I'll I t , i: s 543 CG6 Cornell University Library S 543.C66 Guide to experiments in PfOS'fSf.,?* •,|l* 3 1924 000 216 063 fetatc Collcse of agrtculture 2t Cotned mm\}nsitg atbaca. B. s. Hihxatp COUNTY OF NORTHUMBERLAND. EDUCATION COMMITTEE. Suide to Sxperiments in Sf^rogress AT THE County DL|:monstration Farm, COCKLE PARK, Near MORPETH. SEASON 1903. Newcastle-on-Tyne : E. WAKr & Sons, Peintees, 31 to 37, High Bkiucie. A/7561 • FARM MANACEMENT SUB-COMMITTEE. ■ Oeaieman : , ■ 'i . ■ ' ^ Alderman Thomas CaeeiCk. ViCE-CHAlEMAN : Councillor W- HiNDiilARSH. Aldeeman : Scott, Sie Henet H. ' CoaNCltl-OES : ' Aynslet, E. J. BAlNBEIDGB, G. B. Bo LAM, J. Sample, 0. H. SWANN, J. Public Repeesen-tatives Angus, J. ,) Appointed by - ', V Newcastle -Far Lyal, J. Knox. 3 ' " •^^''^■- - -, the -Famiers FOESTER-OOULL, -N ' ,, *, ,,vl,' WTi / ABPomtedfiy tlie ; i->- I Northumberlaiid. ^ C Agricultural Solbiety Hudson, T. ,/ .-,}.. ■.,■''• ■'.'..> \ ,.■ ' GiLCHElST, Professor. . Appointed «y the Duthain College of Science. • director on bcl^alf of tfec! Puiljam gojlcge, of gcieucc. Professor; DqtJglas A. Gilcheist. gonsultaftoe S'u'^ctor. Dr. William Somertilib. §ectelavx! of tt)e gbttcation ^ciMtmittcc. , C. Williams, The Moothall, Newcastle-on'Tyne, to whom eommunieations should be addressed. Guide Experiments in Progress COUNTY DEMONSTRATION FARM, COCKLE PARK, Near MORPETH. SEASON I go J. The original of tiiis book is in tine Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924000216063 Note. The Oounty Coilncil of Northumberland in 1896 secured the farm — which is about 400 acres in extent — on lease for 21 years with the object of carrying out demonstrations and experiments under careful supervision. The farm is not a commercial under- taking but an educational institution, and is chiefly devoted to (a) demonstrations of important processes in the practice of the manuring, tillage, and cropping of land, particular attention being given to the economic improvement of poor grass land, (6) feeding experiments to demonstrate the relative value of food stuffs, and systems of feeding for farm stock. The Farm is miaintained at the cost of the Northumberland County Council, and is managed by a Sub-Oommittee of the County Education Committee, the scientific direction being entrusted to the Agricultural Department of the Durham College of Science, KTewcastle-on-Tyne. Cockle Park is within 4^ miles from Morpeth (fast trains), and 3^ miles from Longhirst (slow trains) on the North-Eastem Railway. Conveyances for parties — numbering five and upwards — can be hired at the rate of 2s. each person for the journey, from either Morpeth or Longhirst Stations, to Cockle Park and back to Morpeth, at the following Livery Stables :^ Black Bull Hotel, Moepeth. Newcastle Arms Hotel, Moepeth. Qoebn's Head Hotel, Morpeth. The Farm Manager, Mr. Bell, is authorised to supply visitors with refreshments on giving at least four days' notice at the following tariff : — DiNNBK ... ... ... ... ... Is. 6d. Tea 9d. Liquors cannot be obtained at the Farm, but can be ordered for parties by the Farm Manager. Persons or parties desiring to visit the County Demon- stration Farm ai-e invited to communicate with the Secretary of the Education Gommittee, The Moothall, Newcastle-on-Tyne. « £ i I s i i b P C < s. « s NAMES OF FIELDS, CROPS, AND ACREAGE. No. of Field. Name of Keld. Crop, Season 1903. Acreage. Re- ferred to on page. 1 A Hanging Leaves . Pasture 19-72 B Do. do. . Plantation 2 2 East Hanging Leaves . Pasture 37-36 3 TreePield Do 34-07 6-9 4 Long Eiggs Do 28-85 28-29 5 Palace Leas . Meadow hay 17-22 10-11 6 A Lower Brick Pield . Do 14- 5 B Do. do. . Plantation 2 7 A Upper do. Barley and swedes 12-04 27 B Do. do. . Seeds 5-21 8 West Well Close . Pasture 8-20 30 9 East do Do 9-25 10 West Tower Hill..." Do 20-90 11 A Tower Hill . Barley and oats 7-10 26 B Do. . Meadow hay 7-42 23-25 C Do. . Seeds 417 12 A East Tower Hill . Mangels, swedes,!& cabbages 713 18-22 B Do. do . Oats and wheat 6-74 16,22 Lower Nursery ... . Trees •53 14 Buildings, Gardens, etc. . . 4-20 14 North Calf Clase . Pasture 2-25 15 South do Do 2-18 16 A North Back House . Oats, potatoes, and vetches 10-23 13 B South do . Oats and barley 7-69 17 c Rotation Plots . Seeds^ , 5-25 14-15 1 D Miniature Parms... Turnips, seeds, oats, barley 4-80 12 17 A Davy Houses . Pasture 25-82 32 B Upper Nursery ... Young trees ■50 18 Castle Steads Pasture 18-16 19 Glents ■ Do. 21-77 20 Roundabouts Do. .[ 26-35 ' 21 A Brosmy Hill Meadow . Meadow Hay 5-89 B Do. Plantations Experimental plantations... 8-14 31 22 Back Butts . Pasture 10-88 398-52 TO PM O 05 1> CO 05 Pasture Valua- tion, 1902. Q -L-LJ^ -i-. ~L-L 3S -L 4_ 2JS Average antjual profit or loss (-). Q socogo 4^ ^ m ffi J^ ■ ^1 -# i ^ i> ,« ^ 1"^ i-t rH Average annual yield of hay. ft ^^S' s? «!■* «i 1-ll-tw N u ^' sss ?s -«S03 ^ CO g m 1 CO I o rH r-l 1-1 1-t tH i-i Q t-:^SD eo_ «0 Oi f s ^ (M t^O ■tH ! CQ COtNN O I> S m "s-als III 1 1 1 1 1 1 i Q Cs >-< O O ^1 r^ oT Ci 00" I y-l '".Saw iH r-i rH T^ i-t r-t Cfi ni eooeo CO CO 1 Oi CO (M OS 1 h? 00COI> 1— ' g ' ^ s? "11 CO "** a ° .1 t>» 1^? ■S s S5 ■ 00 1 OS CT I> M ^'a'S ""• ■|-s ■sj'BaiGra (-) A I>-i-(00 00 QO 1 irt r- o Sr [ ssoiJomuS^eil CO , r-l 1-1 00 ' 00 o to 1 . !jn8ui:^Tjaa!^ ri -J-J^-i- -L 4., 4, J. J^ i 1 }0 !JBO0 C3 -HCO CO COV3M cq CO ' US IC «nco 1 1 il-fti Mil -ii fell fl,-i ® ojira „ ffi mCM-« -sc^ ee rt *S ft w --^ M JO pCQ CQ cS^QO -^-S o o & S H Tpi-rxo jii| COO fl grHrt 02 -h- -J- •»0H iC COI> 00 Ci O T-H rH rH «£ o -rH ^ t»D ^.S QD u O t' _: ?s S OS it" 1^ -Poc 9 ^ O h 4^ s ,0 o o o ^o o C! £ .t: -g o ^^ i^ a; " fi ;h '^ CS c« d tio pi Tj •+=■ ."W -a SfS • "te " S J S S rH S -« 3 " I _? O cS o 2 -* ■ - rr; OS 5 J-9 o o 60^ bo'"' § S « o n3 :3 So jj -♦3 -J OS .-« a .a CO g cs fe < '»" "^ e f^ j= -J >- "s pi a^ P3 13 as 2 e be .°^ ^ a C8 r^ pa w H ra r^ h S oj i oj - . 3 -' -+3 r—r w J3 ■3 o 1::^ ra 1> -^ cS CO o3 "^ > . 111 bo • So > O 00 CO (M i> cc CO CO oq lO !© (M ■* CO N iH CO (M cq hWm|*-hN' i-l (M CO CO CO CO (N (M ^^J Tt< I -# I -^' J> ^ CO CO i-H > .o "a' " rs OS iH CO S 00 — < ;i "-f *■ "o n ■»— ' CO 6B 60 Bjj. 00 CQ J """^ a a g o +3* » >>.S . two a t:* "^ » i3 S -i a "^ ** ^ '^ &1S. a fe : S, -S ^-S .5 a ° ft a -S be M a -"to X I-l s a ■ 1= gS-K-l rid" i'i ■a p,Oiac8o .-gal TtT.S g go^'s'ag'g-g.^S'i.'O rH CO rH fH ^ CO i-H -npo GQ ffl rH eq « ^1(3 COt^OO OS O -H (M CO -* lOCD 11 O o li< < o ^ cc: , SI ^ o _J 1 5 g Z 1- q: z :zi a. UJ < Z g UJ Be :3 > 1 e UJ 1- 3 04 h; z UJ Q lO E ffj bJ < 1- hs. Z UJ. 11- bJ ? CO UJ b- UJ z uJ lO 1- bJ g 01 V- z; h- £ i: 5 < (0 z z a: 0- UJ E 1- ui UJ uJ 0. < o: u. 1— o uJ a u bJ < K _i a: u < a: UJ Q. - Z < 5 1- _i 2 UJ Q < z >- ^ z 3 f lJ UJ e uJ E fe u- LJ < s H E £ E 1- Z i: b- 31 Q bJ 3 10 Z bJ c < DC b- 1- _1 0; s bJ UJ 5 £ U. i: T E 3 FF t- i; «0 i££2^-? - o >J C -J -<~'J i: 3 < & „: o Ij r ^ d: d: 12 MINIATURE FARMS. These are five "farms" worked on a four-course rotation. Bach consists of four one-fifth acre plots. The object is to show how the fertility of the soil is affected by different systems of management. Cattle, or cattle and sheep, are fattened and sold ; all the dung made from the produce of a farm goes back to it; and artificial manures are used for all crops except the cereal which follows the root crop. The soil is a fine sandy loam, lying on Millstone Grit rock. The roots, seeds, and lea oats on all the farms are manured as follows : — /" Dung (all that has been made from the produce \ of the farm in the previous season). j 5 cwt. superphosphate (701b. phos. acid) Roots. C ^ ,, sulph. am. (ll'661b. nitrogen) ) P C 2^ „ super. (30 lb. phos. acid) S SkilDS. < ^ „ sulph. am. (11-66 lb. nitrogen) > do. (.2 „ kainit (25 lb. potash) ) Lea Oats.— ^ „ sulph. am. (11-66 lb. nitrogen) do. The special treatment of each " farm " is as follows : — Tarm. Special treatment. Additional manure per acre to Value per acre of 4, crops 1902. Seeds. Lea oats. II. III. IV. V. VI. Barley (or oats grown after roots) sol*, all otber produce consumed at home by fattening stock Treatment as on Farm II., except that the fattening stock get a liberal allowance of linseed cake Treatment as on Parm II., except that nitrate of soda is applied to the seeds and oats. No cake is used Treatment as on Farm IV., except that half the hay crop is sold All produce consumed on the holding by fattening stock None. Do. 1 cwt. nitrate (17-5 lb. n.) Do. None. None. Do. Icwt. nitrate (17-5 lb. n.) Do. None. £ S. 22 18 25 18 27 17 28 5 26 4 Ndibs — On Farm III., 21i cwt. Linseed cake per acre (containing l]31b. of nitrogen), was fed with the root crop of 1898; 18i cwt. (cont3,ining 1121b. nitrogen) with the crop of 1899, 21i cwt. (con- taining 1121b. nitrogen) with the crop of 1900, 20i cwt. (containing 1121b. nitrogen) with the crop of 1901, and ISj^ cwt. (containing 112 lb. nitrogen) with the crop of 1902. About f th of the nitrogen may be ' iissumed to have found its way back to the soil in the dung. The root crops on all farms got 2i cwt. kainit (301b. potash) per acre for crops 1899 and 1900. This dressing will not be continued. A sixth Farm, No. I., originally a duplicate of No. VI., has been divided up into small demonstration plots, ai the soil is not sutficiently uniform for experimental purposes. ]3 BACK HOUSE FIELD. Manures for Potatoes (Demonstration Plots). These plots are at the north-east corner of Back House Field. The soil is a deep dark sandy loam, on a Millstone Grit subsoil. Up-to-date potatoes are planted. The plots are -jyth acre in area. Manuring per aoie : — Plot 1. — No manure. 2. — Standard dressing. .3. — Standard dressing, but with potash as kainit. 4. — Standard dressing, but with potash as sulphate. ,5. — Standard dressing without nitrogen. 6. — Standard dressing without phosphoric acid, 7. — Standard dressing without potash. 8. — 12 tons dung. 9. — 12 tons dung and standard dressing. 10. — 12 tons dung and artificials of plot 5. 11. — 12 tons dung and artificials of plot 6. 12. — 12 tons dung and artificials of plot 7. The standard dressing contains : — 40 lb. nitrogen, half as nitrate and half as sulphate of ammonia. 40 lb. phosphoric acid as superphosphate 60 lb. potash, as muriate. Roughly this is 1| cwt. nitrate, | owt. sulphate of ammonia, S cwt. superphosphate (-26 per cent.), 1 cwt. muriate (50 per cent, potash) . All the manures were applied in the drill ; the potatoes were planted on May 12th. There are two other varieties of potatoes, Dumfries Model and Langworthy, planted on adjoining plots. DlFFEt4ENT WiDTHS OF SoWING CeRBALS. Two plots in the south-west portion of Back House Field to the east of the plots of varieties of oats and barley are sown after roots with two bushels per acre of Goldthorpe barley. Plot I. (the plot to the west) is sovra with the drill at a width of 6 inches, and plot 2 at a width of 12 inches. The plots are each f acre in area. 14 BACK HOUSE Results pee Acre foe This experiment was commenced' in 1897 on the northern part of Back sandstone, lying on Millstone Grit rook. Plots 2 and 16, 3 and 18, and 19 and 20 show the effects of artificials only, applied in various ways. Plots 16-22 show 1 Manuring per acre. Turnips, 1897. Swedes, 1901. Oats, 1898. Barley, 1902. Seeds-hay, 1899. 1903. Oats, 1900. „ 1904. bi i i 03 i 03 o -1 1 1 03 i 1 a i ■i i 1 i 02 o 1 Tons. Cwt. Cwt. Cwt. Cwt. Cwt. Cwt. Tons. Cwt. Cwt. Cwt. Cwt. Cwt. Cwt. 1 # w * ... 2 1 5 U 10 3 5 Oi 2i Of 5 Oi 2i Oi 4 \ 1 5 li 5t 1 5 li 6t 1 5 U 7§ 1 5 U 1 5 li 8 1 5 li 1 5 li 9 10 1 5 1 5 11 2 10 2i ... 12 2 10 2i 1 5 li 13** 2 10 25^ 1 1 5 U 1 14 1 5 u 0* If OA Oi 11 OA Oi 1* OA 15 10 16 10 1 5 li 17 10 1 5 li 18 10 Oi 2i Of Oi 2i Of 19 10 Oi 2i ,0f 10 Oi 2i Of 20 20 Oi 2i, Of Oi 2i Of 21 10 Oi 1* Oi\ Oi It OA Oi IJ OA 22 20 • 0* li OA Oi n OA Oi 11 OA • standard dressing, containing 25 lb. nitrogen, 75 lb. phosnlioric acid miil in 1>, „.^*„=i, t Half of roots eaten on land by sheep, also llj cwt. bay 189™ and 14 cwt" 1901 ^ Do. do. do. also^^l5^ cwt. bay a^dlHll^sekcaie 1897. and *» Drills same width as other plots (27 in.) 1901, but 21i in. only 1897' Thp swede crop of 1901 was badly affected by flnger-and-toe, except on plots 1-4. which ROTATION EXPERIMENT. 15 Stx Seasons, 1897-1902. House field. The soil is a light sandy loam, and the subsoil is sand and rotten show the period of the rotation at which dung should be applied. Plots 4-14 various methods of combining dung and artificials. Value of crops of first rotation. Turmps,1897. Oats, 1898 1399; Oats, 1900 Value at 7s. a ton. £ s. 3 10 5 12 5 10 5 5 5 12 5 16 6 5 2 17 1 14 6 8 6 5 12 5 4 5 9 6 5 7 5 13 5 8 4 8 4 13 4 8 Value grain at 20s. a qr. and straw at 35s. per ton. £ s. 6 7 6 8 18 7 18 10 8 12 14 12 14 9 1 7 9 9 4 9 3 8 6 9 18 9 10 10 10 12 10 7 9 16 11 8 11 6 11 2 12 6 Value at £3 a ton. Value grain at 20s. per qr. and straw at 35s. per ton. £ ». 2 9 3 14 4 18 2 9 2 19 3 4 4 6 2 7 3 19 2 7 4 6 4 8 3 5 3 17 4 3 5 16 •1 18 4 7 4 6 4 5 10 £ s. 5 7 5 9 5 14 5 7 6 7 6 7 7 4 6 6 5 10 5 5 5 5 7 16 7 6 8 7 18 7 16 6 18 7 5 7 7 7 11 7 15 Total value in four years. Results of second rotation. Swedes, 1901. 17 6 22 1 25 20 19 25 6 27 17 29 18 24 9 16 13 20 7 23 3 23 17 27 14 24 15 27 16 28.13 29 6 27 5 28 8 27 7 27 6 29 19 Ton. Cwt, 9 18 16 20 16 17 2 14 1 14 3 14 8 12 14 3 5 3 13 16 13 16 19 15 7 14 1 17 17 18 9 18 8 16 9 15 6 16 11 13 15 15 8 Barley, 1902. Grain 561b. bus. Bus. 204 34i 33i 41i 45i 44 40 28i 33i 38 35 461 42i 44^ 49i 48i 52i 50 461 '48i 42f Straw, Ton. 1 1 1 1 1 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 1 2 Cwt. 18 3 3 10 18 2 7 2 4 4 4 14 6 13 15 13 18 9 18 8 (231b. nitrogen 1897). 14 cwt. hay and 10 cwt. cake ; 14i do. 10| do. were only sligbtly attacked. 16 GO s pa P3 ^ <^ «* 2i O <» H V) t- < r_T o « ^ ^a to CO 1> as o 05 CO o to S CO ■ t- 00 i> 00 « X bjD ■ -3 ^i 5 5 s 5 ! 5 5 P< o ■i : a 1 1 1^ a ■ 5 = 4 a ■s a 3 t» a s -c "S o "S Hi • a H a ■ \ ', o 1 1 J4 >1 ^ ^ 6 f CD >> ^ ■a ^ P^. ^ & ki 'm CO lO ■# o j> ^ ^ CO rA P m CO t* o U3 IQ o lO o o oq o 00 C^ J> o J> U5 ,_^ 00 J> i> 00 J> J> X ^ J> to ^ •• ,- ■*■ nW nW g += % % 00 ^ ^ ^ J:^ CO § " OJ ? «i* Ml-* r^« -A'f H« fe fl I— 1 00 ^ ^ (M a O CO ■i ^ s. I— ( T-i r-< I— 1 iH a »8 m .^ d3 1-^ «H OB'S o cq N o 00 u: rH CO & §§«. CO a> 00 00 i> j> J> CO CB^c Is t.^ »w -w a .SS.d 05 o oa t- i (M CO o n e CO CO § ' Hi .a -*> -*« fe 3 iO ■* in ■* lO ^ '^ ^ IS ir* -H- -—- , •^ tf ^ ^ — ' tS ca !»i : _S3 _g. ^ 3 1 1 1 = ■^ 3 1 4- la |i aH w e &3 O 02 rH N CO -* m to i> 00 05 1 17 BACK HOUSE FIELD. Vabieties of Oats and Barleys, 1903. Ul sown April 20th, except barleys at S.E. corner, which were sown on April 8th.) mi o 1:1 P4 < -IS 8 Abundance. 17 White Tartar. 16 Black Tartai-. L5 WaUis. 11 Holsteiu Prolific. 1 2 Sensation, LI Hazlett's Seizure. right, KilmamocJ!;. eld. Soil, Heavy r subsoil. % o 1 Banner. 2 One-sided White ] Selchow. 3 Beseler's Golden. ] *4 Siberian. ] 5 Yellow Lentewity. ] 1" 1 CD 7 Waterley. 8 Glaistullioh. 9 Early Fellow. 10 Golden Beauty. •Seed from Professor W Kg' n Farm Road. ■ 03 CQ 'S : O > g I ^ 111 1^1 =5 1 e e e e e e fi\ i\ t 1 BAKI.ETS. 3^ Acre Peotb. tl New Maltster. *2 Canadian Thorpe. *3 French Chevalier. *4 Mensury. sn Acre Pl'ots. 5 Carter's Prize Pro- lific. 6 Webb's Golden Grain. 7 Webb's Burton Malting. 8 Webb's Beardless. 9 Webb's Kinver Chevalier. 10 King's Peerless White. 11 King's Essex Chal- lenge. •Seed from Central Experimental Farm, Canada. tSeed from Messrs. Garton. 1 ! OATS. ^ Acre Plot. 1 Pioneer. 2 Tartar King. 3 Goldfinder. 4 New Black Tartar. 5 Newmarket. 6 Challenge White. 7 White Tartarian. 8 Triumph White. 9 Golden. 10 White Cluster. 11 Sirdar. 12 Scottish Chieftain. 1 OATS. ■ia Acre Plots. t30 Excelsior. *29 Thousand Dollar. *28 Danish Island. *27 Mennonite. *26 American Beauty. *25 Wide Awake. 24 Berlie .") ^ '^^^ 23 Blainslie ) plots. •Seed from Central Experimental Farm, Ottawa, Canada. tSeed from Messr-, f § al Footpath. Grarton. ; -^ ^-s 1 III 'S leed from Tork- > shire College farm. 5eed from Messrs. ;' Gtarton. jeed from Messrs. 1 Temperley. 13 Black Bountiful. 14 Joanette. 15 Jaune de Plandre. 16 Noire de Coulom- mier. 17 Probsteier. 18 EiesenDickahriger. 19 Bestehom'sVerbes- serter. 20 Oderbrucker. 21 Longhoughton. 22 Golden Giant. ' 2 The seed of all oats and barley sown was grown at Cockle Park, except where otherwise stated. i S.W. Back House Field. Soil, light sandy loam, on Uillstone Grit subsoil. 18 EAST TOWER HILL. Yaeieties of Swedes. .(Nos. 1-35 sown May 26th, and Nos. 36-41 June 3rd). The following forty-one varieties of swedes are being grown in single drills, each about 150 yards long, on the north portion of the field. The soil is a light loam on a subsoil of Millstone Grit mixed with clay. These varieties will all be analysed in the chemical laboratory of the college next winter. They have been manured with the following dressing per acre: — 12 tons dung, -j owt. nitrate, i cwt. sulphate of ammonia, 3| cwt. superphosphate, 1 cwt. muriate of potash. Furple top, globe and oval shaped. 1. P"W Carter's Prize-winner. Dickson, Brown & Tait's Best of All. Dickson, Brown & Tait's Extra Select. Drummond's Extra Improved. Pell's "Wentworth Purple Top. Garton's Cropwell. Sutton's Champion. Sutton's Magnum Bonum. "Webb's Imperial. Webb's New Buffalo. Drummond's East Lothian Purple Top 2. BA 3. TX 4. DX 5. EP 6. GC 7. C 8. MB 9. WI 10. NB 11. LP Purple top, tankard shaped. 12. E Carter's Holborn Elephant. 13. SC Drummond's Stirling Castle. 14. BP Kinaldie's Bangholme Purple Top. 15. CK Sutton's Crimson King. 16. WK Webb's Giant Zing. Bronze top, globe and oval shaped. 17. CI Carter's luvicta. 18. TC Dickson, Brown & Tait's Conqueror. 19. TB Dickson, Brown & Tait's Improved Bronze Top. 20. DB Drummond's ImprovedBronze Top. 21. EB Fell's Bronze Top. 22. GM Garton's Model. 23. GK Garton's Keepwell. 24. HZ Harley's Bronze Top. 25. XL Kent & Brydon's XL All. 26. BE Kent & Brydon's Eavourite. 27. D Kent & Brydon's Darlington Swede. Bronze top, tankard shape. 28. K 29. HB 30. A 31. J)Il 32. KG 33. SN 34. WE 35. LD Carter's Kangaroo. Fell's Halewood Bronze Top. Webb's New Arctic. Green top. Monarch Disease Eesisting. Kinaldie's Green Top. Smith's Norfolk. Webb's Emperor. , Sutton's Lord Derby. Came late and not classified. 36. TD Dickson's Defiance. 37. XD Dickson's Delamere. 38. TE Dickson's Emperor. 39. Sutton's New Bronze Top. 40. Sutton's Queen. 41. Sutton's New Hardy White. Swedes fob Feeding Experiments. Three varieties of swedes which vary somewhat widely in com- position were grown last season for a feeding experiment with sheep. This season half an acre of each of these (Arctic, XL AH, and Best of All) are being grown on the northern part of East Tower Hill, to the west of the variety swedes. Half an acre of Monarch Disease Resisting swedes (seed from roots selected and grown for seed at Cockle Park) is also being grown. These will probably be tested by feeding them to cattle next winter. Duplicate plots of these varieties are also being grown in Upper Brick Field. These are all being manured in the same way as the variety swedes. Those on East Tower Hill were sown on May 21st, and the others on May 26th. 19 20 EAST TOWER HILL. Experiment with Mangels. 16 plots, each ^ acre in area, are laid ofE on the east side of the northern part of East Tower Hill. It is intended to grow mangels year after year on these plots. The soil is a loam lying on a subsoil of sandy Millstone Grrit, which is mixed with clay. The crop was sown on May 13th. Manures per Acre Annually. Plot 1. — Artificials * to replace ingredients removed by a 22 ton crop of roots. 2. — Standard dressing (all nitrogen as sulph. am.f) 3. — Standard dressing.J 4. — Half of standard dressing. 6. — Standard dressing and 2 cwt. common salt. 6. — Standard dressing (slag § instead of super.) 7. — Standard dressing (sulph. pot. || instead of muriate.) 8. — No manure. 9. — 12 tons dung. 10. — 12 tons dung and standard dressing. 11. — 12 tons dung and half of standard dressing. 12. — 12 tons dung and standard dressing without nitrogen. 13. — 12 tons dung and standaird dressing without phosphate. 14. — 12 tons dung and standard dressing without potash. 15. — 6 tons dung and standard dressing. 16. — 6 tons dung and artificials ^ to replace constituents removed by a 22 ton crop of roots. Varieties op Mangels. Pour drills of each of the following varieties of mangels are being grown beside the Meteorological station. They are manured in the same way as plot 10 of the mangels experiments, and were sown on May 16th. Sutton's Prize-winner. Sutton's White Sugar Mangel. Sutton's Golden Tankard. Carter's 1903 Mangel. Sutton's Yellow Globe. Carter's Sugar Mangel Sutton's Mammoth Long Red. Each of these varieties will probably be analysed next winter. * 100 lb. nitrogen (250 lb. sulphate ammonia and 320 lb. nitrate, balf in each) ; 40 lb. phosphoric acid (336 lb. superphosphate 26%) ; and 225 lb. potash (450 lb. muriate potash, 50 %). t 400 lb. sulphate ammonia. J The standard dressing contains 80 lb. nitrogen (510 lb. nitrate) ; 40 lb. phosphoric acid (336 lb. superphosphate, 26 %) ; and 150 lb. potash (300 lb. muriate potash, 50%). 250 lb. basic slag. || 300 lb. sulphate potash, 50 %. IT 34 lb nitrogen (220 lb. nitrate) : 171 lb potash (342 lb. muriate potash). It is assumed that a ton of i^ung contains 11 lb. nitrogen, 7 lb. phosphoric acid, and 9 lb. potash. 21 EAST TOWER HILL. Manures for Swedes (Demonstration Flots). These plots are on the west side of the northern portion of Bast Tower Hill. The soil is light and sandy, is rather shallow, and lies on Millstone Grit rock. Kangaroo swedes were sown on May 19th. Manuring per acre. — Plot 1.— No manure. „ 2. — Standard dressing. .3. — Standard dressing, but with phosphoric acid all as „ 4. — Standard dressing, but with phosphoric acid all as superphosphate. „ 5. — Standard dressing without nitrogen. „ 6. — Standard dressing without phosphoric acid. „ 7. — Standard dressing without potash. „ 8. — 12 tons dung. ,, 9. — 12 tons dung with artificials of plot 2. „ 10. — 12 tons dung with artificials of plot 5. „ 11. — 12 tons dung with artificials of plot 6. „ 12. — 12 tons dung with artificials of plot 7. r „ 13. — 12 tons dung with 4 cwt. superphosphate (50 lb. phosphoric acid). The standard dressing contains : — 35 lb. nitrogen, half as nitrate and half as sulphate of ammonia. 100 lb. phosphoric acid, half as superphosphate and half as slag. 50 lb. potash, as muriate. Roughly this is 1 cwt. nitrate, f cwt. sulphate of ammonia, 4 cwt. superphosphate (26 per cent.), 2|- cwt. slag (38 per cent.), •^ cwt. muriate (50 per cent, potash) . All the manures were applied in the drill. EAST TOWER HILL. High-class and Low-class Superphosphate for Swedes. The following experiment is being made on the north side of the field to the east of the demonstration plots of swedes. The soil is a light loam on a subsoil of Millstone Grit mixed with clay. Half an acre has been manured with 4 cwt. per acre of low-class super- phosphate (29 per cent.) ; and 2f acres with 3J cwt. per acre of high-class superphosphate (36 per cent.). This is in each case equivalent to 60 lb. of phosphoric acid per acre. These manures were applied in March. The crop has received in addition (per acre) : — 1 cwt. muriate of potash (applied in March) I „ salphate of ammonia (in drill). i ,, nitrate of soda (topdressing). •22 EAST TOWER HILL. Yaeietibs op Wheat. Three varieties of wlieat have been received from the Director of the Rothamsted Experimental Station, and are sown on quarter acre plots to the south of the Meteorological Station. The varieties (Preston, Red Fife, and Percy) are of Canadian origin, but have been grown at Wye, Kent, for one year. One bushel of seed was sown in each case on February 12th. EAST TOWER HILL. EXPEEIMENT ON'VaKIETIES AND METHODS OP SoWING OP PiRLD Cabbages. Seasons 1903 and 1904. This experiment has for its object the ascertaining of the best method of growing cabbages on the farm in Northumberland. Different varieties are also being tested. They are being grown in the New Nursery at the S.W. corner of East Tower Hill. The soil is a free sandy loam lying on Millstone Grit rock. Plot 1. — Early Drumhead, Drilled in April, thinned in June. „ 2. — Early Drumhead, Transplanted in June from plot 1. „ 3.-^Eolipse Drumhead, Drilled in April, thinned in June. „ 4. — Eclipse Drumhead, Transplanted in June from plot 3. „ 5. — Giant Drumhead, Drilled in April, thinned in June. ,, 6. — Giaut Drumhead, Transplanted in June from plot 5. , 7. — Thousand Headed Kale, Drilled in April, thinned in June. „ 8. — Thousand Headed Kale, Transplanted in June from plot 7. „ 9. — Early Sheepfold, Drilled in April, thinned in June. „ 10. — Early Sheepfold, Transplanted in June from plot 9. „ 11. — Thousand Headed Kale, Drilled in August, thinned in October. „ 12. — Thousand Headed Kale, Transplanted in September or early in October from plot 11. „ 13. — Giant Drumhead, Drilled in August, thinned in October. „ 14. — Giant Drumhtead, Transplanted in September or early in October from plot 18. „ 15. — Early Drumhead, Planted in April with purchased plants. „ 16. — Giant Drumhead, Planted in April with purchased plants. The plots are l-80th acre in area. There are 4 rows in each plot. All the rows are 26in. wide and the plants 24in. apart, except Giant Drumhead and Thousand Headed Kale, which are in rows 30in. wide, and the plants are 30in., apart. i The plots are manured as follows (per acre) : — 12 tons dung,. 1 cwt. sulphate of ammonia, 2 cwt. superphosphate, 2 cwt. slag, and 6 cwt. kainit. They also receive 1 cwt. nitrate after singling- or when transplanted plants have commenced growth. 23 TOWER HILL. EXPEEIMENX IN EenOVATING GeASS LaND. Some very poor clay soil in this field was laid down to per- manent grass in 1897. The seeds did not take well, and an attempt has been made to renovate and re-seed the land without breaking it up. During wet weather in the winter of 1901-2 the ground was frequently harrowed with a Parmiter harrow at a cost of 17s. 6d. per acre. It was then divided up as shown on the plan on page 26 into 48 sections, viz., 12 plots, each sub-divided into four parts. A, B, G, and D. Each of the 48 sub-plots measures -^ acre. The plots received the following dressings in the winter of 1901-2:— Plot 1 . — No manure. „ 2. — 1 J owt. mur. potash (50 lb. potash) . „ 3. — 10 cwt. basic slag (200 lb. phos. acid). ,, 4. — Combined dressings of plots 2 and 3. ,, 5. — 10 cwt. slag, 8 tons burnt lime. ,, 6. — 10 cwt. slag, 3 tons burnt lime, and If cwt. mur. potash. „ 7. — 10 cwt. slag, 1 ton ground lime, and l-J cwt. mur. potash. „ 6. — 10 cwt. slag, 4 tons gas lime, and I5 cwt. mur. potash. „ 9. — 3 tons burnt lime. ,, 10. — 1 ton ground lime. „ 11. — 4 tons gas lime. „ 12. — No manure. Division A of each plot received no fresh seed. Division B received 12 lb. white clover per acre (8,608,000 seeds), costing 14/-. Divisions G and D received the seed mixtures shown on following page. The object of the treatment of Division B is to establish a crop of white clover. If this plant can be established so as to respond to basic slag as it does on older pastures, the improve- m.ent of the herbage will be rapid. In Division C certain desirable grasses are sown with white clover, so that their progress may be studied. In Division D kidney vetch and 24 some other deep-rooting' plants recommended by Mr. R. H. Elliot, of Clifton Park, have replaced the white clover. The burnet seed contained about 30 per cent, sainfoin, so that this plant has been included in the mixture sown. Seed. Divisioii C. Per acre. Division D. Per aore. Weight No. of germinating seeds. Cost. Weight No. of germinating seeds. Cost. Cocksfoot lb. 1 404,700 s. d. lOi lb. 1 404,700 s. d lOi Timothy 1 1,293,600 8 1 1,293,600 8 Hard fescue 1 520,200 10 1 520,200 10 Bough stalked meadow grass Smooth stalked meadow grass Crested dogstail i f 4 1,083,900 1,185,700 398,700 1 9 7* i 1,083,900 1,185,700 398,700 9 7i 1 Golden oat grass i 4 262,500 ]0i i 4 262,500 lOi Perennial red clover i 106,800 6 2 427,300 2 Alsike clover ... i 351,800 7 1 703,600 1 2 White clover . . . 6 4,304,200 7 Kidney vetch . . . 5 945,700 5 Burnet 8 367,200 3 Chicory ... 3 854,200 6 Yarrow ... i 789,500 1 3 12 9,912,100 13 8i 24i 9,236,800 24 The plots were not mown for 1902, as the herbage was not abundant, and it was considered desirable to leave it for the protection of the young plants when seeds were sown. Rolcus mollis (soft wood grass) was very abundant on all the plots last season. The manures applied to plot 7 (slag, potash, and ground lime) were most efEective last season. Last autumn the young white clover plants had made a good start on Division B, on Division some of the grasses were also showing themselves, and on Division D the plants recommended by Mr. Elliot were present, but in a very early stage of development. Towl M Plan of Experi 172 ear on BepoVdtlp^ NO MANUI POTASH SLAG SLflCSj POTASH SLAG £^ LIME SLAG, POTASH^ LIME SLACPOTASHajCROUND LIME SLAC,P0TA5H^CA5 LIME LIME GROUND LIME GAS LIME NO MANURE A5. A4. As. Ae. A7. As. A9. Aio. An. Al2. 63. 64. Bs. Be. Bt: B8. 89 Bio. Bn. 612. C3. C^. 05. C6 Ct: C8. Cs. Cio. Cn. C12. D3. D4-. Ds. De. O7. Da. Ds Dio Oil. O12. 26 ROTATION EXPERIMENT IN TOWER HILL. Plots J acee. Results per acke. Plot. Manures. Weight of swedes (roots) 1902. A plots. B plots. Average. 1 15 tons dung to swedes Tons. 20 Cwt. 5i Tons. Cwt. 18 14i Tons. Cwt. 19 10 2 9 tons duns to swedes and 6 tons for seeds in autumn of 1903 19 Hi 19 19 4i 3 9 tons dung, li cwt. sulph. am. (25 lb. N.), 5 cwt. slag (100 lb. phos. ac), and 1 cwt. mur. potash (50 lb. potash) all to swedes 22 7 21 19i 22 3i 4 Same as plot 3, but super. (7 cwt.) instead of slag . . . 21 lOi 21 19i 21 15 5 Same as plot 4, but no phos. for swedes; (i of phos. for swedes on plot 4 to la-st 3 crops) 19 7i 18 16i 19 If 6 9 tons dung to swedes 17 Si 17 7f 17 8 The soil is a rather heavy loam, about Gin. deep ; the sub- soil is clay with Millstone Grit stones. The crop for 1903 is Groldthorpe barley (sown April 1st), to be followed by seeds hay 1904, and oats 1905. The last two crops will be topdressed with nitrate and sulphate of ammonia. 27 UPPER BRICK FIELD. Experiments to check Fimg-ee-and-Toe Disease. Six plots, each J acre in area, were marked off in the winter of 1899-1000, across the rotation plots where the attack of finger- and-toe disease was severe on the swedes of the previous season. , These have been treated as follows (per acre) : — Plot 1. — 1 ton ground lime applied during the early winter of 1899-1900. „ 2. — 2| tons common lime applied during the early winter of 1899-1900. ,, 3. — No dressing. „ 4. — 2| tons common lime applied during the winter of 1901-2. „ 5. — 2i tons common lime applied during the winter of 1902-3. „ 6. — 6 tons common lime applied during the winter of 1902-3. The crop for 1903 is Kangaroo swedes, sown on June 2nd ; the efflect of these dressings will be ascertained this season. Three plots of -j^g-th acre each, adjacent to the foregoing have also been marked off and treated as follows : — Plot 1. — No dressing. ,, 2. — \ ton common lime. ,, 3. — 2 tons common lime. The lime was slaked into a dry fine powder and applied immedi- ately the drills were opened, after which the drills were at once covered and the swedes sown on June 4th. The following plan indicates the position of these two sets of plots : — M » Hi w o o o o E-i O C\AJ = 5 cwt. high class or 7i ,X\y\ ) Black Italian poplars, ) Silver firs ) Bemarks. Mixture of shade-bearing and light- demanding species. A " pure " wood of " light " trees. One of the most valuable exotic conifers. These sections will not be thinned heavily. The intention is to grow pit wood on a 30-4C) years rotation. These are examples of mixtures of " shade " and " light " trees. A pure wood of light-demanding species. A " light " and " shade ' mixture for comparison with Plot 7. A " light " and " shade " mixture. A pure wood of " light " trees. Manured at the rate of 16 cwt. of basic slag per acre before planting, compare plot 9 (a). Compare with plot 9 (b). The foregoing plantations are protected on the west side by a shelter belt of Scots Fir 20 yards wide. The shelter belt is divided into eight sec- tions, each of them 40 yards long, which have been planted in the following manner: — Sections A and E — Trees planted in pits 12in. by 12in. B C D F — Trees planted in T-shaped notches. G— Turfs 15in. by 15in. removed, soil stirred with pick, trees planted and turfs slit, inverted, and replaced. H — Planted in the same way as last except that the soil was stirred by means of a special German implement. 32 DAVY HOUSES FIELD. Manures for PASxaRE. This experiment is being made to test the effects of a potash manure, and of high and low class superphosphate, on the light sandy soil lying on the Millstone Grit at the N.E. corner of this pasture field. The plots are each J^^ acre in area and are treated as follows (per acre) : — Plot 1. — No manure. 2. — 10 cwt. basic slag (2001b. phos. acid). 3. — 2 cwt. muriate of potash (1001b. potash). 4. — 10 cwt. basic slag and 2 cwt. muriate of potash. 5.— 2951b. super., 36% (501b. phos. acid). 6.— 3651b. super., 29^0 (501b. phos. acid). The manures were all applied in January, 1903. CROPS GROWING ON ARABLE LAND NOT UNDER EXPERIMENT. TowEK Hill. — Holstein Prolific oats are sown on all this field, 1 except on the rotation plots, where Goldthorpe barley is sown. East Tower Hill (South Side). — ^Frcm east to west, four ridges- Banner o(its (about 2 acres), two ridges Siberian oats (about Ij acres), one ridge Yellow Lentewity oats (about J acre), two ridges Beseler's Golden oats (about | acre) Back House Field. — About 2; acres of Waverley oats are sown in the S.W. corner of the field. IJ acres of Goldthorpe barley are- sown in the S.E. corner. Upper Brick Field. — On the west side four acres of Goldthorpe barley are sown ; east of this are the varieties of swedes for feeding experiment and the finger and toe plots, and the eastern portion of fhe field is sown with yellow turnips. 33 NOTES. 34 NOTES. 35 NOTES. 36 NOTES. AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION. ' At the Dnrham . College of Science, Neiwcastle-upon-Tyne, complete f abilities exist for the systematic teaching of agricnlture and the allied sciences. The Courses have been fra,ined to meet the requirements of diiferent classes of students, -they are : — (a) A Degree course of three years' duration leading up to the B.Sc. of the University of Durham. Average Fee £21 ■per session. ' , ' (b) A Certificate pourse occupying the winter months of three years. , This course is specially a,dapted for young farmers, as it leaves the summer free for practical farming. Fee £15 :per session. Those who are unable to devote three winters to' study, may attend College for either, one or. two winters, an,d take classes in Agriculture and certain other subjects: (c) Special courses of study', in Agriculture, Estate JManage- ment and Forestry, consisting of classes selected hy - : students from the Degree and Certificate courses. (d) An Elementary, cjourse extending over six weeks from the end of October. This course is designed to assist those, who, already have a knowledge of the practice, to begin the study of the principles of AgriQulture. Fee £3. ; ■ ' ' ■ • ' , The College ProSpectas with full particulars of Classes, Fees, Ac, may be obtained from the Secretary ,~ The Durham College of Seiencie, Newcastle-upon-Tyne. Scholarships, and Exhibitions in opnneistion with' the d,bove are awarded by the County Council of Northumberland. Forms and all particulars may be obtained from the Secretary of the Education Committee, The Moothall, Newcastle-iipon- Tyne. ^ ' ' ' ' ,>