850 Summary of Agricultural Experiments. [Jan., 



soil by exploitive methods of farming similar to those which 

 prevailed when the land was first put into cultivation." 



It is recognised that this extravagant system of farming 

 cannot be continued indefinitely, and the United States 

 Department of Agriculture is now endeavouring to spread a 

 knowledge of the principles of soil fertility among farmers 

 in order to enable them to utilise the resources at their 

 command, In the first place, it is considered that there must 

 be an increase in the number of live stock kept on farms, and 

 where land is let, the leases must be made for longer terms. 

 Where the tenant cannot provide a sufficient head of live 

 stock it is suggested that they should be supplied by the 

 landlord. The use of leguminous crops, such as clover, 

 lucerne, peas, &c, a systematic rotation of crops, the increased 

 use of artificial fertilisers, the improvement of seed, the 

 utilisation of home-grown feeding stuffs for live stock, and, 

 in short, all the principles involved in a sound system' of 

 agriculture as understood in this country and in Europe are 

 now being advocated as essential to successful farming in the 

 United States. 



Changes such as these are likely to be slow ; they require 

 both more capital and more labour than have hitherto been 

 available, but with their gradual introduction they are likely 

 to influence the position of the United States as an exporter 

 of agricultural produce. 



SUMMARY OF AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENTS. 



Experiments on Cattle Feeding (Cornwall C.C., Rept. on Cattle 

 Feeding, 1907 and 1908). — Fattening Bullocks on Pastures. — In 1905 

 and 1906 it was found that at current prices maize was a more econo- 

 mical feeding - stuff for fattening bullocks on pastures than linseed cake. 

 In 1908 the question whether cooking and drying the maize was profit- 

 able was examined. One lot of nine steers were given 7 lb. of maize 

 meal per head daily, while another lot of nine received the same weight 

 of cooked maize. Equal results were given by each method of feeding 

 during a trial of tnree months, and consequently the cost, about £2 per 

 ton, of cooking and drying, did not appear to be justified. 



Another trial dealt with the profitableness of giving purchased 

 feeding stuffs to bullocks on rich pastures. The experiment, which 

 lasted from July 22nd to October 24th, was conducted with twelve 

 South Devon steers, of an average weight of 9 cwt. 3 qr. The 

 pastures were in good condition, with an abundance of luxuriant grass. 

 Six of the bullocks, which were fed on grass only, increased by 1.2 cwt. 

 2 qr. 8 lb. in live weight in the three months, while six which were 



