29 



success, it is then planted in the field, and finally distributed in small 

 quantities free to the farmers. 



With regard to rotation experiments — nine three-year rotations and 

 eleven four-year rotations are being carried on side by side with con- 

 tinuous cropping experiments. Let us take a typical three and two four- 

 year rotations — 



(a) Corn, oats, wheat. 



(b) Wheat, corn, oats, cowpeas. 



(c) Cowpeas, winter wheat, milo, oats. 



The summer fallow has been found to give from two to three bushels 

 more per acre than where the land is cropped every year. To understand 

 the practice let us take two plots, A and B. Plough both in the fall 

 (autumn) and harrow both, that is, make a fine seed bed. Sow plot A 

 with wheat. Leave B bare. Winter passes. Next spring A with young- 

 wheat is harrowed. The bare fallow is also harrowed, not once, 

 but several times, depending on the rainfall. Next on plot A 

 the wheat is harvested about the 1st of July. Then both plots 

 are disced, ploughed a little later, and finally both are planted 

 with wheat. It will thus be seen that a whole year is wasted so far as 

 plot B is concerned, and the increase is only from 2-3 bushels per acre 

 over plot A according to the experiments at Amarillo. Mr. Ross does 

 not believe in the summer fallow method for the Panhandle, and prefers 

 rotation, or even continuous cropping, to the fallow system in a region 

 where the rainfall comes during the summer or growing season. 



Soil moisture determinations are taken (a) under the ordinary methods 

 of cultivation as practised by the average farmer ; (b) conservation 

 methods as ought to be practised. Concerning crops, the following have 

 given the best results : Turkey Red (winter wheat), Durum (spring- 

 wheat, Red Algerian oats, Tennessee winter barley, black winter 

 Emmer, and various sorghums. Paths of five links* divide each tenth 

 acre plot, and paths of thirty links broad separate the acre lots. The 

 experiments are kept in an orderly series, as, for example, all selection 

 tests are kept together ; and all rotation experiments in another block. 

 At the time of my visit the land was in very good tilth and showed 

 evidence of having been thoroughly worked ; but the crops had suffered 

 from drying winds and an unexpected frost. In respect to the equipment 

 of the station, the ordinary agricultural implements were in use. This 

 machinery was much worn and could hardly be called of the best or latest 

 type. It was, however, housed in a shed. There was only one building 

 on this station, namely, the office and seed store, a wooden building. 



The station sells all discarded or unselected grains. This is the only 

 source of revenue, and amounts to about $100 per annum. This sum is 

 utilised in the repair of fences and building in accordance with the con- 

 tract. The Department buys and keeps in repair all machinery and 

 agricultural implements, etc. 



Results. — So far the work at the Station has established the 

 following : — 



I. That fall (autumn) ploughing gives better results than spring- 



ploughing. 



II. That deep ploughing gives better results than shallow 



ploughing. 



III. That the quicker the ground is ploughed after harvest the 

 better. 



5 links = 



3-30 feet. 



