196 MASS. EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETIN 280 



Additional evidence of the superior palatability of timothy as a pasutre grass 

 was secured. Holstcin cows did not discriminate between timothy, Kentucky 

 blue grass and redtop in the early stages of growth ; but from the time the grasses 

 were four inches or more high, the preference was first, timothy; second, redtop; 

 third, Kentucky blue grass. 



In cooperation with the Department of Animal Husbandry, a test was made 

 of the Jerusalem artichoke as a midsummer and late summer pasture crop for 

 dairy cattle. It was found that the crop furnished pasturage comparable in 

 amount to that supplied by the temporary crops, oats, Sudan grass and Japanese 

 millet. Most of the animals used in the experiment were slow in becoming accus- 

 tomed to the new crop, though some ate it very readily. 



Legume Variety Tests. (Wni. L. Jones and A. B. Beaumont in coopera- 

 tion with E. A. Hollowell, Bureau of Plant Industry, U. S. D. A.). 



Alfalfa. In the 1929 seeding, Argentine yielded the highest (4.92 tons in 2 

 cuttings), followed by Kansas, Hardigan, Nebraska, Ontario, Dakota Common, 

 Disco, Utah, Italian, Hungary, Dakota 12, Arizona, South African, New Mexico, 

 Ladak, Turkestan, Hairy Peruvian (3.20 tons). The field was covered with snow 

 from the middle of December, 1930, till the first of March, 1931, which probably 

 accounts for the good showing made by some of the southern strains. In the 



1930 seeding, the yields were uniformly high, the order being: Dakota Common, 

 Hardigan, Italian, South African, California, Ladak, New Mexico, Grimm, 

 Hungarian, Argentine, Kansas, Oklahoma, Turkestan. 



Red Clover. Eighteen American and European strains of red clover were 

 tested. Owing to heavy August rains it was possible to make only one cutting, 

 and that was fairly heavy for all strains. In general, American strains outyielded 

 European strains and maintained the stand better through the season. 



Vetch. Five varieties seeded in August, 1930, were so weedy in the spring of 



1931 that it was not considered worth while to obtain yield data. Stand was 

 best for Wooly Pod and Hairy, intermediate for Oregon Hairy and Oregon 

 Common, and poorest for Hungarian. In the spring seeding of 1931, highest 

 yield of hay was obtained from Oregon Pearl (1.44 tons per acre), followed in 

 order by Hairy (15760), Oregon Common, Hungarian, and Smooth (15851) 

 (1.04 tons). Experience thus far indicates that neither spring nor winter vetches 

 are promising for this section. 



Sweet Clover. In the experiment on date of seeding hulled (scarified) and un- 

 hulled sweet clover, best stands were obtained from seed sown in early December 

 and January. In scedings made from February to May the stand decreased with 

 advance of the seeding date, that is, the May seeding gave the poorest stand. 

 There was no essential dilTerence between the hulled and unhulled seed. All 

 seedings were made on the surface of plowed and harrowed soil or on the snow 

 covering. 



Field Peas. Chang again yielded the most hay, followed in order by Golden 

 Vine, Multiplier, Wisconsin Common, and O. A. C. 181; but owing to a bad 

 infestation of aphids, the yield of each variety was less than 1 ton per acre. 



Soy Beans. Of 20 varieties of soy beans, the following 10 yielded the most 

 hay in decreasing order: Dunfield (3.04 tons). Chestnut, Habaro, Black Eyebrow, 

 Medium Green, Harbinsoy, Pinpu, Mansoy, Soysota, Ito San (2.54 tons). Of 

 these, Dunfield, Habaro, Medium Green, and Harbinsoy have been among the 

 highest yielding 10 varieties for the past three years, Dunfield always leading. 



