DIVISION OF FORAGE PLANTS 



655 



SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 



EXPERIMENTAL STATION, LETHBRIDGE, ALTA. 



REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT— W. H. FAIRFIELD, M.S. 



PART I— NON-IRRIGATED OR < DRY FARM.' 



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 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 

 lainfall during the first part of the growing season, all early sown crops 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. 



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

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



EXPERIMENTS WITH INDIAN OORN. 



Five varieties of corn were planted May 11 on summer-fallowed land. Two 

 rows of each variety were planted in hills and another two rows of each variety 

 planted with the seed a few inches apart. All the plots were considerably damaged 

 by wire worms. The size of the plots was one one-hundredth of an acre. 



Indian Corn for Ensilage. — Test of Varieties. 



EXPERIMENTS WITH TURNIPS. 



Nine varieties of turnips were sown on summer-fallowed land on April 20 and 

 pulled on October 17. The size of the plots was one-seventieth of an acre. 



One variety (Kangaroo) failed completely. Two varieties out of the eight 

 remaining ones, viz., Mammoth Greystone and Golden Ball, were rather uneven, and 

 their yield estimated from V132 acre. 



