50 



EXPERi:>lEXT STATION. 



[Jan. 



In experiments conducted with a number of proprietary mix- 

 tures the following coefficients were secured: — 



It will be seen that the sample of Unicorn dairy ration had 

 a relatively high total digestibility. Biles union grains were 

 also well digested, while Schumacher's stock food and Buffalo 

 creamery feed were fairly well utilized. Xone of these feeds 

 had what would be termed a relatively low degree of digesti- 

 bility. From a nutritive standpoint, therefore, the feeder could 

 safely purchase these mixtures and feel that he was not buying 

 inferior articles, provided, of course, that the manufacturers 

 continued to maintain the standards represented by those sam- 

 ples. The questions of cost and suitability for definite purposes 

 would also have to be considered before purchasing. These 

 items are discussed in our annual feed bulletins. 



3. Alfalfa Hay. 

 The alfalfa hay used in these experiments was grown on the 

 college farm. It was cut while in early blossom and was quite 

 free from weeds and grass. Owing to different weather con- 

 ditions which prevailed at the time of cnttino-, and which 

 necessitated different methods of handling, the amount of 

 leaves lost in curing was not uniform; hence a strictly fair 

 comparison could not be made between the different cuttings. 

 The results of the several trials are therefore reported, and 

 the average given for the several lots. In order to draw accu- 

 rate conclusions between cuttings, the crop should either be 

 fed green or cured under uniform conditions. Owins; to fre- 

 quent weather changes this is often not possible in "New Eng- 

 land. 



