958 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



duced is inferior to that of timothy and the yield is not as heavy. In dry weather 

 it withers and remains dormant several weeks. 



Hairy vetch gave a cutting of 3 tons of hay per acre. On the rich soil of the 

 station it is inclined to lodge badly. Its trailing nature makes it difficult to harvest 

 and causes the portions next to the ground to decay, making them unfit for stock. 

 It makes a fine fall and early spring pasture when sown with winter rye. 



P^lax was sown during the season, but Avas destroyed by an undetermined disease. 

 Early Amber sorghum, seeded July 18, in rows 18 in. apart, at the rate of 2 pk. of seed 

 per acre, yielded about 9. 75 tons of cured forage per acre. It has been a very satis- 

 factory soiling crop for com'S, but should not be cut until it begins to tassel, as pre- 

 vious to that time it is not so palatable to stock. 



Experiments in treating oat seed for smut with 1 lb. of formaldehyde to 50 gal. of 

 water, 1 lb. to 25 gal. of water, and 1 lb. to 10 gal of water, respectively, indicate 

 that none of these strengths is injurious to the germinating properties of the seed. 

 Any of these solutions is a verj' effective remedy against oat smut. The seed should 

 be submerged in the solution for at least 20 minutes and then spread out to dry. 

 Wet seed will not work well in a grain drill, but if it must be used the drill should 

 be set to sow 1 bu. more per acre than when sowing dry oats. 



Work in plant breeding at the station under way is briefly noted. 



Cultivated, forage crops of the Northwestern States, A. 8. Hitchcock ( U. S. 

 Dt'pt. Agr., Burfnn of PJcwl Juiliistrij Bu/. SI, pp. 2S, })U.7). — This bulletin presents 

 a brief discussion of the forage resources in that portion of the country extending 

 from Colorado and central California to Montana and Washington. This area is 

 divided into the Great Plains, Rocky Mountain, Great Basin, Interior Valley of 

 California, upper Pacific coast, and Palouse regions. The forage conditions in these 

 different regions are considered separately. The crops of greatest importance are 

 alfalfa, timothy, redtop, awnless brome grass, velvet grass, and clovers, and those of 

 minor importance, Kentucky blue grass, orchard grass, cheat, perennial rye grass, 

 rape, field peas, and vetches. The value of each of these crops is pointed out. 

 Alfalfa is discussed at some length with reference to its general conditions, its feeding 

 value, and the methods of seeding and hay making. Notes are also given on the use 

 of grain for hay and the methods and advantages of baling hay. 



Alfalfa, its chemical development, H. Snyder and J. A. Hum.mel {Minue.wta 

 Sid. Bill. ^0, pp. 149-17 1, Jig^. '>). — A description of alfalfa is given, together with 

 directions for the culture of the crop. The observations of a number of farmers with 

 reference to alfalfa growing are reported. 



The chemical development of the plant was studied at the station. Samples of 1 

 sq. yd. each of Western alfalfa were taken on June 3, 10, and 24, and of Turkestan 

 alfalfa on June 3 and 10, and analyzed. The samples taken June 3, when the first 

 blossoms were just appearing, contained the highest percentage of total nitrogen and 

 proteid nitrogen and the least percentage of fiber. The results of the analyses and 

 the numlier of grams of nutrients yielded by 1 sq. yd. at the different stages are 

 tabulated. 



Analyses of similar samples of the second crop taken June 30 and July 7, 14, 22, 

 and 29 in general corroborate the results of previous experiments. The total nitro- 

 gen and ether extract decreased regularly and the fiber increased as the growth of 

 the crop progressed. "The crop reaches the condition most suitable for cutting at 

 the time when one-third of the blossoms have appeared. After this a larger amount 

 of much inferior hay is obtained." 



The proportion of dry matter in the leaves and stems was determined in samples 

 taken at intervals of 4 days from June 3 to Jime 30. The analyses of the dry matter 

 of these samjiles is given in the following table: 



