890 EJPEBIMEN'TAL FARMS 



5 GEORGE v., A. 1915 



EXPERIMENTAL STATION, CHARLOTTETOWN. P.E.I. 



REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT, J. A. CLARKE, B.S.A. 

 CHARACTER OF SEASON. 



Frost entered the ground to a great depth during the winter of 1912-13 owing to 

 the severe cold while the ground was bare of snow. The snow lay on the ground very- 

 little more than one month dxiring the year, from the middle of February to the 

 middle of March. The month of March was noted for its sudden changes, which 

 caused great freshets. These caused a considerable washing of the land and in many 

 places much injury was done to even the level fields by the water cutting great 

 trenches in unlooked-for places. The warm weather of April brought the grass and 

 trees forward nearly two weeks ahead of the season of 1912. May and June were dull 

 and cool. The grasses, clovers, and roots came on slowly, yet they made good growth. 

 Corn came up, then remained almost stationary until the end of June. The fre- 

 quent showers and the moderate temperatures of July were very favourable to the root 

 crop. The hay crop thickened up wonderfully, though very little was saved during 

 the month. August was favourable for haymaking, and a good crop of hay was saved 

 in splendid condition. August and September were quite favourable to the root crops. 

 October was very wet, the weather was warm and the roots grew to a great size. Some 

 rot was reported. November came in cold, and it was not until the second week that 

 the bulk of the turnips was saved. 



INDIAN CORN. 



The corn was planted in hills on the 5th of June. Fourteen tons of barnyard 

 manure had been applied and well worked into the land two weeks before planting. 

 The corn came up slowly and then remained almost stationary until the end of June. 

 On the whole, the season was very unfavourable for the corn crop. 



On rotation " G " where the Longfellow corn was grown, it gave a yield of 4 tons 

 and 80 pounds of dry stover per acre. The corn was in silk when han'ested on 

 October 9. The blackbirds injured this field about 30 per cent. 



In the variety test plots, the damage inflicted by various birds was still greater, 

 and, as a matter of fact, the data for the season's tests were rendered practically use- 

 less. The pigeons and blackbirds had destroyed the test plots of varieties before it 

 was realized what they were doing. Provision was made to prevent the crows from 

 taking the corn, but ordinary devices were of no use against these other marauders. 

 They were shot and poisoned ; but the data from the season's crop were destroyed by 

 them. 



FIELD ROOTS. 



The variety tests of field roots were sown in the new orchard on the following 

 dates: Mangels, May 12; sugar beets and carrots. May 26; and turnips. May 31. 



During the month of June the growth was rather slow, the weather being dull 

 and cool. The frequent showers and the moderate temperatures of July were very 

 favourable to the root crop, as were also August and September. 



