584 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



The average of the daily consumption in each feeding 

 period is stated in the subsequent record of the experiment. 

 One-fourth ( five pounds ) of the adopted full daily hay 

 ration has been retained in our green fodder diet for the 

 purpose of preventing disorders in the digestion of a liberal 

 quantity of green fodder. 



The green fodder diet has produced in two cases, cow pea 

 and serradella, a decided temporary increase in the quantity 

 of milk w^lien compared with the English hay diet. The 

 substitution of three-fourths of the full hay ration by cow 

 pea and serradella has given also satisfactory results as far 

 as the quality of the milk, the n6t cost of feed and the gen- 

 eral condition of the animals on trial are concerned. The 

 serradella leads as a rule. 



The substitution of hay by the mixed crop of vetch and 

 oats has not shown in some directions as decisive advan- 

 tages. This circumstance may find its explanation in the 

 future by the fact that our mixed crop, vetch and oats, con- 

 sisted of one-tenth in dry weight of vetch to nine-tenths of 

 that of oats ; it ought to contain from one to two or equal 

 weights. The vetches rank among the better class of fodder 

 crops furnished by the great and important family of legu- 

 minous plants. Green vetch when fed with green oats is 

 more relished by cattle than when fed alone. 



The cost of green fodder is based on that of hay, $15.00 

 per ton, allowing two tons of hay, with 15 per cent, of 

 moisture, as the average produce of English hay per acre. 

 This mode of valuation has been adopted on account of the 

 entire absence of market prices as far as green vetch, cow 

 pea and serradella are concerned. These crops, as a rule, 

 rank higher in the scale of an agricultural valuation than 

 the meadow grass. 



Produce Per Acre of Green Crops raised on the Station Grounds. 



6.80 tons of grass at 75 per cent, moisture, equals 2 tons at 15 i)er cent- 

 moisture. 



10.89 tons of vetch and oats at 7:).."G per cent, moisture, equals 1.8 tons 

 at 15 per cent, moisture. • 



9.5G tons of cow pea at 80.62 per cent, moisture, equals 2.4 tons at 15 

 per cent, moisture. 



9.50 tons of serradella at 80.14 per cent, moisture, equals 2.2 tons at 15 

 per cent, moisture. 



