288 



Thick and thin Hee(Un<j. — This experiment has been going on for 

 eight years. The rates of seeding have been from 2 to 9 peclvs per 

 acre. In 1889 the 6-peck rate gave a slightl}'^ higher yield than any of 

 the others, but was closely followed by the 5 and 9 peck rates. Dupli- 

 cate tests implied that the soil used in this test was quite uniform, and 

 the results varied ver}^ little, except that the yields from the 2 and 3 

 peck rates fell sufliciently below the others to indicate that these 

 amounts of seed are too small to secure the best results. For the 

 eight years the T-peck rate gave the highest average yield, but is 

 closely followed by the 5 and G peck lates. 



Early and late seeding. — '" Previous to the fall of 1888 it was the 

 practice of the Station in this experiment to plow, harrow, roll, and 

 drill the wheat for each seeding all the same day. In the fall of 

 1888 instead of ]:)reparing the ground and drilling the wheat the same 

 da}^, we began a week ahead with the plowing." A table gives the 

 dates of seeding from August 22 to November 1, jdeld per acre of 

 grain and straw, and j^ounds of straw per 100 pounds of grain for 

 nine plats used in 1889. Much better results were obtained that year 

 from seeding after the middle of September than before that time. 

 In another table the yields of grain per acre in similar experiments 

 during six years are compared. During these six years the best 

 yields of wheat were obtained on this farm when the seed was sown 

 the last of September or the first of October. 



Methods of eultnve and different depths of seeding. — A table gives 

 the results attained by various methods of seeding, Lois Weedon 

 culture, light and lieavy mulching, and different dejDths of planting 

 the seeds. The Lois Weedon culture consists of alternate wheat and 

 fallow, one half the plat being in wheat while the other half lies fal- 

 low. The differences in yield from the different methods of culture 

 are not sufficient to justify the claim of superiority for any one. Light 

 mulching has not been of any advantage, while heavier mulching of 

 from 2 to 3 inches proved destructive to the wdieat on this land. 

 " Thus far in our experiments the mulching of winter wheat (for 

 winter protection) has not proven of any practical benefit." In this, 

 as in previous experiments, a considerably larger yield of grain Avas , 

 obtained when the wheat was drilled 1-1 and 3 inches deep than when 

 it was drilled 4 inches deep. "' The depth of drilling wheat must be 

 governed by the soil. Lighter soils will permit the wheat to be put 

 in deeper than soils that are heavy, or that are of such composition 

 that they are likely to bake after rain." 



Commercial fertilisers on tcheat. — The experiments carried on by 

 the Station with organic and inorganic manures since 1882 have been 

 continued during the years 1888 and 1889. Between fifty and sixty 

 exjDeriments, made in 1888, have not been reported in the Station 

 publications. Experiments wuth commercial and farm manures were 

 made on about eighty plats, together Avith box experiments and co- 

 operative field tests on representative soils in various parts of the 



