FIELD CROPS. 939 



eties, Hungarian, English, Steinuiark, Transylvania, Russian, and German red 

 clovers. The American varieties survived the winter, but all the European varieties, 

 excepting Hungarian and Russian, were winterkilled. Th(> American clovers gave 

 the best yields, but the (juality of hay was slightly in favor of the European varieties, 

 being finer and comparativel}- free from dust. Expei'iments in growing clover with 

 and without a nurse crop resulted in the best stand on tlie plats where no nurse crop 

 was u.sed. On plats where the nurse crop jvas cut for hay l)etter results were 

 obtained than on plats where it was allowed to ripen. A culture test of Bromm 

 hwrmix resulted in a very heavy sod, but a rather light yield of hay. Sowing this 

 grass at the rate of 32 lbs. per acre gave better results than sowing Hi or 24 lbs. of 

 seed per acre. Soy beans grown at the station from Michigan-grown seed gave a 

 yield of 22 bu. of ripe seed beans per acre. The yield of green forage determined on 

 one plat was 4 tons per acre, equal to 2;^ tons of cured haj-. Heavy fall frosts 

 interfered with a culture test of I'owpeas, and further trials will 1»e undertaken. 



Records of seed distribution and cooperative experiments with, grasses and 

 forage plants, F. La-msox-Sciubxek {U. >S. Dept. Agr., Bureau of Phml IiKlustri/ 

 Bui. 10, pi>. 2.3). — This bulletin is a general report on the collection and distribution 

 of grass and forage plant seeds by this Department through the office of the Agros- 

 tologist and on the cooperative work in grass and forage plant investigations with a 

 number of State experiment stations. The manner of keeping the records of this 

 seed distribution is explained in detail, and the plan of conducting the cooperative 

 experiments and the line of work taken up with each station are fully described. 

 Tables are given showing the seed distribution in detail. From 1896 to 1901, inclu- 

 sive, 4,166 packages of seed were distributed to the experiment stations and 9,377 to 

 individuals, or a total of 13,543 packages. During the fiscal year 1900-1901, 16,101^ 

 ll)s. of seed, embracing 171 varieties, were distributed to experiment stations. The 

 forms of the articles of cooperation under which the work is carried on and which 

 are signed l)y the station officials and officials of this Department are presented. 



Causes operative in the formation of silage, S. M. Babcock and H. L. Russell 

 ( Wlscousin Sta. Rpt. 1901, pp. 177-184, fig- 1, table 1). — The results here recorded are 

 in continuation of work previously published (E. S. R., 13, p. 37). To determine 

 the temperature produced, the loss in weight, and the amount of gases evolved in 

 silage, cut field corn of average maturity was placed in 2 galvanized-iron receptacles 

 li ft. in diameter and 4 ft. high. These "silos" were hermetically sealed and 

 remained closed for 25 days. The changes in weight and temjierature, as well as the 

 temperature of the room, were observed daily. The initial maximum temperature 

 wa.s reached the first day after filling. For 12 days the temperature remained above 

 the room temperature, but from that time until the silos were opened it fluctuated 

 with the temperature of the room. When opened the .silage was in good condition 

 and there was no evidence of mold or bacterial decomposition. Three days after 

 opening, the temperature of the silage began to rise rapidly, reaching its maximum 

 of about 50° C, or 20° aljove the initial heating after about 10 days, when the tem- 

 perature again fell, but never reached that of the room. The total loss in the weight 

 of silage before opening, repre.'^enting the unavoidable lo.Mses, was about 1 percent. 

 After opening the silos the loss in weight was small until the temperature began to 

 rise, when it increased rapidly and amounted to nearly 1 lb. per day as the maxi- 

 mum tem[)erature was reached. In a separate experiment the rate and (quality of 

 gas evolveil from 40 lbs. of cut corn was determined and the observations are tabu- 

 lated. 



"The fact that Ijy far the larger pro[)ortion of gas evolved was thrown off in a 

 jteriod covered by the first 5 days is significant when considered with reference to 

 the metabolic changes that occur in the tissues as a result of the activity of the plant 

 cells themselves. If we as.^ume that the gas evolved was CO.,, . . . tlie loss in weight 

 due to the evolution of this gas would aiiin'oximate 1 pi-r cent, which is practically 



