REPORT OF THE CHEMIHT. 155 



SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 



upon the climatic influences that have prevailed throughout the season — and to a cer- 

 tain degree upon those of the preceding season. 



The value of a moist seed bed for the germinating grain and an ample precipita- 

 tion during May and June, is well known to all farmers in the ISTorth-west. This 

 becomes the more apparent when we remember that an acre of wheat requires more 

 than 300 tons of water to bring it to perfection, and that especially is the moisture 

 necessary during the earlier stages of the wheat's growth. 



Now, though it is obviously impossible for the farmer to control the rainfall, it is 

 quite practicable and within his power, by proper methods of culture, to store up a large 

 portion of the season's precipitation for the use of the crops of the succeeding year. 

 To obtain data that might serve to corroborate this statement we commenced an inves- 

 tigation last spring on fallowed and cropped lands on the Experimental Farms at 

 Indian Head, N.W.T., and Brandon, Man. 



The plan of the investigation may be stated as follows: — Early in the spring on 

 each of the farms two areas having as far as possible soil of a similar character were 

 selected, the one (A) intended to be fallowed during the present season, and which 

 had been cropped in 1899; the second area (B) to be cropped, but which had been 

 fallowed in 1899. Samples from each of these areas were taken, month by month, from 

 May to November inclusive, to two depths — the first (ISTo. 1) representing the upper 8 

 inches ; the second (No. 2), the depth from 8 to 16 inches. These samples, taken in 

 special canisters, were immediately on collection forwarded to the laboratory. On their 

 arrival each canister of soil was at once weighed and its contents thoroughly mixed, 

 sampled, and the moisture determined in duplicate. From the average weight of the 

 canister of water-free soil (obtained from the seven monthly determinations) and the 

 percentage of moisture, the amounts of water in tons and pounds per acre were cal- 

 culated. The canisters (2^ inches by 8 inches) used were very stout and open at both 

 ends. In taking the samples they were thrust into the ground until level with the 

 surface and then removed with the aid of a sharp spade, and covered with dee\) and 

 close-fitting caps. To prevent any possible evaporation en route, ' electric ' tape was 

 used to cover the edge of the cap or lid where it fitted over the canister. 



Before discussing the results obtained, it will be of interest to consider in out- 

 line the general conditions as regards rainfall that prevailed in 1899, as well as this 

 year. Mr. Bedford, writing of the season of 1899 at Brandon, says: ''May was 

 unusually wet and cloudy, with a low temperature, and seeding was frequently inter- 

 rupted by rain. Rain was abundant during early June, followed by bright, warm 

 weather later in the month. The temperature and rainfall during July and August 

 was about normal. The fall months were unusually dry.' The total rainfall was llj 

 inches. . 



Regarding the season of 1900, Mr. Bedford says : ' There was no rainfall previous 

 to May 11. the date when the first samples were taken, and the soil was exceptionally 

 dry.' On May 26, he wrote: 'it still holds very dry here.'' In a letter dated June 13, 

 Mr. Bedford states: 'the weather has been exceedingly dry so far; in fact, we have had 

 practicall;v no rain of any value. This is very unusual with us, as our annual rains 

 generally occur during the last half of May and the first two weeks of June. Our 

 crops and suffering severely from the want of rain.' Under date of June 28, he says : 

 Tt continues exceedins-ly dry here, and the grain has suffered terribly throughout the 

 province.' On July 13, he writes : ' Between three and four inches of rain has fallen, 

 and the soil is pretty well saturated. The wheat has improved somewhat, and there 

 is a prospect of more than half a crop of coarse grain.' In a letter on August 14. he 

 says: 'The rainfall during the past month has been 2-37 inches, which is unusually 

 heavy for this time of the year.' Again on September 12, he says: 'The rainfall for 

 the past month has been 5 -34 inches, which is much heavier than we generally have at 

 this season of the year.' 



From the foreging, it is obvious that while the season of 1899 was characteriz^'d 

 by a plentiful but normal precipitation, that of 1900 was exceptional and abnormal, it 



