— 7 — 
most marked deviations are in the higher amounts of crude 
protein and in the lower percentages of crude fiber. The 
third cutting is far more representative of the plants than 
the samples' of the previous years, because this set of sam- 
ples of the third cutting is complete in itself. The samples, 
too, represent the whole plant, without loss of leaves and 
stems, cut in the very best condition. The third cutting of 
1894. the only previous year in which samples of this cutting 
were analyzed, was represented by samples of hay as it was 
taken from the field. 
There is, in the 1896 samples, a superiority in quality 
over the samples of 1894. This is most marked in the third 
cutting, but, as has just been stated, a portion of this differ- 
ence may be attributed to the fact that the samples were 
more nearly comparable to those of the other cuttings. The 
crude protein is higher for each of the three cuttings and 
the crude fiber is lower, while the nitrogen-free extract is 
slightly higher, though not so much so as one, at first glance, 
would think. 
The season of 1894 was favorable for the making 6f 
heavy crops. The first cutting was very heavy, the stems 
were exceptionally stout, and the growing period was long. 
These conditions were reversed in 1896, and I am inclined 
to attribute the differences observed almost wholly to this 
cause. The second crop of 1896 grew quickly and resem- 
bles in composition samples of the first cutting, cut on May 
5th, 1895, rather than the other second cutting samples. 
Both samples matured rapidly; they were both high in ash, 
high in crude protein, and low in crude fiber. The first cut- 
ting of 1895 (May 5th) , is even higher in protein than the 
second cutting of 1896, and quite as low in crude fiber. This 
seems to me to indicate that the rate of maturing which, of 
course, depends upon the seasonal influences, determines, 
very largely, the composition of the hay produced. It is 
quite evident that a quickly maturing crop will probably be 
less in quantity than a more slowly maturing one of the 
same kind. In 1894 we collected samples from a variety of 
soils to see whether any differences in the quality of the hay 
were to be attributed to this cause. The results are in fa- 
vor of an affirmative answer, but in no very marked degree. 
I speak of soils which have received no fertilizers. It is a 
demonstrated fact that these have an effect upon the qual- 
ity of the hay, and I have elsewhere noted the susceptibility 
of the alfalfa plant to the direct application of manures. A 
fertilized soil, or one naturally rich, which, under ordinary 
conditions, is equivalent to a vigorous growth extended 
