33i EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 



2-3 EDWARD Vll., A. 1903 



2nd crop — 4 acres, 2 tons 805 lbs. per acre. 



3rd crop. — 3 acres, 3 tons 15 lbs. per acre. (Manured.) 



WESTERN RYE GRASS. ( Agropyrum ienerum). 



1st crop. — 12|- acres, 2 tons 297 lbs. per acre. 

 1st crop. — Ih acres. 4 tons 235 lbs. per acre. 

 2nd crop. — 2| acres, 3 tons 153 lbs. per acre. 



MIXED BROME AND WESTERN RYE GRASS. 



1st crop. — 5 acres, 2 tons 66 lbs. per acre. 

 2nd crop. — | acre, 2 tons 1,580 lbs. per acre. 



1902 SEEDING. 



Brome grass. — 23 acres of stubble land was ploughed 4 inches deep on June 1, and 

 sown with Brome grass. Abundant rainfall at the time of seeding and afterwards 

 caused one of the best catches ever secured on the farm. 



Western Rye Grass. — 4 acres of land was prepared in the same manner as mentioned 

 above, and sown with Western Rye grass. An exceptionally good catch was secured. 



SEEDING AND CULTIVATION OP BROME GRASS. 



For information regarding the seeding and cultivation of Brome grass the following 

 is quoted from the report of 1896 : — 



' This grass is better sown alone ; at least it should not be sown with a grain crop. 

 The grain takes too much moisture from the young grass-plants, only the most vigorous 

 of which will survive the dry weather in September ; whereas, if sown alone all the 

 plants have an equal chance. 



' It is advisable to sow the seed on land that does not blow. Summer-fallow would 

 be the best preparation, but on account of its liability to drift it is not safe in many 

 parts of the Territories to use this kind of land. Stubble-land ploughed three or four 

 inches deep in April or May, and well harrowed after the seed is sown is found to 

 be quite safe from winds, as the stubble harrowed to the top prevents all drifting. 



'Ten or twelve pounds of seed is required per acre. More seed will give a better 

 crop the first year, but less afterwards, as the roots thicken up each year, and in three 

 or four years this grass makes better pasture than hay. 



' The seed being light, long and thin, seeding by hand is the only practicable 

 method unless seeders constructed for the purpose are available. To seed properly a 

 calm day should be chosen, so that all parts of the land may be evenly sown. 



' While the plants are young, weeds are sure to make great headway, and it is 

 necessary to keep them at least from going to seed. The quickest way to accomplish 

 this is to go over the field with a mower, cutting just above the grass plants. If this 

 operation has to be repeated it will be necessary to cut the tops of the grass, but this 

 will not injure the plants, in fact it is an advantage in the way of giving the roots 

 a firmer hold. 



' The first crop of hay can be cut the next year after seeding, and will, in ordinary 

 years, be ready early in July. Twenty days after being ready to cut for hay it will 

 be fit to cut for seed if so desired. 



' On this farm it has always been cut in first bloom for hay, and twenty days 

 from this time it is considered in proper condition to cut for seed. 



' In cutting for seed, a binder is used and the grass is cut, tied and stooked the 

 same as wheat or other grain. In a week or ten days after cutting it is ready to thresh 

 or store away. 



' For threshing small quantities, the old-fashioned flail is suitable, but for large 

 lots a threshing machine should be used on which the wind has been shut off" as much 

 as practicable. From three to six hundred pounds of seed may be expected from 

 an acre.' 



