I9i2.] Summary of Agricultural Experiments. 1033 



SUMMARY OF AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENTS.* 

 Field Crops. 



Influence of Time of Cutting upon the Yield and Composition of 



Hay (Jour. Agric. Set, January, 1912 : Dr. C. Crowther and Mr. A. G. 

 Ruston, Univ. of Leeds). — The variation in the composition of fodder 

 crops with advancing maturity has been well investigated on the Con- 

 tinent, but has received little attention in this country. In view of the 

 differences in climatic conditions, it seemed doubtful if the changes 

 in the composition of fodder crops would take place so rapidly here as 

 on the Continent, where a delay of only a few days in cutting has appar-. 

 ently led to a serious depreciation of the crop. Records are therefore 

 given of tests made with " seeds " hay gro wn in Yorkshire. In each case 

 the hay was the produce of a seeds mixture in which clovers pre- 

 dominated, though in the second year of the test the leguminous plants 

 were not so well established, so that the hay was to a greater extent 

 composed of rye grass. 



The first cuttings in each year were made when the rye grass was 

 in full flower, and three other plots were cut at intervals of about a 

 fortnight. At the second cutting the rye grasses were distinctly taller, 

 and seed formation was actively in progress, whilst the clovers were 

 beginning to flower. At the third cutting the grasses were ripening, 

 and the clovers were in full bloom, while at the last cutting the whole 

 crop was decidedly ripe. 



Care was taken to prevent mechanical loss, but had the crop been 

 harvested in the usual way, there would have been considerable loss 

 of seeds, &c, at the time of the fourth cutting. The crops obtained 

 in the two years were as follows : — 



1909 Crop. 



1910 Crop. 



j 





Date of Cutting. 



Yield of Hay 

 per acre. 



Date of Cutting. 



Yield of Hay 

 per acre. 



June 10 



„ 28 



July 15 ... ... ... 



Aug- 3 



32 cwt. 

 42 „ 

 48 „ 



5° » 



| June 9 



» 23... 



July 7 



„ 21 ... 



34 cwt. 



46 „ 



47 „ 

 50 



The crop of hay obtained from each cutting was analysed and 

 estimation made of its digestibility and feeding value. 



Taking the results of the two years, the chief changes going on 

 in the period were : — 



(1) A steady increase in the proportion of crude fibre ; 



(2) A gradual fall in the proportion of amides up to the third cutting, 

 after which the fall was very pronounced ; 



(3) A rise in the percentage of silica in the ash. 



* A summary of all reports on agricultural experiments and investigations recently 

 received is given each month. The Board are anxious to obtain for inclusion copies 

 of reports on inquiries, whether carried out by agricultural colleges, societies, or 

 private persons. 



4 B 



