346 



EXPERIMEN TA L FA RMS. 



in some localities where rain favoured them, good returns were obtained ; but the general 

 practice being to sow oats after two or more crops of wheat have been taken off the 

 land, often without ploughing, the result in many districts has been an almost or entire 

 failure of the oat-crop. 



On the Experimental Farm, the crop suffered from lack of rain, quite as much as 

 in other sections, and, on any land except fallowed, was hardly worth cutting. 



One field of 5 acres promised so poorly that it was ploughed up. Two other fields 

 of 10 and 20 acres each in extent, sown on stubble-land, were hardly worth cutting. 



These fields were sown for fodder purposes, but on account of the straw being so 

 short were allowed to remain and cut when ripe. 



On fallow-land, the crop was fair, the straw of all varieties being short and thin 

 on the ground, but producing fairly good returns considering the unfavourableness of 

 the season. 



TEST OP SOWING DIFFERENT VARIETIES OF OATS ON SAME DATE. 



Thirty-nine varieties were sown the same day on fallow, by drill at the rate of 1\ 

 bushels per acre. 



Many of these plots were injured after the grain was 5 or 6 inches high by winds 

 blowing soil from adjacent fallow through them, thereby injuring the tender blades. 



The results of the test are given in the following table : — 



