REPORT OF MR. JAMES MURRAY 371 



SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 



EXPERIMENTS WITH ALFALFA. 



I am pleased to be able to report another year's success with alfalfa. There wa3 

 no winter or spring killing experienced and in spite of an unusually hot, dry summer 

 two fairly good cuttings of hay were secured. The yield of hay was much lighter than 

 usual on account of the drought but was more than twice as heavy as that of any 

 r>ther hay crop on the Farm. This is another evidence of the value of alfalfa for 

 Manitoba conditions, as grass hay crops are quite frequently short on account of 

 little rain. 



In view of the increasing interest in the growth of alfalfa in Manitoba and of tha 

 number of farmers who are anxious to grow the crop, I make no apology for repeating 

 some of what was said in last year's report regarding the growing of alfalfa under 

 our conditions. 



Alfalfa has been on trial at the Experimental Farm for upwards of fifteen years 

 and has been grown to a limited extent in other parts of Manitoba. During these 

 trials, failures have been met with and difficulties encountered, but of late years very 

 good success has been had. There has not been sufficient experimental work done 

 throughout the province to warrant us in recommending every farmer to grow alfalfa 

 extensively, but such excellent crops have been secured here and at a number of other 

 points in Manitoba that we are warranted in suggesting that every farmer give it a 

 trial. If the excellent qualities of the plant as a forage crop were known, with the 

 conditions necessary to its successful cultivation, it would undoubtedly be grown much 

 more extensively. 



Alfalfa requires a well drained soil and will not thrive on land where water lies at 

 any time of the year. Sandy loam with a porous subsoil is usually considered ideal 

 but the nature of the surface soil is of comparatively little importance. The most 

 essential requisite in soil is that the water level be not closer than three feet to the 

 surface. 



The preparation of the soil is also important. Land in good condition that has 

 been cropped for several years is preferable to new land. One of the best preparations 

 is a crop of potatoes or roots, or summer-fallow is quite suitable. The important 

 features are, that the land be fairly clean and quite free from grass, and in at least 

 a fair state of fertility. Good catches have been secured on suitable land ploughed 

 either in the spring or fall and well top-worked, but potato land or summer-fallow is 

 to be preferred. 



Alfalfa, like all other legumes, is able to utilize the nitrogen of the air in its 

 growth and to this is largely due its value as a soil renovator and a fodder. This 

 important function is performed through the medium of bacteria which find lodgment 

 in the roots of the plants. Their presence is indicated by the formation of small 

 nodules or excrescences on the roots about the size of a pin head. These frequently 

 appear in bunches and are usually found on the younger parts of the roots. The 

 absence of these nodules is an indication that the soil does not contain the bacteria. 

 The alfalfa will grow the first season without these bacteria being present, but it 

 lacks stamina and vigour and is apt to succumb during the first winter. 



Our prairie soils sometimes have these bacteria present naturally, but otherwise it 

 is necessary to inoculate. This can most readily be done by securing soil from a field 

 where alfalfa has been being growing successfully and scattering it over the land at the 

 rate of from 100 to 200 pounds per acre. This may be done to advantage immediately 

 before sowing the seed, but it may, if necessary, be distributed after the alfalfa is grow- 

 ing as it will gradually be washed in with the rain. 



It is not always necessary to inoculate the land, but it is always advisable, as the 

 chances of success are thereby increased. The Experimental Farm will furnish 100 

 pounds of inocidated soil free to farmers in Manitoba who apply for it, The applicant 

 will have to pay the freight from Brandon. 



16—24* 



