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Show I'ui.vi itui.LirriN. j Aintini-'i ii cuttins Time its IVrtlliiK Vnluc. For tho past five Jeers tho Utah 1.x-pertinent 1.x-pertinent Slntlon has been carrying on aline of Imcstlgntlon to determine at just what time in its growth alfalfa should lie cut lor best results, composition, composi-tion, annual yield per acre, and feeding value all being taken into account. In connection with tbla work the feeding valuoof such well known roughage cropa as timothy hay, corn fodder, and red clover has been compared with that ol alfalfa. For this experiment a field of alfalfa was divided Into three equal pieces, one belrg regularly cut when tho firstblooms appeared, tho second wheulu full bloom, anil the third when half the blossoms had fallen, llieiu being denominated early, medium and Utoculllnic, respectively. respec-tively. Incidentally there was made a compel Ison of tho first, second and third crops. The details nf this Investigation are reported In llullctln no. 01 of the Utah Htatlon, a copy of which tiny be obtained ob-tained by addressing tho director at Logan, lielow are given llm more Important Im-portant facts, together with tho conclusions conclu-sions that may bo legitimately drawn from the results' I. The largest annual yield of hay per acre la obtained by tho method of early cutting and tho low cat by thv late, the average result standing as follows: Harly cutting, 100; medium, 02; and btp, A3. . Thu uarly cut alfalfa rontalna the highest tier rent of protein and fat, tfio most vahmblo food constituents, anil thai lowest per cent of crude fiber, the roost Indigestible portion. The former do-crcaaoa do-crcaaoa constantly while the latter Increases In-creases rapidly from caily bloom to tbe full maturity of tbe plant, -, 3. Tho proportionate amount tt!o. jotfjrjajftrfitli--Wi-152331"" alany subsequent time, and Loth leaves and stems contain a greater percent of protein and a less per cent of crudo fiber at this time than at any latnr period in the growth of the plant. Tho relative proportion of leaves to stems In tho different dif-ferent cuttings is as followa - Karly, 4'.' to 08; medium, tO to 00; Into, 33 tn (17. 4. Alfalfa leaves as compared with ateiaa are very much rlchrr In protein, fat and nllrogen-tree extrn-t, nnd they contain 11 much entailer proportion of crude UWr. Ihe percentof thu protein and fat grows constantly less and Ihut ol the ernde Qber greater from the time of early bloom to maturity, The average couiKeltioii nf all cuttings and rrnpa shows the leaves to contain 160 per rent more protein than the stems, 300 wr cent more fat, 36 percent moro nitrogen-free extract, and !0 pel osnt less crude fllwr. 6 The more Important nutrient, protein nml fat, have thu highest per eent ol digestibility In tho early cuttings, cut-tings, nnd it grows less and less with tl.o age of the plant. 11. In the fredlni; tests, the highest gnus were nude from the enrlycutllnga and the lowest from the late, the results standing proportionately as follows Kaily cutting, 100; medium, 86, nnJ hie, ;r. 7. The variation In the amount of lb" the JllTeiont cuttings eaten per day was very slight, being tho highest for the early cutting and the lowest for the lute, but the quantity of dry matter and alsool dljeatlble matter required for pound of gain waa dtcldedly low eat for the early cutting and lilglicht for the late, the relatlvo nnsountaof dry matter standing us follows Karly catting, 109 , medium, 131 ; and late, 100. 8, Tbe annual beef product per acre waa largest from the early cuttings, not only In tbe general average bat In earh separate Mason's tost, and that frora tbe latecuttluga was smallaal, the proportional propor-tional products standing as follows; Early cutting, 100, medium, 7SW ,ud late, C'J),'. 0, Taking all points ol comparison Into consideration, both separately and collectively, Including everything that pertains to lbs largest yield and blgbaal eillng value, the teals favor cutting Haifa for cattle fsedleg whii the first looms ap pear. (7b lecenlnNoi til vtk. |