REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR 



37 



SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 



The one-tenth acre plots of wheat, harley and oats had by the end of 1903 become 

 infestod with several troublesome perennial weeds, hence it was thought best to sow 

 only one-half of each plot with grain in 1904, devoting the other half to a hoed crop 

 to clean the land. On this account no clover was sown on any of the cereal plots in 

 1904, and one-half of the wheat plots was sown with mangels, one^half of the barley 

 plots with potatoes, and one-half of the oat plots with carrots, computing the yields 

 of grain from a one-twentieth acre plot in each case. 



INDIAN COEN PLOTS. 



The experiments with the plots of Indian corn have been conducted with the object 

 of obtaining the largest weight of well matured green fodder for the silo, and to have 

 the com so far advanced when cut, that the ears shall be as far as is practicable in 

 the late milk or glazed condition. Each plot has been divided from the outset into two 

 equal parts, on one of which — known as No. 1 — one of the stronger growing and some- 

 what later ripening sorts has been tried, and on the other, marked No. 2, one of the 

 earlier maturing varieties. During the first four years one of the Dent varieties was 

 tested under No. 1. On the other half of the plot (No. 2) one of the Flint varieties 

 was grown. For the first four years the No. 1 series was planted in drills 3 feet apart, 

 using about 24 pounds of seed to the acre and thinning the plants, when up, to 6 or 8 

 inches, and the No. 2 in hills 3 feet apart each way with 4 or 5 kernels in a hill. 

 During the past eight years both sorts have been grown in hills. 



In 1900 no crop of Indian corn was grown on these plots, but clover was sown in 

 its place on May 5, in the proportion of 12 pounds per acre. This made a strong growth, 

 was cut twice during- the season and left on the ground to decay, so that when ploughed 

 under, the land might get the full benefit of the clover crop. The clover was allowed 

 to remain growing until May 20, 1901. It was then ploughed under about 6 inches 

 deep, and harrowed well before the corn was planted. Clover was sown again in 1903, 

 and ploughed under in May, 1904. The com was planted in 1905, on May 16, and cut 

 for ensilage September 14. 



EXPEPJMENTS WITH FERTILIZERS ON PLOTS OF INDIAN CORN, CUT GREEN 



FOR ENSILAGE. 



