143 



EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 



4 GEORGE V., A. 1914 



CULTURAL EXPEKIMENTS. 



The work of inaugurating the system of cultural experiments ,has made progress 

 during the year. All the operations which the system called for have been carried 

 out. On most of the experiments, the preparatory work has been completed, and 

 results should now be obtained. On some experiments, where several years of prepa- 

 ration are necessary, the work has not yet reached the stage where results are 

 expected. 



Operations commenced on the cultural plots on April 29, but wet weather pre- 

 vented further operations until May 9. Spring ploughing and other spring work was 

 accomplished with difficulty on account of the wet condition of the soil. Later on, 

 the weather turned very dry, and the germination of turnips and rape was uneven. 

 During the hot dry weather of June, a difference could be observed in the plots under 

 the various methods of treatment. The heavy rains of July caused an excessive 

 growth of straw, and a large amount of secondary shooting. Oats and barley lodged 

 very badly, and it was impossible to entirely avoid waste in harvesting. As a result 

 of these peculiar weather conditions, the results obtained are almost valueless. Methods 

 that theory and practice have heretofore shown to be objectionable, have produced 

 just as good yields as the best methods; in some cases, such as in depth of ploughing, 

 the results that would be expected are practically reversed. The year's results are, 

 therefore, quite disappointing; instead of giving some definite information, as was 

 expected, the figures are largely contradictory and confusing. We report the yields, 

 as they occurred, for what they may be worth. 



DEPTH OF PLOUGHING WHEAT STUBBLE TO BE SOWN TO OATS. 



The wheat stubble was ploughed and disced the preceding fall. The oats were 

 sown May 16. All plots came up on May 27, headed on July 17, were cut on Septem- 

 ber 10 and were threshed on September 25. 



Depth of Ploughing Wheat Stubble to be sown to Oats. 



Plot No. 



Depth of Ploughing Wheat Stubble, 

 fall of 1911. 



Yield of Oats per acre, 1912. 



Ploughed 3 inches deep 

 Ploughed 4 inches deep 

 Ploughed 5 inches deep 



Grain. 



Lb. 



2,800 

 2,080 

 2,800 



Straw . 



Lb. 



3,200 

 3,320 

 4,400 



DEPTH OF PLOUGHING SUMMER-FALLOW TO BE SOWN TO WHEAT. 



The land was ploughed on June 15, 1911, was packed and harrowed after plough- 

 ing, and was cultivated twice afterwards, during the summer, with a stiff tooth culti- 

 rator, and harrowed after the first cultivation. Wheat was sown on all plots on 

 May 13, 1912, after a double harrowing. All plots came up on May 22, headed on 

 June 8, were cut on August 7 and threshed on September 12. 



