146 



EXPERIMENTAL FARMS. 



Gypsum, in addition to supplying certain elements of plant food, is useful in 

 liberating potash in the soil and absorbing or fixing ammonia. 



Though not in any sense a complete fertilizer, an application on rich soils is 

 followed by excellent results. For poor soils, its use must be supplemented by 

 manures containing nitrogen, phosphoric acid and potash. 



Gypsum has been found of special value for pease and clover. Since it sets potash 

 free, it is also useful for turnips, Indian corn and many crops that require large 

 quantities of this element. 



Powdered gypsum when sprinkled in stable, cow-houses, &c., preserves much 

 ammonia (valuable plant food) that would otherwise escape and be lost. Its use 

 therefore for such a purpose is to be strongly recommended. 



Several members of the leguminosae, to which the pea, bean and clover belong, 

 have been analysed during the past year and their composition is now given. The 

 plants of this order are characterized by a large percentage of albuminoids, and 

 consequently as a rule make more valuable fodder than the grasses. It has been 

 shown of late years by carefully conducted experiments that they procure a large 

 proportion of their nitrogen (the essential element of the albuminoids) from 

 the atmosphere, a property not possessed, as far as is known, by plants of othei- 

 families. They have, therefore, been termed nitrogen-collectors, and must be looked 

 upon as of special value, not only in furnishing rich and nutritious fodder, but also in 

 keeping up the fei-tility of the soil. Green manuring with the legumes, i.e., ploughing 

 under a crop of clover or pease, preferably while in flower, is one of the cheapest 

 and most effective methods of enriching and improving the soil. It increases the 

 amount of organic matter and nitrogen, the latter becoming readily available for 

 succeeding crops. 



Analyses of Legumes, 1893. 



Lathyrus sylvestris, Wagneri (green). 



Lathyrus venosus (hay) 



Astragalus Canadensis (hay) 



Melilotus alba (hay) 



Vicia Americana (hay) 



Hay or Fresh Material. 





79-65 

 711 

 9-46 

 9-30 

 701 



g 







•52 

 ■06 

 -75 

 -75 



-87 





6' 60 



32 47 



33 45 

 43 24 



34 33 



m 03 



Pl 



5W2 



6 

 34 

 38 



27 



35 58 





•20 

 -89 

 -54 

 •70 

 •22 



Calculated to 

 Water-free Substance. 



7^52 

 7-93 

 666 

 5-65 

 859 



Si 



O P 



22 

 15 

 11 

 12 

 14 



-23 

 •13 



•87 

 •91 

 •92 





32 

 34 

 36 



47 

 86 



•46 

 •95 

 •95 

 ■67 

 •90 



H X =s 



31 72 

 36-72 

 42-79 

 30-79 



38-28 



X 

 ^^ 



ll 



-1-3 ■ ' 



•07 

 ■27 

 •73 

 •98 

 -31 



The botanical data contained in the following notes have been kindly furnished 

 by Mr. Jas. Fletcher, Botanist and Entomologist of the Experimental Farms. 



Lathyrus sylvestris, Wagneri (Wagner's Wood Pea). 



This is a fodder plant of recent introduction, and said to do well even on poor 

 soils. It is a free growing, leafy pea, which in its second year of growth at the 



