— 21 — 
These peicentages represent the pure ash. excepting 
tie small amount of sand contained in them, d he averages 
for the respective cuttings are as follows : first cutting, 
n.19^ per cent.; second cutting, 10.48 per cent.; third 
cutting, 10.07 per cent. The average for the two series is, for 
the first cutting, 10.35 P er cent.; for the second cutting, 10.^8 
per cent. ; and for the third cutting, 9.9=5 per cent. From 
which it appears that there is but little difference in the 
amount of mineral constituents removed by a ton of first, 
second and thud cutting hay ; the lowest figures reguirino* 
x 99 pounds and the highest 205.6 pounds. While the per¬ 
centage of ash found is not correct, due to loss of some 
of the constituents of the ash, chlorine and sulphur, these 
1 ■ 1 . . very clearly that a five ton crop, 
which is some times obtained, forms a heavy drain upon 
the mineral elements of plant food, amounting to not less 
than 871 pounds per acre, after deducting the carbonic 
acid in the ash, or 1,025 pounds if we do not make this 
deduction. 
WATER IN ALFALFA. 
The moisture given up by green alfalfa in becoming 
well cured air dry hay, is as follows : 
1 
2 
'i 
4 
5 
6 
7 
8 
9 
10 
11 
Plants cut very young 
<< < < U U 
in bloom. 
in bloom. 
half bloom 
full bloom. 
full bloom. 
full bloom.... 
full bloom. 
full bloom 
full bloom. 
Average. 
Second cutting:— 
I. 
Plants 
not in bloom.. .. 
2 . 
< ( 
coming in bloom 
n 
o- 
i i 
in half bloom... 
4 - 
< < 
in half bloom... 
5. 
< i 
in full bloom.. .. 
* 6 . 
4 i 
half ripe. 
Average 
Per cent. 
• -7479 
. .72.74 
. . 70 .go 
.72.65 
• 73 -o 6 
.73.61 
. 74.06 
. . 75.22 
. 75.67 
•7145 
• 74-39 
• 73 -I 4 
Per cent. 
. .71.52 
• - 74-35 
. 68.65 
.70.40 
• 74.50 
. 62.91 
.71.08 
* Not included in average. 
