38 HATCH EXPERIMENT STATION. [Jan. 



Flat Pea. — The past is our second season with this much- 

 lauded fodder plant. The germination last year was slow 

 and imperfect. This year the plants have been gathered 

 upon a lesser area, some being taken up to fill vacancies on 

 the part left. The soil is light and dry. We have in the 

 two seasons been at a very considerable expense, and as yet 

 have no fodder; but, as the plant is perennial, this may 

 come later. It is hardy with us upon light «oil. 



Mummy field peas are larger than the common Canada 

 field pea, and about one-fourth to one-half more seed should 

 be sown. We used at the rate per acre of one bushel of 

 each with two bushels of oats for fodder. The mummy 

 variety was not thick enough. In one respect it appears 

 superior to the Canada; viz., it lodges less. This differ- 

 ence may, however, have been in part due to the fact that 

 the mummy variety was the thinner in the field. The yields 

 of the two fodder mixtures, as determined by calculation 

 based upon small equal areas, were : oats and Canada pea, 

 21,760 pounds, and oats and mummy pea, 19,040 pounds, 

 per acre. 



Trial of Hay Caps. 



Three kinds of hay caps have been subjected to careful com- 

 parative tests. The kinds tried were the Symmes' paper-board 

 cap, oiled cotton, and cotton impregnated with tannin. The 

 first was not fastened in place, its weight and construction 

 rendering this less necessary than for the other forms. It, 

 however, sometimes blew off" in high winds. The others 

 were fastened on by means of pins attached to cords at the 

 corners. 



Three trials were made, two with clover ro wen which had 

 been dried one day, and one with barn-yard millet which 

 had been dried three days. After the caps were put on 

 the first trial continued seven days ; the second, two days ; 

 the third, with millet, seven days. During each trial there 

 were one or more showers. In every trial the use of the- 

 cap was very beneficial. The paper cap excluded the rain 

 most perfectly, and the hay in each trial came out in best 

 condition. There was not, much difference in the condition 

 of the hay under the other two kinds of caps. As the 



