EXPERIMENTAL PLOTS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1336, 13 January 1912, Page 8

EXPERIMENTAL PLOTS.

MIXED PLOTS FOR ENSILAGE. A good deal of interest attaches to tho experimental plots at Marton, tho crops on which aro being supervised by officers of the Department of Agriculture. A couplo of weeks ago Mr. Dibble, of the Fields Instruction stall', converted some of tho crojw into stack ensilago, and gave a demonstration as to the methods of stacking, and in reference to the proper temperature to be retained. Details in connection with tho various kinds of oats used aro interesting. Tho Victory oat (says an exchange) averaged sft. Gin. to sft. lOin. iu height, and the l'ropsteier sft. lOin. to Git. -tin. iu lioight. Of these a number of varieties were introduced two years ago by tho Department from Swollen. They wero selected as being specially suitable for growing as mixed forage craps with tares, on account of the abundulnco of leaf and strength of the straw, ''which enables them to stand lip under all conditions, thus enabling the crop to be harvested with a reaper and binder, and effecting a great saving in labour in consequence. The Triumph oat averaged from aft. lOin. to lift. 'lin. in height. This was introduced from England, and is likewise noted for its length of straw and its ability lo remain erect. Tho heaviest yield of green fodder was obtained by a mixture of 1211b. of golden tares and GGlb. of l'ropsteier oats per acre, at an average cost of 305., tho yield amounting to 17i tons. Thc.ve experiments have a particular valuo to dairymen in that such a forago mixture is about tho earliest crop to mature, and is ready for feeding off the silo long before any such crops as maize, sorghum, millet and others.