1920.] 



Soiling Experiment. 



many of them are in a bad state of repair. In addition to new 

 cottages, considerable repairs and alterations to existing 

 buildings have been necessary. In several instances army huts 

 have been erected and used as hostels until other accommodation 

 is available. At each of the settlements at Amesbury and 

 Rolleston 2 army huts have been erected as bungalows for 

 married men and their families. Thirty-six and 56 new 

 cottages have been completed by the Ministry at Patrington 

 and Holbeach respectively, and are now occupied by settlers 

 and their families. Sixteen cottages are in course of erection 

 at Pembrey, 14 at Rolleston, and 25 at Amesbury. At 

 Amesbury, 9 new cottages are now nearly ready for occupation. 



Experiments on the soiling of milch cows have been carried 

 out at the Harper Adams Agricultural College since 191 5. 



The first experiment was designed to test 

 "^^Adams^^ the possibihties of producing the green 

 Soiling^xperiment. ^^^^ ^^^^^ ^^^^^^^ supplied by grass 

 during the summer months. The results 

 may be said to have shown that, with a proper rotation and 

 suitable succession of crops, arable land possesses a great 

 advantage over even the richest grass in abilit}^ to maintain 

 a large head of stock per acre. This investigation has been 

 continued with a view to testing the possibility of maintaining 

 dairy cows entirely on arable land throughout the year. It is 

 a method which is little practised in British farming, but the 

 results have proved the complete success of the system, for 

 winter as well as for summer fodder. 



The result of the whole series of experiments shows that 

 milk production on arable land can be practised with success 

 and with every prospect of profits equivalent to those obtained 

 in other systems of farming. Cost of labour per gallon of milk 

 is not greater with the soiling system than with other methods 

 of farming. Much labour usually employed in ordinary 

 farming is dispensed with ; the crops are cheap to grow, and 

 can be fed without chaffmg or pulping ; in addition, the system 

 lends itself to a more perfected organisation than is possible 

 in the usual method of farming. 



The plan of working was as follows. A field of the lightest 

 sandy soil was sown as early as possible with a mixture of 

 peas and oats to provide hay for the winter months. For 

 the production of green fodder a field was set apart and divided 



