86 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 



4 GEORGE V., A. 1914 



EXPERIMENTS IN AGRICULTURAL METHODS. 



The work in comparing rotations of crops has progressed during the year. Over 

 half of the arable land of the Farm is now laid out in rotation fields, and seven 

 different rotations are now in operation; an eighth has had a block of land allotted to 

 it, but work will not be started thereon until 1913. It is too soon to report any 

 definite results from the work, but even at this early date in the test, some noteworthy 

 facts stand out, such as the value of corn in a rotation, the profit from the use of 

 manure, and the possibility of growing a crop every year, through using a suitable 

 rotation. 



The system of cultural experiments, inaugurated in 1911, has been brought more 

 nearly to full working order, but as some of the experiments take from two to four 

 years in preparation, all are not in full operation as yet. The work for the season 

 of 1912 was all done in a thorough manner. Results for this season have been rather 

 disappointing; there has not been the difference in yield between what are generally 

 supposed to be good and bad methods, that would be expected. Perhaps this was 

 due, at least in part, to the wet weather in July, which forced all crops to grow, 

 whether they were in properly prepared land or not. 



VARIETIES OF GRAIN. 



The usual tests of varieties of cereal crops were conducted this year. Four 

 named varieties of wheat were tested and, in addition, ten new sorts, received from 

 the Dominion Cerealist, under number, were given a trial. A comparison was made 

 of ei^ht different strains of Red Fife, secured from different seed merchants and seed 

 growers, to ascertain what source otf this variety offered Manitoban farmers the best 

 seed. Sixteen varieties of oats> ten varieties of six-rowed barley, seven varieties of 

 two-rowed barley, eight varieties of flax and ten varieties of field peas were tested 

 in uniform test plots. 



Quantities of seed grain, of a number of the best varieties, were grown for dis- 

 tribution by the Dominion Cerealist, and for sale in small quantities. 



The season was an unfavourable one for experimental work with grains. The 

 extreme drought followed by extreme wet caused a heavy second growth in all the 

 earlier crops; wet harvest weather increased the difficulties, so that the results obtained 

 are not, in all cases, typical of the usual results obtained from the different varieties. 



FIELD ROOTS AND FORAGE CROPS. 



Excellent crops of field roots were obtained this season. The wet weather of 

 late summer and early autumn just suited them. These crops deserve more general 

 cultivation in this province. Tests were made of fourteen varieties of turnips, eight 

 varieties of mangels, seven varieties of sugar mangels or sugar feeding beets, three 

 varieties of sugar beets for sugar production, and six varieties of field carrots. 



Indian corn was not as good a crop as usual, on account of the low germination 

 of seed and unfavourable conditions at time of planting. However, yields were 

 obtained which amply justified the growing of the crop. Tests were made of ten 

 different varieties of corn for fodder. The crop was stored in the silo as xisual, and 

 made a great bulk of very excellent feed. 



The crop of hay, grasses and clover was rather short, as it was injured by the 

 June drought. Alfalfa was much better able to withstand the dry weather, and pro- 

 duced two very good cuttings. A set of twenty-eight plots of grasses, clovers, alfalfa, 

 and mixtures, sown in 1911, produced crops this season which gave an interesting 

 comparison of the productiveness of the different sorts. 



