258 



EXPERIMENTA L FA RMS. 



Oats Sown on Drained and Undrained Land. 



Eight varieties of oats were sown on drained as well as undrained upland, the soil 

 being as nearly alike as possible. The oats were sown on the drained land 11th May, 

 and on the undrained 17th May, the undrained land being that much later in drying. 

 The growth of straw was much shorter on the undrained land, the drought affecting it 

 much more. 



The following table gives yield per acre and weight per bushel of each variety : — 



Thick and Thin Sowing op Buckwheat. 



In order to test the relative value of thick and thin sowing of buckwheat, one acre 

 was sown with half a bushel of seed, one with one bushel, one with one and one- half 

 bushels, and one with two bushels per acre. Sown on sandy loam, 29th May ; harvested 

 on 30th August. 



The grain was affected with blight, and did not fill out well. The Silver-hull was 

 the variety used. 



One acre | bushel seed per acre, matured in 92 days, 11 J bushels 51 lbs. per bushel, 

 do 1 do do 92 do 9| do 52 do 



do 1| do do 92 do 9 do 54 do 



do 2 do do 92 do 8 do 51 do 



Judging from the results of these experiments, it would appear that in sowing Silver- 

 hull buckwheat, there is no advantage in using more than half a bushel of seed per acre. 



Early Medium and Late Sowings of Grain. 



Experiments to test the relative value of early and late sowing were again carried 

 on this year. Such experiments will probably need to be repeated many years before 

 reliable conclusions can be reached as to results, but we find in general that it 

 does not pay to commence to work and seed our fields in the spring before they are dry, 

 and observation leads me to believe that some of our farmers in the Maritime Provinces 

 begin to work their fields before they are in a fit condition, whereas a few days more 

 drying would ensure them a larger return. This is probably the reason why some of 

 the first plots sown in the early and late sowing tests are not up to the average in 

 •quantity. 



