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THE IRRIGATION AGE. 



OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE A TRIAL OF GROWING 



GRIMM ALFALFA 



Much of the common alfalfa in Illinois, Iowa, 

 Wisconsin, Ohio, and Indiana was winter-killed 

 last winter, while it was observed that Grimm al- 

 falfa in some localities escaped winter killing, indi- 

 cating that this variety is much more cold-resistant 

 than the common type. 



Paul P. Banker, county agent, working in the 

 co-operative extension service of the Montana State 

 College of Agriculture, has made arrangements to 

 supply Grimm alfalfa seed for a trial half-acre plot 

 at a very much reduced price to any farmer who 

 wishes to experiment with a small plot along side 

 of the common varieties he is already growing. 

 Montana dryland hardy Grimm alfalfa seed ranks 

 high in the markets of this country today. Other 

 alfalfa seed is sold quite generally under the name 



Grimm, and this fact accounts for the failures that 

 some farmers encounter in trying to grow alfalfa. 

 The Grimm alfalfa seed offered by Mr. Banker is 

 the genuine state inspected dryland hardy seed. It 

 is grown without irrigation, with a rainfall of less 

 than fourteen inches, and with winter temperature 

 as low as 57 degrees below zero. Farmers wishing 

 to try out the Grimm alfalfa should write to Paul 

 P. Banker, Harve, Montana. 



We think this is an excellent opportunity for 

 farmers in Wisconsin, Illinois and contiguous states 

 tomake a trial of growing this highly recommended 

 hardy alfalfa. A. M. Ten Eyck, Director Agricul- 

 tural Extension Department, Emerson-Brantingham 

 Implement Company, Rockford, 111. 



ALSIKE CLOVER FOR WET PLACES 



The possibility that a continuance of the war 

 may affect the supplies of concentrates for stock 

 feed makes it wise at the present time to consider 

 growing feeds rich in proteins. Of such feeds the 

 U. S. Department of Agriculture wishes to call at- 

 tention to alsike clover as a plant for low wet places. 

 Analyses show that alsike clover hay is slightly 

 richer in protein than red clover, and the hay is 

 fine and well liked by stock. For dairy cattle, es- 

 pecially, it is an excellent feed, and a ration of alsike 

 hay could partly replace a ration of silage and con- 

 centrates where these have been used, making a 

 saving in concentrates. When properly cured alsike 

 clover hay is bright colored and sweet, making it 

 very palatable. The plant being smooth, the hay is 

 less dusty than red clover hay. It is not advised 

 that alsike be seeded instead of red clover or alfalfa. 

 Where these are successfully grown the farmer 

 would better stick to the crops he knows will do 

 well, alsike clover can be seeded this spring 

 with good promise of success. Where it is 

 seeded on worn or sour upland with a grain 

 nurse crop, there will, of course, be no cutting 

 the same season, unless the season should be 

 unusually wet and long, but when seeded on low, 

 damp ground, without a nurse crop, a good cutting 

 of hay may be expected the same season. Where 

 the land is weedy it will be better to seed with a 

 light seeding of oats which may be cut for hay. 

 In this case, too, a cutting of clover hay may be 

 expected the same season. 



The department wishes especially to call atten- 

 tion to the wet bottoms that are often waste . or 

 weed-overgrown lands. Alsike clover thrives in 

 such places. In many places in the South it is very 

 successfully raised on creek bottoms. In some cases 

 such lands are overflowed more than once in the 

 season, and are thus risky for corn or for red clover, 

 but alsike clover will endure an occasional spell 

 under water and still make a hay crop when the 

 land dries again. 



In the North and West there are many swales 



and wet places on which the crop kills out or which 

 are too wet to prepare for corn. Alsike should do 

 well on such land and return a good crop of rich 

 hay. On the Patoka River bottoms of Indiana, for 

 example, alsike is reported as having made two 

 tons of hay the season of sowing. 



As a rule alsike makes but one cutting, but 



. where the land is rich and moist two cuttings may 



be secured in the year following seeding. Of course, 



only one cutting can be expected the season of 



seeding. 



It is a good plan to seed alsike clover with 

 timothy, with orchard grass, or with red top. When 

 seeded alone the stems of the clover lie on the 

 ground and make a mat that is difficult to cut. The 

 grass serves to hold the clover, up and thus makes 

 cutting easier. The mixture is also more readily 

 cured. A good mixture for such purpose is alsike 

 clover, five pounds, and timothy, four pounds per 

 acre ; or alsike clover, five pounds, and orchard grass, 

 ten pounds. Such mixtures will give most alsike 

 clover with enough grass to hold it up. If more 

 grass is wanted, increase the seeding of grass. 



Now is the time to attend to this matter. 

 Farmers are urged to seed alsike clover on all low 

 lands and wet places. Some seedings will doubtless 

 fail, but on the whole the result should be more 

 good hay for cattle and a consequent saving of con- 

 centrates, resulting in a saving of cash to the indi- 

 vidual and great food supplies for the country. 



WESTERN CANADA IRRIGATION 

 ASSOCIATION 



"The development of irrigation interests in 

 western Canada is illustrated by the fact that this 

 year for the first time the convention of the Western 

 Canada Irrigation Association will be held in the 

 Province of Saskatchewan. In previous years it 

 has always been held either in Alberta or British 

 Columbia, where the advantages of irrigation have 

 been more generally recognized. The meeting will 

 be held at Maple Creek, August 1, 2 and 3. 



