REPORT OF THE ASSISTANT IN DAIRY
HUSBANDRY.

The College Farm contains 97.4 acres of land, for the most part nearly level and is all under cultivation. The soil varies from a medium to a heavy clay loam, with a compact clay subsoil, and is well adapted for the growth of most field and forage crops. Corn and oats grow especially well on this soil. During the summer of 1896, 26 acres of corn were grown, 7 acres of oats, 6 acres (not including corn) were used for soiling crops, three-fourths of an acre was sown with beets and the remainder was in grass.

LAYING OUT OF THE FARM.

About fifty acres of the farm have been carefully surveyed and laid out in one-acre plots. Each plot is separated by wooden stakes two inches square and three feet in length. For experiments with fertilizers a path three feet in width is left between plots to prevent the fertilizer applied to any one plot affecting the one adjoining. The length of these plots ranges from 700 to 800 feet and the width 50 to 60 feet.

SOILING, AND SOILING CROPS.

The first important consideration in the practice of soiling is to have a compete succession of crops throughout the growing-season. If any breaks occur, the dairyman is forced to cut crops before the proper time, hence he does not get as much food value from them as he would if they were allowed to reach a more mature stage. On the other hand, there is danger of allowing fodder crops to remain standing too long, when they become woody and are not as freely eaten nor as completely digested. Most fodder crops are in the best condition for feeding when in early bloom, and the best results are usually obtained when the fodder from a single planting or sowing is

fed not longer than twelve days. Any crop may be fed for a longer period by planting or sowing successively small areas. Rotations can be planned so that two and even three crops may be grown on the same piece of land each year. The different fodder crops, with methods of treatment and yield, are discussed in the order in which they were used through the season. All crops were sampled for analysis, and the final results will be discussed on the basis of actual food produced.

RYE, WHEAT, AND CRIMSON CLOVER.

The wheat The entire area

About one acre each of these crops was sown in the fall of 1895 for soiling purposes. No record of the labor was kept. The rye was ready for cutting May 1st, and yielded 6 tons per acre. was cut ten days later and yielded 5 tons per acre. of the crimson clover did not survive the winter; it yielded at the rate of 7 tons per acre. Following the crimson clover, grass from meadow lands, mostly timothy, was fed for a few days until the oats and were ready for cutting.

peas

OATS AND PEAS.

This was one of the most profitable green crops grown. Canada field peas and oats were sown broadcast at the rate of two bushels of each per acre. The peas were sown immediately after plowing and harrowed in before sowing the oats, which were harrowed but once, and the field rolled, in order to leave the ground in good condition for cutting the crop with a mowing machine. Careful record was kept of the time of seeding, labor, fertilizer, cutting, hauling, yield, etc. It will be noticed in the table below that each plot was ready for cutting about two months from time of seeding. The time required for one man to cut and haul a ton of green fodder varied from three to five hours, according to the kind of fodder and distance from the barn. This work was performed by the herdsman, who would otherwise have been idle, hence the actual cost of harvesting the green crops was a small item. The cost per ton, not including hauling to the barn, ranged from $1.04 to $1.32 per ton.

Number of Plot.

Cost and Yield of Oats and Peas Per Acre.

This is one of the best crops for soiling. If planted about May 1st, it will be ready for cutting in a little over two months. Four acres were used for forage during the summer. It was planted in drills three and one-half feet apart, and the stalks stood as nearly as may be one foot apart in the drill. This crop received yard manure at the rate of 6 tons per acre in addition to the fertilizer, which should be taken into consideration in making comparisons of the cost of product. The time required for harvesting a ton was approximately the same as for the oats and peas.

THE COW PEA.

This is a crop which is grown more largely for green manuring than for forage, though certain varieties are well adapted for the latter purpose. Two acres of the "Clay" variety were grown. The first was sown broadcast June 11th, after the land had been plowed and harrowed once with the Acme harrow, at the rate of one and one-half bushels of seed per acre. The seed was then well harrowed in and rolled. This acre was ready for cutting by the middle of August, and yielded 7.48 tons. The second acre was sown in drills 23 feet apart August 27th. Twenty-eight quarts of seed were used. The peas on this acre grew very slowly, although they were cultivated several times and kept free from weeds. The yield on this acre was 4.75 tons. Our experience this year seems to indicate that sowing broadcast is preferable to sowing in drills, as the yield is much larger, and the cost of production less. The second acre had to be cut with a hand scythe, so that the cost of harvesting was greater than the first It required approximately four hours for one man to harvest a ton on the first acre.

acre.

This is an annual leguminous plant, requiring about the same treatment as the cow pea. It grows tall and shrub-like and gives a fair yield on good soil. It requires a somewhat richer soil than the cow pea. One-half acre of the green variety was sown in drills 23 feet apart July 1st, at the rate of one bushel per acre. One-half acre

Plot.

adjoining was sown with a white variety. The green beans made a fair growth, nearly shading the ground, and yielded three tons on the half acre. A blight attacked the white variety soon after they came and stopped their growth, so they were not worth cutting.

up

of cutting and hauling same as for first acre of cow peas.

Yield and Cost of Soja Beans (Green Variety).

Cost

$1.65 $0.75 $0.70 $0.30 $1.00

Muriate of

Potash.

BARLEY AND PEAS.

Two acres of this crop were sown broadcast after taking off a crop of oats and peas. The first acre was seeded July 25th and the second August 10th. Two bushels of Canada peas and two bushels of barley were used per acre. They supplied feed during the first half of the month of October, each acre yielding 6 tons. This crop is not injured by frost, and is one of the best for late feeding. The cost of cutting and hauling is practically the same as for oats and peas.

Yield and Cost of Barley and Peas per Acre.