REPORT OF MR. JAMES MURRAY 



373 



SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 



The most notable point in this table of yields is the position of the mixtures of 

 alfalfa with Western Rye grass and with Timothy. The yield from these mixtures in 

 1909, the first year they were cropped, compared favourably with the alfalfa sown alone, 

 'but the falling off this year is most marked. The second crop was practically nil. 

 The reason may be that the grass prevented the alfalfa from becoming properly estab- 

 lished; in consequence the root system did not extend so deeply and the effect of the 

 drought was greater on this account. 



The grass and alfalfa seed was sown the same year in these plots. It appears that 

 it would be advisable when grasses mixed with alfalfa are to be grown that a year 

 should be given the alfalfa to become properly established, and that the following year 

 the grass seed should be sown and harrowed in. 



ALFALFA PLOTS SOWN IX 1909. 



In the spring of 1909 several samples of alfalfa seed were received from Chas. J. 

 Brand, of the Department of Agriculture, Washington, D.C. In June, 1909, the seed 

 was sown in plots of one-twentieth of an acre and a fairly good stand secured. The 

 plants were clipped once during the summer and went into the winter with about ten 

 inches of top. 



The yield of hay from each plot is given in the following table : — 



Name and Number. 



Grimm's, 25102 



Canadian Variegated Flow >red, 24837 



Sand Lucerne, 23o94 



Northern Turkestan, 23203 



Canadian Purple Flowered, 24836. . . . 



Provence, France, 22636 



Grimm's, 21735 



Sand Lucerne, 23481 



Montana, 23454 



Frankisli, 25022 



Yield per Acre op Cured Hay. 



1st Cutting, 

 June 27. 



Tons. 



Lbs. 



1,500 

 1,900 

 1,800 



L800 

 100 

 800 

 300 

 300 

 400 



2nd Cutting, 

 July 29. 



Tons. 



Lbs. 



1,200 

 1,500 

 1,500 

 1,600 

 1,400 

 1,700 

 1,700 

 100 

 1,800 

 1,900 



Total Yield. 



Tons. 



1 

 1 

 1 

 1 

 1 

 1 

 2 

 2 

 2 

 2 



Lbs. 



700 



1,400 



1,300 



1,600 



1,200 



1,800 



500 



400 



100 



300 



These varieties were sown primarily to test their relative hardiness in this climate, 

 their yield being a secondary consideration. As stated above they had a good top in 

 the fall and were well covered with snow all winter. 



Early in the spring as soon as growth started a careful examination was made of 

 all the plots, but not a single dead plant was found. This is no evidence that these 

 strains are equally hardy, but merely goes to show that the winter of 1909-10 was not 

 a severe one on alfalfa under the conditions that prevailed here. The real test of 

 hardiness can he determined only in a severe winter when the tender strains would be 

 more or less killed. 



In addition to the strains referred to above, twenty -seven others were received 

 at the same time. As there was no land in suitable condition for sowing in 1909, these 

 were not put in till last spring. In June one row of each variety was sown and in the 

 fall one hundred plants were counted in each row and stakes driven to mark off this 

 -:,,]•. Next Pnring the number of living plants in the hundred of each variety 

 will he ascertained. 



