1018 EXPERIMESTAL FARMS 



5 GEORGE v.. A. 1915 



TOBACCO STATION, HARROW, OXT. 



REPORT OF THE MANAGER, W. A. BARNET, B.S.A. 



Considering this particular section of the county, the season of 1913 was a very- 

 unfavourable one for the successful culture of tobacco and, generally speaking, con- 

 ditions in other parts of southwestern Ontario were the same. 



The spring opened out as early as usual and very favourable weather prevailed 

 during the fore part of the season for the growth of the young seedlings, so that in 

 some rare cases where beds were sown very early, planting was begun in May. Despite 

 the fact that many beds made apparently good progress there was the usual scarcity 

 of plants just when they should be plentiful and planting carried on to the fullest 

 extent. On account of the shortage of seedlings the acreage of Burley was smaller 

 tlian in the previous year. During a period of four weeks from the latter part of 

 May till the 21st of June there was a continued drought. The weather conditions 

 necessitated an unusual amount of care in the watering of beds, especially those 

 covered with glass, and made conditions very unfavourable for securing a uniform 

 stand in the field. 



THE ORCHARD. 



On April 23 the whole orchard was sprayed for the San Jose scale, and again later 

 for the Codling moth. A light pruning was given the apple trees. The peach trees 

 planted in April, 1911, made a splendid wood growth. A hoed crop of Warne tobacco 

 was grown in part -of the orchard. In the balance of the area clean cultivation, 

 followed by a seeding of Hairy Yetch for a cover crop was the practice. There was 

 a large yield of apples but they were of poor keeping quality, a large percentage of 

 the Northern Spy variety rotting on the tree. A few scattering peaches were found 

 in the young orchard. 



CORN EXPERIMENTS. 



Part of the area in corn was manured at the rate of twelve loads per acre. The 

 balance of the ground, 4 acres, had been manured the previous year for tobacco, and 

 fertilized for corn as follows : 100 pounds muriate of potash and 275 pounds super- 

 phosphate per acre. The latter area planted with Golden Glow variety was not 

 damaged badly by the hail-storm, and yielded 100 bushel baskets per acre of good 

 sound corn, but the -balance of the ground planted with Improved Leaming yielded 

 only about one-half a crop. The severe wind and hail-storm of August 3 broke off a 

 large percentage of the stalks and, for the most part, the leaves were torn and actually 

 stripped off the standing stalks. Then again, where the ears were struck by the hail- 

 stones they were deformed and never developed as they would have done. Conse- 

 quently the yield was diminished and the proportion of reliable seed was quite small. 



DRAINAGE WORK. 



A system of main drains was started but the work was not completed owing to a 

 small delay getting a satisfactory outlet. The balance of the main drain will be com- 

 pleted and the laterals put in this coming spring. Cement curbed sand traps were put 

 in at intervals along the main. It has been noted that although the drains were put 



