/)717.S/0V OF FIELD EUSBAXDRY 191 



SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 



COST OF PRODUCTION OF HAY. 



Tlie following figures are for 1 acre of clover grown in a four-year rotation of 

 roots, grain, clover hay, timothy hay. The soil was a rather light, clay loam underlaid 

 with shale at a depth varying from 12 to 18 inches. 



Rent of land, at $3 per acre ?3 00 



Share of manure, at rate of 16 tons per acre at $1 per ton 4 00 



Use of machinery, at CO cents per acre GO 



Half of the charges on 12 pounds timothy at 8^ cents, 8 pounds red 



clover at 27 cents, and 2 pounds alsike at 31 cents 1 90 



Cutting, I hour with 2-horse team at 34 cents 17 



Tedding, 1 hour with 2-horse team at 34 cents 34 



Side delivery raking, J hour with 2-horse team at 34 cents 17 



Raking, after loader, J hour with 1-horse team at 27 cents It 



Loading, 15 hours with 2-horso team, at 34 cents, and 3 hours manual 



labour at 17 cents 1 02 



Unloading, IJ hour with 2-hors6 team, at 34 cents, and 3 hours manual 



labour at 17 cents 1 02 



Cost per acre $12 3C 



Yield of hay per acre, 3 tons 410 pounds. 

 Cost to produce 1 ton $3.S6. 



As the cost of production per unit depends very much on the yield, it should be 

 noted that in this case the crop of clover was an exceptionally large one, 

 the crop of oats more than the average, and the crop of swedes rather 

 low. No doubt the tillage necessary to grow a crop of roots has a last- 

 ing effect, and a portion of the horse and manual labour charged to the root crop 

 should perhaps go to the debit of the grain and the hay which follow it. Another point 

 to be taken into consideration, is the favourable effect of succulent feeds, such as 

 swedes, on the digestive tract of farm animals, allowing them to make a better use of 

 dry roughages such as hay. With all this in mind, the wise farmer will do well to 

 continue growing roots or other succulent feeds even though the cost of production is 

 high as compared with hay. In fact, it is certain that the latter could not be produced 

 so cheaply were it not for the beneficial effects derived from the hoed crop which pre- 

 ceded it. 



ROTATION OF CROPS. 



The rotations suitable for this district should, as a rule, include one hood crop, 

 one or two cereal crops (not grown in succession) and from one to four crops of hay 

 or pasture. The following four rotations are under test at this Station: — 



ROTATION "d" (three YEARS' DURATION). 



First year. — Corn or roots. 



Second year. — Grain. Seed down with 8 pounds red clover, 2 pounds alsike, 

 and 8 pounds timothy per acre. 



Third year. — Clover hay. Two crops when weather conditions permit. 



This rotation is suited to high-priced and easily-tilled land where large crops 

 must be secured to meet heavy rents and overhead charges. It presupposes cithe.- a 

 sufficient area of untillable land to be used for pasture, or yard feeding. 



Shortly after the second crop of hay ia harvested the land is ploughed 4 inches 

 deep, and as flat as possible to ensure a quick rotting of the turf. It is then rolled 

 and the area is cultivated often during the autumn to kill weeds and conserve 

 moisture. Late in the autumn a second ploughing is given, about -5 or 6 inches 

 deep, a more upright furrow being turned this time, in order to leave a larger 



Cap Rouge. 



