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Maps, plates, charts, etc., may be filmed at different reduction ratios. Those too large to be entirely included in one exposure are filmed beginning In the upper left hand corner, left to right and top to bottom, as many frames as required. The following diagrams illustrate the method: Les cartes, planches, tableaux, etc.. peuvent Atra filmte A des taux da r4ductlon diffArents. Lorsque le document est trop grand pour itr* reproduit en un seul clichA. 11 est film* i partir da Tangle supArieur gauche, de gauche k droite. et de haut en bas, en prenant le nombre d'images nicessaire. Les diagrammes suivants illustrent la mlthode. 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 MKROCOTY RISOIUTION TBT CHART I ANSI ond ISO TEST CHART No 2) d APPLIED HVHGE In 5^ 'd^^ ttist Ma,n S(f««t i :'i6t *«; ■ ,-noo - p»ion« t"6) ^88 ■ ■.989 - Co. DOMTNTON OF CANADA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE EXPERIMENTAL FARMS. DIVISION OF FIELD HUSBANDRY SUMMARY OF RESULTS FIELD HUSBANDRY 1914 n^^fArtFit BT \\. L. (,'RAHAM, B.S.A. StI'ERINTKNDKNTS OF THi: BRANCH EI VKR I MENTAL FARMS AM> STATIONS Bulletin No. 83 JANliARY, 1915 Publiihed by direction of Hon. MARTIN BURRCLL, Minister of Agrioulaire, OHawa, Ont. Exp. Kafnis Service Liui. DOMINION OF CANADA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURL EXPERIMENTAL FARMS. DIVISION OF FIELD HUSBANDRY SUMMARY OF RESULTS FIELD HUSBANDRY 1914 PIIKPARin BT W. L. GRAHAM, B.S.A. Asaislant Fiilit Hiubandman SUPE AN'K THK JT!> OF I'llE BRANCH EXPERIMENTAL FARMS AND STATIONS Bulletin No. 83 JANUARY. 1915 PubllshMl by dircotion of Hon. MARTIN BURRELL, MinitUr of Aqriculturo, OtUwa, Ont. 74730—1 TABLE OF CONTENTS. Paoe. Letter of Transmittal 5 Central Farm, Ottawa 7 Charlottetown, P. E. 1 14 Xappan, N. S 15 Kentville, N. S 17 Frcdericton, N. B 20 Ste. Anne de la Pocatiere, Que 25 Cap Rouge, Que 27 Brandon, Man 31 Indian Head, Sask 37 IJosthem, Sask . . 40 Scott, Sask 4« Ix;thbri- of Results. Sill, — I have the Imuour to submit herewith, for your approval, of tlie ri'ifular series, eiititloil "Division of Field Husbandry: Sun. 1914." I'luItT the method it has been found necessary to follow in the issuing of the annual report of the Kxperiinental Farms, results as secured from crop produetion and field experimental work do not reach the public until about eighteen months after they have been colle<'ted. It has been t' • jht desirable, therefore, to issue a series of annual bulletins coverintf the above lin- of work as dealt with by the Division of Cereals, Field Husbandry, Forage Plants, and Horticulture. In thi'se bulletins, of which this is the third, the aim is to give the more important of the season's results in a summarized form. The details of the work will be dealt with in the annual report of the E.\i)crimental Farms, to be prepared, as usual, afU r the close of the fiscal year. The plan in compiling these crop bulletins is similar to that now being pursued ill the preparation of the annual report. The introductory matter and the accoiint of the ^xiwriments on the Central Farm are prepared by the officer having charge of this branch of the work, in this case the Assistant Field llusbandmai:. The data from the vii'rious branch Farms and Stations are supplitd by the officers in charge. It is hoped thai the Canadian farmer may be materially aided by these sum- iiiuries of results and the reeommendnions based thereon. These will, it ' hoped, reach him in time for him to profit by them in 19ir.. I have the honour to be, sir. Your obedient servant, ,T ' C.RTSD..'K Director, Domt ■. Experimei.'al Farm*. rir^o— 2 DIVISION OF FIELD HUSBANDRY SUMMARY OF RESULTS, 1914 IMIKI'.Mtl;!) I(Y W. Ij. (iiiAiiAsi, 15. S. A., Assistant Fii:i.u IIisuandman, AND Till-; SUPKBINTKNDKNTS (iK TIIK HkA'.( II Evi'KKIMKNTAI, FaHMS AM) STATIONS. CENTEAL EXPERIMENTAL FARM, OTTAWA. WKATIIKU CONDITIONS AND TKOl' XOTKS. Soi'diiin (ipti'iitimis were i-arricd uii nii.lcr unt»ViMiriil)l»' rotKlitidii^. April was cold, wliiih rctiinlc'il sfi'diiiK, wliilc the (Irmiirlit of tlii> iiiontlis of Miiv nnd .IiiiiP rc-ulttil ill tile imcveii jfcrniiiiutioii of Piirii and nimidcls. liny iiiadc *\iiit tlif oats tilled fairly v.tll and liar- vcstcd a good yield of grniii. Turnips made steady iirofircss, while inaiipls and eorii made reiiiarl." bushels per aere. Potatoes, '.]''■' hu^lieU per aere. KOTATION OF CKOPS. The liiip of fariniiiK eii(;a(;ed in will deterniiiie to n (treat extent thp kind and reiiitivp ainoiiiits of erops that will he prowii. For this reiisoii it is inipossihie to out- line dofiiiitely a rotuticui that would 1h' tnost suitalde and proritahle for all. However, it may he stated that a ({ood rotation inelndes hoed, cereal, and meadow or pasture erops, which for hest ri-ult.^ flinuld rotate in tlu' order iiaineil. F.xperiments have 1-en conduited for the past eleven years to determine the rpla- five value of ditl'eri'iit ri'tations. The results are disliii.tly in favour of the systematic rotation of cn'ps whi-rehy tin- soil is left in the hest i cis-iilile <'oiidilion to receivp the prop followin(r. 'I'he ri'asoiis why farmers should place their farms undir rotation rather than eoiitinue the practice of haphazard eroppin({ are many. The followin(r are a few of ihe benetlts resulting from crirp rofiitiou: 1. The (fcneral appcarani'c (.f a fariti is iniprovid where each prop in Pon- fined to one lar(ie area. •J. Every field receives at re(;uliir iiitervaU it-- fair share of manure and ei'lt'iral treatn-i-ut. therefore the wh'le farm is in u condition t«! ensure maxi-. muni vield. 7 71T'lti 2) ". Cost is lowered by the saving of time due to all work of a kind being ' in (inc field. 4. Fewer fences are recjiiired, wliieli reduees expcuses. 5. Larger inaehinery can be utilized more ceonomically where fields are larfter and fewer. 0. More live stock can be kept, which makes more manure available. 7. Profits iind yields are increased. 8. The farmer is not deiMMident u|)on a single crop. 0. It permits of the more even distribution of labour throughout the season. The following rotations have been plannH to meet the demands of the live stock farmer in eastern Ontario and Quebec. Any of these should prove surisfactory where all operations, including soil tri'atment, are well performed. It is only when all factors are considered and each given its due share of attention that s.ccess will be attained. R(>T.\TIO.N "a" (five VE.VRs' DIRAIIO.n). First Year. — Iloed crops. When corn is the hoed crop used, manure is applied in spring at rate of l."> tons per acre and shallow ploughed shortly before planting time, turning under clover and manure. After the hoed crop is harvested the land is shallow ploughed or cultivated. Second Year. — Orain. Seed«'d down with 8 pounds red clover, 2 pounds alsike. and 10 pounds timothy per acre. Third Tear.— Clover hay. Two crops expected. Top dressed in fall with maniire at rate of 15 tons [ler acre. Fourth )Var.— Timothy hay. Field ploughed in August, top worked and ribbe.1 up in Octolier. Fifth Year. — (iroin. Seeded down with 10 i>ounds red clover, which is ailn.vi-d to grow to be turned under following spring when the hoed crop is enrii. This rotation supplies a relative larger proportion of grain to roots nnd hay thiin the ordinary three- or four-year rotation; it would therefore be preferable where cou- siderable grain is re |>oMiids liniothy per acre, seeds to|>-dresse fall, Fourth I'fnr.- (train. SeedaJ down with 10 pounds n-d clover, 2 pounds alsike •nd .'■> pounds timothy |K'r acre. Fifth Yrar. — Clover hay. This roiHtiim has maintained crop yields, and has Biven profits eiiual to "A" ill the li'«ti. so fur conducted, but does not answer reipiirenienfs where timothy hiy is culled for. It can. however. Ik- easily extended to inclinle timothy by allowing f r two years of bay inst4>iid of one. This wouKI extend the duration of the roliition from five to seven years, in which the crops would succeed each other aa follown: - UwhI crop: grain. phimIcmI down with clover nnd timothy; clover buy; timothy ha.» or pa-tiin-; grain, aet-dcd down with clover and timothy; clover hay; timothy hay or pasture. r\Tiox "c" (roiR years' dl ration). Flrsl Year. — Ilnrd crop. sled down with 10 pounds red clover mid 12 pounds Sfcond y'car.— UfHin. ^le timothy per ncrj. Third Yeor.—Clo-er hay. Fourth ) for.— Tim. -thy hay. Field plouphed in Au^'ust, manured at rate of 21 tons per aere, worked at intervals and ridjred up in li.te fall in preparation for hoed crops. The only objection to this rotation is that it supplies a smaller proportion of ^'rain than is often desired. However, where live stock is kept, this point is of minor importance. It has given most satisfactory- results here. ROTATIO.N- "d" (TIIRKE VF.ABs' Dl RATION). First Year. — IIoe-1 crop. . or corn, manure is applied in spring at rate of 18 ton* per acre, and shallow ploughed shortly before corn planting time, turning under both VroMuiids alfalfa and C |)ounds timothy per acre. Third year. — Clover hay. This rotatiniii is suitable where dairying or stock raising is carried on and where there is consiileral le rough land for pasture. It is suitahle for heavy rather than llglit soils.. ROTATION "r" (TIIRKE VKARs' 1)1 RATION). Ftrxt Year.—CoTu. Manure applii-d in spring at rate of 1* tons per acre. Shallow ploughed shortly before corn |ilunting time, turning under both clover and iminure. Seioiid IVac— Peas and ■oats mixed. Cut gre< n for cattle. Seeded down with lit pounds red clover. 2 i»iunds aluike, fl pounds alfalfa, and 6 pound* timothy per acre. Tkird }Vac.—( Mover hay. Cut green for cattle. Three years' records only have been kept.— This rotation is de«igned to mpply piiiling crops. Tin- following is a suinmary 'of ll"" eharacteristicg common to all the rotatiotw outlined above: — 1. tirnin fielils are always seeled down with clover, even though it be used only as a fertilizer, as in the ca»e of the fifth year of rotation "A." •J. (irass and clover seedings are heavy. Incre.iset to farm small area without a bix-d crop wa- not snccc««ful. Weeds could not readily be kept in cluvk. 4. .\o tield i« left in bay for more than two successive years. Our iicorils sbow that t!.e scoiid crop aliui»t always ."^"sts more per ton than the Hrst, and that sncceeil- ing crop- are very liable to be ^rown at a lo-s. .'>. IJariiyard manure is applie;cs have lieen drawn for the privediiir eight years only. The crops of 11)14 were very light and the return- are liicrcfore very t>i\v. In ontcr lo Value o( returns Profits ur 1(MB Profit sveraK" of 8 years ISW-IUU. Iter acre. $ eta. |iei acre I'JH. t CtB. S ct*. IS 14 93 8 78 IH Ii3 1 DO 903 la tis - 1 21 8 Ifi IS 17 — 1) III! 10 08 lit 4!) U 73' •It^ctinl." ki'i't tor Iwti yraiH iilily. CO.ST OK PRODUCTION OK KlKl.l) CHOI'S. The co-st of prodiH'tioii has k-en ertimahHl from a four-year rotation, including the crops: — corn, oats, clover (first-year hay), and timothy (.second-year hay). Tiie cost for turnips was ciiiculated from a similar rotation wherein the turnips take tlio place of the corn, tlnod farm practices have been followed, profitable crop production b«ing the aim. The following is an outliue of the rotation which has beeu in operation for the past eleven years : — First Year. — Hood crop, I'orn or roots. Swond Year. — Oats, sc-i'dcd down to clover and timothy. Third Year. — Clover hay (tiri-o of tnacliiiicry and in i":ii-li ca^i- represent the cost of the crop iu the granary, loft, root-Uou»c, or silo, us tlie tute may be. 11 ■r r -4 '«e - ^ « ^ s •» — > 5 •» > I _ be X 9 -fiiS® = -f M TI tC S I c i : 1-— I- I si 3 fi :ig^;:!£ i-r • r> — X 2 :« ; ; •J rf Mr-. ''; S ■<• ; n « Sj » : = = * ■''■I ■ci_ 12 siiAU.ow PLorr.nixG and sud^oiung versus i^EEP plofghino. This experiment has b«>n under wa> for the past eleven j-ears, and tVi^ average returns for the period of ten .ve.TS show n slight advantage in favour of the deep ploughing. The results of the experiment for the past seastm are al'so in favour of the de«>p ploughiufr. There must, however, be taken into consideration the fact that where subsoiling is practifed, a single plough rou«t l)e used, whereas a two-furrow plough may be n|iorated under the deep-ploughing method. The cost of oiieration is higher in the former method, which reduces somewhat the net profits. Two fou/-year rotations differing o.ily in the t.'eatnient of the sod land in preparation for corn or roots were laid down in 1001. ROTATION "S" (SI1ALIX)W PLOIlilllNr! ASO SI BSOII.l.NO). Firn! Year. — Corn or roots. Field nmniircil at the rate of 24 tons per aer.? Ploughed out of sod (jrevious August, 4 inches deep, subsoiled to a depth of S or 9 inches, and rid^red up in late autumn. The land is ploughed sliallow or cultivated in preparation for tlu grain v/liich follow?. Second JVai\|— (iraiii. Seeded down with 10 pounds red clover and li pounds timothy i)er acrf. Third I'lar..— Clover hay. Cut twice in the season, and the aftermath lott m the field. Fourth Year. — Tinuithy hay. Broken in August and prepared for coru or ro u, 8« indicated above. ROTATION "p" (DEEP PI.OIOIIINC). This rotation differs from rotation " S "' only in the treatment of the timothy hny field in preparation for corn or routs. It is tiuinurcil and ploughed in August, 7 inches deep, top-worked and ploughed again in late fall, 7 inches deep. Costs, Rktirns ANn Nit Pkokts or Rot.vtions "»", and "r". Rotation. I Cost to o|ierate ,\ »\w of r«tiiriii< 8. (ihkllow ploughing ftnd subwiilin^).. P. (dtrp pliJiighiKg) I«T acrf. • cti. 17 «! 17 ;t« |ier acre. 21 Vi Protit t per ai'i I!tU. ■_' .'t7 3 Tii (OMMERrlAL l'KUTlLi;fi:ns. In If l;l there were completed five years of ex|K'rimeuts disigned to supply in- fiirnatiou <'ouieruing the relative fertilizing n. lit*, in regular farm rotnfiun, „f:- . 1. No manure or fertilizer of ary kind, but p...-tureil one year in four (r rds kept in 1!ii:t and 1J)U only). 2. Kaniyard manure. It. Complete commeri'ial fcrti''/!er. 4. Haruyard manure, tdgctlx . with commercial fertilizer. To carry out this work, four areas of land were selected. " X '" in 1!I12, and '' X " "Y" and "'/." in IJIOil. Each area was divided into four ei|ual-ized plots, auil placed under tlie following rotation: - FWft Yi'iir. — llocd crop. Sf,on,i ) rar..^O,\i-. S.-.iiiMi doWii »illi S pouinU red ctovcr, J pounii- ai>ikc and 12 pounds tiuiotliv per hit*-. Third Year. — Clover hay. 13 Fourth IVar.— Timothy hay on rototions "X" "Y" and "Z" iind pasture on rotation "N." land plounhed shallow in early autumn, top worketJ and ribbed up in late autumn. The fertilizinK treatment given these ureas is shown in the following table:— Fkktii.izkr Trkatjiknt givkn Kotatidns "N,'" "X" "V," asi> "Z." ('■op. Mangpla . 0!>t» (^loviT hoy . . Tiiiiftliy liay. Rotation N. No ffrtilijer. No fiTtiliwr. No fertil'zer Partiirpd . . . KuUtion X. Rotation V. Kotatiun 7.. Manure 15 tuna.. No fertiliner. No fertiliwr.. No fisrtiliier . . Xonianiire.Suiierphoophat* Manui'p li tons. Suprr- SOU 111. Muriate of iwtHfch, I !*■ spliate 150 lb. Mur- -'i lb. Nitrate of aida 100! latc of (jotaxli 37* 1" 10 j y.crate of wicito BO lb. Nitrate of auHa lOO lb ;>:itri.te of toda 100 Ih. Nitrate of acKla 100 lb. . . . . ! .X'itrate of ..jrfa 100 d. Nitrate of wjda loO lb Nitrate of aod» 100 lb. Nkt Pko>it« ok Rotation "N," "X," "Y," and "Z Rotation. Profit per tten, 1914. Profit avt rage 5 year N (No manure or commercial fertiliitfr). X ( Maniire) Y (Commercial ft^rtilizer). . :■■••_••. Z ( Manure anil eiMiiineriial feriili«-t) .. 9 ctx. 1 H2 5 S7 ' 4fl >, 24 $ eta. 1 47* 788 fi !» fi77 •.Average two yt«nt only. TlKH^e results >liow a distinct ii('.vanta(re of barn.vurd manure ahine over con.- iner.ial fertilizer alone for this soil, but p..int ♦o the possibility of eombiniUL' the two to good advantase when barnyard manure is M-nrce or hijrh in price. The following fi.xe • Ihvu u-^wl iti ca'.'ulating the fore- going tal Ics and those of the Ka^'tern branch Farms and Stations. RKTITIN V.\l.l KS. per bushel. $ S4 per Inn. 4 Oil Oata ObI straw Hay Corn cnilnRi' Tnniipa iilul niaimfls rotBtoes KoritKe croiis (preen). Ox ra"'"'^' Iier buahel. . . . per ton. Kach ho.sc per month. Kach cow „ Ka' actual eost. Graaa and clover «ied chi -d at actual cost, distributed over tha number of years .n ha,, and pasture. Twine charxed at actual co.^t. Threshing ch.irijed according to actual labour expendod.. :4T:m— ;l 27 II ;!4 II 41 14 £XPEEIMEirrAI STATION, CHAELOTTETOWN, P.E.I. J. A. (^i.AHK, B.S.A., .Superintendent. SKASOXAL XOTES. i-ven the irorp tondor t.l.,.,t- Al ... I ', '"r^^'^'^' *»^<-^cnt .i.nw to piotuot ..ackward. j:^t£:T.r^^;:Tji:r^- "z^ '-^^ ^'-"- «•- -'<} --> YIELDS OF FIELD CROPS. Whf.it. ... .„ , Oats -" ""''htls. :s pounds |>er a,i« Barley.:.:'.; ."; " "2 ...7 •• go .1 I'otatoe.s.. .. „on •'- Mangels '. ■;;' " _-' Turnips.. .. -^ '""S 6"" Hay ; -' •• !••■'«« ' 2 •* i"** M intr ROTATIOXS. noticeaHo, and as s.,on as all tli,. ox-rvo d.'.i^v s.-od thnf ix in fl.„ „1 . . ' atod this tronld,...,,.,.. w.vd will ho ..nuli.'at.'d ^ """' ''"' ''""''"■ Sand «a« haiih.l fr...n th.. s..a>h„ro durinp tho winfor of 1912 an.l «nre-,d t., ■, """ *'• I ill' ,.ff,M-t has h, v.r.v .satisfaptorv, Oat« havp ffrnwi, ....^.1, v >tronporon th.- troatod aroa than upon adjarrnt p,„d land CWrjw T I """■'' (.r.,w,h thcTP than on any other land uu the sl!,t'„n ""''" '"■"'"^""" PREPAUATIOX.S FOR CrLTIRAL EXPERIMEXT!^. Jn order to ohtain i„fnrn,ati,.M r.^rarding the unif..rn>it,v of th.- M.il of tho nrcM spt apart tor on ,„r« an.l ..onnnon.ial fortili..or Pxpori.nent... the la.ul wa. WorkoT. oxonly as poss.hlo and na.re than :!(H1 plots won- stako.l oflT. Tht U aoro. for onlt r' work w,.r.. .own «Uh 15 or oats, an.l 4 aoros for fortiIi^cr o.<,K,ri,nc.nts w.ro I nt.' otl;..r fort'li/or was appli.Ml to an.v .,f th,. plots i„ mu. Thr ro.'ur.!s .h„u- , ., . is .•on«i.l..rahle variation i„ h,n.l that lo..|<. .1 fairlv uniform '^'"'^ IS DRAINAGE. The drilled drainage wells that provide outlets from the drains on certain small swamp areas continue to carry off all the surplus water. One has had to be cleaned ..ccasionnllj, as bnck clay oozed in. The work of draining the wet land of the Station was completed during the season, when a complete system of tile drains was installed throiiRhoiit more than 20 acres. There has been a great increase in the returns from such land since it has been draincl, and in many instances it has meant the difference between no crop and a hca^y yield of first quality grain. The land has been worked trora ten to fifteen days earlier than before it was drained, and requires less labour to get the same tilth. CLEARING AND FENCING. On the newer parte of the Station quite a little clearing and stumping was done, lences were erect,>d and roads opened. The favourable autumn enabled us to com- plete the work undertaken. EXPERIMENTAL FARM, NAPPAN, N.S. W. W. Baird, B.S.A., Huperinlendetn. SEASONAL NOTES. During the winter of 19l;i-14 a most satisfactory covering of snow remained on the ground from the 25th of December until the second week in March. During the latter part of Mar.-h and the first part of April, however, there was alternative thaw- ing and freezing which killed the clover and reduced the hav crop considerably April was unsettled throughout. May gave promise of being a favourable month but a .change took place toward the latter part, with the result that June came in very unseasonable with light flurries of snow and low tec>peratures. On the night of the :!rd the thermometer dropped to 2ti°, and the weather continued cold during th.- remainder of the month. July and August were undoubtedly the two best growing months. \ery favourable conditions existed until the latter part of September after w-hich time duJl, cold weather prevailed until the end of the sea.son, with the exception of occasional fine days. All grain was sown during the occasional fine days of the last week in May and the hrst of June. Germination was much more rapid this year than last, as the grain was sown only seven days before showing above the ground, whereas lust season it was from eighteen to twenty days. Ilo.vever, it did not make verv mn.-li growth until the latter part of July, when it came on very rapidly. This also holds true for corn. This season was very unfavourable for roots, esiwcially mangels which did not d.i well. Though there was no clover this season we had an excellent crop of timothy It produced on the upland an average of 2 tons 241 pounds per acre, and was of excel- lent quality. The marshland did not yield as well, but the hay was of as good quality as the timothy. YIKLDS OF FIELD CROPS. The yields of fiehl crops grown in ti.>ld lots and under regular fieltl conditions averaged as follows in 1914: — i'f"^:*'' 8 tons h-,07 po»n.l». T"""?* IS •• 431 '"orn in " 1893 •• MarghUind hay 1 ,on 'gcs ^P';"f '^•''J- -' .on, 241 " ^a^tf' 11 I'ush. 31 ■■ Barley .|; ,. ^} Mixed Kruln '!,. .. ,. I'otatoe, „:1 ., '* .. 74Tno-.^l ;• — ' " 1« ROTATION OF CROPS. A systomatic rotation of crops is a very iinnort..nt phase in the proper itiflnage- ment of a farm. There are many combinations possible. Three only have been selected for this and siirroundin.i? districts and all are now in operation. ROTATION- "b" (five YKAIts' DIRATIOS). First IVar.— Iloots or corn. Manured at the rate of 25 tons per acre. Se,o„H year.-y.rum. S«.ded down tHiiiiids timothy per acre. rhird IVar.-Clover hay. After which aftermath of clover is plouRhed under is the autumn. f'o»r//, IVar.-Graiu. Swded down witii 10 pounds red clover. 2 pounds alsike. and b pounds timothy per acre. Fifth rear.-Clover hay. IMouffiied in tiie autumn, back again to roots with manure at the rate of L'5 tons iwr a. . w o. wivu ROTATION "C" (FOUR YKARs' nlRATION). {•irst i ?ar.— Roots or <'oru. .Manured at the rate of ■>» tons per a.r,. 8ero,ui Vear.-V.ryuu Seeded down with 10 ,K.unds red clover, 2 iwmids alsik, and b pounds timothy pt^r iK-re. Third )Var.— Clover hny. Four//i IVar.— Pastured. Ploughed in the fnll f,.r r.ots. ROTATION " n " (TIIREK VK.Mis' IH HATIOx). Firgf Fpar.— R„„ts or corn. Manured at the rate of l.l tons per acre Second year.~(lr.,in. SccIed down with 10 pounds red clover. ■> ,muuds alsike. and •> pounds timothy |ht acre. Thud )Va/-.-(.'i..vcr hay. Aftermath plough,.! under in autumn fur roots or corn a^aia. "-via ur CO.ST OF PPiODPCTlON. this I',K,rt""" ''"'""' '""'' '" '■~""'^""'^' *''*'^'' '■'"^"''■^ '"•« enumerated on pa^c in of Tiiriiip* ... Knstl.ijTf, coin OutH .. Wheat 17 COMMEKCIAL FEKTJLIZEHS I OU TURNIPS. Five different varieties of turnips were sown in lots of 1 acre each. One-linlf of eat'li variety was fertilized with barnyard manure alone at the rate of 25 tons per :i. 'l"he other half received 25 tons of manure i)er aore, and an additional dressiiif; of •■ciinmercial fertilizer made up in the followiuK proportion : Siipcrphospbate. IJ pounds; Lone meal, Ij pounds; nitrate of soda, 1 pound, and muriate of potash, 1 pound. Thin was applied at the rate of 400 pounds jht acre. The results for this year are in aceordance with those for the previous year. This season only one variety gave a profit sufficient to compensate for the extra cost of the fertilizer. It is evident from the results of three consecutive years 'that there is little heiiefit derived hy the use of such a fertilizer in conjunction with barnyard manure for the growing of turnips. brp:.\kino new land. Some sixteen acres of new land were broken up during the summer months. The stun)i)s were very plentiful in parts, but well rotti>d, making the stumping quite easy. The piling and grubbing out of the second growth spruce and fir was the most tedious job. The land is free from stone, but is very rough, which will uwessitate two ploiigh- ings before it cnii k- cropped to any extent. It is also very wet, and should be iinder- draineil before acres, and when th' balance has Ih-cu cleared and |'!(i";ihed a great di-ai will be added to our workable land, which will improve the appearance of the Farm. EXPERIMENTAL STATION, KENTVILLE, N.S. W. S. Hl.AiK, Siii)piinleMlrnL CHARACTER OF SEASON. On tlu' whole the seaso.i has been favourable for field crops. Spring was late, anci seeding was n(. pos4ble until after the middle of May. During June, grain crops grew well, but owing to the cool weather corn made very slow growth. A late frost on June 4 damaged in some places the carly-sown corn, but at this Station the corn which was just .■oiuing through was iniharmcd, July was a dry month with only \i:> inches of rain, and growth was checked slightly. The precipitation during June being 4-2 in< hes, there was a good reserve of moisture for the cDps and they did not suffer as much as would have been the case had June l)een dry. July weather was cool and no hot drying winds prevailed, so that the moisture supply was not unduly depleted. August and September were goinl months for crops in general, and for the most part pniin crops were harvested iu good condition. September was warm and corn madi* rapid growtii. being fairly well matured when iiarvested. 18 that) FIELD CROPS. The fipld husbandry work at this Station during the past season has Ixvn largely t of firowinjc fodder com and grain far stock, also the clearing of land for future crops. No rotation work has been attempted and will not be possible until more land has '•ecu cleared. Fifteen acres have been cleared of green stumps ready for seeding ne.xt spring. OATS. Seventeen acres which had bivii cleared of grci'ii stumps ( iid ploughed in 191.T was harrM-.cd twice, after wliich all roots unearthed were pathcred, piled and burned. The sto' < were alx) removed. The land is only fairly uniform and is not very level. On May _'8 and :!() the field was sown to Banner oats at the rate of :5 bushels per acre, seeded down with S pounds red clover, 2 pounds nlsike, and S pounds timothy. Five acres uf this area received an application of complete fertilizer. This was made up of nitrate of so(li>, acid i)hosphate, and muriate of potash which contained 4 per cent of nitroficn, S per cent of phosphorus and .'> per cent of potash. It was sown broadcast at tlu> rate of 4*" pounds per acre, and liarrowed in before seeding;. Growth was uneven but a fair stand of clovers and grass was .secured. The grain was har- vested on Septembi'r !> and 10, and the following yields resulted:— a acrra Itaniur oats (with fi'rtilizci I ■ 12 ac-rett liaiiner oatH (no fertilizer) . Total Yi»-I , ■ :ir is light and of medium fertility. It was cleared of t'l'-cn stumps in 1011 and produci^d a crop of buckwheat in 1012, wliich was ploughed udcr. Potatoes were grown in 1!>1:!, the land receiving an appli- cation of complete fertilizer at the rate of .100 pounds per acre. This area consists of strips .10 feet wide lieiween the orchard trees which are 40 feet apart. The corn wa-i 2.'l 22.^ 19 The total yicM of corn was liJO tons or an averape of 12 tons i«'r acre. The Compton's Early gave a little higher yield i>er aere than tlic Loiisfeilow but was not as well matured at the time of harvest. The soil of the upiK-r part of tin- field is a little better than the lower part which accounts for the heavier growth of the former. Be3i1.es the corn on the lower area was frozen on October 1 and dried out before harvesting, which lessened the yield somewhat. On the whole, the corn was fairly mature when harvested during the last week of September and the first week of October. TIRXIPS. On June 3, 2 acres of. turnips were sown on land that had been in turnips the previous season, as no other suitable land was available. In the orchard 2 acres adjoin- ing the corn were prepared and sown to turnips on June 11. Both areas were manu.ren cleared of stuni|)s duriiip the past season. Eiphti-cn acres of this will be ready for i-rop next season, the other 2 acres beinjr eleare^l fur the road and fence. The cost of <-!earinK one 7-acre block of this land, which it is proposed to plant with corn next .vear was as follows: — 4:0 nounda dynamite at 1^ (tins } T.'> 60 Fuse, l,2ri0 fei't 1 1 2."i Caps, 1.0(10 . . . . \-2 :,tt I'.vnamitinif fil ^.'i • 'uttiiiK !» I'louBhinK iM i:, KetnoviiiK stone 10» T.", HarrowinK, pllinn. and burning rciis .... 37 3.'. Cross iJloughlnK Rs :.n Utmovinir roots and Mone T» :ifl Marrowinit and removinK roots ill" 80 Ti.liil .ost rf)r 7 .irr.K t 1,.".S7 .".4 Cost per acre ;;-t; -j EZPEBIMENTAi. STATION, F&EDEKICTON, H.B. W. \V. Ht liBAiin, Stiiiprinli iidint. W K ATI! EK COX I UTION S, The winter was colder than the uveruKe. with spells of intense cold almont unpre- ci-.'■« deprivs, ajrainst an averaKe for tlie lu.st forty years I'l.r iliese months of IH dewrees. Tlie snowfall was not above the luciMge on the wli .le, but an even blanket of snow .uvere.1 the ground from DcceniU'r Ji till .\i.ril U». Tlii- re>idt was frost did not penetrate as ib'cply as in more o;xt) winters. ,\pril was a cold, backward nioiith, with a below zero rei'ord of -~:\'> di^'ri-es on the ,Mh; cold liigli winds, and with a precipita- tion of 4 r.4 inches, nearly twice the average for the month. May continui'd c..ld and " imiv. with a niiniinwm record on the 1st of J4 degrees, and frosts on the .'nd. .".tli, Ttb, Mil. r.'th, rifh. and L'Hth. There were some warm days, the thermometer reaching .sft degrees oil tlw :.'t>lh. There was only one-ibir.i of (be normal precipitation that month, and conditions were most favourable for cultivation. Vegcliitioii wns very backward, and cold weather continued through .luno and until .luly 22. when 44 ilegrees waii l»conlerop gave an average of 22ii bushels per acre. A portion of the crop could not be gathered for threshing on ac«ount of the large quantity of roots in the stubble. BrcKWllKAT. Seven and one-half acres of buckwheat were sown on June 27 upon land newly cleansl and plonulicl. at the rate of 1 husliel per acre. Two hundred and twenty pounds of 2 5-8 fertilizer per acre was sown with the seed. The total yield was 13S bushi'ls. At no time vas the crop vigorous. The land was very rougli and uneven, and conditions were not very favourable. TIR.MPS. F.ight acres of turnips were smvn upon land that had been in corn tho previous vear, and was again used tor a l.oed crop, as it was mi full of mustard as to be unfit for anything cl^c. The land was nianurctl at the rate of .1.5liushel loads of hors^ stable nuinure per aero for corn, and had in addition 4HH pounds of fertiliser of a a.B-lO-.l.ri mixture. After the corn was removed che land was plouRhc worketl early, and at interval?", with drag and disc harrows. Sixteen li.l-bushel loads of horse-staide miinurc wen' applied and incorporated with the soil. Three Inindred pounds of basic slug were apidieil broadcast and the land was then ridged up xlightly with a potato planter. At the same time 2(15 pounds of fertilizer, annlyciofr 3 per cent nitrogen, 10 per cent phosphoric aeid anil 4 per cent potash were applied. The ridpes Kcrc tluii nn't-l and the sefsl ~-wr. v-ith n hand ^^nwcr st thi- rsf*' nf 4 IHiunds to the acre, a quantity which was found to be insufficient in portions of th«« lii'Ied«d. T47:'.0 M 99 To test the value of the fertilizer appliej in addition to the horse manure and basic sIek. one-half acre d.d not receive any chemicals. This area was checked with « half-acre aU-uR side that had received the full dressing of chemicals. The -xtra y.eld per acre obta.ncd by the use of the commercial fertilizer was 43 bushels and 20 pounds winch at 10 cents per bushel would be $4.34. The fertilizer co.t $4.h9 The total crop from 8 acres was ISn tons .iSH pounds or 7..".l'700 bushels. The uverasro y.eld per acre was !M<..S Inshcls. The total cost of labour for raisiuK' and harvestiuR the H acrc.s of turn.ps, was $:l(iO.«(i. $4.".,,s per acre. $1.!U per ton or 4-8 cLL p r Sl(iAR BKKTS. Thrt-e varieties r.f su^^ar beets were j-rown. The land was in corn in 1914. man- ure,! at the rate of e.^ht...,. X, bushel loa.ls of hors,.-st«ble manure ,H>r acre and 468 poun. s crt>l,:..r of a n.fMO-.'"...^, mixture. After the cornVas remon.l the la d was stS mamr '" ^ " ^'V'f "' r" ""^''"' ""'''■ ""'^'^^ ^S-bushel loa.ls of trsl stable manure were appii,.,! ui.,1 .ncorporat.nl with the soil. The s«.d was sown in row-s. 30 „,c u^ apart, on Juno 12. The iuter-n.w cultivation was nn.rent ami the beets were th.nncl to S i„..|„.s apart. They were lmrv..te,i o„ October 31 and the followinjr are the varieties and yields:— V..riftv. Vilmorin B. ViliiKiriii .\ Trw Rich.- , YiolJ per acre. Tom. M). 12 10 10 200 l,."Wft AOO BiuheU. 4817 410 t.miioTs. tbi« ^Hr,,';;'!';!"!^ , T'"" ^"'l '"■""" "" '""■' '•■""'''^'»- ^"••'♦•^'- l«'t season «n.l 1;, .. r > "'T' ^""'^^ "'*"" *'"'*"• Thinning was done to 4 i«.-hes iipatt. and the following are the varieties and yields [wr acre:— Varii*ly. OiMt Whit* VowM Impnivi-d Shiirt White Mkinoth White Int<'riii tons por acre, and the stalks when cut on the 1st October were fairly well eared and the kernels were in the thin milky stage, the height of stalk Iwing from 8 to 9 feet. This corn was kept well eultivatwl and reoeivebbler were planted for table use on the 12th May. The rest of the crop was planted from the 12th to the a.'tth June. The potatoes were kept thoroughly cultivated before and after appearing above ground, and in some place* where couch was bad hand-hoeing was resorted to. Mustard was hand pulled all through the season as it 8ppcare6 • 404 B n 4C0 134' UM- BO S,34S-W Yield iirr acre. Hiwhek. 300 6 iiU9 6 1.10 7 xa 8 MS'S M67 MS- SI*' 100' m* Leaving out the cx|K'rinientjil plots of l!ti;l wliieli had no fertilizer this year and f„ni. ..f thnsT whirh li;ui iioiir Ir-i ('-nly *>it'- hi!vii;p =-.-.mi>lH«' fcrti'.i-pre laft ?ea?oii) and the early ixitatoes |K'r acre for the crop was 241 :( bushels. It should also le I'on- KJiiereil that the fifty-three plots which were lieing ti-iteil for relative fertility and 74736— 4» 84 the land bctwoon the |.1„U aggregating i\ acres had no fertilizer whatever. The balance of tho crop, i.uinoly, U acres yielded at the rate of 272 bushels per aire. cli-:ai{IX(j IvWI). Tiiirty ac rea of hind ploiisjlu-d lust year was picked over for stone and rooU before seedniK Fifty-six i.crcs were stiiniped niul lell rea.iy for cropping in l!»l.-> at a toti.l cost of IM.805.24. Sonic of this land was very rocky, both boulders and small stone abounding. The brcakia^ up of tiicsc bouKl, rs nnd the removal of the stone added very materially to the .ost of clearing the land. Part of the land was quite free from -tone, and the size and iitinil)er of stunijis per acre varied. The pnxedure tollcv,,-,! vas to bicak up th«" boulders and to sliatter the stump- with stumping iKiwder (a 40 per cent dynamite); then to haul away the stone so I Token up and other .-tunc on the surface, and t.. pull out what was left of the stumps with teams, usiiij.- u .iirect hileh. These stumps were then piled and burned, after which the land wa.< piouglicd. A power .stump puller, cii;iiibl( of lifting 25 tons was tried and did its work well so far as the pulling of any siz.'d green or dry stump, with one horse on the sweep, was coiicerneil. It was found, howexer, that it cost more to handle the stump brought out in this way with its roots full of earth than to break it up with dynamite before extracting. Many stunij.s re.piire.l a full half day's work of one man to get the earth pounded off the roots after tlir.-,' men and a horse had ^.^^nt from fifteen minutes to half an hour in fastening the tackle and pulling it out. After the clearing process was c.mpleted there was always more or less cutting to be done with an axe before the stump could be piled for burning. By using stumping pow.ler, one man with a crowbar and tamping stick would plant the stumping pow.ler, nttaeliing cap and fuse, at the rate of a stump in three minutes, the powder would ci.st from 10 to :',:, cents per stump, and with a man who understood the w..rk the stump would k- pretty well torn up and the earth all shaken away from the root Then two men and a pair of hors.-s would pull out the piec-s of the stump and root- ib >ut as fast as the chain could be fastened to them, releaseil and taken hack. It was f. 1 that when the ground was wet the explosive tan very much more efTective than in dry soil. The average cost jier acre of cutting bushes, burning them and other refuse, breaking up stones, stuiiii. removing and burning, ploughing and ta.ving out all stones t,.uehe.l by the plough, harrowing, picking off ror)ts. etc.. and pun-hase of .l,vtumiite, leaving the ground ready for cropping, was $,S«.S>< p,.r acre Oifferenf areas varied a )rsU were aU built, as vvell as im rods of special .5-f,M,t woven wire poultrv fence put above lose boarding 2 feet high. Temporary wov, „ win. fen-'iiig. stretelwd on stakes, to the extent of S-W rods was erc-ted to inclose pistiircs. as w..|| as Mil rod- of l\we .strands of hiirln-d wire Thi. fencing necessifaf.d lli,- seltiiia of r.'r, tiirned -whir jaxt^, :'.1(> p!.iiij n>,Ur p,-„t. nnd ■'-'•''' -,'",'■'"'• M '"' ^''''''' """' """' '"'■"*•'■ "'"••'•'""K post.. The season's fencing aggre- gated 2-1 miles of pernuMcnt fence and 1 mile of temporary ffn,f.«. 25 DRAINAGE. From five to twelve men were fairly steadily emplnyed digging drains and laying tiles from May till Xovenibtr, and about 30 acies were uuderdraiued. On much of the land the tilea were laid 30 feet apart. A good deal of the work the past season luis been in laying mains preparatory to next season's work, and in draining wet spots that it is desired to crop. These drains have been so placed us tn become part of the eiimplete system. .\ll t.le have been laid at least 3 feet below the surface, and the drains indtalled are doing excellent work. Some of the work was done by contriict. but in no case was it possible to get the cost as low as has been reportcil for drainnge work in some places. There was very little free digging. Nearly everywhere after the first foot of soil was removed it was pick work and considerable dynamite was necessary in the case of boulders. The wiiole Station between the Canadian Pacific railway and the St John river was surveyed for drainage purposes by Mr. W. R. White, and the work will be proceeded with systematioally from year t year. IFerewith is a st-Uement of I'ic tiles laid and cost: — Number. Tilei, 17,230 thrae-ineh Tile*. 5,344 four inch. . Tile*. 1,096 tix-inoh l>abuur Dynsmite, tu paiwr, etc Cfrt. Kodi. $ OU. 403 90 160 10 labKt 2,676 33 IB 48 3,433 06 1,044 324 66 i,4:m EXPERIMENTAL STATION, STE. ANNE DE LA FOCATIEBE, QUE. Joseph Begin, Supenntendenl. WEATHER CONDITIONS AND CHOP NOTES. The season of 1014 has b««n remarkable for the suiWon and pronounced vtrit tiiiits in ti'ni|M'raturc. There was little snow during the winter, which was ■■ ili.s- of March left the ground bare. April was so en' Iciuiid at a depth of 4 inches. May and •lime, hciii.' vcr- utile for work on the land, which was not coniniciii-(>. and thouirh tlie precipitation viiis hut 4'.'1 iiu'lics. both soil prcpiiration ai.d sii-ding were retardinl. The rainfall of July and Allpu^t was (i.t!4 and 104 inches resix .-tivclv. This drouglu, whi<-li was withont precedent, caust'd the grain to ri|x'n cnrly which resiiltcd in a ivoticcable decrease in the crop. The r'traw wih *frv short hut the grain tilleil well and WHS 01 good qualify. The yields of h:iy, roots, and corn were iH>or. The resulti are ns follows: — Hay- -1 ton (WO iioinids |x'r acre. Corn — 4 tons •.'(•<» jHiunds |H-r acre. Roots — \i tons !»."i7 iHiunds jier acre. Oiifs — 31 ••.' certain extent to the light dressing of manure applied to plots D and C in 1912, but above all it is due to thorough cultivation and the des- truction of weeds. -Mo ■iHtvcr. the seis)nd cut on these same plots gave a yield of 1,400 pounds per ac-re compared to 40"> pounds on an adjoining acre of the same nature. From tliis is will be seen that pr<)|X'r tillage is not only a benefit to the nex* "rop but also to subse()ueiit ones, especially in the case of excessive dryness, as ha- "".n proved during the past summer. A well-tilled soil absorbs and retains a good reserve of moisture from the -spring rains which jjrcMliices better crops in dry seasons. On tha other hand, proper cultivation aids in the evaporation of excessive moi.sture. COMPARISON OF YIELDS AND COST OF OATS FOLLOWING ROOTS AND PASTURE. We have recorded separately the cost of production of 20.33 acres of which 6-33 acres were in roots in 1913, namely, "A" 1, "C-D" 1, "C" 1, and "D" 1. These four i>l its had received in 1913 a dressing of manure v&lued at $3 per acre per year. The 14 acres in comparison were in pasture the previous year. The .vhole area was of exactly the same nature and of equal fertility (less the manure), and all was worked in the iiiitumn. The quality and quantity of seed sown per acre was the same. The work >>f preparing and seeding were similar, and the grain was sown on 11th, 12th, and 13th of May. The comparati-^e yields are as follows: — Comparison of Yields and Costs of Oats Grown on Hoot and Pasture Land. 0«U (aftm ronta) . . . . Oata (Kft<>r |jutur») . Are*. Acn*. 14 Yielii Cost to produm. Per Bcre. Per buih. Lb. ir.9ao 17104 Bu.h. hh. JX 29 S8 a • ct«. 18 30 18 30 eta. 84 TB 4360 COST OF PKOnrcTION. The ' »\ Per l.i.-l„.|. eta. 8 Trt 27 DESTRUCTION OF COUCH GRASS. An old meadow on ilay 8 drains were placed at an average depth of 3 teet 2 inches tinder ground and nt a greater depth for the main drains according to the level of the outlets. IMPROVEMENTS. Good wire and painted cedar posts were used in the building of more than 900 Tinh of fence. A larf'c ((uantity of stones from different fields were gathered and used in the j.aving of the barnyards, low places in the roads and the apiironclics to the ham. Six acres of tinii cro«l lun.l were cleareil and stunii'ed and partl.v cleared of stones. EXPERIMENTAL STATION, CAP ROUGE, ftUEBEC. G. A. Lanuklikh, :!luparinii'ndeiit. THE SEASON. The main foature about 1914 was the dr<>\iglit which lasted all through July and until .\iigust U. This cut down the yield of hay and the stock-<-arrving capacity of I ii>lures very nuicii. Corn, which is grown only for enr^ilage in this district, did very well and was much better tliiin for the last tliri'c vears. Carmts. maniicls, and sugar l.e.>ts seemed to suffer from the In.-k of precipitation in the earlier i '"-t "f the season, and gernination was very i>oor. Swe.h-. us i> ciistomaiy around licic. forged ahead during the warm days and cool ninlit< of Seiiteml>.T and (Icl-.'er. and the i-rop was a litf'o better than usual, tlmugli bad weather increi-e 1 verv niudi the c, st of lifting and storing them. The grain, with over half nn incii of rain ilurinn tlic latter part of May, stiutcil very well, and what was sown early e-^caiied the linil ctTects of the dry ,^„,;,|„.r ,,f f}„> ,„i,ld!f of the smniMiT, .\s the nercuge of corn fi.r sihi; ;• und of roots Is small in central (Jeubcc, anil a* the .Top of hay was very light. ro\ighage will be very scarce and high in price. The last frost, 29.2* occurred on May 17, though the thermometer fell to Sgs" on June 2. The tirst one, in the autumn, was on September 29, when 27.2° was registered. The highest temperature was on August 11, 92° and the lowest, exactiy six months before, on February 11, -30.7°. CROP YIELDS. All crops yielded above the average, with the exception of hay, which gave about W per cent less than u.sual. on account of the drought of the middle of summer. FIKI-D CHOP ABEAS AND YIELDS, CAP ROUGE, 1014. Crop. V'arit ty. Ooni . . Tnmipii Okta V^hMt . Barley Pau Longfellow Good Luck Banner Huron .Maochurian. . Arthur Selecli"). Hay ICIovCT . " 'Timothy Acrrage. ToUl Yi.ltl. 17 yi 10 »t 14'(i8 1 7H 1 9.; 2fi!l 19 37 12 03 .•H9,W2 LU. 90i>M3 „ m,m) ., 3,5:tt values as oiitliiird on pnifc U hnv.. been iiscl. ROTATION OF CROPS. A good rutiitioii must not only p;ive an ininiediato profit, but should be n w«>c(l destroyer nnd m uniiiitaiiipr or improver of fertilllv; in .•boo.sing it. „ jm rson will also Uke tbe one best ncbipted to the i)ro.iMetion of ro'ifihuge and concentri>tes iiccording to the parti<'.iljir needs. The foliywing rotations >tiirted in I'.tll. have been contiuuml this year:— HDTATION "d" (TllltKK VIM.-ildc. 29 ROTATION "C" (FOITR YEARS* DI'RATION). Firat Year. — Swedes. Sixteen tons biirnyiird manure per acre. Second Year. — Oats. Seeded down with 12 pounds timothy, 8 pounds red clover, and 2 pounds alsike per ncre. Third Fear.— Iliiy. Fourth Year. — Hay. ROT.*TION "k" (six YKARs' DfRATlOU). First Year. — Swedes. Twenty-four t 12 fi7 1 15 rrf( Increar* in four veum 7 <«l 1 10 50 ' 4 7) Ptrcpntap- of incn-n-H 42 OMJl inn :«• Total cost per acre, for all tlirec rotations $21 OS Tot:il cost per ncre for a 11 tliri'c rotations. liiti 21 00 It is interesting to note thaf ihc returns increased t'loni 'M to H'.i per cent, whiitl the cost did not increase by 1 per cent. 80 PLAXTIXC POnOKB CORN IN DRILLS AND MILLS. Since 1911 inclusively, ull the com (Longfellow) grown for silage on 39-40 weighed. The following table givoa details:— COR.V FOR EXSILA(;K PLAXTKD IN DRILLS AND HILLS, CAP ROl'OK, 1914. Mftliud of PlkiitiiiK. Yield 1914. Avenig* Yield 4 years. In dnllk 48 inchen apart, 8 inches between iiUnU <2 » „ 8 „ „ „ In hills 42 ..36 „ , Total RATES OF SEEDING. RATKS OF SKEDINf? OATS. Twonty-six plots, of one-sixtieth acre were used in 1913. and in 1914. the experi- ment was duplicated for each ,„.«ntity sown, which was from 1 to 4 bushels per acre going up by qiiartera of a busliel. It is interesting to note that on sandy loam soil, in this district, a rather heavy seeding is rcpur.Hl. as th.. avcrauv yield from all .,ua,itities of ^,] hclow 2i bushel, per acre is l.fiHl p„unds. whilst it is 2.040 pounds when the quantitv of seed was over triis iiniount. RATKS OF SKKniNC rLO\ KR AND TIMOTHY. In 1912 and 19i:{ forty-four plots of one-sixtieth acre each were u^^d. Half of then, wen. seeded with 12 pounds of timothy. S pounds of red clover., and 2 pounds of aK,hc per acre and the others with half of this quantity. Oats were u.s.,1 as a nurse crop. The full scc.lmg gave an average of 2.191 pounds of hay per acre, and the half seeding 2.040 pounds. YIKI.D OK IlAV WIIKN MUSK CROP IS SOWN AT nlPFKRK.VT RATKS. Inl912 and 191:! f,r.,v-,.i«ht plots of onc-sixticth acre each were u.scd. oafs hei,,.' , .,, , . , ". -■ * !>*•'■■ "'■■■«■■ P""'"!-' i"|) by quarters of a bi;«h..I. ;in,l seeded lown with 12 pounds timoth.v. S pounds red clover, and 2 p lun.ls a'sike p,.; sown at from 1 to 4 bushel down with 12 pounds tiiuoth. . ^ mo.^t noteworthy tiling about the results is that fl vhcre less tli:m 2\ bii- more than this (|u;uitity was sown. acre. The , , - ■ • 'lifre was 24 per cent more bi nil average, from the plots where less tli:m 2k bu-licls of oats wen crop than on the plots where on Used lis a nurse YIKLD OK llAV WITH DIKKr.llKNT MUSK ("ROPS. It wa., ..een above that the heavy seeding ..f oats produced more erain. but le., ..ay the following year. .\u experiment was started in 1912 and continued in liM.'t when all the trial plots of cereals were see.led down with a mixture contuiui.r' 12 SI Ihiuiid.s timothy, 8 pounds red clover, and 2 pounds alsikc per acre. The following table shows that oats is not as good a nurse crop as peas, barley or wheat: — Kind of grkin. Pom.. iUrlrv Whmt U»U.. Number tried In 1912. 10 1» 14 '.2 ^'fil !'_!!''' Nmnbertriedl '^'■r''' °L^»y r> 1»13. Lb. 4,930 4,740 4,320 2,(iliO In litis. 15 10 ?er acre n VtU. Lb. 2.650 2,Oi>7 l.iNM 1,488 Avenye y'v Id jirr acre for 1913 *nd 1914. Lb 3,78(1 S,3t)8 3,144 2.074 EXFESIHENTAL FABM, BBANSON, MAN. W. C. McKiLLic.\N, B.S.A., Svperintendent. SEASONAL CONDITIONS. The scoMn of 1914 has boen rather a hard one in Manitoba. The sprinpr was favourable, though somewhat cool, and until July 1, crops were doing well. .July and August were extremely hot and windy, and with a shortage of moisture these con- ditions caused too rapid ripening of grain crops and a liglit crop of corn and roots. The early rains ensured a good first cutting of hay but there was no second growth except of alfalfa and it was light. New .seeding of grasses and clovers did very poorly until after harvest, when favourable weather brought an improvement. ROTATION OF CROPS. The eight crop rotations under test at this Farm have all Wn uiiilor full opera- tion this year, and interesting results have been obtained. nor\Ti')\.s AND "b" (each of KOIR YK,\Rs' DIIUTION). First Year. — \Vhc;it. t^ecoiul Year. — Wiieat. Third l'seut typical Manitoba grain gro\vin. .ixturc of .". pounds of timothy and 8 pounds of red clover per acre. Tlie fourth year, there is a crop of hay, mostly clover A« soon as It ,s remowl, tl,e aftom.ath is used for pasture. The fifth year is pasture, up till bout the middle of July or first of August, when the aftermath of the hay field IS ready to carrv the stock. The pasture is then manured and ploughed under There having been only two years of grass, the sod is not very hard to plough and does not need to U- l„i.k.„p The land u-^r-d {-..r n.tatinn " G " h hravv day h.arn This rota- tion was the first started on the Farm, and has been in full operation several vcars ntid IS gi'ing good results. 33 ROTATIOX " 11 '■ (SIX Yb.MIS' DLBAilo.N). First Year. — Whout. Second Year. — Wlieat. Third Year. — Siimiiier-fullow. Fourfh Year. Outs. Fiflli Year. \\,:y. Sixth Kear. Pasture. Six tii'lds of 41 acres carli arc used for r(it:iti"ii '" tl." This rotation is !>uitabli for a furia whcri> ({rain is still the principal cr.pp. but wiierc iui.v and piist i-e are desired for 8to<,'k. It has no lioed crop and is therefore suited to the farmer who con- siders a hoed crop inipracti<'»l)k- undi-r present hibour <'onditious. miTATIdN •' I '■ (six YKAHs' ULHATIO.V.) First Year. — Klax. Maunnd. Second )'(ar.— Oats. Third Yeiir. — Suninicr-fallow. Fourth Year. — Wheat. Fifth Year.— \h,y. Sijcth Year. — r.istture. Rotation " I " is siniihirly located to rotation " II." and is much like it in char- acter. The chief difference is the use of fla.x on sod in>tead of wheat. IIOTAIION "v" (kKJIIT VI.AIIs' DIUATION). First Year. — Hoots and peas. Manured preceding fail. Second Year. — Wheat or oats. Third Year. — IFa.v. Fourth Year. — Hay. Fifth Year. — Pasture. Sixth Year. — Pasture. Seventh Year. — Pasture. Eighth Yenr. — I neon feed and npe. Five acres of poor Rravelly upland are allotted to each field of this rotation. It is inteiuied to make use of this poor land for a sheep raiu-li. In this dry unfavourable year the results have been poor. ROTATION " W " (TK.y YEARs' DURATION). First Feor.— Wheat. Second Fear.— Wheat. Third Year. — Corn or roots. Manured. Fourth Year. — Oats. Fifth Fpar.— Barley. Sixth Year. — Alfalfa. Sown alone. Seventh Year. — Alfalfa. Eiphfh IVar.— Alfalfa. Ninth I'ear.— Alfalfa. Tenth Year. — Alfalfa. Plou^'hcd up in mid-summer. This is distinctly an alfalfa rotation. For the use of this crop it is i)p«'pssnry to have a lonpr rotation, as the alfalfa is expensive to seed, and takes some time to reach its hiKhest production. This rotation would be best suited to a dairy or stock farm, as half the land '9 under alfalfa. 34 The soil on which rotation " W " is used is heavy clay. The first year wheat is ine tir>,t cuttwiK of the last year of alfalfa was taken off. After fail plouKhinir another root*, following the h.H-d crop, oats is sown, without ploughing. Following the oats i. .::: wuhout'r^^r:. ':^ tC f:^ :^:; ^^ :;;;:?; rj-., ^^-^ -^ r-- -''-'^^ " .hown itself For eaeh of the«" rotati-.ns ponipieto reoords have hoen kept of all iten,« nf ^.t < OSTS, RKTI RNS, A.ND NET PROKITS Of RdTATIONS " n," " E." " f " " Q '• « „ » « I » " „ " « ^ " Rotation. 'D" (Kdtir yiMri, dur« ' K " ( Four •F'MKive •(J "Si, •H"Six ■ t " 8i. ■ 4_" KiKht • w " t™ RevBnim pet S cu. 13 61 3 U 12 11 4 ID 21 07 K i:< 21 00 » .•»2 13 40 6 L'4 12 40 4 46 6S3 — I I« 33 86 2U 20 Profit or loM p»T acre. t eta. Tlu. following' tix..,| val.u.s are l-.i,,^ used in this and similar work here and at the oth.T prairio braiirli I'arnis and Stations:— IIKTIHV VAI.lKsl. What (f'Oin the- machine) '. . .^, ik <. H,iil.y •• ., *°- Oata •• •• .. '<■■ reaa •• •• ., *''■ Klax •• •• \' ■ „ '•"• Timothy hny ' . ,,, .'^'• Ited (lover hny . . "".."'" »'« "» Alfalfa hav ,. J" "" Uron.e ilrai.. hay .. , "" W.-«l,r.. I(y« tJraaa hay „ " "? .Mixr.1 hay '" ""' ■ ire.n hay .' .' .. "> "O ("at i>iraw ' [ .. 10 00 Harley ulraw . . . . - "" Wheal straw .' ' ' " ,_ * "« I'ea (ilraw " ' *" Kl«x ulraw ',', ' ' " '■^ "" liry .orti KtaIkH ■■...... \ .'. ^"*' ("oni fimiliiKr _ f> 00 MaiiKela anil turn |)» .. ' *"• HUKar bfet« „ 3 00 I'MHlure, eHih horni'. . . t 00 per fnoiiih. } 24 35 CoBT Values. Rent. Barnyard manure spread on fleUlB (charge<1 equally over ail yearn of the rotation) i,<.r inn Seed wheat ,'" ' "' Seed oata '.'.'.'. l-er ai re. Seed barley .........! (All other seeds to be charged at autual coat. ' Cost of grass seed to be charKed e.) Threshing (covering work from stook to granary) Wheat .11, Oats I.cr bush. .per acre, .per hour. .per hour. Barley. Klax.. fcas.. 00 1 DC 60 19 27 34 n 48 7 tlLTI'HAL KXPERI.MKNTS. The extensive system of ciihiiral ex|K'riHU'iit.s iuaiiguratod on this Farm in 1'Ml u. Jh.i„p .■ot.tiM.ted from .vcur to >..„•. Vor.v litlU- i„ the wa.v ,.f coiielusi>, reMiits i>„- hn-n obtained as yet. The following comments will give soinp idea of the scope ..f this wiirk. DEITII or PU>UGHIN(]. Vario.ts depth., fr.,m 3 to H inches and stil.sollinK 4 inches are cotnimr.Hl in suninuT-fallow ploughing in this experiment. Xo derisive resi.lts are apparent r« yet ex<'i>r>t that the effect of the siibsoiling hu.s hccn injurioii.« rather than otherwiw " A tcHt of ploughing sod .1, 4, and r. inches deep has shown tiiat the greater depth' have been more effective in subduing the graM. Sl'M MKR-|r.M.I.OW TRK.\TMKNT. Seventeen different methods are being tried, but nothing onel.iMve »p.,e,irs a« yet in the results, STI IIBI.K TltK\TMK\T. Ten methods of tn-ntinjr whent stubble, to be m.wii to wheat again, nre leiujr tri. .1 So f„r. fall ploughing has somewhat of an advantage over spring ploi.gbii.g but the dtfT.reni-e 1. not at all decisive. Three different treatments of atubble for o.il. luive not brought out anything conclusive. NKKIM.Vd TO ORA«SKS, AND CI.OVKHH. Six preparatory trentinents of land for grass and clover sown with iiur^c en.i, „i,.| five for sowing without mir«e crop are being tried. Belter results arc beiog ol.tHined without nurse crops than with them, but not enough better to coiuiMMis;.te for the 1,-s of the grain crop, (irass and .•lover sown on well cultivate*] corn laii.l give* |«,.t r.-Milts. summer-fallow d.,cs next U-t. and grain land n..t cp.ite so well. il,„iiii;i .„ti- factory catcheB are obtained even with the third crop of grain. BKKAKlXd son or Cl I.TIVATKFJ (IHASSKg AND CLOVriW. Land has Uvn seede.l d,.wn with a mixture of timothy, western rye graia., rtd clover, and alfalfa, and U being broken up in eight different ways. 36 Al-IM.Il ATIUN OK milNVAKl) MAM UK. GHKKN MAM RING. r.iio^i,::"::;ur:;:;.r.S;;:;/;:i;;::/^:::^:- •■;;;^- i-a^ «.,..... «„, .„„„..e. -^'"ure has jrivn best r....„l,. so "«r summer-tallow with barnyard SEKr)-IIKn PRKIWHATION. 'I..' differo,u-o l„.i,.ff ..ntirT-lv 1,1 ,'. r ."^ ""'I I' "i.«hinB an- the s.une i.. all ,.;,,«*. <;.".d preparation ha .;„ TdceTd . Tk t"" "* "''' '^■^'"' "^ '^^' '"'"•' "' -'-Ji"* lion muni i;..u ... :^._ .""." '^^'^.'^'*^ .>dva..tage over poor, but extraordinary prepara- tion made little or no additional in„.roveme.,t soil, PACKERS. r.. J:r£r:i.::i!::":rsS X::!r^jf "-r '^-^ ^^ "-^-^ - — . tried. Kesults in this e-xperi^nt Lw an „. 1 t"'' '■^' ",'.' '"" "'""'''"■"*f "" '>-"'« .-•lo, I:;:':;;;*:di;:«r •^'""""'■'■*' ""' *■'«*" ""'^"*"-' "•'•'^- The draining ,.,. UAThH or SKKr)|.NO— ALFALKA .own on .Nfay got an exeellent -tar"! ,1,::. . .? .!:..- '^''^'^ ^^2 °" ^''ly l-".. Tho,e . .. an exeellent -tart; thoM- on Ii,n« T 7 ^ " '""'' '•*• ^''-^e ot. Jnly ,. very poor; and on -.ui; iJj'rin;:,' :, ^^ailure 'Z "' """" """'' --at hent u„A -t.,.„..i.. : r . '"P"^''" """"ure. In a seawu sueh «> advantage. ,Hu „.^.i„ ^,, h™, .„, d™.iv;: „.:;r;r,:H;r.;:,;:i;:-s r - great DATM or SEKni.Nu— ri.AX. lIlO" 37 QIAVTITIKS OK SKKD — Al.KAI.FA. UilkrtMit nit.s of sowiiitr lillalfii lii.tli for hiiy pruduction ar.d tor seed produo- tiuii wiru tri(rl this y:\r. All lots gcriniiiiitid wtll mid iiiiide a Kt>od growth this jtjir. Some iiiforniali i -liould he available on this iiiiotion next year. VI ANTlllKS of SKKD — Fl.AX. yuiiiititiun of set-'d var.viiiK from is |)o\iiids to lis iiouiids of tlax per acre were tried. Fr(Piii this and other seasons' results the eoael^l^ioll is riaehcj thut 28 pouudu IKir acre is about the proiK'r n sninmer-rallow germi- nated ipiiekly and made a good even stand, while later-sown graiti on fall and -priiiR (iloiighing germin.ited very iinevetily with the result that iti many places there wan a considerable second growth. .Tiily and August were very dry, with the ri'snlt that The frost oti August lowered Imfh the nualily a result of the dry weather and fro>t the cen nU was completed one month earlier than the prev- — - .ii«o caused a very light yield of ha.v, atiil roots ai:d are large enough to allow of ealiMilatiiig the eo»t of labour, etc., and to estimate the revenne anil profit jH^r acri'. RIITMIOS "c" (TtlKKK VK*R»' III RATIO.n). Firiil )'«'rtr.— Sniiinier-fallow. Sfroiiil Yiar. Wheat. Third Yinr. Whent. This is u grain grower's rotation, as it does not provide any fe<>d for live stoik. At prc'ent this urrungeincnt gives iit^ a gcMiil average yield \wt acre. This season the proHt |ier acre on the whole rotation was $:i.i!l. and the average for three years was f."..6n. The objection to this rotiitioii i- that it does not leliirn »• gctable m.itfer or plant f.Kid to tlie soil and, as might be expected, the land U'com.-s badly iiife»tcd with weeds. 38 ROTATION "j" (six years' UIRATION). Firxt Fpor— Siini;iu>r-fallow. ■•^fronil lV<;r.— Wheat. Tliird IVar.— Wlieat. /■'oiirfh )-,.„r.— (>„ts. S.«.le,l down "-ifn western rvo I- if III Year.— ]l:\y. >'(>?/( I'car.— Pasture. iras? and alf^ilfa. This r.,tatin„ is suital.le to a man who wishes to start mix,,! Crminff. Tt allow., .it eon.M.lerahle wheat to l,e sold for cash and also provides a quau.ty of feed in the he I.vr, •%'" , ""*' ^" '•"' 'ir '•'"-*• "^^'^ y*^"^ ♦•'^^ P'^fit per nere was $M9 an^ the averapi' for two years was $9.23. -f , un i the T^.fr''"" t^. this rotation is the seeding down with o.ts ns a nurse erop on b ■, ; b t n ^*"^^'"-,^P *° the present, however, no failure of a stand has been .ibtaiMo.i. but the yield of hay, espeeially in dry seasons, is very Inw. ROTATION- "P" (KI(;llT VKAIIs' DlTtATIOS). Flr^t TVf7r. -Suninier-fallow. ^'lonil 1 cor -Corn. nurf )V„r.-Barle,v. S,.eded down with we.tera ryegrass and .ifalfa. fourth 1 <'flr.--TItiy. I'iflli IVar— Pasture. Sirlli Year. — Suninier-faliow. Siienlh )V(lr.- -Wheat. lui/lifh }Vflr. — Wlieat. thpJ''^ '"r'"."°" '*.«''" "'^^"'t^ ' '■l-">'in)f "P a dirty farm, as in the ei.ht vears here are s..x ■„ ulue., erops ,.r n„ tbo.ls of euitivation are ..niployed which would' heir. o era. heate weeds. As would naturally be exp..eted. therefore, the protit per an. f the arrrauL.>n,ent ,s lower than any of the others. This v,.,r M.U « ,- obt ,in ed Jr acre, and the average f,,r two years was !«rt.S.3. -'i't.i'n..l ih r RoTMlLN ■ -l" I MM. w:.\H~' III UMKin). First Yriir. . Suninii'r-fallc.u. Strnml ) '('dr. — Wheat. 77„W )V«r.-(,a,s, Scvd.,! ,l„wu will. we.-,era r.se gra.s aud alfalfa. / (iiutli J <'(ir. — Hay. Fiftli I'cnr.— Pasture. >Vi7/( )V(jr. Surninerfallow. Siiiiitli YiKr. Corn. Fi'ililli )",,(,-, -Wheat. .\tiilli )'r(rr.- -Oats. Th,. arr,,u.-,.n„.Mt of erops i„ this rotation is w,.]! adapt,.! fn a man who i, p„i,.;, " " ^ ^';'^""•' -l>»">t -xelus.vely. for out of .ine years „„|v tw,, are i„ whea^ le other seven b...n.. devote, largely to the produetion of emp. that would be sT, Ubie , forage for l,ve stock. The profit per acre i. subtly „,„„. ,h,.„ „„ „„. p„,," "^' , ; but -not equal to the two f„r,ner, While these b,.t two rotations ,lo not show at pn -ent as larire a profit i-er acre as the tw„ fortu.r thcv sh,.nhl not iJ i; l- . a.aln.t Incuse of this, far afte^ the work has n n,Li;:j 1^:1 tt':":':";?' -1 po-s,Mc that r..lations '' P ^ and - R - will U- Riving the h.r.'cst profit per aere'beeau e manure ,s ,c,„. applu.l «,ul crop, arc ^rowu wbld, will no, exhau,, the soirf. rtilily. SOIL CULTIJILVL EXPERIMENTS. This work was only inuugurateJ in 1011. so that the data are for three years only. Ciiiiscininitly it cannot hi' talion as conclusivo. .\s the work fines on it is possihle- thorofore, that some of the conclusions drawn at present may be changed in future Imllotiiis. DEl'TIt OK IM.Ol ClilSC. The affect that the depth of ploughing summer-fallow has on the !«uccoediMg crnp of wheat seems to depend largely on the amount and distribution of rainfall through- out the season. The average yield for three years was highest on soil ploughed from li to S inches deep. Tiiis season, presumably on account of the hi .vy precipitation in the autumn of 1913, land that was ploughed 8 inches deep and subsnileil 4 inches deeper, or. in other words, cultivated 12 inches deep, gave the highest yi.'ld. The affect of the deep ploughing is always more noticeable on the second crop than on tlie tirst. For this reason the oats always yield highest on the plot which was summer- fallowed deepest, although the land was only ploughed shallow preceding the oat crop. 8U JI M KR-l'AI,I.<)W TREAT M KN T. U'-pth of Ploughing.— In the summer-fallow treatment the depth of ploughing is again given a te;;t. and the results corrol):.r:itc tlie tindings in the "depth of plough- ing" experiment, namely, that land plmigliod "! to 8 inches deep ^rave considerably larger yields than Innd ploughe*' only 4 inches deep. Xtimber of Timrs I'loii!lli<on. howev.-r, land «hieh was miwu with r.pe and pa.-tured off gave the highe-t yl.lil>. The reason for this may be due to the fact that a large amount of rain fell' in the fall of 1-.M?.. , , „ • .s'limmuii/.- From the foregoing it w.miM seem that the lollnwiiig outline will give the best results: Double disc immediately after harvest, i.lough ft to S in, .la's ■leep in the latter part of May or early .fiiue. Mib-urfaec pack anil harrow iminc diately lifter the plough, then eullivate as iieie.^tweeii these cNlreines, spring iilonghing and Hfring furuing giviiitf nearly «» g""d resnltR n» fall ploughing and paekiiig. * 40 SKKntVC T(l CUAssKS A\|. CI.OVKnS. Tins cxporiniont consists i,. seeding down a mix.„re of prn.s .nd -lover with '-.. vythout . nurse .-rop on land prepared in different ways. The re. won J seem •for r. 'f '. '"'■'" 'l°"l"f"'' •'"«<'V". if this inerease in yield wo.dd APPLYING BVItXVAHl) MAM liHCKN MAXIIIK. fhe plou«h,n« nnder ot gre.n erops does n,.t seen, to l,o quite 9o effeetive as M n,. d n,.,nure. t do., g.ve a sli^.htlj- hi.^lur ji,.ld than no n anure at all, but ."..>e> the ^^ra.n to he late .n n.atu^in^^ espe.-iall.v the >eeond erop. SKKD-BKI> I'HCrMMTION. This experiment simply ,.„„>i.ts in the number „f tinu's the di«e harrow and .uek..r are us.,1 a, sml.n^r time. As .ni^ht Ik- ex.Hvted. there is little diZn'ee On spnn^. ,>l„u^-Inn« by far Ihe largest yieMs are obtained on land that las b,' Jf.^en from two to four strokes of the harrow at s...di„R ,ime. 8II1I. PA( KKHS. „,ul.J''V''"" "^ •'"■' "'^'•'/'■'""■■" «""'•' ■^'•'•>" '- i" "te that the soil paeker would after the plough or before smsI.mk the M,b»urfaee gives bc.«t results. Kor paek'ng :':: 'i::':i:!i::i '■■"'"' "^" '"" "- ""• -"■ - •'-"> -■• '^-•"- ni em i.k skkihvo. when''Jhr"'"H' *'"'"' "","'" "'"■^'■'' .-""•""•-inll.w fhe largest yields were „l„ai„ed wlieii the s«.d wa- sown from -J to :! imhev deep. «iv.nXsr'n;:u';u.'"" '" '"""«"'-«''^^ '•'"■' -""- >J"^I- ,..l.n^, . or 4 inehc. EXPERIMEKTAl STATION, ROSTHERN. SASK. Wm. a. Mi Ml,., B.A., U.S.A., Sut.rriritmdent. The ,ensn„ of ini4open,Ml rather slowly, alternule eold and warn, .pells of ^yernl i:i::::^^::Lt:L^;,r:;^ ;.:! 'Si, .^rt'^ '•'r l^-""'- -' ^^ ■ .1 • • 1. . •""•" "'I I'lti.. t ;r(,i»i,,hdl -hiiw.Ts kept the eroos irrii«i>Mr .....t 41 Tlio rninfiill for July of tlii.-i yi\ir wii> the Inwpst, for the sanip moiitli. sinco tlie roi'ortls of this Station bcffaii. following is tiie prin-ipitation record fi.r tlio pa.-t four ({rowinsr seasons, from April 1 to Anjrust 15: — Month. mn. .;ti2 191.1. till 4. April M»y June tluly Aiiffii»t lt">th. ToUls Inches. S« 23M a 53 2 W» 43 Inchra. 07 2.15 2.81 5.2ft 033 Iniliea. 0.26 1.2b 1.87 3.80 2.24 Inc'ht'H « «:» 1 'J« 2 00 1 40 o.i:« 10 11 11 11 9 43 6.12 CKOI' YIELDS. Tlie yield if all urain was below the avera.ae this year, but consideriuK the rela- tive e.mditions. the yielil of wheat on eorn ^.^ronnd is hisfher than that on fallow, and the yield of ont- on wheat sround followiu!; corn is higher than that on wlieat sroiind followiiiu fallow. ROTATIOXS. lour rotations have been in operation for four .vears and a careful record kept of all cost~ and returns. In fisurinn the eo>t of operation, rent, manure, sei'd, twine, i se of nuichinery. manual and horse-l;d)our, have all U'en recorded at a fair price. The area of each lot in each rotation is two acres, which nnikfVi the I'oniiitionfi a? n<'arly like ordinary Held condition* as is possible with the present acreage of tliis Station. IIOTVTION ••(•" (rllKKK \K.\Hs' IM H.MIO.n). Firs/ )'i'ai: — Summer-fallow. Siiond Yi'av. — Wheal. Third Year. — Wheat. The yield fr tlil> rotation in I'.'IJ was 1.".\ busl'ds per acre on stubbl(>. and 22J bu.shels per acre on >uuimer-fallow ; in 101:1 it ,. as l'(» and \i bushel>, re-prctiv<-!y, and in 1!*M it was :iO] ami 41.1 bushels. \o manure is applied, us none wouhl be pn diiced on a farm carried on under these conditions. The [)rofit per acre, iiK-ludiuf the -uimner-fallow, and valuinjr the wheat at si* cMit* per bushel, was ifll.HO in VMS. *!>.S1 in 10i:i, IT.Oii in 1!»14, an average of %(iM profit per aero for three year?. lloTxrioV ".(" (s\\ VK.Mls' nt ItMION), First )'<'rtr. - SunMucr-fallovv, Siioiiil Yfnr.- Wlu'al. Tliird Yrnr. Wheat. Fniirlli )'nir. Oats. Seeded down to rye grass, red <'lovpr, and alfalfa. Fiflli )■.»»;•.- I lav. Si.rlli Yitir. Hay or pasture. This r^itatiou li;ts not liccii opi'rated Iouk enough to prove its merits, but allowing NO cents per hu^.hcl for wheat, .'U ci'ut- for oats, and #10 ikt ton for hay. the profit imt a"re for the last three years is as follow^: In lil.j, i«."i.,"ii!; in 101'!, iflO.Ji;; jn 1011, f">.l:J: an average profit for lhrc<- yenr< of .|ii.-ll jier acre. Thii rulutiun not only utTordi> wheal lor market, but pleutjf uf fei-tl for stock. ROTATKIN " I First rear.— Siinimcr-fallou-. Second Veer. — Wheal. Third I'car.— When t. Fourth IVar.— Siiinmer-fnilow Fifth IVar.— I{,K,ts. Si.rfh }Var.— ISarle.v. f^eislod i>ciriifli JVrtr.— Iluy. Eiyhth ) 'car.— Hay. 42 IIT VE\RS' DIRATIOk). nir.l1 at the rate of 15 tons per acre. The results fr,.,n this rotation are not altofrether satisfa.-tnrv ns ,he harl.-v -row„ on root «round foilown, snnnner-fallow. heavilv n.anure,!. Imows ,, . anlT an rtr; itir;; 1 " -'^"^'''-f •^ -*-»• I* --''l •..>.'- after three s as s." folloa ,1 . more sat.sfaetory results eould be obtained bv having ,he b ,rl' v IHT 1 uT ro .T,'*r'' ';■ '"^ "" """'"-f""-'-- valuing whcU at 80 eents fo the last three years are as folh.vs : $T.r.-. in 1!)12: $.-,,77 iu i-,,,. J,j ;., .,' '^ 191 J; an average proHt f,.r three .vears nf $r,.r.:, ,,er a.Te. R"T\TI0V R (M\|. M Alls' IM liATI...N). Fir. it I'car.— SuMinicr-lalliiw. S<(ond Year. — Corn. 'I hud I'cur.— Wheat. Fourth Year. — Oats. Fitlh Year. — SuTunier-fallnw. ^ixlli IVor.— Wheat. ii'rreiith IVor.— Oats. Se.'led .lown. Fifllith I'eor.— JIay. Mnl/i Year. — Hay ur |Ki>tiire. This rotation leads tin in all .1 , f . , I'"'"* "^ Pro'Iiiftioii and |.-,,i;f. but has tlie dis- advan.,:;:e of euttini; a farm into t,,., .M.all fields for eonvenien.e wa. mu!tT f';''' "^ "■'";;*•"" ""':' '''-"^ ^ "•" "^^"'''-'"-'t of thi- Station in l.Ul. This wheat was al.so of the best quality „f aiiv at the Stati,.n he |.r..t,t iKT aere, ineludiiiK s,in.n.er-fail..w-, allowinjr SO eeiit.s per hu.h,! for » T-v r,V"*, -":.*"■'■''," ft' '■""'• ^^ '••'"'■^ ^'" ""■^- »"^ ••<•' '">' for hav; was: tll.J. n, lini'; $I.,.U ,n lit];!; *;t.so i„ inU; an avernRe of lflO.08 f.r three ve-.rs I he charaeter ot the senson was «,„.}, this year as to eaiK,. a!iii...t a t.>lal' fiilure ..f the liny erup. The returns from 2 aeres of tirst-.vear hav an neres of see„nd- .Vear hay at $10 ,K^r Ion. did n.t ,.,ual the eost of see.iii,,; down -J a-res of ,„.w ineidmv Ihis shows the [imHts from :!,..se rotations involvinir a hay .■r..p to l,e inu.di lower tliiin in previous years. The root erop in rotation I' a.no„„te.i t,. 11 t/)ns. 1.114 pouml^ p,r aere in I'lU as auMinst 17 t.ms. 1,7(M! p„un.ls in 101:!. whieh further ae..ounfs for th,. lov profits in this rofition this y.-ar. ()„ a farm so infested with we.'^.ls as this Farit erop is expensive because of the lartre ninoiint of manual labour re.piire.I ~ \ riiot ernp ,. n;:.-h mcT^ exinhfive than e:;hrr a rrop „f ,„,t es or a erop of ..on, ' III rotation K. th.- .•..rii ir..p in lull was > t..iis l.!l2(l pouii.ls per a.ro a 3J> t.piis, l,i>l(» iM.unds iu llllo mid ■'Kl tons, l.lCiO [woinds in IfilJ. iK.iilir three years, as indicMtcd by the fr.llowing table, shows the great value of barnyard niauure, not only on tln^ crop of wheat immediately following the application, but on the suci'ccding iTop of oats: — Plot. Treattiii-tit. V if 1(1 of uliiiit average tin*-*' yeiiiT. BfLTv MUinn]or'fall(>w fJrefn in'aH [ilonk'tiio tnnler ! (Jr-cn vetclif.^ [ii"ughe are iaeliided ,.i: pase of this report. This work Ilh not heen under w.n- a sut^e.ei- time to warrant anv .lefinit,- con- clusions l)einft drawn The following table will show the proHts from two fields of wheat and two fiehls of peas grown under comparabh conditions on the rotation ticlds:— Crop. Hrrviotiii treatait-nt. Wtivat. Wli..ar StllhilliT f.'tllow S.nl land !* iiM>r-fiiI)^)ue i. I'ra» StiniiiiiT f.illiiw >tn\ land miimiium fullowed.. Viiliie of cn-p per wre. Profit on crop JNT acre. pniHt |i^r act p. S ctx. $ ct.-t. $ ctn. 11 !« Hi .V.' 5 10 !. li.-) 7 :!7 a5.w 20 119 14 !).-) 1 1 1 13 :!i> Peas have proven to he o,,- .,i most protitahle cn.ps to prow. provi,tin)t. soil, (ILTrUAr. KXPKKIMKNTS. . Tlie scope of the cultural investiftatiou work has been incrcasi I by the addition of •■;n more plots, makintr a total of 484 plots, incluilinjr eleven distinct experiments. The additional exiM'riments include depth of plou)?hiii(r. methods of ploughiiiK siimmer- I'.iiiow, ti.atment of stuWilc laud, methods of hreakinp; up cuhivatf^^ grasses and clov.rs. phmiihinn: down «recn manures, application of barnyard manure, ami treat- ment of seed-bed. PRMIUK IIIIKVKINC. Ati cxpcriiui'iit to dcterniine the best method ,,f breaking' up the prairii' sod li.is bit'ii under way for two years. Tile plots were broken last sea-oii as outlined ir; lli.' follmvin^r table. Plots I and 2 were fall ploughed .'> inches deep and all were hiwu on May ."i with Manpiis wlie.it Ht the rate of IJ bushels per acre: - IMot. Tri .itairiit S.ii«..ii I!I13. llinikfii ,14 inchHn Hi-fp in May. i.o« n to peaa and oats anri ciil Kf"". . lUrekcii 3s indifs '.ifvii iii M;iy. ^^!iw■!) to Hax lliniki'ii -li inched ilw|> in .liiiji, anil I'liliivalud Hnilcn 'il inc'lii'a dwp in .lunc. and buikM-t in .Si|.tiMiil»T Yi ■Id i»T acre. 1 ■Ml Itiis. 1,1.. la no 13 10 22 .»•> i;t -•0 45 r>KPTII IIK SKKniNC. Four plots wprp sown witli Alarqiiis wlipat on Miiy 2 at tlip rafp of IJ hii=lipls ppr lUTP. Tlipsp pldfs wprc smiiiinr-fallowpd in 101:1. The yields for tlip .year liilU, wlicii a similar exiM riimiit was I'cinductPil. arc lifre- with inidii '(iing. Yirl ' M-f ure, l!li:t. Yi( 111 iMT acre, I!114. 1 2 3 4 Inchra. 1 2 4 lillK. 31 32 3;« 29 LI.. 00 40 (PC 40 H.I.. I,h. 20 OO ?1 L-i 2r 20 31 20 soil. I'ACKINf! ON SI'llINC I'l.lll (.IlINC. 'I'lip land was ploiijfhcd on Ma.v 4 and trpatnipnt fjivpn May r>. on whii-li date wheat was sown ut tlie rate of IJ bushels p<'r acre: — rioi. Treatment given after plutighing. 1 n arroweil, 2 '■ 3 „ 4 „ r> „ u M 7 •• K ., •J „ 10 " Harrowei), Nnl)itiirfatT imckcd, liarroneii tuwii hiirfacf' packH .. « coinliiriAtion i>aok<-d .. .* subMurface rtatked •• ftt.4iacp iiacked •• cum >»i nation packed n Kown •• .■ *nrfaue (>ack*.*i] It lubffurfac*^ [tttcketl . . H combinatiun lueketl . H pulwurfai'f |>.ickeiicke4l.. \"\vh\ jier atTP, 1*.»U Bus Lb, 14 20 18 20 1ft 40 21 00 21 40 22 20 14 40 IH 00 15 'JO 11! 00 Tt will bo noted that nn averajte of 1} biishpls per nere inorease was sppured by I'aekiiid oiK'c, and " bushels i)er aere by packing both before ami after spe( Seeding I>er acre Niinitter of Days inaliaiiig. Yield of Grain per acT Itunli. Bu«h. Lb. 1 116 18 40 1 l)."* 18 40 S 11.'. 18 00 2 ll'i 14 40 1 108 10 ») I 105 11 20 2 J 04 13 fio 'i 104 10 30 46 Vari»'tv. Bann Katks of Spoding Oats. Kttte :>f S. .Hjing Nun. MT of D»yi4 Yield Iff Crain I'fi- Here . M atiiring. Iter licrr. l!u»li. BuHh. Lb. 1 !« 48 2M H iw 52 32 2 Wl 41 26 -'i 97 57 22 :< 98 61 06 34 IM 61 06 DATKS OF SEEDING. Expcrimputs in (l:ito' onts from 1 acre, l.n4."i pounds. O.A.C. No. 21 barley from 1 acre, H;U po\indg. Arthur peas from 1 acre, 1,180 pounds. ADDITION TO THLl STATION. Three hundri^l an hcen Imiit around the entire Station. An additional 100 acres was broken and prepared for crop, this past summer. EXPERj ^- AI STATION, lETHBRIDGE, ALTA. W. II. K\ii!i-ii:i.ii. M.S., Siiiiiriiit'iidcnt. SKASOXAI. NOTKS. On accomit of the excessive droiifrht the sca-on of l!'14 has ticen. with the poislMc e.ii-eption of li>10, wiicii the area atTc<-lcd was more restri<>ted, the most trying that lias been experienced in southern AIU rta sinci- settlement hns taken place. In regard to the amount of moisture cirried in the soil from llM.'i it niifilit be said that the precipi- tation during the last four months of that year was light, amounting in all to only L'i ini-hes. During this period, heavy dr.ving winds w<>re prevalent, with little or no snow on the ground, .so that the soil moisture was .severely drawn upon. To counteract this in a measure. ho\. .ir. 3fi'' inches of precipitation was received during the tirst three months of this yo.ir. so that the soil was rca-onalily inoi.st and in excellent condi- tion when work on the land was >tartci|. The tirst (lis<'ing. harrowing, or seeding on the Station occurred Manh 17. The ground fro/e up toward the latter jnirt of Maroh but opened again shortly and seeding: was h";;\in .Xjiril 4. Unfortunately the rainfall during .\pril. May. and until the k(tt(>r part "f June was very much Its- tlian usual. For thi- entire period no soaking rain was expcricni'(Nl: what did come was in the form of light showers that were not suffi- cient to wet through the dry layer of 2 or " inches at the surface .uid etumect with the moisture lower down. The fact that tlm total precipitation for .\pril wn- onl.v 0.54 of an in<'h and for ^fay 0-20 of .\<.^ inch fully illustrates how serious conditions were and how ditHcult it was to obtain a stand from seeds when sown. .\ wet spell during the last ten days of Jime revived things generally, hut the dry. hit .Inly was too severe a strain on vl'"it life, and the result was that there was a failure of all crops except those sown on summer-fallow. Com, late-sown roots, and rotatoes which *ere able to profit by the .Vug\isf rains were a possible exception. althouHh they, of Pnur-e. did v.no'h l"'tt"'r ori sunimcr-fallow. The last fmst in the spriuif iwi-nri-cd o*-. Afa.v 12. when n tcmi'crature of 2(1-*" w.ts recorded. The first frost in the fall was on Scplemlier 1">, when the temperature dropped to 31°. 'The Maniuis wheat was Injured considembly by <)opher» from the adjacent wild land. 4S CROP YIELDS. Xonirriu(,lr,l.-A]] crops ex,o|)t tlio^o sown „u summer-fallow n.id com Innd were u pra.tK-al Imlure Tiold lots of spring wheat »ow« on summer-fallow averaged a little over 1.) bushels per acre; winter wheat, 14 bushels. The yield of oats and barley were in proportion. Peas and oats sown as a mixture on summer-fallow for green ft;ed gave a return of 1 ton OOO pounds i)er acre of field-cured hay. The yield of wheat u ter corn was rather nmiarkable; it is r.-ferred to later. Hay. including alfalfa, ciover, and grasses failed to make sufficient growth to be worth cutting, except alfalfa in rows which gave light returns. lrinjaM.-T\u' yi.lds of grain were fully up to the n,)rraal. All kinds of h«y g...;, returns slightly in excess of those obtained in lOia. EXPKKIMKNTS IN ROTATION OF CROPS. \on-irrigated.~The necessity of having o summer-fallow introduced every second or third year in the crop rotations was fully emphasized. CORN A .^IHSTITrTR FOR srMMKR-l-ALI.OW. A hoed crop is generally considered to h.- a very good siil^titute for snmmer- fallowmg. but one of the most striking lessons learned from this s<.ason's work at tlif StatKui has been the fact that there appears to !«> a marke.1 .lifrer..iice in tlie kiiul of UH'd rrop used. In one .>f the rotations wheat follows corn, in another wheat follow, turnips, and several pla.-es where wheat follows sumiivr-fallow. The results which are somewhat surprising and perhaps difficult to explain, are as f„ll„ws-— VifM of «lifnt aft»>r luriii|M Viflil of whiKt ;>(li'rmni Viflil of wlifnt nftt-r KumiiiFrfulloH' 1913 1!IH Itiiih. I.b. Hli. I.t.. 1 :t L»2 I-.' I.-. u Roth the .•„rii and turnips are planted on sumincr-lallow. and no spring ..ultiva- tion IS given, cx.-ept a harrowing when iie.»>ssar>- just previous to seeding. The yield from the sii,nmerf«ll..w in l!M4 is ttie average .viel.i of Kve different fields, the highest yu'ld being 1., l,ushels •_'., ,,„„„|,. ,„„, „^. ,„„.,^j j,,,;,^^, ,^ j,^^^,^^,^ ^ ^^^^^_^^^,^ The corn was cut for cn.ilage. and was weighed green. It yielded at the rate of 11 tons 718 pounds in l»i:i. and 1- t ;.-,.« p.iinds in 1-.14. The reason for the wln-at vielding M, much better o„ corn stubble than on turni|. land is doubtless due to the fact that e..rn not only re-piires less s,.il nioi.tur... but that growth stops with the fir«t killing fro.t. which ,s ,1, early September, while in the case of turnip., perhaps the henvict •Irani on tlie tu.usture in tU^ soil l«)iins alxnit this time. It is diffieult to offer a sati>faetorj- explanation for the imTia-ed vield of wheat sown on the e„n, bubble ov.t tb.,t s,.w„ „n suinmer-fallow, unless it might po.mI.W !-• the fa.'t that manure at llie rate of t,. tons per ae,x. «as applied to the land jus't h<.rore It wa- .u.umer-fallow.Ml f„r the corn. The same quantity of manure was appli„l jM.wever to Jb,. r..tation in wbieb the turnio- are. but not just previous to the turnips, rhaf a dry.land farmer can ..btan, a iroodly Mi,.plv of rough fodder for hi. .toek br puttmg III .1 few acres of siimiiar fallowed hind with Compt.u.'s Karlv of some similar variety „( corn, and "till have bis h.„d in exeelbnt condition for a grain crop the 40 following your is important, but there is auotlier method opened to him. If he could use some extra early variety of corn that would mature the grain he would be still farther ahead, for lie could thus add material!:, to his supply of hog as well as cattle feed in the fall. None of the ordinary sorts can be relied on to do this. We have found, however, that the variety known as Squaw will. It has matured every year here since the Station has been established. It does not grow more than about 3 feet high and the ears grow close to the ground, and although very small are numerous. To make the growing of Squaw corn praeticaiile it would probably be necessary to allow the stock to pasture off the corn in the tield during the fall and winter rather than attempt to harvest it. An e.\i>erinieut was conducted this year to ascertain liic feasibility of growing this corn on s|)ring -ploughed stubble. Land on which oats were grown in 1913 was ploughed 6 inches dtn-p and inunediatcly harrowed, marked, and planted, the hills being placed 3 feet apart each way. By having it checked rowed in this manner it was possible to cultivate both ways and thus keep the weeds down with practically no hand work. Although the seed germinated very slowly and some of it was late in coming up it iill matured, and yielded 16 bushels 20 pounds of shelled corn to the acre. When the seuFon in which no wheat or oats were obtained except on summer-fallow is con- sidered, the yield of 10 bushels of com planted on stubble land is certainly encourag- ing. A farmer on a half section of land in this district should prepare at least 100 acres of summer-fallow each year. He should be able to get 40 to 60 acres of this ploughixi in time to put it in with corn. With the pr»|KT machinery he should be able to plant this cheaply and <|uickly. The necessary work to keep it clean, pro- vided it was plant8 was .WS bunhels, of these .583 bushels and i.'.'i pounds were marketable; wheat, 6;J bushels 30 pounds: oats. 107 bushels; and barley, 46 bushels. The tield in which the barley was gn)wn this year has not Ummi in alfalfa on account of the rotation not having been established long enough, otherwise the yield would doubtless have In-en larger. SOIL CULTURAL EXPERIMENTS. The cultural investigation work started in 1911, consists of thirteen liiu's of px|>eriments. Some observaiions concerning the work and the results obtained an- ' icwith given: — PKAIRIK BKKAKINO. The six methods of breaking fMui prairie point in favour of early breaking in June, backsetting in SeptemlK-r. 50 DEPTH OP PLOIOIIIXO. Of n trial of ten different depths of ploufrhin^ siininier-f allow to lie sown to wheat, running from 3 inches to 8 inches and from 5 inches to !S iuv-lics witli 4-in.'h siibsoil- in>r, resnlts indicate that 8 inches was l)est ignited to tlie drought couditinn? of this scUMin. Bl' M M Kn-K.M.I.OW TIUTAT.MKNT. • The results of three years incline towards phuifiliintr S inches deep in .Time, har- row, and cultivate as nccn^sary. tlrowins a cn)p of r.ipc sown in rows fur pn-tiire on the fallow rcsiilti\l in no >ni'cc4'ilinjr crop of wheat this dry season, and the average of the twii iirccedin^' yi'ar^ ilcc pnidiici'il iMi increase of fi bushels IVt pounds per acre of wheat over a fallow plonirlM-d July 1.", hiit otherwise similar treatment. Once ploiiKhintf of the fallow i> preferable U< iw'wc ploiij;hin({. I'loiiirliiiij: 6 inches in .luni' showe in St ptember. Similarly ploughing 6 ineh« in .luiie she. Will an increase of ."> busln^ls -Jll iKiund> per ;icrc of wheat uvcr pli'Ujiliiug 8 inches in June and 8 inches in Septcmher, otherwise same cultivation. STI HULK Tlll'AISICNT. The experiment with ten methods of prepariiifl st\ibble land f T wheat and three fur nat-. (five li:u'cii-t vir!ds when xiwn mi >priiiii-nlnii).died land. 1 iic uiiu-uaily dry •cason appeared to particularly emphasize this fact. SKK|l|N<: r« (iKASSKS AM) CI.OVKRS. This Work consists of a test of seeditiR down with and without n niirs" crop on land prepared in different ways. The be-t results were obtaiiu'iib-nil to criUn-t the moisture for the appliid In winter on siimnier-tallow and disced in Ix'fore sceiling l^ave •_' loii^ l.'.lsil |ioiind- f turnips over summer falloNv tri aliil tho same without nianiiro. When root« vvori' urovvii own on «unimirlal|ow. No iiii|iorf int coinpiiri«riinent consists of three methods of .seed-l.ed preparation for wheat oa -fallow land treated alike. The terms " good," " poor," and " es ' extraordinary " The summer- .ire \ised to designate the method employed. The three vears' average shows that harrowing the summer-fallow in the spring before seeding gives 8 bushels 20 pounds per acre of wheat more than swding without any preparation. It is questionable whether the higher yiel.l of wheat by extra work on' the summer-fallow in the spring before or after seeding coiniiensates for the work involved. «illl. I'ACKKnS. The surface, subsurface and coiiibination packers are used in this experiment. In ploughing for siimmer-fallnw the three years' average inircase of ouo-half bushel of wheat per acre has bocM notitl in favour of tlie subsurface pa.-ker. SuUurface packing when flic grain is (! inches high gives abuit the same results as subsurfnce packing iniiuediately after swding. There is very little diiV. rciice in yield between the surface and cMibiiiatioii packers. PKl'TII of SKl'.lUNO. Wheat and oafs are sown from 1 iiub to 4 inches. IV.th wheat and oats gave tl e highest yields when se.'ded 2 inches. In this connection the important point is to be sure that the scid is placed deep enough to be in moist soil. EXPEKIMENTAL STATION, LACOMBE. ALTA. G. 11. lIlTTON, B.S.A., SuprriiiliuiIiiU. iUWlMTVM OF SK.\S()N. Seeding operations were in progress about the middle of April, and the dca-on thnnighout was ideal for cultural work. The growth was not checked by late si-nug frosts, and crops ripi iieer acre. .Marquis wjieat yi..ld.>. The varieties sown were Longfellow and North West Dent. The aeason was unusually warm and consequently corn grew well until elteeked by the first early fall frost, after which it was cut and put into the silo. The yield was exceptionally good for this locality, being at the rate of l.") tons per acre. Peas and oats, sown at the rate of 1 bushel of peas and 2 but-hcls of (iits and out in the milk stage, makes a splendid forage cron for fall and winter feedinu. Tiie greatest value of this crop as a .feed lies in the fact that it is proving a isplendid sub- stitute for corn for silage purposes. It may be interesting at this p.>iut to mention that an experimental silo, 12 by 30 feet, WHS built this season to ascertain the value of green feetl for siliigc. Tliirtv t.i'-i of green corn was cut into the silo; the reniHiniiiir space was filled with green feed. The silage is relished by all classes of live stock. Several acres of roots were sown. However, the mangel seed did not germinate and the turnips came only in purl, thus reducing the area by 2 acres. The yield was 47 tons. Field peas were ri|)OJied for the Hrst time at this Stntiou. The " Arthur" variety was sown on new land and vielded •'!() bushels per acre. CROP ROTATIOy, What is meant by rotation} It means the adoption of a fixed system of farm crops to be grown successively on the same soil at regular intervals. Uotatiim is stu'cially adapted to mixed-farming areas, such as are found in central Alberta. To l>e successful in mixed farming it is essential that some .systematic rota- tion be prac i-od. Concluding from the cx|K'rimenU conducted at this Station, the most suitabli otation for local conditiniis w,)uld be one which includes an application of baruyanl .nanure and at least two or three years of hay or pasture. The pasture land of the second or third year should be ploughed early in August and well worked down during the remainder of the season. Such treatment acts as a partial summer- fallow, and at the same time Icaive* the soil in g(H)d tilth and forms a mulch to eon- servo the moistun- for the succeeding grain crop. Hy this nu-thod heavier yields of grain arc obtained than where continuous grain gmwing is followed. Sunnner-fallow- ing is not not-ossary for local condition*". i\> there is an abundanw of moisture during the growing season to ensure maximum vrodmtion. Summer-fallow li,nd is oonducive to rank growth, which usually results in the i-rop lodging. Practical reasons why a rotation should be followed: — 1. Ikcinise it encourages the keeping of more live sto.k on the farm. 2. Rceniise it distributes labour throughout the entire year. 3. Hecause it enriches the soil. 4. Recau-ic it improves the mechanical condit! bacterial action. .'i. RiH-iiuxe it demands the application of manure* to maintain the fertility of the soil. ti. Itci'Busc it destroys injurious weeds and inset-ts. 7. Continuous grain gmwing depletes the soil of its plant food. FurthernKiri'. from a chemical point of view, a systematic rotation should Iw pra.-tiscd, beiause a deep-rooted crop alternates with a shallow rooted crop. (Inm unlformlv distributing the plant food. Different cn)pi, retpiire different mineral cui- "tiiucnts in varying amounts Of the several rotation* under lest the followfng two prove best adnptul to Km'iI conditions: — of the soil and increas<>s 6S ROTATION "k" (six YEARS'' DURATION). First Year. — Hoed crop. Second Year. — Wheat. Third Year. — Oats or barley, becr'ed down. Fourth Year. — Hay. Manured :u autumn at the -dte of 12 tons per flore. Fifth Year. — Pasture. (iixlh Year. — Pasture. Ploughed in July in preparation for hoed crop. ROTATION "h" (six years' DURATION). First Fear.— Hoy. Second Year. — Pasture. Manured in autumn at the rate of 12 tons per acre. Third Year. — Pasture. Break July for winter wheat. Fourth Year. — Winter wheat, or in case of failure to stand, spring wheat or coarse grain. Fifth }Var.— Oats. Sirlh Year. — Barley. Seeded down with 4 pounds timothy 4 pounds alsike cloTer, and 4 [lounds red clover per acm SOIL CULTURAL EXPERIMENTS. A comprehensive system of cultural work is being carried on in order to ascer- tain the hpst methods of soil cultivation. However, as these experiments have been running 't^iy a short time no definite data can be given. A brief summary of con- clusions drawn is herewith given. DEPTH or PLOUOHINO. A. Ploughing on wheat stubble to be sown to oats. B. Ploughing on summer-fallow. C. Ploughing on sod. 0B.>«KRVATIONS. 1. That deep ploughing of the land in smnmer-f allow year does not appear to influer.oe results on the first-year crop (whfat), but influences somewhat favourably the second crop (oats). 2. That land siibsoilol in siininier-fallow year docs not influence the yield or the date (if maturity in the first crop (wheat), but influeni-cs to a marked degree the date of maturing in the ?rcond crop. Riibsoiling m;i,v prolong maturity two to four days. 3. Ploiijjhing on sod; no conclimive dafn ran be deducted from work done to date. SIMMKR-I' ALLOW T1IKATMENT. In the methods of suitimor-fallnwiiiir, the following points have been obf^erved:— 1. That it is not advanfntrcnus to iiloiigh summer-fallow twice. 2. Tliiit cnllivatiiui or plouiihinir the stubble land in the fall previous to summer- fallowing dois nut alwa.vs result in increased yields. RTUBBLE TtlBATMIfNT. That fall or spriiiir pl>u>jliing of stuliWe land proves better practice than the burning of the sfubble in spring and then seeding. HKKPINO TO liKASS AND CLOVKR. Where the «i>eding of grass and clover is made without n nurse crop, >"ie yield of hay is niiiterialiy increased. The increase, however, ia not suflicicul to compensate for tht liirs of crop tu^tuiued when secdiug aloue. 54 BARNYARD AND GREEN MANURES. The application of barnyard manure gives a marked increase in yield and, when compared with jtreen manure (peas and tares), gives uniformly better results. The effect of barnyard manure is evident, on the following crops, for at least two years. Furthermore, the application of barnyard manure has the tendency to hasten ripening and maturity. EXFEBDIENTAI STATION, IHYEBJIESE, B.C. G. E. Parham, Superintendent. CHARACTER OF SEAvSON. The rainfall during the f^priiig and early summer was greater than usual for this district, so that irrigation work was light, but August was dry and this ncceFsitatot crop, it the rate of 12 ton* per acre. The pea crop will be ploughed under in order to supply the much-ueeded humus to the soil. ROTATION "b" (K1\K \ KAttti' Dl KA'IUIN), Fimt l'.ar.— Whp:it. Second Year. — Routs. TliirH Vfiir. — Ohis. s«'«'i(Ie other rotations may demonstrate the evils of the system. ROTATION "d" (ten VEARs' DUIIATION). First Year. — Summer-fallow. Second Year. — Alfalfa. Third Fear.— Alfalfa. Fourth Feor.— Alfalfa. Fifth rear.— Alfalfa. Sixth Year. — Summer-fallow. Seventh Year. — Ilocd com. Eighth Year. — Grain. Ninth Year. — Summer-fallow. Tenth Fear.— Grain. Plota of one-quarter of an acre each are used for this experiment. The crops will have no irrigation. The alfalfa is sown in drills 28 inches apart, using 4 pounds of seed per acre. An application of farm manure will be applied in the eighth year on the stubble before ploughing. The alfalfa was sown the last day of June and pro- duced a good plant. The leturns in roots and grain in this the first season were poor, but one has to take into account that no special preparation for dry if arming had been made. EXPERFtl DNTAL STATION, SYDNEY, B.C. Samuel Spencer, Foreman Manager. WEATIIKR CONDITIONS AND CROP NOTES. The spring season commenced early in April, with fine weather and lifrlit showers of rain. Fall wheat and r>-c sown in November, 1913, made 12 inches growth during the month. Timothy, rye grass, and clover were also showing good growth. Owing to the cold nights in June and tlio very dry weather of May, .Tune and July, the yields wore small but good in quality and free from disease. This will give seed for next season. CROP YIELDS. Ciop, Wlipftt. Outil... (tet* .. Variety. Mitr)iiiit ■ Vu'Uwy I Ifaumrr I Acrw. 77 14 S 1 Yield pa aure. Buahvln. 27 38 ae btiahel r 431 T«tal yipid (iprain*. Lb. i,rm 2.704 ROTATION OF CROPS. Next Wilson rotation "C" (four years' duration) will be commenced on about 35t acres. DrHiiiing will also be started on this area and continued until the 30} acres arc drained.