92 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 



9-10 EDWARD VII., A. 1910 

 VALUES OF DIFFERENT ROTATIONS. 



The averages used are for four years. A study of the various rotations would 

 lead one to remark upon them briefly as follows : — 



Rotation ' A/ — This rotation has been in use here for 10 years and has proven to 

 be most excellent where carefully followed and cultural operations well performed. 

 Where all land was under cultivation, it would be found necessary to devote a certain 

 area to soiling crops. It might be extended to six years by leaving down to pasture 

 for two years instead of one. 



Rotation ' B.' This rotation has been fairly successful here, but for certain 

 reasons not easily enumerated. I do not feel as though I could either criticise or praise 

 as yet and feel sure of my ground. 



Rotation ' E.' This rotation would not be suitable for the average farmer, but 

 might suit the man who had to buy rough forage. 



Rotation ' Z.' — This would be a most excellent rotation to put into practice 

 where sufficient rough land was available to serve as pasture. It is the rotation that 

 would most likely supply the greatest amount of forage of the very best description 

 for dairying or beef production. It is better suited for heavy than for light soils. 



Rotation ' 8/ This is a rotation that has been in use for a number of years on 

 the Agricultural College Farm at Guelph, where it has given satisfactory results. It 

 is possibly open to the criticism of having too small a proportion of land under 

 grain. Where live stock is, however, the mainstay, this is a very minor fault. The 

 turning of a shallow furrow when ploughing sod has been found to be good practice 

 here when preparing for grain or corn. If preparing for roots, the regular plough with 

 sub-soiler is to be advised. 



Rotation ' D.' This rotation is the same as rotation ' S ' so far as crops are con- 

 cerned. The results so far obtained show no advantage in favour of either shallow 

 ploughing and deep cultivation or deep ploughing. 



Rotation ' H.' The area devoted to pigs (some 10 acres) xrhpve this rotation is 

 followed has given very satisfactory returns, and would, I feel confident, prove profit- 

 able to any who tried it. 



Rotation ' T.' — Sheep. The returns from this rotation are not strictly compar- 

 able with those frcm the others since many side-experiments materially affect the 

 results. It has, however, proven very satisfactory for this class of stock. 



As already stated, the rotation experiments have been under way for four years 

 now. Three out of the four years have been what might be called ' lean years ' in 

 the Ottawa Valley, hence these rotations can hardly be said to have yet shown what 

 they are capable of doing in the way of influencing crop production. 



- The few facts given above are, however, strictly comparable each with the others, 

 excepting possibly ' T ' or sheep, where some rather disturbing conditions have been 

 introduced. 



ROTATION EXPERIMENT. 



The experiment to determine the values of different rotations as discussed above 

 is being followed up, and below the detailed report of the labour on each plot, and 

 the retnrn therefrom, will be found some brief notes on each field and on the rotation 

 as a whole. 



