188 



STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE 



A very important result oi our experiment is the evidence it gives in favor of 

 frequent cultivation. The frequent cultivation at a depth of three inches gave an 

 increase of approximately 25 per cent, over infrequent cultivation. In the east strip- 

 there is an advanta.ge in favor of frequent, deep cultivation of 9.6 per cent. In the 

 west strip of 22.8 per cent, or an average of 16.2 per cent, of water in favor of the 

 frequent deep over the infrequent deep cultivation. It is possible that the frequent 

 cultivation late in the season did not contribute largely to this result. The point i.s 

 undecided, but this much is true, that frequent cultivation did increase the yield to- 

 a very marked degree. It cannot fail to be of great importance to the farmer that 

 frequent cultivation will not only keep his corn helds free from weeds but will 

 bring an actual return in yield that will more than compensate him for the extra 

 labor. 



A word of explanation about the yield of tlie uncultivated plots is called for. 

 Growth on these plots had practically ceased July 25th. After this date the corn- 

 simply dried up. When it was cut the stalks tuemselves were found to be green and' 

 watery and the proportion of dry matter was less than in the cultivated plots. 



THE DRYING OUT OF THE GROUND DURING THE RIPENING OP WHEAT. 



The observations were made in Field 6 growing a crop of Currill wheat, which' 

 was cut July 4th. Samples for the determination of moisture were taken on June 

 28th and again on July 5th, the day after the wheat was cut. In the following 

 table there is set forth the results of these determinations: 



The work was repeated on a plot in Field No. 3, sown to Dawson's Golden Chaff 

 wheat and cut July Tth. The facts in that case are as follows: 



The wheat was moderately ripe in both cases when cut. There were two light 

 showers between the time of taking the first and second samples, the rainfall 

 amounting to .11 inches. There is in both cases a marked decrease in moisture dur- 

 ing the ripening period. Comparing the amounts on the first date with those on the 

 second, there is an average decrease of 16.27 per cent. Thish suggests that when the- 

 saving of moisture is important on account of a' clover or timothy crop to follow, the 

 wheat should be cut at the earliest possible moment. Afterwards the stubble may be 

 clipped with a mower to form a protecting mulch. The drying out of the soil does 

 not cease when the wheat is cut, as is shown by the following observations, made 

 in Field 6 and Davenport plots Nos. 1, 7, 66 and 68: 



