352 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 



2 GEORGE V., A. 1912 



yield generally was considerably below the average. Those on stubble were almost 

 invariably light, but on fallowed land they were usually much better, but not invari- 

 ably so. 



Altogether the season has not been a very auspicious one. Many farmers have 

 had little return for their season's labours, and very few have had a full harvest. 



The dry weather experienced in the summer continued during the fall, and the 

 soil therefore contains very little moisture for next year's crop. The snowfall how- 

 ever has been unusually heavy, and this will help to furnish moisture for germination 

 and early spring growth. 



The first snow fell on November 13, but there was not sufficient for sleighing until 

 the 27th, when there was a fall of fifteen inches. From that date until the end of 

 December ideal winter weather prevailed. January was a month of heavy snowfall, 

 extremely low temperatures and high winds. 



CEOPS ON THE EXPERIMENTAL FARM. 



Work on the land started the first week in April, and wheat seeding was com- 

 pleted before the end of the month. The high winds and the frost during May retarded 

 growth considerably, but did no serious damage to grain crops. The extreme heat of 

 June and July was much more serious in its effects, the crops on stubble and on light 

 land suffering most. The crops on summer-fallowed land withstood the drought best, 

 but even these ripened too quickly, and did not yield as well as was expected from their 

 appearance. Oats and peas suffered more from the heat than did the other grain crops. 



Hay crops of all kinds were light, and old meadows on light land were scarcely 

 worth cutting. Alfalfa produced about two tons per acre, which was more than twice 

 as much as was cut from any other hay land. 



Corn grew splendidly until about the middle of July, when the continued dry 

 weather began to affect it. The crop was, however, far from a failure as it averaged 

 nine tons per acre. The best yield was secured from four acres planted in hills forty 

 inches apart each way. Turnips and mangels were greatly benefited by the rain early 

 in September and yielded over twenty tons per acre. 



The fruit crop was almost a complete failure as the trees and bushes were in full 

 bloom when the May frosts were experienced. A light crop of currants and of straw- 

 berries was produced, but even these were injured by the drought and heat. 



Garden vegetables were a good crop in spite of the untoward conditions. Thorough 

 cultivation throughout the season was the secret of their success. Potatoes were a fair 

 crop, and were secured in good condition. 



The first frost was recorded on August 31. Grain crops were all secured before 

 that date, but corn and tender vegetables were slightly injured. 



EXPERIMENTS WITH WHEAT. 

 Spring Wheat — Test of Varieties. 



Fourteen varieties were sown this year in uniform plots of one-twentieth of an aero. 

 The soil was a heavy clay loam that had been fallow in 1909, and was in excellent con- 

 dition at the tkne of sowing— April 26. Germination was uniformly good and the 

 early growth satisfactory. The frequent frosts during May did no serious damage, 

 as the grain recovered quickly. The growth of straw was not so rank as usual, and 

 there was practically no lodging or rust. 



Seed was used in the proportion of one and one-half bushels per acre. 



