508 Agricultural Gazette of l^.iSjr. \Ju"e'l. 1V>0~. 



Seasonable Note 



:5, 



V.KO. L. SUTTON. 

 Uhtut Ivxiicriiiieiitalist. 



Farmers' Experiments. 



FaK'MKKS r('S])(Mi(lc(l liciii-lily \n tlic iiinMiiniccinciit in the Mnrcli issue of 

 lliis (lazcllf., inviliiiii llicin li> (■(induct 1ri:ils with new wlicnts. More appli- 

 cations wore r('c('i\c(l than conld lie supplied I'l-din llic st()cl<s oi' seed reserved 

 f(ir tliis i)ni'pose, so that those who oniillcd lo apply early could net dhlain 

 tlie seed they desired. 



Over 2 tons of seed have been distrihuted to seventy-two farmers, who 

 are conducting' tlie experiments in (Hft'ereut parts of the States. Most 

 districts are represented, from the coast In the east to Balranald in the west, 

 and ff<mi Inverell in the north to Corowa in the soutii. 



From the planting ])articuhirs to hand, very little difficulty seems to have 

 been experienced by the experimenters in carrying out the directions 

 forwarded with the seed. In a few cases, the object of having cheek plots 

 has not been fully understood, and, in consequence, some of those who 

 decided to sow according to either Tlan No. 1 or No. 2, as being better 

 than No. 3, have planted a different variety in each check plot, instead of 

 ])lanting the same variety in all the check plots. The experiment in these 

 <'ases is not rendered valueless, but the Kxperimenter's intention to ado))t 

 the best ])lan is frustrated, because i)lanting a different variety in each check 

 l)lot reduces the value of the best plan to that of the least desirable. 



The object of having check plots is to have a common standard with which 

 all the other plots can be compared; in other words, the check ])lots can be 

 used as a 2-foot rule, by which the value of the plots near or adjacent to 

 it can be measured. This measuring is the more reliably and easily per- 

 formed the nearer the check plots are to each other. 



In field experiment work, to olitain the most reliable results, through 

 minimising variations which are always present and which cannot Ik^ 

 obviated, plots to be comi)ared with each other should be adjacent ]ilots; 

 but this, in most cases, is impossible, and so the next best ])lan, viz., that 

 of having a series of check plots, each of which is treated (as tar as it is 

 possible to do so) in ))recisely the same way, and with which each of the 

 other plots can be compared, is adopted. 



Though the value of check plots may not le ai)parent to those con- 

 (hicting an experiinent for the first time, it is certain that the majority of 

 observant fanners will be fidly seized with their inijioi'tance, and the vital 

 necessity for tlieiu, before their experiments are concluded. 



