388 



EXPERIMENTAL FARHJS 



4-5 EDWARD VII., A. 1905 



Varieties. 



Austrian Brome (Bro-mus inermis) . 



II II 



Western Rye Grass (A tcnerum) . . 



When sown. 



Bald Wheat Grass (Elymvs virginicus) . 



Timothy ' " . . . 



Red Top (Agrontis vulgaris) 



Hard Fescue 



1902 

 1903 

 1902 

 1903 

 1902 

 1902 

 1903 

 1900 



Seed 

 per acre. 



Lbs. 



12 

 12 

 12 

 12 

 12 

 8 

 8 

 20 



Yield of Hay 

 per acre. 



Tons. 



2 

 1 

 2 

 2 

 1 

 1 



Lbs. 



700 

 1200 



500 

 1100 

 LSOO 



700 

 1800 

 1800 



lilPROVING PASTURE FIELDS. 



Every year large areas of new land in this country are brought under cultivation, 

 and catle pasture becomes less plentiful, tliis has led many farmers to dispose of 

 their herds, and engage exclusively in grain-growing. This is to be regretted, as mixed 

 farming is the most desirable system of husbandry for any country. 



On this farm it has been found possible to greatly increase the productiveness of 

 a native pras.s pasture field, by ploughing np a portion of it each year, and seeding it 

 down with Awnless Brorhe grass. If the sod is thin it can be ploughed deeply in 

 April or Ifay, then well di.sk-harrowed and sown at once with about 15 lbs. of Bromo 

 grass seed per acre, then harrowed a second time. If the land is fairly dry when se-^d- 

 ing is done, we have not fovmd it necessary to keep the cattle out of the field. 



Where the sod is thick and tough, it is sometimes desirable to break the native 

 sod a year in advance, and then backset it before sowing the seed. Should the Brome 

 sod in time become too thick it may be ploughed during the summer and not harrowed 

 or backset. This will kill a portion of the grass plants, and the remainder will be- 

 come more vigorous. 



The productiveness of native pasture fields can be greatly increased, if treated 

 as above. 



CLOVEE. 



The plots of clover have all passed another winter safely. The yield has been 

 above the average, and the favourable weather enabled us to save the hay in good con- 

 dition. 



In addition to the one-twentieth acre plots of clover sown during 1902 and 1903, 

 three one-acre fields were sown on June 1, 1904. The varieties were Alfalfa, Commoii 

 Bed and Alsike. The soil was a sandy loam summer-fallowed, half a bushel of barley 

 per acre was first sown, with a drill, then 15 bs. per acre of clover seed was sown broad- 

 cast and harrowed in. Owing to the barley being thin, the clover made a good stand 

 of stocky plants. Just as soon as the barley had headed out it was cut for hay and 

 removed from the land. By winter the clover had become firmly established and it 

 promises to winter well. 



Volunteer clover plants are now appearing in sever'al parts of the farm where 

 clover had been ploughed down many years ago. Alsike appears to be the most persist- 

 ent variety. This year for the first time the Common Ked clover gave a good yi^ld of 

 hay at the second cutting. 



