13 



APPENDIX 



SUMMARIES OF REPORTS 

 NORTHUMBERLAND (15 reports 12 successes, 3 failures). 



No. 1. 30 acres OATS sown April 22nd on medium loam soil 

 ploughed out of 20-years-old grass which had been mown in the 

 previous two years and closely grazed. The field was dressed with 

 superphosphate and farmyard manure in 1915. Ploughing* com- 

 menced on February 20th, 1917, and finished in the middle of 

 April. The depth of the furrow was 6-7 inches; the land was not 

 pressed or rolled. After sowing, the land was twice harrowed 

 and twice cultivated, again twice harrowed and twice rolled with 

 a heavy roller. 3 cwt. fish meal and f cwt. sulphate of ammonia per 

 acre applied. Crop very promising. Success attributed to the 

 previous mowing and close grazing, which prevented damage from 

 wireworms and leatherjackets. It is suggested that the previous 

 treatment of grassland has more effect on the result than the 

 treatment after ploughing, as rough herbage is* largely responsible 

 for the presence of insect pests. 



No. 2. 14 acres OATS sow r n 1st May on light soil broken up in 

 February to a depth of 6^ inches out of 12-years-old grass, mown 

 for hay in the two previous years. Land frequently worked with 

 heavy harrows, rolled twice across the furrows with a heavy 

 roller, and parts disc harrowed. " If the whole field had been 

 disc harrowed the results would have been better." Crop sprayed 

 on 25th June to kill charlock; it now promises well, the success 

 being attributed to heavy harrowing, rolling, and to the liberal 

 manuring of the grass when cut for hay. The grower remarks : 

 " I consider it essential to plough land of this class at least 

 6 inches deep the first time, and to roll and harrow thoroughly, 

 with the object of getting the furrows to knit with the sub-soil." 

 Part of this field was planted with POTATOES, which look well but 

 are rather late. Part was sown with TURNIPS, which have suffered 

 from drought, but it is too early to say what the crop will be. 

 Ploughing was not completed until May 15th, and the root land 

 suffered from subsequent dry weather. 



No. 3. 13 acres OATS sown on very old grassland on heavy 

 Boulder Clay soil. Ploughed in December and February to a 

 depth of 6-7 inches. Sown broadcast, harrowed 10 times, and 

 rolled. Dressed with 1 cwt. sulphate of ammonia and 2f cwt. 

 salt per acre. " A great success." 



No. 4. 11 acres OATS sown April 23rd on heavy loam soil 

 resting on boulder clay, ploughed in January and March out of 

 20-years-old grass. Rolled with plain roller and also with ring 

 roller. Field infested with wireworm, and crop a failure. 



DURHAM (23 reports 21 successes, 2 failures). 



No. 5. 16 acres OATS sown May 4th /5th after old grass on 

 light soil ; grass broken up by the plough (work difficult) to a depth 

 of 4-5 inches. Flat rolled 4 times and Cambridge rolled 6 times. 



* Unless otherwise stated the land was ploughed by the ordinary plough 

 drawn by two or three horses. 



