156 



EXPERIMENTAL FARMS. 



64 VICTORIA, A. 1901 



being exceedingly dry during the earlier months of the summer and more than 

 usually wet during the middle and later months of summer. 



The records from the Indian Head Farm show that in 1899 the rainfall was 

 fairly normal, the total precipitation being 9 •4A inches, of which 1 "So inches fell in 

 May, and 5 -34 inches in June. 



Of the present season, Mr. Mackay records similar weather conditions to those 

 already stated for Brandon. Thus, on May 8, he writes : * The weather for the past 

 three weeks has been very dry and warm, with high winds prevailing almost every 

 day.' On June 8, he says : ' We are having very bad, windy weather, with no rain 

 of any use,' and then in September he states : ' We are having unusually wet weather 

 and the outlook for grain still unstacked is far from bright.' Speaking of the season 

 as a whole, Mr. Mackay writes, November 28, as follows : — ' The past season has not 

 been an average one for the test. The weather was too dry in May and June, and 

 then in July, August and September it was unusually wet, causing the soil in Plot B 

 with the growing crop to become much more moist than it otherwise would.' 



The treatment of the soils may be summarized in the following statement : — 



Brandon, Plot A. — In fallow 1900, was ploughed June 7 to a depth of 7 inches, 

 the surface was cultivated with harrows and scuffler sufficient to keep down the weeds 

 during the balance of the season. 



Plot B. — In crop 1900, was ploughed on May 12, and sown the same day, and the 

 crop harvested August 24; the yield was 32^ bushels of oats per acre. It was not 

 ploughed after harvesting. 



Indian Head, Plot A. — In fallow 1900, ploughed 8 inches deep between April 17 

 and 25; cultivated 2 inches deep four times, once each in May, June, July and 



August. 



Plot B. — In crop 1900, ploughed 6 inches deep between June 1 and 15, 1899, culti- 

 vated 3 inches deep 3 times during July and August of that year, ploughed end of 

 August 6 inches deep, but not ploughed or cultivated before seeding this year. Seed 

 •own April 30. Grain harvested August 14, 1900. 



The rainfall during the investigation, at Brandon and Indian Head, is tabulated 

 M follows: — 



Brandon, Man. 



May 11 to June 11 



June 11 to July 11 



July 11 to Aug. 11 



Aug. 11 to Sep. 11 



Sep. 11 to Oct. 11 



Oct. 11 to Nov. 11 



Total 



Note — There was no rainfall previous 

 to May 11. 



Indian Head, N.W.T. 



May 8 to June 8 



June 8 to July 8 



July 8 to Aug. 8.. 



Aug. 8 to Sep. 8 



Sep. 8 to Oct. 8 



Oct. 8 to Nov. 8 



Total 



Note — ^^The rainfall previous to May 8 

 was ■ 27 inches. 



Inches. 



03 

 ■85 



44 

 •83 

 ■81 

 •10 



1211 



