1 920.] Demonstration Farm in Norfolk. 



5 



Lancashire and the West Riding of Yorkshire, all of which 

 were fully reported for 1918. 



The 1 91 9 yield of all crops was the lowest within recent 

 years. The returns from the new arable land reflect this 

 and are uniformly below those of 191(8, but not to the same 

 degree as those obtained from the " old " arable. 



Oats gave the best crop, wheat next, and barley third in 

 order. The wheat yield for 191 9 is practically equal to that 

 of 1 91 8. Oats grown on the new land averaged a bushel 

 per acre higher than those from the rest of the arable. Barley 

 declined only o-8 of a bushel from the very low yield of 28-8 

 bushels in 191S, and was, all things considered, satisfactorv. 



Other cereals declined considerably. Root crops, on the 

 other hand, while below the previous year, gave better result- 

 on the " new " arable than on the " old." Peas approached 

 the average. 



As the area under cereals had diminished and had been 

 redistributed, the " new " arable had not by 191 9 assumed its 

 place in the normal rotation, an undue proportion having been 

 retained under corn. For other crops the data are as yet 

 insufficient to give a trustworthy indication, but the areas under 

 beans, potatoes and roots seem to have slightly increased, while 

 the average under mixed corn and peas has diminished. 



With the object of demonstrating how poor heath land 

 can be improved by good husbandry, the Ministry last year 

 purchased an estate of over 1,500 acres 

 Demrastration at Methwold in Norfolk, which will be 

 in Norfolk known as the National Demonstration 

 Farm of the Ministry. On this area, 

 1,043 acres are under arable cultivation, 43 acres are 

 under grass, and 441 acres are waste heath. The estate 

 is a stretch of typical Norfolk heath land in a poor state of 

 cultivation, and in the past has been largely devoted to game 

 It includes 200 acres of land previously under bracken, which 

 have been reclaimed under the auspices of the Development 

 Commissioners. 



In farming this large area, the Ministry intends to continue 

 the work of the reclamation of the bracken land and to make 

 full use of labour-saving implements and machinery. The 

 principal part of the scheme will be the improvement of the 



