100 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 



4 GEORGE V., A. 1914 

 EXPERIMENTAL STATION EOR SOUTHERN ALBERTA. 



Lethbridge, Alta. 



The season of 1912 resembled that of 1911 in that the rainfall during the early 

 part was deficient, while during the latter part the usual amount was received. 



The results of the crops on the Station during the summer of 1912 have been 

 interesting although, in many instances, somewhat disappointing. The season opened 

 up in a most propitious manner. Work on the land began on March 28 and the 

 first seeding was done on April 1, although it would have been possible to have begun 

 a little earlier. The soil was left moist from the fall of 1911 and the land was in 

 excellent shape to work in the spring, consequently, the grain crops, in fact all 

 crops, were put in under exceedingly favourable conditions where land had been 

 prepared the summer or fall previous. However, the rainfall during April, May and 

 until the end of June, in the immediate vicinity of Lethbridge, was extremely light. 

 Although grain sown on summer-fallowed land and on very early spring ploughing, 

 where the land was cultivated immediately afterwards, came up well because it was 

 possible to sow the seed in moist soil, germination on land that had not been so 

 treated was not good. 



On account of the previous season closing up so early in the fall of 1911 it was 

 impossible for the farmers in southern Alberta to do much fall ploughing, the result 

 being that a great deal of grain was ' stubbled in ' this past spring, and most of this, 

 in the Lethbridge district, germinated poorly. 



The rainfall was very light, indeed, until the last few days in June; from then 

 on during July, August and September, it was above normal. On account of this 

 light rainfall during the first part of the growing season, all early-sown crops and! 

 especially winter wheat suffered acutely. Crops that looked extremely promising early 

 in the season gave but low yields. Late-sown crops, on the other hand, did much 

 better, providing they ripened before the frost. 



The yields of all the crops on the non-irrigated portion of the Station were 

 rather low, with the exception of peas and such late-growing crops as turnips, 

 potatoes, etc. 



On the irrigated portion of the Station, however, where water was applied in 

 June, and in some cases even in May, the yields were very much more satisfactory. 

 In the case of hay, however, especially alfalfa, it was found that the rainy season was 

 rather difficult to operate in as it was hard to get the hay cured properly. Alfalfa 

 usually makes its most rapid growth when supplied with the necessary moisture 

 during the hot weather of July and August, but this year, on account of the many 

 showers during this period, the weather was not as hot as it ordinarily is, so that 

 alfalfa fields did not produce quite as much as they usually do. 



CUT WORMS. 



Considerable damage from these pests was again experienced and, unfortunately, 

 the poisoned-bran treatment was not particularly effective. When ploughing early 

 in the spring, specimens were occasionally noticed, but the first feeding by them that 

 was observed was on May 6 which was between two and three weeks earlier than 

 they appeared to show activity in 1911. 



GENERAL OPERATIONS. 



As usual, investigations were carried out on both the irrigated and non-irrigated 

 land. The water used for irrigation wag measured, as far as it was practical to do 

 so. 



