THIS YEAR'S CROP. 



BY J. C. READET, PBOVTSCIAI. Son. AJO> CBOP Lxsrmucion. 



WHILE out on the work of judging the crop competitions the writer has 

 asked so many times regarding the problems of soil-cultivation, weed-eradica- 

 tion, and blight-control that this little pamphlet has been prepared in answer to a 

 popular demand. In addition to answering the questions so commonly asked, the 

 writer has ventured to offer a few criticisms of prevalent methods. The whole 

 pamphlet has been inspired by a deep interest in the work, and by a most sympathetic 

 appreciation of the difficulties and disappointments that surround the farmer, in 

 spite of his best endeavours. 



IN GENERAL. 



An encouraging number of good crops were shown this year. Fields of oats, 

 wheat, turnips, kale, and potatoes were shown that were a credit to the fanners and 

 to the Province. The achievements this year only demonstrate the possibilities. 

 Next year we shall do better. 



GRAIN-CROPS. 

 METHODS or CnnvAnoK. 



Some of our fanners do not cultivate thoroughly. The great excuse offered is 

 lack of time. The reason really is that they try to cultivate too much land for the 

 time at their disposal. Try leas land, and cultivate it more thoroughly, and watch 

 results. Plough carefully. Don't use the disk harrow for all harrowing purposes; 

 it is a special implement. The spring-tooth cultivator is a safer implement to use. 

 Use the drag-harrow often to prepare a seed-bed and conserve the moisture. 



SELECTING AXD CXEAXIXG THE Sen. 



The best crops are produced from seed selected from the best plants. The next 

 best from seed from the cleanest, best-matured part of the field, 



Fairly good returns may come from thorough cleaning with the fanning-milL 



Xo matter what the method employed to obtain it, nothing but large, plump, 

 clean seed should be sown. Try it, and see. 



Try thorough cultivation and more careful selection of seed on a small plot for 

 next year's Crop Competition. See further on for particulars. 



WEEDS, 



In the grain-growing districts, wild oats, wild buckwheat, *%"c mustard, 

 and lamb's quarter. Some of our fanners are doing heroic work in fighting the 

 weeds. In spite of infested roadsides and slovenly neighbours, their farms were 

 object-lessons in clean, high-class crops. Why are so many of our farmers so careless 

 about weeds? True, weeds get in through no fault of our own, but it is our own 

 fault if they overrun our farms. Some men can take charge of a farm hi weed- 

 infested districts, the farm itself polluted with the worst weeds in the 

 catalogue, and in a few years clean it up and completely control the weeds. 

 farmers refuse to believe there are weeds in their crops until the weeds have the 

 mastery ; then they appeal to the Government to prosecute their slovenly 

 or to suggest remedies, and are surprised that the weed expert cannot by 

 cut rid the field of the nuisance. Weeds not only reduce the crop, but their ejection 

 is a mighty expensive proceeding when they gain a foothold. No doubt infection by 

 weeds from outside sources is a vexation, but the damage would be ieff*f4 easily 

 by one-half if our farmers would cultivate less ground, cultivate it more thoroughly, 

 inspect their growing crops occasionally, and see that the forerunners of the weed 

 army are destroyed. Prevention is better than cure. There are no short-cuts to a 

 cure; more thorough cultivation and pulling the first scattered weeds are good 

 methods of prevention. 



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