354 



EXPERIMENTAL FARM* 



Spring Wheat — Test of Varieties. 



AVERAGE OF FIVE YEARS. 



2 GEORGE V., A. 1912 



The following table gives the average yield and the average number of days 

 maturing of six of the leading varieties of wheat. 



Marquis has been tested for three years only and has given an average of 45 

 bushels 3 lbs. per acre for that period, as compared with 44 bushels 46 lbs. for Preston, 

 42 bushels 46 lbs. for White Fife, and 40 bushels 45 lbs. for Red Fife, for the same 

 period. 



FIELD CROPS OF SPRING WHEAT. 



Five varieties of spring wheat were sown in field lots last year. The yields are 

 not comparable as neither the soil nor the cultivation was uniform for the different 

 lots. The dry weather and extreme heat affected all the yields but the summer-fal- 

 lowed land had a considerable advantage. Some of the corn stubble also gave excel- 

 lent results. 



The earlier-ripening varieties were mostly seriously affected by the heat as they 

 were heading during the hottest weather, and were not greatly benefited by several 

 showers which came late in July. The yield of Marquis wheat last year was disap- 

 pointing as compared with the splendid results from this variety in 1909. The low 

 yield last year was not due to any inherent peculiarity of the variety but to the 

 exigencies of the season. Nine acres of Marquis were sown on land which had been 

 broken out of brome grass in the spring of 1909, and backset in August. The soil 

 was dry when it was backset and it was never properly moistened afterwards. The 

 consequence was that the crop of wheat made a poor start, and as it had to combat a 

 considerable growth of brome grass the returns were very poor. The Marquis on 

 corn stubble yielded much less than Red Fife on land in similar condition but this 

 was due to the Marquis being more advanced during the hottest weather. 



The straw of all varieties was comparatively short and there was no lodged grain 

 except in the White Fife. Early Red Fife was considerably rusted. 



