214 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 



5-6 EDV/ARD VII., A. 190. 



hoed crops. In the autumn, after the harvest is over, the land is ploughed about Beven 

 inches deep, and is left in that oondition until the following spring, when it is culti- 

 vated twice with a two-h'orse cultivator and harrowed twice with a smoothing harrow. 

 Cereals are then sown. After the grain is harvested the lan-d is ploughed about three 

 or four inches deep, to start the shed grain and any weed seeds present, and ia again 

 ploughed a few weeks later about seven inches deep. In the following spring it ie 

 prepared as before and cereals are again sown. It is not, however, the practice to sow 

 the same cereal twice in succession on the same piece of land. 



SELECTION OF SEED FOE UNIFORM TEST PLOTS. 



In order to obtain the s^eed for the nniform test plots in the best condition, and 

 as nearly as possible in a state of absolute purity, selected headls are gathered by hand 

 from the plots just before the grain is cut. About eight pounds of heads are harvested 

 in this way. During the winter these selected samples are carefully threshed and 

 cleaned by hand ; and the grain to be sown the next season is thus brought to a very 

 high standard of purity. This method has been used for several years with wheat and 

 barley; and is being continued with these grains. In oats, however, the selection of 

 heads is not usually carried out unless the grain in the plot shows signs of being 

 mixed. It is much more difficult to select the heads of oats ; and the plots are always 

 injured more or less while the work is being done, on account of the growth of the 

 oats being very thick. 



In all cases, when the seed for the plots is not obtained by hand selection in the 

 field, the crop is thoroughly screened and carefully hand-picked before any of it is 

 sown. 



IMPORTANCE OF EARLY SOWING OF CEREALS. 



Repeated tests have been made at this Farm to ascertain the best time in spring for 

 the sowing of cereals in order to obtain the largest possible yield. The experiments 

 have proved that in this climate cereals should generally be sown about aa soon 

 as the land can be brought into proper condition. The reduction in yield due to delay 

 in seeding is usually considerable, even when the delay is only a week long. ^ The loss 

 is especially serious with wheat and oats, and is sometimes quite disastrous in season'? 

 when rust is abundant. The comparatively large yields obtained in the experimental 

 plots on this Farm are due in part to early sowing. 



The best time for sowing cereals on this Farm has been found to be from about 

 April 20th to 26th in an ordinary season. 



WEATHER. 



The past season was on the whole very favourable for crops. The weather during 

 the spring and early summer months was about normal in character, but in July and 

 August there were some heavy storms which caused the grain to lodge to a consider- 

 able extent. Such severe tests of the strength of straw are, however, of great value in 

 experimental work. Rust on cereals was prevalent, but did less damage than in the 

 previous season. Field roots and Indian corn gave good yields owing to the abundance 

 of moisture throughout the season, and would no doubt have done even better had not 

 the general character of the season been somewhat cool. 



SPRING WHEAT. 



The following varieties of spring wheat were added to the uniform test plots this 

 season: — 



Hungarian While. — See 'Descriptions of Varieties of Wheat.' 



