Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1898-02-22
FORAGE. C.tC55.i

FllBts OF Np'1e to Cow SSseprIs In i..t
Northern Beit.
The Michigan experiment station
been doing valuable work in tustl
the forage plants that will thrive
that state, aud consequently in
whole line OF states in the same la.i
tude. These results are particularly la
teresting to dairy farmers Summed u
they are as follows:
While the Michigan station has had
fair degree Of success with alfalfa II
Is not prepared to say that it will take
the place of red clover In that state Il
yielded nearly five tons of hay per acre
st four cuttings in one season, but it
iequires good land, sufficiently rolling
10 drain well. On low, black land it
winter kills in Michigan. It should be
Eown in spring by itself at the rate of
30 pounds Of seed per acre. If land is
clean, SOW broadcast; If weedy, sow in
drills and cultivate. II weeds come up,
NOW them before they go to seed, and
unless heavy enough TO smother the al
falfa leave them on the field.
Kaffir corn natures too late to be of
value in Michigan. In the intensely
dry season of 1895 it compared favor
ably with dent corn and sorghum as to
quantity Of forage produced, but was
later than either in maturing. The
Michigan season is too short for it.
Beginning in March, 1895, plat
each of crimson clover and red clover
was sown each month till November.
The total yield of the crimson clover
plats was little in excess of that of red
clover. June and July seem to be the
best months for seeding crimson clover
in Michigan.
Sacaline has proved worthless. 1t IL
troublesome to start and to get rid Of,
hard to handle and cure, makes poor,
woody forage, and is not more produc-
tive than corn forage
The fiat pea is also hard to start, not
very productive and is not relished by
any sort of stock.
Hairy vetch, sometimes called sand
vetch, winter vetch, Russian vetch or
Siberian vetch, is considered very prom
Using in Michigan. Sown in the fall the
plants live over winter and make crop
the following spring 1t is slender,
running plant, often creeping on the
ground distance of ten feet from the
stem. For this reason it should be sown
with rye in the fall or with oats in the
spring to give it support. 1t yielded
nearly seven tons dry hay per acre at the
Michigan station. The Ohio station al.
so gives it favorable report, as does
the South Dakota station. This vetch is
somewhat richer than clover, and is
fine for green nianuring. After cutting
the joint crop of oats or rye and vetch
the vetches usually make vigorous
second growth from the stubble, afford
ing fine pasturage or a good coat of
green manure to turn under
A series of unfavorable clover seasons
ending with 1895 led many Michigan
farmers to fear that red clover was no
longer reliable in that state. but 1896
brought very heavy crop. The root
borer has now appeared, but it is hoped
that its numbers will steadily decline,
as in New York.
The Michigan station made an inter.
esting and instructive experiment on q
field of clover seeded with rye A third
of the field was cut over and crop re-
moved just as the rye was heading out;
another third when the rye was in full
bloom, and the last third after the rye
had ripened.
The result was remarkable. Though
favorable weather ensued, the last third
produced as much weeds as clover, the
second third had thin stand of clover
sprinkled with weedy patches, while
the first third sent up thick stand and
vigorous growth of clover.