RErORT OF THE ENTOMOLOGIST AND BOTANIST 205 



SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 



Ponoka, July 24. — Mr. Alger in the chair. A large meeting was held here. Pon- 

 oka is beautifully situated on the banks of the Battle river with rich rolling land 

 around it, which has been settled by progressive Canadians from the East and Ameri- 

 cans. Much interest was taken in the subjects treated of by the speakers. Summer- 

 fallowing early was highly recommended by Mr. Mackay for cleaning land of weeds. 

 It had been noticed that very few of the summer-fallows to the north of this place 

 had been ploughed at the present time, and yet the seeds of many weeds, such as 

 Shepherd's Purse, False-flax, Pepper grass, Stink Weed, where it occurred, and some 

 others were already ripe. It was claimed that summer-fallowing, as advised, in these 

 rich moist lands, would make the crops late and give too much straw. Mr. Mackay 

 advised heavier seeding, viz., 2 bushels of wheat, and 2 J bushels of oats ; this was 

 more seed than was used at Indian Head, where they found that 1-| bushels of wheat 

 and 2 bushels of oats to the acre gave the best results. Great stress was laid on the 

 importance of sowing clean seed as a means of reducing weed presence; Mr. Mackay 

 believed that the success he had secured at Indian Head in keeping their land free of 

 weeds was very largely due to the care taken in cleaning seed grain. Summer-fallowing 

 however, he considered essential if the rich lands of the West were to be kept free of 

 weeds. Lateness of the crop grown on such land and too luxuriant a production of 

 straw might be prevented by the following method. Fallow by ploughing deeply as 

 Boon after seeding time as possible, harrow to start the weeds. Three weeks will give 

 the weed seeds near the surface a chance to germinate ; cultivate these 2£ inches 

 deep and repeat the operation 3 times. This will destroy four crops of weeds. Next 

 spring harrow early, leave the land till the 1st of June, then sow a grain crop to be 

 cut for green feed in the first week in August. After cutting this, plough 2£ or 3 

 inches deep and sow wheat the next spring. If the land is still thought to be too 

 weedy, two crops of grain feed may be taken. If the land is not very weedy drill in 

 wheat 2£ inches deep without cultivation, and, when it is one or two inches high, 

 run over it with a weeder or light harrow. Brome Grass and Western Eye-grass were 

 discussed, and the proper seeding of each of these was stated to be 10 pounds to the 

 acre. Western Eye-grass provides excellent pasture and hay, but the latter must be 

 cut when in bloom ; the straw from which ripe seed has been threshed, is almost use- 

 less. The difference between Awnless Brome (Bromus inermis, L.) and the native 

 Western Brome {Bromus Pumpellianus, Scrib), was explained to be that, of the for- 

 mer, the stems and leaves are perfectly smooth and the chaff scales bear no spike-like 

 awns, while in the native species, which is also a luxuriant and very valuable grass, 

 the leaves and stems, particularly at the joints, are always more or less hairy and the 

 chaff bears a short sharp awn. 



Earnest inquiries were made as to whether plums and apples would be likely to 

 succeed in the district, and mention was made of the successful experiments which 

 have been carried out at the Experimental Farms in selecting desirable forms of the 

 native plum and in improving the hardy Siberian crab apple (Pyrus baccata, L.) by 

 crossing it with the best varieties of hardy apples. Some fall wheat which would 

 have been ripe in about two weeks, was shown at this meeting, and Mr. George Batho 

 spoke of the success in growing this grain in the district. 



Lacombe, July 25. — Mr. F. B. Watson in the chair. A splendid meeting was held 

 at this thriving and active town. The meeting had been well worked up by Mr. Percy 

 Gregson, and the farmers brought in a large number of specimens of weeds and other 

 plants concerning which they desired information. Col. J. J. Gregory contributed 

 many plants of interest and took a leading part in the discussions, bringing forward 

 many subjects which he knew to be of special interest in the locality. After the meet- 

 ing broke up, it was carried on informally for nearly another hour by those present 

 who wished to make the most of the opportunity to discuss various farming matters 

 with the speakers. Mr. Gregson spoke at length of the efforts being made by the 

 Hon. G. H. V. Bulyea to help the farmers of the North-west in their fight against 



