REPORT OF MR. S. A. BEDFORD. 



327 



Clovers — Test of Varieties. 



Summary. 



1st. In a favourable season, that is when the snow comes early and remains all 

 winter ; many of the hardier varieties of grasses and clovers will winter successfully 

 in this climate, 



2nd. Western Rye Grass (a native of our prairies) again takes the lead for yield 

 of hay, the quality is also excellent but Awnless Brome Grass gives nearly as much hay 

 and better aftermath, the pasture in spring is also earlier. , 



3rd. The yield of hay for the first year is not materially influenced by the amount 

 of seed used above a certain quantity, but thick seeding is expected to lessen the yield 

 during the second and following years. 



4th. Western Rye Grass and Canadian Blue gave the largest yield of any mixtures 

 tested but the aftermath is light for the first year, but may improve in a year or two 

 when the Blue Grass gets established. 



5th. Clover sown without a nurse crop can be depended upon for a green manure 

 in a favourable season, but it is doubtful whether it will prove a success if sown with a 

 grain crop. 



Grass Seed Distribution. 



There has been a very much larger demand for samples of grass seed during the 

 past season than in any former year ; fortunately the crop on the Experimental Farm 

 was larger than usual. Seventeen hundred and fifty-one pound bags were sent out in 

 the free distribution, and forty-two lots of about fifteen pounds each were sold. 



Millets. 



Five varieties of millets were tested during the past season, they were all sown on 

 summer fallow in drills 7 inches apart. 



Some of the plots suffered more than others from the severe winds of May, and for 

 that reason the experiment as a comparative test of varieties can not be considered 

 conclusive. 



Hungarian Grass has generally given the best results on this farm, and it was one 

 of the most productive this year. 



