The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1911-03-29

Questions and
Answers,
Replies by n. T. Patterson,
Montana Agricultural Col.
lege.


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 a little smaller
and does not have the large promi-
nent husks that are found upon the
bronze grass. This is one thing that
we should always guard against in
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
for 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.
If 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 on 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 or irrigated
land would be somewhat more than
this.
Mr.. w. L. P. of Great Falls writes
"Under another cover l am sending
you a few samples of soil. These sam
pies were taken in different parts of a
160-acre field. They are numbered sc
that you can tell the surface and the
subsoil. l 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: The samples of soil arr
good representatives of a type of sand!
clay loan. They do not happen tt
contain any alkali and as far as we arr
able to tell these soils will produce
large yields of crop. We find tina
these samples are very rich in plan
impression that these soils will grow
any kind Of crop until we would know
more regarding the land. The lant
may be located in such a place that i
would not be possible to grow any o
our small grain crops. 1t is not cas-.
to give information regarding soil
when we know no more than is givel
in the above inquiry. If we knew tn,
exact method by which the sample
were taken and how the differen
types Of soil lay upon the farm, w
might be able to outline a more def
mite system of cropping. However
soils like the above mentioned SAN
pies are well adapted to the GROWN.
of small grains, fruits and grasses.
:. Alfalfa Identification.
) H. L. NJ. of Helena writes: Il ar
? enclosing a specimen plant of a varie
ty found on my farm. Is it stubbl
weed or ALFALFA"
:. Reply: The sample enclosed wa
| alfalfa. It is not difficult to distir
) guish the alfalfa plant. It is uprigh
, and branching. The leaves are i
threes as in clover. The flowers ar
loosely scattered at the end of tn
! branches and are not in compae
heads as they are in clover. The il
D dividual flowers are small and of
! purple color. The seed pods ar
coiled like small snail shells and eac
one contains several seeds. If GU
reader will keep these points in min
he will experience no difficulty in di
tinguishing alfalfa.