The mature crop of crimson clover upon another acre of the four under experiment was turned under and corn planted as already described, thus permitting of a study of the relative advantages of turning under a whole and a partial crop of green clover. The crop on this plot showed a more vigorous growth, also maturing a larger number of ears. The yields at time of harvesting, also when air-dry, as well as the total dry matter, are here given. One acre of the farm has been set aside for the use of the Botanical Department, and during the past year experiments have been made with fungicides to prevent or check the attack of fungous diseases common to some of the leading truck crops. Investigations were also made by the Department upon mangel-wurzels and carrots which had been planted for stock purposes. The experiment with the Bordeaux mixture for the beet leaf spot was of especial interest, as the mangels so treated yielded an increase in roots of nearly 26 per cent., or one-fourth, in round numbers. POULTRY. A building originally used for hogs has been fitted up for fowls, and plans are now completed for a brooder-house, 16 x 32 feet, with a brick basement for storage and incubators. The Pineland Incubator and Brooder system has just been introduced and is giving good satisfaction. Our fowls at present are mostly silver-laced Wyandottes with a few Buff Cochins and Black Lanshans. It is proposed to carry on experiments in this Department the following year. GIFTS. A very fine young Guernsey bull was presented by Mr. H. McK. Twombly, one Vermont Milk Cooler by the manufacturers, and one Zephaniah T. Breed's Weeder, which does excellent work. THE WEATHER AND THE SEASONS. BY E. W. MCGANN, DIRECTOR NEW JERSEY WEATHER SERVICE. The following tables show the monthly and seasonal mean temperature and precipitation (including melted snow), at New Brunswick, N. J., for the year ending December 31st, 1894; also the excess or deficiency (above or below the normal) for thirty-six years for temperature and forty years for precipitation : (September, 11.03) Autumn. October, 4.87 19.25 inches. Normal, 10.81 ins. Ex., 8.44 ins. November, 3.35 SUMMARY FOR THE YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31st, 1894. The mean temperature for the year, 53.4 degrees, is 3.6 degrees above the mean of the previous year, and 1.6 degrees above the normal. The maximum temperature recorded was 100 degrees, on July 28th. The minimum temperature, 2 degrees below zero, was recorded on the morning of February 25th. The total amount of rain and melted snow was 47.31 inches, which is 9.57 inches below the total for 1893, and 0.44 inch above the normal. The greatest monthly precipitation was 11.03 inches, for September; and the least, 1.74 inches, for March. The greatest precipitation in twenty-four hours was 3.68 inches, on September 18th. The total number of days on which precipitation equaled 0.01 inch or more, 146; total number of clear days, 58; total number of partly cloudy days, 186; total number of cloudy days, 121. The prevailing direction of the wind was northwest. Periods of drouth-April 24th to May 5th, May 8th to 16th, June 8th to 19th, July 7th to 21st, July 25th to August 3d, August 21st to September 6th, September 21st to October 3d. Periods of wet weather-April 4th to 12th, May 17th to June 6th, September 8th to 20th. Periods of warm weather-June 18th to 24th, July 12th to 29th, Periods of cool weather-May 19th to June 8th. |