70 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 



4 GEORGE V., A. 1914 



EXPERIMENTAL STATION FOR PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND. 



Charlottetown, P.E.L 



CHARACTER OF SEASON AND GENERAL CROP NOTES. 



A mild spell of weather about the middle of April, 1912, gave promise of an early 

 spring, and sweet peas were sown on the 17th. Cold, dull weather followed, and it 

 was not until May 11 that seeding began at this Station. The greater part of May 

 was so backward that the leaves and blossoms were fully three weeks later bursting 

 out than in the spring of 1911. A frost that wilted the clovers occurred on the 22nd. 

 June was decidedly cool. The mean temperature was more than a degree below the 

 average. Cutworms did much damage in the province. During the first half of 

 July, the heat was extreme, and during the last half the rainfall was excessive. 

 Large quantities of hay were ruined throughout the province. The cool, late spring 

 and the heavy rains of July and August caused the hay crop to fall below the average, 

 both in quantity and quality. The early grain also suffered much from this, and gave 

 yields much below the same varieties sown later, a very unusual occurrence in this 

 part of Canada. In many sections, haymaking was continued until harvest, or about 

 the third week of August. The oats filled well, but smut was very prevalent. Rust and 

 the joint worm did much' injury to the wheat crop. September proved to be a good 

 harvest month. The late grain ripened very slowly yet, where it did mature, it was 

 heavy and well filled. No killing frost occurred during the month. 



The potato crop was good and, when harvested, very free from rot. The corn, 

 mangels and sugar beets were scarcely an average crop, but the turnips and carrots 

 gave heavy yields. A severe frost occurred on the 16th of October, but it was not 

 until the 12th of November that the hardy annual and perennial flowers were killed. 

 They made an excellent showing up to that time. The weather was open and a very 

 large percentage of the fall work was completed in the early autumn. Enough snow 

 fell on November 29 to make fair sleighing. December was stormy, with sudden 

 changes and high winds. The ground remained bare practically the whole month and 

 most of January, which month was remarkably fine and mild. It was not until the 

 12th day of February that there was enough snow to make good sleighing, which 

 continued for a month only. The extreme cold of February was followed by a. mild 

 March, the snow going away suddenly. It was accompanied by heavy rains causing 

 many bad cuts and washouts in the fields and on the highways. The clover which 

 gave great promise last autumn, due to plenty of moisture during the growing season, 

 appears to have wintered well. 



ADDITIONS TO FARM. 



The following properties have been added to the Experimental Station: (1) 

 Twelve acres from the Johnson and six from the Connolly estate. These two areas 

 adjoin and extend from that part of the Experimental Station which lies across on 

 the west side of the railway to the Malpeque road. (2) Six acres from H. C. Con- 

 nolly, six acres from Judge Ilaszard and ten acres from St. Dunstan's College. These 

 areas adjoin one another and extend the Experimental Station north along the east 

 side of the Prince Edward Island railway, from the DeBlois road, 18 chains, and have 

 a frontage of 6 chains on the Mount Edward road. In all, 40 acres were added to 

 the Station. 



BUILDINGS. 



A sheep barn, 100 feet by 20 feet, was built to the northwest of the main Barn. 

 Two portable poultry colony houses, 12 feet by 8 feet, were also built. 



