204 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



when in bloom, and soon after l)looniinj4, respectively. The hay from 

 the first and second cuttings at diflerent stnges was fed to cattle from 

 December 20 to February 21. As shown by the gains in weight "the 

 earliest cut alfalfa, both of the first and second crops, did better than 

 the latest cut, while for the second crop the result was almost identical, 

 Avhether it was cut early or cut at a medium period [in bloom]. , , . 

 The late cut alfalfa in 2 crops gave as large a yield as when cut early 

 and 3 crops taken. The only advantage that occurred from cutting 3 

 crops was the suj)eriority in its nutritive effect. That medium cut, or 

 cut at bloom, also yielded as much as when cut early. . . . On the 

 Avhole, the balance of effect is favorable to the early cutting, due to the 

 superior nutritive effect." 



Crimson (or scarlet) clover, E. B. Yoorhees {Xeic Jersey ^Stan. 

 Bui. 100, pp. 31). 



SynopsiH. — A study of the couipositiou of tops, stubble, and roots at differeut stages 

 of growth, and a discussion of tho value of crimson clover for giecu nianuriug, 

 for pasturage, and for soiling. Tlie roots attained practically their full weight 

 April 24, when tho plants were only 6 in. high, subsequent growth beiug made 

 almost entirely by the tops. A crop 6 in. high, April 24, contained in the entire 

 plant 103.7 lbs. of nitrogen per acre; 13 in. high, May 12, 108.3 lbs.; in l)looiu. 

 May 24, 189.6 lbs. ; and fully matured. May 31, 212 lbs. April 24 the digestible 

 matter in the tops amounted to 1,310 lbs. ; the crop cut May 12, 24, and 31 aver- 

 aged 2,834 lbs. of digestible matter per acre. 



Samples of the tops, stubble, and roots to a depth of 8 in. were taken 

 from 3 fields of crimson clover, 2 being in ^Middlesex County and 1 in 

 Gloucester County. These samples were taken at 4 stages of growth: 

 (1) April 24, when the plants were 5 to 7 in. high ; (2) May 12, when 12 

 to 14 in. high ; (3) May 24, when in bloom and 22 to 28 in. high; and (4) 

 May 31, when fully matured. In the sample taken at the earliest date 

 tops and stubble were not estimated separately. To determine the 

 relation between weights of toi)s, stubble, and roots areas of 1 sq. ft. 

 were used; to determine acreage yield 1 sq, rod was used, the average 

 weights per acre calculated from the larger area being 60.34 per cent of 

 those from the smaller area. 



Xumher of plmits per s<[i( are foot (p. 7). — This varied from 18 to 86, 

 though in every case the stand was considered good, the i^lants when 

 thin stooling abundantly. 



Percentages of the total dry matter of the plants in tojis, stubble, and 

 roots (j). 10). — Averaging the results from the different farms the tops 

 contained 67.3 per cent of the total dry matter of the plant April 24; 

 68.4 per cent May 12; 76.3 per cent May 24, and S2.6 per cent May 31. 

 The stubble contained 11 per cent of the total dry matter May 12; 8.3 

 per cent May 24, and 6.1 per cent May 31. The roots contained 32.7 

 per cent of the total dry matter Aj^ril 24 ; 20.7 per cent May 12 ; 15.4 per 

 cent May 24, and 11.3 per cent May 31. 



Composition of the dry matter of tops, stubble, and roots (pp. 11-14). — 



