42 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 



5 GEORGE v., A. 1915 

 FARNHAM, QUB. 



Crop. — Sowing' was very successful and the seedlings were fit for transplantation 

 late in May. This work was, howevei-, hindered by rainy weather and injuries by 

 insects. 



One cannot obtain at once, on land freshly broken from old meadow, tobacco 

 of an elastic texture, but the yield in weight was satisfactory, except on one plot 

 which could not be manured, and received only one application of artificial fertilizer. 



The priucipal varieties grown were the Comstock Spanish, Havana Seed Leaf, 

 Yamaska and Big Ohio X Sumatra. They gave tobacco of a fair quality with the 

 exception of Big Ohio X Sumatra, the product of which was somewhat lacking in 

 elasticity. 



Improvements made. — Among the principal ones may be mentioned new fencing, 

 the drainage of some 15 arpents of land, and the building of a dam to control the 

 brook running across the Station. 



HARROW. 



Sowing. — This was, as a whole, successful and an abundance of good plants 

 was obtained. The conclusions from the experimental work of the year may be 

 summarized as follows: Sow early, replace the cotton covers by glass, sow thinly, 

 renew the soil in the seed bed often, and disinfect it either by formalin or steam. 



Brown rust of the seedlings was frequently noticed. Not only is the yield 

 insufficient from attacked plants, but each time a diseased specimen is used in trans- 

 planting, the evil is increased by spreading it over the whole field. 



This disease was made the subject of communications to the press, giving the 

 nature of the disease and the methods of fighting it. These methods will be proved 

 by experiment. 



Plantaiions.- — These suffered at first from drought. Eains later brought on, 

 a normal growth when on August 3, a very violent hail storm destroyed all hope of 

 a crop. 



EXPERIMENTAL STATION FOR PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND. 



Charlottetowx. P.E.I. 



CHARACTER OF SEASON AND GENERAL CROP NOTES. 



The winter of 1912-13 was exceptional in character. There was severe frost 

 which eaatered the ground to a great depth owing to the long periods when the 

 ground was bare. Snow lay on the ground very little more than one month, or 

 from the middle of Febniaiy to the middle of March. Muoh injury was done by the 

 sudden changes of March, which caused great freshets washing out huge trenches 

 and gullies in unlooked-for places. The very warm weather of April brought the 

 grass and trees forward about two weeks ahead of previous years. May was so cool 

 that growth almost remained at a standstill. June was similar to May. The weather 

 was favourable to the thorough working of the land and the transplanting of vegetables 

 and flowers. The grasses and clovers thickened up in the bottom but made but little 

 growth. Corn remained at a standstill. July was favourable for all crops, and 

 during August a good hay crop was saved in splendid condition. There was good 

 harvest weather in September. The rainfall of October was excessive and almost 

 continuous. The warm, moist weather was ideal for the growth of the roots, but 

 sprouted the late grain very badly, the greater part of which was not saved in good 

 condition until the drying winds of November came. A light frost occurred Sep- 



