CIHM Microfiche Series (■Monographs) ICIMH Collection de microfiches (monographies) Canadian Institute for Historical Microraproductions / institut Canadian da microraproductions historiquas Technical and Bibliographic Notes / Notes techniques et bibliographiques .4 The Institute has attempted to obtain the best original copy available for filming. Features of this copy which may be bibliographically unique, which may alter any of the images in the reproduction, or which may significantly change the usual method of filming are checked below. D Coloured covers / Couverlure de cculeur I I Covers damaged / Couverture endommag^e □ Covers restored and/or laminated / Couverture restaur^e et/ou pellicul^e Cover title missing / Le titre de couverture manque Coloured maps / Cartes g^ographiques en couieur □ Coloured ink (i.e. other than blue or black) / Encre de couieur (i.e. autre que bieue ou noire) □ Coloured plates and/or illustrations / Planches et/ou illustrations en couieur Bound with other material / Relid avep d'autres documents Only edition available / Seute Edition disponible Tight binding may cause shadows or distortion along interior margin / La reliure serr^e peut causer de I'ombre ou de la distorsion le long de la marge int^rieure. Blank leaves added during restorations may appear within the text. Whenever possible, these have been omitted from filming / II se peut que certaines pages blanches ajout^es lors d'une reslauration apparaissent dans le texte, mais, lorsque cela 4tait possible, ces pages n'ont pas 6t6 film^es. Additional comments / Commentaires suppl^mentaires: D 23 D D L'Institut a microfilm^ le meilleur exemplaire qu'il lui a e\6 possible de se procurer. Les details de cet exem- plaire qui sont peut-6tre uniques du point de vue bibli- ographique, qui peuvent modifier une image reproduite. ou qui peuvent exiger une modification dans la m^tho- de normale de filmage sont indiqu^s ci-dessous. I I Coloured pages / Pages de couieur I I Pages damaged / Pages endommag6es D Pages restored and/or laminated / Pages restaur^es et/ou pellicul^es r~~> Pages discoloured, stained or foxed / b^ Pages dteolor^es, tachet^es ou piqu^es I I Pages detached / Pages d6tach6es I /[ Showthrough / Transparence 0 D D D Quality of print varies / Quality in^gale de I'impression Includes supplementary material / Comprend du materiel suppl^mentaire Pages wholly or partially obscured by errata slips, tissues, etc., have been refilmed to ensure the best possible image / Les pages totalement ou parliellement obscurcies par un feuillet d'errata, une pelure. etc.. ont 6\6 film^es h nouveau de fa9on k obtenir la meilleure image possible. Opposing pages with varying colouration or discolourations are filmed twice to ensure the best possible image / Les pages s'opposant ayant des colorations variables ou des decolorations sont film^es deux fois afin d'obtenir la meilleure image possible. 5 S This Ittm li filmtd at tht rtducllon ratio chtcktd btlow / Ce deeumtnt est film* au taux d« rsduction indiqu* ci-dti(ouf . lOx 14x 18x 12x 16x 20x 22x 26x 30x 24x 2Hx D 32x The copy filmed here has been reproduced thanks to the generosity of: Library Agriculturi Canada The images appearing here are the best quality possible considering the condition and legibility of the original copy and in keeping with the filming contract specifications. Original copies in printed paper covers ere filmed beginning with the front cover and ending on the last page with a printed or illustrated impres- sion, or the back cover when appropriate. All other original copies are filmed beginning on the first page with a printed or illustrated impres- sion, and ending on the last page with a printed or illustrated impression. The last recorded frame on each microfiche shall contain the symbol -^ (meaning "CON- TINUED"), or the symbol V (meaning "END"), whichever applies. Maps, plates, charts, etc.. may be filmed at different reduction ratios. Those too large to be entirely included In one exposure are filmed beginning in the upper left hand corner, left to right and top to bottom, as many frames as required. The following diagrams illustrate the method: 1 2 3 1 2 4 5 L'exemplaire Viitni fut reproduit grAce d la gin^rositA de: Bibliotheque Agriculturt Canada Lea imagea suivantea ont signifia "A SUIVRE". la aymbole Y signifia "FIN". Lea cartes, planchea, tableaux, etc.. peuvent fttra filmia i das taux da riductlon diffiranta. Lorsqua le document est trop grand pour itre reproduit en un aaul clieh4, il est film* i partir de I'angla 8up4rlaur gauche, de gauche k droite, et da haut en baa, an prenant le nombro d'imagea niceaaaira. Las diagrammes suivanta illustrent la mithode. 2 3 5 6 »«aocofr »EsoiuTioN rm chart (ANS: and rSO TEST CHART No. J| A r^lPPUED irvVIGE 'IM to,, Uo.. ',„„, '"<>) ««2 - 03CK1 Phon, EXHIBITION CIRCULAR NO. 48. (June, 1915) DOMINION OF CANADA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTLRF EXPERIMENTAL FARMS. J. H. GRISDALE, B.Agr.. q. H. HUTTON. B.S.A., ^•■■"*°'"- Superintendent, Experimental Station — for— Central Alberta. Lacombe, Aha. FORAGE CROPS AND PASTURE GRASSES -by- G. H. HUTTON. The rapxl increase in the percentaRc of cultivated land is makin.? it necessary that farn.ers who keep stock make better provision on their own far.ns for fecdfo^ thai growing'" '''' "'"""'■'' '" "'"^ '■'-'''' ■"•'"^ '" ""= breaking-up of the land for grain The abundance of natural grass for pasture and the ease with which lar^n- quanti.ies o her'fo'n •■■ 'I" ''"'""' " """«"-->■ <- -"->- the possibil.tv' of grow n" other fodder crops in those days. f, ""ih This condition is now altered to such an extent that numerous letters are received f om all parts of Central Alberta inquiring as to the most suitable forage crops and e most desirable pasture grasses for this district. Dairy Herd at Lacombe. on timothy, red clover, and alsike pasture, alaike predominating. FORAGE CROPS. The forage crops most suitable for Central Alberta are Alfalfa. Alsike Clover. Tea. and Oal3 cured as h-y, Tui.othy. Brome and Western Rye Grass. n. m J i i 4 ;i ■ rrn ALFALFA. The subject of alfalfa culture is dealt with in Bulletin No. 8, second ser;s, Do- minion Experimental Farms, and will not be treated here. It may be stated, however, that this crop will almost certainly be more generally grown as time passes, and as its high feeding value is shown. THE CLOVERS. Alsike Clover is proving best adapted for Central Alberta conditions. It does not require inoculation, is hardy and productive, making a much stronger growth here than is usual with this clover in most parts of America. This variety is being used in the following mixture and is sown with a nurse crop of barley; Timothy, 4 lbs., Alsike, 4 lbs., Red Clover, 4 lbs., per acre. The combination is satisfactory, the hay produced being of high quality, particularly for horses, and the alsike clover is prominent in the aftermath. Red Clover appears to require inoculation, does not as yet make as good growth as alsike and does not make as vigorous growth the second year as the latter variety. It is possible that as the land is longer under cultivation and more barnyard manure is worked into the soil, that red clover will be more successful. Red clover has always responded readily to inoculation, but where alsike will succeed without inoculation, and grows so profusely, it is thought advisable at present to recommend the growing of alsike in preference to red clover. Growth of clover town with barley at a nurae crop. PEAS AND OATS. Peas and oats sown together at the rate of one bushel of peas and two of oats per acre, sccdeil as soon as possible after the seeding of the crop intended for threshing is concluded, has given splendid results. The following table gives the yit .i field areas for the past three years: — Area Yield per Acre ^«*f Acres Tons Lbs. 19'2 8 4 42 •"'^ 35 3 800 l"*!-* *55 2 333 1914 (weighed green) ly, 12 JOOO ♦ Area partly drowned out. i uo i J nn^, '^ L L ' *';"''" **•" ""' °='" "' '" '^' "■'»' "^-K* >"d » shocked ere n whU H ^'^H .'^ " w""' ""' *"*' ""' ''=^^" =»» >"»«=hed. remains quite green >v hen dry and as shown above, produces a satisfactory tonnage per acre The average y.eld for 1914 is not heavy, but the area included a field in part of wh ch no crop at all was harvested because of excessive rainfall and lack of drainage The yield of straight oats in 1914 on I'A acres when weighed green was twelve and oe"rie th" T '"", ^ ""T'" '°""^^' °^ ^"^ ^^^ -^ can^usua^y be produced thU fnH 1 o^'t.-'""^- Thus it will be seen that there are great poLbilirs wi h this fodder crop m this country. ""■"" wim PEAS AND OATS IN THE SILO. A silo was erected during 1914 and filled with (1) corn. (2) peas and oats About fh r. .n"' "I"* °''' ^"-^ •="' •"'° "^^ ^"°- "■'«= °-t'' being in the milk stagr A his date (December ISth) the pea and oat silage has been tfied. though thl feeding on us^ns" VV "'" ^"' "'' '° ^"" ^°'"'= "^-•'^- " ^ "''"f"- impossible to draw in thU resoect^ can however, speak of the keeping quality of this kind of silage and ::a:;;:;^irk:.^'Lil^:r^ - -SL^y-: z- '- - --'^'^ - -" I .Ik vv:-vL^!^. ;"^.4. ^•>-\*i^ .ri- _y -f ,,,: :i*^',^^^^:^:"'';" Corn at L.combe Station; yield, 15 tons per acr-„ CORN. 30 tons of fodder were pro.fucel; oli'^ olr b f, '.i: i^ "ZZ"' ^"^ '" '''' cnce should be'^pla^rupTa mr^r^^^^ro';. '''''"' '" ''" ""' °' ^»'"'=' '''=•'"''■ TIMOTHY. I 11 1-1 il i il i1 ii BKOUE GRASS. Brome grass when cured for hay requires care, but when proptrly cured is a first class hay for stock, especially cattle. Seed at the rate of twelve to fourteen pounds per acre with a nurse crop of barley. Land once seeded to this grass is sometimes freed from it with great difficulty. WESTERN RYE GRASS. This variety is well suited to regions where the rainfall is less than at Lacombe, and is beyond doubt the best variety for hay for dry lands. At Lacombe it is seeded at the rate of about twelve pounds per acre, with a nurse crop of barley. I: I:! PASTURE GRASSES. KENTUCKY BLUE GRASS. The stock carrying capacity of land seeded to Kentucky Blue Grass for pasture purposes is at least double that of similar land under natural grasses. Seed at the rate of twelve to fourteen pounds per acre is sown, and better success has been noted to date when no nurse crop was used. If desired to obtain a stand quickly the seed may be sown on breaking and if the land has been well worked a good catch is almost certain. This grass produces an early pasture, stands drought well and continues green late in the season. It has proven very satisfactory at this station and in this district. BROME GRASS FOR PASTURE. Broitie grass is also an early grass to start in the Spring and stands dry weather well. It is nutritious and a profuse grower. The growth is not as dense as Kentucky Blue grass. The Brome variety is desirable for dry land areas and is not as dangerous in Central Alberta as many suppose. BROUE NOT DANGEROUS. If winter wheat is not being grown the careful farmer need not fear Brome Grass. By breaking the sod in late July or early August and working the land down well in the fall, giving also Spring cultivation prior to seeding, the grass will not interfere. VVhile an occasional plant may be found it will not be present in sufficient numbers to affect the result and a rotation may safely be planned which includes the sowing of Brome grass. THOROUGH CULTIVATION NECESSARY TO A GOOD C.XTCII OF GRASS. It should be remembered that grass seeds are small and that the young plants produced by such seed are small and tender in the beginning and that the soil should be well prepared to receive the seed. A stroke of the drag harrow after seeding will leave a field that has had the ncessary previous cultivation in good shape for thi mower, as well as do much to insure a uniform stand.