April, 1931] Agricultural Research in N. H., 1930 5 



If fertilizers are used early in April according to this schedule, the 

 date of turning the cows into the pasture will be hastened, and more 

 feed will be produced during the summer months. The pasture season 

 is not only lengthened, but the quality of the feed is enhanced due to 

 the higher protein content of the grass produced. 



Pastures which carry considerable white Dutch clover, should re- 

 ceive the same initial application of fertilizer if early feed is needed by 

 the herd. Sufficient land may be top-dressed in this manner to meet the 

 needs of the animals during the early summer. This probably means 



Yields of square-yard areas of pasture given different fertilizer treat- 

 ments in May, 1929. The grass was cut August 2, 1929. From left to 

 right the bundles represent the use of no fertilizer; phosphorus; lime 

 and phosphorus; lime, phosphorus, and potash; lime, nitrogen, phos- 

 phorus, and potash. 



an acre for two or three cows. Top-dressing too large an area of mixed 

 grass and clover with fertilizers carrying nitrogen in their make-up may 

 so stimulate the grass that, if uneaten, the clover will be crowded out. 



On other areas and if additional feed is not required through May and 

 June, results indicate that these clover pastures may be best top-dressed 

 with phosphorus and potash at the rate of 500 or 600 pounds of 16 per 

 cent super-phosphate and 200 pounds of muriate of potash per acre. 

 This application will need to be repeated not oftener than once every 

 three years, and on such areas should increase the fall feed to a consid- 

 erable extent and make the pasture better throughout the season in 

 succeeding years. 



Results of the experiments are reported in detail in Station Circular 

 35. (Purnell Fund) 



Perspiration a Factor in Animal Metabolism 



Wide variations in the amount of water given off through the lungs 

 and skin of dairy cows are found in the studies conducted by E. G. Ritz- 

 man in cooperation with F. G. Benedict of the Carnegie Institution of 

 Washington, D. C. 



Even on maintenance, water lost by insensible perspiration is from 

 two to three times greater than the amount passed in the urine. 



