DiriSIOX OF FORAGE PLANTS 897 



SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 



^ EXPERIMENTS WITH CLOVER AND GRASSES. 



Some five pounds of Red clover seed were sown in uniform test plots of one- 

 hundredth of an acre each, in duplicate sets. The previous crop w^as grain. 

 The land w^as of clay loam and was ploughed in the spring of 1913, also well cultivat- 

 ed. A light dressing of commercial fertilizer was sown (200 pounds per acre) and 

 harrowed in with a smoothing harrow. Seed was sown on June 10 at the rate of 25 

 pounds per acre. 



The object of these experiments with Red clover is to try to produce, by means of 

 natural selection, varieties of Red clover which will prove perfectly hardy in this 

 climate and at the same time to demonstrate, if possible?, the value of home-grown 

 seed. 



It is the general belief that the partial killing of Red clover is due, to a very great 

 extent at least, to the fact that an ordinary clover field is composed of a mixture of 

 diifereut types, some of w'hieh are hardy and therefore persist, Avhile others are not 

 so hardy and therefore perish. 



Hence by selecting seed year after year from those plants which prove to be 

 hardy, it is hoped to obtain a type of Red clover which will not only increase in hardi- 

 ness but likewise give an increase in yield. 



In order then to arrive at a definite conclusion on this double question, the plots 

 Avere sown in duplicate sets, one of which will be used for hay production the otlier 

 for seed production. 



A similar experiment is being carried out with grasses. Five lots were sown in 

 uniform test plots of one-hundredth of an acre. The land was of clay loam, treated 

 identically the same as for clover, and one set of plots will be used for hay produc- 

 tion and the other for seed production. 



This experiment in seed selection and improvement should em])hatieally appeal 

 to every farmer as a proposition worthy of note in the development of agriculture. It 

 cannot be emphasized too strongly, as there is.no other way whereby so much can be 

 gained as by careful seed selection. 



ALFALFA. 



Up to this date alfalfa has not proven to be a very profitable crop in Nova Scotia. 

 While at the Experimental Farm very good catches have been procured during the 

 first season's growth, it has invariably been winter-killed, partially so at least. In 

 the plots where it has been sown in previous years, during this season a very credit- 

 able stand was realized, but only in patches. 



Nappan. 



