The Logan County banner. [volume] (Logan, W. Va.) 1889-1903, 1889-10-24
CORN AND ALFALFA.

Summary OF tho New York Experiment
Stations Latest Report.
The New York Experiment Station
has been studying the corn plant with
q Wow OF throwing light upon the best
time OF putting it in the siio. Fhis is
a very important question in view Of
the increasing use Of ensfiage. As q
result Of this experiment the follow
ing conclusions are probable:
/. That the greatest weight of green
fodder seems tOhave been at about the
period of the full silking Of the ears.
Q. That the total weight diminished
after this date, but the total dry mat
ter increased.
5. That the total nitrogen does not
appear to increase after the ears silk.
A. That as the corn approaches. ma
turity the per cent OF amide nitrogen
diminishes, while the albuminoid
nitrogen increases, thus seemingly in
creasing the feeding value Of the crop.
5. That the sugars and starch in
crease rapidly during the latter period
of growth and maturing of the corn
plant, and that these are the most val
liable portion Of the nitrogen-free ex-
tract.
6. That for the greatest amount of
nutriment, considered from chemical
standpoint, corn should not be cut be-
fore it has reached the milk stage OF
the kernel. i -ss.s4,ss.
In France the plant is known as lu-
cerne and in Spain as alfalfa It is
grown quite extensively in Southern
Europe. From Spain alfalfa was in
troduced into South America and
thence by way Of Mexico, to Califor-
MIA. where it still retains the Spanish
name alfalfa. While nCaliforria and
many OF the Western and Southern
States it is grown quite extensively. it
has never been much cultivated in the
Northern States. In the Eastern States
1t was introduced from Europe and 10
generally known as lucerne. sf5E
The result of the station experience
with lucerne or alfalfa is summarized
as follows. ~ ls9ya5 n
/. Lucerne or. alfalfa may be sue
cessfully grown in Northern States
2. When once established it thrives
we'll upon clay land but will probably
do better upon good light loan.
8. Seed two years old loses its vi
tality and fails to terminate. I'm
doubtedly many Of the failures to Sc
cure stand of plants may be traced
to poor seed.
A. The seedbed must be we'll pre-.
pared. and; in this latitude. it seems
best to plant out theseed in the spring
and with no other crop. The seed
should be lightly covered by rolling
the ground.
5. For seven successive years at the
station three and four cuttings per
year have been taken from the plats.
6. Last year, the sixth in succession
the plats yielded more than fl fifteen tons
per acre of green forage, equal to 81
tons of alfalfa hay.
Z. Alfalfa should be cut in early
bloom, before heplants become woody
5. It should be cured largely in tht
cock to produce the best quality O.
hay. - Fe ~
Q. By chemical analysis the hay wa,
found to be more heterogeneous thar
good red clover. Ass@
10. Cattle. sheep and horses all rel.
ished the hay, and seemed to do we'll
| II. 1t was found to be more digesti
bic than red clover hay.
r.. farmers would try this crop
we advise them to begin, with small
piece Of well-prepared land, in ordel
to see whether alfalfa does as well with
them as it has at the station,
IS. Probably success with alfalfa
will depend largely upon having fresh
seed, good, carefully prepared seed
bed, and in covering the seed lightly
/ with soil MI a.sa5. "a La &t4 *E4