Results of Winter Cereal Experiments. 49 



{b) The necessity or otherwise for cereals of dressings of 

 nitrogen and potash fertilizers in addition to phosphates 

 on this soil. 



In all these experiments wheat and oats were grown under a 

 definite system of rotation. 



On account of the unevenness of soil, definite conclusions cannot 

 be drawn yet from the results of these experiments. As mentioned 

 earlier in this article, the number of check plots was found insufficient. 

 For instance, it became apparent in 1917 in the general manurial 

 experiment that three check plots out of a total of eighteen plots were 

 not sufficient to counteract the effect of soil differences, and the 

 number was in consequence increased to six. 



From the results obtained thus far, the Avriters feel justified, 

 however, in concluding that bone dust and basic slag are both suitable 

 phosphatic fertilizers for this type of soil, provided the fertilizers can 

 be added to fallowed land (" braak " land) some time before seeding, 

 dnder such a system better returns and a more liealtliy condition of 

 the soil will result from the use of bone dust or basic slag than from 

 the use of superphosphate in this climate and on this type of soil. 



The rotations practised in the various experiments mentioned are 

 the following : — 



(a) Wheat. (c) Wheat. 

 Oats. Oats. 



Field Peas as Green Manure. Fallow with catch, Green 



Manure Crop of Field Peas. 



(b) Wheat. (d) Wheat. 



Oats. Oats and Vetch for Hay. 



Field Peas for Grain. Pea Oats for Grain. 



hulls and residues re- Fallow with catch. Green 

 turned to the soil. Manure Crop of Field Peas. 



The last rotation is considered a good one in this section of the 

 country, and is one which should, at any rate to some extent, maintain 

 the supply of organic matter and nitrogen in the soil. The catch 

 green manure crop of peas is not always as bulky a crop as may be 

 desired. As stated before, thick seeding should be resorted to, and 

 this at ,the present prices of field pea seed makf's the system some- 

 what expensive. The amount of organic matter in the grain soils of 

 the Western Province is, however, a consideration of paramount 

 importance, and of the methods at our disposal to-day for effectively 

 and economically maintaining the organic matter content of the soil 

 the system outlined is probably one of the best, for the reason that 

 nitrogen is added to the soil as well in a cheap way. 



Hay Fodder Experiments. 



These experiments consist of the growing of mixed crops of 

 legumes and cereals in order to determine (1) which varieties combined 

 will give the largest yield of a nutritious, palatable hay, and (2) the 

 best rates of seeding. 



Tables III, IV, V, VI give the yields of hay per acre for the 

 years 1916, 1917, 1918. and 1919 respectively, in each case in order 

 of size of yields. 



