To find the optimum stage of corn (Zea mays L.) for silage-making, white dent corn was ensiled in the experimental small silos at five stages of growth, viz. tassel, earing, milk-dough, yellow ripe or glazing and ripe. Of each sample of the silages at the different stages, quality and feeding value were estimated by determining its organic acids, total nitrogen, ammoniacal nitrogen, pH values as well as digestibility. The results obtained were summarized as follows: 1) The yield of dry matter and crude protein per 10a were highest at yellow ripe stage. The ratio of yield of the dry matter per 10 a was 15 at tassel stage, 41 at earing stage, 52 at milk-dough stage, 100 at yellow ripe stage and 82 at ripe stage respectively. 2) The crude protein content of corn fodder showed the maximum 10.4 percent at tassel stage, but the crude fiber content showed the tendency of decrease as growth stage progressed, contrary to the general properties of grass. 3) The qualities of the all silages obtained were excellent except the silage at tassel stage. The silages had ideal pH values, and the ratio of ammoniacal nitrogen to total nitrogen was less than 4 percent (cf. Table 6). 4) The pro-vitamin A content was 34 to 130μg per g in dry matter and decreased as the growth stage progressed. The yield of provitamin A per 10a was maximum in the silage at milk-dough stage. 5) The results of digestion trials with a goat are shown in the table 10. The digestibility of organic matter and the total digestible nutrient of the silages in percentage of dry matter, at ripe stage, yellow ripe stage, tassel stage, milk-dough stage and earing stage were 69.1, 66.9; 62.2, 62.5; 64.8, 59.6; 52.3, 51.3 and 44.0, 41.0 respectively. 6) The ratios of yield of TDN per 10a are as follows: tassel stage 15, earing stage 29, milk-dough stage 47, yellow ripe stage 100 and ripe stage 94. The silage at yellow ripe stage had a satisfactory pH 3.66, dry matter 28.3, lactic acid 1.84, acetic acid 0.31 per cent, no butyric acid, vitamin A value 2,013 I. U. per 100g and TDN 16.1 per cent.

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(1) In general, so-called "northern type" grasses and legumes show retatded growth in summer season in central and southern part of Japan, accompanied by a marked sprouting of weeds in pasture or meadow. In case of upland field converted from paddy field, barnyardgrass becomes dominant. Perceiving this fact, the authors attempted to utilize this barnyardgrass as a forage crop on converted upland field. As barnyardgrass seed shows ,dormancy, the dropped seed does not germinate before next summer. From this character, it can be expected that, if barnyardgrass is sown in autumn mixed with such winter crop as Italian ryegrass, it will sprout after dying-out of the winter-crop. In this experiment, Italian ryegrass (Lorium italicum, BRAUN) and barnyardgrass (Echinochloa crus-galli BEAUV. var. caudata KITAGAWA) were mixed-sown in autumn. The pattern of alternation from Italian ryegrass to barnyardgrass was examined, using different varieties of Italian ryegrass: early and late; intervals of clippings, short and long and amount of fertilizer applied, heavy and light. (2) With the decline of Italian ryegrass, barnyardgrass began to sprout and the two crops alternated without trouble. The time of alternation was almost the same, irrespective of clipping interval, but the amount of barnyardgrass at the time of alternation was more in the short interval plot than the long interval one under standard fertilization, and was reversed under heavy fertilization. In both Italian ryegrass and barnyardgrass, the total yield during a year was higher in the long clipping interval plot than in the short one. (3) The yield of Italian ryegrass was higher in late variety "Obahikari" than in early one "Wasehikari", except in case of first clipping in spring. The yield of barnyardgrass was, on the contrary, higher in Wasehikari plot than Obahikari plot, because of late sprouting in the latter one. The total yield of the two crops was higher in Obahikari plot than in Wasehikari plot in case of short clipping interval, while in case of long interval one the tendency was reversed, though the difference was not significant. (4) The yield-increasing effect of heavy fertilization on Italian ryegrass was seen at autumn and first spring clippings, but at other clippings heavy fertilization gave negative effect. Also the effect of heavy fertilization was not clear in barnyardgrass at some clipping. The total yield during a year, therefore, showed only 10% increase by heavy fertilization. As the level of fertilization in this experiment was rather high, in heavily fertilized plot there was an apprehension of physiological injury by over-dorsage. Also attention must be paid to high nitrate cotnent in both crops. (5) According to the result of this experiment, a fresh weight yield of about 1,800kg per a. a year was obtained by applying 9:4:9kg per a. a year of N:P_2O_5:K_2O respectively, and clipping at suitabl intervals from 20 to 25 days, and it has been prooved that this method of mixing the two crops is very hopeful.

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This is the outline of selection of the progenies of NC-hybrids (Brassica napus var. rapifera×B. campestris var. rapifera) to breed new rutabaga, which was carried out during 1957 to 1961 at the Nasu plateau (about 700m high with slight southeastern inclination), Tochigi-Ken. The progenies of NC-hybrids segregated into two types, one was napus type (N-type) and the other campestris type (C-type). Root of the progenies showed similarly tuberous as in F_1 generation. Through succeeding selection, tuberous character was emphasized year after year and certain good strains raised more larger root than the commercial varieties of rutabaga (Tables 3 and 4). To make rutabaga popular as soiling forage in winter, it is not recommended to import it, but to breed new varieties in this country must be necessary. The authors believe that it is very significant to cross between the commercial varieties of rutabaga and Japanese old turnip ones which are adapted to the climate and then select the progenies at each region.

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Seed production, seed fertility and flowering period of new rutabaga obtained by NC-hybrid (napuscampestris hybrid) grown at the Nasu plateau (Tochigi-Ken) were discussed in this paper. Seed fertility of commercial varieties of rutabaga was very low compared with rape varieties for oil seed purpose. The reason of this may be due to some physiological barrier and disease- and insect-damages which are stressed by hot and rainy season, for rutabaga flowers later than rape. In the selfed strains of NC-hybrids, they were comparatively low in seed fertility owing to aneuploidy, but in the crossed strains between NC-hybrids and commercial rutabaga, the seed fertility was high because of the genetical stability obtained by back cross with commercial varieties. Flowering period of fourth generation of NC-hybrid was hastened about two weeks than those of the commercial varieties. It was inherited from the maternal plant (Huantsai-tai) and resulted in high fertility. The authors conclude that for the seed production of rutabaga in Japan, it is important to breed adaptable varieties in this country and secondary to search regions suited for the seed production where rainy season is short.

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For the purpose of determining yield curve in early sowing of oats presupposing year round utilization of soiling crops, the seeds were sown three times (early September, late September and late October). 1. The cutting periods extended from 20 to 40 days in principle and frequent cuttings were carried out with these periods. 2. For plotting yield curve, the method of least squares was applied. 3. In average total yield, the maximum yield was gained by one cutting in each sowing. 4. Concerning yield curve by frequent cutting gaining higher average total yield in each sowing, following formula was considered. 1) Sowing in early September A. In three cuttings, the first cut was made from Nov. 30 to to Dec. 30, the 2nd from Feb. 27 to March 29 and the 3rd from April 27 to May 27. First cut: y=-0.8x^2+2.68x+4.48 (0≦x≦3, 1x=10 days) 2nd cut: y=-0.66x+1.32 (0≦x≦3, 1x=10 days) 3rd cut: y=-1.325x^2+5.625x+7.415 (0≦x≦3, 1x=10 days) Where y: yield per 3.3 m^2, x: days after first cutting date. B. In two cuttings, the first cut was made from Nov. 30 to Dec. 30, the 2nd from April 27 to May 15. First cut: same as that of A above 2nd cut: y=2.41x+11.46 (0≦x≦3, 1x=6 days) 2) Sowing in late September A. In three cuttings, the first cut was made from Dec. 20 to Jan. 19, the 2nd from Feb. 20 to March 19, the 3rd from May 2 to May 23. First cut: y=0.757x+4.09 (0≦x≦3, 1x=10 days) 2nd cut: y=0.15x^2-0.53x+1.52 (0≦x≦3, 1x=9 days) 3rd cut: y=0.725x^2-2.625x+10.825 (0≦x≦3, 1x=7 days) B. In two cuttings, low cutting method was taken, the first cut being from March 1 to March 31 and the 2nd cut from May 2 to June 1. First cut: y=0.725x^2+1.235x+8.635 (0≦x≦3, 1x=10 days) 2nd cut: y=0.85x^2-1.93x+12.22 (0≦x≦3, 1x=10 days) 3) Sowing in October High cutting method was taken, the first cut being from March 1 to March 31 and the 2nd from May 18 to May 30. First cut: y=0.104x+5 (0≦x≦6, 1x=5 days) 2nd cut: y=0.148x^2-0.588x+13.61 (0≦x≦6, 1x=2 days)

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For the purpose of determining yield curve in early sowing of Italian ryegrass presupposing year round utilization of soiling crops, it was sown three times (early September, late September, and late October). 1. The cutting periods extended from 20 to 40 days in principle and frequent cuttings were made with these periods. 2. For plotting yield curve, the methods of least squares was applied. 3. In average total yield, the maximum yield was gained by one cutting made from middle or late April to middle May in each sowing. 4. In average total yield by two cuttings, the maximum yield was gained when the first cut was made in growth progressing stage in and after middle March in each sowing. 5. Concerning yield curve by frequent cutting gaining the highest average total yield in each sowing, following formula was shown. 1) Sowing in early September A. In four cuttings, the first cut was made from Nov. 30 to Jan. 14, the 2nd cut from Feb. 28 to March 15, the 3rd cut from April 25 to May 25 and the 4th from June to June 15. First cut: y=-0.35x^2+2.21x+2.41 (0≦x≦3, 1x=15 days) 2nd cut: y=0.05x+3.35 (0≦x≦3, 1x=5 days) ?3rd cut: y=1.23x+13.33 (0≦x≦3, 1x=10 days) 4th cut: y=-1.14x+6.11 (0≦x≦3, 1x=3 days) Where y: yield per 3.3m^2 x: days after first cutting date Same hereafter B. In three cuttings, the first cut was made from Nov. 30 to Jan. 14, the 2nd cut from March 29 to April 25 and 3rd cut from May 18 to June 5. First cut: same as that of A above 2nd cut: y=0.79x+10.04 (0≦x≦3, 1x=9 days) 3rd cut: y=-1.325x^2+3.965x+11.365 (0≦x≦3, 1x=6 days) 2) Sowing in late September A. In four cuttings, the first cut was made from Dec. 15 to Feb. 28, the 2nd cut from March 8 to March 28, the 3rd cut from April 26 to May 21 and the 4th cut from June 10 to June 15. First cut: y=0.486x+3.285 (0≦x≦5, 1x=15 days) 2nd cut: y=-0.06x^2-0.07x+3.225 (0≦x≦5, 1x=4 days) 3rd cut: y=1.506x+9.52 (0≦x≦5, 1x=5 days) 4th cut: y=-0.6x+4.17 (0≦x≦5, 1x=1 days) B. In three cuttings, the first cut was made from Dec. 15 to Feb. 28, 2nd cut from March 30 to April 29 and 3rd cut from May 18 to June 12. First cut: same as that of A 2nd cut: y=0.977x+10.024 (0≦x≦5, 1x=6 days) 3rd cut: y=-1.1x+14.6 (0≦x≦5, 1x=5 days) C. In two cuttings, the first cut was made from March 30 to May 1 and the 2nd cut from May 17 to June 18. First cut: y=3.84x+11.58 (0≦x≦4, 1x=8 days) 2nd cut: y=-2.18x+12.16 (0≦x≦4, 1x=8 days) 3) Sowing in October A. In three cuttings, the first cut was made from March 18 to March 30, the 2nd cut from April 30 to May 20 and the 3rd cut from June 4 to June 12. First cut: y=0.8x+6.98 (0≦x≦4, 1x=3 days) 2nd cut: y=1.04x+8.22 (0≦x≦4, 1x=5 days) 3rd cut: y=0.06x+2.24 (0≦x≦4, 1x≦2 days) B. In two cuttings, the first cut was made from April 10 to May 10 and the 2nd cut from May 21 to June 5. First cut: y=3.7x+14.85 (0≦x≦3, 1x=10 days) 2nd cut: y=-1.48x+9.57 (0≦x≦4, 1x=5 days)

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