New Yoke Agricultural Experiment Station. 
71 
Admitting that this experiment was conducted on a day when the 
meteorological conditions were most favorable for hay-making, we 
find that the greatest loss in moisture occurred between 8 a. m. and 
2 p. si., after which the percentage of loss diminished to a slight extent* 
It is a striking fact that one lot lost over fifty per cent in the same 
time. Finally lot I lost 62.68 per cent in weight, and II, 58.25 per 
cent. The weather conditions were so favorable that the one day's 
drying sufficed, leaving it in suitable condition for storing in the barn. 
Forage Crops — Alfalfa (Medicago sativum). 
In the report of the First Assistant for 1886, on pages 135 and 136, 
is given the record for that year of the Alfalfa crop grown at the 
station. The following brief notes are given as supplementary to the 
ones of 1886: 
On May 7 the plants had reached a height of eight inches, and were 
making a strong, healthy growth. One week later the plants were 
nearly twelve inches high as an average, and presented a fine appear- 
ance. This growth continued strong and healthy, with an abundance of 
foliage, so that by May 30, when the plants were cut, they had an aver- 
age height of two feet in A gore, while in one small plat of 100 square 
feet the average height was two and one-half feet. Four crops were 
cut during the season, leaving a splendid aftermath for grazing. The 
weights of the crops were as follows: 
May 30, yield at rate of 14,525 pounds green fodder per acre. 
July 7, yield at rate of 2,030 pounds dry fodder per acre. 
August 3, yield at rate of 10,897 pounds green fodder per acre. 
September 5, yield at rate of 8,487 pounds green fodder per acre. 
Excepting in the yield of dry fodder, the difference in yield is not 
material. In this case the Alfalfa hay of 1886 was made from the 
largest crop, the one first cut; hence the weight of hay would in conse- 
quence be smaller. It is a noticeable fact that with each succeeding 
growth, the plants assume a tendency to blossom earlier than the pre- 
ceding crop, without attaining its height. The plants also become 
woody earlier. Whether for hay or green fodder, this plant should 
always be cut before it becomes woody and tough. The cows, for some 
unexplained reason, have not eaten Alfalfa this year as greedily as 
common, and in one case, when considerable grown in a young orchard 
was allowed to bloom and become a trifle woody, the cattle would not 
eat it at all well. 
One-half acre of Alfalfa was sown on the farm, on May 17, in a clay- 
loam soil, in the same manner as clover is planted. A very good 
vegetation was secured, much better than in an adjoining sowing of 
