CURRIE BROTHERS CO. FARM AND GARDEN ANNUAL 



45 



Turkestan Alfalfa or Lucerne. 



MEDICAGO SATIVA VAR. TURKESTANICA. 



Perfectly Hardy. Withstands Drought, Heat and Coli. 



Yields the Heaviest and Richest Crops of Fodder. The 



Best Clover for Permanent Hay and Pasture. 



The importance of forage crops has occupied our atten- 

 tion many years, and we are constantly on the alert for 

 new varieties. Turkestan Alfalfa we believe to be the most 

 important introduction in late years. Its value can hardly 

 be estimated, but without doubt it will add millions of dol- 

 lars to the annual hay crop of the United States. 



Value as a Fodder Plant on Dry, Arid Soils. — The climate 

 of Turkestan is not unlike that of our interior States, being 

 far removed from the ocean and surrounded by wide ex- 

 panses of dry land. The summers are very hot and long, 

 and in many places the evaporation exceeds the quantity 

 of moisture that has fallen during the year. The inhabi- 

 tants are mainly employed raising cattle and here it is this 

 Alfalfa grows and flourishes. We have every reason to be- 

 lieve it will prove equally as valuable in this country. 

 Withstands Extreme Cold Without Injury — At the Experiment Station, Brookings, S. D., with 

 a minimum temperature of 40 degrees below zero, with the ground bare, common Alfalfa was 

 killed, while Turkestan came through unharmed. At the Wyoming Experiment Station the Tur- 

 kestan Alfalfa was exposed to a minimum temperature of 45 degrees below zero without harm. 

 The Director of the Russian Department of Agriculture, writing about Turkestan Alfalfa, says- 

 "Medicago sativa var. Turkestanica is the chief forage in use throughout Central Asia, and is of 

 the highest importance, since during the summer it forms the chief, and in winter, prepared in 

 the shape of hay, the only fodder for cattle. There are no meadows in certain parts, as soft 

 herbs and grasses that grow up in early spring are quickly dried by the hot rays of the sun. 

 The native Alfalfa -would seem to be a cattle fodder that cannot be replaced in countries as dry 

 and hot as Turkestan. Parallel experiments have been made in the Merv Oases in growing Tur- 

 kestan and common Alfalfa, under widely different conditions, and the results have shown that 

 the Turkestan is greatly superior to the common in the crop it yields, and is able to grow satis- 

 factorily with a minimum supply of water, a supply so small that the common Alfalfa would 

 J perish with drought. Turkestan Alfalfa has a very large root system, and its leaves are covered 

 .with thick down. This, in conjunction with the deeply channeled leaf, enables the plant on. the 

 one hand to imbibe the moisture from the deeper layers of the soil and on the other hand to exhale it in very small quantities." 



Good Crops on Alkali Soils. — The introduction of Turkestan Alfalfa permits of a great extension of the area heretofore de- 

 voted to the cultivation of Alfalfa, and this, too, in sections where climatic conditions have almost prohibited the growing of 

 leguminous forage" crops. Not only does it endure extreme drought and cold, but excellent crops of it have been raised on 

 strongly alkaline soils. 



Superior to Common Alfalfa. — In our experience Turkestan Alfalfa has proved infinitely better than the common variety, the 

 seed germinates quicker and the plants start into growth earlier and grow more rapidly under similar conditions. Sown along- 

 side the common Alfalfa in our own neighborhood the Turkestan made a top growth averaging 18 inches in height, with a 

 correspondingly large root growth, while the common only grew about 3 inches high. The plants grow strong, more leafy, 

 -with slender and less woody stems than the common sort, thereby making a finer and more nutritious hay. For its cultivation 

 follow the general directions given for common Alfalfa. The seed we offer is imported direct from Turkestan. 



Pkt. 10c; 1 lb. 25c (by mail 1 lb. 35c); 10 lbs. $2.00; 25 lbs. $4.75; 100 lbs j. . .$18.00 



ALFALFA OR LUCERNE— (Domestic.) 



The chief merit of Alfalfa lies in the fact that it may be cut 

 3 or 4 times a season, each cutting bringing enormous yields 

 of sweet and nutritious forage -which is much relished by all 

 kinds of stock. Care should be taken when cattle are first 

 turned in not to allow them to overfeed, as it is liable to cause 

 bloating. It is an excellent soiling crop and makes the best 

 hay when properly treated. In hay making it should be put 

 in cocks instead of windrows, which will tend to prevent the 

 shattering of the leaves. The seed should be sown broadcast 

 at the rate of 20 to 30 pounds per acre about the middle of 

 April or earlier, should the ground be in good condition, -with- 

 out a nurse or cover-crop. The soil must be deep, rich, well 

 prepared and well drained. It should never be sown on heavy, 

 sticky clay land where water stands a short distance below 

 the surface. A large crop once established the results are 

 wonderful — three cuttings a year being the regular thing, 



averaging 10 tons green fodder to the acre. Not only this, but 

 it will continue to give 10 tons to the acre for 10 to 15 years. 

 As a land enricher it is unsurpassed. The long roots, 10 to 15 

 feet under ground, bring up lots of buried mineral fertilizer, 

 ■while, like all the clover family, it is a great nitrogen gath- 

 erer. No farmer should be without an acre or two of it. 

 Choice recleaned seed per lb. 20c (by mail 1 lb. 30c); per bushel 

 $9.25; per 100 lbs. $15.00. (Subject to market fluctuations.) 



SAND LUCERNE. 

 Medicago media. 



The director of the Michigan Experiment Station reports 5 

 tons of cured hay of Sand Lucerne to the acre on a sandy 

 knoll, and says it is one of the best hay crops in use on the 

 Experiment Station Farm. It is specially adapted to sandy 

 land. Per lb. 30c by mail; peck $3.00; bushel ....$10.50 





A New 

 Departure. 



I 



Your crops may he doubled by using Inoculated Seeds. Clovers and other legumes inoculated with 

 these cultures should prove successful on lands which previously failed to bear a profitable crop. 



For many generations it has been known that leguminous crops such as Alfalfa, Clover, Beans, 

 Peas, etc., did not require the same amount of fertilizer as other crops, and the soil appeared to be 

 actually benefited by them. But only within a comparatively recent time has it been understood 

 that the real cause of the beneficial effect is due to certain bacteria in the soil, forming tubercles 

 on the roots of legumes, which have the power of fixing the free nitrogen from the air and render- 

 ing it available for plant food. These bacteria are mot present in all soils, but may be introduced by inoculating the seed j 

 or soil, thereby greatly increasing the yield. f 



Throu gh the courtesy of Pro f. G eor ge T. M.o_o re__P.f _th c. Department of Agriculture, Washington. D. Ciwe are enabled to 

 "BffUr ' ATfinfa rrnrt "Ctovt-r Seed inoculated with the proper cultures to fix these tubercle forming organisms at $2.50 PER 100 

 LBS. MORE THAN THE MARKET PRICE OF THE SEED NOT SO TREATED. 



RUSSIAN FLAX. 



When grown for seed -without regard to fibre, sow from 2 

 to 3 pecks of seed to the acre. If fine fibre is wanted, sow 

 from iy 2 to 2 bushels to the acre, so as to grow clean, straight, 

 slender straw. 



1 lb. by mail 20c; peck 50c; bushel $1.50 



FIELD PEAS FOR FEEDING. 



Canadian Field Peas can be very profitably sown along with 

 oats and either eaten off the field by cattle or hogs, or allowed 

 to ripen when they can be readily separated by any farm seed 



mill. In this way two crops can be grown at the one culti- 

 vation. 



Sow broadcast, if alone, 3 bushels of Peas per acre, or in com- 

 bination 1% bushels Peas to 1% bushels of oats, mixed, to 

 the acre. 



Canadian White — Bushel $1.50 



Canadian Blue— Bushel $1.40 



Scotch — Bushel $1-50 



Subject to market fluctuation. See Garden Peas, pages 26 

 and 27. 



