38 



CURRIE BROTHERS CO. FARM AND GARDEN ANNUAL. 



Turkestan Alfalfa or Lucerne. 



MEDICAGO SATIVA VAR. TURKESTANICA. 



Perfectly Hardy. Withstands Drought. Heat and Cold. Yields 

 the Heaviest and Richest Crops of Fodder. The Best 

 Clover for Permanent Hay and Pasture. 



The importance of forage crops has occupied our attention 

 many years, and we are constantly on the alert for new vari- 

 eties. TurKestan Alfalfa we believe to be the most impor 

 tant introduction in late years. Its value can hardly be esti 

 mated, but without doubt it will add millions of dollars 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 expanses 

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

 many places the evaporation exceeds the quantity of moist- 

 ure that has' fallen during the year. The inhabitants are 

 mainly employed raising cattle and here it is this Alfalfa 

 grows and nourishes. We have every reason to believe 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 sat- 

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

 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 devoted 

 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 cor- 

 respondingly 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. $18.00. 



A New 

 Departure. 



Your crops may be 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 tlue 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 rendering it available for plant food. These bacteria are 

 not present in all soils, but may be introduced by inoculating the seed or soil, thereby 

 greatly increasing the yield. 



Through the courtesy of Prof. George T. Moore of the Department of Agriculture, Wash- 

 ington, D. C. we are enabled to offer for the first time Alfalfa and Clover 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. 



ALFALFA OR LUCERNE 



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 lbs. per acre about the middle of April or earlier, should 

 the ground be in good condition, without 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 enricber 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 nitro- 

 gen gatherer. 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.) 



CLOVERS. 



(Subject to market fluctuations.) 

 Red or June Clover, Medium (Trifolium pratense) — The grade we offer is choice recleaned Wisconsin-grown seed, free from all 



weeds and other impurities. (60 lbs. per bushel.) Choice recleaned seed. Per lb. 15c (by mail 1 lb. 25c); per bushel $».<!!>; 



per 100 lbs. $13.50. 



Prime seed, per bushel $7.60; per 100 lbs. $12.50. 

 Mammoth Clover (Trifolium pratense perenne) — Valuable for hog pastures and for plowing under as a fertilizer. (60 lbs', per 



bushel.) Per lb. 15c (bv mail 1 lb. 25c); per bushel $8.25; per 100 lbs $l<J.i>o 



Alsike Clover (Trifolium hvbridum) — This is the hardiest of all the clovers and never winter kills, even in our severe winters it 



adapts itself to all kinds of soils, and is capable of resisting extremes of wet and drought alike. It makes a finer and better hay 



than red clover, and is much relished bv stock. (60 lbs. per bush.) Per lb. 20c (by mail 1 lb. 30c) ; per bush. $S.50; per 100 lbs.$14.uu 

 Crimson Clover (Trifolium incarnatum) — A rapid and quick-growing clover, valuable for cutting green or for plowing under as a 



fertilizer. Sow 20 lbs. per acre. (60 lbs. per bushel.) Per lb.lOc (by mail 1 lb. 20c); per bushel $5.25: per 100 lbs'. •••••• ■; 5b -? 1 u 



White Clover (Trifolium repens)— A valuable clover for sowing in lands intended for pasture Will do in almost all kinds of sou, 



except wet or moist ground. (60 lbs', per bushel.) Choice seed, per lb. 20c; per bushel $10.25; per 100 lbs %i >n 



White Clover— Extra choice seed for lawns. Per lb. 30c (bv mail 40c); 5 lbs. for........ ■■••■•■■. » 1 -*" 



White Bokhara (Melilotus alba)— Excellent bee food. (60 lbs. per bushel.) Per lb. 25c (by mail 1 lb. 35c); per bushel $10.75, per 



100 lbs. $17.50. 

 SERADET.LA (Ornithomis sativus) — An annual forage, especially valuable during the hot, dry months of summer. Yields heavy 



crops on poor soil. Sow 50 lbs. to the acre. Per lb. 15c (bv mail 1 lb. 25c); per 100 lbs $8.5U i 



SAINFOIN, or ESPABSETTE (Hedvs'arum onobrvcbis) — A deep rooting- perennial, desirable for feeding, either green or dry. to . 



milch cows. Increases auantitv and improves quality of milk. Sow 2 bushels to the acre. (20 lbs. per bushel.) Per lb. 10c (by 



mail 1 lb. 20c) ; per bushel $1.75; per 100 lbs , , , . . • -V-w 



