36 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS. 



64 VICTORIA, A. 1901 



In 1890 clover was again sown on all tlie plots, which produced a good growth 

 during the season and was ploughed under in October. 



APPLICATION OF FERTILIZERS DISCONTINUED. 



Another direction in which information was sought was in reference to the length 

 of time which a liberal application of barn-yard manure would continue to aifect sub- 

 sequent crops, and in 1899 on plots 1, 2 and 6 the barn-yard manure, which had been 

 used for ten or eleven years in succession, was discontinued. The phosphate fertilizer 

 was also omitted on plot 6 in each series. 



In 1900 all the fertilizers on all the plots were discontinued, and it is proposed 

 to continue to grow the same crops on all these plots from year to year without ferti- 

 lizers for some years, sowing clover with the grain each season. In this way it is 

 expected that much information will be gained as to the value of clover as a collector 

 of plant food, and also as to the unexhausted values of the different fertilizers which 

 have been used on these plots since the experiments were begun. 



SPECIAL TREATMENT OF PLOTS OF INDIAN CORN AND ROOTS. 



As it was not practicable to sow clover to advantage on the Indian corn and root 

 plots, the sowing of these latter crops was discontinued in the spring of 1900 and 

 clover sowii in their place in the proportion of 12 pounds per acre, and no fertilizers 

 were applied. The clover on these plots has made strong growth, so strong as to 

 necessitate twice cutting during the season, the cut clover being left on the ground 

 in each case to decay and thus add to the fertility of the soil, and will be left over 

 for further growth next spring and ploughed under for tJie roots about May 1 and 

 for corn about the middle of that month. Then roots and Indian corn will again be 

 60wn. This course will bo continued for some years, growing Indian corn and root« 

 every second year, and common red clover the alternate season. jSTo fertilizers were 

 applied in 1900, 'and it is proposed to discontinue their use entirely for some yeairs. 

 ?o that the effect on these crops of the ploughing under of clover every second year 

 may be cai-r-fully studied under the varying conditions presented by these more or 

 lo^p exhausted plots. 



WHEAT PLOTS. 



The seed sown on each of these plots from the beginning has been in the propor- 

 tion of 11 bushels per acre, excepting in 1894 ; and the varieties used were as 

 follows:— In 1888-89-90 and 1891. White Kussian. and in 1892-3, Campbell's White 

 Chaff. In 1894, the Rio Grande wheat was used, when, owinir to lack of germinating 

 power in the seed, a larger quantity was required. In 1895, 1896, 1897, 1898, 1899 and 

 1900. Red Fife wheat was used in the usual quantity of li bushels per acre. In 1900. 

 the Red Fife was sown May 5, came up May 18, and was ripo from August 17 to 18. 



The season of 1899 was favourable for the growing of spring wheat at Ottnwa< 

 and has given in most instances, crops above the average. 



