146 



EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 



strongly to its usefulness in encouraging the growth of the legumes, clover and horse 

 beans ; and it is probable that where such will not grow luxuriantly, owing to the 

 absence of the necessary microbes in the soil, inoculation with Nitragin will prove 

 effective and economical. 



FORAGE PUNTS AND FODDERS. 



AWNLESS BROME GRASS {Bromus inermis.) 



In bulletin No. 19, Grasses; their uses and composition (Experimental Farm 

 series), written by Dr. Fletcher and myself in 1893, the following statement regarding 

 Awnless Brome Grass is to be found : " We consider this to be one of the most valuable 

 of the introduced grasses, both from its feeding qualities, as evinced by analysis, and 

 from its free, luxuriant habit of growth. An analysis made from grass grown on the 

 Central Experimental Farm, afforded the following data : — 



Analysis of Awnless Brome Grass, taken when the seed was fully formed, the right 



period at which to cut for hay. 



Water 



Ash 



Protein (albuminoids) 



Fat (Ether Extract) 



Carbohydrates (Nitr(jgen-free extract) 

 Fibre 



Fresh or Green 

 Grass. 



100 00 



Calculated to 

 Water- free 

 Substance. 



100-00 



These results denote that it is a grass rich in flesh-forming substances (protein) and 

 low in fibre — the least valuable, from a feeding standpoint, of a fodder's constituents. 



In the Annual Report of the Experimental Farms for 1893, on page 189, Dr. 

 Fletcher, Botanist of the Experimental Farms, speaks very higlily of this grass from 

 trials made under his care on the Central Farm, stating that it is early and hardy, and 

 that it is a heavy cropper, and one which produces an excellent aftermath of succulent, 

 leafy shoots. He also quotes many favourable opinions from those who have grown it 

 in the North-west Territories and the United States. 



For several years it has been extensively sown on the Experimental Farms at 

 Brandon and Indian Head, and reference to the reports from these farms for last j'ear 

 will show that great succcs has attended the trials on both farms (see pages 337 and 

 396, Report Expl. Farms, 1896). Both for hay and pasture it has already proved a 

 most valuable grass for the North-western provinces. A feature of particular import- 

 ance is the heavy aftermath of succulent grass it affords. Since the native gras'ses do 

 not produce this secondary growth to any extent, Brome grass is extremely valuable in 

 furnishing for the fanner and dairyman of these districts, during the late summer 

 months, palatable, whole.sonie and nutritious feed for keeping up the milk flow. 



In order to give the grass an extensive introduction, it was considered desirable to 

 distribute seed among farmers. To obtain this, portions of the crop on the Experi- 

 mental Farms at Brandon and Indian Head have been allowed to ripen, and the hay 

 thrashed. Many farmers have also followed this practice to procure seed for themselves 

 and their neighbours and thus, frequently, farmers have a quantity of fully ripe, thrashed 

 hay to feed to stock. To ascertain the value of this latter, or in other words to learn 

 what deterioration in feeding value has taken place between the period at which the 

 grass is in prime condition for cutting and that at which the seed is fully ripe, the 



