84 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS. 



Very much valuable information on several aspects of the growing and cultivat- 

 ing of corn, horse beans and sunflowers, has been gained from the full reports 

 which were sent in by the different farmers who gave the mixture a trial. From 

 that source and the results of our own experience, I offer the following recommenda- 

 tions for the growing of this mixture for the coming year: — 



The horse beans and sunflowers can be obtained from almost any of the dealers 

 in seeds. It is not considered necessary or desirable that seeds should be furnished 

 by the Experimental Farm, after information is available on the desirable methods 

 of cultivation, and when they can be obtained from the seed merchants. 



Soil. — If a field with a drained, warm, loamy soil be convenient to the silo, and 

 can be used, it should be selected in preference to a heavy clay or wet soil for Indian 

 corn. The horse beans do well in clay soils. In all cases the land will be the better 

 for receiving a liberal dressing of manure. It should be ploughed in the spring, and 

 be harrowed to a state of fine tilth before the seeds are planted. 



Time to plant. — The time at which Indian corn for fodder may be planted 

 with the best results, in most districts, is during the last ten days of May, or late 

 enough in the season to escape frosts at night, and early enough to give the plants 

 the advantage of as long a season for growing as is practicable. The horse beans 

 and sunflowers are less liable to injury from frost than Indian corn. 



Throughout the province of Ontario and the western portion of the province of 

 Quebec, the horse beans may be planted with advantage from two to three weeks 

 later than the Indian corn. 



The sunflowers should be planted as early in the spring as is practicable, — 

 otherwise the heads may not ripen in time to be put into the silo. 



Proportion. — The mixture should contain about 10 tons of Indian corn fodder, 

 to about 2J or 3 tons of horse beans and about 1 or 1^ tons of sunflower heads. To 

 obtain it in these proportions, it should be grown at the rate of one quarter of an 

 acre of sunflowers, and half an acre of horse beans, to every acre of Indian 

 corn. 



Mow to -plant. — Throughout the Maritime Provinces and in the eastern part of 

 the province of Quebec, the Indian corn and horse beans may be mixed together 

 and planted in rows 3 feet apart, with from 2 to 4 grains per lineal foot in every 

 row. Elsewhere a larger crop of bean plants, not too ripe and dry for the silo, may 

 be ensured by planting them separate from the Indian corn. 



The Indian corn may be planted in rows 3 feet apart, with from 2 to 3 grains 

 per lineal foot in every row. A horse power corn planter or seed-drill may be used 

 for that purpose. Or it maybe planted in hills 3 feet apart both ways, with from 4 to 

 6 grains in every hill. A horse power or hand corn-planter may be used. If neither 

 of these implements and no other suitable planter be available, furrows 3 inches deep 

 may be ploughed 3 feet apart. The seeds may be put in them and covered, after 

 which the field should be rolled. 



The horse beans may be planted in rows 3 feet apart, with from 3 to 6 grains 

 per lineal foot in every row. The same machinery or method may be used as for 

 the sowing or planting of the Indian corn. 



The sunflower seeds are to be planted by themselves, in rows 3 feet apart. 

 Not more than one plant per lineal foot in the rows should be left to grow. If they 

 come up thicker, they should be thinned out to one plant for every 12 or 18 inches 

 in the rows. 



