318 



EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 



5-6 EDWARD VII., A. 1936 



seed of Earliana does not germinate as easily as most other sorts, hence more care is 

 necessary in starting this variety. 



Experiments were conducted with Spark's Earliana to ascertain to what extent 

 pinching off the top of the plant when about 5 inches high would increase the produc- 

 tion of early fruit. By so doing side branches are started and instead of having a 

 plant with only one stalk, 4 or 5 stalks are obtained, and instead of having only one 

 flower cluster, several branches are had with flower clusters just as far advanced. This 

 is a question of special importance in these provinces where at best the ripening of the 

 fruit is very difficult. 



Thirty-four jilants of Earliana were pinched off May 10, and thirty-four others 

 were left to grow up as a single stalk. These were started from seed sown April 1, 

 and planted in strawberry boxes, one plant to a box, 'April 18. 



The plants were put in the open ground June 12, by simply cutting the boxes 

 and setting the plants without disturbing the earth at the roots. The vines were grown 

 without stakes. The soil was a light loam. Complete fertilizer and bone meal mixed 

 half and half was used by spreading broadcast around the places where the plants 

 were to occvipy, and digging it in well before planting. This vras used at the rate of 

 1,000 lbs. per acre. The plants were set in rows 4 feet apart jind 4 feet apart in the 

 rows. Each plot was %2.5 of an acre, or two rows 66 feet long and 4 feet wide. The 

 crop obtained from this area is given in the following table. The yield per acre is 

 calcvdated from the quantity obtained from these plots : — 



ONIONS. 



Eive of the leading sorts of onions were tested this season. The ground on which 

 they were grown was a light clay loam in a fairly good state of fertility, having been 

 in onions the previous year. The ground was well worked up with the land grubber 

 to a depth of six inches. Wood ashes at the rate of 1,000 lbs. per acre and complete 

 fertilizer at the rate "of 500 lbs. per acre were sown broadcast and harrowed in with the 

 smoothing harrow. The plants were planted on the level ground in rows one foot 

 apart and about 3 inches apart in the rows. 



The seed was started in the hot-bed April 5, in boxes having about six inches of 

 soil. The plants were transplanted from these boxes to the open ground May 25. Seed 

 is better sown the third week in March, bo that the plants will be in good condition 

 for transplanting about th»3 middle of May. It requires from 7 to 8 weeks to develop 

 good plants. This season being exceptionally dry the plants did not make as good 

 growth as usual. 



The crop was pulled October 4, and the yield per acre is calculated from the 

 weight obtained from one row 66 feet long. 



