RESULTS OF EXPERIMENTS. 25 



There wore l7o replies received from those who have orowii hroine- 

 o-rass, of which 'My reported faihires. Of these faihires 2(5 were in the 

 southwestern portion of the State, from McPherson to Chase and 

 Franklin counties. The reasons for failure were mostly because the 

 seed did not j>erminate or «>ave a very scattering stand, but 8 failures 

 were due to the depredations of ^grasshoppers. 



The remaining 13-i replies have been summarized as follows: The 

 present condition of the field of grass was reported good by 100, while 

 13 stated that the condition was poor. Spring sowing was recom- 

 mended l)y S6 and fall sowing by 22. That a stand of brome-grass is 

 easi(n- to obtain than of other grasses was stated ))y 48, while 4:2 thought 

 that this was not the case. A few had tried sowing brome-grass with 

 other crops but with varied results. With alfalfa, there were 5 suc- 

 cesses and 2 failures; with clover 3 successes and 2 failures. Three 

 reported a successful stand when sown upon prairie sod, while 5 

 failed in this. That this is a good hay grass w^as reported ))y 42, while 

 17 thought not. As a pasture grass, all except 2 reported favorably 

 so far as this point was touched upon, while 42 stated that it was good 

 for early and 4!> for late pasture. Twenty-four stated that it was good 

 for winter pasture. The drought resistance was reported good by 

 53 and poor by only one: The reports of 14 farmers show ed that it 

 was s-ood for sandv soil and 50 stated that it made a good sod. 



Alfalfa. 



The well-known perennial legume alfalfa {Medicago mti/m, PI. II) 

 is the most valuable forage plant grown in Nebraska. E\'ery eti'ort 

 should be made to extend the culture of this plant to ail parts of the 

 State. Being a legume it is highly nutritious; ])eing a perennial it 

 produces a permanent meadow; being palatal >le it is relished by all 

 kinds of stock. Although it is valuable as a pasture plant it is not 

 entirely suited to this purpose. Close pasturing is likely to kill it 

 out in spots. The great value of alfalfa lies in the production of hay. 

 The reader is referred to Farmers' Bulletin No. 31, United States De- 

 partment of Agriculture, for details in regard to this plant. 



It may be briefly remarked here, however, that in growing alfalfa 

 the ground should be well prepared, as free as possiljle from weeds, 

 and the seed should be sown when the soil is in favorable condition 

 for germination. The seed should be sown alone at the rate of about 

 20 pounds per acre, broadcast or, better, in drills. Where possi)>le 

 Neln-aska-grown seed should be used, or at least seed grown under 

 about the same conditions. 



