DIVISION OF CEREALS 1077 



SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 



Special care had been taken to select a uniform piece of land, but subsequent 

 observation after seeding revealed a damper, colder condition of the land and a tardier 

 germination in the case of the plots of Abundance and Ligowo oats. Marquis and 

 Pioneer wheats, Manchurian and Success barley, and the smaller plot of peas sown 

 with Ottawa seed. This explanation will account for the relatively high yield of 

 Huron wheat, 68 bushels per acre; Banner oats, 111 bushels (despite some loss by 

 thrips); and the much smaller though still creditable production of the Marquis wheat 

 and Ligowo oats. The much greater yield per acre of the second plot of peas indicates 

 that the soil variation must have been marked. " 



REMARKS. 



The yields of all the staple varieties indicate a high producing value for Grande 

 Prairie soils. 



All the varieties ripened hard, well in advance of autumn frosts. 



The very early sown varieties did not give as good results as those sown later, as 

 the more extensive cultivation which these received rendered a greater supply of mois- 

 ture and nitrate available at the most essential period. 



WHEAT. 



The high quality and heavy yield of Marquis once more establisli its claim to 

 favour. 



It is noteworthy that a commercial crop of Marquis adjacent to the plot, but on 

 soil corresponding more nearly to that on which the Huron plot grew, was much longer 

 and stouter in straw and larger in head than the Marquis on the test plot. A 10-acre 

 field of it on a neighbour's farm turned off 45J bushels per acre, after a month's 

 weathering in mice-infested stocks. 



Pioneer is probably not a serious rival of Marquis for this district. 



Prelude is more adapted to conditions farther north than Grande Prairie. 



Making full allowance for superior natural conditions, the Huron plot distinguished 

 itself, actually producing more pounds of grain per acre than any of the five varieties 

 of oats. 



OATS. 



All the oats did well, even the early ones giving heavy yields. Through a mishap 

 in threshing, the crops of Daubeney and Eighty Day became mixed, so that only an 

 average of thje two can be given. Both did very well indeed, considering their early 

 date of maturity. Daubeney gave greater yield and length of straw, though the Eighty 

 Day ripened three days sooner. 



BAELEY. 



The yield of the barleys was relatively inferior to that of the other grains. This 

 was likewise true of commercial crops grown in the district, and may have been caused 

 by rust, which was rather bad, particularly on Success. This latter variety, while 

 ripening first, was not otherwise satisfactory, growing thinly on the ground and 

 shattering badly under the most careful handling. Owing to an accident the exact 

 yield of the Success plot is not available, but it was small. 



PEAS. 



The larger plot of Arthur peas (seeded from the produce of last year's plot) yielded 

 creditably after a month of weathering in bunches. Growth of vine was excellent, 

 maturity fairly even, and sample superb. 



Beaverlodge. 



