295 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 



2-3 EDWARD VII., A. 1903 

 Average results of a Five Years' test of twelve varieties of potatoes. 



Variety. 



Seedling No. 7 



State of Maine 



Delaware 



I. X. L 



Dreer's Standard . . . 



Quaker City 



Brown's Rot Proof . 



Late Puritan 



Clay Rose . . . . . 



Green Mountain . . 

 Chicago Market. . . 

 Rural No. 2 



COLORADO POTATO BEETLE. 



On August 6, numerous potato bugs appeared on about a dozen vines. They were 

 at once sprayed with a liquid composed of a teaspoonful of Paris green mixed with one 

 pail of water. The mixture was kept well agitated while being applied. The treat- 

 ment was effectual and no further trouble was experienced. This is the third time 

 these beetles have appeared on the Experimental Farm, but in no instance has the in- 

 jury been serious. 



GRASSES AND CLOVERS. 



The past season has been a favourable one for all cultivated grasses. The shal- 

 lower marshes also produced abundant crops of wild ha}", but the deeper marshes were 

 too wet for the best results. On the Experimental Farm the more recent sown test plots 

 of grasses and clovers, were destroyed, but the older plots gave a very fair return ; con- 

 sidering the length of time they have been sown. 



The crop of Austrian Brome Grass is usually a heavy one. It lies very compact 

 and during unsettled weather is difficult to cure properly. A trial lias been made of 

 mixing it with western rye grass, with promising results, by mixing the seed in equal 

 proportions and cutting the crop as soon as the rye grass heads out, the mixture lies open 

 in the swarth and cures quickly. It is found however that most horses prefer the brome, 

 and if fed a large quantity of the mixture at a time they will pick out the brome and 

 leave the rye grass. 



Oneplotof alfalfa and brome mixed, was grown. Original]}" it was one-quarter brome 

 and three-quarters alfalfa, but the brome has gradually crowded out the alfalfa and the 

 plot is now more than one-half brome. Alfalfa has usually proven hardy here, when 

 sown alone. It then forms a strong plant before winter, but when sown with a nurse 

 ci'op of grain, the plants are stunted and always winter killed. The same rule applies to 

 red clover, alsike and white I>utch clovers. 



A large number of fresh test plots of clovers and grasses have been sown and when 

 winter set in nearly all of them had made a good stand. The clovers covered the ground 

 thickly and the larger varieties could have been cut for hay, but it was thought adAis- 

 able to leave the first years crop to retain the snow. For the same reason it is not a 

 good plan to pasture clover late in the fall. 



Between forty and fifty tons of hay were grown on larger fields. 



