DIVISIOX OF FIELD Hi iillAX DRY 279 



SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 



SOIL CULTURAL EXPEIUMENTS. 



The dry-laud soil cultivatiou investigations incepted in 1911 were continued but 

 as yet few of the experiments have shown any marked results. Some interesting 

 points, however, have been brought out. which may be briefly mentioned. 



I'UMHIK 15KK\k'l\(i. 



In this experiment, the results have brought out nothing that has not before ])een 

 fairly well demonstrated. They strongly support oHr contention that sowing crops 

 immediately after bi-eaking is unprofitable, and point out that the most advisable and 

 practical method of procoluve on new land is to break the sod in the spring and allow 

 it to reinaiu till the following season before cropping. 



UKPTK OF PLOUGH 1\(!. 



The plots ploughed 3 and 4 inches deep appeared to suffer from drouth before 

 those ploughed and 7 inches deep. Ploughing beyond the latter depth, however, 

 seemed of no advantage. 



TIME OF PLOUGHING. 



One of the most striking results observed, because it happened almost without 

 exception, was the fact that land ploughed in the fall gave poorer returns than that 

 which was ploughed in the spring. Similar results have been obtained in previous 

 years, but the ditference has never been so marked as was the case this year. No doubt 

 the dry winter with its scanty rainfall was, in a great measure, responsible for these 

 results. 



PART II.— THE IRRIGATED FARM. 



The yields on the irrigated part of the Station were satisfactoi-y on the whole, 

 average crops being harvested. 



ROTATIONS ON THE IRRIGATED LAND. 



There are at the present time two rotations under test on the irrigated part of the 

 Farm, " L^ " and " V,'' the latter being simply a field left in alfalfa continuously. 



ROTATION " V." 



First year. — Seeding alfalfa. 

 Second ye^n-.— Alfalfa hay. 

 Third year.— Alfalfa hay. 

 Fourth year. — Alfalfa hay. 

 Fiftti year. — Alfalfa hay. 

 Sixth year. — Alfalfa hay. 

 Seventh year. — Iloed crop. 

 Eifjh th year. — Wheat. 

 Ninth year. — Oats. 

 Tenth year. — Barley. 



ROT.\TIOX " v." 



Alfalfa continuously. 



In computing,- the tables set forth herewith values as given on page 1.".(! have bivn 



used. 



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