lo May, 1909.] \V lieat Improvement Committee. 



II.— FIELD OPERATIONS AT THE DOOKIE AGRICULTURAL 

 COLLEGE, SEASON, 1908-9. 



//. Pyc, Principal. 



The exi)erinnental plots arranged under the auspices of the Department 

 of Agriculture throughout the State include a set of experiments carried 

 out under my super\ision at the Dookie Agricultural College. The seed 

 wheat for these experiments was received already pickled and was similar 

 lo that distributed to the other stations. Accompanying the wheat was 

 commercial superphosphate sufficient to give a dressing to the field at the 

 rate of 50 lbs. per acre. Allowing for variations due to different sizes of 

 the grain, the seeding was, as nearlv as possible, 50 lbs. per acre. The 

 seed was drilled in with the manure. 



The field set apart for the test plots had been in cultivation for over 

 thirty years, being in use before the foundation of the College. It was 

 cropped during 1906 and fallowed during 1907. During the spring of 

 1907 millets and maize were grown on it and kept well cultivated between 

 the rows. After the l)est of the fodder had been cut, the remainder was 

 grazed off. 



On the '-'oth March, 1908, the field was cross-harrowed. On the 23rd 

 April it was cultivated with spring-toothed cultivators, leaving the soil in 

 a nice condition. It was then rolled, and on the 8th Mav the drilling 

 m of the seed was commenced. On the following dav it was completed. 

 The observations bearing on the practical side of the work are given in 

 the tabulated statements furnished. 



On observing the sample of grain of Federation, it appeared to me to 

 l.f.' uneven, hence during the grading of the grain for seed I had the 

 weights of the six grades of each variety recorded. In the table given 

 below it will be .seen that Dart's Imperial with 92.04 per cent, of prime 

 or first grade seed, heads the list, with Jade and College Purple Straw 

 well up with 90.23 and 89.54 per cent, respectivelv. 



Dookie Agricultural College Experimental Station. — Season 1908-9. 



Perusing the last column of the above tabulated list it will be noticed 

 that Dart's Imperial returned the greate.st percentage of marketable grain 

 from each bushel graded, with College Purple Straw second and Jade 



