1016 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 



7 GEORGE V, A. 1917 



EXPERIMENTAL STATION, CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. 



J. A. CLARK, B.S.A., SUPERINTENDENT. 

 SEASONAL NOTES. 



The winter of 1914-15 was unusually mild. Two brief cold waves gave zero weather 

 at Christmas and around the first of February. After each cold spell the frost came 

 entirely out of the ground during the mild weather that followed. Heavy falls of 

 snow, in March, that remained a considerable time, gave excellent protection to the 

 fields and as it melted soaked slowly into the ground. Large bodies of ice along the 

 coast kept the season backward. May was cold and wet. Seeding on dry land com- 

 menced on May 15. No June frosts occurred at this Station. June and July were 

 good growing months, beneficial showers falling at frequent intervals. The harvest 

 weather during August and September was very favourable and the cereals were 

 saved in good condition. The first grain was cut on August 21. 



CEREAL AREA. 



A four-year rotation known as '' F " was laid off for cereals in 1914. It is planned 

 to give a maximum area to cereals and yet maintain the fertility of the land. The 

 rotation is as follows: — 



First year. — Hoed crop. Test of roots, potatoes, corn and peas. 



Second year.— Grain. Plots of wheat and barley. Seeded down with 10 pounds 

 of red clover, 2 pounds of alsike, and 5 pounds of timothy per acre. 



Tliird year. — Clover hay; 8 tons of manure per acre are applied after the hay is 

 cut and ploughed under in the early autumn. 



Fourth year.— Grain. Oat plots, seeded down with 8 pounds of red clover and 2 

 pounds of alsike. 



UNIFORM TEST PLOTS OF CEREALS. 



The season was late and considered unfavourable except for the dry land, the 

 cereal crops of the province generally being below the average yield. The uniform 

 test plots were sown in duplicate, as far as the land permitted, on one-sixtieth acre 

 plots on the following dates: Spring wheat, May 17; oats. May 18; peas. May 22; 

 and barley, June 2. 



The wheat plots were free from stinking smut. The loose smut of wheat was 

 hand-picked. The amount was greatly lessened by careful work tlie previous year. 

 A considerable amount of Fusarium and Cladisporium was observed. The formalin 

 treatment recommended for stinking smut should control these diseases. 



The oats and barley were soaked in a formalin solution, made up of 1 pint of 

 formalin to 40 gallons of water, for fifteen minutes. 



The seed was obtained by mass selection of heads from the cereal plots of 1914, 

 except the following new strains received from the Cerealist at Ottawa : Wliite Fife 

 Ottawa 11, Early Russian and Wliite Russian and samples of registered seed of 

 wheat, oats, and barley received from all the active members of the Canadian Seed 

 Growers' Association in Prince Edward Island, for a comparative test of strains t6 

 see that they were following close to the different variety types. 



The paths and roads were all seeded with grass and clover at the same rate as 

 the plots. Early in August the hay was removed from the paths. Every plot was 

 rogued twice during the growing season. 



