266 



The differences in the total yield, pi-otein, ash, and fat, for the two 

 dates, are doubtless Avithin the limits of error in determinations, so 

 that the real difference in the crop at the two cuttings is in the crude 

 liber and the constituents of the nitrogen -free extract, sugars, starch, 

 etc. Among the other inferences are that, for the greatest amount of 

 nutriment, corn sJiould not be cut before the grain has reached the 

 milk stage of the kernel. ^Miether this stage or a later one is best to 

 secure the maxinnnn of digestible matter must be found by further 

 experimenting. 



LucERN, OR ALFALFA (pp. 121-129). — Here are given a l)rief history 

 of this plant, statements of several experimenters regarding its value, 

 analyses of alfalfa as compared witli wheat bran and red clover hay, 

 an account of a feeding experiment to test the digestibility of alfalfa, 

 and notes on the preparation of the soil and methods of planting and 

 curing with reference to this crop. The result of the Station's 

 experience with alfalfa for seven years is thus svmimarized: 



1. Lueern, or alfalfa, may be successfully grov.-n in New York State. 



2. When once established it tlirives well upon (.-lay land. l)ut will jn-obably do 

 l>etter upon good light loam. 



3. Seed two years old loses its vitality and fails to germinate. Undoulitedly 

 many of the failures to secure a stand of plants may be traced to poor seed. 



4. The seed bed umst be well prepared, and. in this latitude, it seems best to 

 plant out the seed in the spring and with no other crop. The seed should be 

 but lightly covered by rolling the ground. 



5. For seven successive years at the Station three and four cuttings per year 

 have been taken from the plats. 



<;. Last year, the sixth in succession, the jdats yielded more than 1.3 tons per 

 acre of green forage, equal to 5.6 tous of alfalfa hay. 



7. Alfalfa should be cut in early bloom, before the plants become woody. 



8. It should be cured largely in the cock to produce the best quality of hay. 



9. By chemical analysis the hay was foimd to be more nitrogenous than good 

 red clover. 



10. Cattle, sheep, and horses all relished the hay and seemed to do well. 



11. It was found to be more digestible than red clover hay. 



12. If farmers would try this crop, we advise them to begin with a small piece 

 of well-prepared land, in order to see whether alfalfa does as well with them 

 as it has at the Station. 



13. Probably success with alfalfa will depend largely upon ha\ing fresh seed, 

 a good, carefully jn-epared seed bed. and in co\ering the seed lightly with soil. 



BULLETIN No. 17 (NEW SERIES), OCTOBER, 188U. 



Cattle foods and feeding rations, P. Collier, Ph. D. {pp. 

 131-156). — In the introduction it is stated that — 



New York State has one and a half million milch cows, probably producing 

 on an average less than 3,000 pounds of milk per year ; and the average annual 

 butter product per cow for the State is undoubtedly less than 130 pounds. This 

 should not be. when there are whole herds averaging 300 and some 400 pounds 

 of butter per year for each cow. Animals producing these by no means phenom- 

 enal yields are not confined to any particular breed, and are often grades of our 

 so-c;dled native or no-breed animals. Proper selection, systematic breeding, and 



