£8 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 



2 GEORGE V., A. 1912 



Where all land was under cultivation, it would be found necessary to devote a certain 

 aiea to soiling crops. It might be extended to six years by leaving down to pasture 

 for two years instead of one. 



Rotation ' B! — This rotation has been fairly successful here, but, for certain 

 reasons not easily enumerated., I do not feel as though I could either criticise or praise 

 as yet and feel sure of my ground. 



Uoiation ' E.' — This rotation would not be suitable for the average farmer but 

 might suit the man who had to buy rough forage. 



Rotation 'Z.' — This would be a most excellent rotation to put into practice where 

 sufficient rough land was available to serve as pasture. It is the rotation that would 

 most likely supply the greatest amount of forage of the best description for dairying 

 or beef production. It is better suited for heavy than for light soils. 



Rotation ' 8.' — This is a rotation that has been in use for a number of years on 

 the Agricultural College Farm at Guelph, where it has given satisfactory results. It 

 is possibly open to the criticism of having too small a proportion of land under grain. 

 Where live stock is, however, the mainstay, this is a very minor fault. The turning 

 of a shallow furrow when ploughing sod has been found to be good practice here whei 

 preparing for grain or corn. In preparing for roots, the regular plough with sub- 

 soiler is to be advised. 



Rotation ' D.' — This rotation is the same as rotation ' S ' so far as crops are con- 

 cerned. The results so far obtained show the advantage in favour of either shallow 

 ploughing and deep cultivation or deep ploughing. 



Rotation ' H.' — The area devoted to pigs (some 10 acres) where this rotation is 

 followed has given very satisfactory returns, and would, I feel confident, prove profit- 

 able to any one who followed it carefully. 



Rotation ' T! — Sheep. The returns from this rotation are not strictly compar- 

 able with those from others, since many side experiments materially affect the results. 

 It has, however, proven very satisfactory for this class of stock. 



As already stated, the rotation experiments have been under way for five years 

 now. Three out of the five years have been what might be called ' lean years ' in the 

 Ottawa valley, hence these rotations can hardly be said to have yet shown what they 

 are capable of doing in the way of influencing crop production. 



The few facts given above are, however, strictly comparable each with the others, 

 excepting possibly ' T ' or sheep, where some rather disturbing conditions have been 

 introduced. 



THE ROTATIONS IN 1910. 



The experiment to determine the values of the different rotations as discussed 

 above is being followed up, and below the detailed report of the labour on each plot 

 and the return therefrom, will be found some brief notes on each field and on the 

 rotation as a whole. 



The rotations are as follows: — 



Rotation 'A.' — Five years. Clover hay, timothy hay, grain, corn, grain. 



Rotation ' B.' — Five years. Clover hay, grain, clover hay, corn, grain. 



Rotation ' E! — Three years. Pasture, corn, grain. 



Rotation 'Z.' — Three years. Clover hay, corn, grain. 



Rotation ' S.' — Four years. Shallow ploughing, clover hay, timothy hay, roots, 

 grain. 



