DIYISIOIi OF FORAGE PLANTS 



943 



SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 



SUGAR BEETS. 



Three varieties of sugar beets were tested. The seed was sown on May 26 in 

 rows 28 inches apart on land ploughed out of sod in July of 1912 and fall worked. 

 High winds interfered with the yield of this crop. The crop was harvested Sep- 

 tember 23. 



Sugar Bekts. — Test of Varieties. 



ALFALFA. 



The Grimm and Turkestan varieties of alfalfa continued to prove hardier than 

 any other varieties which are suitable for commercial use, and which have been tried 

 up to date. Three acres of alfalfa were this year seeded in drills 28 inches apart and 

 cultivated during the early part of the summer. The young plants made a vigorous 

 start and an interesting comparison will be possible next season between the crop on 

 this area and that on a block of the same kind of alfalfa seeded broadcast. 



Moles, or pocket gophers, are giving trouble on our fields of alfalfa which have 

 been longest seeded, and have totally eaten out quite a large section of this area. It 

 is an expensive mattei^to combat this pest as the rvms must be found and the animals 

 either trapped or poisoned in the runs underneath the surface. 



GRASSES AND CLOVERS. 



Five selections of timothy seed were seeded last spring on one-eightieth acre plots 

 in duplicate. Half of these will be compared as to their value for the production of 

 hay, and from the remainder seed will be saved. 



The same plan was followed out with a similar number of collections of clover 

 seed. 



Kentucky Blue grass is being used by Central Alberta farmers as a permanent 

 pasture. This valuable grass does remarkably well on this soil. It is one of the 

 earliest to produce forage in the spring, stands heavy pasturage well, and continues 

 growth late in the fall. 



Lacombe. 



16— 61i 



