334 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. [Vol. 41 



Hay and pasture crops, grasses, clovers, etc., C. A. Zavitz and W. J. Sqxjib- 

 KELL (Ontario Dept. Ayr. Bui. 269 (1919), pp. 72, figs. 35). — Twenty-six varieties 

 of grasses and legumes suitalile for hay and pasture are described and illus- 

 trated, and tests conducted at the Ontario Agricultural College with different 

 pasture and hay crops, bt)th singly and in combination, are briefly noted. Mix- 

 tures are recommended for annual, temporary, and permanent pastures. 



Field experiments [in Ireland], 1918 (Dept. Agr. and Tech. Instr. Ireland 

 Jour., 19 {1919), No. 2, pp. i6'6»-208).— Contiuuing work previously noted (E. S. 

 II., 40, p. 434) this report describes fertilizer, variety, and cultural tests with 

 potatoes, mangels, oats, turnips, and wheat. 



[Report of field crops work in Assam], J. W. McKay and A. A. Meggitt 

 {Ann. Rpt. Agr. Expts. Assam, 1918, pp. l-Jf6+76-146). — This comprises a de- 

 tailed account of work previously mentioned (E. S. R., 40, p. 523). 



Legumes, Sudan grass, and cereal crops for silage, C. H. Eckles {Missouri 

 Sta. Bui. 162 (1019), pp. 3-25, fig. i).— Experimental work conducted during the 

 period of 1913 to 1917, inclusive, is described in which observations were made 

 on the relative value for silage of field peas and oats, soy beans, cowpeas, alfalfa, 

 red clover, sweet clover, Sudan grass, wheat, and rye. The different materials 

 were analyzed for total moisture, total dry matter, protein, ether extract, ash, 

 crude fiber, and nitrogen-free extract when placed in the silo and again v/hen the 

 silage was removed from the silo. Small experimental silos previously described 

 (E. S. E,., 85, p. 270) were employed. The results secured are fully discussed, 

 and may be summarized as follows : 



Under proper conditions legume crops may be successfully preserved in the 

 silo, although as a I'ule it is thought best to preserve them as hay on account 

 of the much greater weight to be handled if put into the silo and the lack of 

 suitable machinery for handling the green crop in the field. When legumes 

 are put in the silo, in addition to ordinary precautions concerning the exclu- 

 sion of the air, it is deemed essential that the proper amount of dry matter be 

 present in the material. A dry-matter content of approximately 40 per cent 

 was found to give the best results. It is stated that while legumes cut for 

 hay may contain as low as 20 to 25 per cent dry matter, if put into the silo 

 under these conditions the silage will have an exti;pmely disagreeable odor when 

 removed and be almost worthless for feeding purposes. The wide variation in 

 results from using legumes for silage as reported in agricultural literature is 

 believed to be largely explained by the dry-matter content of the materials 

 used. Sufficient dry matter to insure proper preservation in the silo may be 

 assured by allowing the crop to reach a suitable stage of maturity before cut- 

 ting, or in case the crop has not attained the necessary maturity, by allowing 

 the forage to lie in the field from five to six hours after cutting before putting 

 into the silo. 



It was found that ordinarily alfalfa could not be allowed to stand in the 

 field until the proper stage of maturity was reached, and except in dry seasons 

 when the dry-matter content of the plant is abnormally high it is recommended 

 that it be allowed to lie in the field from four to six hours before placing in 

 the silo. Canada peas and oats were in condition to go into the silo when the 

 pea pods were becoming yellow and the oat heads were showing the first indi- 

 cations of ripening. Clover contained the proper amount of dry matter when 

 allowed to stand until somewhat more than one-half of the blossoms were 

 brown. Soy beans and cowpeas were ready for silage when the beans were 

 well developed and the pods beginning to turn yellow. Due to wide variations 

 in condition and time of planting, it is said to be necessary frequently to put 

 cowpeas in the silo before the proper stage of maturity is reached, and that 

 under such conditions partial drying in the fiel5 is essential to good results. 



