REPORT OF THE CHEMIST 



SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 



THE CONSERVATION OF SOIL MOISTURE IN ORCHARDS. 



137 



The subject of the relation of 'cover' crops and cultivation to soil moisture was 

 discussed in our report for 1901. Results were also given of a series of experiments 

 carried out on the Central Farm during that season that demonstrated the intimate 

 connection between the condition of a soil (i.e., whetlier in crop or cultivated) and its 

 moisture-content. These experiments with certain modifications have been continued 

 during the past summer with the view of still further extending our knowledge on this 

 important matter. The investigation of 1902, comprised two series of experiments. 

 The first was to learn the effect upon soil moisture-content (a) by cultivation throughout 

 the entire season, (b) by cropping with clover till the end of May or beginning of June, 

 followed by ploughing and cultivation until the latter part of July and then resown 

 with clover, and (c) by the growing of clover throughout the season. The second series 

 was planned to ascertain the difference in moisture-content between soil cultivated 

 throughout the season and that kept in (grass) sod. 



The moisture determinations were made fortnightly from the beginning of April to 

 the middle of November, on samples taken to a depth of fourteen inches. 



First Series. — Three adjoining plots, each 40 by 120 feet, in the apple orchard. 



Plot 1. — Disc-harrowed in spring, and cultivated throughout the season at intervals 

 of a few days to a fortnight, as occasion required. 



Plot 2. — The clover from the previous year's sowing was cut June 4, but allowed 

 to grow until June 9, when it was ploughed under. The land was then disc-harrowed 

 and kept fallow by constant harrowings and cultivations (June 12, 16, 25 and July 8). 

 It was resown to clover on July 21, but the growth was exceedingly sparse, and the 

 ground became, before the close of the season, virtually covered with purslane, with very 

 little clover showing. 



Plot 3. — The plot was allowed to remain in clover (sown in 1901) throughout the 

 season, the crop being cut from time to time, but not taken away. The dates of cutting 

 were as follows : June 4, 26, July 22, August 27. 



Table I. — First Series — Percentages of "Water in Soils, (a) cultivated 



season, (b) under cover crop and cultivated, and (c) in clover throughout the season. 



throughout the 



Dates of Collection. 



1902. 



April 



II 

 May 



V 



tl 



June 

 *July 



II 



August 8 . 



23. 

 September 6 . 



20. 

 October 4 . 



18. 



31. 

 November 15. 



5. 



19.. 

 3. 



17., 



31.. 



14. 



28.. 



12.. 



26., 



Rainfall 



in 

 Inches. 



Ill 



•71 



213 



•52 



110 



214 



2 01 



•41 



3-55 



•24 



1-53 



•49 



-.37 



1-31 



1-51 



1-45 



106 



Plot 1. 



Cultivated 



throughout 



Season. 



14 77 

 10 09 

 13- 30 



12 

 11 



79 

 46 



12-98 



yso 



11 -.30 

 15-44 

 11 CG 

 13-7G 

 11-83 

 7-85 

 13-33 

 14 45 

 14-57 

 14-G3 



Plot 2. 



Clover i)loughed 



under .June 9, 



cultivated to 



July 21, 



then re.sown with 



Clover. 



15 -S.-) 

 12-90 

 1G03 

 10 02 

 10-80 

 12-3G 

 13 13 

 1107 

 13 -40 

 12-91 

 13-72 

 714 

 7-98 

 13-09 

 13 .50 

 14-44 

 15-48 



Plot 3. 



In Clover 



throughout 



Season. 



15-90 

 12-93 

 14 GO 

 11-89 

 12 00 

 1316 

 11 -79 



907 

 13-50 



9-23 

 10 91 



6-99 



5-43 

 10-06 



14 08 

 14-30 



15 53 



