REPORT OF MR. JAMES MURRAY 



375 



SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 



plants were about ten inches high. Half of the area was sown with Montana seed and 

 half with seed from Idaho. 



CLOVERS AND GRASSES. 



The clover came through the winter without any loss, but as the weather was very 

 dry, good yields were impossible. About twenty acres were seeded down with oats iu 

 1909, but only a fair catch was secured on account of the dry weather, particularly after 

 harvest. Two acres of light dry land was a particularly poor stand in the spring, so 

 was ploughed up and sown to peas and oats. The remainder yielded about one ton 

 of hay per acre, which, considering the season, was all that could be expected. 



Last spring the following seedings were made : — 



It will be noted that in each of these mixtures Red Clover is included, and that 

 in several it comprises the principal part of the seed. This use of Red Clover is war- 

 ranted by the excellent results we have had from its use here for a number of years. 

 When grown with Western Rye grass and Timothy the yield of hay is heavier than 

 when the grasses are grown alone and the aftermath is much heavier for pasture pur- 

 poses. The quality of the hay is also better and is much easier handled. This is par- 

 ticularly true of the Western Rye grass which is inclined to be stiff and slippery. 



When Red Clover is sown with a nurse crop the stubble should be left long to hold 

 the snow, and cattle should not be allowed on the field after harvest unless for a few 

 days. If the clover is well rooted in the fall and is not pastured off it is almost sure 

 to come through the winter safely, but if it is eaten down close to the crown after har- 

 vest the chances 'for success are greatly reduced. 



The following table gives the yield of cured hay per acre on a number of plors 

 of clover, grasses and mixtures sown in 1907, 1908 and 1909 : — 



Clovers and Grasses. 



Name. 



Red Clover (Tritolium pratense) ' 



A l.sike Clover (Trifolium hybridum) 



Timothy (Phleum pratense) 



Western Rye Grass (Agropyrum tenerum) 



Western Rye Grass and Red Clover 



Timothy and Red Clover 



Timothy and Alsike 



Orchard Grass (Dactylis glomerata) 



English Blue Grass or Meadow Fescue (Featuca 



elatior) 



Red Clover 



Orel Red Clover 



Siz€ of Plot. 



Year Sown. 





i 



•Iu " 



2T5 



1907 . 

 1907. 



1007. 

 1907. 

 1907. 

 1907. 

 1907 . 

 1908. 



1909. 

 1909. 

 1909. 



Yield per Acre. 



Lbs. 

 1,275 



775 

 1,225 

 1,600 

 1,700 

 1,075 

 1,000 



500 



1,900 

 2,200 

 1,700 



