358 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS. 



proceeded without delay and long before cold weather set in, was completed. It is safe 

 to say that no previous harvest has been taken off and threshed with less delay or 

 expense and with so much satisfaction to the farmer. 



Protection from winds is onft of the needs of the Territories, and as the soil becomes 

 fine from working and cropping, the need becomes more apparent. For several years 

 past the experimental farm has sustained considerable injury from winds. Last spring, 

 however, the wind-breaks and hedges afforded protection to a large portion of the crop 

 and on only a few fields was the grain injured. Other farms in the district, with no 

 protection, suffered severely. 



Barley was the most unifoi-m and the best crop grown on the experimental farm 

 the past season. A few one-tenth acre plots not protected were more or less damaged 

 by wind, but on the whole the thirty-five varieties sown on large and small areas gave 

 heavy yields of grain and straw. 



Wheat tests of one-tenth aci*e each were not exposed to winds, and produced a 

 large quantity of straw, with varied yields of grain, caused partially by dead heads in 

 some parts and the excessive yield of straw in others. Winds swept continuously over 

 the acre and larger plots causing lighter yields. 



About one-half of the one-tenth acre plots of oats suffered more or less from winds, 

 but on the whole the-returns were satisfactory. The acre and field lots suffered a good 

 deal and the yields were lighter. Where sown on stubble-land the crop was very poor. 



Pease were the most surprising crop grown. Though repeatedly cut down by 

 winds and frost up to 15th June, when the rains came nothing on the farm made more 

 rapid progress, and the yields were very satisfactory. The sample surpasses any 

 previously grown on the farm. 



The hay crop on the farm was much better than it at one time promised. Before 

 the rains came only low spots and margins of fields grew to any extent, but the rains 

 made a wonderful change in a few weeks, and though parts, especially of fields sown 

 four or five years ago, were light, the crop generally was good. Brome grass requires 

 some moisture early in the spring to give it a start, and although it will grow with less 

 than any other variety. May rains are worth a great deal to it. 



The root crop was not at all satisfactory. Up to 15th June, when rains came, 

 neither turnips, mangels, carrots, nor sugar-beets had appeared above ground. This 

 also applies to coi*n and millets sown on the experimental farm, and to potatoes and 

 vegetables generally in many portions of the Territories. July and August were dry 

 months, and the growth was checked soon after starting, giving poor returns. 



Potatoes and vegetables on the experimental farm, though late in starting, gave, 

 in many cases, very fair results. 



Small fruits, with the exception of strawberries, were a good crop. Wild fruits 

 were a failure. 



Trees and shrubs made a very satisfactory growth, and less of the new varieties 

 died this year than ever before. 



EXPERIMENTS WITH SPRING WHEAT. 



Thirty-eight varieties of wheat were tested in -^ acre plots, six of the same varieties 

 again on plots of one acre each, and five sorts on five and ten acre fields. The y^^^ acre 

 plots were on a field protected by hedges from the prevailing winds, and did not suffer 

 in the least. The acre plots and five and ten acre fields were more exposed and all 

 sustained more or less injury. 



RESULTS OF EARLY, MEDIUM AND LATE SOWINGS. 



Red Fife and Stanley were used. The plots were j^jy acre each, and the soil a clay 

 loam. The first plots were sown on the 17th of April, and six successive sowings were 

 made a week apart, the last plots being sown on the 22nd of May. The plots came up 



