FEPORT OF THE DIRECTOR 75 



SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 



is the Squaw, which is the only variety which can be relied upon to ripen each year here. 

 In this experiment, which was only started this year, the corn planted on spring 

 ploughed stubble yielded at the rate of 16 bushels and 20 pounds of shelled corn per 

 acre. This is most encouraging when the severe di-ovight conditions are considered. 



Irrigated. — On the irrigated part of the Farm there are now three rotations 

 established. 



The value of using alfalfa in a rotation is well illustrated by the yields obtaini'd 

 in rotation U, which is a ten-yoar rotation consisting of six years alfalfa, one year each 

 of hoed crop, wheat, oats, and barley. The average yield of cured hay from the six 

 fields of alfalfa, including the field freshly seeded this year, from which no crop was 

 obtained, was 4 tons and 168 pounds per acre. The total yield of potatoes was 598 

 bushels (of these, 583 ])ushels and 25 pounds were marketable) ; wheat, 63 bushels 30 

 pounds; oats, 107 bushels; and barley, 46 bushels. The field in which the barley was 

 grown this year has not been in alfalfa on account of the rotation not having beeu 

 established long enough, otherwise the yield would doubtless have been larger. 



SOIL ci:ltural experiments. 



The cultural investigation work started in 1911 consists of thirteen lines of experi- 

 ment. Except on siunmer-fallow, the yields of grain were practically nil. The drought 

 was so severe that there were no very marked difl:"erences between the various treat- 

 ments giv^n, at least none that deserves special mention. 



CEREALS. 



The usual variety tests of wheat, oats, barley, and peas were carried out on both the 

 irrigated and non-irrigated land. The yields on the non-irrigated land were all 

 relatively low. There does not appear to be much difference in the yield between Ked 

 Fife and Marquis. There is considerable interest taken in the Prelude, but as the seasons 

 in southern Alberta are such that difficulty is rarely experienced in ripening either the 

 Red Fife or Marquis, there would -iippear to be no advantage in using the Prelude, 

 owing to its much lower yield. 



FORAGE CROPS. 



Corn raised for fodder did particularly well. The late rains during August brought 

 it on rapidly. In the variety test on non-irrigated land, two of the seven varieties 

 tested yielded at the rate of over 13 tons of fodder per acre (weighed green), and on the 

 irrigated land North-western Dent yielded 26 tons, and two other varieties over 24 tons 

 per acre. The maturity was good, as a few ears on one or two of the varieties ripened. 



Turnips, mangels, and carrots did not give particularly good returns owing to the 

 fact that heavy winds prevailed when the plants were coming up, and during thinning 

 time, the result being that drifting soil destroyed many of the young plants, thus 

 injuring the stand. 



Hay on the dry land did not grow high enough to be worth cutting, except alfalfa 

 in rows. The yield of alfalfa seed was poor. 



On irrigated land the yield of hay, particularly alfalfa, was good, and the dry 

 season made it possible to save it in excellent condition. 



HORTICULTURE. 



The season was quite favoural)le for horticultural work. A large number of apples 

 fruited, but the total amount of frviit was not so great as last year owing probably to 

 severe winds at blossoming time preventing the fruit setting as well as it otherwise 

 might. The currants produced much better than usual. The raspberries did fairly 

 well, but the strawberries yielded less than they usually do. This was attributed to a 



