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EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 



4 GEORGE V., A. 1914 



The following table presents in brief, the comparative costs, returns and net profits 

 of the above rotations for 1912 : — 



Rotation Experiment. — Comparative Costs, Returns and Net Profits, 1912. 



Rotation. 



' A ' five years' duration. . 

 ' B ' five years' duration. . 

 ' C ' four years' duration . 

 ' D ' three years' duration 

 ' R ' three years' duration 



Value of 

 returns. 



$ cts. 



26 61 



27 64 

 24 86 

 24 42 

 23 38 



Net profit. 



$ cts. 



8 05 



9 01 

 6 47 

 4 33 

 1 13 



Th-se figures may not, however, represent the relative value of these rotations 

 under normal conditions, and, for the reasons stated above, they will not be used in 

 future calculations. 



In 1911 an eight-years' test with rotations 'A,' ' B,' 'O' and 'D' was completed. 

 Based on this extended test we would submit the following regarding them :- — 



Rotation 'A.' — This rotation has proven an excellent one. When carefully fol- 

 lowed and where cultural operations were well performed weeds have been kept under 

 fair control, and crop yields have been maintained. It supplies a relatively larger 

 proportion of grain to roots and hay than the ordinary three or four-course rotation, 

 and for that reason would be preferable under conditions where considerable grain is 

 called for. 



Rotation ' B' — While this rotation has maintained crop yields, and has given 

 profits equal to rotation ' A ' in the test just completed, we do not yet feel that we could 

 recommend it as being equal to rotation ' A ' in all respects. In the average season, 

 when two crops of clover would be taken off, no early fall ploughing is possible, and 

 weeds are therefore not so easily combatted. 



Rotation ' C — This rotation is most satisfactory from all standpoints except 

 that it supplies a rather smaller proportion of grain than is often desired. Where 

 live stock is the mainstay of the farm, this is, however, a very minor fault. The 

 turning of a shallow furrow, when ploughing sod in preparation for grain or corn, 

 has been found to be good practice here. In preparing for roots, deeper ploughing or 

 the regular plough with subsoiler is to be advised. 



Rotation ' D! — This would be a most excellent rotation to put into practice where 

 ifficient rough land was available to serve as pasturage. It is the rotation that would 

 supply the greatest amount of forage of the best description for dairying or beef 

 production. It is better suited for heavy than for light soils. 



If a careful examination of the above rotations be made there will be noted a 

 few desirable characteristics common to all: — 



1. Grain fields are always seeded down with clover, even though it be used only 

 as a fertilizer, as in the case of the fifth year of rotation ' / 



2. Grass and clover seedings are heavy. Increased crops or hay and rare failures 

 of a catch have justified them. 



3. Hoed crops form a large proportion of every rotation. An attempt to farm 

 a small area without a hoed crop was not successful. Weeds could not readily be kept 

 in check. 



4. No field is left in hay for more than two successive years. Our records show 

 that the second crop almost always costs more per ton than the first, and that succeed- 

 ing crops are very liable to be grown at a loss. 



