204 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 



1-2 EDWARD VIT., A. 1902 



where a good meeting was held. The farmers were very hopeful, regarding the recent 

 hail storms as quite exceptional occurrences not likely to happen again. Ball Mustard 

 and annual weeds were much discussed. Mr. Mackay recommended that early sum- 

 mer-fallowing should be practised in connection with mixed farming. Plough deeply, 

 7 or 8 inches, if possible, before June 1, and at any rate before July 1. Harrow at 

 once and cultivate three or four times, not more. Sow oats or barley for feed the 

 first year, and cultivate, but do not plough again. In the second year sow Red Fife 

 wheat, seeding two weeks after spring opens. If oats are sown, plough once, and 

 sow two weeks later than wheat. Brome and other grasses may also be used as clean- 

 ing crops. 



Fort Saskatchewan, July 20. — Leaving Clover Bar at 4.30, we drove to the old 

 settlement of Fort Saskatchewan, where a most successful meeting was held the same 

 evening. It was pointed out that many weeds were by far too noticeable in the crops 

 seen along the road. The most noxious of these were shown, and methods for their 

 control were given. Both here and at Clover Bar much inquiry was made about 

 Sweet Grass (Hierocliloa borealis, L.). The chief cause of its persistence was found 

 to be that settlers had besn calling it by the wrong name, viz., ' Twitch grass,' and 

 treating it accordingly. ' Twitch Grass,' or ' Scutch Grass,' is a shallow-rooted per- 

 ennial requiring shallow ploughing, whereas Sweet Grass roots deeply and requires 

 as deep ploughing as possible, the very opposite treatment to that which it had gener- 

 ally received. In both cases, the land should subsequently be put under a smother 

 crop, such as a thick seeding of oats or barley to be cut for feed as soon as ready. The 

 best time to cut oats for hay is when they are in blossom. 



Mr. Mackay again pointed out the value of summer-fallowing as a weed clearing 

 process and advised the practice at least once in three years. Leaving Fort Saskatche- 

 wan early on the morning of July 21, we drove in to Edmonton and spent the day 

 there. 



Leduc, July 22. — This is a new settlement, peopled for the most part by Ameri- 

 cans, Russian Germans and Canadians from Ontario. It rained nearly all day, and, 

 owing to the state of the roads, few farmers could come in to the meeting. An infor- 

 mal meeting was held in the Leland hotel, a nice clean house, kept by Mr. Willis. The 

 afternoon was spent making botanical collections, several interesting specimens being 

 •ecured. 



WetasTiiwin, July 23. — Mr. J. McVicar in the chair. This is a new place, settled 

 mainly by Swedes, Germans and Americans. An enthusiastic meeting was held in 

 the afternoon with a prolonged discussion on summer-fallowing, the best time to sow, 

 and the quantity of seed grain to the acre. Awnless Brome Grass was recommended. 

 Speaking of the value of this hay, Mr. Mackay stated that he had obtained as good 

 results in feeding the straw of this grass, from which the seed had been threshed, as 

 from any other hay. Some difficulty having been experienced in knowing the proper 

 time to cut Brome for seed, it was explained that this should be done when the seed 

 was of about the same consistency as wax. At Indian Head, Brome Grass flowered 

 about July 1, when the fields presented a golden yellow appearance from the copious 

 pollen-bearing anthers ; three weeks later than this the seed would be ripe enough 

 to cut and the fields would be of a purplish hue. Cutting should not be delayed too 

 long or much seed would be lost. When the seeds on a few heads would shell out, 

 the crop should be cut. An acre of Brome Grass would give from 400 to 800 pounds 

 of seed and an average of 2 £ tons of hay. The crop would depend largely on getting 

 good rains in May. Well cleaned Brome seed would always fetch at the lowest figure 

 10 cents per pound. Four crops of Brome Grass could be taken from one seeding, 

 but the best management was to take two crops of hay and then use the field as pas- 

 ture for two years. 



