SOIL CULTURE, CEREALS AXD FRUITS. 



17 



In 1899 the first sowing was on May 12, and the second sowing on May 26, and 

 the gain of the earlier sowing of the twenty-five varieties tested that year averaged 

 4 tons, 704 pounds per acre in favour of early sowing. The average gain for the 

 five years named with a number of varieties ranging from twelve to twenty five has 

 been 3 tons 226 pounds per acre in the case of turnips from the earlier sowings and 

 the first of these sowings have been made between April 28 and May 12, depending 

 upon the season. 



With the mangels the results have been very much the same. While there has 

 been a gain in the turnips from early sowing of 3 tons, 226 pounds on the average 

 per acre, the mangels show a gain on the average of 3 tons, 1,251 pounds per acre, 

 being the average of five years. The dates of the sowings were the same as I have 

 given you for the turnips and the number of varieties have ranged from twelve to 

 twenty. The results from early sowings of mangels by years have been as follows : — 



1895 

 1896 



1897 



1898 

 1899 



Sown -May 11 ; second sowing, May 25 ; gain from early sowing, average 

 of twelve varieties •. . , | 



First sowing, May 8 ; second sowing, May 22 ; gain from early sowing, aver-' 

 age of thirteen varieties 



First sowing, May 8 ; second sowing, May 21 ; gain from early sowing, aver- 

 age of eighteen varieties ' 



First mowing, April 28 ; second, May 5 ; gain from early sowing, average of 

 eighteen varieties 



First sowing, May 11 ; second sowing, May 25 ; gain from early sowing, 

 average of twenty varieties 



126 



1,890 

 452 



1.273 

 714 



With carrots the five years' test have given us a gain from earlier sowing of 2 

 tons, 972 pounds as an average for the whole time. The results for the several years 

 with the carrots were as follows : — 



Date. 



Tons. 



1895 

 1896 

 1897 



1898 

 1899 



First sowing, May 11 ; second sowing, May 25 ; gain from early sowing, 

 average of twelve varieties 



First sowing, May 8 ; second sowing, May 22 ; gain from early sowing, aver- 

 age of fourteen varieties 



First sowing, May 8 ; second sowing, May 21 ; gain from early sowing, aver- 

 age of fifteen varieties . . 



First sowing, April 28 ; second, May 6 ; gain from early sowing, average of 

 sixteen varieties 



First mowing, May 11 ; second, May 25 ; gain from early sowing, average of 

 twenty varieties 



Pounds. 



The gain from early sowing from the whole period has averaged 2 tons, 972 

 pounds. 



By Mr. Featherston : 



Q. Have you made any test as to the keeping qualities of turnips between the 

 early and late sowings ? 



A. We have examined them as to texture and find the early sown a little more 

 stringy than the others, but there does not appear to be any difference in feeding 

 value, and the animals eat both quite readily. 

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