MASSACHUSETTS STATE 



Agricultural Experiment Station. 



BULLETIlSr 2sro. s. 



APRIL, 1884. 



FODDER AND FODDER ANALYSES. 



The Experiiiieut Station has entered in its first year of existence, 

 upon a S3'stematic course of experiments to assist in determining the 

 influence of stage of growth and mode of cultivation ou the compar- 

 ative feeding value of some of our prominent farm crops. The 

 results thus far published, although essentially of local interest, 

 deserve more than a passing notice, on account of the scarcity of 

 examinations of a similar character of forage crops raised under 

 quite common circumstances within the limits of the State. The 

 significance of the various analytical results will become more apparent, 

 as the work progresses. As the character of the soil and its state of 

 fertility ought to be better known before a more detailed discussion 

 of the connection between soil, season and composition of the crop 

 can be considered profitable, a mere record of the progress of the 

 analytical work is all that can be consistently published at the pres- 

 ent stage of the investigation. Aside from the trials with some of 

 our standard forage crops there liaA^e been also inaugurated experi- 

 ments with the cultivation of reputed forage crops of other localities 

 and countries, to test their adaptability to our soil and climate. The 

 successful introduction of a greater variety of valuable fodder crops, 

 promises to furnish a wider range of fodder-substances, as far as their 

 nutritive value is concerned, a circumstance not less acceptable to 



