6 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 



6-7 EDWARD VII., A. 1907 



In a series of experiments with 14 plots of oats, covering a period of five years 

 where clover was sown and ploughed under on alternate plots, those with clover gave an 

 average increased yield of grain of about nine bushels per acre, with a considerable 

 increase in the weight of straw when compared with those plots alongside on which no 

 clover had been sown. When these same plots were sown with barley the following sea- 

 son, the average increase was about eight bushels of that grain per acre. Thus the 

 ploughing under of a single crop of clover showed a large increase in the oat crop the 

 first year both in grain and straw, and almost as large an increase the second year in 

 the case of the barley. 



In 18 experiments conducted with Indian corn on plots on which clover had been 

 grown,, with alternate plots alongside on which no clover had been sown, the average 

 gain in weight of green corn cut for ensilage was 3 tons 1,694 lbs. per acre. In a 

 similar series of plots on which potatoes were planted an average gain was had of 

 33 bushels, 20 lbs. per acre. Some experiments have been made by sowing crops on 

 some of these plots the third year after clover had been ploughed under when the 

 results showed a diminished but still a decided increase. 



These results have been presented very fully to the farmers of the Dominion in the 

 annual reports of the experimental farms and also in special bulletins, and now the 

 practice is quite common to sow clover with spring grain and turn it under late in the 

 autumn with the object of adding to the fertility of the fields. 



THE ROTATION OP CROPS. 



Much more attention has been paid of late than formerly to the systematic rotation 

 of crops. Such a course it is claimed economises the use of the plant food in the soil, 

 since different crops take the elements of fertility from the land in different propor- 

 tions, hence a rotation helps to maintain a balance. Rotations of four and five years 

 are perhaps the most common, barnyard manure being applied with a hoed crop the 

 first year, such as field roots, potatoes or corn. Such crops require frequent cultivation 

 which eradicates any weeds which may be added to the soil with the manure and the 

 land is left in good condition for grain. If a four year rotation is followed clover and 

 timothy are usually sown with the grain the second year, a crop of hay taken off the 

 third year, and the fourth year the field is used as pasture and during the following 

 ' winter is manured and the sod with the coating of manure placed on it turned under 

 the following spring and the four years' course begun again with the hoed crop. 



Many experiments in connection with rotation have been tried on the several 

 branch farms also on the Central Experimental Farm. Fuller reference to these 

 latter will be found in the present report in that part written by the Agriculturist. 



THE PREPARATION OF THE SOIL. 



In preparing land for crops different methods are adopted in different parts of the 

 Dominion. In the eastern provinces, the fall ploughing of land is iiow generally fol- 

 lowed, as crops can be sown earlier in the spring by the adoption of this plan. On the 

 Northwest plains it has been found an advantage to summer-fallow a portion of the 

 land under cultivation each year. This practice conserves moisture, destroys weeds, 

 and brings the farmer much larger crops. The yield of wheat on land which has been 

 summer-fallowed will usually average one-third more than it will on land which has 

 been prepared by fall or spring ploughing, 



IMPORTANCE OF EARLY SOWING. 



That increased crops result from early sowing has been fully demonstrated by the 

 tests carried on at the Central Experimental Farm. Experiments with early, medium 

 arnd late sowings were conducted for ten years on plots of one-tenth acre each, sowing 

 two varieties each year of wheat, barley, oats and peas. The land was very uniform 



