MARTON EXPERIMENT PLOTS

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1348, 27 January 1912, Page 8

MARTON EXPERIMENT PLOTS

| A PROGRESS REPORT. [ Reporting on a visit of inspection to tho Marlon experiment plots, the Manuwatu correspondent of the Farmers' Union ".Advocate" says:—Tho wheats in tile plots look really well. I scarcely like to hazard an opinion, but I should say they will be heavier than any hitherto grown in the district, and there are some very attractivo varieties growing. The Swedish Pearl wheat lias long heavy square heads, ami seems to promise ii really fine crop when ripe. it is still green, 'tho Red yjf e ] las smaller heads, a . ii T, thinner, nuil .will not. yield so well, though report speaks highly of the quality ol the grain. The "Henchen" barley with, its small beardless heads looks very nice, but although the quality may Rood, the yield is not so promisring. The "Triumph" oats are higher than a man's head and standing up against all the adverse conditions experienced recently. The flag is very discoloured, and tiiey would bo useless for chaff. The Russian barley with it.s curious purplv-black heads looks well and should yield heavily. It will soon lie ripe. The White Fife looks better than the Red variety, and, although yet green, should yield a heavy return. "Come back" is disappointing. Tho 6traw is short and fine, and tho heads not large, and it will bo lighter than any other rariety. John Brown wheat is cut and in stook, so ,it is earlier than the others. It looks well and is going to yield heavier than last year, when it went 40 bushels. Canadian Amber is a bearded wheat that might, be mistaken for barley. It is the .wheat that Dr. Saunders, head of tho Cana'dian Agricultural Department, recommended to Mr. Baylis. It is going to'yield well, and is a really useful, strong looking variety. The Grenadier wheat from Svalof has this year quite come to its own, and is going to yield as heavily as any. Jf it were not for a few blind grains on the top of the head, I should say it would yield more than the others. It must have failed to fertilise in the high winds on tho last two or three grains. This wheat is well worth a trial for it is strong and n heavy yielder.' Federation is cut and in stook, and looks heavier than last year with fairly long heads. Alongside is the Turkey Red, a bearded variety with a thin straw, but good heads, whilst, the next, Yandilla King, is in stook, and promises to yield well. The Red Tuscan is rather thin. Soya Beans are only fair, but the Buddha Ivnle and Thousand Headed Kale have come away wonderfully, but the latter is too thick. Tho man in charge of the plot says there is much more interest being taken in tho plots than last year, and there have been a number of visitors. The maize has not done so well as expected; the sorrel fn the wet weather has got a considerable start, and with the ground always wet it is difficult to cultivate the land. Evidently, however,, maize requires very considerable cultivation to be a success.