Judith Gap journal. [volume] (Judith Gap, Mont.) 1908-19??, 1911-02-17

Questions and
Answers.
Replies by n. 2. Patterson,
Montana Agricultural COL
leue.

y = = y = y y = = y y " ~ ~ - ~ y
Mr. G. F. p. of Billings writes: II am
enclosing a sample of bromis inermis.
or common bronze grass. Does this
grass contain any noxious weed seed!
When would you advise seeding and
how would you prepare the seed bed?
Also how much seed would you SOW
per acre?"
Reply: The sample does not con.
tain any OF the noxious weeds. We
desire to state in this connection that
there is great danger of the farmers
obtaining the seed OF the quack grass
when they buy the Russian bronze
grass. The Quack grass can be dis
tinguished. however. from the bronze
grass seed in that it is little smaller
and does not have the large promi-
nent husks that are found upon the
bronze grass. This is one thing that
the use Of this seed
The method of preparing the seed
bed will, Of course. vary with the type
OF soil and the time Of the season.
Usually a seed bed that is prepared
tor small grain is we'll adapted to the
growth of bronze grass. The soil is
generally prepared in the spring and
the seed is sown by hand, or it may
be sown together with a grain crop.
II the latter method is used, we will
not obtain a yield of grass the first
year. but the roots will get a good
start and we will have very good re-
turns the second season.
The amount Of seed to put or per
acre will also vary. The seeds are
very small and naturally would not be
put on in a very large amount. From
eight to twenty pounds seems to be
the amount best adapted to the dry
land The amount to put on irrigated
land would be somewhat more than
this.
Mr.. w. l.. p. Of Great Falls writes:
Under another cover | am sending
you few samples Of soil. These SAM
16O-acre field. They are numbered so
that you can tell the surface and the
subsoil. will be pleased If you would
analyze these samples and tell me
whether or not they contain any alkali,
and what these samples are especial
ly adapted for"
Reply: Tho samples of soil are
! good representatives Of type of sandy
clay loam They do not happen to
able to tell these soils will produce
large yields OF crop. We find that
these samples are very rich in plant
food, but we do not desire to give the
Impression that those soils will grow
any kind Of crop until We would know
more regarding the land. The land
may be located in such Il place that it
would not be possible to grow any of
our small grain crops. 1t is not easy
to give information regarding soils
when we know no more than is given
in the above inquiry. If we knew the
exact method by which the samples
were taken and now the different
types OF soil lay upon the farm. We
might be able 10 outline more def
mite system of cropping. However
soils like the above mentioned sam
pies are we'll adapted to the growing
of small grains. fruits and grasses.
Alfalfa Identification.
II. l.. NJ. of Helena writes: Il am
enclosing Il specimen plant OF Il vare
~ found on my farm. Is it stubbl,
weed or ALFALFA"
Reply: The sample enclosed was
alfalfa. 1t is not difficult to diStin
guish the alfalfa plant. 1t is uprigh,
and branching The leaves are il
threes as in clover. The flowers are
loosely scattered ut the end Of tn.
branches and are not in compac,
heads as they are in clover. The in
d!vidual flowers are small and of ;
purple color The seed pods are
coiled like small snail shells ana eacl
one contains several seeds. If oul
reader will keep these points in niinC
he will experience no difficulty in dis
tiLgushing alfalfa.