30 EXPERIMENTAL FARM3 



4-5 EDWARD VI!., A. 1905 



PLOTS OF MAXGELS AND TURNIPS. 



In conducting these experiments, the roots only have been taken from the land, the 

 tops have always been cut off and left on the ground to be ploughed under, so that the 

 plant food they have taken from the soil may be returned to it. One-half of each one- 

 tenth acre plot in the series has been devoted to the growth of mangels, and the other 

 half to turnips, and these crops have been alternated from year to year. The prepara- 

 tion of the land has been the same for both these roots. Until 1900 it was ploughed 

 in the autumn after tlie crop was gathered, gang-ploughed deeply in the spring after 

 the barn-yard manure had been spread on plots 1, 2 and 6, and after gang-ploughing, 

 the other fertilizers were spread by scattering them evenly over the surface, after 

 which it was all harrowed with the smoothing harrow, then made in ridges 2 feet apart, 

 rolled and sown. 



In 1889, the variety of mangel used v/as the Mammoth Long Red. In 1890, three 

 varieties were sown on each plot. In 1891, each plot again had three varieties, and 

 from 1892 to 1902 one variety only was used, namely, the Mammoth Long Red. About 

 4 pounds of seed were sown per acre each year. 



Two varieties of turnips were sown on the half plots devoted to these roots in 1889, 

 and in 1890, a single variety, Carter's Elephant Swede. In 1891, six varieties were 

 sown. In 1892, the Improved Purple Top Swede only was sown, in 1893 and 1894, the 

 Prize Purple Top Swede, in 1895, the Imperial Swede, and from 1S9G to 1902, the 

 Prize Purple Top Swede. The land used for the turnips, which are usually sown later 

 than the mangels, was prepared in the same manner as for the mangels. It was then 

 allowed to stand until the day before sowing, when it was gang-ploughed shallow or 

 cultivated to kill weeds and loosen the soil, ridged, rolled and sown. iVbout 3 pounds 

 of seed were sown per acre. 



In 1900 and 1903, no crops of mangels and turnips were grown, but clover was 

 sown in their place in May in the proportion of 12 pounds per acre. This made a 

 strong growth and was cut twice each year during the season, and left on the ground 

 to decay, so that when ploughed under, the land might get the full benefit of the cIovct 

 crop. The clover was allowed to remain growing until near the middle of May, by 

 which time it had made a very heavy growth. It was then ploughed under about 6 

 inches deep and harrowed well, then made up into ridges 2 feet apart. These were 

 rolled with a hand roller, which flattened the ridges considerably and made a firm, even 

 seed bed. The crops of clover and roots are alternated in this way, for the purpose of 

 supplying humus and also of gaining information as to the fertilizing effect of green 

 clover ploughed under on land to be used for growing roots. 



In 1904, the mangels were sown on May 12, and pulled on October 14; the turnips 

 were sown May 12, and pulled October 14. The yield per acre has been calculated 

 in each case from the weight of roots gathered from two rows, each GQ feet long. 



