s Z)/T7.S70:V OF FORAGE PLANTS 503 



SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 



EXPERIMENTAL STATION, STE. ANNE DE LA 



POCATIERE, QUE. 



REPORT OF THE SUPERINTEKBENT, JOSEPH BEGIN. 

 CHAKACTER OF SEASON. 



Rains and thaws of last winter were responsible for entirely killing clover, and 

 g'enerally for heavy damage to the meadows. Snow all disappeared, in March, and the 

 spring Avas very cold and dry up to May 13. From this last date to June 6, rain 

 prevailed and the weather was rather cold. 



The average temperature from the 1st of May to the 31st of October, 1913, was 

 55-2°. For the three months, July, August, and September, the average registered 

 was G0-1°. From this it would appear that the temperature is as high, if not higher, 

 than the temperature registered in the inland part of the country at the same latitude; 

 it would also appear to be 2-02° lower than the average temperature registered at 

 Ottawa during ten years. 



It might be well to note here that the temperature registered at the Station once 

 a day does not represent the exact temperature of the district, as it is well known that 

 the duration of heat during the day is shortened by what is called '' maritime streams " 

 or fresh and cool breezes, blowing at certain hours from the St. Lawrence river. These 

 lower the temperature many degrees and check the growing of certain plants, such as 

 corn. In future, therefore, it is intended to note the temperature three times a day, 

 at () a.m., at 12 noon, and at 6 p.m., to compare the average temperature given by these 

 observations with the average temperature registered once a day at 7 a.m. 



INDIAN CORN. 



Eight acres of Longfellow corn were sown from the 10th to the 13th of June, and 

 cut between the 25th and 29th of September. The average height of this corn was 5 

 feet only, the germination being very slow on account of lack of rain. The cobs were 

 abundant but short, and the desirable dough stage was not reached. The yield of 

 corn was estimated at 4 tons per acre. 



It is to be noted that on account of the very small quantity of barnyard manure 

 at hand, the land received but a light coat of manure. Weeds of all sorts also infested 

 the land where corn w^as sown. Also, on account of the new division of the field and 

 the levelling of the land, the soil was not in the very best condition for a good crop. 

 However, the land having been worked all through the summer, it is now well prepared 

 lor good crops, and weeds are fairly well eradicated. 



ROOTS. 



The crop of IJ acres sown in roots, viz., Magnum Bonum from Sutton, yielded 

 G2,000 pounds or 27 fons per acre. This field was drained in the autumn of 1912, well 

 prepared and manured in the spring. Sown on the ISth of June, the seed did not 

 germinate until the middle of July, but the growth was splendid in September and 

 October. The crop was stored in good condition. 



HAY CROPS. 



About 12 per cent less than the common average, the hay was also rather inferior 

 in quality. One acre and a half sown with peas and oats gave a splendid crop, 

 calculated at 21 tons per acre. Sown on the 10th of May, cut on the 15th of August, 

 and stored on the 20'ch of the same month, this mixture of peas and oats made a hay of 

 good quality. 



