68 



EXPLRIMEIiTAL FARMS 



5 GEORGE v., A. 1915 



were no severe frosts until September 20, which allowed the grain to mature fully. 

 The grain of 1913 was there, ^re of a superior grade. 



There was the least snowfall in 1913-14 of any season since the establishment of 

 the Station in 1909. 



A severe hailstorm, damaging an area 2 miles wide and more than 30 miles long, 



passed within half a mile of the Station on the north side on Jvily 25. The crops 



within the area of this storm were a total loss. On September 5 lightning struck and 



burned a shock of oats at a distance of 400 feet from the Superintendent's residence. 



Following is the weather record for the year : — 



METEOROLOGICAL RECORDS. 



FIELD IIUSBAKDRY, 



The work in the rotations carried on since 1911 is attracting more general 

 interest each year, and demonstrating the great importance of the effect of humus 

 in the soil as furnished by hay crops, and the increase of grain yields due to the 

 inclusion of both grass and roots in the rotation, as well as to the greater quantity 

 ,of manure supplied by a rotation involving crops which necessitate the keepiug 

 of a large number of live stock. Another marked effect of a rotation involving a 

 variety of crops is the eradication of weeds. No attempt is made to haudpull we ds 

 from the grain crops on any of the rotations, and it is found that with good culti- 

 vation in a rotation involving summer-fallow, followed by roots, followed by g a in 

 needed down, there are practically no weeds left in the succeeding crop. Ti is 

 applies particularly to wild oats, which are such a menace to agriculture in the 

 West. 



The work in cultural investigation, begun in 1911, has not been continued 

 sufficiently long to give definite conclusions. The most notable feature in any of 

 •the experiments, is the good effect on wheat and a succeeding crop of oats of rn 

 «pplication of manure on summer-fallow. Unfortunately a number of these expoii- 

 ^ents have been interfered with on account of Isheir location on ground affected by 

 *' alkali." An effort will be made to begin some of these experiments again on more 

 'uniform plots. 



