CIHM Microfiche Series (■Monographs) ICIMH Collection de microfiches (monographies) Canadian Institute for Historical Mlcroraproductions / Institut Canadian da microreproductions historiquas Technical and Bibliographic Notes / Notes techniques et bibliographiques The Institute has attempted to obtain the best originai copy avaiiable 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. Coloured covers / Couverture de couleur □ Covers damaged / Couverture endommagde □ Covers restored and/or laminated / Couverture restaurto et/ou peiliculde Cover title missing / Le titre de couverture manque Coloured maps / Cartes g^raphiques en couleur □ Coloured inic (i.e. other than blue or blacl() / Encre de couleur (\.6. autre aus hlaim nu nni Encre de couleur (i.e. autre que bieue ou noire) Coloured plates and/or illustrations / Planches et/ou illustrations en couleur D D n n n Bound with other material / Re\\6 avec d'autres documents Only edition available / Seule Edition disponible Tight binding may cause shadows or distortion along interior margin / La reliure serrde peut causer de I'ombre ou de la distorsion le long de la marge int^rieure. Blank leaves added during restorations may etppear within the text. Whenever possible, these have been omitted from filming / II se peut que certaines pages blanches ajoutdes lors d'une restauration apparaissent dans le texte, mais, iorsque cela 6tait possible, ces pages n'ont pas 6X6 filmtes. Additional comments / Commentaires suppi^mentaires: L'Institut a microfilm^ le meilleur exemplaire qu'il lui a 6t6 possible de se procurer. Les details de cet exem- plaire qui sont peut-Mre unk)ues du point de vue bibli- ographkjue, qui peuvent nf)odifier une image reproduite, ou qui peuvent exiger une modifkation dans la metho- ds normale de filmage sont indk)u6s ci-dessous. I I Coloured pages/ Pages de couleur I I Pages damaged / Pages endommagdes □ Pages restored and/or laminated / Pages restaurtes et/ou pelltoultes Pages discotoured, stained or foxed / Pages d^colortes, tachet^es ou pk]utes I I Pages detached / Pages d6tach6es |v/| Showthrough/ Transparence □ Quality of print varies / Quality indgaie de I'impression Includes supplementary material / Comprend du mat^nel suppi^mentaire Pages wholly or partially obscured by errata slips, tissues, etc., have been refilmed to ensure the best possible image / Les pages totalement ou partiellement obscurcies par un feuillet d'errata, une pelure, etc., ont 6t6 fiim^es k nouveau de fafon 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 filmtes deux fois afin d'obtenir la meilleure image possible. D D D This Kwn is filmtd at tlw raduetion ratio dMclwd below / C« documMrt aM film* au taux da rMuction indiqu« ei-daaaoua. lOx 14x 18x 22x 26x 30x J 12x 16x 20x aiK 28x 32it Th« copy filmtd htr* has bMn reproductd thanks to ths gsntrosity of: L'txtmplairs filmi fut raproduit grica t la g*n*rosit4 da: Library AgrieuHurt Canada Tha Imagaa appaaring hara ara tha bast quality poaaibia eonaldaring tha condition and lagibility of tha original copy and in kaaping with tha filming contract spacif icatlona. BIMiothiqua Agriculturt Canada Las imagaa suivantas ont M raproduitaa avac la plus grand soin, compta tanu da la condition at da la nattatA da I'axamplaira film*, at an conformiti avac laa conditiona du contrat do filmaga. Original copiaa in printad papar covars ara filmad baglnning with tha front covar and anding on tha last paga with a printad or illustratad impras- sion, or tha back covar whan appropriata. All othar original copiaa ara filmad baglnning on tha firat paga with a printad or illustratad impras- sion, and anding on tha last paga with a printad or illustratad Imprasslon. Las axampiairas originaux dont la couvartura an papiar ast imprimia sont fiimis an commandant par la pramiar plat at an tarminant soit par la darniAra paga qui comporta una amprainta d'imprassion ou d'illustration. soit par la sacond plat, salon la cas. Tous laa autras axamplairaa originaux sont filmis an commanfant par la pramlAra paga qui comporta una amprainta dimprasslon ou d'illustration at an tarminant par la darniira paga qui comporta una talla amprainta. Tha last racordad framo on aach mieroficha shall contain tha symbol ^»- (moaning "CON- TINUED"), or tha symbol V (moaning "END"), whichavar applias. Un daa symbolaa suivanta apparaftra sur la darnlira imago da chaqua mieroficha. salon lo caa: la symbola — ► signifia "A SUIVRE". lo symbolo y signifia "FIN". Mapa. platas. charts, ate., may ba filmad at diffarant raduction ratios. Thoso too larga to ba antlraly Ineludad In ono axpoauro ara filmad baglnning In tha uppar laft hand cornar. laft to right and top to bottom, aa many framaa as raqulrad. Tha following diagrams illustrata tho method: Laa cartaa. planehaa. tableaux, etc.. peuvent Itro fllmte i daa taux do rMuction diffirenta. Lorsqua lo document est trop grand pour ttro raproduit en un seul clichi. il est film< i partir da Tangle supArieur gauche, de gauche A droite. et de haut en baa. en prenant la nombre d'Imagas n - m Dominion or Canada DEPARTMENT OF AGHK ULTrRC EXPEKIMLNTAL FaRMS ALFALFA GROWING IN ALBERTA. BT H. II. FAIKFIELD, M. S. Superintendent Experimental Station, Lethbridge, Alia. AND G, U. Hl'TTON-, B. 8. A. Superintendent Experimental Station, Lacumbe, Alto, BULLETIN No. 8 Sec-oriy .Messrs. W. H. Fairfield, Superintendent Experimental Station, I^thbriilgt-, Alta., and O. H. Hutton, Superintendent Experimental Station, I^combe, Altu. The ever Increasing demand for information aH to the pot«8ihilitie!< of growing, the best methods of starting alfalfa fields and of handling the crop in Alberta indi^ cates the need for such a publication as this to supplement the information con- tained in our bulletin No. 46 entitled "Alfalfa or Lucerne" which deals with this crop in a more general way and discusses Eastern rather than Western conditiona. I have the honour to be, ttir. Your obedient servant. Ottawa, February *„ J. H. GRISDALE, Director, Dominion Experimental Farm$. 1912. 18895—1} IXDKX. t : 1 » VAOI Alfalfa ' harmter of Growth of • "^ DiscinK oi ■ ■ Fieldx, Lif»' of, Hay, CuriiiKof, 11 IrriKation of, 7, 12 Location, suituhifi for, 8 Seed, Mixtun-g of,. J2 Quantity to'sow, 10 Raising of 11 !l>traini) of, 10 Testing of 10 • Treatment of the first Seaaon 11 i'>iH»E Crops. . SowiNii, Dates of. Soil, inoculated, Supjdy of Inoculation of. Preparation of, Suitable for Alfalfa. Summary. 10 10 8 8 8 13 ALFALFA GROWING IN ALBERTA. While the production of Alfalfa has been increasing rapidly during the past few years in Alberta, there is an ever-increasing demand for information in regard to the cultivation of this crop. The suggestions offered herein as to the cultural methods likely to succeed are based upon tests conducted at the Experimental Stations at Lethbridge and Lacombe as well as upon observations of the methods of successful growers of alfalfa in various parts of the province. The soils and climate of the settled portions of Alberta are represented by the Stations at which the work has been done as closely as any two points can represent those some- what varying conditions and the results secured should be of value as an indica- tion of what may be expected in other parts. As an indication of the interest shown in the cultivation of alfalfa, it may be said that in the last two years over eleven hundred farmers have applied for and received inoculated soil for the purpose of beginning the culture of this forage crop. Many of those who secured soil for this purpose during the first year or two it was distributed are now reporting on the results obtained and not more than one per cent) have stated that, in their opinion, alfalfa cannot be grown in their district. In the central portion of the province, where it is important that hardy strains or varieties be secured, some men report indifferent success but attribute their partial failure to the fact that the seed secured was an inferior variety. Alfalfa is being grown commercially in the Lethbridge district to 4|| extent of several thousand acres under irrigation and successfully grown in practically all other districts without irrigation. By the aid of irrigation, the yield is very materially increased. It is, in fact, a crop especially profitable to grow on irrigated land. In the drier districts of the province, on unirrigated land, although the tonnage is very much less, alfalfa will probably produce more hay than will any other perennial forage crop that can be grown there. It is now grown as far north as Fort Vermilion, so demonstrating the wonderful diversity of climate to which it can adapt itself. There is no fodder crop the equal of alfalfa for feeding growing stock or dairy cattle. It is very rich in protein and, since it draws its supply of nitrogen largely from the air, supplies at low cost as well as in readily digestible form those consti- tuents necessary to the formation of lean meat and milk. Tbarobjaot of alfalfa growing hai alao been treated of in bulletin No. 46 Elzperimental Farmi ter'w, copiM of which are obtainable on application. 7 8 Alfalfa is a plant that aeems particularly fitted for cultivation under irrigation . Not that It requires an excessive amount of moisture to thrive, but rather because It can withstand long seasons of drought, and when moisture is suppUed, resumes rapid growth with apparently no set-back due to the forced stand-still. On the average irrigated farm, it is not usually practicable for the farmer to irrigate every part of his farm just when it should be. There are sure to be certain fields, or parts of fields, that cannot be reached just when the crop requires moisture. With most crops, this may cause a serious loss, but with alfalfa it means a loss of ^owth only while the soil is in a very dry condition. It is during July and August, our hottest months, that this plant makes its most rapid growth, provi- ded the moisture in the soU is not exhausted, which can be prevented when irriira. tion is practised. Without irrigation, the second and third cuttings are somewhat uncertain from the fact that the growth of the plant, up to the first cutting, uses up the moisture to a large extent and, unless good midsummer rains come, the soil is often too dry to produce a very heavy crop afterwards. Notwithstanding this fact. It is safe to say that, with suitable varieties and with proper care in starting not only can alfalfa be grown on non-irrigated lands but more hay can be obtained from It than from any other forage crop. Every farmer in the province should obtam enough inoculated soil to treat from half an acre to an acre of land, and from this start, establish at least five acres of alfalfa. LOCATION AND BOIL. Select land that is well drained, i. e., in which there are no pockets or depres- sions to collect and hold water during wet periods, not necessarily land that is high and exposed, but it must not be wet or soggy and the ground water should never be nearer to the surface than from three to five feet at any time during the year. This is quite important, as alfalfa is not a plant that will tolerate "wet feet", it prefers a sandy soil with an open subsoil, though this is by no means essential to its success. River bottom land often offers ideal conditions for its growth. PREPARATION OF THE SOIL. The land should have been under cultivation a suflicient length of time to kill out the native grasses, for it has been found that, if these native grasses come up to any extent during the first or even the second season in a field sown with alfalfa, they retard the growth of the alfalfa plants, which are easily injured in this way until they become well established. The ideal condition of soil would be to take the ground on which potatoes or other hoed crops have been grown, or summer-fallowed land, and prepare the seed bed by discing or harrowing, or both. If the land is in suitable condition, it is better not to plough in the spring. If such conditions are not obtainable, stubble land may be used by . loughing and preparing a good seed bed, after the land has been suitably firmed by packing. INOCULATION. As alfalfa furnishes a very nutritiout hay, being particularly rich in nitrogen- ous or flesh-forming constituents, and as it yields heavily, it might be expected to impoverish the available nitrogen in the soil and thus diminish its fertility very rapidly. Nature, however, arranges for any heavy draught on the nitrogen of the soil that might accompany the growing of alfalfa or other legumes by the fact that the plants receive nitrogen from the air through the agency of certain bacteria that live on their roots. These bacteria have the power of absorbing the free nitrogen in the air present in the soil and passing it on to their host plant, the alfalfa or other legume, in such a form that it enters the general circulation of the plant to build up its various tissues of leaf, stem and root. These bacteria may develop rapidly and thus store up very large amounts of nitrogen in the legume crop. The decay of the roots and of the whole plant when ploughed unden enriches the soil in nitrogen, and thus it is that the growth of alfalfa, or other legume, invariably increases the soil's fertility. Sometimes these bacteria which live on the roots of tne alfalfa are not pre- sent in the field when the seed is sown, with the result that the crop grows well the first season, as difliculty in obtaining a stand is seldom met with, but, in the summer following, the plants indicate lack of vigour, quite often assuming a light or yellowish-green colour. This condition is ascribed to the fact that the plants, being such greedy feeders, have used up a great portion of the available nitrogen the first season, and consequently lack a sufficient supply for the second year's growth. During the second season, spots from one to two feet in diameter may often be observed where the foliage is a dark, rich green, and the plants are taller than the majority of those in the field. Where these dark healthy spots are, no doubt, bacteria are present, having been introdu d by the germs being on indivi- dual seeds or on foreign matter in the seed, or po: . ibly they were present in the native soil, having previously lived on some of the native legumes. The presence of bacteria on the roots of alfalfa is indicated by small, whitish nodules, about the size of a pinhead or smaller. These often form in clumps, resembling somewhat a miniature bunch of grapes, and are more often found on the newer roots. When looking for these bunches, jreat care should be taken or they will be entirely stripped from the roots as the plant is lifted. In Alberta, it has been found that it pays to inoculate the soil with these bacteria when the seed is sown, for fields tlius inoculated do not assume the unthrifty appearance the second season that fields not so treated show. The usual practice here in inoculating has been to use soil from an old alfalfa field. This is sown on the land at the rate of from 100 to 200 pounds per acre and worked in as the seed bed is prepared. The soil taken from an area where sweet clover (Melilotus alba) is growing may also be used successfully for inoculating. 10 INOCCLATBD ALFALFA BOIL SCFFUBD BT TBI CXFUUMENTAL STATIONS FOR A NOMINAL CHABOB. fi«r.iiT S^*^ Where alfalfa has not been grown, it 1. often difficult for farmers to obUm tnoculated sod from an old alfalfa field, so the SUUons at Lwombe and Lethbridge wiU supply a sack of the soU to farmers on the payment ^ !L ?^'f^ ~''*™* ^^ "P*^ °' '*<''^«' "»» ^» P"P»y the freight to the q)plicant's nearest raUway sUtion. inn ^PP"f*°? *:;" be limited to one sack each, which wiU contain not less than Ir^^^Tt.^-^ r. ^"^^ '° **" P~^^<« '""^ Calgary aouth should apply to the Lethbndge Expenmental Station, those living north of Calgary should apply to the Lacombe Experimental Station. To be more exact, those living nJ^T^'il; r °' T^^ '^" ^ ™PP"*** '^^ Lethbndge. those living north of township 26 from Lacombe. If the land to be seeded to alfalfa ia in good condition and moist, 100 pounds 18 sufficient for an acre, if not, then the inoculated soil should be distributed over a less area. Although 100 pounds of inoculated soil is. under aU ordinary con- ditions, quite sufficient for an acre, still, where the soil can be obtained with- fW.'^Kn* Z"'*"'*^ ^' '""^ " ^™'° "* neighbouring farm, it will be found tnat 160 to 200 pounds or even more can be scattered much more easily over an Immediately after the inoculated soil is appUed, the land should receive a ^!ZTl 7a ^' ""°^ "" harrowing or both so as to Incorporate it into the sou of the field as soon as possible, since the direct rays of the sun destroy bacterial SEED. AUlarge houses carry alfalfa seed in stock and care should be taken in buying that the best is selected. Weed seeds are frequently introduced in alfalfa seed and any persons buying seed should exercise great care in this regard Samples of the seed offered for sale may be submitted to the Seed Laboratory Calgary, for analysis and test as to freedom from weed seeds and for vitality This Tin \ u '^**'°"* "''"«*• ^° *^* Lethbndge district, practicaUy no winter- kilbng has been expenenced and less attention need be paid to the selection of vaneties m that vicinity but in other sections of the province, the question of vaneties is important and the Grimm and Turkestan have been found to resist trymg conditions much better than other sorts. At the Lacombe Station, more than 90 per cent of the plants of the above varieties have survived the winter Willie oher kinds, except the yeUow-fiowered Siberian alfalfa (Medieago falcata) have fallen below 70 per cent, to as low as 20 per cent. Next to Grimm and Turk- estan, Montana-grown seed might be placed with reference to its probable 11 qUANTITT or 8BXD. SuflScient experiments have not yet been carried on in the province to war- rant a very definite opinion being formed as to the best amount of seed to use. From our present linowledge, we would suggest on irrigated land 15 to 20 pounds of seed per acre; where the land is not to b^ irrigated, somewhat less is advised, the quantity being placed at from 12 to 15 pounds per acre, except in those parts of the province where the rainfall is lightest, where 10 to 12 pounds is suggested. DATE OF SEEDING. From the 10th to the 25th of May is perhaps the best time to sow alfalfa here, although early in June is usually quite satisfactory. DO NOT sow WITH A NUR6E CHOP. It is well to remember that alfalfa originally was a sub-tropical plant, and, although it has wonderful adaptability, it is somewhat tender while young, under our conditions. It welcomes sunshine and warmth, consequently it does not do as well when shaded by a growing crop of grain. It has been aptly said that the nurse crop mi^ht more properly be termed a murder crop. TREATMENT THE FIKST SEASON. It is quite important that the young plant should be clipped once or twice the first season. This ser\'es not only a»a check to the weeds, but tends to make the plant more stocky. When not cut, the alfalfa plants, if they are fortunate enough not to be choked completely out by the weeds, often form blossoms and put their energy into forming or starting to form a seed pod, while this energy should be devoted to root development, which is the result when the plants are cut occasionally. A good time to make the first cutting is when tlie plants and weeds are from six to ten inches high, which usuallyoccurs late in June or in July. The last cutting in the first season should not be later than the tenth of August. It is immaterial whether these light cuttings be raked off or not. tor, if not too heavy, they serve a purpose in acting as a mulch. If irrigation is to be practised, the field should be wet when the plants indicate that they require moisture, but not before. One irrigation the first season is usually sufficient, although an additional flooding late in the autumn has sometimes been found beneficial. CURING THE HaV. To.get the best quality of hay, particular care must be given alfalfa in curing and handling it. The first point of importance to remember is, that it must be cut young, for at this stage in its development it is more nutritious as well as 12 BAISINO SEED. yield appears to be s J '^m.Tr'^/^i^"*''!™ '^'^^'*''' ^"* «> ^"' *»>« Alberta or any distriT „ A^T ' *''' °u^^ *'''"« **'*'* ^'" determine whether It is qJte probaWe h^t^^^^^^ culture Thntand ,J Lr* *'° "' °°* advisable for this ^jhase of alfalfa ma u eweHdownonttr'^ " 17 *"?'" *° '^''^^ *^^ ^'°-°™« *« form anJ well down on the stems, otherwise the yield of seed will be small. seed ^^.TT ?*'«^''''*o'y ^ay ''f planting alfalfa, if the object in view is to raise S ;a7untiraron TT \T'''^ '^^ »-t^distan:;i pilX from 21 imheVto ^IZfT' u u?* ^o* ''""" determined. It varies all the way distance. ""' P'"''"^'^ ^8 to 36 inches is not far from the very best MIXTURES. such^frUoiSv 'r' '" '^" I'^thbridge district, mixtures of alfalfa and grasses u essfulT^^^^ ^'^' """^ ^^^^*«™ »y« 8'«« ^''^ve been eminently Ind the akff' '^ '^^'""'^ """"" "*''"« vigorously than when grown alone tha fhlv M "'°''"'"°*''* *"^ **^« «'f«"« deep-rooted, it is but natural dde I to r r."; '"*f ^'^^'th eachother, and the grasses thriveon the fertZ added to the soil through the growth of the alfalfa. But two crops are obta neH To lZ7:lirJl7 ™"*TT n"*^ *° ''' '^'' '''' *^« grarefa^n: ?eady o be cut until sometime m July. The crops are, however, sufficiently heavier o compensate m great measure for the loss of the third cutUng. After the ^ U cS^'aJaTThe' T T'^ ""^' ^^°^*'^' ^°"«^^"«"*'^ ^^'^ s-nd cutfing Clear alfalfa. The only objection so far found to these mixtures is that thl grasses are apt to crowd the alfalfa out, the stand of alfalfa becoming Zner 13 It would seem advisable in starting these raUtures, to sow but a sniali quantity of graw s^d, say from two to four pounds per acre, and reduce but little the amount of alfalfa seed. So far. the alfalfa has been mixed with but one gra^ !!?.^k!1 1 *"J *""°*''^' " "^^"^^ """^ ''™"« «'«*•' '^'- The most satisfactory method has been to sow the alfalfa alone, and, in tho spring of the second vear harrow m the grass seed, for it has been found that occasionally the grass' ,eed |8 so much more vigorous the first and second seasons than is the alfalfa, that It seriously thms the stand of the latter at the very beginning LAIE FALL IRRIGATION. Late fall irrigation appears to be very advantageous. It saturates the ground for the winter and rapid growth is made as soon as growing weather comes in the spring. Hence no irrigation is required to make a maximum vield of the first cutting while irrigating the alfalfa early in the spring sometimes checks the growth for a time, due to the ground being made cold from excess of moisture. DISCINa. u ,/"/?^*".*r'"^'.'" ''l^alfa-growing districts, the practice of it in the q>rinf , but prepare a food, sballow ■eed bed. Inoculate the land with, say, 100 to 200 pounda of soil from an old alfalfa field and work in while the leed bed ia being prepared. Sow the ieed fai May or early in June at the rate of fifteen to twenty pounda per acre on irrigated land and ten to fifteen on non-irrigated land. Do not use a nurse crop. Select hardy varieties, securing iteed free from weed seeds and of strong vitality. The first season do not neglect to run the mowing machine over the land before the weeds get too high, and cut it a second time if practicable. Those intending to sow alfalfa here for the first time should not be dismayed by the number of precautions given in the foregoing pages, for they will find that, although alfalfa is a plant that is tender when young, it is extremely hardy when once established and that it will continue to produce heavy crops of hay with little care and attention.