S16 



EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 



4-5 EDWARD VII., A. 1905 



METEOROLOGICAL RECORD. 



The maximum and minimum thermometrical observations for the year beginning 

 December 1, 1903, and ending Xovember 30, 1904 : — 



EXPEEBIEXTS WITH OATS. 



Experiments "^ere again continued this year with the leading sorts of oats which 

 were grown in unifonn test plots of one-fortieth acre each. Forty-two varieties were 

 included in this test. The plots all received the same treatment and were on soil 

 practically uniform throughout. 



The ground was a sandy loam, and was previously in mangels, having been 

 manured for that crop with 30 one-horse cart loads of stable manure per acre. The 

 land was ploughed in the fall after the mangel crop was harvested, and this spring 

 was harrowed twice with the springtooth, and once with the smoothing harrow. The 

 seed was sown May 13, at the rate of 2J bushels of seed per acre with the seed drill. 

 The ground was also seeded down to clover and Timothy at the rate of 3 pounds- Alsik? 

 clover, T pounds Mammoth Red clover and 12 pounds of Timothy seed per acre by 

 means of a grass seed attachment to the grain drill. The grain used was from head-^. 

 selected in the field at harvest time before cutting the various plots the previous season, 

 except the variety. Storm King, a new variety originated by Garton Bros., England, 

 seed of which was sent from the Experimental Farm, Ottawa. 



Ko fertilizer was used on these plots this season. The grain started well and 

 made fair growth to the middle of July, when the effect of the continued dry weather 

 Avas quite apparent. The grain ripened up prematurely, giving a light crop of only 

 fairly well filled oats. The straw was short but stiff, and only a few heads of smut 

 were noticeable. Some slight rust made its fippearance early in August. The follow- 

 ing yields were obtained from these plots. 



