273 



reached maturity when overtaken by frost, unless it is considered that eacli plot was 

 injured equally, which T think could not be the case, as plots sown with If bushels 

 per acre would have, on a reasonable calculation, one-half more heads exposed to the 

 frost than that sown with one bushel and consequently suffer more ]')er acre. The 

 test, however, is given as showing the results of these difterent methods of seeding 

 when their growth is stopped by frost. 



In comparing Ladoga as an early wheat with Red Fife, in the tests of sowing 

 different quantities per acre, Ladoga comes out about the same as in all other trials, 

 being a few bushels behind in yield, but the grain is better or at least not hurt so 

 much by frost on account of its being a few days more advanced. 



in testing by broadcast and drill, nothing on the farm was so apparent, during 

 the whole summer, as the difference between the two ways of sowing, especially 

 when the grain was put in late. That sown by drill in every case came up in a few 

 days and very even; that sown broadcast, early, came up with the drilled grain, 

 but not so even or thick; whereas that sown broadcast, late, was ten days behind in 

 appearing above ground, and then, was not one-half as thick. 



When rain came in June, the grain near the surface started and thickened up 

 the crop, but frost coming before this portion was filled or even the heads wholly 

 formed, the last growth did more harm than if it had never started. Perhaps no- 

 thing has caused so much poor gi'ain in the country as broadcast seeding the past 

 year. A few drying days, in seeding time, made the soil an ash-heap for one or one 

 and one-half inches down, and unless the seed was below this, it must there remain 

 until rains come. This year they did not come until June, with the result that that 

 portion of seed above the moisture did not grow for several weeks after that where 

 the moisture was, and when the frost came was sufficientl}'- advanced to injure the 

 early grain by mixing with it, but not far enough on to be of any use in itself. 



On the advent of frost on the morning of the2l8t August, four plots of Red Fife 

 andfour of Ladoga, which were sown on the 30th of April, were thought to be in suit- 

 able condition to test the effect of cutting a jDart immediately after frost, and allow- 

 ing another part to remain standing until ripe and noting the difference in yield. 

 This was done, and the result was that the grain left until ripe gave 4 bushels per 

 acre more than that cut immediately after the frost. The average of the eight one- 

 half acre plots cut on the 21st was 15 for Red Fife and 14 |^ bushels per acre for 

 Ladoga. The average of that cut when ripe, or on 29th August, was 19^ for Red 

 Fife, and 18|-^ Ladoga, or an increase of a little more than 4 bushels per acre in 

 both varieties. 



As will be seen there weresixteenvarietiesof wheat cut when frost came. This 

 number does not include Red Fife, which was harvested both before and affeF 

 the 21st. 



In earliness, Karachi Club Bombay and Hard Calcutta were first last year and 

 are the same this. 



Grehun, a variety tried this year, is early and has given the best yield of any 

 kind tested. 



Campbell's Triumph, the Red and White Connell, Grreen Mountain, Campbell's 

 White Chaff, &c., are all fine wheats ; while Defiance, Judket, Magyar, Russian 

 Hard Tag and others are late and not suitable for a year like the past. 



The different varieties of wheat, except a few sorts from India, were very heavy 

 in the straw and had frost held oft' for 10 days more, the yield would have been 

 increased several bushels per acre in those sorts not cut by 21st August. The 

 returns from those cut before the 21st, may be regarded as a correct and full yield. 



Frozen Red Fife seed was sown, which in quality would grade No. 3 frozen. 

 This was put in by drill at the rate of 2 bushels per acre, and returned 21|^- bushels. 

 It was sown at the same time as No. 1 Hard, Red Fife and beside it on land similarly 

 prepared. No. 1 Hard gave 23 bushels per acre. 



The following are the varieties of wheat tried, the date of seeding is given, the 

 harvest, yield, and weight per bushel, also the different tests of early, medium and 

 late sowing, different quantities per acre sown, and drill and broadcast seeding, &c. : — 



6c— 18 



