FIELD EXPERIMENTS. 35 



YIEED OE GREEN FODDER. 



The yield of green fodder that can be had in Maine will 

 probably vary from 5 to lo tons per acre. In the large plots 

 grown by this Station in 1903 the largest yield was only a little 

 over 5 tons to the acre. But the rows were twice too far 

 apart, having been planted in drills 3 feet apart. If they had 

 been planted at the same distance as the small plots in 1904 

 (16 inches) there is no reason for thinking the yield would not 

 have been nearly or quite doubled, for at no time did the plants 

 come near filling the space between the rows. On good land, 

 with fair cultivation and average season, a yield of 8 tons of 

 green fodder could doubtless be counted upon. Cured into hay 

 this would give a yield of about 2 1-2 tons per acre. 



NUTRIENTS IN SOY BEAN AND THEIR DTGESTIBILITY. 



The composition of the soy bean as compared with other 

 legumes stands high. The fodder closely resembles clover in 

 composition. Soy bean silage, in both composition and di- 

 gestibility, is the equal of clover silage. It is doubtful if any 

 more digestible nutrients can be grown from an acre with soy 

 beans than with clover. But in some localities they are a 

 surer crop and need only a single season for their growth. Soy 

 beans would be more naturally compared in this State with 

 corn, for if grown at all they seem best adapted for silage. 

 The chief difference between corn and soy bean is found in 

 the high protein content of the latter. Like other beans it has 

 the power of taking its nitrogen to form protein from the air, 

 and since it is richer in protein than corn, it may be justly 

 considered a desirable addition to the list of forage plants. 

 As the price of feeds rich in protein is advancing it seems 

 very desirable that as many legumes (plants rich in protein) 

 that can gather their own nitrogen from the air be grown as 

 possible. 



SOY BEAN SIEAGE. 



The soy bean plants dried do not make desirable forage 

 as the cured stalks are rather coarse and hard, and are there- 



