48S 



STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



to cut; the lower pods of the peas being then nearly ripe, while the Champion 

 oats were beginning to turn. 



The loss due to reasons already mentioned, is invariably greater with peas 

 each year, than with other grr.in crops, for even with frequent handling it is 

 diflScult to keep the bottom of stacks dry and more or less of the peas from 

 sprouting. Canadian Field Peas received from Michigan Experiment Station were 

 planted May 12 and blossomed July 17. None ripened, either for being planted 

 late or for being a very late variety, or for having been planted upon spring 

 plowed stubble. The vines continued to grow, many exceeding 12 feet in length 

 and being still partly in blossom when plowed under late in October. The re- 

 sults of the varieties are shown in the following table: 



Varieties. 



French June 



Victoria 



Canada Beauty 



Black Eyed Marrowfat.. 



Egyptian Mummy 



Improved Prussian Blue 



Scotch 



Canadian Blue 



Time of 

 harvest- 

 ing. 



Yield of plots. 



Grain 

 lbs. 



Straw 

 lbs. 



122 



70 



124 



132 



92 



133 



133 



99 



Yield per ncre. 



Grain 

 Bu. 



30 



17 

 23 



19i 

 25 

 24 

 26 



26} 



Straw 

 lbs. 



2,440 

 1.400 

 2,480 

 2,640 

 1,840 

 2.660 

 2,660 

 2,040 



Corn. The weather conditions for corn were much the same as during the pre- 

 ceding season, the plants having made a very rapid and thrifty growth during 

 July, but practically remaining at a standstill during August. A few varieties 

 ripened what may be termed "soft corn," while several others, as during former 

 years, arrived at a stage where they could have been used for ensilage. Some 

 of the more advanced varieties would have probably ripened thoroughly had 

 they been planted earlier, but the weather at the end of May being cold, planting 

 was delayed while waiting for frosts which never came. It is not likely nor 

 scarcely possible, that the* practically total absence of spring frosts was due to 

 the more extensive clearings which have been recently made, for the extent 

 thereof is still insignificant when compared with the vastness of the surrounding 

 timbered region. On the other hand, these clearings are going on at a much more 

 rapid rate than the average elsewhere, and it will seem advisable hereafter to 

 plant earlier even at the risk of replanting, for in general field work it would 

 seem an act of wisdom to risk the cost of the seed rather than the value of the 

 crop in a region where a matter of 10 or 12 days is of greatest importance. More- 

 over the general weather conditions and the "frost scare" of the past two seasons 

 even in the "corn belt," at no time more than during the past season, suggested 

 the necessity for experiments which may determine th'e influence of soil tem- 

 perature upon certain crops. There is sufficient data on hand to warrant the 

 conclusion that certain crops, especially those in process of being acclimated in 

 northern latitudes, may be materially influenced by soil temperature as affected 

 by simple methods of soil manipulation. It is hoped that the additional cleared 

 area of the past season will permit the undertaking of such experiments during 

 the coming season. None of the varieties were damaged by the light frost of 

 September 12, but all were practically killed on September 22. Of the varieties 

 most likely to succeed here, the following in the order named give greatest prom- 

 ise: Will's Dakota and Gehu which ripened "soft corn," Oolden Dent from seed 

 kindly furnished by the North Dakota Experiment Station, and Early Adams, 

 from seed donated by S. M. Isbell of Jackson, Mich. Final observations were taken 

 September 20, and the varieties and their condition at that time are shown in 

 the following table; the varieties having all been planted June 10: 



