144'^ FOKAGK CROPS, MKADOWS AND PASTURES 



as the maturation of the plant progresses, while the ash and crude protein 

 decrease. The total amount of any or all nutrients produced per acre,depends 

 to a large extent on the yield, as was shown by the fact that in 1914 the 

 greatest amount of nutrients was obtained in the bud stage, while in 1915 

 the full bloom gave the greatest amount. The leaves and stems differ in 

 content of ash, ether and nitrogen free extract, but the greatest difference 

 is in the per cent of crude protein and crude fibre. The leaves contain, 

 over 2 ^ times as much protein as the stems, while the stems contain over 

 2 ^ times as much crude fibre as the leaves. As in harvesting and han- 

 dling lucerne there is a large loss of leaves, the hay conies to be richer in 

 crude fibre and poorer in crude protein. 



The alfalfa cured in the sun has a larger pure protein content, as deter- 

 mined by Stutze's method, than that cured in the shade. This difference 

 is so great as to more than offset the influence of the loss of leaves, and it 

 was also most pronounced in the alfalfa cut in the earlier stages. 



The adjoined Table sums up the principal results of the experiments. 



To sum up, the feeding value of hay is affected not only by mechanical 

 losses due .to handling, and the changes due to bacterial action, but also 

 by chemical changes which have hitherto been little noticed or miderstood. 



1077- Studies of the Timothy Plant. — waters, n. J. in University ri Missouri, Collese 

 01 Agriculture, Agricultmal Experiment Station, Research Bulletin, in, pp. i-68, 37 fig. 

 -f 19 tables. Columbia, Missouri, June lyiS- 



Kxperiments have been conducted to determine the influence of the 

 stage of maturit}'- of timothy upon the yield, composition, digestibility and 

 the nutritive value of the hay and also upon its palatability to animals. The 

 investigations were begun in i8g6 and continued with more or less inter- 

 ruption till 1909. The cutting of the timothy was done at dift'erent stages 

 of maturity ; i) about June 12th, when the plants were just in full head ; 

 2) about June 20th, when the plants were in full bloom ; 3) about July ist, 

 when the seed had formed; 4) about July 8th, when the seed was in dough ; 

 5) about July i6th, when the seed was ripe but not fallen. Harvesting and 

 analysis were carried out in the usual way. In the first digestion trial two- 

 year old high grade Shorthorn steers were used, and in the others, yearling 

 grade Shorthorn steers. Tests of palatability were made with yearling 

 beef .steers fed on hay alone ; with Jersey cows in milk, fed with silage, 

 corn, stover and mixed grain, in addition to the ha}' under test; and with 

 yearling sheep fed only with mixed grain and the hay under test. 



The following results were obtained : 



The yield of cured hay. In two years, the yields of hay were greatest 

 from the fourth cutting, when the seed was in the dough stage ; in two 

 years, the yields were greatest from the third cutting when the seeds were 

 beginning to form ; and in one year, from the fifth cutting, when the 

 plants were fully ripe. The average result of all the trials shows the 

 largest yield from the third cutting, when seeds were beginning to form. 

 If the yield from the third cutting were expressed as 100, the yields 

 from the other cuttings would be 99.3 for the fourth cutting, 93.8 for the 

 second, 89.7 for the fifth and 89.4 for the first. Thus, the difference 



