46 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 



I 5 GEORGE v., A. 1915 



NOTES ON THE WORK. 



Live stoch. — The experiment of grading up the common cows of the district by 

 the use of a pure- bred sire, commenced in 1911, was continued successfully tliis 

 year and further data of interest gathered, though conclusive results cannot be 

 expected for some time to come. 



Up to date, all progeny give strong indications of being superior to the founda- 

 tion stock. 



The experiment in feeding steers was very successful, both in data gathered 

 and profit made. The steers were divided into two main groups, on a basis of type, 

 into good butchers and good stockers. These were eacii subdivided into heavy-fed and 

 light-fed groups, each of which wan further subdivided into lots fed difEerent rations. 

 Details of the experiment will be found in tne report of the Division of Animal 

 Husbandry. 



A sheep feeding experiment similar to that conducted in 1912-13 v/as carried 

 on. Fifty-six grade wethers were purchased for the test. These were divided 

 into four lots and fed on different rations. Lots 1 and 2 received clover hay and 

 moal; lots 3 and 1 timothy hay and meal; lots 1 and 3 also received roots in addition 

 to the meal ration. The average net profit per liead in each lot was : Lot 1, $2.51 ; 

 lot 2, $2.53 ; lot 3, $2.26 ; and lot 4, $1.95. 



Owing to tliC limited accommodation for swine, little work was done in experi- 

 mental feeding. New colony houses vv'ere built and all swine were wintered in 

 them. While they took just a little more attention and feed v/hen wintered in this 

 way, their healthy condition more than compensated for it. 



A new flock of pure-bred Shropshire sheep has been established. These animals 

 are more typical of the breed than were the former flock. The Leicester flock 

 formerly at this Farm was transferred to the Experimental Station, Charlotte- 

 town, P.E.I. 



A number of new colony houses for poultry were built. These are of different 

 styles in order to study the relative suitability to the district. Three breeds of 

 fowl are now kept, Barred Rock, White Wyandotte and White Leghorn. 



Cereals, Corn for Ensilage and Roots: — In cereals, twelve varieties of wheat 

 ranged from 24 bushels to 42 bushels per acre. Twelve varieties of oats ran from 

 48 bushels 8 pounds to 61 bushels 26 pounds; six varieties of two-row barley from 

 33 bushels 16 pounds to 50 bushels and six varieties of six-row barley from 29 bushels 

 3 pounds to 45 bushels 40 pounds. 



The buckwheat plots did not do as well as they might, owing to the presence 

 of couch grass. Five varieties were sown with yields from 32 bushels 24 pounds to 

 44 bushels 8 poundr. 



Peas were very late and the returns, owing to the injury from heavy rains, were 

 not worth reporting. 



Five varieties of ensilage corn ranged in yield from 12 tons 1,500 pounds to 

 16 tons 700 pounds per acre. 



Sugar beets did fairly well, the three varieties tested yielding from 13 tons 

 1,000 pounds to 13 tons 1,500 pounds. Twelve varieties of turnips gave yields of 

 from 30 tons 1,000 pounds to 42 tons 1,000 pounds per acre; eleven sorts of mangels 

 from 16 tons 500 pounds to 32 tons 1,200 potmds; six varieties of carrots from 16 

 tons 1,000 pounds to 23 tons 1,000 pounds. Twenty varieties of potatoes gave from 

 173 bushels 20 pounds to 556 bushels 40 pounds. 



Fruits amd veg&tahl&s. — The apple crop was hardly up to the average, and scab 

 was much in evidence. On the Farm, the small commercial orchard made very 

 vigorous growth during the season, and some of the early varieties, such as Duchess 

 and Wealthy, produced some fruit. 



The season was not favourable to bush fruits, the yield was only medium and 

 the growth fair. Strawberries were below the average in yield owing to the previous 



