154 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS. 



64 VICTORIA, f<. 1901 



111 potash, phosphoric acid and nitrogen, the foregoing data show it to be equal 

 to the average fertile soil. Provided the season were favourable, especially as regards 

 moisture, it should prove quite productive. It is to be remarked, however, that this 

 soil has a decided acid reaction, and shows a deficiency in lime. This condition may 

 •account in a large measure for the poor returns spoken of by Messrs. Bohaker, for it 

 has been abundantly demonstrated of late years that a sour condition, which is always 

 associated with traces only of available lime compounds, is strongly detrimental to 

 farm crops in general. An application of 30 to 40 bushels of lime per acre is, there- 

 fore, suggested as likely to bring about a more productive condition of the soil. 



Since the soil contains but little clay, and consequently has a low absorptive 

 capacity for moisture, it would be important from time to time that it should be re- 

 plenished with organic matter, either by an application of manure or a green crop, 

 such as clover, turned under. For maintaining the humus and nitrogen of orchard 

 soil, there is, perhaps, no better or more economical plan than sowing clover in July 

 and ploughing under during May of the following year, after which cultivation, to 

 preserve a di'y earth mulch, and thus prevent surface evaporation, siiould be prac- 

 tised until the clover is again sown. For field crops which allow of soil cultivation, 

 such as corn and roots, this mechanical method for retaining soil moisture should not 

 be neglected. 



To enhance fertility by means of commercial fertilizers, we would suggest for 

 the orchard and fruit trees generally a brand containing, say, 2 to 3 per cent nitrogen, 

 6 to 8 per cent available phosphoric acid, and 8 to 10 per cent potash — the application 

 being from 300 to 500 pounds per acre. If it is desired 1o purchase, those constituents 

 separately, phosphoric acid may possibly be best applied as Thomas (Basic) slag. This 

 fertilizer contains usually from 14 to 17 per cent of phosphoric acid, which, though 

 present in a form not so immediately available as that in superphosphate, is better 

 adapted to sour soils by reason of its alkalinity. Basic slag contains some 15 per 

 cent of free lime, and hence neutralizes or counteracts acidity. The 



application may be 300 pounds per acre. Finely ground bone meal is 

 also a good source of phosphoric acid for, moist, warm soils of good texture. 

 For potash, if wood ashes are not procurable, muriate of potash or kainit may be 

 employed. Of muriate, 100 pounds per acre, and of kainit, 400 pounds per acre, is 

 the usual dressing. Being an acid soil, nitrate of suda would be better than sulphate 

 of ammonia to use as a source of nitrogen. The application may be from 100 to 150 

 pounds per acre, broadcasted in two or three dressings, say, of 50 i)ounds each, at in- 

 tervals throughout the growing season. The nitrate can be mixed with several times 

 its weight of dry loam to facilitate distribution. 



For light and sandy soil, spring application of fertilizer is preferable, being spread 

 on the ploughed land and lightly harrowed in. When nitrate of soda is used, it is 

 furnished while vegetative growth is active, as already indicated. 



CONSERVATION OF SOIL MOISTURE. 

 Experiments at Brandon. 'Man., and Indian Head, N.W.T. 



We may, I think, confidently assert that among the problems to be solved in con- 

 nection with agriculture in j\Ianitoba and the North-west Territories that which seeks 

 to secure and retain soil moisture for the use of the growing crop, is one of the most 

 important. As yet, the necessity of returning plant food in manures and fertilizers 

 is not generally felt, so rich is the soil over very large areas; but nevertheless there are 

 elements, largely variable and uncertain, that have a most marked effect upon the 

 yield. These elements or factors are chie% two — rainfall and early frost. It is with 

 the first of these, or rather the retention of the rain, that our present research has to 

 do. The wheat yield of any year depends, as we well know, to a very large extent 



