36 HATCH EXPERIMENT STATION. [Jan. 



"dressing of manure. In the spring of 1897 it was found 

 that a considerable number of the plants had been winter- 

 killed. On the heavy soil 36 out of 408, and on the lighter 

 soil 71 out of 129, were dead ; of 451 plants left in a nursery, 

 258 were dead. Plants which lived through the winter were 

 well started by April 20, but the new growth was killed by 

 a frost. On July 16 the growth, which ranged from 1 to 7 

 feet in height, the average being about 3 feet, was cut. 

 The plants were large and woody. The yield on the heavy 

 soil, 408 plants, was 295 pounds ; on the lighter soil, 129 

 plants, 132 pounds. The leaves only were eaten by cows, 

 — horses would not eat it at all. A second crop was not 

 cut, but on October 1, when the plants were killed by frost, 

 the second growth averaged about 18 inches in height. As 

 a result of our trial of this crop, I am convinced that it is 

 without value as a fodder crop for us. 



Crimson Clover. — A further trial of this crop has been 

 made upon a rather light soil. The seed was sown July 3 

 with equal parts of winter rye. Nitragin, not received in 

 season to apply with the seed, was mixed with water, ac- 

 cording to directions, and applied to the clover August 31, 

 the plants then standing about 2 inches high. The crop 

 was a complete failure, every plant being winter- killed. 



Winter Vetch. — A small plot of this crop has been grown 

 upon a light soil. It was sown August 20, equal parts of 

 vetch and rye. This vetch proved perfectly hardy and grew 

 vigorously, reaching a greater height than the rye. This 

 vetch will prove valuable as a green fodder when sown with 

 winter rye. 



Besides the above, we have cultivated a few rows each of 

 a large variety of fodder plants, some 39 in number. In 

 this variety are included a large number that have been 

 mentioned in previous reports, and they do not require 

 further notice at this time. 



Among those cultivated for the first time this year are the 

 Idaho field or coffee pea ( Cicer arietinum) . This appears 

 to be the same as the gram or chick pea, which we have had 

 under cultivation for two years. The growth is too small 

 to make it valuable for a fodder crop. 



