828 



EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



taken immediately after cutting and placed on a canvas to prevent loss of 

 weight other than moisture. When this forage had become sufficiently dry 

 the lots were placed in burlap bags and kept in an open shelter until they 

 ceased to lose weight. Composite samples of 2, 4, 6, and 8 lbs. of field-cured 

 forage, part from the outside and part from the inside of shocks, were secured 

 at the same time and from the same material as the 100-lb. lots before men- 

 tioned and allowed to become perfectly air-dry. Samples 4, 8, 12, and 16 lbs. 

 in size of green forage were taken immediately after cutting and were treated 

 similarly. Samples were replicated five or six times to check the variation due 

 to sampling. All samples were taken at the stage of maturity generally recog- 

 nized as the proper cutting time for each crop. The data secured are arranged 

 in tables and discussed. 



The study of the use of samples in correcting forage yields indicated that 

 air-dried samples, while a little less accurate than oven-drietl samples, can be 

 relied upon for all practical purposes in correcting forage yields. Much 

 greater extremes were found in the samples of field-cured material than in the 

 samples of green material. It is believed that with the proper care in sam- 

 pling correction by means of samples can be accurately made from either 

 green or field-cured material. The percentage of moisture in different crops 

 when these are ordinarily harveste<l for forage was as follows: Alfalfa at 

 Chico, Cal., 75 to 78 per cent, average 7G.9 per cent ; alfalfa at Arlington Farm, 

 Va., 74 to 76.5 per cent, average 75.2 per cent ; tall oat-grass and orchard-grass 

 mixture at Arlington Farm, Va., 71 to 73 per cent, average 72 per cent; 

 timothy at New London, Ohio, when in full bloom, average 67.2 per cent; 

 sorghum at Amarillo, Tex., 70 to 73 per cent, average 71.2 per cent. The 

 average amount of moisture found in field-cured material was as follow.*? : 

 Alfalfa, 22.3 per cent; timothy, 20.3 per cent; tall oat-grass and orchard-grass 

 mixture, 29 per cent ; sorghum, 43.2 per cent. It is stated that the moisture 

 content of field-cured material varies so widely that it can not be foretold 

 with accuracy. 



The following results were secured in the study of the relation of the mois- 

 ture content to the stage of development: Alfalfa at Chico. Cal., very young 

 (12 in. high), 7S.9 per cent; one-tenth in bloom, 77.1 per cent; full bloom, 

 74.6 per cent ; past full bloom, 73.4 per cent. Sorghum at Amarillo, Tex., very 

 young, 90.6 per cent ; shooting for heads, 87.1 per cent ; beginning to head, 

 84.8 per cent ; full bloom, 80.4 per cent ; seeil ripe, 75.3 per cent. The results 

 with sorghum at Hays, Kans., showed practically the same gradations as at 

 Amarillo, Tex. Timothy at New London, Ohio: Very young (10 to 12 in. 

 high), 77.5 per cent; ju.st heading, 76.6 per cent; early bloom, 71.4 per cent; 

 full bloom, 67.2 per cent ; leaves drying, 58.6 per cent ; seed mature, 51.2 per cent. 



The results of a study of the rate of loss of moisture in forage during the early 

 stages of curing are shown in the following table: 



ApproTimaie moiaturc losses in different crops during the first four hours 



of cm tup. 



Crop and location. 



Moisture loss. 



J hour. 



1 hour. 



2 hours. 



3 hours. 



i hours. 



Per cent. 



Alfalfa at Chico, Cal 



Alfalfa at Arlington Farm.Va 



Tall oat-grass and orchard grass at Arlington, Va. 



Timothy at New London, Ohio 



Sorghum at Hays, Kans 



Percent. 

 17 

 14 

 12 

 10 

 5 



Percent. 

 35 

 23 

 24 

 18 

 9 



Percent. 



Percent. 

 69 

 33 

 34 

 30 

 13 



