138 



EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 



2-3 EDWARD VII., A. 1903 



In considering the data presented in Table I. it must be borne in mind that the 

 past season has been a very poor one for clover. The growth on plots 2 and 3 was very 

 sparse and in no way comparable to that of 1901. There, consequently, was not the 

 same draught upon the soil moisture due to the growth of * cover ' crop this season as 

 there was last year. Usually, there is a very fair mat of clover by the middle of May. 

 This season, on June 4, when it was cut, the crop would be considered a very light one. 

 This fact, in addition to an ample and equable rainfall, will, Ave believe, account in a 

 very large measure for the differences between the moisture contents of the soils of the 

 three plots not being so marked as last year. In other words, the soil conditions on the 

 plots more or less approximated in certain essential particulars. Nevertheless, the 

 results on the whole point in the same general direction as in the previous work, namely, 

 that cultivation conserves soil moisture, and that the growth of a cover crop or sod dissi- 

 pates it. Hence the wisdom, in districts where there is likely to be a scarcity of rain, of 

 clean cultivation during the period when the trees are most in need of moisture, followed 

 by a cover crop to furnish protection through the winter and enrich the soil. The 

 probabilities are that there is very little necessity, ordinarily, for cultivation in the 

 orchards of the Experimental Farm at Ottawa to conserve moisture, for the district 

 enjoys usually an ample precipitation, fairly well distributed throughout the growing 

 season, and the practice of the Horticulturist in at once seeding down after the plough- 

 ing under of the cover crop, receives much support from this year's results. 



In reviewing the data presented by the second series of experiments, and comparing 

 them with the foregoing, it wUl be readily observed that the effect of a permanent sod 

 upon the soil's moisture is veiy much more marked than that of a cover crop, such as 

 clover. 



Second Series. — Two adjoining plots in the plum orchard. 



Plot 1. — Cultivated throughout the season of 1902. The dates of cultivation are 

 as follows: — May 8, June 11, July 9, July 29 and August 4. The plot had been 

 ploughed in the spring of 1901 and kept cultivated during the season. 



Plot 2. — In permanent (2-year old) sod throughout the season. The grass was cut 

 and allowed to remain that it might act as a mulch. The mowings were on June 2, June 

 30 and August 11. 



Table II. — Second Series — Percentages of Water in Soils, (a) cultivated, and (b) in sod. 



Dates of Collection. 



1902. 



April 5 



19 



May 3 



17 



31 



June 14 



28 



July 12 



26 



August 8 



23 



September 6 , 



20 



October 4 



18 



31 ... 



November 15 



Rainfall 



in 

 Inches. 



•11 

 •71 

 •13 

 ■52 

 ■10 

 •H 

 ■01 

 ■41 

 -.55 

 •24 

 •53 

 •49 

 •37 

 •31 

 ■51 

 •45 

 OG 



Plot 1. 



Cultivated 



throughout 



Season. 



15-31 

 18 37 

 15-37 



17 30 

 16-62 



18 19 

 16 07 

 14-32 

 14-65 

 15-83 

 13-61 



9 24 

 12-29 

 14-77 

 15-94 

 16-52 



Plot 2. 



In Sod 

 (2nd Year.) 



15 

 16 

 10 

 9 

 10 

 13 

 7 



11 



6 



8 



8 



4 



9 



15 



15 



17 



88 

 26 

 75 

 81 

 49 

 69 

 24 

 80 

 47 

 96 

 33 

 77 

 17 

 12 

 57 

 29 



Excess 



of Moisture in 



the 



Cultivated 



Plot. 



Tons. Lbs. 

 per acre. 



16 



58 



117 



192 



157 



121 



217 



64 



196 



171 



126 



98 



75 



29 



1,332 



25 



211 



253 



1,836 



1,136 



285 



58 



1,020 



1,818 



1,875 



980 



9 1,946 



