this experiment was to compare the alfalfa varieties when seeded alone. 

 However, these yields are given in Table 2. 



Bromegrass alone produced more dry matter than any alfalfa variety. 

 This is not surprising since grasses in general have a higher proportion 

 of stems to leaves than legumes and. therefore, a higher percent of dry 

 matter. The bromegrass-alfalfa mixture exceeded the best alfalfa variety 

 or bromegrass alone by more than a ton of dry matter per acre. Many 

 experiments have shown that mixtures of compatible, adapted species gen- 

 erallv produce significantly higher yields than any single species seeded 

 alone. 



Table 2. Forage Yields (Pounds of Dry Matter Per Acre) of Bromegrass and 

 Bromegrass-alfa'fa Plots, Greenland, New Hampshire, 1951-1955* 



* Average of 5 rejilications. 



Alfalfa is usually seeded in a mixture in New Hampshire. The question 

 rnay logically be raised whether yields of alfalfa varieties seeded alone 

 can be compared to their yields in a mixture. Extensive research throughout 

 the Northeast recently has indicated alfalfa varieties seeded alone main- 

 tain about the same relative rank as they do in a simple mixture with one 

 grass ( 2 ) . Many research workers have also pointed out that a relatively 

 simple mixture is more desirable than a complex mixture of several grasses 

 and legumes. Complex mixtures should be avoided particularly on land well 

 adapted for a high yielding species such as alfalfa. 



Another new variety. Vernal, has been released by the Wisconsin Sta- 

 tion. This variety apparently has more wilt resistance than Ranger, and 

 its yield performance has been excellent in the North Central states. Yield 

 trials were established in 1956 with Narragansett, Vernal, and other varie- 

 ties at Colebrook, New Hampshire. 



Smooth Bromegrass 



Bromegrass has become a popular pasture and hay grass in the Northeast 

 within the past 10 years. It is a palatable, nutritious grass, adapted to 

 fertile, well-drained soils, and is superior in production to timothy, especial- 

 ly in midsummer. It is about 10 days earlier than timothy, and usually 

 flowers about June 20-22 at Durham. Bromegrass can apparently be main- 

 tained quite satisfactorily with three or four harvests per season. 



Southern types of bromegrass, such as Fischer, Lincoln, and Achenbach. 

 have generally been superior in the United States, but northern types are 

 favored in Canada. In this country, southern types are usually somewhat 



