548 Journal of Agriculture. [9 Sept., 1907. 



it for earlier planting. The results although poor were better than might 

 have been expected. A portion of Mr. Wylie's crop beside the plot was 

 a total failure, and I attribute whatever success was obtained to Mr. 

 Wylie's efforts to restore the land to a proper condition after the heavy 

 rains. The most disappointing field was that on Mr. Walter's farm at 

 Coghill's Creek. This plot was to have been planted early in October 

 but weather conditions interfered with the preparation of the land and 

 delayed the work of planting until the 13th November. The crop came 

 through well but met with dry weather during the growing period and 

 early frosts checked the growth. The soil on this field is of superior 

 quality, a chocolate volcanic, but lack of humus made it too sensitive to 

 weather conditions. 



Influence of Humus. 

 The accompanying illustration of a nimiber of tubers taken from a 

 field that was in first class condition when planted as far as tilth was 

 concerned will show what effect heavy rains have on a soil that is deficient 

 in humus. Every tuber is pressed out of shape, some are about two inches 

 diameter and little more than a quarter of an inch thick. Although the 



MISSHAPEN TUBERS. EFFECT OF SOIL DEFICIENT IN HUMUS. 



plant will sometimes thrive fairlv well under such conditions it is im- 

 possible for it to produce a crop of tubers. IMuch stres.s is laid by all 

 writers on the preparation of the land for a potato crop on the necessity 

 of reducing the soil to a fine tilth, but where the organic matter of the 

 soil has been exhausted by constant cropping, without a proper rotation, 

 the finer the tilth the worse the conditions become under the influence of 

 heavy rain, for the soil runs together and the water lies in pools all over 

 the surface instead of soaking into the land, and if the rain continues 

 long enough, it courses down in little rills till it gathers in volume 

 carrying away whole breadths of the field. It is impossible to over 

 estimate the influence of humus on crops, especially the potato crop. 



Probably the greatest decline in the fertility of the soil is brought 

 about by constant cropping Avith grain. It may not be out of place to 

 give the results of experiments at the Experiment Station, Minnesota, 

 U.S.A., to compare the influence of continuous cropping with wheat and 

 that of a rotation of crops on the humus content and fertility of the soil. 

 On one plot each wheat, oats, barley and maize were grown continuously 

 for four years ; on another plot the following rotation was practised, wheat, 

 clover, wheat, and oats ; and on another plot, oats followed by clover, 

 barlev, and maize, with manure, were grown. The gain or loss of humus 



