REPORT OF MR. S. A. BEDFORD. 



325 



EXPERIxVIENTS WITH GRASSES AND CLOVERS. 



Owing to the rapidly increasing herds of cattle and the lessening natural pasturage 

 in Manitoba, the interest in grasses and fodder plants is increasing each year. For this 

 reason special attention has been paid to this branch of experimental work, and during 

 the past season about one hundred plots, varying in size from -^ acre each to 6 acres, 

 have been devoted to grasses and clovers with gratifying success. 



The objects in view when undertaking this work were : — 



1st. To ascertain the hardiness and suitability for this country of the different 

 varieties tested. 



2nd. To compare results from sowing grass seed with and without a crop of grain. 



3rd. To ascertain the most suitable quantities of seed for sowing. 



4th. To see whether a crop of clover, sufficiently heavy to benefit the soil as a green 

 manure, could be grown either in one or two years. 



5th. To gain information regarding the most suitable mixtures of grasses for hay 

 and permanent pasture. 



The summer of 1896 was an exceptionally favourable season for grasses, and all the 

 varieties were in good condition by fall ; the snow came early and remained until the 

 following spring, making an excellent covering during the severe months of winter. 



The following plots of grass were one-tenth acre in size and the clovers one-twentieth 

 acre each. The field was in barley during 1895 and the stubble was ploughed in the 

 spring of 1896. The seed was sown broadcast on all the plots on the 8th of May, 1896, 

 and at once harrowed in. Weeds were mowed twice during 1896, but none of the plots 

 produced sufficient grass in that year to pay for cutting. 



The soil was a medium sandy loam. 



Grasses — Test of Varieties. 



Variety. 



Western Rye Grass ( Agropyrum tenerum) 



Awnless Brome Grass (Bromus inennis) 



American Rye Grass (Elymus amerieanus) 



Bald Rye or Wheat Grass {Elymus Virginicus) 



Fall Meadow Oat Grass (Avena elatior) 



Meadow Foxtail ( Alopecurus pratensis) 



Hard Fescue (Festuca duriuscula) 



Timothy (Phleunr. pratense) 



Orchard Grass (Dactylis glomerata) 



Red Top (Agrostis vulgaris) 



Timothy, mixed 1 



Common Clover n J 



Thickness 



of 

 Aftermath. 



Thin... 



Very thick 



Thin 



Poor 



Fair 



Germinated badly 



M II 



Thin..,. 



Very thick 



Fair 



Yield per 

 Acre. 



Tons. Lbs. 



3 

 3 

 2 

 2 

 1 

 1 

 1 

 1 

 1 

 1 



750 

 400 

 510 

 200 

 400 

 200 

 200 

 200 

 50 



750 



