Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1900-02-08

the bundle aside. That plan doubtless
saves some seed, but it requires greater
outlay of labor. The seed is run
through the tanning mill for final
cleaning.
I am frequently asked if this grass
will not succeed in getting hold upon
the native prairle sod. Upon this
point Snpt. Bedford writes:
I'VE have never succeeded IN getting
good catch OF grass upon unbroken
sod. Although we have repeatedly
tried all kinds OF disk harrovs for the
purpose we have been able to get the
seeds to germinute, but the plants are
always very feeble, and in q very short
time are killed out by the wild grasses,
weeds etc."
A lesser experience at this station has
so far given the came result.
Another question frequently asked is
| whether it will succeed IN ponds and
/ sloughs where the water stands in tire
spring. It succeeds on ground of that
kind which is too wet for gram, but
seems somewhat less adapted to very
wet ground than red top.
Regarding the growth OF bronze grass
upon Alkali land upernteudant Mac
Kay OF the Assiniboia Experiment fartn
says:
| "The bronze grass on alkai land
was grown on two low wet spots 10
field of about fifteen acres. The spots
are not very large (three-e uarters OF an
acre in botb) but before sowing, the Dot
toms we're white with alkall. A good
many crops had been grown ntcn the
field prior to the grass beng sown, and
no doubt have had socle effect upon the
alkal. X * The crop of hay upou the
three-quarter acre was very heavy, but
the land being moist would cause good
crop in any caee" Some have become
alarmed by the tenacity and spreading
habit OF the grass and have inquired
whether 1T can be destroyed when the
owner desires to rid his field OF 1t. II
the sod Is broken shallow rs in breaking
prairie sod ss soon as the hay is taken
off, and backeet in early fall, it will be
practically dead at the time Of the back
settiog and will be IN good condition
for crop OF grain the following spring.
II tee grass IS allowed to ripen seed be-
fore it is breken,it will be foand much
| - Ito orl NJ 1t
will be found growing wheE backset.
The sod Of the bronze grass is bound
together With such net work OF roote
that land which 10 inclinsa to DRIFT ie
held together in manner similar tc
that which is'found with freshly broken
prairie sod for two or more seasons.
TIE present obstacle to sowing bronze
grass extensively is The price whict
must be paid for seed.
When the country ie enoe supplied
however, IT will probably become al
cheap per acce as timothy seed on &C
" count of the heavy yield O. seed which il
makes.
Last Season, this Staten had tifteel
hupored pounds OF seeu from six acres
and this year our yield Of clean seed il
about two hundred pounds per acre Al
. an average for q fourteen acre field.
~ The seed weighs thirteen or fourteen
. pounds per bushel, the former weigh
being the one more commonly accepted
' and it ia worth about twelve or thlrteer
= cents per bushel TO thresh it.
l believe it is destined to I'LL mucl
felt want aboat farm and vsilaRe home
in this state, where no artificial wate
y supply Gao be had for watering lawl
), grass
1t grows thick and leafy aud forms
dense tough sod which will form a greer
growth of leaves whe. the soil 'is quite
, =, dry. I know of 40 otksr grass SO prom
ssiug TOR the purpose where it is no
:, possible to water it. When sown for
- lawn it should be seeded very thick.
have often thought that this graes nigh
answer for perennial fire break II
ranch districts by remaining green dur
ing the season OF the year when prairi
fires rnn. l should expect the stock t
Craze it 80 CLOSELY that 1t would remeil
green and succusent.
y I shall snxiousiy await reports il
growing it for these latter purposes
:, and trust that persons trying il will re
- port their results through the Eress il
:. order that the public may have the bene
= fit of their experience.
J. H. Shepperd,
North Dakota Experiment Station
Fargo, N. ID.
Coal Plant at Bismarck.