FIELD CEOPS. 329 



adapted to the warmer soils of southern Ontario, Wisconsin Earliest 

 White Dent for southern and central Ontario, and Salzer North 

 Dakota, Compton Early, and King Phillip for central and northern 

 Ontario. 



In experiments with grass mixtures for pasture or hay the l)est and 

 most permanent mixture has consisted of 4 lbs. of orchard grass, 4 lbs. 

 of meadow fescue, 3 lbs. of tall oat grass, 2 lbs. of timothy, 2 lbs. of 

 meadow foxtail, 5 lbs. of alfalfa, 2 lbs. of alsike clover, 1 lb. of white 

 clover, and 1 lb. of trefoil. The yield from this mixture has averaged 

 3.6 tons per acre. Fringed brome grass alone has averaged 3.9 tons of 

 ha}' per acre during a period of 5 j^ears. Teosinte, sachaline, prickly 

 comfrey, spurry, Lathyrus sylvestris, cowpeas, velvet beans, tufted 

 and kidney vetches, crimson clover, lupines, lentils, serradella, and 

 ramie have thus far proven unprofitable crops for Ontario. 



Extensive variety tests of potatoes for a number of years lead to the 

 recommendation of Empire State, American Wonder, Pearl of Savoy, 

 and Rural New Yorker No. 2 as the best varieties for general cropping 

 in Ontario. Of the Swedish turnips grown Hartley Bronze Top and 

 Buckbee Giant are reconmiended. The Wisconsin Blue pea has been 

 found identical with the Striped Wisconsin Blue, and the Small Cana- 

 dian Blue identical with the Prussian Blue. 



Alfalfa seems adapted to certain sections of Ontario, but is not gen- 

 erally satisfactory. Hairy vetch has averaged 10.2 tons of green crop 

 per acre, which is about 2^ times as much as the yields obtained with 

 common spring vetch ( Vicia satwa). Some of the earlier varieties of 

 peanuts have been grown to perfection on the sandy loam soils in the 

 warmest portions of the Province. Russian flax has given the best 

 3'ields of seed per acre. Chufas have averaged 22.6 bu. per acre at 

 the station. Black Giant and Mammoth Russian have proven the best 

 yielding varieties of sunflowers. Rennie Yellow Mammoth Squash 

 produced the heaviest yield of pumpkins and squashes tested, followed 

 bv Thorpe Mammoth Pumpkin and Mammoth Bright Red Etampes, 



Turkestan alfalfa, P. B. Kennedy ( U. S. Dept. A(jr. , Division of 

 Agrostology t'lrc. iib^pp. W). — A report relative to the growth and 

 value of Turkestan alfalfa {Medicago sativa turkestanica), imported 

 and distributed by this Department in 1898 and 1899. Notes on the 

 natural condition of the soil and climate of Russian Turkestan, the 

 native home of the Turkestan alfalfa distributed, are given. 



Out of 4:^% reports received relative to its value. 237 indicate some 

 superiorit}^ over the common alfalfa. Many of the reports from 

 experiment station workers and others in the difi^'erent States as 

 regards results secured are quoted: 



"The reports from the region west of the Mississippi River and north of Kansas 

 and California indicate that this variety is hardier and more productive than that 

 commonly grown in this region. It seems to endure drought better, is not so easily 



