and the feed ration of 5 lbs. mixed hay, 

 30 lbs. corn silage, 6 1V)S. wheat bran, and 5 lbs. dried brewers' grains. The 2 rations 

 contained practically the same amount of protein. The nutritive ratios were 1:5 and 

 1:6.1 respectively. The test was made with 2 lots of 2 cows each and lasted 32 days. 

 The feed ration produced 4.15 per cent more milk and 4.16 per cent more butter 

 than the alfalfa ration. The fat content of the milk was the same for both rations. 

 The cost of producing 100 lbs. of milk on the alfalfa ration was 55.9 cts., and on the 

 feed ration 83.9 cts., and the cost of producing 1 lb. of butter on the 2 rations was 

 respectively 11.1 and 16.7 cts. While more milk was jiroduced on the feed ration, 

 the alfalfa ration was more profitable. A greater gain in live weight was made on 

 the alfalfa ration. Alfalfa is therefore considered a valuable crop for dairy jiurposes. 



