502 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



very efficient in destroying blackbirds which had been troublesome in the corn 



fields. 



The arrangement of soiling crops during the season of 1903, so as to furnish a con- 

 tinuous supply of forage for the dairy herd from May 1 to October 20, is tabulated, 

 together with the yields per acre of green material and of nutrients. ' ' The total yield 

 per acre for all crops in the year's rotation shows a profitable return. Leaving out 

 of consideration the crops that were turned under, and the mixed grasses, which 

 were not in the regular rotation, 6 acres yielded less than 10 tons, 11 acres yielded 

 more than 10 tons and less than 15, 4 yielded over 15 and less than 20, while one 

 yielded over 20 tons. The average yield per acre for the crops in the regular rota- 

 tions, not including those turned under, was 12.15 tons." 



Forage v. silage (pp. 363, 364). — For 7 years past the coarse fodder has consisted 

 of soiling crops from May to November, and of silage for the remaining 6 months. A 

 summary of the records of the dairy herd for that period "shows the average yield 

 of milk per cow during the soiling and silage periods to be 3,402 and 3,024 lbs., 

 respectively, a difference of 378 lbs. in favor of soiling. The average yield of butter 

 was 171.3 lbs. for the soiling period and 154.5 for the silage period, a difference of 

 16.8 lbs., also in favor of soiling. The average percentage of fat for the two periods 

 was practically the same." The number of fresh cows each month during the year 

 was quite uniform, so that the comparison was thought to be a fair one. 



Experiments with nitrate of soda on mixed grasses, rye, wheat, barley, cowpeas, and 

 millet (pp. 364, 365).— The use of nitrate of soda at the rate of 150 to 200 lbs. per 

 acre was accompanied by a gain in yield, ranging from 0.7 ton in the case of barley 

 to 1.7 tons for rye, and a financial gain ranging from $1.55 on barley to $2.23 on 

 wheat. The nitrate was most effective when applied early in the season on early 

 crops. 



Seeding grass on sod without grain (p. 365). — This practice, which is not a common 

 one among farmers, has proved an excellent one at the station. There has never 

 been failure to secure a good stand. 



Inoculation experiments with alfalfa (pp. 366-374) . — These experiments were carried 

 on in 45 small cylinders sunk in the ground. Typical soils were obtained from 8 

 different localities, and these were inoculated with soil and with soil infusion. In 

 other cases the soil was not inoculated, but received a dressing of nitrate of soda at 

 the rate of 147 lbs. per acre. The conclusions from the first year of the experiment 

 were as follows: 



" (1) Inoculation with alfalfa bacteria in 'soil solution ' and in 'soil' produced an 

 average gain of 40.2 and 9.1 per cent, respectively, in two crops of alfalfa, over 

 cylinders not inoculated. 



" (2) All soils did not respond alike to inoculation. A variation of to 83 per 

 cent was noted in case of inoculation with ' soil solution,' and 30.7 to 43.9 per cent 

 where the inoculation was made with 'soil.' It should be noted, however, that in 

 the latter instance the loss of 30.7 per cent was due, in part at least, to a poor stand 

 of alfalfa. 



" (3) A wide variation was found in the natural adaptability of soils in different 

 parts of New Jersey for growing alfalfa. A difference of 118 per cent was noted in 

 groups of cylinders containing the different kinds of soil. 



" (4) Cylinders inoculated with ' soil solution ' produced 11.1 per cent more alfalfa 

 the first season than those treated with nitrate of soda at the rate of 147 lbs. per acre, 

 costing $3.31." 



Cost of producing milk (pp. 374-377). — During the year ended April 1, 1903, the herd 

 of 34 cows consumed grain feed to the amount of $836.85 and coarse fodder amounting 

 to $648.80, making a total cost of food for the year of $1,485.65, an average of 11.97 

 cts. per cow daily. The cost of the grain feed represents what was actually paid for 

 it; that of the hay, cornstalks, and soiling crops represents the actual cost of labor, 



