11. In the average composition of all cuttings for three years, the nutrients of the three crops vary but little. The second has slightly the highest per cent of protein and fiber; and the third the most fat and nitrogen-free extract.
12. The third crop has the largest proportion of leaves to stems; but the per cent of protein in the leaves is highest in the second crop; and next highest in the first. The leaves of the first crop contain the most fat and of the second, the least.
13. The third crop produced a higher average rate of gain in the feeding tests than the first or second and also higher than any of the separate cuttings. The amount eaten daily was also highest of all, but the dry matter and digestible matter for a pound of gain were the lowest. In a pound per pound comparison the gains stood as follows: first crop, 100; second, 81; and third, 126; dry matter for a pound of gain, first crop, 100; second, 115; and third, 69.
14. The beef product per acre, taking the average result of all cuttings for the five years, was very much the highest for the first crop and decidedly the lowest for the third, standing as follows: first crop, 100; second, 61; and third, 45. But taking the early cuttings alone they stand, first crop, 100; second, 80; and third, 69.
15. Pound for pound, taken as a whole, the results show the highest feeding value for the third crop and the lowest for the second.
16. The average annual beef product from early cut alfalfa was 705.61 pounds per acre; it required 9575 pounds of timothy to produce an equal weight; 11,967 pounds of red clover, and 10,083 pounds of shredded corn fodder.
Prof. John A. Widtsoe at the Utah station (Bul. No. 48) made a study of the nutrients of the alfalfa crop, and some of the facts gathered are given in the following table:
| First Cutting | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Condition of growth | Protein | Nitrogen- free extract | Crude fiber | Ether extract | Ash |
| Pounds | Pounds | Pounds | Pounds | Pounds | |
| May 4. Height, 61⁄2 in | .... | 607 | 168 | 40 | 167 |
| June 1. Height, 18 in | 697 | 1,247 | 618 | 103 | 369 |
| July 7. Full flower | 745 | 2,278 | 2,108 | 118 | 431 |
| Aug. 10. Flowers fallen, leaves dry | 644 | 2,298 | 2,531 | 116 | 423 |
| Aug. 24. Still drier | 428 | 1,776 | 2,544 | 94 | 311 |
| Second Cutting | |||||
| July 7. Budding | 334 | 657 | 357 | 50 | 197 |
| July 20. Medium bloom | 519 | 1,140 | 1,031 | 78 | 314 |
| Aug. 3. Full flower | 551 | 1,529 | 1,316 | 81 | 323 |
| Aug. 24. Leaves dry | 388 | 1,484 | 1,329 | 81 | 333 |
| Third Cutting | |||||
| Aug. 17 | 138 | 317 | 155 | 17 | 85 |
| Aug. 31 | 322 | 757 | 634 | 33 | 211 |
| Sept. 14 | 298 | 934 | 818 | 43 | 214 |
COMPARATIVE CROP AND FEEDING VALUES
The following is another table showing the average yield of alfalfa as compared with some of the more common fodder crops and hays, as found in New Jersey station Bulletin No. 148.