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Les diagrammes suivants illustrent la m^thode. 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 >iv-cpw"c-^i^ -rt-^-m^f^W^kr- :i'>mi^^:s^^^nmm^:Mmr-'^^f: lyitf * t ^CTm- MICROCOPY RESOLUTION TEST CHART (ANSI and ISO TEST CHART No 2l 1.0 JfilM Ilia It Im ^^^^ t lis l^ i.l II 1.8 1.25 1.4 1.6 ^ TIPPLED IN/MGE In (•■■'■ t82 - uJOO - Phone PREPARING LAND FOR GRAIN CROPS ON THE PRAIRIES REPRINTED BY DIRECTION HON. ARTHUR MEIGHEN, W. W. CORY, C.M.Q., MINISTER. DEPUTY IIINMTBR. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR ISSUED FROM NATURAL RESOURCES INTELLIGENCE BRANCH OTTAWA CANADA, 5 E I 2 a Preparing Land for Grain Crops on the Prairies COMPILED BY J. H. GRISDALE, B. Agr., Director Dominion Experimental Farms. Second Edition,— Incorporating Agricultural Maps and additional information relating to temperature, precipitation, seed, soils, fertilizers and loans to farmers. REPRINTED BY DIRECTION Hon. ARTHUR MEIGHEN, W. W. CORY, C.M.G., mniater. Deputy tHn4»t»r. DEPARTMENT OP THE INTERIOR, OTTAWA, CANADA 29883—2 •1925154 OOITTENTS Baikatchewan — Indian Head Reoiunmcndntlora. BreakInK Hralrlc Sod. . .. HrttiikInK and BarksrttlnK. Dopii HrenklnR Fnll I'louRhlns Flax Production Preparlnn New Oround . . . Htubble Burnlnir Rtubble Tultlvatlon flummpi Fallowa NorthwMterii ifaiik.ttchewan . Bolla Oraln Rerommended Climatic Conditions Synopaea of I^an Acln . . Alb«rta— Southrm Alberta Harrowinc PtouKhinc Berdlnir Northern Alberta Orneral Brush Country M«thoiU. Mixed Farmlns Crop Rotatlona Bolls. Grain Recommended . . Climatic Conditions. . . Synopses nt Loan Acts. Manitoba — > ieneral Summer Fallowing Crop Itotatlons Stubble Burning Soils ijrain Recommended Climatic Conditions Synopses of Loan Acta Quantities of Seed to Sow E^Bsentlals to Succes-sful Wheat Production. Manures and Fertilisers Alkali Soils Pam 7 T 7 10 IS II 7,10 II IS D.IO IS IS 1> 1» SI SS ss SS ss ss ss ss S4 24 24 U SS ss S4 S4 34. S5 S4 SS 41 41 44 4« 46 47,49 49 ILLUSTRATIONS. 1. Breaking land at Lacombe Frontispiece. I'aOB 2. Ploughing with Oxen 1£ i. Fall Ploughing 28 4. Discing and Harrowing by Mules 33 B. Dlsiing and Harrowing by Steam 40 MAPS. 1. Map showing Temperature and Rainfall Opp, S 2. Map showing Distribution of Horses In Canada 14 3. Map showing Oats Acreage of Canads 25 4. Snowfall of Western Canada giving location of Kxperlmental Farms and Stations. .Opp. C2 5. Map showing Barley Acreage of Canada SS 6. Map showing Wheat Acreage of Canada 4S 7. Map showing Distribution of Milch Cows In Canada 50 8. Agricultural map of Western Canada Inside Back Cover. 29883— 2J lHP!5t?'Sftr PSC^ffi»SaBBi» ^w^^m<^ mitai to ma widi LEGtND Summer laotherma (June, Jul^ & *"£"** } Yearly laotherma -^ — — Yearly Rainfall is ahown by Grey ahadin^,and the amount in Inches by Red figures Isotherms are lines of equal temperature n^cipitotion - Rain + Snow reducea to rain yi / TjlUuurtt "N r^ ■^ \ \ 1%^ >»1 \ Ise ,\ —O. f*rimrwtt I. -r s AT AgtulmUffi m"^ . JL ^^^^ H Ji^' 'ifs" -^^ \ ^ li^^ *s ^sss- T riC-> IM ,-=fv.' , Ml L*::?!^ 4a\ S J-;: '■sr" r-^ ^i*ir 108 106 MM 102 lOO 98 M 82 CampiltJ from figvm —ifflimd fy eA» Mmtnoi-aiogicml S»tyriem, Tanrnto Bat* map /homfl*t» of 6»ogra/tl>or's Bronchfitpt oF tho lntmriar PKEPARING LAND FOR GRAIN CROPS ON THE PRAIRIES. SOUTHEASTEBN SASKATCHEWAN. Mr. Angus Mackay, for twenty-six years Superintendent of tlio Experimental Farm for Soutlieastern Saskatchewan at Indian Head, has said and written : — 'ch on this subject of Prairie Breaking and Crop Production on the Prairies. Aftt iiis many years spent on the prairies in n careful study of the various problems which con- front the old as well as the new settler, he should be, and is, well fitted to outline the best cultured methods to folhiw to i' -ure satisfactory crop returns. The following information from his reports and pamphlets has been rect.'ly revised by him and may be said, therefore, to summarize the experience and work of a close observer and experimentalist, who has spent his whole life on the prairies. For many years, commencing in 1888, the methods of conserving moisture by " Breaking and Backsetting " and by " Summer-fallowing," now railed " Dry-farm- • ing " for a change, have been recommended and universally adopted by the older settlors, but to very many of the new settlers they are unknown. The latte:, it is hoped, may be benefitted by the following explanation of the methods, which, for a great many years, have proven uniformly successful at the Fxperimental Farm at Indian Head, and may with confidence bo recommended for almost every district in the province of S.nskatchewan. BREAKING PRAIRIE SOD. The success or failure of a new settler often depends on the method employed in the preparation of tlie land for his first crop, and it is therefore of the utmost import- ance that the question of "Breaking" or "Breaking and Backsetting" be given the consideration it deserves. For some years past the general practice throughout the country h is been to con- tinue breaking th-ee or more inches deep so lonf as the teams can turn over the sod, then in the fall to disc the top-soil and grow grain in the spring following. From the breaking so done before the end of June, a gnod crop of wheat, oats or barley is usually obtained but no amount of cultivation will ensure even a fair crop on this land in the next siicceeding year. After the first crop has been cut, the soil is usually in a perfectly dry state and remains so, in spite of any known method of cultivation, until the rains come in the spring following. If they are insufficient or late, as is frequently the case, failure of the crop must be the result. BREAKING AND BACKSETTING. Breaking and backsetting is the true way of laying the foundation for future success in the greater number of districts throughout the province, and while thi« method does not permit of as large an acreage being brought under cultivation in the year, it does permit of more thorough work and ensures better results in the long run. 7 mmmm 8 The anxiety of nearly all settlers to sow every acre possible, regardless of liow or when the work on the land has been accomplished, may be given as the reason for breaking and discing, to a large extent, superseding the older, better and safer plan. Breaking and backsetting means the ploughing of the prairie sod as shallow as possible before the June or early July rains are over, and in August or September, when the sod will have become thoroughly rotted by the ruins and hot sun, ploughing two or three inch , deeper in the same direction and then harrowing to make a fine and firm seedbed. From land prepared in this way two good crops of wheat may be expected. The first crop will be heavy and the stubble, if cut high at harvest time, will retain sufficient snow to produce the moisture required, even in the driest spring, to germinate the seed for the next crop. The stubble-land can readily be burned on a doy in the spring with a warm, steady wind and the seod may be sown with or with- out further cultivation. In the case where the grass roots have not been entirely killed by the backsutting, a shallow cultivation before seeding will be found advanta- geous but as a rule the harrowing of the land witl ,i drnc-harrow after seeding will be sufficient. The principal objection to "breaking and backsetting" is urged with regard to the backsetting which, no doubt, is heavy for the teams, but if the discing required to reduce deep-breaking and then the ploughing or other cultivation that must be done in an elTort to obtain a second crop, be taken into consideration it must be con- ceded that in the end " breaking and backsetting " is tlio dioapor and better method. When the two crops have been taken from new land it should be summer-fallowed. SUMMER-FALLOWS AND SUMMER-FALLOWING. Among the many advantages tc the credit of the practice of summer-fallowing may be mentioned: The conservuaon of moisture, the eradication of weeds, the pre- paration of the land for grain crops at a time when no other work is pressiiiir, the availability of summer-fallowed land for seeding at tlie earliest possible date n the spring and the minor advantages of hiviag suitable land for the growing of pure seed, potatoes, roots and vegetables at the least cost and with the greatest chance for success, and that of being able to secure two crops of grain with little or no further culti- vation. Summer fallowing has undoubtedly some disadvantages, but so long as the growing of grain, and more particularly wheat, remains the principal industry of the province, it will be necessary to store up moisture against a possible dry season, to restrain the weeds from over-ruiining the land, and on account of the sliort seasons, to prepare at least a portion of the land to be cropped in the year previous to seeding and a woll-made summer-fallow is the brst means to this end. Among the disadvan- tages are: The liability of the soil to lirif-, the over-production of .«traw in a wet season, causing the late maturity and consequent danger of damage by frost, and it is claimed, the partial exhaustion of the soil. The two former may, to a great extent, be overcome by different methods of cultivation, and if the soil can be prevented from drifting, I am satisfied that one of the reasons for the latter contention will dis- appear. Various methods are practised in the preparation of fallow and where the aim has been to take advantage of the .Time and July rains and to prevent the growth of weeds, success is almost assured. Where th j object has been to spend as little time as possible on the work, failure is equally certain. In my annual report for the year 1889, the following was submitted for the con- sideration of the settlers. Since then many experiments have been conducted on the Experimental Farm with different systems and again I submit what, on the whole, have been found to be the most successful methods for the cultivation of the soil in Saskatchewan : — i FROM REPORT OF 1889. December 29. " The year just passed has been one of extremes. Last winter was one of the mildest on record and March was so very fine that thousands of acres of grain were seeded from the 15th to the 31st, and at no time in the history of the country has the ground beca in better condition for the reception of the seed. Immediately after seeding, however, exceptionally high wir ds set in, followod by extreme drought during the entire growing season. In many plices the crops were injured by the winds and finally almost ruined by the jcceediiig dry weather. In 8or.:e localities, however, where the farming has been done in accordance with the requirements of the country, the crops did fairly, and considering the excessively dry weather, remarkably well. "The Experimental Farm suffered in company with every other farm in the country. Perhaps very few suffered as much from winds, but the dry weather, though reducing the yields, did not prove so disastrous as to many others. In this portion of the Territories at least, every settler knows the importance of properly preparing his land. For several years after the country became open for setiiement every one imagined that grain would grow, no matter how put in, but now the man is devoid of reason who thinks he is sure of a crop without any exertion on hi . part. It is true that since 18S2 we have had one year in which the land required little or no prepara- tion for the production of an abundant crop but only too many realize the loss of the remaining years from poor cultivation. " Our seasons point to only one method of cultivation by which wo may in all years expect to reap something. " It is quiti- within the bounds of possibirties that some other and perhaps more successful method may be found, but at present T submit that " fallowing " the land is the besi preparation to ensure a crop. Fallowing land in this country is not required for the purpose of renovating it, as is the case with the worn-out lands in the East; and it is a question as yet unsettled how much or how little the fallows should be worked, but as we have only one wet season during the year, it has been proved beyond doubt that the land must be ploughed the first time before this wet season is over, if we expect to reap a crop in the following yer c The wot season comes during June and July, a1 a time when every farmer has little or nothing else to do, and it is then that this work should be done. Usually seeding is over by the 1st of May and to secure the best results the land for fallow should be ploughed from 5 to 7 inches deep as soon after this date as possible. Land ploughed after July is of no use what- ever unless the rains in August are much in excess of the average. A good harrowing should succeed the ploughing and all weeds or volunteer grain be kept down by suc- cessive cultivntioTis * "t d deoi of uncertainty is felt with regard to a second ploughing, some holding that it is useless; others maintaining that it is an injury; while others affain have found it to give from five to ten bushels per acre more than one ploughing. So far the experiments on the Indian Head Experimental Farm have shown that by far the best returns have been received fro.n two ploughings; and more noticeably was this the case when the first ')loughing hai been completed in May or June. Without doubt, two ploughings cause a greater growth of straw and con- sequently in a wet year the grain is several days later in maturing, causing greater danger from frost; but taking the seasons so far past, 1884 excepted, two ploughings with as much surface cultivation as possible in between, may be safely recommended. " Above all it is of the greatest importance that the first ploughing be as deep as possible, and that it be done in time to receive the June and July rains." After seventeen years' further experience and observation, the following was written c- this subject in the Annual Report iof the Experimental Farms for T90fl. i 10 FROM REPORT OF IJMWl. Methods of Prei-arino Soil for Grain Crops, methods of preparinq new ground. " In view of the fact that every year brings to the Northwest inuiiy new settlers wlio ore unacquainted with the methods of breaiting up and preparing new land for crop, a few sug^'cytions with regard to this important work may not be nmiss. " In all sections where the sod is tliick and tough, breaking and backsetting should be donr; while in tlio districts where bluffs abound and the sod is thin, deep breakiug is all that is necessiiry. Tho former is generally applicable to the southern and wcMtern portions, and the latter to tlie northeastern part of Saskatchewan, where the land is more or less covered with blulfs. BRKVKI.NU AND BACKSETTING. " The sod should be turned over as thin as possible, and for this purpose a walk- ing plough with a 12 or 14-iiich sharp, is the best. When tlio breaking is completed (which should not be later than the sicond week in July), rolling will hasten tlu' rotting process and jiermit backsetting to commence early in August. "Backsetting is merely turniiif? tho sod back to its original place, and at the same time bringing up two or three inches of fresh soil to cover it. The ploughing should be done in tho same direction as the breaking and the same width of furrow turned. Two inches below the breaking is considered deep enough. " After backsetting, the soil cannot be made too fine, and the use of the disc har- row to cut up the unrotted sod, will complete the work. DKEP BREAKING. "Beep breaking, which in some sections of the country is the only practicable way of preparing new land, and which is, unfortuniitdy, done in many instances where breaking and backsetting would give much more satisfactory results, consists in the turning over of the sod as deeply as possible, usually from four to five incha«. When the sod has rotted the top soil should be worked and made as fine as possible. The use of harrow or disc ,vill fill up all irregularities on tlie surface, and make a fine, even .«eed-bed. "Whether the land is broken shallow or deep, it is necessary to have the work completed early, so as to take advantage of the rains which usually come in June and early July. These rains cause the sod to rot, and withoi them, or if the ploughing is done after they are over, the sod remains in the same condition as when turned, and no amount of work will make up for the loss." SUMMER FALLOW. " The true worth of i)roppr]y prepared fallows has been dearly demonstrated in past years in every district of Suskatchewan. " The work of preparing land for crop by fallowing is carried on in so many ways in different parts of the country, that perhaps a few words on some of the methods employed may be of use. '■ It has bi-en observed in some parts of * r?katchewan that the land to be fal- lowed is not, as a rule, touchetl until the weeds are full grown and in many cases, bearing fully matured seeds. It is then ploughed. "By this method, which, no doubt saves work at the time, tho very objeot of n summer-fallow is dofentod. In the first place, moisture is not conserved because the land hag been pumped dry by the heavy growth of weeds; and, secondly, instead of I 11 using the summer-fallow as a meuim u{ eradicating; weeds, a foundation is laid for years labour and expense by the myriads ' ^oul seeds turned under. "The endless fields of yellow-flowered eeds, generally Bull Mustard (.Nealia paniculata), testify to the indifferent work done in many districts, and, while no weed is more easily eradicated by a Rood system of fallows, there is no weed that is more easily propagated or takes greater ad\antuKo of poor work on fiiUows or in fall or spring cultivation. " As has been pointed out in my previous reports, early and thorough work on fallows is absolutely necessary to success, and I here repeat the methods and results of teats carried on for some years past. " First Method. — Ploughed deep (C to 8 inches) before last of June; surface cul- tivated during the Rrowing season, and just before or immediately after harvest plouglied 5 or fl inches deep. "Result — Too much lute prowth if season was at all wet; grain late in ripening, and a large crop of weeds if the grain was in any way injured by winds or spring frosts. "Second Method. — Ploughed shallow (."J inches dee)) before the last of June; surface cultivated during the growing season, and ploughed shallow (H to .4 inches deep) in the autumn. "Result — Poor crop in a dry year; medium or good crop in a wet year. Not sufficiently deep to enable soil to retain the moisture. " Third Metlwd. — Ploughed shallow (3 inches) before the Inst of June; surface cultivated during the growing season, and ploughed uoep (7 to 8 inches) in the autumn. " Result. — Soil too loose and docs not retain moisture. Crop light and weedy in a dry year. Packing after ploughing greatly improves the crop. " Fourth Method. — Ploughed deep (7 to 8 inches) before the last of June; surface cultivated during the growing season. " Result. — Sufficient moisture conserved for a dry year, and not too much for a wot one. Few or no weeds, as all the seeds near the surface have germinated and been killed. Surface soil apt to blow more readily than when any of the other methods is followed. For the past fourteen years, the best, safest and cleanest grain has been grown on fallow workod in this way, and the method is therefore recom- mended. " Fallows that have been ploughed for the first time after the first of July, ond especially after July 15, have never given good results; and the plan too frequently followed of waiting till weeds are full grown, and often ripe, and ploughing-under with the idea of enriching the soil, is a method that cannot be too earnestly advised iiguinst. "In the first place, after the rains are over in June or early in July, as they usually are, no amount of work, whether deep or shallow ploughing, or surface culti- vation, can put moisture in the soil. The rain must full on the iirst ploughing and 1)0 conserved by surface cultivation. " Weeds, when allowed to attain their full growth, take from the soil all the moisture put there by the June rains, and ploughing-under weeds with their seeds ripe or nearly so, is adding a thousand-fold to the myriads already in the soil, and dtvG not r- iterially enrich the land." During the past few years the term " dry fanning " has been applied to what was formerl" known in the West as "summer-fallowing." ^. \ With the exception of the addition of the use of a soil-packer, there is no change in the methods formerly employed, when the spriug rains and freiiuent cultivation were depended upon for the packing of the soil. 29883—3 It Pnckers are without doubt most useful implcnifiit-i on the form nnd where from niiy cause, the soil ig loose, they shouUi bo used. They are, howevca*, expensive imple- Inents and within the means of ooni|>orutiwly few of the new settlcrK. Fortunately, early plou^hinK and fre done in the fall, but if the Mubble-Lmd is in a condition to plough and the stubl>Ie is not too long, that portion jTitended for oats and barley may be ploughed, if time permits. If possible burn stubble before ploughing. , It is, however, a mistake 'to turn ov r the soil in a lumpy or dry condition, as nine times out of ten it will remain in the same state until May or June, with sufficient ^'.loisture froperly to germinate the seed, and the crop will very likely be overtaken by frost. As to the quantity of seed to sow and the depth of sowing, long experience has shown that the bi^t r, srlts arc had in Saskatehowan by the sowing of one and a ha^f bushels of wheat per acre or two bushels of barley or oats. Sowing about two inches deep has given the most satisfactory return's, and the seed should be got jn as early as is practicable, wheat a*; "-^on after April X as frost ;is --Mt of the soil 2 inches deep. Oats and barley from April 2^ to Afay 10. On heavy soil summer-fallowed previous vear. 1? bushels wheat a!ul 2'. bushels oats and barley per acre^vill ripen a few days earlier than the above quantitic>9. j<"LAX PRODUCTION. Of late years a great deal of fla.x has been grown in many districts in the pro- vince, and as this *is the only sure crop for new settlors to obtain returns from their land the fir.«t year, a few pointers may be of advantage to many. New Breaking. — Prairie sod broken and sown up to May 2.5 will give good returns. The sod is best broken ,3 inches deep and di«ced enough to afford good cov- ering for seed. Sow 30 to 40 pounds seed per acre, the former quantity on light soil, and the latter on heavy. If the sod has bec«Hling, and, where the aoil drifts, ploughing 4 i "' inohe* deep, and packing after seed is town, ia necesMry to stop drifting, and to retain kDoisture. Sluhble land. — If precedin>f crop was or fallowed land, the atubble ahnuld b*- burned, the land then cultivated shnlLw, and ieed sown. If the stubble win from •econd or third crop, ploughing 4 to 6 incha* deep in ndvisuble. Harrow and pack a« •ocn after ploui^hing as possible, but do not sow before May 16. Harvesting. — Flax should be quite ripe- before cutting and ii not injured by remaining uncut after it has ripened. Cutting. — For large areas, remove the knotter on grain binder and allow the flux to fall in loose bundles on the ground. In wet seasoiis it i» (infer to removo the knotter entirely and permit flax to string out on the ground; this saves turning if the loose bundles get wet. For small quantities, bind and stook the same as ordinary grain. NOBTHW£STEBN SASKATCHEWAN. The following note on the practice in vogue in northwestern Saskatchewan hai been submitted by the Superintendent of the Experimental Station at Scott, Sask., Mr. R. E. Everest. As will be noted, the exeuse given by Mr. Everest for the practice of deep break- ing commonly followed in his district, is scarcity of labour. No claim of superiority for de^j^ breaking over breaking and backsetting is made. " In this part of Saskatchf-wan deep breaking is the method usually followed in the preparation of prairie land for grain crops. This method is be^t suited to our conditions, namely: a scarcity of labour and a short season for the » rk. Method. — Turn the sod over thoroughly before the last f June to a depth of four or five inches, follow closely with the pecker, then disc. The pucker puts the furrow in place and the disc cuts the comb from the furrow which fills up the inter- spaces and forms a light mulch for the absorption and retention of moisture. Subse- quent work with rUsc, scrubber, and drag harrow will put the area in condition for seeding the following spring." SASKATCHEWAN SOILS.f In reviewing, for the purposes of thi« pamphlet, the soils of Saskatchewan examined during the past twenty years, a difliculty has been eneount-ied in selecting only those which were truly representative of fairly largo areas, owing to the fact that the- second prairie steppe, comprising the larger part of tl.is province, is not cheracterized by the uniformity noticed in the Red River valley. This .'a-jt precludes the possibility of presenting here examples of all types to be found, but it is worthy of remark that the larger number of the soils examined, and more particularly those in the noted wheat-growing dist-icts, have been found to be abundantly supplied with humus-forming material and nitrogen. No. 1. A rich, black loam from Moosomin, a point on the main line of the C.P.B., 220 miles west of Winnipeg. The elevation of this locality is in the neigh- bourhood of 1,800 feet, and this soil may be regarded as fairly representative of the southeastern part of the second prairie level. This true prairie soil possesses abundant stores of plant food, and is, judged by accepted standards, one of high fertility. It has not, however, looked at simply from the chemical point of view, a rank equal to that from the valley of the Red river (see p. 35). No. 2. From the district of Tisdale, on the Canadian Northern Railway, about 160 miles diis north of Indian Head. The district is one that in a large measure i« comparable to the Dauphin country, described on pnge 38, being partly wooded with t "Western Prairie Soils," by F. T. Shutt, M.A.. PLC, Dominion Chemist. 29883— 3i 15 scrub, poplar, etc., sad therei.>re, unlike the true prairie, requiring? olearanoe. It ia « Rr^uh-block loam of a decidedly clayey uature. The nitrogen, n the wat.r-free •oil. II .hiioat half of one per cent, with notable amounU of pota.!, ,nd lime, and an average phoophoric acid i-ontent. . .u^^A^^'"^ * ""* ^'■"™ «altcoaU and Yorkton. point, on the northwestern branch of the C.P.R., 260 and 270 milea. respectively, west of Winnipeg, and approximately 75 tnilcs northeast of Indian Head. Their similarity and comparative contiguity render unnecessary the separate consideration of these two soils. They are black, sa uly loams of the true prairie type, rich in vegetable matter and nitrogen, with ex« client percentages of phosphoric acid and potash. Nos 6 and 6 are black loams of a markedly sandy character, taken from area* thai had been under grain (without manure) for a period of about fifteen years. Wolwh.y, tho pinpo of coIWtion. i!< about 20 mij.-s .-ast of Indian Head on the C P R u district which hag produced large crops of very fine wheat. The data are of some interest since these soils have borno probably ten crops of grain, with a bare fallow every third summer. The evidence is that these soils are still of an exceedingly rich character, plentifully supplied with semi-decomposed vegetable matter and high in nitrogen; indeed, as regards these constituents, the data are not such as would dif- fercntiato them from virgin prairie soils. In "total" phosphoric acid they are decHgen content was practically the same for the soils now designated as virgin and cultivate.!, respectively Ihe t.ibulated dn(u show the percentage of orgianic matter and plant food in the first tour and the hrst eight inches of these soils, and make very clear that enormous losses of organic matter and nitrogen have followed upon the present method of continuouslv cropping w-ith gram. The particulars respecting the nitrogen are given in the follow ing arrangement, which aUows a ready po. , arisen of the two soils in this important matter. *^ Depletiok op the Nitrogen. _— ^ NITROOEN-CWNTENT OF VIRGIN AND CULTIVATED SOILS, INDIAN HEAD. 8A8K. Ti> a depth of 4 incheH Virgin noil Cultivatu! snil '.".'.'..'.'...'.'....... Dlfferpnce or Ir*. due to removal in crops and to cultural methndn. Per cent. 2o9 150 Llw. per acn-. .%824 2,421 To a depth of 8 inches. Per cent. 1,403 ■Xl\ ■117 Llw. per acre. Ai«a 1,760 3.I8A iKitr ^mim^'. j iS^ist^^s^^MS^'Ssgm»>:iLv:^'if^iMtt<3^imr4fm^3i ""1 in Tlwiigh llie cultivated soil to-day, afternearly a quarter of n, ccntiiry's working, is still very rich, and possibly might yield as line a crop as it did at th( outset, yet, compared with the nntouehed prairie, it is seen to have lost practically one-third of its nitrofion. An inquiry as to what proportion of this loss is due to removal by crops and what to cuItuT.ll operations shov w that the nitropen contained in the various grain crops grown in the twenty-two years amounted to approximately 700 pounds per acre. If we ?r'>tract this amount from the to^til loss, cajculated to ,a depth of eight inches of soil, we shall see that more than twice as much nitrogen has been dissipated by methods of cultivation as has been removed in the crois. 'The loss ordinarily in the grain growing districts of the Northwest would not, i?. .all probability, be a« great as that here recorded, because, as a rule, the land is fallowed every third year only. Nevertheless, the deterioration must be marked, and unless checked by the adoption of a system of rotation involving the formation of a sod and by the keeping of stock, will inevitably lend to that low degree of productiveness Tt'hich nowicharactorizes large areas in eastern North America. A study of these partially exhausted areas both jn C,anada and in the Northeastern States makes it clear that the deterioration has been, in a very large measure, due to the Joss of humus «nd the dissipation of nitrogen consequent upon grain and potato growing, without any due return of organic matter. A quite marked f;alling off in phosphoric acid is also to be|noted, though what is perhaps of more significance is the reduction in the proportion of this clement in the available condition. Since loss of phosphoric neid eaimot be accounted for save in removal by crops, it would seem that in continuous grain growing the rate of abstrac- tion exceeds that of conversion, a probability to which we have already referred. In the "total" potash, the differenc&s throughout the series «re not larg,' but, aa in the cnscKif phosphoric acid, we find that the p«"reentage of " available" in the culti- vated soil is considerably less than in that of the prairie. No. 11 from the prairie in the neighbourhood of Vermilion Jlilla, 1,30 miles west of Indian Head and some 20 miles north of Lake Chaplin. It is a dark-brown, sandy loam. In organic matter and nitrogen it is fully the equal of the heavier (clay) loams of th? i)rairic, but as regards phosphoric acid, pitash and lime it is, as might be expected, somewhat inferior. Although the " total " stores of this mineral .plant food may not be very large, it is significant that the "assimilable" proportions are not less than in tbose heavier loams which are considered wheat soils par excellence. No. i2 is from an an^a in the eastern part of the third steppe, 281 miles west of Indian Head along t'/ie main Jine of the C. P. R.. and not far from the boundary between Saskatchewm and Albei'ta. The district from which this soil was t^iken enjoys, as a rule, but a very limited rainfall, and i)reviou's to the adoption of special methods for the conservation of mois- ture, gave but scanty ivields. It was thought liy some thiit the poor crops were due to a deficiency in some important f -tilizing constituent, or to the presence of "alkali" r other matter deleterious to -plant growth. From this analysis it will bo seen that there is no lack of plant food, though the iiercentage of organic matter and nitrogen are only about one-hijf of those found in the richer prairie soils. Absence of " alkali " was established and the <:onclusion rrynclu'd that the meagre yields were duo to insufHeicnt moisture 'rather than to any inherent fault in the soils. 17 2 1 •-N h. O m H ?; < & 2 •x. S u C) H .•^i •»! a Ui :i 93 < J:* = Sii£?i§i 5 ^■:^c -^ (» o »-; r* ^ *» = 'C s c^ 5 CO •-< ^* 1* —• l^ w ^ f -4 « ,- ^ ri « in s s » ^:>-s: >.^ >>x: ^ fl S J5 ^ ^•c 3 c J-3J-1 s X IZ C£ m 33 33 a M c B ? ^ &:' 8 oi ■i I S5 Ta S I £ ■« X- 1 &3 •S 5 -a * od S H 5 ■ 2 O "5 Ji_ a> «B e 'OM I 1-t M M ■^ m 19 VAKIETIES OF GRAIN HECOMMEXDED FOR USE IN SASKATCHEWAN. Spring If Aeof.— Marquis, Eed Fife, Early Red Fife, Prelude and Pioneer should be considered. Marquis is the most productive and is the best variety for many dis- tricts, especially on summer-fallowed land. If Marquis proves too short in the straw, Red Fife or Early Red Fife should be grown. Where Marquis grows too rank and is too late in ripening Prelude will be found very valuable. Pioneer is a new variety introduced by the Dominion Cerealist for dry districts where early ripening varieties are necessary. It is not recommended for test where the rainfall is good. On /«.— Banner and Ligowo are among the best. Ligowo is slightly earlier than Banner, but does not usually produce quite so large a crop. Victory is a new and promising sort. It is also called Conqueror and Seger. Daubeney may be used if it is essential to have a very early ripening variety. The commercial sorts Orloff and Sixty Day are still earlier, but they yield less. Barlcii. — Munehuriun and Ontario Apricultura! College No. 21 are rucommended. If a two-row typo is desired for any special purpose, Duckbill or Early Chevalier should be tried. Peas. Arthur, Chancellor and Golden Vin° are among the best yellow sorts. Arthur ' IS the advantage of usually ripening in advance of the others. English Grey and Prussian Blue are among tlio best coloured varieties. CLIMATIC CONDITIONS IN SASKATCHEWAN. Saskatchewan has a mean temperature of 36 degrees Fahrenheit for the year with a growing season temperature of about 55 degrees Fahrenheit, a mean annual precipi- tation of only about 16-75 inches, ller sunshine average is nearly nine hours a day in the growing months. Her precipitation, though light, is practically all rain, and comes as a rule when nio^t needed— May, June, and July. This fall of 16-75 is too low for sure crop production, with average careless methods of soil cultivation; hence < < TcnUM-ratiiii' in ditfni's Knlir: — llipfllfrit LoWPHt Mean I)itfe*"t-nc«' from averaj^f Saskatoon 1,571. 17 -irr -111 -IH Princr AlUrt. 1,414 17- -oM- -If) -12 Battle- ford. l.liL".' 211 -111- -l(i -14 Swift Current. 2,41(2 . -49 -12 -21 Hegina. 1,885. l.t -l.-> -11 Kamsaek. Precipitation in incli>-.s Total Uitferenee from a\era^e (J . .).". +0 Wi o.im +0 09 0.7itfereu(e from average r>4 +0 27. 1 21 -1-0 38 73 I R2 -f 32 -0 13 It "ii; -0 17 Smishine in hour; — Total numls-r I>itfereuee from a\erage. Possible numlsT 204 '417' 418 197- '4i3' NumU'r of ilaysof hail... Nuuilter of thiys below 32 19 1 Hi- ll 18 0- 23- 1,445. 27- -.Mi- -23- 20. 0- 3! 71 -1 3."r II 15 21 TemiH'rature iu degrees Kalir — Highest .... 78- 19 47 -3 78 20 i8- -1- 77 21 48 -4 79 23 48. -3 77- 2II- 48- -2 75 24 47- Mean Ditferi nee from average . . >< < Preoijiitjtion in intlies — ■|ot..l Uitffienee from average. . . . 2 45 -1-0 86 4 :« 4-2 84 ilt8 1 -.9 53 1 89 -0 09 2 21 Sunshine in hours Total num)K>r Difference from average. . . . Possible numi er 198- ' 486 ' . .. . 488 210 • ■478--- Number of days of hail Numlsr of ?n avcragi* . . Sa»kHti)iin 7K- 32 • 56- - 2- I'rint'f Albert. 30- mi- - 1- JJattle- Swift foul Cin'ient. 78- "!•• :t2- 2H. 57- 50. * — 2- - 4- Kefrina. KainHuok. 7il- 77. ;!o- 28 • 55- u4- - 4- Precipitation in inclies T.ital Difference from uvera^; • 1(^ 2-tM) ■.\-rM 4 0; + 1-00 4-28 + Ml 2-2J» Smishiiie in lionrs - Tiital number Uitfereiice from average. . . Pf»»silile numlier 2r.u- 4!IH- 6(il- 230- 4S8. N'miilier iif ihivs (if hail .. . Nuinlier 111" (l:«v« below ;i2°. 0. 1- 0- 1- Tenipeiatiire in (te^;rers Fain Hi^llest IjOWOSt Mian Difference from a\er;ij5e 4S- (Hi- + ;)■ 4ii- titi- + 4. 17- + 2- 41 42- t>8- + 4- I'reci|iita*ion in inches-- Total ... Difference from averatje Sunsliiue in hour?* — Total mimber I >itference from average Tossible numl>er . 4 -7!) + 2- -'.-I 3-HS 1-41 2- 11 <|.IHI --2!) 2 ■78 5.U2 + 2-53 Mii- .502- 503- 3.i"i- 4H1 • 87- 1 13 N'umlM'r of (lays of hail.. . Xnmber of davh lH^lr>w 32^. 0- 0- 0- 0- Temperature in de/rees Falir. Hifjlu'Mt . Lowest Mean Ditft rt-nce from avenige. 83- 37- 5!)- - 1- 85- 30- (iO- 4- 1- 84- 34- m 32- (il- - 3- 87- 34. fil- 0- Precipitation in inches- Total . Difference from avera(fe. . \>.m - (IIH l-6f> ()-8J 4-70 + 2-72 2-B4 + 0-(i5 O-6'.l 117 Sunshine in limirs - Total nunilier Difference from average Possible number 288- 452- 4.52- 302- 44l>' Nu "ys of hail Nun ' ays below 32° . . . 298?^— 4i 0- 0- 9.-)- 24- f/l- 0-68 22 TciiiptTaturc, Preeipitatioii, Iluil and Trout— ('our! udr I. Tt'iii|H'rutiin* in ilijfri-i-f* I'alir. HiK'ltt'^t LoWfSt M.an hitft'ifiic*' fnnn avi-raf^e . Sii.katiKiii I'rinfi .\llHlt. Hattln- fi.rd. 81. r>2- 0- Swift CuiTeiit. SI- F,;i- II- Kftiim. Kaiii«;ak. 7H. 21' «9- - 1- SO- 2ii- r.i- SI). L-.I. .'ill- - 1- 81.. lit. 47- I'lt'oipiiation in inclifs Tnt:il |)iff*'r« iH'i- frt'iri iivt'r.itrt- ... I As - U-tP.- - ll<4 1 -o:. - II 21 I-4(i - li-lH 4lH + 2 -'jr. 3-21 Sunshine in hours Totnl niniiluT I>itf»irti(_'f' from avt'nijjfc. . . . p.'*.-iblf nmnlier ITH. ;t7s- Hij- T. ■ XH-' Xuinltf-r of rl;iy> of hiiil NninlxT of liiiy* liflow ;VJ 0- 11- 0. 7- 1 1- ll. 1- 8. 0- 12. AGRK ULTIRAL LOAN ACTS IN SASKATCHEWAN. 1. I'arm Loans Act. — Under the administration uf a Board of three appointed by the Lieuteiiant-Oovernor-in-Coiincil thij act makes provision for the lending to offri- culturalists of money on first mortgages for the purpose of improvement of properties, the payment of liabilities; the acquisition of land or for any other purposes approved by the Board. The loan is limited to tifty per cent of the value of the land. All loans are for thirty years re-payable in equal annual instalments with interest sufficient to realize a .'^um equal to the interest on the money rai.-ed l.y the Board to provide the loan together with the expenses of management. 3. An Act respecting the purchase and sale nf lire stock by the Provincial Depart- ment of Afiriculture. This act provides for an aiipropriation of $500,000 by the Provincial Lcgisla ure for the puriKise of piirciiasing live stock to be sold to affrieulturalists for cash or partly csish and partly credit in which latter case a lien is taken on the animals till they are paid for. 3. Co-operative Farm Mortgage Assoclition .lc<.— This act makes provision whereby a society of at least twenty-five agriculturalists may be formed by petition to a Board of three commissioners appointed by the Provincial Government. Each mem-, ber of the society must be an applicant for a loan and must give security for fifty per cent of the loan which js made on a first mortgage only, and which is limited to forty per cent of the value of the farm property. SOTTTHESN ALBEBTA. Mr. W. H. Fairfield, Superintendent of the Experimental Station at Lethbridge, Alta., finds that the methods advocatod for Saskatchowun by Mr. Mackay arc entirely applicable to Southern Alberta. He emphasizes the value of harrowing immediately after ploughing. " What Mr. Mackay says is applicable in every detail to Southern Alberta. If every homesteader settling liere could have the importance of the advice given so inipressed on him that he would follow it implicitly, the annual production of grain in this part of the. province would be increa.sed by many thousands of bushels. I ninnot seo that there are any conditions peculiar to this part of the Province of Alberta that demand treatment other than such as ilr. Mackay has outlined for Saskatchewan, with the possible exception of the following details : — " Prairie sod in Southern Alberta should be broken shallow and backset later on the same season as recommended, but, if for any reason the land is to be broken deep, ejiro must be exercised to see that the ftrrow slice or sod is not so thick as to prevent it being turned completely over and lyinj? flat. Por, if it is allowed to lap on the previous furrow, an air space will be left under part of each furrow slice, with the result that it will dry out rapidly and the process of rotting will be stopped. It is a help to roll or flatten down all breaking as fast as it is done. " in the district of the Chinook winds special emphasi.s should be laid on the importance of harrowing land as fast as it is ploughed, in fact, of the advisability of attaching a section of the harrow to the plough. Special attention shoul ' 'so be called to the mistake so often made of ploughing in the fall when the soil is in a lumpy, dry condition. In regard to the depth of seeding, it is well for a farmer to force the seed down till it is in contact with the moisture, even if it is over two inchec below the surface." NORTHERN ALBERTA. Mr. (i. IT. Hutton, Superintendent of the Experimental Station at Lacombe, Alta., giv.'s some valuable points as to the breaking and later treatment of brush la)i(l. " Generally speaking, the Experimental Station at Lacombe covers conditions in all territory north of Township 24 west of the .5th Meridian, and all territory north of Township 30. In those districts in Central Alberta which are strictly prairie country, tho general recommendation outlined elsewhere in this bulletin will apply. In tlioso district'} which are not strictly prairie, but which are commonly designated as brush country, i.e., country in which there is a fair proportion of prairie and alsi patches of willow brush or timber, slightly different recommendations may be made. "Brush Country Methods. — In brush country deep breaking is the only practical method. By breaking to a depth of five or six inches, the breaking plough gete under the roots and it is not so easily thrown from the ground. When plenty of power is used, as a five or six-horse team, or a heavy four-ox team, a furrow eighteen to twenty inches wide and five or six inches deep may be turned. Siich an outfit, where the coulter is kept in condition, will pass through remarkably heavy brush, cutting the roots clean and turning the furrow over flat. The ploughs most favoured by the writer for breaking brush land are the 'Van Slyke' and the 'John Deere Wisconsin Grubber." With good power, one man can break and prepare for crop one hundred acres of heavy brush land in one season. After being broken, the land should be packed or. if a packer is not available, it .should be given a discinfir The packing or discing firms the freshly turned furrow and hastens the rotting of the soA A second crop without backsetting is advised where land has been heavily covered with brush and the job of breaking has been well done. Thorough disc'n" will prepare such land for a second crop. " Sunimor fallow is not sdvlsed for tiie brash country, the objection being tbat the firat crop nfter sunimtT-fallow grows too rank, almost invariably lodging and fails to fill as well or riiK-n ns early as a crop on land not summer-fallowed. Stubble laud not seeded down should be fall-ploughed five or six inches deep and packed or harrowid as it is turned. If fall ploughing is not possible, then the same depth of ploughing in the spring followed immediately by the packer or harrnw -will give trood results. " Mixed Farming. — In all that territory included in the frcncral term brush country,' climatic and soil conditions are such as to make it nios., desirable as a mixed farming country. For this district some such rotation as the following, modi- fi»>d or expanded to suit particular cases, is suggested: — Ist yr. — Ilay. 2nd yr. — Pasture — Manure in autumn 12 ton-s per acre. ;ird yr.^ — Pasture — Break and disc July or August 4th yr. — Wheat or onts. 5'h yr. — Oats. (ith yr. — Barley — seeded down : — Timothy, 4 pounds. Alsike clover, 4 pounds. Red clover, 4 pounds." ALBERTAN SOILS.* ' No. 1. This soil, a black sandy loam, was collected in the neighbourhood of Tilley, a point on the main line of the Canadian Pacific Railway about 50 miles west of Medi- cine Hat, and a district that, owing to sparse rainfall, has hitherto been considered better adapted to ranching than to grain growing. As in the case of certain Saskat- chewan soils (see page 16), this soil was supposed to be deficient in some particular, or to contain alkali. The data, however, show that there is an abundance of plant food present and an entire absence of alkali. It has been demonsti ated in recent years in this and similar districts, through improved methods of culture (resulting in the better conservation of soil-moisture) that the poor yields were not due to the poverty of the soil, but rather to insufficient water supply for the needs of t _ crop. No. 2, from the Dominion Experimental Farm at Lcthbridgo, an important centre in Southern Alberta, a true prairie region, and where, until recently, ranching iias been the chief branch of agriculture followed. It is a district in which, speaking broadly, irrigation is desirable, if not indeed necessary; but in which, in many seasons, fairly good yields can be obtained by the adoption of proper cultural methods for the conservation of soil moisture. The soil appears to be extremely uniform in character and very productive, i)rovided there is a sufliciency of moisture. The .sample, which in this case was taken to a depth of 12 inches, is a dark gr.iy, inclining to black, .sandy, loam, light and friable, free from stones and containing an abundance of root fibres. Though not as rich in or|ganic matter and nitrogen as the majority of the prairie soils hitherto considered, the results are quite satisfactory, especially when the preater depth to which this sample was taken is considered. In mineral constituents it seems to be fairly well supplied, the amounts being such as are i>ossessed by many soHs of high productiveness. No. ."? was collected from an uncultivated area on a bench in the valley of the Elbow River, some few miles from Calgary. The soil of the district is stated to be one " well fitted for either cultivation or grazing." It might be classed as a light to medium, b!,^ek, prnirio ]n;)-m. psporially rich in organic matter. It 13 practically neutral, ancf examination of the analytical data gives evidence that it is well supplied with all the es.sentials of plant growth, a very fair proportion of which appears to be in a condition immediately available. • "Western Frajrie .Soils," by F. T. Shutt, M.A., F.I.C., Dominion Chemist. M Soils 4 and 5 were taken nt no very threat diHtanco from the location of No. 3, and are in appeuranoo very similar to it. They were examined to learn what etTect irrigation might have on the stores of fertility. No. 4 is from a non-irrigated area, while No. 5 is from irrigated land, collected 50 fet-t from the lower side of an irriga- tion ditch, and 100 feet from No. 4. Undoubtedly the feature of greatest interest in the comparison of tlu" data \a the decidedly higher percentages of soluble (available) mineral constituent in the soil that had been irrigated, and it is important to note in considering this fact, that, while the non-irrigated land is neutral, that of the irrigated area is slightly alkaline. These features are not uncommon to irrigated soils, and two possible causes therefore may be ..dvanced. The first is the deposition of mineral salts from the irrigation water, and the second-probably the chief cause— is the bringing up of these compounds from the lower strata by increased capillarity induced by greater surface evaporation consequent upon irrigation. It may be said that as Southern Alberta is of the true prairie charncter, so Northern Alberta is largely wooded, enjoying a more liberal rninfall and is naturally a country better adapted to mixed farming. The soils of Northern Alberta are, for the most part, characterized by high percentages of organic matter and nitro^'en, and in this respect are somewhat superior to those in the .southern part of the province. We have in this a certain confirmation of the view that a relationship exists between rain- fall and the organic content of the soil. The samples so far considered from this province have been representative of areas in Southern Alberta, the remaining examples jare from points north of Calgary. No. 6 is from Innisfail, an excellent district for dairying and mixed 'farming, some 80 miles north of Calgiiry on the Edmonton branch of the Canadian Pacific Railway. This sample had been collected to a depth of 12 in.-hes. As received, in the air-dried condition, it was a loose, friable, grayish-black, sandy loam, lull of tibro and evidently rich in organic matter. No. 7 is fairly representative of the soil on the Dominion Experimental Farm at Lacombe, a point some 40 miles north of Innisfail. The country and soil in this neighbourhood are simikr in character to those of the Innisfail distr- • just described, and indeed may be considered typical of a verj- large part of this i. .em portion of the province. Nos. 8 and 9 are clay loams from Lac la Nonne, a district fcring some 40 miles northwest of Edmonton. These loams are very similar, containing a large proportion of clay and well furnished with humus-forming material. They are of a grayish- black colour when air-dried. The chemical data will bear out the opinion formed from Uieir ijispection, and show that they are very rich in organic matter and nitrogm. The analysis also demonstrates that in potash and lime they are above the average and fairly well supplied in phosphoric acid. Under proper cultiiriil operations and favour- able climatic conditions, they should prove to be highly productive iioils. m 2 - •J < < .9 ,-• S S * 1' 'v T £• r: v 3 .» « ft S ri l' ; 1 i 1 i i -5 3 i £-i<-; l-; ■ 1 1 1 5 i § b- g Jl i.~ s«;;«?iS5sr. i." ^ ^ 5 1 1 i § i g "■ i-H ■-^ 1^ a o * I s % ft te i,'-^ c^-f M c .. i o .? :? 1^ 9 I 1-? •r E y. .2 Ji - § ? *> ? s ti 5? s s s s l^^l i Z «ft -- ■r rfi N X (^ -* & _ .J, - a « £ = ^ ^ s 3 '$ ■3 J >. >. "S 3 _!>. •c s 1 ■ 1 1 s< t 1 5 . b J a ■3 S 3 >i - - 6 5 a 1 I c« 1 J III if = r as X X :o : a: -• -■ . 3: -J ?^' S r" -• -• ■5 h H ?i irf .n >* 4» 1 ec X ^. 1 1 J •vi X -*• 1 X 5 H ■£ f-> i^ t5 li a >H i'. <(l 'C X c5' rj J J 'X w^ M « i« •ft e I- X ~ VARIKTIKa nr GRAIN RKniUMl.NDCD FOR USE IN AI.BKRTA. Winter Wheal. —Kharkov and Turkey rod. TliMW two xorts are 04-ntinlly the Bamo in umtit n ><|i(ctK. Imt Kharkov has shown i)roening wheat is required, Prelude is unquestionably the best variety known. Oat». — Banner and Ligowo are recommended where rather Ting straw is reoiiit8 in Alberta for January, April, May, June, July, August and September in 1916:— • Compiled from Informatlor furnished by the Meteorological Service of Canada. 30 TptiiiKTiiTiirc. I'refipit4iti()n, Hail mid Frost. Kort VVriiii- lion. liraiiilf I'rairif. i;ri' I'ds-ililc iiuiiilwr . H4- 218- ' Ill- + 12- Ni..iil»i' iif iliiys (if liail Niiiiibti of iluys liilijw 32° 31- 31- II 31- II 31- ti 31- Tfimxraturi- ill i1.'i,'i(h's Kalirt-nlii-it— Hittlicst . ... fa- 2- 3«;- +4- 02- 21- 40 f.!)- 3'.l- + 1- 42- + 1- .. IjOWCNt M-», M.an Differeiu'f fniiii a\^ra(fc 4S- +3- I'reciiiitatimi in i.ictifs— Total Ditft-n-iici' from avfrapc 0-1)11- 1-31- O-.M- -ii-;'.o- 1 17 -0-(ll- 0-(!o- +lt-22- -Smi.sliiiM' in lumrs Total ..iiiiiU-i- I)iff'an UiffiTi'iu'i' from avtra^*' SO- 2ri- 4S- 0- 73- 211- 4K- 77- 24 40- -4- 7.")- 24- 4!l- -2- 5t 40 -3 I'n-cipitatiou in infhi's Tot.-il 1 titf'n-iicf fi-n. ( irandH Prairie. Atha- l>iuska t.iir r'al^ary. Ti'iii|it'ratiuv in iletrieis Katircnli. it- Hinhi-Kt I,owc»t .Mxaii I >itfHr**iict' from avi-ra^' , , H7- 30- f>;i- S2- 25- riT- 7H- 2.S- ri4- -2- 2!l- -I- ,H2- 34- + !• I'riiliiitatinii in iiiclii!' 'lotal C L I»itf*'rt'ni-r hi'rii a\>'ra^'<' ■0,"i- ()-41- Sunsliiiu- in lioiir-* - I 'I'otal iiiniilit-r j Uitft-micc trftiK a\i-r-a^r j !^l^.-illll niiiiilH-r .'itW- :)4;i- OS.-)- -2 :i- 2I12- i-4(;. -l-.si- 2r,4- +24- 50ti- N'iiulIht i.f ilay» nf hail Nuinb«'r of (lay» i»t'low 'A'2 Ti'min'ratiirf in ilrj^rf cs Kahiriiilieit- iiiKTat lliRlifst Lowent M.an Ditfcri'Mce f roni aviTagc . 24 ri4- -4 84- 27- 84- 27- +2- 81- :<2- -1 Prei'ipitation in inc-linj* — Tt»tal numlwr Diflfercncf f roni averaj^e . I1-42- 0-47- (in- -M5- 3-70- + 1&-)- Suni'hine in hoiirK — T Kahreiihiit— Miphiwt 88- .■13- 58 ■ -2 »7- 34- 811. 38- •iO- -1- 87- 3,8. 62- +2- Mean l)ifTerfnc*' from avrrape I'rcoipitatiiiTi in inrhes - Toi al 1 >itfcreiK't' from average 4(l«- +2-44- 3-31 ■ -(> 44 1 4!l -Ml- Sunshine in hours Total iiunilter I >itference from average rocsible nunilier 270- 248- — 2.5- 5()8- .^41). Nnnilier of ilays of hail n 0- 0- 1- 0- I- 0- Xunil»r of clays Ulow 'M> HTi- Ki- el)- +1- 2-03- -0-49- Temperature, Precipitation, Hail and Frost — Concluded. Fort A'tTiiii lion. 7H- 23- 4(i- 0- (irande I'raifie. Atha l.asKa Kdinon- ton, 7!l- 2i'- .-)!• + 1- Calvary- Ten nifrat lire iiidfifrics Kulirinliiil HiKlif»t Lowest M.'im I)itft'it*n('f frimi :i\fr-;t^je 7S- 4'.t- 7'.t 21- 4'.l- + 2- so- 2:i- 52- + 1- l*reci|iitivti(in in inclu-^ - Total niunl»T |)ilf<'rfnL-f ftoni avciagf + 01.">- .")•_' ■ 2 51- + i;<7- 2 SO + 1 ■:*;»• Os4 -(1-40 Snn>hiiif in hunts Tiitiil nntnl»i' I>iiftTtMie»' from avt-riit?'* l'o,ssii*lf nnni)'t-r I'.Ml- I7r.- - It- ;t7!)- Nuinl»T of (laVM of hail Nninlxr of days lielow .".U' 0- I.-.- if (1 ;i- 1- o. AClilCTI.Tt R.\L LOAN ACTS IN AI.DKIiTA. 1. Alberta Farm Loan Act. — This Act provide.s for the lending: of money on first laortgiiges on farm lau(l> up to 40 pfer cent of tlioir appraised valuo. The loan i;^ limited to $5,000 to any one person. The rate of interest chargjed is stifficient to pay interest on bonds issued to provide funds for loan purposes tojjethcr with oflBce expenses. The mortgage is for 30 years repayaWe in equal annual instalments. The loan business is administered by a Farm Loan Board, tl. general nianagoment of which is in the hands of a Comiuissioner of Farm Loans appointed by the Lieutenant- Governor in Council. 2. Alberta Co-Operative Credit .irf. — This Act makes provision whereby a society of at least tiiirty agriculturalists may be formed by petition to the provincial treasurer. Each must subscribe $100 and pay $20 on account in cash. Certificate of registration is then granted by the Government; officers are elected and arrangements made with the banks to loan money on notes endorsed by the society. Loans arc oid.y made for the purpose of buying feed, seed, live stock and implements or for paying for season's operations. The loan must bo repaid in one year. The rate of interest charged is agi _..'d upon between the society and lender. Until the loan is repaid the society holds a lien on the animals or machinery purchased. The profits are applied to expenses, dividend and reserve. 3. Live Stock Encourayement Act. — Any five or more agriculturists may form an association and may jointly apply to the Live St/ick CCc>, Toronto B»sm msfi fhomphtm of G^ogrmfihmr'a Brmnch^Dmp f oF lh» fntmrtor H't V '-r-^- liKI i e i ^m MANITOBA. Mr. \V. ('. .MoKillicaij, SuiHriiitciiduiit of the Expi'riinciitiil Farm at Brandon, Man., culls attention to sonio diirerences in the conditions prevuilins in Manitoba, as contrasted with Saskatchewan conditions and to tlic conso i of the immediate valley of the Red River, though perhaps not typical in all details tif the whole plateau. It is a deep, black clay loam, of a fine and peculiarly characteristic granular order. In the air-dried condition, it reduces easily to a greyish- brown or greyish-black powder. Though there is present a considerublo amount of undecomposed r >ot fibre, the si^il proper presents a remarkable homogen-'ty in appear- ance, indicating a process of physical refining in its formation and uniformity in chemical composition. The very large amount of organic matter present is undoubt- edly intimately incorporated with the clay and sand which constitute the basis of the soil. Though containing a. largo amount of clay, laboratory experiments show that this soil does not readily " puddle " on moistening, nor on subsequent drying does it form into a hard mass, but granulates on moderate pressure. The large amount of organic niatter present has already been remarked; it exceeds 25 per cent of the water-free soil. The nitrogen, calculated on the same ba3is, is found to be practically one per cent, from which it ma.v he estimated that there is contained in an acre of soil to the depth of one foot from 20,000 to 2.'),000 pounds at least of this element. Since ordinary fertile soils t". a like depth contain from •'?,.'>Oft t- lft,OW pound=, the vast reserve of this valuable constituent in this prairie soil is apparent. • "Wesiern Prairie Soils " by F. T. Shutt, M.A., F.l.C, Dominion Chemist. 1 87 The soil is also very rich in potash, coiitainin« nn amount (1 "3 per cent) far in excuis of thut ordinarily met with in the ferti'e soils of Eaiiteru Canudu. Data have indicated that good agricultural soils jmssesa usually L v- -on 25 and 0-5 per cent of piitash. Of phosphoric acid, it contains 29 pi'r cent. This is sliithtly above the average, moat of our good soils showing between Oiri and 0-25 per rent of this element. The fairly lar" percentage of lime is worthy of nute, since it indicates not only a fair supply for cru, usi hut also u condition of the soil that should be particularly favourable to nitrification. Wo may safely conclude, thiit, in tlusc dutn. there is ample proof of abundant stores of plant food, and that thi.-j prairie land, as regards the elements of fertility, ranks with the richest of known soils. The late Dr. Oeo. M. Dawson, the eminent geologist and Canadian explorer, wrote some years ago as follows regarding the prairie sa, more or less c'overed with small trees iiiid shrubs, a district r.jjardiiig \vhi--•"& >■. - >, "3 1 B t : ? rr 5 i^5 ? / ^ 5 ^ ^ — ^ JS k 1, i 3E i £ S . § = ^ • 1 t ^ 1 = I 5c ! '^ '5 1 = S _ „ > > SL a « E t _ fi * s 1. fi >. s a d § ►; t- .i 1. 3 5 « c " ^ . > X i !■ u ■M > ir 1 % o a: >> (2 £ a a - N cc •* l'.- 77- Uiffiri lice from average Posstilile number 2iO- Xunilxr of iliiys of hail 1 Xumber of davs !»■ low 32 . i ' 31- U- 31- 0- 81- 0- 31- 0- 31 Teiiipciiitiiie ill fiiRieea Fahrenheit - Highest Lowe?*t Mean Dilference from averaee fl:.- - 1 - 3- Oil- 2.S- 37- 72- 4 ■ 41 + 3- - !l- 33- Gil- -12- 33- i l'reci;iitali(jn in inches — Total Diffei-enoe from average , ■'.>,! 4- -17 31 - i-lS -64 -20 < Snnsliini' in hours — 'i'ot-il nuniW'r ,,. Oitfereiife fiom a\erage Possible niMiiU'r 175- -Hi- 412 213- -+ a- 412- 238- 420- N'limlier of (laysof hail Niimlier of (lays lielow 32 0- 23- 0- lli- 0- 15- 0- 25- 22- TemjH'rature in degrees Fahrenheit Highest. liOWKSt 7H- 20- 49- 0- 75- 80. 7- 21- "lO- no- - 1- - 2 03- 2'l- 41 im- 17- 44 Mean l)iffer»'iio + l-;«) +0-08 +2-1K 4 83 1-96 1 1 Sunshine in hours- Total nu'Mber Difference from averaire Possible numlier ....'..'. 190- -30- 48fi- 232- -18- 48li- 249- '■"609-'" Nunil)er of days of hail . . . 0- 1- 1- 0- 0- 0- 0- 1- Niin.ber of days lielow 32' 1- Tenijieratiire in degrees Fahrenheit- Hijrliest Lowest M.an !I2- 37- 69- +:■ 95- 48- 70- +6- 88- 45- 70- +6- 89- 46- 68- 87- 52 Difference from average 6H- Preciuitation In inches - Total 2-r>3 +C-30 2S4 +0-17 1 64 —1-69 1-99 Difference from average . ' ' . 1 39 "-s Sunshine In hours- Total number 259- -18- 48S- 3U- +21- 488- 322 Difference from average Po!.8ible number 50!l- Number of days of hail . 0- 0- 0- 0- 0- 0- 0- 0- Number of days below 3T Temiierature in degrees Fahrenheit- Highest Ix)»est ..,,,.", Mean '.'.'..'.'... Diffen^nce from average . ."......... 97- 62- 0- 93- 38- G.")- +2- 34- 64- +2- 88- :«• 62- 86- 38- 62- ^ D Precipitatiim in inches — Total Difference from average 2-22 +0-33 2-3.-. —0-09 -1 42 1 62 320 O - ^ ^ iunshine in hours- Total number Difference from average Possible number 2t>l- +11- 445- 278- +21- 444- 306- 465- dumber of dayt of hail Jumber of days below 32" 0- 0- 0- 0- 0- 0- 1- 0- 2- 0- 44 Temperature, rre<;ii)itatioii, ITai} and Froat— Concluded. ■s 1 Brandon. 82- 22- 52- —2" Winni|jeg. Dauphin. (irand Rapida. TeiniHTatiirf in (legn>«8 Kahrenhc it— HiifhcKt IjJWHUt Mi'aii Dltfert-nec from average Le I'an. 79- 27- 0- 76- 2«- 52- -1 7B- 28- no- 72. 2»- 50- 33 X PrBinjiitation in inches— T»t«l Difference from a\ erage 2-3!i +117 2 OS +I>1I l(iS -0-78 508 202 a: 9! Sunshine in liourH— Total nuniher Difference fmni averajje 177- -5- 377- 172- -8- 877- 102- I'oHBible nunilier '37!»- ' Number of (lays of liail 1 7" 0- 5- 1 5- 0- 7- 0- 4- NumUr of (lays below 32' .^GmCIl.TIItM. LOAN ACTS 1\ MWITOIU. . 1. The Manitoba Farm Loam Art (Matirh 9. 1011). This Act provides that persons residinj? or intending to reside on land within the province may obtain throujjh the Manitoba Farm Loans Association, on first mortgage security, loans up to fifty per cent (r.O per cent) of the appraised value of the property offered, extending over a period of thirty years at a rate of interest not exceeding six per cent (6 per cent) per annum, rop;iyment being made on an amortiza- tion basis by equal annual payments composed of principal and interest. The loan must be made to make improvements, to increase productiveness or to pay off prior encumbrances on the land. It also makes provision for each borrower to become a Fhareholder in the Association by investment in its capital stock of an amount equal to five per cent (5 per cent) of the sum borrowed, and none other but borrowers and the province of Manitoba can hold such shares. 2. An Act respecting Rural Credits. A rural credit society may be initiated Ij.> a petition, addressed to the Lieutenant- Oovernor-in-Council and sent to the Provincial Secretary, signed by not less than fifteen famiers. The society cannot commence business until at least fifty have subscribed .$5,000 and ten per cent paid in. The management of the business of the society is vested in a board of directors composed of nine members. Loans are made r.nly for the purchase of feed, seed, implements, live stock and farming operations. Loans must be repaid within the calendar year at a date agreed upon. The rate of interest charged is not greater than seven per cent per annum, of which one-seventh goes to the society. A lien is taken on all machinery, goods or personal property purchased with the loan made. In the event of a borrower's defaulting, the society pays the lender and then seeks to recover the amount so paid from the borrower by any means .-iuthorized by any statutes applicable thereto. w^m'^^F^, ■ss--r3^. - ^ Jt 46 QUANTITIES OF SEED TO SOW. WHEAT. The quantity of wheat to sow to the acre, while nn inipor'ar.t m%i.>ow li to 2i bushels seed to the acre according to the fall preparation and the cliaracter of the soil. rLA.T. Flax should be sown (ui simimer-fallow or new land at from 30 to 40 pounds to the acre, the lighter sec.ling on lighter soil and heavy seeding on strong, rich soil. Uo not sow too early. May ]5 is quite sufficiently early. On stubble lands u lighter seeding should be given, say 2,5 to 30 po'inds to thi. acre. ESSENTIALS TO SUCCESSFUL WllKAT PKODUCTION. 1. Prepare the ground thoroughly as directed. 2. Wlien the seed grain is cleaned, graded, ami bagged, treat it for smut. The cost IS low; It takes little time and results in larger yields. Always treat wheat and oats in the following manner: — Blue-stone solution— 5 po\iiuls commercial hhie-stone to 50 imperial gallon-; of water. Formalin solution— 1 pound formaldehyde (normal strength) to 40 imperial gallons of water. Steeping method— Tn blue-stone solution, immerse grain not less than 2 minutes —not more than 3 minutes. In formaldehyde solution not less than 4 minutes and not more than 5 minutes. Sprinkling ni.'thod-ireai> the grain on a clean floor. Sprinkle either solution over It with a broom or can; mix well; 40 gallons will treat 40 to 50 bushels of grain V\hen using blue-stone, spread out to dry at onoe after mixing; form the grain into a pile when using formaldehyde, and cover for three hours with bags, then spread out and dry. Note.— For detailed information on the subject, ask for Exhibition Circular =>4 or Experimental Farm Bulletin 73, Pul)lieations Branch, Ottawa. Ontario. 3. Get the seed in early. If the above directions are fulfilled, success is assured nineteen times out of twenty. soil. 47 MANURES. Farmyard manures are the most effective fertilizers that can be applied to the Comparatively small applications at short intervals are more effective than larger dressings applied less frequently; to put in concrete form, five tons of manure per acre every third year will give a better return than ten tons every sixth year, simply because there will be less loss of organic matter. It is a more profitable practice to keep the manure comparatively near the surface. The larger number of the feeding roots of most of our crops lie fairly close to the surface; at least, that is in humid districts. A result which is remarkable but nevertheless which mu- ,; true since experiment has viririuil it over nud over again is that, weight by weight, fresh manure l.as given yields almost e*• ■ 48 ' "Avti'.jF^ vr 49 FERTILIZERS Fertilizpr8 can be used only as supplemental to and not na a substitute for manure. There are throe constituents, nitrogen, phosphoric acid and potash which may be present in compounded fertilizers; "when aJl three elements are presented the material is tern.od a complete fertilizer. Experiment has lead to tho conclusion that in the larger number of instances where a profit ha.s been obtained it has resulted from the application of a complete fertilizer. Domestic sources of potash other than manure : — " Wood ashes are essentially a potassic fertilizer, ashes of good quality, that is, dry, unmixed with sand, etc., and unleached, containing between 4 per cent and 6J per cent p.-tash, the average potash content being about 6i per cent. This potash is in a soluble form and hence immediately available for crop use. " In addition to their potash they contain some 2 per cent phosphoric acid and from 20 to 30 per cent carbonate of lime, enhancing their fertilizing value and making them, in a sense, an all-round fertilizer for supplying the mineral elements required Tby crops. And, further, they correct acidity, a condition detrimental to the thrift of most farm crops. " From 25 to 50 bushels of wood ashes per acre will furnish from 60 to 120 pounds of potash, the latter an ample dressing for even very light soils. They are not needed on heavy clay loams; indeed their use on such may destroy good tilth and do more harm than good. Their application is best deferred to spring, broad-castin« prefer- ably on a quiet damp d«y on the ploughed land, and incorporating in .with a thorough harrowing. " For clover, corn and mangels, they will be found very valuable. Especially are (they heneficial for orchards and for grapes on sandy Joams. For turnips, mixed with one-'third to one-half their weight of bone meal, superphosphate or base slag, they have similarly proved adv Hageous. But indeed there are few crops on light and gravelly soils, as also on vegatablc loams inclined to be sour, foj which wood ashes cannot bie employed with profit." ALKALI SOILS.* Alkali soils occur in arid or semi-arid districts only, and these in Canada may be said to be restricted to certain areas in British Columbia, southwestern Alberta and in a limited degree Saskatchewan and Manitoba. Two classes of nlkuli are generally recognized " white " and " black." White alkali consists chiefly of the sulphate and chloride of sodium (Glauber's salt and common salt). Black alkali is characterized ly the presence of sodium carbonate (washing soda), whicli through its solvent action on decayed vegetable matter gives a black incrustation to the soil. Soils impregnated with alkali are injurious to vegetation, but the greater number of alkali soils when freed from excess of alkali are exceedingly fertile. Black alkali is more injurious than white alkali. Alkali soils can be reclaimed by thoroughly washing out and carrying away the alkali. If the natural drainage of the soil is not good, flooding by irrigation should be preceded by the construction of an adequate system of under-drainage. The black alkali in soils can be converted by the application of land plaster (ground gypsum) into white alkali, which, as already stated, is a milder form as regards vegetable life. In this ~3y large tracts of useless soil in the United States have been effectively and cheaply reclaimed. If the black alkali is only present in • " Alkali Soils," by F. T. Shutt, M.A., F.I.C., Dominion Chemist. 51 small amouus the luiiij may be rendered cultivable simpl.v by a drt'ssiujj of luud piaster, but in most cases it will be necessary to wash awn.v !li|. resulting white alkali before the snii is Ht for luMriiiK crops. CROPS FOR ALKALI SOILS. SuKur bcots, wiicrc tiic ulitnli is not severe may ".i far improve the soil as to make it suitable for jfraiii, Krasses, etc. At first the beei may be too bitter for stock. Mangels have jirovcd very satisfactory in reniovinj? injurious salts from the soil. As for cereals wheat is less resistant to injury from alltali than oats or barley. Among the good grasses that can be grown on alkali lands are Timothy, Awnless, Brome Grass, Red Top and Perennial Rye Grass. Legumes, wiih the cxcejitiou of Alfalfa and Sweet Clover, are particularly sensitive to alkali. Vei7 few vegetables e.vcept beets, mangels and asparagus can be grown successfully ou alkali soil. Potatoes are an alkali resistant crop, but the tubers are usually poor in quality and do not keep well. 1 Nmturmf ^9SourcM hififigmncm 8r»ftch B»a» mmp fi^om ptst0 of C^o^rmphmt's BrmnchM^p^ of^ ik^ /mtertor N L C B N C 3 3286 08492385 9