REPORT OF MR. W. H. FAIRFIELD 37I 



SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 



prepare a seed bed by the use of a disk, drag harrow and float. The latter is a con- 

 trivance made of four or five 2-inch planks a foot wide, 12 to 16 feet long, laid flat- 

 ways and lapped to resemble somewhat a washboard. This implement, when weighted 

 with stone or sods added to the weight of the driver, crashes quite effectively small 

 pieces of sod which, when dry, could not be broken up well with the drag-harrow. 

 The float should be followed immediately with the harrow, for evaporation takes place 

 very rapidly from the land when the surface is left too smooth. If the floating is 

 done just before seeding, the seed-drill will, of course, roughen the surface. A light 

 harrowing immediately after seeding is advisable. 



BACKSETTING. 



Although it is not customary to backset in this district, it is a practice that cannot 

 be too highly recommended. When backsetting is to be done, the sod should be broken 

 as shallow as practicable and immediately rolled or flattened down by a Aveighted float. 

 The earlier the breaking after the grass has started growth, the better will be the 

 results. In the latter part of July or early in August the land is again ploughed 

 (with stubble bottom ploughs), about 2 to 3 inches deeper than it was broken. A 

 seed bed can then often be prepared by the use of the harrow only, but a disk should 

 be used if the condition of the ground requires it. Special attention should be called 

 to the importance of harrowing each day's ploughing at night before leaving the field. 

 If an engine is used, the harrow should be attached to the plough, or if horses are 

 used on a sulky or gang plough, one section of a harrow should be attached so that the 

 land is harrowed as fast as it is turned. In fact, this practice of harrowing land 

 immediately after it is ploughed should always be followed. Too much stress cannot 

 be laid on this point. 



TIME TO sow. . 



Although our results for this season would indicate that September 1 is the best 

 date to sow, this is one of the questions that will require some further years' experience 

 and observation before a reliable opinion can be offered. 



QUANTITY OP SEED TO SOW. 



This, as well as the proper time to sow, is a point about which we have not 

 suflicient data at hand to draw very satisfactory conclusions. It is reasonably safe to 

 assume that thin sowing will fill better in a dry season, while in a normal or wet 

 season, medium to heavy seedings will fill equally well, besides producing a larger yield. 

 It is not wise to go to extremes either way. Thirty to 60 lbs. or 45 to 60 lbs. is prob- 

 ably the approximate amount of seed to sow per acre. 



TREATING FOR SMUT. 



Winter wheat should be treated for smut just as conscientiously as is spring grain. 

 Either the formalin or bluestone method is satisfactory, providing that the work is 

 done carefully. Very smutty grain should never be used for seed, for, even when 

 treated thoroughly, some smut is apt to appear in the resulting crop. If seed wheat 

 is treated every year whether any smut can be found in it or not, the trouble will be 

 kept in subjection. With either method used, it is important that each kernel be 

 thoroughly wet. As to the strength of the solution, it should be strong enough to kill 

 the smut spores, but not so strong as to injure the vitality of the grain. The strength 

 of solution most often recommended is 1 pound of formalin in 32 gallons of water, 

 and in the case of bluestone, 1 pound thoroughly dissolved in 6 gallons of soft water. 

 The sacks into which the grain is to be put after it is treated should have been dipped 

 into the solution also. 



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