It will be observed that the results- obtained from the seed of the 

 Turkestan Alfalfa which was obtained in America were decidedly lower 

 than those obtained from the seed of the Turkestan Alfalfa obtained from 

 Turkestan throug-h the Department of Agriculture at Washington. 



The plots which were sown in the spring of 1905 from seed produced 

 at the College in 1904 and in 1903 gave quite similar results to the first 

 quality of the commercial seed grown in the United States. It should 

 be stated, however, that both the seasons of 1903 and 1904 were unfav- 

 orable in Ontario for the production of Alfalfa seed of average quality. 

 It should also be taken into consideration that the seed produced in 1903 

 was over a year old when it was sown in the spring of 1905. 



It is interesting to observe that the greatest yield of cured hay per 

 acre was produced by seed obtained from the northwestern part of Texas. 

 The yield of the green crop, however, was greater from the seed obtained 

 from Khiva, Turkestan, than from that obtained from any other source. 



Although the germination of the seed obtained from Arabia and 

 from Peru was excellent, and the crop in each instance was very promis- 

 ing in the autumn of 1905, the plants of the Peruvian Alfalfa were com- 

 pletely killed, and those of the Arabian Alfalfa were mostly killed before 

 the following summer. Both these strains of Alfalfa are giving particu- 

 larly good results in the southwestern part of the United States, but 

 owing to their acquired habits of growth prove to be exceptionally tender 

 in Ontario. 



In 1907, the second crop of Alfalfa, on each of the plots here referred 

 to, was allowed to go to seed. It was the desire to obtain seed of these 

 different strains in order to continue the experiment, and to ascertain 

 whether or not the seed obtained from the most productive kinds would 

 continue to produce the best results. We hope that in time we shall be 

 able to produce in Ontario a good supply of seed of the very best strains 

 of Alfalfa. 



Inoculation. 



It is a well established fact that leguminous crops, such as Alfalfa, 

 Sainfoin, Clover, Peas, Beans, and Vetches, thrive best when they are 

 grown in the presence of a certain species of bacteria. These micro-organ- 

 isms, when present in the soil, enter the roots of the plants, forming 

 enlargements or nodules on the roots. These very minute forms of life 

 make use of the free nitrogen of the atmosphere, which is thus trans- 

 ferred to the plants, making them decidedly more valuable both in food 

 constituents and in fertilizing materials. Each of the crops here referred 

 to requires bacteria peculiar to itself. It is possible for Alfalfa to grow 

 fairly well without the presence of these minute forms of life, by making 

 use of the nitrogen already in the soil. Their presence, however, seems 

 to have the double value of increasing both the quantity and the quality 

 of the crop. Whether or not the proper bacterial forms are in the soil, 

 can be ascertained by growing a small amount of Alfalfa and examining 

 the roots for the presence or absence of the nodules. If no nodules are 



