108 DOMINION EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 



The north-east quarter of the farm is devoted to what is 

 termed uniform trial plots. It is divided into ranges extending 

 east and west, 78 feet in width with 16-foot roads between. 

 These ranges are subdivided into plots 14 feet wide with 4-foot 

 paths between. The soil on one range is treated as uniformly 

 as possible throughout its length. Different varieties of one 

 kind of crop are grown on one range and different kinds of crops 

 on different ranges. Thus, in 1911, all the wheats were grown 

 on Range 1, the oats on Range II, the barleys on Range III, the 

 peas on Range IV, and the different varieties of corn and roots 

 on Range V. 



The conditions of soil and cultivation being uniform through- 

 out a range, it is reasonable to suppose that a comparison of the 

 yields of the different wheats grown on the plots on one range is 

 a fair estimate of a comparison of the yielding qualities of the 

 varieties under test. So with the other crops in the other 

 ranges. 



In these experiments, the land that was in crop in 1911 will 

 be summer-fallowed in 1912 and the plots of 1912 will be on land 

 that was summer-fallowed in 1911. They are spoken of as the 

 Uniform Variety Tests and the plots are referred to as the Uni- 

 form Trial Plots. The section devoted to these is indicated on 

 the plan of the farm. 



A very complete set of cultural and rotation tests has also 

 been commenced but they have not yet been carried on for a 

 sufficient length of time to permit of reliable conclusions being 

 drawn from them. 



Horticulture. 



To the south-west of the Superintendent's residence is about 

 three acres devoted to growing apples and plums and to the east 

 of the house is the plantation of small fruits, including goose- 

 berries, raspberries, currants and strawberries. 



There are about six hundred apple trees, planted fifteen feet 

 apart both ways, and they include many of the standard varieties 

 as well as a number of cross-breds from the hardy Russian 

 varieties imported by Dr. Wm. Saunders a number of years ago. 

 They have withstood two winters successfully. 



There are about sixty plum trees, a few of which are standard 

 varieties, but most of which were obtained from German settlers 

 who brought with them the native plum of Manitoba when they 

 migrated from that Province. 



Both the apple and the plum orchards are cultivated during 

 the summer until early in August, when the ground is sown to 

 rape at the rate of 4 lbs. per acre. This attains a height of about 

 15 inches by the time the snow comes, with which it is filled, 

 affording an excellent protection to the tree roots. 



