CCCCCvXv Ml I1M APPENDIX TO THE REPORT OF THE MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE EXPERIMENTAL EAEMS REPORTS OF THE DIRECTOR AGRICULTURIST HORTICULTURIST CHEMIST ENTOMOLOGIST and BOTANIST - POULTRY MANAGER SUPT. EXPERIMENTAL FARM, Nappan, N.S. - HORTICULTURIST SUPT. EXPERIMENTAL FARM, Brandon, Man. Indian Head, N.W.T. ,i ii .1 Agassiz, B.C. - Wm. SAUNDERS, LL.D. J. H. GRISDALE, B. Aor. W. T. MACOUN F. T. SHUTT, M.A. JAS. FLETCHER, LL.D. A. G. GILBERT R. ROBERTSON W. S. BLAIR S. A. BEDFORD ANGUS MACKAY THOS. A. SHARPE FOR 1901 PRINTED BY ORDER OF PARLIAMENT OTTAWA PRINTED BY S. E. DAWSON, PRINTER TO THE KING'S MOST EXCELLENT MAJESTY 1902 [No. 16—1902] Pricey Jfi cents. Scenes on Central Experimental Farm, Ottawa. 1. Elm leaved Spiraea. 2. Peach leaved Campanula. 3. Office building and Laboratory with surrounding plantation. 4. Part of Lilac group in Arboretum. 1-2 EDWARD VII. SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 A. 1902 APPENDIX TO THE REPORT OF THE MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE EXPERIMENTAL EAEMS REPORTS OF TIIE DIRECTOR AGRICULTURIST HORTICULTURIST CHEMIST ENTOMOLOGIST and BOTANIST - POULTRY MANAGER SUPT. EXPERIMENTAL FARM, Nappan, N.S. - HORTICULTURIST SUPT. EXPERIMENTAL FARM, Brandon, Man. Indian Head, N.W.T. ii ii ii Agassiz, B.C. - Wm. SAUNDERS, LL.D. J. H. GRISDALE, B. Agr. W. T. MACOUN F. T. SHUTT, M.A. JAS. FLETCHER, LL.D. A. G. GILBERT R. ROBERTSON W. S. BLAIR S. A. BEDFORD ANGUS MACKAY THOS. A. SHARPE FOR 1901 PRINTED BY ORDER OF PARLIAMENT OTTAWA PRINTED BY S. E. DAWSON, PRINTER TO THE KING'S MOST [No. 16—1902] EXCELLENT MAJESTY 1902 1-2 EDWARD VII. SESSIONAL PAPER No. T6 A. 1902 APPENDIX TO THE REPORT OF THE MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE ox EXPERIMENTAL FARMS Ottawa, December 1, 1901. Sm, — I beg to submit for your approval tbe fifteenth annual report of tbe work clone, and in progress, at tbe several experimental farms. In addition to my report, you will find appended, reports from the following officers of the Central Experimental Farm: From the Agriculturist, Mr. J. H. Gris- dale; from the Horticulturist, Mr. W. T. Macoun; from the Chemist, Mr. Frank T. Shutt, and from the Entomologist and Botanist, Dr. James Fletcher. A report is also submitted from the Poultry Manager, Mr. A. G. Gilbert. From the Branch Experimental Farms there are reports from Mr. R. Bobertson, Superintendent, and from Mr. W. S. Blair, Horticulturist of the Experimental Farm for the Maritime Provinces, at iSTappan, JSTova Scotia; from Mr. S. A. Bedford, Super- intendent of the Experimental Farm for Manitoba, at Brandon; from Mr. Angus Mackay, Superintendent of the Experimental Farm for the North-west Territories, at Indian Head, and from Mr. Thos. A. Sharpe, Superintendent of the Experimental Farm for British Columbia, at Agassiz. In these reports there will be found the results of many important and carefully conducted experiments in agriculture, horticulture and arboriculture, the outcome of practical work in the fields, barns, dairy and poultry buildings, orchards and planta- tions at the several experimental farms; also of scientific investigations in the chemi- cal laboratory and tbe information gained from the careful study of the life histories and habits of injurious insects and the methods by which noxious weeds are propagated and spread, together with the most practical and economical measures for their destruc- tion. In the report of the Entomologist and Botanist will also be found particulars of the experiments and observations which have been made during the past year in connection with the Apiary. 16— 1 J 3 4 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 1-2 EDWARD VII., A. 1902 The large and constantly increasing demand by the farmers of the Dominion for the publications issued from the experimental farms is a gratifying evidence of the desire for information among this class of the community, also of the high esteem in which these records of the work of the farms are held. It is hoped that the facts brought together in the present issue will be found of much practical value to the Canadian farmer and fruit-grower and that they may assist in advancing agriculture and horticulture in this country. I have the honour to be, sir, Your obedient servant, ,WM. SATTKDEKS, Director Experimental Farms To the Honourable The Minister of Agriculture, Ottawa. 2 EDWARD VII. SESSIONAL PAPER No. 10 A. 1902 ANNUAL REPORT ON THE EXPERIMENTAL FARMS REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR, WM. SAUNDERS, LL.D., F.R.S.C, F.L.S. The year 1901 has, on the whole, heen an encouraging one for Canadian farmers. While some crops in Ontario, Quebec and the maritime provinces have fallen below the average yield, others have been unusually good, and the excellent prices received for nearly all farm products during the year have helped to make up for any shortage in particular crops. In Ontario, fall wheat, oats and pease have given yields unusually light, while hay, which occupies a nearly equal area, has given a remarkably heavy return, and the product has been of good quality. Hay has also given exceptionally large crops in Quebec and the maritime provinces, in which sections, however, oats have fallen below the average. Spring wheat and barley are said to have produced nearly average returns in the eastern provinces, while Indian corn and field roots have gone above the average. In the western provinces of Manitoba and British Columbia, agricultural crops of all sorts have been very good, while in many parts of the North-west Territories the yields have been extraordinary and probably unprecedented. The experimental farms have had results corresponding much with those of the test farmers in their neighbourhood, and on the whole, as will be seen by consulting 1he following pages, the returns have been very encouraging. The Fifteenth Annual Keport of the work of these institutions is herewith presented. The reports previously issued, one of which has appeared annually for the last fourteen years, — covering prac- tical experimental work to determine many points along all the different lines em- braced in Canadian agriculture, horticulture, forestry and ornamental planting — have had a wide influence in moulding the thought and practice of a large number of the more intelligent people engaged in these various branches of work, and through them, have wielded an influence on others. Object lessons, framed after the best methods, and covering a very large field, have been provided every year at each of the experi- mental farms, and visiting farmers who have come to learn, as many of them annually do, have carried home with them useful ideas, which, put in practice on their own farms, have added to the profits of their business. Those who are so situated that they cannot visit the farms, can receive free, by asking for them, the annual reports and the bulletins prepared by the officers of the farms, replete with information covering, as fully as is practicable, many of the differ- ent lines of work undertaken, and the results can be studied at leisure. Thus, the in- formation acquired is spread over the whole Dominion. Nearly fifty thousand farmers now receive the publications of the experimental farms, and their number is steadily increasing. 5 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 1-2 EDWARD VII., A. 1902 The experimental farms were among the first agencies provided for the special purpose of aiding Canadian farmers in the solution of the many difficulties which surround their calling in the various climates of the Dominion, and the progress which has been made in all branches of this national industry owes, no doubt, much to the more general adoption of the sound principles governing good farming, which have been persistently advocated on every occasion by the officers of these institutions. The many problems associated with the thorough preparation of the soil, and the best me- thods to adopt to maintain its fertility, have been carefully investigated and reported on. The great importance of selecting the most productive sorts of seed has been repeatedly urged and tangible proofs offered of the success attending such practice. To encourage and assist farmers in their endeavours along this line, varieties of wheat, oats, barley, and pease of established value have been grown in considerable quantities on the experimental farms for the past 12 or 13 years, and distributed in sample bags, free, by mail, to all farmers who apply for them. The demand for these samples has been so great that it has been found necessary to limit the number sent, to one only to each applicant. For the past six years more than thirty thousand farmers have par- ticipated annually in these co-operative experiments, which have involved the free dis- tribution, through the mail, of over sixty tons of seed each season. The liberal pro- vision thus made for Canadian farmers by the Dominion government has been of very great benefit, and there are now, as a result of this work, many of these high class productive sorts of grain under cultivation in almost every settled locality throughout the Dominion. In addition to the actual gain resulting from the general introduction of more profitable sorts of grain, this work has had a wide educational influence. Farmers have learned to observe the characteristic variations in varieties and their powers of observation and comparison, thus awakened, have been brought to bear on other problems in their calling, to their individual advantage and profit. The culti- vation of these good sorts by the more enterprising farmers has interested their neigh- bours, who have benefited in turn, and hence the good influences attending this useful work are extending through all sections of the farming community. Some other branches of special work which have been under my personal charge have also made considerable progress. The experiments conducted in the cross-breed- ing of commercial apples and hardy Siberian crabs, with the object of producing very hardy apple trees, such as are likely to be adapted to the climates of our north-west country (where ordinary sorts do not grow), have been successfully continued. Sev- eral new varieties have fruited during the past year, which promise to be of value. Some very interesting new crosses in wheat have also been produced. A large number of samples of grain has been tested for vitality, received from farmers in different parts of the country. Some particulars relating to these tests, and the number of them, will be found at a subsequent page in the report from Mr. W. T. Ellis, who has charge of this branch of the work. Many desirable additions have been made to the collection of ornamental trees and shrubs on the grounds surrounding the buildings on the Central Experimental Farm, which have thus been made additionally attractive and instructive to visitors. The accompanying report will be found to contain a large amount of practical information, such as is likely to be helpful to all those who are engaged in Canada's great national industry, agriculture. 1-2 EDWARD VII. SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 A. 1902 EXPERIMENTAL WORK CONDUCTED AT THE CENTRAL EXPERIMENTAL FARM, OTTAWA, ONTARIO. EXPERIMENTS WITH OATS. One hundred and seven varieties of oats have been under trial in the test plots at the Central Experimental Farm during 1901. The object of these experiments has been to gain information as to the relative productiveness, earliness and other char- acteristics of the different sorts. The soil on which these oats were sown was a heavy sandy loam of good quality, more or less mixed with clay. The previous crop was field roots. The land received a dressing in the winter of 1899-1900 of about twelve tons of fresh barn-yard manure per acre, which was placed on the frozen ground in small heaps of about one-third of a cart load each, and spread and ploughed under in the spring. No manure has been applied since. In the aiitumn of 1900, after the roots were gathered, the land was ploughed about seven inches deep and left in that condition until the following spring when it was cultivated twice with a two-horse cul- tivator and harrowed twice with the smoothing harrow before the oats were sown. The seed of most of the varieties was sown on April 17, the remainder from April 26 to 29 all on plots of one-fortieth of an acre each, seed being used in each case at the rate of two bushels per acre. Among the new sorts brought under trial are Irish Victor, Beseler and Atlantic, all white branching oats. Pioneer, a black branching oat, and Goldfinder, a large yellow half-sided oat, both new introductions of the Garton Bros., of Newton-le-Wil- lows, England. To Prof. C. Doxrud, of the Technical School, Christiania, Norway, I am indebted for two varieties of oats from that country. Black No. 6 and Summer No. 5, and from the United States Department of Agriculture I have also received two new sorts, Tobolsk 2800, and Zhelanni 2963. Included in the list there are also thirteen cross-bred sorts, all of which have been originated on the experimental farms: — Brandon, Cromwell, Holland, Kendal, King, Master, Medal, Milford, Miller, Olive, Oxford, Pense and Russell. There are also two new cross-bred sorts in the list this year. These are further results of the work in cross-breeding done by Dr. A. P. Saunders, at Brandon, in 1892. The following are their names and parentage : — Dixon. — Black Tartarian female, with Early Gothland male. Forbes. — Giant Cluster female, with Prize Cluster male. It will be seen from the following results that oats have fallen below the average in yield this year. EXPERIMENTAL FARMS OATS — TEST OF VARIETIES. 1-2 EDWARD VI!., A. 1902 a Name of Variety. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 11) 20 21 22 23 24 25 2(5 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 89 40 41 42 43 44 45; 4(5 471 48 49 BO 51 52 53 54 55 f6 57 5.X 59 GO 61 62 Liberty Virginia White Abundance Cromwell Uberfluss Joanette Columbus Milford, Black... . Doncaster Prize .... Kendal, White Early Maine American Triumph. . Lincoln ... Improved American. Olive, Black Mennonite Eureka Black Beauty Rennie's Prize White Milford, White Oxford Abundance Olive, White Pense, Black California Prolific B. Prolific Blk. Tartar'n Leutewitzer Banner Anderbecker King ... Holstein Prolific. . . American Beauty.. . . Irish Victor Aitken, Black Selchower Pense, White Sensation Cream Egyptian. . . . Thousand Dollar Russell Poland Rosedale Salzer's Big Four.. . . I [azlett's Seizure. . . . Master White Schonen Beatehorn'sAbun'nce Buckbee's Illinois. . . ( J' ilden Beauty . ... Blk. Tartarian I mp. Tohol.sk No. 2800.... Oderbruch Danish Island White Giant Newmarket Improved Ligowo. . . Early Dawson Early Gothland Victoria Prize New Zealand Dixon Wide Awake Holland Date of Ripen- ing. Aug. July Aug. July Aug. July A ug. July Aug. July Tuly 28 25 28 28 2G 31 29 4 25 25 25 25 31 23 31 20 2 31 25 25 31 31 28 28 29 25 2 25 25 23 25 28 29 31 o g 102 94 100 103 103 101 96 94 100 100 100 100 100 96 08 96 95 96 96 100 100 96 96 103 103 94 100 98 100 100 98 100 103 94 96 100 25| 100 23 98 25 100 29 1 94 2,X 10.3 23j 98 25 100 £8 103 25 100 8 102 25 100 25i 100 J 28 29 28 26 Aui July 2 ) 23 26 26 25 7 X 25 28 103 104 103 101 20 I HI 100 98 91 101 90 113 102 100 103 Length of Straw. Character of Straw. Inches. 51-53 50—52 49-51 50—52 35—37 39—41 49-51 51—53 49-51 40—42 39—41 38—40 40—42 51—53 37—39 54—56 41—43 55-57 50-52 45-47 41—43 53-55 52-54 40—42 40-42 50-52 41—43 55-57 39-41 41—43 39—41 39-41 44—46 58—60 57—59 44—46 39-40 42-44 41—43 58-60 43-45 39-41 41—43 46-48 41-43 40-42 44—46 42—44 40-42 42—44 44-46 40-42 43—45 41—43 39-41 50—52 43—45 46—48 44—46 41—43 38-40 38-40 Stiff.... It ... II ... II ... II ... II ... Weak ! ! Stiff.... 11 ... 11 ... i< ... 11 ... Medium Stiff.... Medium Stiff.. . Weak . . Stiff.... II ... II ... II ... II ... II ... Weak ! ! Stiff.... Medium Stiff.... II ... II ... II . . Weak .' .' Stiff.... II ... H ... II ... Weak ! ! Medium Stiff.... II ... II ... II ... II ... Medium Stiff. ... 11 ... stiff.'.!! Medium . Weak . . . Stiff Weak . . . Stiff Length of Head. Inches. 8i— 9J 9 - 10 - 9 - 8 - 8 - 10 - 9 - 84- 11 - 8 - m- 8 - 9 - 7 - 9 - 10 - 9 - 10 - !) - 8 - 9 - 7*- 8 - 9 - 9£- 9 - 94- 9 - 8 - 8 - 10J- 10 - 9 - 8 - 8 - Sh- 9 .- 9 - 8 - 10 - 8 - H- 8 - 7 - 8 - 8 - 8£- 9 - 9 - 9 - 9 - H- 8 - 10 - 9 - 104- 9 - 9 - 8 - 9 - -10 -11 -10 - 9 - 9 -11 -10 - 9£ -12 - 9 -n - 9 10 - 8 -10 -11 -10 -11 -10 -10 - 9 -104 - 8* - 9" -10.1, -10i 10 -10* -10" -94 - 9 -11 -11 -104 - 9 - 9* -9| -10 -104 - 9 -11 - !>', -10" - 9 - 8J - 9" - 94. - 9 -10 -104 -10* -10 -94 - 9| -11 -10 -114 Kind of Head. Yield per Acre. Branching 64 Half sided Branching 11 11 Half sided Branching Half sidedi55 Branching 60 53 57 57 57 57 57 Half sided Branching Half sided n Branching Half sided Sided. ...'. n Branching Sided Half Bided Branching Half sided Branching Half sided Branching Half'sided Branching 54 54 54 54 54 53 53 52 52 51 51 50 50 50 48 43 48 48 48 48 48 48 48 48 47 47 47 47 47 47 47 47 46 46 46 45 45 45 15 11 Sided..... Branching Half sided 44 Branching 44 44 14 II 44 II 13 12 42 41 11 Half Sided Branching 104 Sided... . 10 I n ..... 'Jh Branching 10| Sided H ►J 24 8 2 2 2 2 2 30 10 24 24 2 1 24 21 18 18 32 12 26 6 28 28 28 28 28 28 8 8 8 8 22 22 22 22 22 22 2 2 16 18 16 30 10 10 11/ 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 18 12 12 X. bo to 33 374 3C| 31 361 35 33 31 33 334 33 35 33 33 31 30 324 34 34 374 334 331 32" 32 34 30 33 31* 364 36 37 35 344 33 34 374 37" 35 34* 36 374 324 34 354 344 S4| 38* 334 35" 36! Rusted. 26 3l| 26 33 Considerably. Slightly. Considerably. Slightly. Badly. 11 Considerably. Slightly. Considerably. Badly. Considerably. Slightly. Badly. Considerably. Slightly. Considerably. Badly. Slightly. Considerably. Slightly. Considerably. Slightly. Badly. 11 Considerably. Slightly. Badly. Considerably. Slightly. Considerably. Slightly. Considerably. ti Considerably. Slightly. Badly. Considerably. Slightly. Considerably. Slightly. REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 oats — test of varieties — Concluded. t- u .a £ Name of Variety. 63! Pioneer 64 Early Blossom. 65 Reseler 6Gj Black No. 6 Summer 67 Scottish Chief 68 Bavarian 69; Abyssinia 70i\Vallis 71|Winter Grey 72 Salines " 73 Australian 74 Flying Scotchman. . . 75|Goldnnder 70 Mortgage Lifter 77 -Miller 78 Sargentfree 79 Probstey 80 Imported Irish 81 1 Black Mesdag 82 Forbes 83 Atlantic 81 Brandon 86 White Russian 86 Russell Half Sided.. 871 Kendal Black. . .. 88; White Wonder 89 Bayonet 90 Great Northern 91 Siberian 921 Bonanza 93lCou!o)niniers 94 Welcome 95 Swedish Select No. I 2788 90 Russell Brandling. . . 97 < Jolden Giant 98 Early Archangel. . . . 99,' Early Golden Prolific 100 Golden Tartarian 101 'Tartar King 102 Duppaner Summer, No. 5 103.Waverley 104 Longhoughton 105 Scotch Potato Imp., 1901 100 Medal 107 Zhelanni, No. 2903.. July II Aug. Date of Ripen- ing. July Aug. ■July Aug. July I! J Aug. July 25 28 10 8 2 25 28 23 26 29 2 22 28 28 31 2 8 25 20 Aug. July Aug. July ■— - o .5 s- J; 'A Aug. 2 n 6 July 23 M £0 II 31 II 28 ,, 22 Au^. 2 .July 23 100 103 104 105 96 100 103 98 91 104 108 97 103 93 100 90 102 100 95 81 102 7 101 2K 103 251 100 96 102 88 91 96 103 97 108 88 29 104 8 102 28| 103 23 98 Aug July 25 31 23 6 25 28 28 7 29 100 100 98 103 100 103 103 103 104 Length of Straw. Character of Straw. Stiff. Weak Stiff.. Weak . . Stiff.... Inches. 34—36 41—43 45—47 47—49 43-45 42—44 39—41 37—39 53-55 42-44 43—45 45—47 42-44 50-52 42-44 42-41 42—44 40-42 41-43 40-42 43- 45 45—47 41—13 42-44 51—53 40—42 43—45 39-41 43—45 44—40 43-45 39-41 38—40 3G— 38 40—42 37-39 36— 38| Stiff 38—40 ,. 39—41 „ Medium . Stiff Medium. Stiff Medium , 46—48 40— 421 ., 30—32 Medium. I 32—311 ,- 44—10 ,. 40—48 Weak . . . Length of Head. Inches. 9 - 8 - 9£- 9 - 11 - 10 - 9 - 8 - 10 - 10 - 9 - 94- 9 - 9 - 8 - 8 - 7 - 9 - 10 - 8 - K^- 10 - 8 - 10 - 84- 9 - 10 - 8 - 8 - 10 - 10 - 9 - 7 - 8 - 9 - 9 - 8 - 9 - 9 - 9 - 7 - 9 - 8 - 10 ■ 11 - Kind of Head. Yield per Acre. IE -a tc -10 Branching - 9i Half Sided Branching Sided.... Branching -104 -io| 12 -11 -10 HalfSided - 9.1, Branching -11 -114 -10 Sided -104 Branching -10 HalfSided -10£ Branching - 9 - 9i| „ - 8JI i. -10"! „ -12 i. - 9 Sided -94 Branching 11 HalfSided - 9 Branching -11 HalfSided -94 ,, -10 Branching -11 - 9 - 9 11A -11 -104 - H - u' -10 Sided -104 Brandling - 9" .. -10 'Sided -10J -10 - 8 -10 Branching 3 w n u n 41 ii 10 10 40 40 40 40 40 39 39 39 38 38 38 37 37 37 37 37 36 30 35 35 35 34 33 33 32 32 32 32 32 32 31 31 SI 30 20 - 9', „ .. 20 -11" HalfSided 19 -124 Branching 18 20 20 26 6 6 20 20 20 20 20 20 ii 14 14 28 28 8 22 22 22 2 2 10 10 30 30 30 24 18 18 32 32 32 12 12 12 6 0 6 20 20 14 - 35 304 354 32 38 34 34 371 31? 33" 31 33 31 36J 344 374 35' 374 314 30 3G| 324 35 30 34 304 364 32" 34 364 354 304 Rusted. Considerably. Badly." Siight'y. ii Considerably. Slightly. Badly.' Considerably. ii Slightly. Considerably. Slightly. ii Considerably. Badly. Slightly. Considerably. Slightly. Badly. Slightly. n Considerably. Slightly. Badly. Considerably. Slightly. 354 Considerably. 374 Slightly. i " Badly. Slightly. Considerably. .Badly. 31 37 31 30 32 33 Considerably. 344 Slightly. 334. ii 354 32" 281 334 Badly. Slightly. SELECT LIST OF OATS. Seven years ago a system of uniform trial plots was planned to be conducted at fjll the experimental farms, which provided for the growing of the promising sorts of the most important agricultural crops side by side, on similar soil and all of the same class being sown on the same day so that the conditions might be uniform. The results have been published each year since in an annual crop bulletin which has been issued as early in the season as practicable. After three years of trial the average yields for that period obtained at all the experimental farms was published in the bulletin for 10 EXPERIMENTAL FARM8 1-2 EDWARD VII., A. 1902 1897 (No. 29). Similar results with added experience have been published in the annual crop bulletin each year since, the results for the seventh year, 1901, having recently appeared in bulletin No. 39. In these bulletins the six or twelve sorts found most productive on each farm have been specially noted. All those varieties which during five years' trial do not find their way at any time into these lists of the best sorts at any of the experimental farms are dropped from the list at the end of that period to make room for other new and promising kinds. Occasionally where a variety of grain shows some radical defect, such as persistent weakness of straw, it is discarded after a shorter trial. By this method the lists are kept within reasonable limits. The following sorts of oats have been thus dropped during the past two or three years: — Coulommier's, Doncaster Prize, Early Dawson, Early Etampes, Imported Irish, Medal, Mortgage Lifter, Poland, Prize Cluster, Rennie's Prize, Scotch Hopetoun, Welcome, White Monarch, White Wonder, Winter Grey. Some of the varieties so discarded from the uniform trial plots are still continued in the general list grown at some of the experimental farms in the discretion of the superintendent. .. In the following list of oats the average yield per acre at all the experimental farms is given of all the varieties which have been under trial for three years or over. The periods reported on range from three to seven years. SELECT LIST OF VARIETIES OF OATS. c a § 3 Names of Varieties. Kind of Head. Colour of Grain. Number of Years under test. Average yipld per acre at all the Experimental Farms. 1 Branching ti ...... Sided Branching it ■ . • . ii Sided. ...','.'.'..'. Branching. .... Half sided Branching White 7 7 6 4 3 5 - 5 . 4 4 7 7 6 7 3 7 7 7 7 7 3 7 5 7 7 5 7 4 7 7 7 7 6 7 7 7 7 i V Bush. Lbs. 76 14 ? 75 33 3 75 23 4 White 75 21 F> 75 19 ft Black 74 3 7 White 73 29 s White Giant 73 5 9 73 1 10 11 72 31 72 21 1^ 72 4 IS Yellow II ........ 71 32 14 71 27 15 71 17 Ifi 71 8 17 White 71 — 18 70 20 19 ' 70 20 % Black 70 18 9,1 White .^ White 70 16 99 70 8 23 Half sided Branching Sided Half sided n ..... Branching Sided 69 31 9A 69 25 tf5 Siberian 69 22 W Wallis 69 14 91 Holland White 69 1 9A Wide Awake 68 32 9,9 Early Blossom 68 13 30 Early Gothland 68 1 31 Olive 67 18 3^> Black 67 15 33 Early Maine White 67 6 34 Califormia Prolific Black Black 67 3 35 White 67 2 36 66 20 37 66 16 REPORT OF TTLE DIRECTOR 11 SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 select list of oats — Concluded. (V a P Names of Varieties. Kind of Head. Colour of Grain . Number of Years under test. Average yield per acre at all the Experimental Farms. 38 Milford Half sided Branching Half sided Sided Half branching . Branching Half sided Branching Half sided Branching Black 3 7 5 6 7 6 7 6 7 I 7 6 6 7 7 6 4 Bush. Lbs. 65 23 39 Joanette 65 18 40 Newmarket White 65 16 41 White 65 5 45! A byssinia 65 3 43 Miller 64 25 44 64 21 45 Pense Black 64 15 4fi Prolific Black Tartarian 64 10 47 King White.. 64 2 48 Russell White 63 21) 49 Master 63 16 50 Yellow 62 21 51 Oxford White 62 10 52 53 61 33 61 26 54 5) Black 61 25- 60 22 EXPERIMENTS WITH BARLEY. Sixty-seven different sorts of barley have been under test at the Central Experi- mental Farm during 1901. Thirty of these have been two-rowed sorts, and thirty- seven six-rowed. The land on which the barley was sown, adjoined that used for oats, and was of the same character and quality and had similar manuring and preparation. The size of the plots was one-fortieth of an acre each. The two-rowed sorts were sown at the rate of two bushels per acre, and the six-rowed at the rate of one and three- quarter bushels per acre. The seed of nearly all these varieties of barley, both two- rowed and six-rowed was obtained from selected heads picked by hand, the largest and plumpest being chosen. Among the two-rowed sorts there are six new varieties this year. Oregon received from the United States, Bestehorn's Raiser and Fitchel Mountain from Germany, Plumage from Norway and Standwell and Invincible, two varieties recently introduced by the Garton Bros., Newton-le-Willows, England. In this group are also included the following seventeen hybrid sorts, all of which have been produced at the experi- mental farms. Beaver, Bolton, Clifford, Dunham, Eulton, Gordon, Harvey, Jarvis, Leslie, Logan. Monc-k, Nepean, Pacer, Pelham, Rigid, Sidney and Victor. 12 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 1-2 EDWARD VII., A. 1902 TWOROWED BARLEY — TEST OF VARIETIES. fc 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 Name of Variety. French Chevalier Danish Chevalier Beaver... Canadian Thorpe Standwell Clifford Nepean Logan Kinver Chevalier Plumage from Norway. Gordon Jarvis Sidney Prize.Prolific Dunham Invincible Pacer 18|Pelham. 19" 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 Bolton. Fichtel Mountain. . Victor Improved Thanet., . Bestehorn's Kaiser. Fulton Oregon Duck-bill Harvey Monek 29 'Rigid 30 Leslie Date of Ripen- ing. July ii Aug. July Aug. July Aug. (i July Aug. July Aug. It July 25 2S 20 23 23 23 23 23 25 28 20 18 22 28 20 28 24 2 22 2 23 6 8 25 8 8 25 6 8 25 c3 S W 90 93 85 88 88 88 88 88 90 93 85 83 87 93 85 93 89 95 94 95 88 99 101 90 101 96 97 99 101 D7 Length of Straw. Inches. 41—43 34—36 40—42 35-37 35—37 45—47 49-51 43-45 33-35 36-38 42—44 40—42 47—49 31—33 42—44 30—32 35-37 36—38 38-40 32—34 36-39 35—37 36-38 38—40 31—33 25—27 35-37 40—42 32-34 34-36 Character Length of of Straw. Head. Inches. Medium a r-4 ii .... 1—4 Stiff 3^ MS 2J (-3 Medium .... 21 r-3 Stiff si —4 Medium. . . . 3[ r-3f ii .... 4 — 4$ ■• .... 3J-4 Stiff 3 — 34 2 —2* 3 —34 Medium. . . . 4 —44 Stiff 4 — 4| 3 —34. 2|-3i 3*- 4 3J-4 3 —34 3£-4 3|-4 Medium. . . . 4 —44. Stiff 3 — 3} 2^-3 Weak 4 -4* Medium. . . . 24-3 Stiff 3-34 34-4 3-34 34-4 Yield per Acre. en D PQ 55 47 46 45 42 41 41 39 36 34 33 31 31 31 30 29 26 26 25 22 21 21 20 20 18 16 14 14 14 11 a 10 4 514 2 504 10 34 42 2 18 22 28 46 42 22 12 30 28 42 12 10 4 42 12 20 10 36 12 38 28 23 2 Rusted. No rust. Slightly. No rust. 504 511 514 51 504 504 514 504 49 51 5U 48| 52 4»4!Slightly 51* 51 50| 52 46 49 46 No rust. Slightly. No rust. Considerably. Slightly Considerably. No rust. Badly. Slightly. No rust. SELECT LIST OF VARIETIES OF TWO-ROWED BARLEY. In this list is given the average yield per acre obtained during the past three to seven years from the most productive varieties grown at all the experimental farms, with the length of time they have been under test. Only those are included which have been three years or longer under trial. Farther particulars as to how these select lists have been worked up will be found under ' Select list of oats.' Names of Varieties , Number of Years under trial French Chevalier Jarvis Clifford Harvey Dunham Beaver Danish Chevalier Canadian Thorpe , Logan 7 3 3 3 5 7 7 7 4 Average yield per acre at all the Experimental Farms. Bush. 46 45 44 44 44 43 43 43 42 Lbs. 6 7 44 21 16 39 31 26 3S Names of Varieties , Number of Years under trial 10 Nepean . 11 Newton 12 Fulton 13 Leslie . 14|Bolton 15iSidney 16 Prize Prolific. Kinver Chevalier. Victor Average yield per acre at all the Experimental Farms. Bush. 42 42 41 41 41 41 40 39 38 Lbs. 7 3 21 20 19 16 12 7 41 REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 SIX-ROWED BARLEY — TEST OF VARIETIES. 13 p s : Date of Name of Variety. |Sowin„ Ripen- s ' i mg. ri C o.ce A 1 Odessa 2 Mensury 3 Stella 4 Claude 5 Munro 6 No. 8 from Norway 7 Royal 8 Nugent 9 Blue Long Head. . 10 Princess Sialof .. . . 11 Rennie's Improved 12 Parkin 13 Petschora 14 Pioneer 15; Vanguard 16 Beardless from Sal- ter 17l Albert. 18 Garfield IS) Yale 20Odeibrueh 2lLytton 22 Common 23 Trooper 24 Summit 25 Phoenix 26 Chinese Hulless. . . 27 Salzer'sSilverKing 28 Baxter 29 Hordeum Chousk j (Hulless) 30 Empire 31 Argyle 32 Brome 33 Excelsior 34 Success 35 Sisol.sk Spring No. 2982 36 Blue Short Head . . 37 Hulless Black 3!- Hulless White April May April ii May April May April May April May April 19 15 19 l'.i 3 20 19 19 26 3 19 3 in 19 1!) .3 lit 19 19 July 18. Aug 6. .July 18. „ 18. It 22. ir 17. ii 18. II 18. ii 24. Aug 6. J uly 18. II 22. II 17. II 22. II 18. M 22. " 17. 90 II 19 II 19 II 19 If 19 II 19 tl 19 May 3 H 3 April 19 May 3 April 19 ii 19 H 19 ii 19 May 17 April 17 May 3 April 1 11 Wl 22.| 20.1 2.°>. 17. 19. 18. 18. 27. 27. 17. II 22. II 18. II 18. II 19. II 19. Aug 2. July 22. Aug 14- July 19. H 22. 90 83 90 90 80 82 90 90 89 95 90 80 89 94 90 80 89 92 94 92 95 89 91 90 90 85 85 89 80 90 90 91 91 77 96 103 91 94 Lengtli of Straw. Inches. 40—42 39—41 36—38 38—40 38—40 42-44 30-38 38—40 36—38 34-36 38—40 37—39 38—40 38-40 38—40 38— «) 36—38 38—40 33—10 38-40 35—37 26-38 38—40 36—38 38—40 23—25 29—31 36—38 22—24 39-41 37—39 36—38 36—38 29-31 37—39 19—21 27—29 30-32 Character of Straw. Stiff Medium. Stiff..... Medium . Stiff..... Medium. Stiff Medium . Stiff Length of Head. Inches. Medium. , Stiff 2i- 2i- 3 - 3 - n- 24- I ^2 2f 24 2; Medium.. 2 Medium . , Stiff Stiff. Medium. Stiff Medium . 3 - 3 - 3|- 24" 3 - 2i- 3 — ^2 3| 2 n 3 - 3 - 34- -3£ a -3 -34 -3" 3i -34 -3 -4 -3 -34 -34 n- 3 - %- 24" 24- 3 - 24- 34- 2 - 2 - 2 - -3 -3 -3 -34 -34 -H -3 -3 -3 -34 -3 -3* -24 -3 3 -3 -34 -3 -4 -2i -24 -24 b CD Yield per «J! Acre. to p > Lbs Bu3h. Lbs. 41 2 504; 39 8 m 36 42 52 36 42 494 35 10 50 34 18 5(H 33 26 50^ 33 6 50i 31 42 44^ 29 28 48i 29 18 51 29 18 47 27 34 48 27 34 50 27 34 52 27 34 47 26 42 514 26 22 494 26 2 49i 26 2 51 26 2 50 26 2 504 25 10 51 25 10 51J 25 10 504 24 28 604 21 28 47 24 18 514 23 26 574 22 34 52 21 42 50 21 42 524 17 34 4S4 16 12 47 16 2 474 11 12 414 9 38 624 6 2 604 Rusted. No rust. Badly. No rust. Slightly. No rust. Slightly. No rust. Badly. No rust. Among the six-rowed barleys there are five new sorts this year. Princess Sialof from Germany. Xo. 8 from Norway, and Chinese Hulless, Hordeum Chousk and Sisolsk Spring, No. 2962, from the United States Department of Agriculture, Wash- ington. There are also included in the above list the following nineteen hybrid sorts, all of which have been produced at the experimental farms : — Albert, Argyle, Brome, Claude, Empire, Garfield, Lytton, Munro, Nugent, Parkin, Phoenix, Pioneer, Royal, Stella, Success, Summit, Trooper, Vanguard and Yale. SELECT LIST OF VARIETIES OF SIX-ROWED BARLEY. In this list is given the average yield per acre obtained during the past three to seven years from the most productive sorts grown at all the experimental farms, with the length of time they have been under test. Only those are included which have been three years or longer under trial. Particulars as to how these select lists have been made up will be found under ' Select list of oats.' u EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 1-2 EDWARD VII., A. 1902 -2 ■z 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 23 29 30 Names of Varieties. Number of Years under trial. Mensury Claude , Mansfield Odessa Argyle Yale Trooper Common Royal Oderbruch Albert Garfield Baxter . Nugent Petschora Rennie's improved Summit Stella Rronie Empire Pioneer Blue Long- Head . Phoenix Vanguard Excelsior Empire Champion Hulless Black Success Hulless White 7 3 4 r* 4 4 3 r i 7 7 7 3 3 7 7 7 7 r~ I 7 3 4 7 5 7 7 6 7 6 3 7 3 Average yield per acre at all the Experimental Farms. Bush. Lbs. 51 50 48 48 48 47 47 46 46 45 45 45 45 44 44 44 43 43 43 43 42 42 42 42 42 42 42 40 38 37 29 44 44 19 11 35 4 38 32 35 28 20 3 32 3 3 44 43 40 12 45 38 22 20 15 5 4 45 42 30 EXPEKIMENTS WITH FALL WHEAT. Twenty varieties of fall wheat were under test during the past season. All but two were sown on September 7 on a piece of light, sandy loam, of good quality, on plots of one-fortieth of an acre each. The previous crop was rape, which was fed off early so as to permit of the land being worked well before sowing. It was ploughed from 6 to 7 inches deep, and well harrowed to bring it into a good condition of tilth. It was manured in the spring of 1900, before sowing the rape with about 20 tons of barn- yard manure per acre. The sowing of two of the varieties, Dawson's Golden Chaff and Surprise, was repeated on October 1, but it will be seen that the earlier sowings have produced the largest crops. All the varieties came through the winter well, and made a very strong and even growth and gave good returns. This grain was sown at the rate of If bushels of seed per acre. REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR 15 SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 FALL WHEAT — TEST OF VARIETIES. 1 2 3 4 . 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 Name of Variety. Gold Coin Dawson 's G olden Chaff Early Red Clawson . . Reliable Jones' Winter Fife. , . BudaPesth Imperial Amber Golden Cross Surprise Red Velvet Chaff.... Egyptian Amber American Bronze Pride of Illinois Velvet Chaff Bonnell Poole Treadwell Tasmania Red Turkey Red Long Berry Red Dawson's GoldenChmff Surprise Date of Ripen- ing July 13 It 13 II 13 tl 13 If 15 M 13 It 17 II 15 11 13 „ 15 n 17 It 13 11 17 IF 13 it 13 ti 13 ii 17 ti 17 ii 17 tt 13 * il 17 * tt 17 be 300 300 300 309 311 309 313 311 309 311 313 300 313 300 309 300 313 313 313 309 313 313 Length of Straw. Character of Straw. Inches. Inches. 50—52 Medium ■ 2i— 3 53—55 Stiff . . . . 3 —34 56-58 • 3 -3| 54—56 Medium • 3 -34 54—56 Stiff . . . • 4 -44 46—48 . 24—3 52—51 Medium . 34-4 50-52 ii . 24-3 48—50 Very stil f. 3 -34 52-54 Stiff ... . 3 —34 48—50 . 3 -34 47—49 Very stil f. 34—4 53—55 Stiff ... . 3 -34 52—54 . 24-3 54—56 . 3 -34 48—50 Medium • 24-3 50—52 ti . 3 -34 48—50 Weak . . . 2 -2| 45 — 47 ti . . 24—3 46—48 Medium . 24-3 45—47 Stiff . . . . 3 —34 41—43 , 3 -34 Length of Head. Kind of Head. Yield per Acre. m Beardless. 52 49 . 49 Bearded.. 147 Beardless. 1 45 44 44 43 42 40 40 30 Bearded. Beardless . ii Bearded. . Beardless . Bearded. Beardless . ii . Bearded . . Beardless. . 38 38 38 37 37 34 32 32 35 26 15 30 2 12 50 o 10 20 20 25 30 30 2 35 35 22 33 5 20 bo J2 62 62 604 634 624 624 614 62| 614 624 624 624 624 624 62 624 62 62 624 63 Rusted. Slightly. No rust. Slightly. No rust. Slightly. No rust. Slightly. No rust. *Both these varieties were sown October 1st. 10th produced larger crops. It will be seen that the same varieties sown September EXPERIMENTS WITH SPRING WHEAT. One hundred and seventeen varieties of spring wheat were included in the trial plots in 1901. The soil was a mixed clay and sandy loam, in some parts the clay pre- dominated, in others it was more sandy. The previous crop was field roots. The land received a dressing of fresh barn-yard manure, of about twelve tons per acre, during the winter of 1899-1900 which was put en the frozen ground in small heaps of about one-third of a cart load each and spread and ploughed under in the spring. No ma- nure has been applied since. In the autumn of 1900 the roots were gathered, the land was ploughed about seven inches deep, and left in that condition until the following spring when it was cultivated twice with a two-horse cultivator and harrowed twice with the smoothing harrow before the wheat was sown. The size of the plots was one-fortieth of an acre each, and they were all sown at the rate of one bushel and a half of seed per acre. 16 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 1-2 EDWARD VII., A. 1902 SrRING WHEAT TEST OF VARIETIES. a Name of Variety. 1 Goose 2 Hastings 3 Huron 4 Herisson Bearded . . . 5 White Fife 6 Beaudry No. 19, Australian. . Red Fife 9 Hungarian 10 Preston 11 No. 181, Minnesota. . 12 Beauty 13 No.5G42, Washington 14 Dion's.. 15 Campbell's White Chaff 1G Plumper 17 No. 15, Australian. . 18 Kingsford 19 No. 13, Australian. . 20 No. 10, Australian . . • 21 Clyde 22 Crown 23 Boyle 24 No.5044, Washington 25 Nixon 26 No.5639, Washington 27 Perron (Les Eboule- ments) 28 Old Red River 29 Rio Grande 30 Blenheim 31 Grant 32 No. 1, Australian. . . 33 Emporium 34 Percy 35jChester 30 Traeey. 37"' 38 39 40 41 42 Date of Ripen- ing. Aug. July ii Aug. July Aur. July Aug. July Aug. No. 109, Minnesota.. Pringle's Champlain. No. 1G3, Minnesota.. Wellman's Fife No. 27, Australian . . Steinmedal fr. Vic- . I toria, Aust 43 Cartier 44 45 Roumanian . Early Riga.. 46 Prospect. Dayton . . Red Fern . Colorado . Dawn , . . 47 48 49 50 51 Captor 52 Rideau 53 No.5645, Washington 54 No. 12, Australian . . 55 No. 23, Australian.. 56Speltz 57 Lakefield 58 Laurel 59]Morley 60 White Connell 61 62 63 64 July Aug. July Aug. July Aug. July Aug. White Russian Admiral No. 5646, Washington No. 2, Australian Ml 11 •5 9 7 31 1 G 7 8 6 11 7 1 8 12 9 31 1 11 2 31 2 6 6 7 1 7 21 6 5 2 1 31 1 1 9 5 7 7 6 8 8 8 7 8 7 12 CO • >>fcp no 101 101 1 1)5 no no 112 109 105 101 105 111 104 111 106 104 104 98 113 111 101 105 99 105 101 104 99 104 111 105 101 105 103 104 105 104 106 104 10( 110 110 103 105 111 94 99 98 106 105 104 105 105 105 98 111 111 99 112 101 112 111 112 103 105 Length of Straw. Inches. Character of Straw. -46 Stiff. -46 „ 44- 44- 46 -48 44—46 52—54 48—50 43-45 ! 49-51 42-44 40—12 48-50 Stiff 4G-48I 44— 46:Medium. 46—48 Stiff Medium. Stiff Medium. 50-52 44—46 46-48 41—46 45—47 45—47 48—50 40—42 51—53 40—42 Stiff. 46—48 , „ . 42—44 „ . 45-47 -. 47— 49|Medium. 49-51 Stiff Medii 41—43 44—46 46-48 49-51 46-48 39—41 49-51 42—44 41—43 42—44 52—54 49-51 40—42 40—42 42—44 42-44 40—48 45-47 46—48 46—48 40—42 43—45 43—45 45—47 39-41 47—49 36—38 46—48 48-50 42—44 42—44 47£-48Js 44—46 38—40 46—48 Medium. Stiff Medium. Stiff Medium. Stiff Medium. Stiff. Length of Head. Inches. Kind of Head. 31-4 3|-4 3 —31 32- Bearded . . Beardless . Bearded . . it Beardless , Bearded. . Beardless, ii . Bearded. . ii Beardless. ii i Bearded. . Beardless Bearded. . Beardless. Bearded. . Beardless. Bearded. . Beardless . Bearded. . Beardless . it . Bearded. . ii . . Beardless . ii Bearded. . 'Beardless. Bearded. . Beardless. Bearded. . ii Beardless , Bearded. . n ti . . Beardless Bearded. . Beardless , ii Bearded. , Beardless Bearded. Beardless Yield per Acre. to 3 M 33 33 32 32 31 29 29 29 29 28 28 28 28 27 27 27 27 27 27 26 26 26 26 26 26 25 25 25 25 24 24 24 24 24 23 23 23 23 23 23 23 23 23 23 22 22 22 22 22 22 22 22 21 21 21 21 21 21 21 21 21 21 21 20 — — 'Sffl Rusted. 50 50 K) 50 10 10 10 40 40 30 30 50 50 2o 10 10 10 3o 30 30 30 30 30 50 50 10 10 -10 30 30 10 50 50 20 20 20 10 10 10 10 10 40 30 30 30 50 5o 50 50 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 50 64?, No rust. 60" 61 64£ 59 Slightly. 61 59 591 61 58 6H 56| 62 58 63 60 59 59 59 60 59£ 58| 03 00 62 58 coi 01 001 60" 60 60 60 61 59 60 611 59 59 57 56 601 63| 61 57 58 621 62" 59 601 58| 621 58" 58 40 57 59 58 594 59 58 021 00 No rust. 11 Considerably. Slightly. No rust. Slightly. Considerably. Slightly. Considerably. 11 „ No rust. 11 Considerably. Slightly. Considerably. Badly. Slightly. No rust. Slightly. ti Considerably. Considerably. No rust. Considerabl}7. Slightly. Considerably. No rust. Slightly. No rust. Slightly. No rust. Badly. Slightly. Badly. Considerably. Slightly. Considerably. REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR 17 SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 spring wheat — test of varieties — Concluded. - .a B I Name of Variety. C5 Alpha (itj Robin's Rust Proof. . G7 Benton (IS Advance 69 Monarch 70 No. 11, Australian... 71 Orleans 72 Blair 73 Countess 7-1 Red Swedish 75 From Kerr Gifford, Portland, O 70 Newdale 77 Robson 78Redpath 79 Spence 80 Progress 81 No. 25, Australian... 82 Dawson 83 No. 149, Minnesota. . 8 1 Harold 85JNo. 9, Australian... . SGStanley 87lNorval 88iNo. 28, Australian... 89|Dufferin 90,Florence.. 91 ; Essex 92 Crawford . 93 Fraser .. . 94 j Angus .... 95 Weldon .. 9GPolonian No. 50 13, ton Byron . . Japanese . Washing 97 98 99 100|Cassel. 101|Vernon 102|No. 21, Australian 103 Summer No. 9, Nor- way 104 Mason 105|No. 18, Australian... lOGStrubes 107 108 109 Gehun Ebert No. 5799, Washing ton 110 No. 7, Felbi'ig Aus- tralian 111 Ladoga 112 Bishop 113 Powell 114 No. 14, Australian. 115 Leutewitzcr Sand . . 110 Black Sea 117,No. 2959, Washing- ton Date of Ripen- ing. Aug. July Aug. >. =}■ "A July Aug-. July Aug. July Aug. July Au£. July Aug. July Aug. July Aug. July Aug. 1 S 1 31 G 11 8 1 2 7 5 G 8 5 2S 7 12 2 21 2 31 28 G 1 0 8 28 22 1 1 9 7 31 24 8 1 6 28 1 11 7 2 22 105 112 105 101 110 104 101 105 ICG 111 103 98 99 101 OS 101 111 105 106 94 100 104 101 99 105 99 112 101 95 105 105 102 105 104 97 112 105 99 93 105 104 100 93 95 105 101 100 105 96 101 98 95 103 Length of Straw. Inches. 42- 49- 41- 41- 40- 45- 48- 40- 4G- 4S- 36- 39- 49- 48- 45- 44- 48- 48- 43- 42- 42- 39- 42- 42- 41- 47- 45- 42- 39- 45- 42- 41- 37- 39- 30- 43- 39- 40- 36- 39- 39- 42- 42- 38- -44 -5L -43 -43 -48 -47 -50 -42 -48 -50 -38 -41 -51 -50 -47 -46 -50 -50 -45 -44 -44 -41 -44 -44 -43 -49 -47 -44 -41 -47 -44 -43 -39 -41 -38 -45 -41 -42 -3S -41 -41 -44 -44 -40 41—43 45- 35- 39- 41- 39- 37- 38- -47 -37 -41 -43 -41 -39 -40 39-41 Character of Straw. Stiff. Medium Stiff. MeJiuin Stiff. Medium Stiff.... Medium Stiff Length of Head. Inches. 4 3^-4 34—4 44 !■■> -4% 32-4J 34—4 3 — 34 3 — 34 4 -4| 14- 3J- 4 - 4 - 3 - 4 - %■ 3f- 3 - 24- 3|- 34- 3 - 3|- 3 - 34- 33- 34- 3 - 3 - 3|- H- -34 -4 1 -44 :S -5 -4i -34 -3 4 -4 -34 -4 H -4 -4k 4 -3i si -4 -6 2f-3i 3 -3* 3 —34 3S- 34- 3i- 3 —34 3-3| 2|-3i 3i-44 24-3 2^-3 5|-6 31-4%' 3 -34 34-4 3 -34 3i-4 34-4 3 -34 24-3 Kind of Head. Beardless Bearded. Beardless Bearded . . Beardless . 19 19 19 19 19 19 19 19 19 19 19 19 19 19 19 19 19 19 18 IS . 18 Bearded . . 18 17 17 17 17 17 17 Bearded . Beardless Bearded . . n Beardless . Bearded . . Beardless. Bearded. . Beardless. Bearded . . Beardless . u !> r* to g » 3 rQ r= w »-) 1-1 20 40 20 40 20 40 20 40 20 30 20 30 20 30 20 20 19 50 Beardless, Bearded . . Beardless , Bearded . . ii Beardless . Bearded . . Beardless . Bearded . . Beardless . ii it Bearded . . 17 16 10 10 16 15 15 14 13 13 13 13 13 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 40 40 30 20 20 10 10 10 10 40 40 40 30 50 50 20 61 584 62" 61| 59 574 59" 634 004 58" 56 59 56 57 58 56 594 02" 614 58 00 614 58" GO 61 58 61 624 60" 01 56 61 594. 01 10! 58 10 10 10 40 30 30 30 20 15 10 10 40 50 10 10 10 10 13 10 Rusted. 59 59 52 02 G04 60| 594 03" 50 58 57 00 57 59 58| 55! 014 No rust. Considerably. Slightly. No rust. Slightly. Considerably. Slightly. n No rust. Slightly. Badlv. Slightly. Considerably. Slightly. ii No rust. Considerably. Slightly. Considerably. No rust. Slightly. No ru-t. Slightly. ii No rust. • Slightly. No rust. Considerably. Slightly. No rust. Slightly. i< No rust. Considerably. Slightly. Considerably. Slightly. Considerably. ii No rust. Slightly. 16—2 18 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 1-2 EDWARD V.I., A. 1902 In the foregoing list there are a number of new varieties including four new sorts from Prof. W. U. Hays, Agriculturist of the Minnesota Experiment Station. These have been sent out under numbers. There are also some additional varieties from Australia under numbers. From the United States Department of Agriculture the following have been received :— Nos. 5642, 5644, 5639, 5645, 5646, 5643, 5799 and 2599. There are also included in this list fifty-four cross-bred sorts which have been originated at the experimental farms. The names of these are Admiral, Advance, Alpha, Angus, Beauty, Benton, Bishop, Blair, Blenheim, Boyle, Byron, Captor, Car- tier, Cassel, Chester, Clyde, Countess, Crawford, Crown, Dawn, Dawson, Dayton, Duf- fer in, Early Riga, Ebert, Essex, Florence, Fraser, Grant, Harold, Hastings, Huron, Kingsford, Lakefield, Laurel, Mason, Morley, Newdale, Nixon, Norval, Orleans, Percy, Plumper, Powell, Preston, Progress, Prospect, Redpath, Robson, Spence, Stanley, Tracey, Weldon and Vernon. The origin and parentage of all these, excepting thirteen, will be found in the annual reports for 1896-7-8 and 1900. The thirteen now added are the following: — No. 46. Dayton, bearded. Prince, female; Hard Red Calcutta, male. No. 47. Grant, beardless. Alpha, female; Gehun, male. No. 48. Kingsford, beardless. Red Fife, female ; Gehun, male. No. 49. Lakefield, beardless. Campbell's White Chaff, female; Ladoga, male. No. 50. Morley, boardless. Red Fife, female; No. 1 Club Bombay, male. No. 51. Newdale, beardless. Gehun, female; Campbell's White Chaff, male. No. 52. Nixon, beardless. Onega, female; Red Fife, male. No. 53. Orleans, beardless. Red Fife, female; Campbell's White Chaff, male. No. 54. Prospect, beardless. Rideau, female; Red Fife, male. No. 55. Robson, beardless. White Fife, female; Hard Red Calcutta, male. No. 56. Redpath, beardless. Red Fife, female; Campbell's White Chaff, male. No. 57. Spence, bearded. Alpha, female; Hard Red Calcutta, male. No. 58. Tracey, beardless. Silver Chaff, female; Anglo-Canadian, male. Of these results in cross-fertilizing two are bearded varieties and eleven are beard- less. Four of these were originated at the Central Experimental Farm by the Direc- tor, Nos. 49 and 58 in 1890, and Nos. 48 and 51 in 1892. One by Dr. C. E. Saunders in 1896, No. 54; three by Mr. W. T. Macoun in 1892, Nos. 46, 52 and 57, and one by Mr. J. L. McMurray in 1890, No. 50. Four were originated by Dr. A. P. Saunders in 1892, two of them, Nos. 53 and 55 at the Experimental Farm at Brandon, Manitoba; one, No. 56, at the farm at Indian Head, N.W.T., and one, No. 47, at the farm at Agassiz, British Columbia. SELECT LIST OF VARIETIES OF SPRING WHEAT. In this list is given the average yield per acre obtained during the past three tc seven years from the most productive varieties of spring wheat grown at all the expe- rimental farms, with the length of time they have been under test. Only those are included which have been three years or longer under trial. The bearded and beard- less sorts are also marked. Further particulars regarding these select lists will be found under ' Select list of oats.' REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR 19 SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 Names of varieties. Head Bearded or Beardless . Bearded. . Beardless . Bearded. . Beardless. Bearded.. M Beardless . 1 Roumanian. . . . 2 Laurel 3 Preston ...... 4 Wellman's Fife 5 Monarch G Goose 7 Huron 8 Red Fife 9 White Fife ... 10 Hungarian 11 White Connell. 12 White Russian 13 Rio Grande .- • iBearded. . 14 Clyde [Beardless . 15: Crawford 16 Pringle's Champlain 17 Red Fern lSlCrown 1!) Stanley 20 Blair Bearded. . Beardless. Bearded. Beardless. Bearded . . 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 Ad vance . Alpha Percy Admiral Fraser Blenheim Weldon Red Swedish Progress Ehert Vernon Dion's Colorado Countess Plumper Herisson Bearded Mason Early Riga Beauty Dawn Rideau Campbell's White Chaff. Beaudry Byron Duff erin Captor Norval Ladoga Harold Beardless. Bearded . . , Beardless . Bearded . . , Beardless . Bearded . . Beardless. . Bearded . . . ii . . . Beardless . Bearded . Beardless . Bearded . . Number of Years under trial. 3 3 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 0 7 7 7 3 3 7 i 7 7 4 * 7 7 rr I 3 6 3 6 7 r» I 6 1 7 4 3 6 6 7 7 7 3 6 7 3 7 4 Average Yield per acre at all the Experimental Farms. Bush. Lbs. 39 44 35 38 33 58 33 8 33 8 32 50 32 45 32 30 32 29 32 10 32 32 32 32 32 6 6 6 6 3 31 56 31 31 31 21 31 19 31 7 30 58 30 53 30 24 30 23 30 16 30 12 30 12 30 12 30 30 5 5 29 59 29 53 29 50 29 48 29 40 29 40 29 38 29 36 29 35 29 30 29 22 29 16 29 3 28 56 28 39 28 7 27 24 27 11 26 39 GRAIN SOWN IN DIFFERENT QUANTITIES PER ACRE ON SANDY AND CLAY LOAM. These experiments were all conducted on plots of one-fortieth acre each on both eandy loam and clay loam. It will be noticed that the crops are heaviest on the clay loam in every instance. 16—2* 20 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 1-2 EDWARD VII., A. 1902 Name of Variety. Date of Sowing . Date of Ripen- ing. fcc CO B 0 Length -. of Straw. Character of Straw. Length of Head. Kind rf Head. Yield per Acre. Inches. Inches. Bus. Lbs Rusted. WHEAT SOWN IX DIFFERENT QUANTITIES PER ACRE OX SAXDY LOAM SOIL. Preston 1 bush per acre Preston 1^ bush. per acre Preston li bush per acre. Preston 2 bush . per acre Preston 2\ bush. per acre Preston 3 bush . per acre April 29 Aug. 7 100 45-47 ; „ 29 >i 7 100 45— J 7 .. 29 it 7 100 45-47 „ 29 ii 7 100 45—47 ,. 29 H 7 100 42—44 „ 29 ii 7 100 42-44 Stiff. Medium. 31-4 31-4 3J-4 3i-4 3 — 3J 3 — 3i Bearded . 10 20 15 — 19 40 20 20 21 — 19 40 Slightly. WHEAT SOWX IX DIFFERENT QUANTITIES TER ACRE OX CLAY LOAM SOIL. Preston 1 bush per acre Preston 1£ bush per acre., ... . Preston 1A bush per acre Preston 2 bush per acre Preston 2£ bush per acre Preston 3 bush per acre 11 27 11 27 .1 27 It - t I it - i I it I 11 27: 11 97 48-50 97 4S-50 97 48-50 97 48-50 97 48-50 97 4S— 50 Stiff. Medium. Weak . , 3^-4 3^-4 3^-4 3^-4 3£-4 3 -3* 28 20 28 20 29 — 20 20 26 20 25 — Considerably. OATS SOWX IX DIFFERENT QUANTITIES PER ACRE OX SANDY LOAM SOIL. Banner \\ bush. per acre. . . . Banner 2 bush . per acre.. Banner 2£ bush. per acre.. Banner 3 bush . per acre . Banner 3i bush. per acre Banner 4 bush. per acre „ 29 3 96 42-44 Stiff 8 -9 „ 29 3 96 42-44 8 -9 „ 29 II O 96 40-42 Medium . . 8 -9 „ 29 3 96 40-42 11 . . 8 —9 „ 29 3 96 30-32 Weak .... 7 -8 ., 29 3 96 30-32 II .... 7 -8 Branching. 41 6 59 14 57 2 43 18 31 26 35 10 Slightly. OATS SOWN IX DIFFEREXT QUAXTITIES PER ACRE OX CLAY LOAM SOIL. Banner 1^ bush bush per acre. Banner 2 per acre Banner 1\ bush. per acre Banner 3 bush . per acre Banner 3£ bush. per acre Banner 4 bush. per acre II 27 July 28 92 46-48 .. 27 11 28 92 46—48 11 27 11 28 92 49—51 .. 27 11 28 92 49—51 .. 27 11 28 92 40—42 .. 27 11 28 92 34—36 Stiff. Medium . Weak 9—10 58 28 9—10 11 65 30 9—10 11 67 2 9—10 11 64 24 9—10 11 61 6 9—10 •1 57 22 REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR 21 SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 Name of Variety, Date of Sowing , Date of Ripen- ing. bo w a t>vr o Length of Straw. Inches. Character of Straw. Length of Head. Inches. Kind of Head. Yield per Acre. Bus. Lbs Rusted. BARLEY SOWN IN DIFFERENT QUANTITIES PER ACRE ON SANDY LOAM SOIL. Mensury 1^ bush per acre Mensury 2 bush per acre Mensury 2\ bush per acre Mensury 3 bush per acre Mensury 2>\ bush per acre Mensury 4 bush per acre „ 29 .. 29 „ 29 ,. 29 ,. 29 ., 29 22 22 22 22 22 22 84 84 84 84 84 84 39—41 39—41 39—41 39-41 39-41 36—38 Stiff. Medium 3-3£ 3 — 3£ 3 -3J 3 -3i 3 -3J S -3£ 35 35 37 19 43 11 42 19 39 23 43 11 None. BARLEY SOWN IN DIFFERENT QUANTITIES PER ACRE ON CLAY LOAM SOIL. Mensury \\ bush. per acre Mensury 2 bush. per acre Mensury 1\ bush. per acre Mensury 3 bush. per acre.. Mensury 3^ bush. pei acre Mensury 4 bush. per acre ., 27 11 19 83 39—41 ! .. 27 11 19 83 39—41 „ 27 11 19 83 43—45 m 27 11 19 83 .41—43 .. 27 If 19 83 40—42 ,, 27 11 19 83 40—42 Stiff. Medium . Weak . . . 3 -3i 3 -3i 3 -H 3 -3i 3 -3£ 3 -3£ 37 — 40 35 44 3 45 35 45 35 44 3 EXPERIMENTS WITH PEASE. Sixty-one varieties of pease have been under trial in the uniform test plots during the past season. The soil on which these pease were sown was a sandy loam, which received a dressing of barn-yard manure" during the winter of 1898-9 of about 12 tons per acre. The previoiis crop was oats. After the oats were taken off the land was cultivated shallow shortly after harvest to start shed grain and weed seeds, and plough- ed again later in the autumn about 8 inches deep, and left in this condition until the following spring, when it was cultivated twice with a two-horse cultivator and twice with a smoothing harrow. The seed of all the varieties was sown on April 29 on plots of one-fortieth of an acre each, at the rate of two to three bushels per acre according to the size of the pea. 22 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS PEASE — TEST OF VARIETIES. 1-2 EDWARD VII.. A. 1902 | 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 go; 61 Name of Variety. Date of Ripening. Cooper English Gray Paragon Nelson French Canner ....... Bruce .... Centennial Vincent Elder Chancellor iKent Victoria.... . . Carleton Alma Arthur Elliot King.. Canadian Beauty Picton Golden Vine Lanark. .... Bright , Bedford Large White Marrowfat. . Perth Prussian Blue Mackay Pride. . . Mummy Pearl , Field Gray Prince , Daniel O'Rourke Creeper New Potter Wisconsin Blue Duke ,'Oddfellow i Agnes Black Eyed Marrowfat. . . . White Wonder Archer • Macoun Multiplier Gregory Early Britain Crown , Harrison's Glory Elephant Blue Prince Albert Fergus Chelsea Dover Herald Fen ton Trilby Maple German White Grass Pea Grey (Pisum Arvense, No. 13 fr. Norway) Marrowfat (fr. Norway) . . . Aug. 15. 15. 2. 6. 12. 18. 20. 20. 14. 3. 14. 21. 14. 14. 15. 13. 18. 13. 15. 13. 12. 16. 15. 14. 14. 6. 10. 12. 15. 21. 16. 13. 5. 12. 20. 17. 15. 15. 14. 19. rr t . 18. 19. 19. 11. 13. 13. 11. 13. 21. 17. 19. 15. 20. 10. 12. 21. 6. 5., Weight The foregoing list includes the following thirty cross-bred sorts, all of which have been originated at the experimental farms : — Agnes, Alma, Archer, Arthur, Bedford, Bright, Bruce, Carleton, Chelsea, Cooper, Dover, Duke, Elder, Elliot, Fenton, Fergus, REPORT OF TRE DIRECTOR 23 SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 Gregory, Herald, Kent, King, Lanark, Mackay, Macoun, Nelson, Pearl, Perth, Picton, Prince, Trilby and Vincent. SELECT LIST OF VARIETIES OF PEASE. * In this list is given the average yield per acre obtained during the past three to seven yeai-s from the most productive varieties of pease grown at all the experimental farms, with the length of time they have been under test. Only those are included which have been three years or longer under trial. Further particulars regarding these select lists will be found under ' Select list of oats.' t. = 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 Names of Varieties. Crown German White . Pride, Carleton Picton Chelsea Early Britain. King. 9 (New Potter. Paragon Duke English Gray. . . Lanark Pearl.... Wisconsin Blue Perth Agnes Archer 19 Gregory. 20 Elliot 21 1 Arthur.. 22 Mummy 23 Fergus.. 24|Tr;iby. 25 Chancellor . 26 27 28 White Wonder. Centennial Nelson . , , 29 Bruce 30 Kent. 31 Prussian Blue 32 Victoria 33 Prince Albert 34 Golden vine 35 Mackay 36 Prince 37 Dover 38 Black Eyed Marrowfat . . . 39 Macoun 40 Vincent. 41 Creeper 42 Oddfellow 43 French Canner , 44 Elder 45 Bright 46 Large White Marrowfat. 47 Fen ton 48 Canadian Beauty 49 Elephant Blue 50 Daniel O'Rourke 51 Cooper 52 Alma 53 Bed ford. 54 55 56 Herald . Multiplier Harrison's Glory . Number of Years under trial. 4 7 6 4 3 5 5 7 6 6 3 4 3 3 5 6 5 4 3 6 7 4 6 5 5 t 5 3 6 5 5 7 7 6 6 3 7 6 5 6 5 4 o • ) 5 6 4 7 5 6 4 5 6 3 7 5 Average Yield per acre at all the Experimental Farms. 36 40 36 1 35 36 35 31 35 15 34 53 34 36 34 30 34 26 34 23 34 15 34 12 34 10 34 2 33 53 33 52 33 50 33 42 33 42 33 37 33 36 33 30 33 27 33 25 33 25 33 21 33 19 33 14 33 9 33 5 33 3 32 58 32 58 32 41 32 40 32 39 32 37 32 36 32 24 22 23 32 18 32 15 32 10 31 59 31 45 31 44 31 41 31 38 31 35 31 30 31 29 31 25 31 15 31 3 30 57 24 EXPERIUEXTAL FARMS 1-2 EDWARD Vil., A. '. 902 EXPERIMENTS WITH INDIAN CORN. Thirty-seven varieties of Indian corn were tested during the season of 1900, side by side, on fairly uniform land. The soil was a sandy loam of good quality, which received a dressing of barn-yard manure, about twelve tons to • the acre, during the winter of 1900-1. This was placed on the frozen land fresh from the barn-yard, in small heaps of about one-third of a cart load each, and spread and ploughed under in the spring. The previous crop was wheat. The land was gang-ploughed shallow shortly after wheat harvest to start weed seeds and shed grain, and ploughed again in the autumn seven or eight inches deep. In the spring of 1901, after the manure was spread and ploughed under, it was harrowed twice with the smoothing harrow before sowing. The corn was sown with the seed drill, in rows three feet apart, also in hills three feet apart each way; when the plants were from five to seven inches high they were thinned so as to leave them 'from six to eight inches apart in the rows, and from four to five kernels were left in each hill. The varieties were all sown on May 28, and were cut for ensil- age on September 18. The yield per acre has been calculated from the weight of the CTup cut from two rows, each GO feet long. INDIAN CORN* — TEST OF VARIETIES. Name of Variety. ?. Character of Growth. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 IS 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 I Superior Fodder ... Early Mastodon Early Butler Thoro'bred White Flint. . . Extra Early Huron Cloud's Early Yellow Giant Prolific Ensilage Selected Learning Red Cob Ensilage Evergreen Sugar Champion White Pearl . . . . Rennif'sB. B Country Gentleman Sanford Salzer'a All Gold Mammoth Cuban Canada White Flint Rennie's Victoria Yellow. . , Pride of the North Compton's Early , White Cap Yellow Dent,. . , Rennie's Earliest Ontario. . , King of the Earliest Mamm. E-ght-rowed Flint., Black Mexican Early Yellow Long Eared . , Longfellow North Dakota White. Angel of Midnight Pearce's Prolific North Dakota Yellow Kendall's Early Giant Pearly August Salzer's Earliest Ripe Extra Early Szekejy Yellow Six Weeks.. Mitchell's Extra Early Strong Very strong. Strong I Very strong. h . . Medium. . . . Strong Very strong. ii . . Strong Very strong. ii . . Medium Very strong. Strong Medium Strong. . Medium. Medium. Weak... Height. Inches. 120—130 120—130 110-120 115-120 115-125 120—125 120—130 120^130 120—130 105—115 110—120 125-130 94—110 120—125 115—125 125-135 90—120 130—140 105-115 95—105 120—130 105—115 105-115 95—105 90-100 105—110 95—105 90— 95 90—102 85— 95 80— 90 65- 75 80— 90 65— 75 65— 75 65— 75 60— 65 Leanness. Leafy it . . Very leafy. ii Leafy ii •I n Very leafy. Leafy it ti ii ti ... Very leaf}'. Leaf j' tt tt Leafy . . . Very leaf}'. Medium. . . Leafy ii ... ii H ii H Fairly leafy Medium. . . Leafy ti Medium H . . . , Leafy Medium Condition when Cut. Glazed. .. Doughy . . Late milk. Glazed. . . Late milk. Early milk Late milk. Early milk it Late milk. Early milk ti Late milk. Glazed . . . Late milk. Glazed. .. Early milk H Doughy.. . Glazed . . . ii ... Ri pe Glazed . . . Doughy Ripe. . . Weight per Acre grown in Rows. Tons. Lbs. 24 24 23 23 22 22 22 22 22 21 21 21 20 19 19 19 18 IS 18 18 18 18 18 17 16 Hi 15 14 14 14 14 13 10 9 9 9 8 840 400 1,300 200 1,760 1,540 1,540 1,120 460 460 1,360 1,820 1,380 940 1,840 1,840 1,820 1,620 1,300 300 80 1,420 1,660 1,220 360 1,700 1,480 1,260 1,040 1,280 240 700 260 40 1,600 Weight per Acre grown in Hills. Tons. Lbs. 25 820 24 840 19 910 23 640 25 1,480 20 40 19 1,600 23 860 21 20 18 520 15 1,020 19 940 16 120 17 1,200 22 440 26 140 17 100 17 100 11 1,760 14 1,480 19 500 20 1,360 18 1,620 22 14 1,480 15 1,900 20 40 19 500 15 1,400 18 520 18 1,400 16 560 8 1,160 10 1,120 11 440 9 1,360 11 1,100 INDIAN CORN PLANTED AT DIFFERENT DISTANCES. Three varieties were chosen for this test, the Champion White Pearl, Selected Learning and Longfellow. They were sown in rows at different distances apart. The RETORT OF TEE DIRECTOR 25 SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 soil was the same as that used for the test of varieties, and its treatment and prepara- tion were the same. The corn was sown with the seed drill on May 28, and was cut for ensilage September 18. Four rows were sown in each case, and the yield per acre has been calculated from the weight of crop obtained from the two inside rows, each CO' feet long. Name of Variety. Champion White Pearl. Selected Learning. Lon "fellow Width of Row. Inches. 21 2S 35 42 il 28 35 42 21 28 35 42 Character . of Growth. Strong ii Very strong u Strong ii . . Very strong Strong ii ..... Very strong. Height when Cut. Inches. 120-130 120- 130 125—135 125-135 115-1-25 115—125 125-135 125—135 95 -100 95-100 100-110 100-110 Condition when Cut. Late milk. Glazed Weight per Acre. o 27 20 24 24 24 20 19 21 20 19 IS 17 h-5 065 72 1,720 1,441 1,010 ISC 194 1,0.-2 1,470 770 S38 1,150 SELECT LIST OF VARIETIES OF INDIAN CORN. In this list is given the average yield per acre obtained during the past three to seven years from the more productive varieties of Indian corn grown at all the experi- mental farms, with the length of time they have been under test. Only those are in- cluded which have been three years or longer under trial. Fuller particulars regard- ing these select lists will be found under ' Select list of oats.' u ■- - 3 Names of Varieties. 1 Early Mastodon 2 Cloud's Early Yellow 3 Red Cob Ensilage 4 i Thoroughbred White Flint. . . 5 Selected Learning 6i Early Butler 7 1 Mammoth Cuban SjGiant Prolific -Ensilage 9 Pride of the North 10 Champion White Pearl 11 Angel of Midnight. . 12 Mammoth Eight-rowed Flint. 13 King of the Earliest 14 Sanford 15Compton's Early KilWhito Cap Yellow Dent 17 IS 19 Evergreen Sugar. Longfellow Canada White Flint. 20! Country Gentleman. 21 22 23 24 25 20 27 28 29 North Dakota White Pearce's Prolific Early Yellow Long Eared . Kendall's Early Giant Black Mexican Extra Early Huron Dent . Extra Early Szekely Mitchell's Extra Early Yellow Six Weeks Number of Years under Trial. 4 5 7 7 0 5 4 7 6 7 7 7 0 7 7 rr I 4 7 7 3 7 r» I 3 3 3 7 3 7 3 Average Yield per Acre at all the Experimental Farms. 21 19 19 19 18 IS IS 17 17 17 17 16 16 16 16 16 16 15 15 15 15 15 14 14 14 14 12 11 10 090 1,001 051 134 1,210 958 020 1,976 1,141 1,054 257 1,536 910 627 545 380 79 1,921 1,702 1.123 '983 505 1,837 1,737 1,127 1,004 789 1,042 1,574 26 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 1-2 EDWARD VII., A. T902 EXPERIMENTS WITH TITKNIPS. Twenty-nine varieties of turnips were on trial during the past season, all sown side by side on similar land. The soil was a clay loam of good quality, more or less mixed with sandy loam. The previous crop was experimental plots of wheat and bar- ley. The land was ploughed early in the autumn of 1900 about eight inches deep. During the winter of 1900-1 this land received a dressing of about 12 tons of fresh barn-yard manure per acre, which was placed on the frozen ground in small piles of about a third of a cart-load each to prevent fermentation. This was spread in the spring, ploughed under about six inches deep, and harrowed with the smoothing har- row. The land was then made up in drills two feet apart, and rolled with a heavy land roller, which flattened the drills nearly one-half, leaving a firm seed bed. The seed was sown at the rate of three pounds per acre. Two sowings were made of each sort, the first on May 8, the second on May 22. They were also pulled on two different dates. The first pulling was on October 14, and the second on October 28. The yield per acre has been calculated in each case from tbe weight of roots gathered from one row 66 feet in length. TURNIPS — TEST OF VARIETIES. fc Name of Variety. lj Carter's Elephant 2 Hartley's Bronze 3 Drummond Purple Top . 4 Halewood's Bronze Top. 5 Hall's Westbury 6 Sutton's Champion 7 Bangholm Selected. 8 Emperor Swede 9 Champion Purple Top. . , 10 Prize Purple Top 11 Magnum Bonum 12 Marquis of Lome 13 New Arctic 14 Selected Purple Top 15 Skirvings 16 West Norfolk Red Top. . 17 Imperial Swede 18 Selected Champion 19 Shamrock Purple Top . .- . 20 Elephant's Master 21 Giant King 22 Prize Winner 23 East Lothian 24 Perfection Swede 25 Kangaroo 20 Monarch 27 Mammoth Clyde 28 Jumbo 29 Webb's New Renown . . . Yield per acre from 1st Sowing 1st Pulling October 14. Yield per acre from 2nd Sowing 1st Pulling October 14. Tons. Lbs. 41 41 40 39 37 37 36 36 34 34 33 33 33 33 32 32 32 32 32 31 31 30 30 30 27 25 24 23 16 1,820 1,490 520 1,530 1,240 1,240 1,590 270 1,300 310 1,650 1,320 990 330 1,340 1,340 1,340 1,010 20 1,690 1,360 1,380 720 60 120 490 180 1,850 670 Tons. Lbs. 29 29 28 28 27 28 25 32 27 23 24 27 21 28 27 26 22 25 26 20 26 26 27 29 22 22 22 20 17 80 80 760 430 1,110 1,090 1,480 1,670 450 1,520 1,830 120 240 1,750 1,110 800 880 1,150 1,790 1,580 1,460 140 1,440 1,070 1,870 880 550 590 1,970 Yield per acre from 1st Sowing 2nd Pulling October 28. Tons. Lbs. 43 790 42 480 40 520 39 1,200 39 1,530 32 20 39 210 33 660 40 190 31 370 35 950 30 1,710 34 310 29 80 27 780 27 120 35 1,280 34 310 31 700 37 580 41 170 29 1,730 36 270 31 1,360 33 660 18 1,620 33 990 33 1,320 23 200 Yield per acre from 2nd Sowing 2nd Pulling October 28. Tons. (Lbs. 37 30 32 29 32 30 27 24 31 25 32 24 29 23 21 21 28 24 24 28 30 24 30 26 26 21 30 25 910 1,380 680 1,730 1,670 60 450 840 40 490 680 840 1,730 530 900 240 1,420 510 1,830 1,750 720 180 1,050 1,130 800 900 720 490 All rotten. Tons. Lbs. The average from the 1st sowing, 1st pulling was. ..... 32 1,420 The average from the 2nd sowing, 1st pulling was 25 1,582 The average from the 1st sowing, 2nd pulling was 33 1,896 The average from the 2nd sowing, 2nd pulling was 27 1,381 REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR 27 SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 Increase in Crop of Turnips from early Solving, also from Late Pulling. The results given point to the advantage of early sowing. The average yield of turnips from all the varieties from the first sowing and first pulling has exceeded that from the second sowing by 6 tons, 1,838 pounds per acre, and in the case of the second pulling made fourteen days later, the larger weight from the earlier sowing is well maintained, the difference being 6 tons, 515 pounds per acre in favour of early sowing. The figures given also show that the fourteen days of additional time given to the roots to grow between October 14 and 28, resulted in an average increase in weight in the early sown plots of 1 ton 492 pounds per acre, while those later sown increased in weight during the same period 1 ton 1,799 pounds per acre. SELECT LIST OF VARIETIES OF TURXIPS. In this list is given the average yield per acre obtained during the past three to seven years from the more productive varieties of turnips grown at all the experimental farms, with the length of time they have been under test. Only those sorts are in-, eluded which have been three years or longer under trial. S ■z 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 Names of Varieties. Number of Years under trial. Selected Purple Top Perfection Swede Imperial Swede Halewood's Bronze Top. Hall's Westbury Hartley's Bronze Bangholm Selected Webb's Renown East Lothian Shamrock Purple Top . . . Carter's Elephant Prize Winner Skirvings Drummond Purple Top . . Jumbo Prize Pur pl« i Top Mammoth Clyde Monarch New Arctic Sutton's Champion Giant King West Norfolk Jled Top. . Champion Purple Top. . . Marquis of Lome Average Yield per acre at all the Experimental Farms. 7 6 3 5 5 7 5 3 7 5 IT I 6 7 4 7 7 6 3 3 6 it I 3 7 6 31 31 30 30 30 29 29 29 29 28 28 28 28 28 28 28 28 27 27 27 27 27 27 26 206 202 1,948 783 579 1,700 1,648 296 174 1,698 1,206 1,119 1,096 904 704 610 549 1,608 1,434 1,280 820 502 130 1,337 EXPERIMENTS WITH MANGELS. Twenty-five varieties of mangels were under trial in 1901. These were all sown, side by side, adjoining the turnips ; the land was similar in character and its treatment and preparation was the same. The drills were made up two feet apart and rolled with a heavy land roller to make a firm bed before the seed was sown. Two sowings were made of each sort, the first on May 8, the second on May 22. They were also pulled on two different dates, the first pulling was on October 14, and the second on October 28. The yield per acre has been calculated in each case from the weight of roots gathered from one row 66 feet long. 28 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 1-2 EDWARD VII., A. 1902 MANGELS — TEST OF VARIETIES. £ Name of Variety. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 Champion Yellow Globe Mammoth Yellow Intermediate Yellow Intermediate Giant Yellow Intermediate Prize. Winner Yellow Globe Noibiton Giant Half Long Sugar Rosy Giant Yellow Half Long Gate Post : Giant Yellow Globe Half Long Sugar White Mammoth Long Red Warden Orange Globe Golden Fleshed Tankard Leviathan Long Red Prize Mammoth Long Red , Lion Yellow Intermediate , Gate Post Yellow Mammoth Oval Shaped Selected Mammoth Long Red. . Ward's Large Oval Shaped Red Fleshed Tankard Triumph Yellow Globe Canadian Giant Yellow Fleshed Tankard . . . . Yield per acre from 1st Sowing 1st Pulling October 14. Tons. Lbs. 45 1,080 44 1,100 44 110 43 790 42 1,800 42 1,470 42 480 42 480 41 830 4L 335 39 1,695 37 1,570 37 910 36 1,590 36 1,260 36 270 35 1,280 34 1,960 34 640 31 640 34 310 Yield per acre from 2nd Sowing 1st Pulling October 14. Yield per acre from 1st Sowing 2nd Pulling October 28. Tons. Lbs. 33 33 30 29 1,320 990 225 1,070 28 28 32 30 34 27 27 34 35 31 30 27 28 24 30 32 31 30 26 28 22 26 25 30 24 430 1,750 350 1,380 1,630 450 450 1,300 290 370 1,380 780 760 675 1,380 20 1;360 60 1,460 1.420 1,540 510 490 60 1,830 Tons. Lbs. 47 47 51 39 55 34 40 41 38 36 48 41 43 33 46 39 41 34 44 47 .37 34 47 38 39 1,370 380 1,620 870 550 1,300 1,180 170 230 1,260 30 1,490 460 330 1,720 210 1,820 970 110 710 1,240 640 1,040 1,550 210 Yield per acre from 2nd Sowing 2nd Pulling October 28. Tons. Lbs. 30 31 40 36 44 28 27 27 31 28 36 28 32 28 42 31 36 24 29 36 30 26 37 32 30 1,710 370 1,510 270 440 100 120 780 40 100 930 1,420 1,340 100 1,800 1,690 600 840 1,400 270 1,710 iOO 550 1,670 1,710 Tons. lbs. The average from the 1st sowing, 1st pulling was 38 648 The average from the 2nd sowing, 1st pulling was 29 405 The average from the 1st sowing, 2nd pulling was 41 1,978 The average from the 2nd sowing, 2nd pulling was 32 799 Increase in Crop from Early Sowing and Late Pulling. The results obtained point to the advantage of early sowing. The average yield of mangels from all the varieties from the first sowing and first pulling has exceeded that of the second sowing by 9 tons 243 pounds per acre, and in the case of the second pulling made fourteen days later, the larger weight from the earlier sowing is well maintained, the difference being 9 tons 1,179 pounds per acre in favour of early sowing. The figures given also show that the fourteen days of additional time given to the roots to grow between October 14 and 28 resulted in an average increase in weight on the early sown plots of 3 tons 1,330 pounds per acre, while those later sown increased in weight during the same period 3 tons 394 pounds per acre. In looking through the list of varieties tested it would appear that the different strains of the Yellow Intermediate mangel are the most productive in this part of Canada, and that the strains of the Mammoth Long Red follow these closely.. The Globe mangels average next best, while most of the tankard sorts range towards the bottom of the list. SELECT LIST OF VARIETIES OF MANGELS. In this list is given the average yield per acre obtained during the past three to six years from the more productive varieties of mangels grown at all the experimental farms, with the length of time they have been under test. Only those sorts are in- cluded which have been three years or longer under trial. REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR 29 SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 g 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 Names of Varieties. Yellow Intermediate Giant Yellow Intermediate Gate Post Selected Mammoth Long Red . . Mammoth Yellow Intermediate. Linn Yellow Intermediate Giant Yellow Half Long Giant Yellow Globe Mammoth Long lied Prize Mammoth Long Red Norbiton Giant Canadian Giant Ward's Large Oval Shaped Champion Yellow Globe Mammoth Oval Shaped Gate Post Yellow Yellow Fleshed Tankard Golden Fleshed Tankard Warden Orange Globe Red Fleshed Tankard Number of A\ erage Yield Years per acre at all the Under Trial. E> -pt. F arms. 6 32 696 6 32 254 6 31 100 5 30 575 5 2!) 1,S41 3 29 1,123 5 29 1,100 6 29 686 6 29 495 6 28 1,136 5 28 4 G 27 1,861 5 27 1,020 6 26 1,349 6 26 444 4 25 1,519 3 25 841 6 25 540 6 25 459 6 24 755 EXPERIMENTS WITH CARROTS. Twenty varieties of carrots were under trial in 1901. These were all sown side by side adjoining the turnips and mangels ; the land was similar in character and its treatment and preparation was the same. The drills were made up two feet apart, and rolled with a heavy land roller to make a firm bed before the seed was sown. Two sowings were made of each sort, the first on May 8, the second on May 22. They were also pulled on two different dates, the first pulling was on October 14, the second on October 28. The yield per acre has been calculated in each case from the weight of roots gathered from one row 66 feet long. CARROTS — TEST OF VARIETIES. fc Name of Variety. 1 Half Long White 2 New White Intermediate. 3 Mammoth White Intermediate. 4 Giant White Vosges 5 Iverson's Champion 6 Half Long Chantenay 7 Ontario Champion 8 Improved Short White 9 Green Top White 'Orthe 10 Long Yellow Stump Rooted. . . . 11 White Vosges Large Short 12 18 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 Yellow Intermediate Carter's Orange Giant Early Gem. Guerande or Ox-Heart Scarlet Intermediate White Belgian Long Orange or Surrey. . . Long Scarlet Altringham, Scarlet Nantes Yield per acre from 1st Sowing 1st Pulling October 14. Tons. Lbs. 43 42 40 38 37 37 34 33 30 28 24 24 24 23 22 21 19 17 16 14 790 1,140 1,510 890 580 250 1,300 660 1,050 1,750 1,500 1,500 840 530 550 1,500 610 1,970 1,330 710 Yield per acre from 2nd Sowing 1st Pulling October 14. Tons. Lbs. 27 31 36 30 29 23 34 32 22 23 22 17 21 21 21 20 23 14 14 13 1,440 1,030 1,200 1,050 1,400 1,190 310 ■ 20 1,870 860 870 980 240 240 570 590 530 1,370 50 730 1 Yield per acre from 1st Sowing 2nd Pulling October 28. Tons Lbs. 42 1,140 38 560 44 1,760 42 1,470 35 1,610 24 1,500 32 1,010 34 1,960 37 910 29 1,400 29 1,070 33 330 31 370 27 780 20 1,790 25 820 34 1,960 19 1,270 20 1,580 19 940 Yield per acre from 2nd Sowing 2nd Pulling October 28. Tons. Lbs. 30 32 32 32 39 28 34 35 31 25 28 22 28 23 27 26 28 17 17 15 390 1,670 1,670 1,010 210 100 1,630 1,940 1,090 1,480 1,430 550 100 860 1,970 140 1,420 980 1,310 360 30 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 1-2 EDWARD VII., A. 1902 Tons. lbs. The average from the 1st sowing, 1st pulling was 28 1,651 The average from the 2nd sowing, 1st pulling was 21 180 The average from the 1st sowing, 2nd pulling was 31 1,212 The average from the 2nd sowing, 2nd pulling was 27 1,946 Increase in Crop from Early Solving and Late Pulling. The results obtained point to the advantage of early sowing. The average yield of carrots from all the varieties from the first sowing and first pulling has exceeded that from the second sowing by 4 tons 1,471 pounds per acre, and in the case of the second pulling the larger weight from the earlier sown plots is well maintained, the difference being 3 tons 1,266 pounds per acre in favour of early sowing. The figures given also show that the fourteen days of additional time given to the roots to grow between October 14 and 28 resulted in an average increase in weight of crop on the earlier sown plots of 2 tons 1,261 pounds per acre, while those later sown increased in weight during the same period 3 tons 1,766 pounds per acre. In scanning the list of varieties and noting their relative position it is evident that the several strains of the White Intermediate Carrot are much the most profitable to grow here. The White Belgian has done fairly well, but it is a very difficult sort to harvest owing to its great length and cylindrical form. The short-rooted varieties of the Half Long Chantenay type have also done well. SELECT LIST OF VARIETIES OF CARROTS. In this list is given the average yield per acre obtained during the past three to six years from the more productive varieties of carrots, grown at all the experimental farms, with the length of time they have been under test. Only those sorts are in- cluded which have been three years or longer under trial. P 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 Names of Varieties. New White Intermediate Half Long White Giant White Vosges Improved Short White Ontario Champion Mammoth White Intermediate Iverson's Champion Green Top White Orthe White Belgian White Vosges Large Short Yellow Intermediate Early Gem Half Long Chantenay Guerande or Ox-Heart Carter's Orange Giant Long Orange or Surrey Scarlet Intermediate Long Scarlet Altringham Scarlet Nantes Numher of Years under Trial. 3 6 6 6 4 6 6 5 6 3 6 6 6 6 6 6 (i 6 3 Average Yield per Acre at all the Experimental Farms. 23 21 21 21 21 20 20 19 18 18 17 17 17 17 15 13 13 12 11 1,913 1,250 1,245 637 450 1,705 601 1,601 897 104 1,335 1,295 923 523 208 1,703 320 506 1,443 EXPERIMENTS WITH SUGAR BEETS. Seven varieties of sugar beets were under trial in 1901. These were all sown side by side adjoining the carrots; the land was similar in character and its treatment and preparation was the same. The drills were made up two feet apart and rolled with a heavy land roller to make a firm bed before the seed was sown, Two sowings were REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR 31 SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 made of each sort, the first on May 8, the second on May 22. They were also pulled on two different dates. The first pulling was on October 14, the second on October 23. The yield per acre has been calculated in each case from the weight of roots gathered from one row 66 feet long. SUGAR BEETS — TEST OF VARIETIES. 0 Name of Variety 2 Royal Giant. 3 Danish Improved 4 Danish Red Top . . . 5 Improved Imperial. . . 0 YVanzleben 7 Vilmorin's Improved Yield per Acre from 1st Sowing. 1st Pulling Oct. 14. Tons. 1 Red Top Sugar i I 34 33 33 3L 28 25 22 Lbs. 640 G60 330 1,3(10 430 160 1,210 Yield per Acre from 2nd Sowing. IstP ulling Oct ;. 14. Tons. Lbs. 25 1,150 29 1,070 25 400 25 1,480 26 1,130 21 1,800 18 300 1 Yield per Acre from 1st Sowing. 2nd Pulling Oct. 28. Tons. Lbs. 32 20 33 330 20 140 20 1,400 20 1,700 25 400 20 590 Yield per Acre from 2nd Sowing. 2nd Pulling Oct. 28. Tons. Lbs. 26 470 26 22 22 26 18 15 140 880 880 1,130 1,950 30 The average crop from the 1st sowing, 1st pulling was. The average crop from the 2nd sowing, 1st pulling was. The average crop from the 1st sowing, 2nd pulling was. The average crop from the 2nd sowing, 2nd pulling was. Tons. lbs. 29 1,541 24 1,359 27 1,251 22 1,069 * Results of Early Sowing and Late Pulling. The figures given above point to the advantage of early sowing. The average yield of sugar beets from all the varieties from the first sowing and first pulling has exceeded that from the second sowing by 5 tons 182 pounds per acre, and in the case of the sec- ond pulling made fourteen days later, precisely the same result is reached, the first sowing exceeding the second by 5 tons 182 pounds per acre. In this case, however, the figures show no advantage from delay in pulling. On the contrary the yield from the second pulling, both sowings have given at the rate of 2 tons 290 pounds per acre less in each case than was had from the first pulling. SELECT LIST OF VARIETIES OF SUGAR BEETS. In this list is given the average yield per acre obtained during the past four and five years from the more productive varieties of sugar beets, grown at all the experi- mental farms, with the length of time they have been under test. Only those sorts are ineluded which have been three years or longer under trial. Names of Varieties. Danish Red Top Red Top Sugar .. . . Danish Improved Improved Imperial. . , Wanzleben Vilmorin's Improved Number of Years under Tiial. Average Yield per Acre at all the Experimental Farms. 172 1,091 792 653 118 32 EXPERIMEXTAL FARMS 1-2 EDWARD VII., A. 1902 FIELD PLOTS OF POTATOES. The following field plots of potatoes were included in the area devoted to experi- mental purposes. The land on which these potatoes were planted was similar through- out, and the preparation and treatment were the same for all. The soil was a sandy loam, more or less mixed with clay. The previous crop was experimental plots of wheat. After the wheat crop was cut the land was gang-ploughed shallow to start into growth any shed grain or weed seeds lying on the surface; later in the autumn it was again ploughed seven to eight inches deep. During the winter of 1900 and 1901 it received a dressing of about 12 tons of fresh barn-yard manure per acre, which was placed during the winter on the frozen ground in small piles of about a third of a cart- load each to prevent fermentation. This was spread in the spring, ploughed under about six inches deep, and harrowed with the smoothing harrow, then made into drills two and a half feet apart and six inches deep for planting. The sets were put from 12 to 15 inches apart. They were all planted May 18, and dug October 4. FIELD PLOTS OF POTATOES, EACH ABOUT \ ACRE. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 n Name of Variety. Yield per Acre. Bush. Lbs. Earl j' Harvest Early Sunrise Wonder of the World Early Andes Vigorosa Rochester Rose Everett Carman -No. 1 Bovee , Honeoye Rose 313 30 303 45 28'.) 8 280 48 270 2G2 30 261 246 9 228 36 196 30 Plots 8, 9 and 10 were partly in low land, which accounts for the smaller yi The results of the tests of potatoes grown in experimental plots will be found the report of the Horticulturist. SELECT LIST OF VARIETIES OF POTATOES. In this list is given the average yield per acre obtained during the past three to seven years from the 'most productive varieties grown at all the experimental farms, with the length of time they have been under test. Only those are included which bave been three years or longer under trial. On this account many of the newest sorts do not appear in this list. During the past seven years a large number of varieties have been tested, and quite a number of different sorts have failed to reach that stand- ard of productiveness required if their cultivation is to be continued. The standard for potatoes is fixed in the same way as that for oats. This will be found explained under ' Select list of oats.' The following 29 varieties have thus been dropped from the list during the past two years. Algoma No. 1, Columbus, Crown Jewel, Charles Downing, Early Gem, Fillbasket, Freeman, Good News, Honeoye Kose, Hopeful, Harbinger, Ideal, Light- ning Express, London, King of the Eoses, McKenzie, Monroe County, Orphans, Pride of the Table, Peerless Junior, Queen of the Valley, Russell's Seedling, Record, Satis- faction, Seedling No. 214, Stourbridge Glory, Table King, Victor Rose, World's Fair. REPORT OF TEE DIRECTOR S3 SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 80 81 32 33 34 85 86 87 38 89 40 41 42 43 44 46 46 47 48 49 50 61 62 63 64 55 66 67 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 Names of Varieties. Number of Years under Trial. Uncle Sam Seedling No. 230.... Everett Country Gentleman. Seedling No. 7 Irish Daisy . Bovee American Wonder. American Giant . . . Late Puritan Carman No. 1 Carman No. 3 Rose No. 9 Seattle Empire State B.urnaby Seedling , Quaker City Penn. Manor State of Maine General Gordon Holborn Abundance . . . Clay Rose Northern Spy Green Mountain Vanier . New Variety No. 1 Cambridge Russet Maule's Thoroughbred Dreer's Standard Dakota Red Reeves' Rose I. X. L Hale's Champion. . . Vick's Extra Early Money Maker .... Troy Seedling Delaware Lee's Favourite. . . Rochester Rose Lizzie's Pride Brown's Rot Proof . Polaris .* Irish Cobbler Sir Walter Raleigh Bill Nye Early Norther Early Puritan Great Divide Early White Prize Rural Blush Reading Giant Pride of the Market. . . Chicago Market Pearce's Prize Winner White Beauty Brownell's Winner. . . . New Queen Early Harvest Early Sunrise Flemish Beauty Maggie Murphy Houltnn Rose Sharpe'a Needling Earliest of All Rural No. 2 Thorburn Beauty of Hebron Average Yield per Acre at all the Experimental Farms. Bush. Lbs. 4 6 7 3 5 7 4 7 7 7 7 6 6 6 r" I 6 6 3 7 6 7 7 7 6 7 6 4 4 7 7 5 7 6 6 7 7 7 6 7 7 6 7 6 4 6 7 7 7 7 7 6 7 6 6 7 7 7 7 7 6 7 5 7 7 6 7 7 403 391 390 387 386 384 384 384 383 369 367 366 366 364 303 361 361 361 359 358 358 357 356 356 355 354 354 351 350 349 348 345 344 344 344 343 342 342 341 340 339 336 335 334 333 332 332 332 330 329 327 326 326 325 324 323 322 319 317 316 316 315 309 307 306 305 304 35 43 41 58 26 56 45 6 17 14 22 40 33 43 11 30 26 10 34 33 28 34 5* 4G 1 54 5 3 56 14 51 40 36 25 12 38 55 47 30 56 41 ii 33 49 42 8 1 24 53 52 17 2 28 15 25 28 2 30 51 1 28 27 39 33 7 36 16- -3 31 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 1-2 EDWARD VII., A. 1902 S 68 [Daisy 69 Early Rose. 70 ~ 71 72 73 74 75 76 Names of Varieties. Prize Taker Early Market Early Six Weeks Ohio Junior Burpee's Extra Early. Pearce's Extra Early. Early Ohio Average Number of Yield per Acre Years at all the under Trial. Experimental Farms. Bush. Lbs. i 303 54 7 302 8 7 299 41 3 298 19 7 294 15 5 287 45 7 282 59 7 282 1 7 273 51 EXPERIMENTS WITH SOJA BEANS. Three plots of one-fortieth acre each were sown in rows at different distances apart, viz.: 21, 28 and 35 inches to gain information as to the best distance for sowing to secure the heaviest crops. The soil was a light sandy loam which received a dress- ing of barn-yard manure during the winter of 1899 and 1900 of about 12 tons per acre. The previous crop was potatoes. After the potatoes were dug, the land was ploughed late in the autmn to the depth of about seven or eight inches, and left in that condition until the following spring, when it was cultivated once with a two-horse cultivator and twice with a smoothing harrow. The beans were sown with a seed drill on May G, and cut on September 21. Plot 1. Sown in rows 21 inches apart; growth strong and even, leafy; average height 40 to 45 inches. The pods were well formed, but the beans were soft when the crop was cut. Total yield of green crop 14 tons 800 pounds per acre. Yield of beans, 14 bushels 40 pounds per acre. Plot 2. Sown in rows 28 inches apart; growth strong and even, very leafy; aver- age height 40 to 45 inches. The pods were well formed, the beans were full grown, and beginning to harden at time of cutting. Total yield of green crop, 1G tons 400 pounds per acre. Yield of beans, 1G bushels per acre. Plot 3. Sown in rows 35 inches apart; growth very strong and even, leafy; stems hard and woody; average height 44 to 48 inches. The plants were better podded than those in plots 1 or 2, and the beans were harder when cut, but the plant was less valu- able for fodder. Total yield of green crop, 15 tons 720 pounds per acre. Yield of beans, 10 bushels per acre. EXPEKIMENTS WITH HORSE BEANS. Three plots of one-fortieth acre each were sown in rows 21, 28 and 35 inches apart, to gain information as to the best distance for sowing to secure the heaviest crop. The land was adjoining that used for soja beans, was similar in quality and received the same treatment. The previous crop was potatoes. The beans were sown with the seed drill; all the plots were sown on May G, and cut on September 21. Plot 1. Sown in rows 21 inches apart; growth strong, moderately well podded; height 47 to 50 inches, plot all standing. The beans were nearly ripe when cut. Total yield, 8 tons 1,280 pounds per acre. Yield of beans, 22 bushels 40 pounds per acre. Plot 2. Sown in rows 28 inches apart; growth strong and well podded; height 49 to 53 inches. Plot all standing, stalks considerably stiffer than in plot No. 1. The beans were nearly ripe when cut. Total yield, 9 tons 1,600 pounds per acre. Yield of beans, 2G bushels 40 pounds per acre. REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR 35 SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 Plot 3. Sown in rows 35 inches apart; growth strong, well podded; height 49 to Plot all standing, stalks stiff. The beans were nearly ripe when cut. Total yield, 8 tons 400 pounds per acre. Yield of beans, 20 bushels 6 pounds per acre. 53 inches. EXPERIMENTS WITH MILLETS. Nine varieties of millet were sown on plots of one-fortieth acre each in drills seven inches apart. The soil was a light sandy loam. The previous crop was potatoes. The land receiving a dressing of barn-yard manure during the winter of 1899 and 1900 of about 12 tons per acre. After the potatoes were dug the land was ploughed to the depth of seven or eight inches, and left in that condition till the following spring, when it was cultivated once with a two-horse cultivator and twice with a smoothing harrow before sowing. The seed was sown with a Planet Junior seed drill, and all the varie- ties were sown on May 6. These were all cut when the seed was in the doughy stage. The two varieties under numbers were received for trial from the United States Depart- ment of Agriculture, Washington. MILLETS — TEST OF VARIETIES. — Name of Variety. Cat-tail Pearl White Round Extra French Moha Hungarian Japanese German or Golden Italian or Indian No. 5647 (Dept. Agr., Wash., U.S.A.). No. 5048 ( ii ii ii ) . Date Cut. Sept. 23. Aug. 27. July 27 ii 27. Aug. 27. ■i 27. .. 27. „ 12. ii 12. Length of Straw. Inches. GO— 05 32-38 63—65 48—50 53—55 48—50 43—46 34-36 34-36 Character of Growth. Strong. Medium. Weight per Acre, Green. Tons. Lbs. 17 16 11 10 9 8 7 6 6 1040 1920 1040 1760 560 1920 1680 800 480 Weight per Acre, Dry. Tons. Lbs. 8 8 5 5 4 4 3 3 3 1280 1280 1520 240 640 1920 1300 720 400 EXPERIMENTS WITH MIXED ROOTS AND WITn MIXED ROOTS AND VEGETABLES. Eour plots were sown with mixtures of field roots, and one with carrots, cabbages and tomatoes to see how far a farmer could thus supply himself with such material for his own use at very little cost and labour. Four rows were sown in each case about 100 feet long and two feet apart, the seed was sown about the usual thickness and the plants subsequently thinned. About equal parts by weight of seed was used in all the plots, excepting No. 5, where it was used in about equal proportions by measure. Any undue proportion of young plants of any sort can be regulated when the thinning is done. They were all sown May 8, and the roots were pulled October 30. The vegetables were gathered about the middle of Sep- tember. 16— 3J 36 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 1-2 EDWARD VII., A. 1902 Mixed Roots and Roots and Vegetables. riot 1 — Mangels, carrots and turnips ii 2— Mangels and turnips ii 3— Mangels and carrots H 4 — Carrots and turnips Carrots, Cabbages and Tomatoes. Tons. Lbs, f Yield per acre of Cabbage 18 900 5- .. ii Carrots 7 520 i. n M Tomatoes 8 1,820 Yield per Acre. Tons. 40 39 39 38 Lbs. 1,840 1,200 870 230 34 1,300 Although sown out of doors and having no advantage in the way of hot-bed cul- tivation, the tomatoes grew well and ripened a large crop, the cabbage also which was an early variety formed fine heads. All cultivation was by horse cultivator until the plants got too large to admit of this. The expense, both for seed and labour was very trifling. The yield per acre has been calculated in each case from the weight of one row G6 feet long. INFLUENCE OF PREVIOUS CROPS ON GROWING GRAIN. In the annual report for 1900, some experiments were reported on in the growing of oats after other crops to gain information regarding the influence of previous crops on subsequent growth, and how long this influence is apparent. Six plots were then referred to where Sensation oats were grown after flax, grain, horse beans, soja beans, Indian corn and millet, and particulars regarding the oat crop given. This year the test has included four plots only, the Indian corn and millet plots having been omitted. Parley was sown instead of oats, the variety chosen being the Mensury, which was sown at the rate of If bushels per acre. The soil in this instance was a sandy loam which had received no manure since 1897, when an application was made of about 12 tons per acre. The land was ploughed late in the autumn of 1900 to a depth of 7 or 8 inches, and in the spring of 1901 it was cultivated twice with the two-horse cultivator, and well harrowed before sowing. Sown in 1S99. In 1900. In 1901. Sensation oats Yield per Acre. Length of Straw. Length of Head. Mensury barley Yield per Acre. Length -, of Straw. Length of Head. Plot 1— Flax Bush. Lbs. 49 14 58 28 69 1 4 49 14 Inches. 40-45 43—48 4G— 50 40—45 Inches. 8 — 9£ Sh- 94. 9"— 10" 84,-94, Bush. Lbs . 35 — 39 8 40 — 31 32 Inches. 37—39 3(i— 38 38—40 33-35 Inches. 3—34 3— 3i -ii 3 — Horse beans n 4 — Soja beans 3—4 3-3*. EFFECTS OF THE PLOUGHING UNDER OF GREEN CLOVER AS A FERTILIZER FOR OATS. In the spring of 1900, six plots of one-eightieth of an acre each were sown ■with grain. Two of these plots were sown with Preston wheat, two with Mensury barley, REPORT OF TEE DIRECTOR 37 SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 and two with Banner oats. One plot in each ease had common red clover sown with the grain at the rate of 12 pounds per acre, the other had no clover. The soil was a light sandy loam of fairly good quality, which had received no manure or other fertilizer since 1897, when it had an application of about 12 tons per acre. After the grain was harvested in 1900, the clover on the alternate plots made good growth, and when the time arrived for ploughing it under it had made a good mat of foliage. This was turned under about the middle of October, and in the spring of 1901 it was cultivated twice with the two-horse cultivator, and harrowed before sowing. The Banner oats were sown on May 4, and cut August 5. Variety. Banner oats sown after. Wheat Preston, 1900, no clover Wheat Preston, 1900, with ctover Barley Mensury, 1900, no clover , Barley Mensury, 1900, with clover Oats Banner, 1900, no clover Oats Banner, 1900, with clover Length Length Yield of of of Oats Straw. Head. per acre. Inches. Inches. Bus. Lbs 42—44 8—9 47 2 47—49 8-9J 49 14 40—42 8—9 37 22 47—49 8-9* 42 12 37—39 8—9 35 10 46—48 8-9J 40 -- Weight of Stiaw per acre. Lbs. 2,480 3,440 1,920 2,640 2,240 3,040 The average gain in those plots where clover was grown was, in grain 3 bushels 31 pounds per acre, and in straw 827 pounds per acre, an increase of nearly 10 per cent in the grain, and oyer 35 per cent in the straw. EFFECTS OF THE PLOUGHING UNDER OF GREEN CLOVER AS A FERTILIZER FOR INDIAN CORN. In the spring of 1900, six plots of one-eightieth of an acre each were sown with grain. Two were sown with Preston wheat, two with Mensury barley, and two with Banner oats. One plot in each case had common red clover sown with the grain at the rate of 12 pounds per acre, the other had no clover. These plots were adjoining those of a similar test of oats, and the soil was of the same character and had received the same preparatory treatment. After the grain was harvested in 1900, the clover was allowed to grow until the following season, and was ploughed under about the middle of May, by which time it had made a very heavy growth. The variety of corn chosen for these tests was the Selected Learning, which was sown on May 23, in rows 3 feet apart, and cut September 18. The results are given in the appended table. Variety. Selected Learning grown after, Wheat Preston, no clover Wheat Preston, with clover Barley Mensury, no clover Barley Mensury, with clover Oats Banner, no clover Oats Banner, with clover , Condition Weight of Height. Leanness. when cut. green fodder per Acre. Inches. Tons. Lbs . 85— 90 Medium. . Late milk. 19 1,280 92—106 Very leafy it . 27 1,760 85— 90 Medium. . m 15 1,600 92—106 Very leafy it 27 880 85— 90 Medium. it 20 160 92-106 Very leafy ti . 25 1,600 The average gain in green fodder on the plots where clover was grown, was 8 tons 1,066 pounds per acre, an increase of over 40 per cent. 38 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 1-2 EDWARD VII., A. 1902 EFFECTS OF THE PLOUGHING UNDER OF GREEN CLOVER AS A FERTILIZER FOR POTATOES. In the spring of 1900, six plots of one-eightieth of an acre each were sown with grain. Two were sown with Preston wheat, two with Mensury barley, and two with Banner oats. One plot in each case had common red clover sown with the grain at the rate of 12 pounds per acre, the other had no clover. These plots were adjoining those of a similar test with oats and Indian corn, and the soil was of the same character and had received the same preparation. After the grain was harvested in 1900, the clover was allowed to grow until the following season, and was ploughed under about the middle of May, by which time it had made a very heavy growth. The variety of potato chosen for this test was the Everett, which was planted on May 23, in rows 3 feet apart, and dug October 4. The results were as follows : — Variety Everett. Everett potato planted after, Preston wheat, no clover Preston wheat, with clover. . . Mensury barley, no clover Mensury barley, with clover . . Banner oats, no clover Banner oats, with clover Yield per acre. Bush. Lbs . 396 40 440 396 420 381 20 411 20 The average gain of potatoes on the plots where the clover was grown, was 32 bushels 27 pounds per acre, being an increase of over 8 per cent. EFFECTS OF FERTILIZERS ON SPRING WHEAT, OATS, CLOVER AND BROME GRASS. During the season of 1900, two series consisting in each case of sixteen one-eight- ieth acre plots were laid out, twelve of which in each set were treated with different fertilizers, and the remaining four left as check plots which received no fertilizers. One set of these plots was sown with spring wheat of the variety known as Preston, another with a variety of oats known as Improved Ligowo. Two other series each consisting of nine plots were planned, one to be used for experiments with common red clover, and the other for the Awnless Brome grass Bromus inermis. The object in view in these tests is to gain information as to the effects on crops sown on land in a fair average condition of fertility, of superphosphate of lime and Thomas' phosphate, both used singly, also of superphosphate of lime with kainit and with kainit and nitrate of soda, and of Thomas phosphate with kainit, and with kainit and nitrate of soda. In the series of plots planned for wheat and oats, provision was also made for testing the relative value of barn-yard manure fresh and rotted, fresh slaked lime and nitrate of soda alone in the proportions of 100 and 200 pounds per acre with a check plot between them. In 1900 all these were reported on, but this year through a misunderstanding the last five plots in each of these series were not sown, hence returns can only be given for nine plots in each case. The land chosen for this test was in a fairly good condition of tilth. The soil was a sandy loam which has been under cultivation since 1887, and has been cropped each year since, with a suitable rotation of crops and has received a dressing of barn-yard manure about once in four years. The last application of manure was in 1897 when it received about 12 tons per acre. The land was cropped in 1899 with experimental grain in plots mostly barley. REPORT OF TEE DIRECTOR 39 SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 It is proposed to grow the same crops on this land for a series of years, using the same fertilizer in the same quantities every second year. In this way it is hoped that some further information may be gained as to the effect of these different fertilizers when used singly and in combination on the important crops named. As this land was at the start in a fair average condition as to fertility, it may be regarded as re- presenting in a general way average sandy loams on farms properly worked. The fertilizers were applied in the spring of 1900, but none were used in 1901. The spring wheat and oats were both sown on May 4, and both were ripe on August 5. RESULTS OF THE APPLICATION OF FERTILIZERS TO SPRING WHEAT. c c Name of Variety, Preston. Fertilizers used. Superphosphate, 400 lbs. per acre Thomas' phosphate, 400 lbs. per acre Thomas' phosphate, 800 lbs. per acre Check Thomas' phosphate, 400 lbs., kainit, 200 lbs. per acre. . . Superphosphate, 400 lbs., kainit, 200 lbs. per acre Check Thomas' phosphate, 400 lbs., kainit, 200 lbs., nitrate soda, 100 lbs. per acre Superphosphate, 400 lbs., kainit, 200 lbs., nitrate soda, 100 lbs. per acre Season of 1900. Yield of grain per acre. Bush. Lbs. 25 25 25 20 26 24 25 20 20 20 20 40 40 40 20 26 — Season of 1901. Yield of grain per acre. Bush. Lbs. 26 30 28 26 24 24 27 26 24 40 40 40 20 40 40 Weight of straw per acre. Lbs. 2,800 2,240 2,480 2,400 2,000 2,000 1,960 2,240 2,120 RESULTS OF THE APPLICATION OF FER11LIZERS TO OATS. c S o 9 Name of Variety, Improved Ligowo. Fertilizers used. Superphosphate, 400 lbs. per acre Thomas' phosphate, 400 lbs. per acre Thomas' phosphate, 800 lbs. per acre Check Thomas's phosphate, 400 lbs. kainit, 200 lbs. per acre Superphosphate, 400 lbs., kainit, 200 lbs. per acre Check Thomas' phosphate, 400 lbs., kainit, 200 lbs., nitrate soda, 100 lbs. per acre Superphosphate, 400 lbs., kainit, 200 lbs., nitrate soda, - 100 lbs. per acre Season of 1900. Yield of grain per acre. Bush. Lbs. 70 72 72 75 70 73 73 68 20 22 22 10 20 18 18 20 Season of 1901 Yield of grain per acre. Bush. Lbs. M 51 45 42 40 40 42 49 51 20 26 30 12 12 14 20 Weight of straw per Lbs. 3000 3280 2920 2400 2240 2560 2800 3200 3680 In both these series of tests the two check plots to which no fertilizers have been applied have given crops of grain averaging as large as those on which fertilizers have been used. The crops of straw, however, average heavier on the plots which were fer- tilized. This would seem to indicate that the land still contains as much available plant food as the crops could utilize for grain production under the conditions prevail- ing during these two seasons. With the partial exhaustion which successive crops will produce, the relative usefulness of the several fertilizers will probably be more clearly shown. 40 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 1-2 EDWARD VII., A. 1902 On the plots used for the tests of common red clover the seed was sown in the spring of 1900, in the proportion of 12 pounds per acre, and on the plots for brome grass the seed was also sown in the spring of 1900, in the proportion of 20 pounds per acre. The growth, both of clover and brome grass, was strong on all these plots. RESULTS OF THE APPLICATION OF FERTILIZERS TO CLOVER. o Fertilizers used. 1 1 Superphosphate, 400 lbs. per acre Thomas' phosphate, 400 lbs. per acre , Thomas' phosphate, 800 lbs. per acre 4 Check 5,Thomas' phosphate, 400 lbs. kainit, 200 lbs per acre. . . 6 Superphosphate, 400 lbs. kai- nit, 200 lbs. per acre Check Thomas' phosphate, 400 lbs. kainit, 200 lbs. nitrate soda 100 lbs. per acre 9,'Superphosphate, 400 lbs. kai- nit, 200 lbs. nitrate soda, 100 lbs. per acre Length of clover 1st cutting Inches. 34-3G 32-34 3G— 40 32—34 32—34 3G— 38 32—34 38—40 31 — 33 Length of clover. 2nd cutti'g Inches. 18—20 17—19 17—19 19-21 19—21 19—21 19-21 16—18 18-20 Yield per acre green 1st cutting. Tons. Lbs. 14 14 1,440 13 13 1,080 720 13 1,840 13 12 1,280 1,000 13 1G0 12 900 Yield per acre cured lst( mtting. Tons Lbs. 3 1,080 3 1,920 3 3 1,440 900 3 1,040 3 3 1,040 1,200 3 1,120 3 1,040 Yield per acre green 2nd cutting. Tons. Lbs 1,520 400 240 1,920 1,040 1,840 2 1,440 1 1,840 Yield per acre cured 2nd cutting. Tons. Lbs 640 1,480 1,280 1,200 1,200 240 1,200 1,600 1.120 RESULTS OF THE APPLICATION OF FERTILIZERS TO AWXLESS BROME GRASS. (Bromus inermis.) c Awuless Brome Crass (Bromus inermis). Fertilizers used. Superphosphate, 400 lbs. per acre Thomas' phosphate, 400 lbs. per acre Thomas' phosphate, S00 lbs. per acre Check Thomas' phosphate, 400 lbs. kainit, 200 lbs. per acre. Superphosphate, 400 lbs., kainit, 200 lbs. per acre... . Check.. Thomas' phosphate, 400 lbs., kainit, 200 lbs., nitrate soda, 100 lbs. per acre Superphosphate, 400 lbs., kainit, 200 lbs., nitrate soda, 100 lbs. per acre Length of Brome Crass. Inches. 48—52 48—50 46-48 44—46 46—48 46—48 47-50 47—50 42—44 Yield per acre green. Tons. Lbs. 7 6 5 4 5 4 4 1,840 480 800 240 1,120 1,920 ,7 500 5 1,440 Yii Id per aci e cured. Tons. Lbs. 640 1,600 1.000 1,920 800 80 320 800 520 SPECIAL EXPERIMENTS WITH FERTILIZERS. In the annual report of the Experimental Farms for 1893, details were given on pages 8 to 24 of the results of a series of tests which were carried on during the pre- vious five or six years with the object of gaining information regarding the effects which follow the application of certain fertilizers and combination of fertilizers on the more important farm crops. The particulars there given covered the results of six years' experience with crops of wheat and Indian corn and five years' experience with REPORT OF TEE DIRECTOR 41 SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 crops of oats, barley, turnips and mangels. The results of similar tests conducted for three years with carrots and one year with sugar beets were also given. These experiments have been continued; and as explanatory regarding the pre- parations made and the general plan together with the way in which they have been carried on, the following paragraphs are quoted from the report of 1893 : — ' A piece of sandy loam more or less mixed with clay, which was originally covered with heavy timber, chiefly white pine, was chosen for these tests. The timber was cut many years ago, and among the stumps still remaining when the land was purchased, there had sprung up a thick second growth of trees, chiefly poplar, birch and maple, few of which exceeded 6 inches in diameter at the base. Early in 1887, this land was cleared by rooting up the young trees and stumps and burning them in piles, on the ground from which they were taken, the ashes being afterwards distributed over the soil as evenly as possible, and the land ploughed and thoroughly harrowed. Later in the season it was again ploughed and harrowed, and most of it got into fair condition for cropping. ' The plots laid out for the experimental work with fertilizers were one-tenth of an acre each, 21 of which were devoted to experiments with wheat, 21 to barley, 21 to oats, 21 to Indian corn or maize, and 21 to experiments with turnips and mangels. It was not practicable to undertake work on all the plots the first season. The tests were begun in 1888 with 20 plots of wheat and 16 of Indian corn, and in 1889 all the series were completed excepting six plots of roots, Nos. 16 to 21 inclusive, which were avail- able for the work in 1890.' In all cases the plots in each series have been sown on the same day. ' In 1890 it was found that all the grain plots had become so weedy that the growth of the crops was much interfered with, and with the view of cleaning the land, one-half of each of the wheat and oat plots was sown with carrots in 1891, and one- half of each of the barley plots with sugar beets. In 1892 the other half of each plot in each of these series was sown with carrots. In 1893 it was thought desirable to con- tinue this cleaning process, and carrots were again sown on the half of the wheat and oat plots occupied with this crop in 1891, and also the half of the barley plots cropped with sugar beets that year.' In 1894, 1895, 1896, 1897 and 1898 the one-half of the oat plots were sown again with carrots and the half of the plots devoted to wheat and barley were planted with potatoes. TREATMENT OF SOIL. ' The treatment of the soil on all the grain plots has been to gang-plough soon after harvest, and after the shed grain and weeds have well started to plough again later, about 7 inches deep. In spring the plots have been gang-ploughed once before applying the fertilizers, which are then scattered over the surface and harrowed with the smoothing harrow before sowing. On those plots where barn-yard manure has been used, the manure has been lightly ploughed under as soon as possible after it has been spread on the land and just before sowing. Wherever barn-yard manure is spoken of, it, is understood to be a mixture of horse and cow manure in about equal proportions.' A summary of these permanent fertilizer plots is given each year, taking the aver- age yield of the whole previous period, adding the results of the current year, and then giving the average yield for the full time. OBJECTS IN VIEW IN CONDUCTING THESE EXPERIMENTS. It should be distinctly understood that in establishing and conducting this. series of experiments, the object in view has been to gain as much information as possible as to the actual effects of certain fertilizers and combinations of fertilizers on par- ticular crops. These experiments were never intended to serve as model test plots such 42 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 1-2 EDWARD VII., A. 1902 as farmers could copy to advantage in their general practice. On the contrary, to gain the information desired, it has been found necessary to use some fertilizers in extra- vagant quantities, and in other instances to more or less exhaust the soil by a succes- sion of crops of the same sort, practices which in ordinary farming would be detri- mental. Nevertheless, much useful information has been acquired, some of a positive and some of a negative character, by this long-conducted and extensive series of tests. The information now gained from \ear to year throws light in many ways on the ac- tion of fertilizers and is increasingly useful. VALUABLE INFORMATION GAINED. As results of these trials, it has been shown that barn-yard manure can be most economically used in the fresh or unrotted condition; that fresh manure is equal, ton for ton, in crop-producing power to rotted manure, which, other experiments have shown, loses during the process of rotting about 60 per cent of its weight. In view of the vast importance of making the best possible use of barn-yard manure, it is diffi- cult to estimate the value of this one item of information. At the time when these experiments were planned, the opinion was very generally held that untreated mineral phosphate, if very finely ground, was a valuable fertilizer, which gradually gave up its phosphoric acid for the promotion of plant growth. Ten years' experience has shown that mineral phosphate, untreated, is of no value as a fertilizer. The use of sulphate of iron, which at the time these tests were begun, was highly recommended by an authority at that time eminent, as a reliable means of producing increased crops, has also been proven to be almost useless for this purpose. Common salt, which has long had a reputation with many farmers for its value as a fertilizer for barley, while others disbelieved in its efficacy, has been shown to be a most valuable agent for producing an increased crop of that grain, while it is of much less use when applied to crops of spring wheat or oats. Land plaster or gypsum has also proven to be of some value as a fertilizer for barley, while of very little service for wheat or oats. Some light has also been thrown on the relative useful- ness of single and combined fertilizers. CHANGES MADE IN THE EXPERIMENTS. After ten years' experience had demonstrated that finely-ground, untreated mineral phosphate was of no value as a fertilizer, its use was discontinued in 1898. Prior to this it had been used in each set of plots in Nos. 4, 5, 6, 7 and in No. 8 also, in all the different series of plots, excepting roots. In 1898 and 1899, similar weights of the Thomas' phosphate was used in place of the mineral phosphate, excepting in plot 6 in each series. In this plot the Thomas' phosphate was used in 1898 only. After constant cropping for ten or eleven years, it was found that the soil on those plots to which no barn-yard manure had been applied was much depleted of humus, and hence its power of holding moisture had been lessened and the conditions for plant growth, apart from the question of plant food, had on this account become less favourable. In 1899 the experiments were modified and an effort made to restore some proportion of the humus and at the same time gain further information as to the value of clover as a collector of plant food. In the spring of that year ten pounds of red clover seed per acre was sown with the grain on all the plots of wheat, barley and oats. The clover seed germinated well, and after the grain was cut the young clover plants made rapid growth, and by the middle of October there was a thick mat of foliage varying in height and density on the different plots, which was ploughed under. The growing of carrots and potatoes on one half of the cereal plots has been discon- REPORT OF TEE DIRECTOR 43 SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 tinued since 1898, and each plot of the wheat, barley and oats has occupied the full tenth of an acre. In 1900 and 1901 clover was again sown on all the grain plots, which produced a good growth during the season and was ploughed under in October. APPLICATION OF FERTILIZERS DISCONTINUED. Another direction in which information was sought was in reference to the length of time which a liberal application of barn-yard manure would continue to affect sub- sequent crops, and in 1899 on plots 1, 2 and 6 the barn-yard manure, which had been used for ten or eleven years in succession, was discontinued. The phosphate fertilizer was also omitted on plot 6 in each ssries. In 1900 all the fertilizers on all the plots were discontinued, and it is proposed to continue to grow the same crops on all these plots from year to year without ferti- lizers for some years, sowing clover with the grain each season. In this way it is expected that much information will be gained as to the value of clover as a collector of plant food, and also as to the unexhausted values of the different fertilizers which have been used on these plots since the experiments were begun. SPECIAL TREATMENT OF PLOTS OF INDIAN CORN AND ROOTS. As it was not practicable to sow clover to advantage on the Indian corn and root plots, the sowing of these latter crops was discontinued in the spring of 1900 and clover sown in their place in the proportion of 12 pounds per acre, and no fertilizers were applied. The clover on these plots made strong growth, so strong as to necessi- tate twice cutting during the season, the cut clover being left on the ground in each case to decay and add to the fertility of the soil, and was left over for further growth in the spring of 1901, and ploughed under for the roots about May 10, and for corn about the middle of that month. Then roots and Indian corn were again sown. This course will be continued for some years, growing Indian corn and roots every second year, and common red clover the alternate season. No fertilizers were applied in 1900 or 1901, and it is proposed to discontinue their use entirely for some years, so that the effect on these crops of the ploughing under of clover every second year may be care- fully studied under the varying conditions presented by these more or less exhausted plots. WHEAT PLOTS. The seed sown on each of these plots from the beginning has been in the propor- tion of 1 J bushels per acre, excepting in 1894 ; and the varieties used were as follows : — In 18S8-89-90 and 1891, White Russian, and in 1892-3, Campbell's White Chaff. In 1894, the Rio Grande wheat was used, when, owing to lack of germinating power in the seed, a larger .quantity was required. In 1895, 1896, 1897, 1898, 1899, 1900 and 1901 Red Fife wheat was used in the usual quantity of l£ bushels per acre. In 1901, the Red Fife was sown April 30, came up May 8, and was ripe from August 10 to 12. The season of 1901 has not been specially favourable for the growing of spring wheat at Ottawa, and the fact that all the plots have increased in yield notwithstanding that the fertilizers have been all discontinued for the past two years seems to show that the ploughing under of the green clover is having a beneficial effect. This influ- ence is very evident on the check plots which have been unmanured from the beginning where the increase both in grain and straw is remarkable. 44 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 1-2 EDWARD VII., A. 1902 EXPERIMENTS WITH FERTILIZERS ON PLOTS OF WHEAT &TH ACRE EACH. o Fertilizers applied each Year from 1888 to 1898 or 1899. No fertilizers used since. Clover sown in 1899 and each year since with the grain and ploughed under in the Autumn. Average Yield for Thirteen Years. Yield of Grain. Per acre. Push. lbs. Yield of Straw. Per acre Barn-yard manure (mixed horse and cow manure) well rotted, 12 tons per acre in 1888 ; 15 tons per acre each year after to 1898 inclusive. No manure has been applied since then Parn-yard manure (mixed horse and cow manure) fresh, 12 tons per acre in 1888 ; 15 tons per acre each year after to 1898 inclusive. No manure has been applied since then 3 Unmanured from the beginning 4 Mineral phosphate, untreated, finely ground, 500 lbs. per acre, used each year from 1 888 to 1897 inclusive. In 1898 and 1899 a similar weight of the Thomas' Phosphate was used. No fertilizers have been applied since then Mineral phosphate,untreated, finely ground, 500 lbs., nitrate of soda, 200 lbs. per acre used each year from 1888 to 1897 inclusive. In 1898 and 1899 500 lbs. of the Thomas' Phosphate was used in place of the mineral phosphate. No fertilizers have been ap- plied since then G Barn-yard manure, partly rotted and ac- tively fermenting, 6 tons' per acre ; mineral phosphate, untreated, finely ground, 500 lbs. per acre, composted to- gether, intimately mixed and allowed to heat for several days before using, applied each year from 1888 to 1897 inclusive. In 1898 500 lbs. of Thomas' Phosphate was used in place of the mineral phosphate. No fertilizers have been applied sincethen. Mineral phosphate,untreated, finely ground, 500 lbs.; nitrate of soda, 200 lbs.; wood ashes, unleached, 1,000 lbs. per acre, used each year from 1888 to 1897 inclusive. In 189S and 1899 500 lbs. of the Thomas' Phosphate was used in place of the mineral phosphate. No fertilizers have been ap- plied since then Mineral phosphate, untreated, finely ground, 500 lbs., wood ashes, unleached, 1,500 lbs. per acre, used each year from 1888 to 1897 inclusive. In 1898 and 1899 500 lbs. of the Thomas' Phosphate was used in place of the mineral phosphate. No fertilizers have been applied since then 9 Mineral superphosphate, No. 1, 500 lbs. per acre, used each year from 1888 to 1899 in- clusive. No fertilizers have been applied since then 10 Mineral superphosphate, No. 1, 350 lbs.; nitrate of soda, 200 lbs. per acre, used each year from 1888 to 1899 inclusive. No fertilizers have been applied since then.. . 21 26£ 22 \h 10 33}4 10 45 12 33} J 18 46J§ 12 46 & 10 49& 11 37{? 12 53T% 14th Season, 1901, Variety Red Fife. Yield of Grain. Per acre. Lbs. 3,9G5 4,007 1,873 2,027 2,855 Bush. lbs. 2G 50 28 45 17 20 18 15 13 15 Yield of Straw. Per acre Lbs. 5,370 5,295 2,370 2,785 2,825 3,300 23 20 4,575 Average Yield for Fourteen Years. Yield of Grain. Per acre. Bush. lbs. 21 49 & 22 \\\% ii m 11 17& 12 36} \ 19 CA 3,371 Yield of Straw. Per acre 2,510 1G 50 2,078 1,890 3,029 11 35 15 50 14 40 3,885 13 4 3,145 11 5ft 2,420 2,745 11 55J| 13 U Lbs. 4.0G5 4,099 1,908 2,081 2,853 2, COS 2,154 1,928 3,009 REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR 45 SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 EXPERIMENTS WITH FERTILIZERS ON PLOTS OF WHEAT ^th ACRE EACH— Continued. 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 Average Yield for Thirteen Years. Fertilizers applied each Year from 1888 toj 1898 or 1899. No fertilizers used since. Clover sown in 1899 and each year since with the grain and ploughed under in the Autumn. Mineral superphosphate, No. 1. 350 lbs. ; nitrate of soda, 200 lbs. ; wood ashes, un- leached, 1,500 lbs. per acre, used each year from 1888 to 1897 inclusive. No fertilizers have been applied since then Unmanured from the beginning Bone, finely ground, 500 lbs. per acre, used each year from 1888 to 1899 inclusive. No fertilizers have been applied since then. . Bone, finely ground, 500 lbs. ; wood ashes, unleached, 1,500 lbs. per acre, used each year from 1888 to 1899 inclusive. No fertilizers have been applied since then . . Nitrate of soda, 200 lbs. per acre, used each year from 1888 to 1899 inclusive. No fertilizers have been applied since then . . Muriate of potash, 150 lbs. per acre, used each year from 18S8 to 1899 inclusive. No fertilizers have been applied since then . Sulphate of ammonia, 300 lbs. per acre, used each year from 1888 to 1899 inclusive. No fertilizers have been applied since then . . Sulphate of iron, 60 lbs. per acre, used each year from 1888 to 1899 inclusive. No fertilizers have been applied since then . . Common salt (Sodium chloride), 300 lbs. per acre, used each year from 1888 to 1899 in- clusive. No fertilizers have been applied since then Land plaster or gypsum (Calcium sulphate), 300 lbs. per acre, used each year from 1888 to 1899 inclusive. No fertilizers have been applied since then 21 [Mineral superphosphate, No. 2, 500 lbs. per acre, used each year from 1889 to 1899 in- clusive. No fertilizers have been used since then Yield of Grain. Per acre. Bush . lbs. 14 9 l&ft 47ft 12 lft 15 ' 15 13 33 /j 15 21 12 24 12 27A 13 25ft 12 26/s 12 421f Yield of Straw. Per acre Lbs. 2,821 i,s;o 1,965 2,474 2,360 2,134 2,343 1,874 1,523 1,890 1,882 14th Season, 1901, Variety, Red Fife. Average Yield for Fourteen Years. Yield of Grain. ' Yield of Straw. Per acre. Per acre Bush. lbs. Lbs. 16 5 • 15 5 3,750 3,235 16 5 2,750 15 — 3,860 17 10 2,850 17 30 2,870 15 50 2,720 14 20 2, GOO 16 — 2,035 14 50 2,135 18 — 2,195 Yield of Grain. Per acre. Bush . lbs. 14 10 231-1 10 12 18H 15 7rt 13 48ft 15 30Tsj 12 381J 12 35}2 13 30 12 37 13 6 Yield of Straw. Per acre Lbs. 2,887 1,931 2,021 2,573 2,395 2,187 2,370 1,932 1,560 1,908 1,904 BARLEY PLOTS. The quantity of seed sown per acre on the barley plots was 2 bushels in 1889, 1890 and 1891, 1J bushels in 1892 and 1893, and 2 bushels in 1894, 1895, 1896, 1897, 1898, 1899, 1900 and 1901. Two-rowed barley has been used for seed throughout the whole period. The varieties used were as follows: 1889, 1890 and 1891, Saale; 1892, Gold- thorpe; 1893, Duck-bill; and in 1894, 1895, 1896, 1897, 1S98, 1899, 1900 and 1901, Cana- 46 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 1-2 EDWARD VII., A. 1902 dian Thorpe, a selected form of the Duck-bill. In 1901 the Canadian Thorpe was sown on April 29, came up May 8, and was harvested from July 25 to 30. EXPERIMENTS WITH FERTILIZERS ON PLOTS OF BARLEY, ftTH ACRE EACH. Fertilizers applied each year from 1889 to 1898 or 1899. No fertilizers used since . Clover sown in 1899 and each year since with the grain and ploughed under in the Autumn. Barn-yard manure, well rotted, 15 tons per acre each year to 1898, inclusive. No manure has been applied since then Barn-yard manure, fresh, 15 tons per acre, each year to 1898, inclusive. No manure has been applied since then _ Unmanured from the beginning 4 Mineral phosphate, untreated, finely ground, 500 lbs. per acre, used each year from 1888 to 1897, inclusive. In 1898 and 1899 a similar weight of the Thomas' phosphate was used, no fertilizers have been applied since then Mineral phosphate, untreated, finely ground, 500 lbs., nitrate of soda, 200 lbs. per acre, used each year from 1888 to 1897, inclusive. In 1898 and 1899 500 lbs. of the Thomas' phosphate was vised ill place of the mineral phosphate. No fertilizers have been applied since then (}' Barn -yard manure, partly rotted and ac- tively fermenting, 6 tons per acre ; mineral phosphate, untreated, finely ground, 500 lbs. per acre, composted to- gether, intimately mixed and allowed to heat for several days before using, applied each year from 1888 to 1897, inclusive. In 1898 500 lbs. of the Thomas' phosphate was used in place of the mineral phosphate. No fertilizers have been applied since then. Mineral phosphate, untreated, finely ground, 500 lbs., nitrate of soda, 200 lbs.; wood ashes, unleached, 1,000 lbs. per acre, used each year from 1888 to 1897, inclusive. In 189S and 1899 500 lbs. of the Thomas' phosphate was used in place of the min- eral phosphate. No fertilizers have been applied since tien 8 Mineral phosphate, untreated, finely ground, 500 lbs., wood ashes, unleached, 1,500 lbs. per acre, used each year from 1888 to 1S97, inclusive. In 1898 and 1899 500 lbs. of the Thomas' phosphate was used in place of the mineral phosphate. No fer- tilizers have been applied since then Mineral superphosphate, No. 1, 500 lbs. per acre used each year from 1888 to 1899. inclusive. No fertilizers have been applied since then 10 Mineral superphosphate, No. 1, 350 lbs.; nitrate of soda, 200 lbs. per acre, used each year from 18S8 to 1899, inclusive. No fertilizers have been applied since then. . Average Yield for Twelve Years. Yield of Grain. Per acre. Bush. 34 35 13 19 20 2S lbs. 42ft 12ft 5ft 14 7ft 20 13ft 27 38ft Yield of Straw. Per acre 24 21 ft 31/1 20 ft 13ft Lbs. 3,019 3,198 1,512 1,430 2,235 2,377 2,402 1,712 1,807 2,357 13th Season, 1901. Variety, Canadian Thorpe. Yield of Grain. Per acre. Bush. lbs. 29 28 28 2G 10 15 14 13 21 12 22 34 27 24 18 4G 14 33 18 1 Yield of Straw. Average Yield for Thirteen Years. Yield of Grain. Per acre! Per acre. Lbs. 3,045 3,155 1,120 1,G35 2,605 1,915 1,105 2,735 Bush. lbs. 34 23 ft 34 35 ft 12 42J5 H 7U 1,850 20 16^ 27 19Jf 1,783 24 32ft 19 29ft 20 4ft 27 23 ft Yield of Straw. Per acre Lbs. 3,021 3,195 1,482 1,44G 2,205 2,394 2,355 1,729 1,753 2,388 REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR 47 SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 EXPERIMENTS WITH FERTILIZERS ON PLOTS OF BARLEY, ^th ACRE EACH. Average 13th Season, 1901. Average Yield • Yield for Twelve Variety, fob Years. Canadian Thorpe. Thirteen Years. Fertilizers applied each year, from 18S9 to 1898 or 1899. No fertilizers used since. Clover sown in 1899 and each year since Yield Yield Yield Yield Yield Yield with the grain and ploughed under in the of of of of of of +3 O Autumn. Grain. Straw. Grain. Straw. Grain. Straw. — <*- c d Per acre. Per acre Per acre. Per acre Per acre. Per acre Bush. lbs. Lbs. Bush. lbs. Lbs. Bush, lbs.] Lbs. ii Mineral superphosphate, No. 1, 350 lbs.; nitrate of soda, 200 lbs.; wood ashes, unleached, 1,500 lbs. per acre, used each year from 1888 to 1899, inclusive. No fertilizers have been applied since then. . 26 10-,«T 2,506 19 8 2,220 25 32T*5 2,484 12 13 12 43/; 1,215 10 10 1,495 12 33A 1,237 Bone, finely ground, 500 lbs. per acre, used VWU each year from 1888 to 1899 i nclusi ve. No fertilizers have been applied since then. . 13 43TV 1,419 12 19 1,565 13 37A 1,430 14 Bone, finely ground, 500 lbs. ; wood ashes, unleached, 1,500 lbs. per acre, used each year from 1888 to 1899 inclusive. No fertilizers have been applied since then. . 22 32r4T 2,040 21 2 2,180 22 26 rV 2,051 15 Nitrate of soda, 200 lbs. per acre, used each year from 1888 to 1899 inclusive. No fertilizers have been applied since then. . 21 42& 2,329 18 1 2,400 21 28T2j 2,334 16 Muriate of potash, 150 lbs. per acre, used each year from 1888 to 1899 inclusive. No fertilizers have been applied since then. . 22 0TV 1,827 20 30 2,035 22 A 1,843 17 Sulphate of ammonia, 300 lbs. per acre, used eath year from 1888 to 1899 inclusive. No fertilizers have been applied since then. . 18 31 il 1,933 16 7 2,135 18 22/3 1,949 18 Sulphate of iron, 60 lbs. per acre, used each year from 1888 to 1899 inclusive. No fertilizers have been applied since then . . 17 444J 1,092 13 46 1,540 17 30& 1,680 19 Common salt (Sodium chloride), 300 lbs. per acre, used each year from 1888 to 1899 in- clusive. No fertilizers have been applied 27 26}J 2,016 21 22 1,810 27 4& 1,846 20 Land plaster or gypsum (Calcium sulphate), 300 lbs. per acre, used each year from 1888 to 1899 inclusive. No fertilizers have been 19 28}J 1,605 19 13 1,300 19 27TS3 1,582 21 Mineral superphosphate. No. 2, 500 lbs. per acre, used each year from 1889 to 1899 in- clusive. No fertilizers have been applied 20 8^ 1,794 17 19 1,175 19 46^ 1,746 OAT PLOTS. The quantity of seed sown per acre on the oat plots, was 2 bushels in 1889 and 1890; 1J bushels 'in 1891, 1892 and 1893, and 2 bushels in 1891, 1895, 1896, 1897, 1898, 1899, 1900 and 1901. The varieties used were as follows : In 1889, Early English ; in 1890, 1891, 1892, 1893, Prize Cluster; and in 1894, 1895, 1896, 1897, 1898, 1899, 1900 and 1901, Banner. In 1901 the Banner was sown April 30, came up May 8, and the plots were harvested from August 1 to 5. 43 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 1-2 EDWARD VII., A. 1902 "EXPERIMENTS WITH FERTILIZERS ON PLOTS OF OATS, ft ACRE EACH. Fertilizers applied each Year, from 18S0 to 1898 or 1809. No fertilizers used since. Clover sown in 1899 and each year since with the grain and ploughed under in the Autumn. Average Yield for Twelve Years. 13th Season, 1901. Variety, Banner. Average Yield kor Thirteen Years. Yield of Grain. Yield of Stiaw. Yield of Grain. Yield of Straw. Yield of Grain. Per acre. Per acre Bush. 1 Barn-yard manure, well rotted, 15 tons per acre each year to 1898 inclusive. No manure has been applied since then Barn-yard manure, fresh, 15 tons per acre each year to 1898 inclusive. No manure has been applied since then 3 Unmanured from the beginning 4 Mineral phosphate.untreated, finely ground, 500 lbs. per acre, used each year from 1888 to 1897, inclusive. In 189S and 1899 a similar weight of the Thomas' phosphate, was used. No fertilizers have been ap- plied since then Mineral phosphate, untreated,finely ground, 500 lbs. nitrate of soda, 200 lbs. per acre, used each year from 1888 to 1897, in- clusive. In 1898 and 1899 500 lbs of the Thomas' phosphate was used in place of the mineral phosphate. No fertilizers have been applied since then 6 Barn-yard manure, partly rotted and ac- tively fermenting, f> tons per acre ; min- eral phosphate, untreated, finely ground, 500 lbs. per acre, composted together, in- timately mixed and allowed to heat for several days' before using, applied each year from 188S to 1897, inclusive. In 1898 500 lbs. of Thomas' phosphate was used in place of the mineral phosphate. No fertilizers have been applied since then Mineral phosphate, untreated, finely ground, 500 lbs. ; nitrate of soda, 200 lbs. ; wood ashes, unleached, 1,000 lbs. per acre, used each year from 1888 to 1897, inclusive. In 1898 and 1899 500 lbs. of the Thomas' phosphate was used in place of the min- eral phosphate. No fertilizers have been applied since then 6 M meral phosphate.untreated, finely ground, 500 lbs.; wood ashes, unleached, 1,500 lbs. per acre used each year from 1888 to 1S97, inclusive. In 1898 and 1899 500 lbs. of the Thomas' phosphate was used in place of the mineral phosphate. No fertilizers have been applied since then 9 Mineral superphosphate, No. 1, 500 lbs. per acre, used each year from 1888 to 1»99 inclusive. No fertilizers have been used since then 10 Mineral superphosphate, No. 1, 350 lbs.; nitrate of soda, 200 lbs. per acre, used each year from 1888 to 1899, inclusive. No fertilizers have been applied since then. 1 Mineral superphosphate, No. 1, 350 lbs. nitrate of soda, 200 lbs. ; wood ashes, unleached, 1,500 lbs. per acre, used each year from 1888 to 1897, inclusive. No fertilizers have been applied since then. . . 50 55 31 lbs. 26& 18ft Lbs 31 22ft 48 82A 47 7-}§ T? 41 30 47 30 Per acre. Per acre Bush. lbs. 3.1GS 52 22 3,372 1,523 1,688 2,679 2,615 3,150 Per acre. Lbs. Bush. lbs. Lbs. Yield of Straw. Per acre 53 18 48 3 48 28 51 31 3,790 3,805 2,635 50 31ft 55 13ft 33 '/'A 2,6G0 32 33 ft 2,600 53 23 5G 31 6 2,371 i lift 1,930 7T6S 2,731 31/, 2,414 54 24 42 2 45 25 49 29 49 5ft 3,210 3,405 1,609 1,763 3,570 47 24 ft 3,415 3,170 2,155 2,595 27 55 48 19ft 2,410 2,073 2,688 3,170 2,432 1,947 REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR 49 SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 EXPERIMENTS WITH FERTILIZERS ON PLOTS OF OATS, ^ ACRE ~EACH.-Conti7iaed. a - E 3 Fertilizers applied each Year, from 18S9 to 1898 or 1899. No fertilizers used since. Clover sown in 1899 and each year since with the grain and ploughed under in the Autumn. 12 13 14 15 16 17 19 20 12 acre Unmanured from the beginning Bone, linely ground, 500 lbs. per used each year from 1888 to 1899,inclusive. No fertilizers have been applied since then. Bone, finely ground, 500 lbs. ; wood ashes, unleached, 1,500 lbs. per acre, used each year from 1888 to 1899, inclusive. No fertilizers have been applied since then . . Nitrate of soda, 200 lbs. per acre, used each year from 1888 to 1899, inclusive. No fertilizers have been applied since then . . Muriate of potash, 150 lbs. per acre, used each year from 1888 to 1899, inclusive. No fertilizers have been applied since then. Sulphate of ammonia, 300 lbs. per acre, used each year from 1888 to 1849; inclusive. No fertilizer * have been applied since then. 18'Sulphate of iron, 60 lbs. per acre, used each year from 1SS8 to 1S99, inclusive. No fertilizers have been applied since then. . Common salt (Sodium chloride) 300 lbs. per acre, used each year from 1888 to 1899, inclusive. No fertilizers have been applied since then Land plaster or gypsum (Calcium sulphate) 300 lbs. per acre, used each year from 1888 to 1899, inclusive. No fertilizers have been applied since then Mineral superphosphate, No. 2, 500 lbs. per acre, used each year from 1889 to 1899, inclusive. No fertilizers have been applied since then , Average Yield 13th Season, 1901. Average Yield for Twelve Years. Variety. Banner. for Thirteen Years. Yield of Grain. t Yield of Straw. Yield of Grain. Yield of Straw. Yield of Grain. Yield of Straw. Per acre. Per acre Per acre. Per acre Per acre. Per acre Bush. lbs. Lbs. Bush. lbs. Lbs. Bush. lbs. Lbs. 21 25& 1,455 30 15 12 70 22 14^ 1,431 34 13/j 1,988 34 14 25 85 34 13& 2,034 39 28jv 2,203 49 14 27 00 40 19A 2,241 47 25£ 2.6S6 46 16 33 40 47 22 2,736 36 Ux% 2,117 52 32 27 00 37 23ft 2,102 44 11TV 2,906 50 20 23 00 44 27ft 2,859 36 && 2,044 48 28 17 70 37 5ft 2,023 35 28ft 1,923 47 32 21 60 36 26ft 1,941 33 9& 1,968 41 6 18 20 33 29 H? 1,957 34 17ft 1,828 40 20 21 60 34 33ft 1,854 INDIAN CORN PLOTS. The experiments with the plots of Indian corn have been conducted with the ob- ject of obtaining the largest weight of well matured green fodder for the silo, and to have the corn so far advanced when cut, that the ears shall be as far as is practicable in the late milk, or glazed condition. Each plot has been divided from the outset into two equal parts, on one of which — known as No. 1 — one of the stronger growing and some- what later ripening sorts has been tried, and on the other, marked No. 2, one of the earlier maturing varieties. During the first four years one of the Dent varieties was tested under No. 1. The Mammoth Southern Sweet was tried in 1888, 1889 and 1890. In 1891 the Eed Cob Ensilage was used, and in 1892, 1S93, 1894, 1895, 1896, 1897, 1898, 1899 and 1901 a free growing Flint variety, the Rural Thoroughbred White Flint, was tested. On the other half of the plot (No. 2) the Canada Yellow Flint was used in 18S8, 1889 and 1890, the Thoroughbred White Flint in 1891, Pearce's Prolific in 1892, 1893 and 1894, and the Mammoth Eight Rowed Flint in 1895, 1896, 1897, 1898, 1899 and 1901. For the first four years the No. 1 series was planted in drills 3 feet apart, 16—4 50 EXPERIMENTAL FIRMS 1-2 EDWARD VI!., A. 1902 using about 24 pounds of seed to the acre and thinning the plants, when up, to 6 or 8 inches, and the No. 2 in hills 3 feet apart each way and 4 or 5 kernels in a hill. During the past seven years both sorts have been grown in hills. In 1900 no crop of Indian corn was grown on these plots, but clover was sown in their place on May 5 in the proportion of twelve pounds per acre. This made a strong growth was cut twice during the season and left on the ground to decay so that when ploughed under the land might get the full benefit of the clover crop. The clover was allowed to remain growing until May 20, 1901, by which time it had made a very heavy growth. It was then ploughed under about six inches deep, and harrowed well before the corn was planted. The corn in both series of plots was planted in 1901, on May 25, and cut for ensilage on September 12. EXPERIMENTS WITH FERTILIZERS ON PLOTS OF INDIAN CORN, Ath ACRE EACH, CUT GREEN FOR ENSILAGE. O s o Fertilizers applied each year from 1888 to 1898 or 18!)!). No fertilizers used since. Clover sown in 1!)00 in place of the corn and ploughed under in May, 11)01, before the corn was planted. Average Yield for Twelve Years. 13th Season, 1901. i <«-< u I °-£ o z, o * boc -W* 03 O 0) « S £ & Per acre. Barn-yard manure (mixed horse and cow manure) well rotted, 12 tons per acre, each year from 1888 to 1898 inclusive, No manure has been applied since then. , Barn-yard manure (mixed horse and cow manure) fresh, 12 tons per acre each year from 1888 to 1898 inclusive. No manure has been applied since then Unmanured from the beginning Mineral phosphate, untreated, finely ground, 800 lbs. per acre, used each year from 188S to 1897 inclusive. In 1898 and 1899 a similar weight of the Thomas' Phos- phate was used. No fertilizers have been applied since then Mineral phosphate, untreated, finely ground, 800 lbs., nitrate of soda, 200 lbs. per acre, used each year from 1888 to 1897 inclusive. In 1898 and 1899, 800 lbs. of the Thomas' Phosphate was used in place of the mineral phosphate. No fertilizers have been applied since then Barn-yard manure, partly rotted and ac- tively fermenting, 6 tons per acre ; mineral phosphate, untreated, finely ground, 500 lbs. per acre, composted together, intim ately mixed and allowed to heat for several days before using, applied each year from 1888 to 1897 inclusive. In 1898 500 lbs. of Thomas' Phosphate was used in place of the mineral phosphate. No fertilizers have been applied since then.. . Mineral phosphate, untreated, finely ground, 500 lbs.; nitrate of soda, 200 lbs.; wood ashes, unleached, 1,000 lbs. per acre, used each year from 1888 to 1897 inclusive. In 18!)8 and 1899 500 lbs. of the Thomas' Phosphate was used in place of the mineral phosphate. No fertilizers have been applied since then Tons lbs. 15 1,233 16 1,323 7 323 G 1,840 10 932 15 1,531 14 1,347 I «-i u I o 03 IN T3 ►_. -G u-, <4 bDg ■S-*< - o 6p" - o « 5 » bo- ■& *- — • • - 5 Per acre Tons lbs 12 131 10 1,809 5 410 4 305 8 1,408 11 120 Per acre. IN o O c3 S3 C 0j up 13 > r-i > 0) .. 03 "3 t U bC Per acre Tons lbs. Tons lbs 10 1,380 23 1,810 17 9 100 520 18 1,000 22 100 21 200 17 1,480 6 1,810 15 1,320 16 1,740 25 810 24 10 25 1,020 19 1,210 Average Yield for Thirteen Years. i o * Or- o K-, -^ («_, O 1141 > bo PM Per acre. Tons lbs. 16 508 -*1 ^T3 be s 03 03 bo Per acre Tons lbs 12 1,521 16 1,38311 860 7 646 5 G72 7 1,668 11 714 16 1,017 5 75 9 064 15 1,014 12 112 11 752 REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR 51 SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 EXPERIMENTS WITH FERTILIZERS, ON PLOTS OF INDIAN CORN— Concluded. a H o o V, 8 Fertilizers applied each year, from 1888 to 1898 or 1899. No fertilizers used since, Clover sown in 1900 in place of the corn and ploughed under in May, 1901, before the corn was planted. Average Yield for Twelve Years. 13th Season, 1901. I O PH £ to) Per acre. Tons. lbs. 12 13 14 15 Mineral phosphate,untreated,finely ground, 500 lbs., wood ashes, unleached, 1,500 lbs. per acre, used each year from 1888 to 1899 inclusive, In 1898 and 1899 500 lbs. of the Thomas' Phosphate was used in place of the mineral phosphate. No fertilizers have been applied since then 9 Mineral superphosphate, No. 1 , 500 lbs. per acre, used each year from 1888 to 1899 in- clusive. No fertilizers have been applied since then 10 Mineral superphosphate, No. 1, 350 lbs.; nitrate of soda, 200 lbs. per acre, used each year from 1888 to 1899 inclusive. No fertilizers have been applied since then. . ll'Mineral superphosphate, No. 1, 350 lbs. ; nitrate of soda, 200 lbs. ; wood ashes, unleached, 1,500 lbs. per acre, used each year from 1888 to 1897 inclusive. No fertilizers have been applied since then Unmanured from the beginning Bone, finely ground, 500 lbs. per acre, used each year from 188S to 1899 inclusive. No fertilizers have been applied since then. . Bone, finely ground 500 lbs. ; wood ashes, unleached, 1,500 lbs. per acre, used each year from 1888 to 1899 inclusive. No fertilizers have been applied since then. . Nitrate of soda, 200 lbs. per acre, used each year from 1S88 to 1899 inclusive. No fertilizers have been applied since then . . 1G Sulphate of ammonia, 300 lbs. per acre, used each year from 1888 to 1899 inclusive. No fertilizers have been applied since then 17 i Mineral superphoshate, No. 1, 600 lbs muriate of potash, 200 lbs. ; sulphate of ammonia, 150 lbs. per acre, used each year from 1889 to 1899 inclusive. No fertilizers have been applied since then. . 18 Muriate of potash, 300 lbs. per acre, used each year from 1889 to 1899 inclusive. No fertilizers have been applied since then. . Double sulphate of potash and magnesia, 300 lbs. per acre in 1889 and '90 ; (muriate of potash, 200 lbs., substituted each year since) ;dried blood, 300 lbs.; mineral super- phosphate, No. 1, 500 lbs. per acre, used each year from 1889 to 1899, inclusive. No fertilizers have been applied since then. . 20 Wood ashes, unleached, 1,900 lbs. per acre, used each year from 1889 to 1899 inclusive. No fertilizers have been applied since then. Bone, finely ground, 500 lbs.; sulphate of ammonia, 200 lbs.; muriate of potash, 200 lbs. per acre, used each year from 18S9 to 1899 inclusive. No fertilizers have been applied since then 19 21 I 0 0J CN T3 O CO CD fc Per acre T5 . v -^ ■"£ o^--1 CD PhH^ > to I £ O CO OOO toO 5S -33 ~£*£ O ci » CD Pnrt » to Ver acre. Tons lbs Tons. lbs. 11 279 10 2G4 12 1,851 Per acre fons lbs 8 450 24 550 22 1,040 7 1,309 Average Yield for Thirteen Years. 1 o ® l-H 'O . -*=> *D It. -*- «<- Pm js a CD CD CD 60 Per acre. o - o O CD Co tos Per acre Tons. lbs. Tons lbs 20 1,000 23 110 10 39 25 20 20 1,200 15 944 11 1,140 10 202 8 500 11 327 8 1,145 11 1,401 12 384 12 1,009 12 1,297 8 1,138 11 458 9 1,010 12 222 8 1,497 9 007 9 1,239 8 1,773 5 1,534 28 1,800 23 1,310 23 010 19 800 24 700 20 1,400 24 1,700 22 020 22 1,430 18 800 23 GOO 20 300 7 1,225 G 1,841 25 1,590 23 110 25 1,200 21 9G0 25 1,830 23 940 26 800 22 1,500 0 692 23 750 21 840 12 300 11 S28 9 701 8 1,078 13 1,713 10 1,GG7 16 1,010 11 233 12 360 12 1,482 12 1,005 9 215 9 1,011 9 1,583 13 310 7 13 602 13 1,320 9 1,702 10 859 9 1,953 6 1,951 12 717 10 1,615 12 1,955 8 1,605 8 276 7 1,011 16 52 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 1-2 EDWARD VII., A. 1902 PLOTS OF MANGELS AND TURNIPS. In conducting these experiments the roots only have heen taken from the land, the tops have always heen cut off and left on the ground to be ploughed under, so that the plant food they have taken from the soil may be returned to it. One-half of each one- tenth acre plot in the series has been devoted to the growth of mangels, and the other half to turnips, and these crops have been alternated from year to year. The prepara- tion of the land has been the same for both these roots. It was ploughed in the au- tumn after the crop was gathered, gang-ploughed deeply in the spring after the barn- yard manure had been spread on plots 1, 2 and 6, and after gang-ploughing the other fertilizers were spread by scattering them evenly over the surface, after which it was all harrowed with the smoothing harrow, then made in ridges 2 feet apart, rolled and sown. In 1SS9, the variety of mangel used was the Mammoth Long Red. In 1890, three varieties were sown : f 5 rows of Mammoth Long Red, 6 of Mammoth Long Yellow, and 6 of Golden Intermediate on each plot. In 1891, each plot again had three varieties : IS rows of Mammoth Long Red, 3 of Yellow Pleshed Tankard, and C of Golden Tank- ard. In 1892, 1S93, 1894, 1895, 1896, 1897, 1898, 1899 and 1901, one variety only was used, namely, the Mammoth Long Red. About 4 pounds of seed were sown per acre each year. Two varieties of turnips were sown on the half plots devoted to these roots in 1889 ; 25 rows of Carter's Prize Winner, and 2 rows of Carter's Queen of Swedes, and in 1890, a single variety, Carter's Elephant Swede. In 1891, six varieties were sown; G rows of Lord Derby Swede, 4 of New Giant King, 3 of Imperial Swede, 6 of Champion Swede, 4 of Purple Top Swede, and 4 of East Lothian Swede. In 1892 the Improved Purple Top Swede only was sown, in 1893 and 1894 the Prize Purple Top Swede, in 1895 the Imperial Swede, and in 1896, 1897, 1S98, 1899 and 1901 the Prize Purple Top Swede. The land used for the turnips, which are usually sown later than the mangels, was prepared in the same manner and the fertilizers spread on it at the same time as for the mangels. It was then allowed to stand until the day before sowing, when it was gang-ploughed shallow or cultivated to kill weeds and loosen the soil, ridged, rolled and sown. A-bout three pounds of seed were sown per acre. In 1900 no crops of mangels and turnips were grown, but clover was sown in their place on May 5 in the proportion of twelve pounds per acre. This made a strong growth, and was cut twice during the season, and left on the ground to decay so that when ploughed under the land might get the full benefit of the clover crop. The clover was allowed to remain growing until May 10, 1901, by which time it had made a very heavy growth. It was then ploughed under about six inches deep and harrowed well, then made up into ridges two feet apart. These were rolled with a hand roller, which flattened the ridges considerably and made a firm, even seed bed. It is proposed to alternate the crops of clover and roots in this way for some years for the purpose of gaining information as to the fertilizing effect of crops of green clover ploughed under on land to be used for growing roots. In 1901 the mangels were sown on May 13, and pulled on October 14;. the turnips were sown May 22, and pulled October 22. The yield per acre has been calculated in each case from the weight of roots gathered from two rows, each 66 feet long. REPORT OF TEE DIRECTOR 53 SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 EXPERIMENTS WITH FERTILIZERS ON ROOTS; PLOTS OF MANGELS AND TURNIPS sSth ACRE EACH. c Fertilizers applied each Year from 188!) to 1898 or 1899. No fertili- zers used since. Clover sown in 1900 in place of the roots and ploughed under in May, 1901, be- fore the roots were sown. 6 Average Yield for Eleven Years. Mangels, Weight of Roots. Per Acre. Barn-yard manure (mixed horse and cow manure) well rotted, 20 tons per acre each year from 18S9 to 1S98 inclusive. No manure has been applied since then Barn-yard manure (mixed horse and cow manure) fresh, 20 tons per acre each year from 1889 to 1898 inclusive. No manure has been applied- since then Unmanured from the beginning Mineral phosphate, untreated, finely ground, 1,000 lbs. per acre, used each year from 1889 to 1897, in elusive. In 1898 and 1899 a similar weight of the Thomas' Phosphate was used. No fertilizers have been applied since then , Mineral phosphate, untreated, finely ground, 1,000 lbs., nitrate of soda, 250 lbs. wood ashes, unleached, 1,000 lbs. per acre, used each year from 1889 to 1S97 inclusive. In 1898 and 1899, 500 lbs. of theTho mas Phosphate was used in place of the mineral phosphate. No fer- ti 1 izers have been applied since then. Barn-yard manure, partly rotted and actively fermenting, 6 tons per acre ; mineral phosphate untreated, finely ground, 1,000 lbs. per acre, composted together, intimately mixed and allowed to heat for several days before using, applied each year from 1889 to 1897 inclu- sive. In 1898 1,000 lbs. of Thomas' Phosphate was used in place of the mineral phosphate. No ferti- zers have been applied since then.. Mineral phosphate, untreated, finely ground, 1,000 lbs.; sulphate of potash, 200 lbs. in 1889 and 1890 (substituted by muriate of potash, 250 lbs. in 1891 and subsequent years) ; nitrate of soda, 200 lbs. per acre, used each year from 1889 to 1897 inclusive. In 189S and 1899 1,000 lbs. of the Thomas' Phosphate was used in place of the mineral phosphate. No fertilizers have been applied since then 8 Mineral superphosphate, No. 1, 500 lbs.; sulphate of potash, 200 lbs. in 1889 and 1S90 (substituted by mur- iate of potash, 250 lbs. in 1891 and subsequent years) ; nitrate of soda, 200 lbs. per acre, used each year from 1889 to 1899 inclusive. No fertilizers have been applied since then Tons. lbs. Tons. lbs. Tons, lbs 22 1,174 21 8 1,090 1,587 8 644 Turnips, Weight of Roots. 12th Season, 1901. Yarieties. West Half East Half Plot. Plot. Average Yield FOR Twelve Years. Mangels, Mammoth | Long Red: 1 Weight of Roots. Fer Acre. Turnips, Purple Top Swede : Weight of Roots. Per Acre. Per Acre. 15 is: 22 100 15 6 607 1,863 593 13 1,732 17 1,799 10 1,472 9 1,436 Tons. lbs. Mangels, Weight of Roots. Per Acre. Turnips, Weight of Roots. Per Acre. Tons. lbs. Tons, lbs 21 320 22 1,089 21 500 20 1,590 9 1,610, 12 1,820 21 1,041 8 1,756 9 940 14 1,520 19 350 13 536 9 1,012 13 1,725' 11 1,730 13 820 20 1.3S0 13 1,130 8 835 14 617 11 1,800 16 440 10 1,650 15 1,720 15 1,194 15 1,522 7 859 7 1,837 10 77 18 264 13 308 11 386 13 1,649 9 1,232 12 396 54 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 1-2 EDWARD VII., A. 1902 EXPERIMENTS WITH FERTILIZERS OX ROOTS; PLOTS OF MANGELS AXD TURNIPS— Concluded. Fertilizers applied each Year from 1839 to 1S98 or 1899. No fertilizer used since. Clover sown in 1900 in place of the roots and ploughed under in May, 1900, before the roots were sown. Average Yield for Eleven Years. 12th Season, 1901, Varieties. West Half Plot. Mangels, Weight of Roots. o 10 11 12 13 11 15 1G 17 18 19 Turnips, Weight of Roots. Mangels, Mammoth Long Red: Weight of Roots. Per Acre. Per Acre. Per Acre. East Half Plot. Average Yield for Twelve Years. Turnips, PurpleTop Mangels, Swede : Weight of Weight of, Roots. Roots. » Per Acre. I Per Acre. 9 Mineral superphosphate, Xo. 1, 500 lbs. per acre, used each year from 1889 to 1899 inclusive. No fertili- zers have been applied since then. . Nitrate of soda, 300 lbs. per acre, used each year from 1889 to 1899 inclusive. No fertilizers have been applied since then Sulphate of ammonia, 300 lbs. per acre, used each year from 1889 to 1899 inclusive. No fertilizers have been applied since then ........ Unmanured from the beginning . Bone, finely ground, 500 lbs.; wood ashes, unleached, 1,000 lbs. per acre, used each year from 1889 to 1899 inclusive. No fertilizers have been applied since then. .... . Wood ashes, unleached, 2,000 lbs. per acre, used each year from 1889 to 1899 inclusive. No fertilizers have been applied since then. Common salt (Sodium chloride) 400 lbs. per acre, used each year from 1889 to 1899 inclusive. No fertilizers have been applied since then Mineral superphosphate, No. 1, 500 lbs.; nitrate of soda, 200 lbs. per acre, used each year from 1889 to 1899 inclusive. No.fertilizers have been applied since then :. Mineral superphosphate, No. 1, 350 lbs ; wood ashes, unleached, 1,500 lbs per acre, used each year from 1889 to 1899 inclusive. No fertiliz- ers have been applied since then . . Mineral superphosphate, No. 1, 500 lbs.; muriate of potash, 200 lbs. per acre, used each year from 1889 to 1899 inclusive. No fertilizers have been applied since then .... Double sulphate of potash and mag nesia, 800 lbs. per acre in 1889 and 1890 (muriate of potash, 200 lbs., substituted each year since) ; dried blood, 250 lbs.; mineral superphos- phate, No. L 500 lbs. per acre, used each year from 1SS9 to 1899 inclu sive. No fertilizers have been ap plied since then 20 Wood ashes, unleached, 1,500 lbs., common salt (Sodium chloride), 300 lbs. per acre, used each year from 1S89 to 1899 inclusive. No fertiliz ers have been applied since then. . !l Mineral superphosphate, No. 2, 500 lbs. per acre, used each year from 1889 to 1899 inclusive. No fertiliz ers have been applied since then. . Tons. lbs. Tons. lbs. Tons. lbs. Tons. lbs. Tons. lbs. Tons, lbs 11 10 7 Turnips, Weight of Roots. Per Acre. 120 8 1,3271 10 770 15 1,180 9 341 520 145 354 9 134 13 220 10 19G 10 1,508 9G1 13 589 12 985 12 415 10 G67 G 1,677 12 SG0 7 1,490 15 700 14 32S 9 481 9 1,181 16 1,250 12 538! 10 1,715 11 1,310 7 449 7 4>2 8 GIG 12 1,950 13 850 12 G75 8 1.4G9 7 1,107 13 40 13 1,0G0 10 1,88G 7 21 8 103 12 GS0 12 900! 9 1,437 7 927 10 711 10 GOO 17 1,0S0 9 31 9 1,900 16 GG0 20 690 19 GO 19 200 13 1,150 11 737; 20 1,4G0 14 202 14 1,190 10 183 10 903 20 700 16 600 17 1,950 19 53) 17 680 13 173 10 1,908 12 1,624 9 1,919 12 1,552 10 1,425 14 342 11 1,838 14 1,244 10 1,712 14 1,482 11 51 REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR 55 SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 DISTRIBUTION OF SAMPLES OF SEED GRAIN, ETC., TO FARMERS FOR TRIAL. Another distribution was made in the spring of 1901, consisting of samples of the most promising sorts of oats, spring wheat, barley, pease, Indian corn and potatoes. By the careful growing of one of these samples, the product will soon be sufficient to sow a large area, and thus in a short time the farmer can provide himself with some of the best sorts, without cost beyond that of his own labour. From the large number of appreciative letters received from farmers who have had these samples and have grown from them the seed grain they are now vising on their farms, it is evi- dent that this branch of the work of the experimental farms is doing a vast amount of good, and is rapidly accomplishing the object for which it was instituted, namely, the general introduction among farmers throughout the Dominion of the best and most productive sorts of these important farm crops. Another proof of the appreciation in which this distribution is held is the very large demand each year for such samples. The samples sent out from the Central Experimental Farm during the early months of 1901 were distributed as follows : — V o u CD rn sf c« 5f 00 H 2 T3 K • ® 5 o 3 e3 00 . » to D Name of Grain. xti > pq 9 o3 .a o '2 £.2 J: 8 22 J ■43.5 •r hh 0 ldfiuder Total 8.1S8 2,325 1,1 SI 1,115 897 798 795 403 354 120 103 91 3 3 Name of Variety. Baulky. Six-rowed. Mensury .. Royal. Odessa Oderbruch ° I ■~ 5P Tuo roiccd. Sidney Canadian Thorpe. French Chevalier. Total 2,193 840 566 228 117 354 58 30 56 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 1-2 EDWARD VII., A. 1902 Name of Variety. Wheat. Red Fife Preston White Fife White Conned . Stanley Percy Wellman's Fife. Monarch Hungarian... . Dufferin .... Total Pease. Prussian Blue Large White Marrowfat. Canadian Beauty , French Canner Creeper Black Eyed Marrowfat. Golden Vine Total Indian Qorn. Selected Learning Longfellow Angel of Midnight White Cap Yellow Dent. Early Butler .... Early Mastodon Mitchell's Early Mammoth Cuban Champion White Pearl . . Coinpton's Early Total Potatoes. Carman No. 1 American Wonder. Early Sunrise u to 7h u C cS J3^ ,151 916 5G0 539 484 392 238 191 69 17 4,557 675 533 498 486 311 237 149 2,889 492 284 125 119 89 78 72 54 39 34 1,386 850 752 718 Name of Variety. Potatoes— Co n, Everett Early Harvest Empire State Bmnaby Seedling Rochester Rose Early Rose Sir Walter Raleigh Canadian Beauty Early Andes Early White Prize Bovee Uncle Sam Vigorosa New Queen Honeoye Rose Prolific Rose Prize Taker Wonder of the World Early Six Weeks Rose of the North Beauty of Hebron Gem of Aroostook Holborn Abundance Brown's Rot Proof White Elephant Maggie Murphy Irish Daisy Lizzie's Pride Dakota Red Early Norther Sharpe's Seedling State of Maine Late Puritan Additional varieties of which only one sample of each was sent Total Total number of packages distributed : — Wheat Oats Barley Pease Corn Potatoes Total u y to fc G25 519 466 458 402 165 109 102 101 97 96 95 92 91 77 76 65 23 14 10 8 7 7 3 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 20 6,066 4,557 8,188 2,193 2,889 1,386 6,066 25,279 DISTRIBUTION OF SAMPLES OF GRAIN SUFFICIENT FOR ONE-TENTH OF AN ACRE. The distribution of grain in larger samples sufficient in each case for a one-tenth acre plot was begun in 1899, and continued in 1900 and 1901. These samples were sent to a special list of farmers selected from among those who have shown a special interest in this important work. In preparing the list for this purpose the names have been chosen from every part of the Dominion so that every agricultural Constituency has been represented. These special samples to the number of 2,85S have been distributed by provinces as follows : — REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR 57 SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 Distribution of samples of grain sufficient for one-tenth of an acre. Name of Grain. Oats....; Spring Wheat. Barley Total P. E. I. X. S. N. B. Quebec . Ontario. Man. N.W.T. 58 41 15 151 37 21 164 91 33 655 193 127 847 72 77 112 19 27 69 12 6 114 209 288 975 996 158 87 B.C. 24 5 2 31 The following list shows the number of these larger packages of the different varieties which have been sent out : — Name of Variety. Oats. Waveriey Tartar King Improved r,igowo American Beauty . Banner Golden Beauty Siberian Gold tinder Total .. . Wheat. Preston . Percy . . . Stanley . . Bed Fife. Number of Packages. 465 411 346 288 237 128 110 94 2,079 251 122 94" 2 Name of Variety. Wheat — Con. Wellman's Fife Total Barley. Mensury Royal Total Oats -. Wheat Barley ■ Total Number of Packages. 471 199 109 308 2,079 471 308 2,858 DISTRIBUTION OF SAMTLES FROM THE BRANCH EXPERIMENTAL FARMS. Samples of three pounds each were also distributed from the branch experimental farms as follows : — Experimental Farm, Nappan, N.S. — Oats Whe.it 260 89 78 . 22 10 8 278 Experimental Farm, Brandon, Alan. — Simples of grain of all sorts Experimental Farm, Agassiz, B.C.— Oats Wheat Pease 652 1,629 555 334 745 889 Experimental Farm, Indian Head, N. W.T.— Oats 414 68 252 200 43 246 184 Wheat, 168 87 259 V\a\ Rvp <%c 914 58 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 1-2 EDWARD VII., A. 1902 These samples added to the number distributed by the Central Experimental Farm make a total of 32,344. It is gratifying to find that farmers generally 'are paying much more attention than formerly to the selection of the best and most productive sorts for seed. TESTS OF THE VITALITY OF SEED GEAIX AXD OTI-IEE SEEDS FOE 1901. The number of samples of seed grain and other seeds which were tested during the season of 1901 to ascertain the proportion which would germinate was 2,385. Many of the samples sent for test are much below the average in vitality, and for this reason do not fairly represent the vitality of grain of average quality grown in different parts of the Dominion. The main object in continuing these tests from year to year is to give farmers the opportunity of having any samples which may be of doubtful vitality, through injury during harvesting or storing, thoroughly tested so that their value for seed purposes may be known. Samples may be sent free through the mail, about one ounce is sufficient and the work is done and reported on free of charge. The vitality of samples can usually be ascertained within a fortnight after they are received. RESULTS OF TESTS OF SEEDS FOR VITALITY, 1900-1. Kind of Seed. Wheat Barley Oats Rye Peas Corn Grass Clover Flax Carrots Turnips Mangels Sugar Beets Radish Cabbage Beans Tobacco Canary Seed Cucumber T >tal number of samples tested, highest and lowest percentage. . . Number Highest of Per- Tests. centage. 900 100 0 312 WO 0 972 100 0 2 85 0 90 98 0 12 100 0 14 97 0 6 80 0 9 • 88 0 17 82 0 8 82 0 10 86 0 9 98 0 11 94 0 6 81 0 2 72 0 2 32 0 1 02 0 1 42 0 2,384 1C0 0 Lowest Per- centage. 8 11 0 4 14 2 14 6 12 11 8 60 34 46 13 0 31 62 42 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 ■0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 o 0 Per- centage of Strong Growth. 0 0 785 780 82o 41 5 P> •**■■ ~ c .-« >> >>.s a c >> . K£ a 3 e >> >,c a 3 a eS © * — 0Q X c3 © tSX 02 x ee © rt 43 02 ri ci © t«X 02 X T3.H -«S va a TJ.tS ^£ CO c *c.S .7- y: EC c -o.h *s CO Months. E*H -J 0 c ^£ DO in o s ■4 3 3 •« EE o c 0«2 a 3 02 o c ■ 3 02 43 o * s*, s 43 O _ >> 3 43 o >> p 43 o tv, S- 02 S-. s -fi . ? £ S'CO ■- - X ? ? fcos s* 3 r—— f e? *cn - 3 X . e (? © XX © o C g* © XX © c © rt"° © © o c fcCr§ eS a © XX © o © &"« 3 * 11 C to 1- (4 © © > (A — 43 ,5 * -*- x O (0 © © ,K ill C to - - © © > Pi C 43 5 £ C 43 3'ls 43 J3 O EO £ £ H <5 fe £ ^ < £ fe H G (£•5 —, ej 3:3 fa h Inches. 565 1 54 3 20 4 90 2 90 3 12 4 55 4 44 5 89 3 85 8 68 6 64 4 61 17 •78 •96 65 •62 •97 •30 •76 52 ■71 ■66 31 > fc. O < 2 ►» Miles. 215 187 178 198 157 159 118 12 0 166 18 6 19 6 237 17 6 345 24 26 22 19 18 12 14 12 16 16 20 18 4 0 ■6 ■5 •2 •8 9 •6 0 •8 0 •8 185 6-2 x > 48 64 46 38 41 39 25 27 42 36 49 59 428 53 65 46 56 39 27 31 32 40 46 56 49 3 60 45 Days. 18 14 17 18 7 9 1 2 9 13 18 20 12 .a 21 19 20 13 10 3 5 2 7 9 12 18 Days. 16 20 20 16 24 20 17 18 19 20 16 16 12 18 19 17 22 22 21 16 22 20 20 22 18 17 9 Days. 2 2 9 10 8 14 10 17 7 6 9 6 3 6 13 12 7 11 21 2 8 6 8 6 19 8 REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR 75 SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 Month*. 1900. January . . February . March.. . April May •Tune July August.. . September October . . November December Averages 1901. January . February . March April May June July August . . . September . October . . . November December . Averages <3 52 52 48 52 57 69 75 73 70 66 60 49 ■5 0 ■5 ■5 •8 0 ■o 0 0 0 •5 0 60 48 47-0 455 47 0 540 57-0 630 77-0 780 765 680 575 60 95 S a 17 7 15 32 34 40 49 51 47 37 27 20 0 0 ■5 ■5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3141 50 190 190 340 34.0 44 0 530 600 480 410 300 Id I J ■a.! 35 18 Inches. •76 •59 15 •55 04 •84 ■25 16 •66 •31 •94 94 409 324 321 4 04 236 4 97 23S 290 336 165 452 2 10 317 bT3 V — £ bflUJ-S s ** * Miles. 23 26 22 19 16 14 13 13 16 17 22 21 7 5 2 4 •2 ■2 •4 •6 ■2 4 •7 -8 189 227 219 202 194 133 148 12 9 11-3 174 184 182 S.-s X > 56 56 52 46 37 27 32 40 49 51 46 52 45 58 45 56 60 34 36 36 34 42 48 62 a "3 3 be Eh Days. Days. 20 20 19 16 6 6 3 4 7 11 24 15 12 14 9 12 4 1 1 0 1 5 4 7 173 46 14 17 16 14 19 21 23 17 17 21 11 14 17 19 12 23 24 18 24 28 26 26 25 23 22 8" Days. 5 3 8 6 7 14 18 6 8 5 8 3 9 4 11 17 10 15 19 13 7 9 0 10 PROGRESS OF THE WORK. Letters have been received from the Superintendent every time an opportunity has occurred of sending one. As a rule the only communication the island has with the outside world is when a supply boat visits them, which is seldom more than three or four times a year. We left the island on the 23rd of May, and the first letter received bears date of 17th June, written in anticipation of the visit of the steamer as it did not reach me until July 12. Mr. Boutellier says : ' I feel that I can write to you now and give you all the particulars as to the planting, as we put in the last of the trees to-day at 4.30 p.m. There are about 200 to 300 planted at east end light, about 3,000 at No. 4 station, 1,000 at No. 2, and about 5,000 at No. 3 station, the balance were planted in what I have named Gourdeau Park. I managed to plough about nineteen- twentieths of the ground in this park, and there was about three inches of the black mould all over, and I was surprised at the even thickness of it as it varied very little in that respect. The pine and maple seed I also put in there to-day in ploughed ground, and then run a harrow over it lightly. I expect to have this ground all fenced before the end of the week with the wire and posts you brought over. 1 1 may say that almost everything planted seems to have taken root, those you first put in are budding freely, although I regret to say that on Friday last we had a moderate gale which lasted about 24 hours when the wind at times exceeded 40 miles an hour. I find that on the trees with soft leaves which had just opened, they were burned off as if from frost. The pines and spruces were not affected as far as could 76 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 1-2 EDWARD VII., A. 1902 be observed. For a week after I began the park plantation it was wet and foggy every day, and on the 2nd of June we had a wreck. The Stella Maris, of Granville, France, on the N.E. bar, our life boat went out but before we could reach the vessel the crew had abandoned the wreck and taken their own boats in which they came ashore. This was a temporary set back to the planting, but I employed three of the crew to help us, or I should not have finished the planting so soon. I am glad to have got them all in before the dry weather of July. I think it has been a favourable time, as we have had frequent and some heavy rains. Tree growing grows on one, and I hope that in the near future Gourdeau Park will be one of our show places. You can understand what interest I took in it when I ploughed over ten pounds of superfluous flesh off, and had a crick in the back several nights.' SECOND REPORT. The next letter was written on July 29, 1901, but in the interval Col. W. P. Ander- son, Chief Engineer and General Supt. of Lighthouses, paid a visit to the island and took notes on the condition of the trees, and on his return to Ottawa kindly gave me an account of what he had seen and reported very favourably as to the general condi- tion of the plantations. In Mr. Boutellier's letters, he says : ' Nearly a month has elapsed since Col. Anderson's visit, and yesterday I visited the plantations. I cannot give you close detail as to the many varieties, but can give you a general idea of the whole lot, and those that call for special mention. All the pines are growing, except- ing a few. The white pine P. strobus can't stand the wind, but when sheltered grows freely. While the birches have leaved, they are feeble. Common juniper is a failure; Virginian juniper good. Maples, willows are growing and seem to do as well in the large plantations as in the nursery in the garden inclosure. Arbor vitae good. To generalize, I think the plantation at Gourdeau Park looks as well as the most practical enthusiast could expect. The small plantations at the other stations are doing about the same. ' The 50 lbs. of seed of maritime pine planted is up as thick as it can stand, and looks very fine and strong; they are standing the last few weeks well, which have been warm and dry. A few of the Manitoba maples are also up about two inches above the ground. ' In the garden plot there are some disappointments among the small lots. All the Bpecimens of the following have died: Betula alba laciniata, four lots of honeysuckle, Spiraea, Anthony Waterer ; Lilac Michael Buchner ; Retinospora filifera, Cornus sibir- ica variegata, Halesia tetraptera, Juniperus communis and Cuthbert raspberry ; of Borne others a portion have died, but samples of each are left. ' The following are doing well and making good growth : Beach plum, Pyrus prunifolia, many of the currants and gooseberries, Golden Queen raspberry, blackber- ries, strawberries, roses, Siberian crab, Acer platanoides, Ampelopsis quinquefolia, Berberis purpurea, Deutzia crenata, Bignonia grandiflora, Retinospora plumosa, Hovey's arbor-vitae, Columbian arbor-vitae, also Elwangeriana and Globosa, Amur privet, Euonymus Japonica and Lycium Europeum. Of this I feel quite satisfied that if only one variety grows and succeeds nearly all the others may be grown under the shade or protection of that one. Shelter seems to be the desideratum. One dress- ing of the mixed fertilizers has been given, but it is too soon to expect results.' THIRD LETTER. The last communication was written on November 5. The Superintendent says : ' With regard to the condition of the trees the latter part of the summer was very dry, bo much so that our vegetables are less than a half crop, so that you can see it must have been trying for the trees. REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR 77 SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 Bain fall — June, 2 -3S inches; spread well over the whole month; fogs as well. July, 2-90 inches; spread well over the whole month; fair; warmer. August 1 to 13, 3 -36 inches ; no fogs ; very warm. September 8 to 30, 1 *65 inches ; no fogs ; very warm ; dry gales. October 3 to 24, 3, -GO inches; no fogs; warm; some high winds. ' You will see from this that the trying time was from August 13 to October 3, with only 1*65 of rain, no fogs and very warm weather for Sable Island. The ther- mometer averaged high all summer. ' This drought killed most of the weaklings, and the high winds burned the leaves off the deciduous trees between September 21 and 26, during which time it blew a con- tinuous gale from S.W. around to north. After the gale subsided, the leaves were as though a fire had run close to the trees and scorched them. It was not cold, and we have had no frost yet. ' Many of these trees were very promising, and some of them are budding again Bince we have had rains. We have had a fair amount of blooms from the roses which were much appreciated. We also had a sample of the strawberries. Many of the va- rieties made good growth, but we shall be able to judge better as to their permanent hardiness here next July.' ' Now, as I think I have shown you the worst side, I will show the other. All the evergreens looked dull during the drought, but after we had a few rains they improved wonderfully. All the pines, except the white pine P. strobus are looking splendidly and have made growth. The plants from the pine seed also grew well, but lately I noticed that many were turning a bluish cast. Some spruces survive, but few look promising. Arbor-vitse suffered much from drought, but there are many promising specimens in various localities.' ' This general statement of the conditions of the trees applies to all planted in the various localities, but I think Gourdeau Park, l£ miles east of main station, is most promising, and next is 4th station plot. In all plots planted the weeds and grass has grown freely, and I am satisfied now that this is best for the trees; it gives shelter. If the ground had been kept clear the drifting sand would abrade the bark, and it is very noticeable that trees do best where sheltered by grass or wild plants. In ' Gour- deau Park ' there is shelter owing to the conformation of the ground, and the slopes have different exposures. I find where the slopes are exposed to the south-west and west winds (our prevailing winds) the trees are least promising.' The experience thus far had covers too brief a period to permit of the forming of any decided opinion as to the ultimate success of this experiment in tree planting on Sable Island. It does, however, seem to me notwithstanding the unfavourable condi- tions that the outlook is promising. The work is most interesting and the outcome of it will be carefully watched and the results obtained recorded from time to time in our reports. AGKICULTUEAL AND HORTICULTURAL DISPLAYS AT THE GLASGOW EXHIBITION. The immense resources of Canada as a food producing country and the important position which agriculture occupies here are not yet very well known in Great Britain, and one of the objects in view in the exhibit made in Glasgow was to bring before the visitors some practical evidences of these remarkable agricultural resources and of the great progress made in recent years towards their development. With the very large variety and abundance of material available at the Experimental Farms, the assistance of the Departments of Agriculture of the provinces and the kind co-operation of lead- 78 EXPEItlMEXTAL FARMS 1-2 EDWARD VII., A. 1902 ing farmers in different parts of the Dominion there was brought together in the Cana- dian pavilion at Glasgow one of the finest collections of cereals ever made. By instruction of the Hon. Minister of Agriculture, Mr. W. H. Hay, accountant of the Experimental Farms, was sent to Glasgow to put this material in place. His long experience with exhibitions in this country and the ability and artistic taste he has shown from time to time in the arrangement of the products of the Experimental Farms at exhibitions at home led to his being chosen to do similar work at the Paris Exposition in 1900. There he arranged an exhibit which was very much admired, but his work in Glasgow seems to have been an unusual triumph. THE CANADIAN AGRICULTURAL TROPHY. Mr. Hay in his report, says : ' The agricultural products were shown in the form of an immense trophy, situated in the centre of the building, which was erected in the form of an octagon with a circumference of 65 feet, and rose to a height of 35 feet. In front of four of the arches were placed open stands or shelving, and on these were displayed the threshed grain in bottles of many sizes and shapes. Each sample was carefully labelled with the name of the variety, and as far as practicable the place of origin and the yield per acre was given. The placing of the bottles in the arches per- mitted of their being seen to advantage and examined from all sides. The other four arches were left open and used as passage ways. The spaces between the arches were built up with pillars of grain forming an open square with a glass cylinder of grain in the centre. ' On the outside the lower part of the trophy was decorated with sheaves of grain and hundreds of bunches of grain and grasses. Higher up the grain was massed and arranged in gothic arches and in circles, and when completed the structure had the appearance of an immense temple of cereals. Coats of arms of the provinces were placed over each of the main arches, and some fine specimens of mounted " prairie chickens " were distributed among the sheaves of grain. ' In the centre of the trophy was a circular settee for the convenience of visitors who desired to rest, and above this was a glass case in which was shown samples of wool, flax, hops and leaf tobacco. From the ceiling of the trophy was suspended bunches of Indian corn in the ear, leaf tobacco and flax. Several large open urns with a capacity of about two bushels each were placed on convenient stands, and filled with choice red fife wheat. The desire for samples was so great that by the close of the first day the urns were nearly emptied of their contents. They were refilled, but in a day or two were almost empty again. As the supply available was not sufficient to continue this free distribution very long the urns were shortly filled with palms, shrubs and plants. A further supply of such decorative material was used with good effect at different points on the trophy. A large number of electric lights were arranged in the arches and circles so as to illuminate the whole trophy, and it was thus made to appear very attractive at night. ' A number of excellent photographs were displayed in convenient places about the trophy which interested the visitors very much. These included views of the Experi- mental Farms, fruit farms, scenes in connection with ranching, also with harvesting in Manitoba and the North-west Territories. Good views were also shown of settlers' homes, giving the appearance of the farm when first located, and again a few years later under improved conditions. GOOD RESULTS FROM THE EFFORT. ' The results of the installation of the agricultural exhibits at Glasgow were very satisfactory. No other display of the sort could be compared with it, and the material was all in place before the opening day. The agricultural trophy elicited the admira- REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR 79 SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 tion of visitors on every hand for its colossal character, and for the great variety and high quality of the products of which it was constructed. Much of the material for this magnificent display was provided from the crops of the experimental farms, the branch farms at Brandon and Indian Head being tbe largest contributors. The straw of the samples of grain sent from the North-west was wonderfully clean and bright, and commanded the admiration of many of the old country farmers.' THE CANADIAN FRUIT DISPLAY. The display of fruit was also large and varied and highly creditable. This was in charge of Mr. Robert Hamilton, of Grenville, Que. Lists of the variecies of fruits deemed most desirable for showing in Glasgow were prepared by the writer when at the Paris Exposition in conference with Mr. A. McD. Allan and Mr. R. Hamilton. These lists were forwarded to Ottawa and the fruit was secured in good season. As soon as collected it was sent at once to cold storage in Montreal and from Montreal to cold storage in Glasgow early in the spring. On arrival in Glasgow the fruit was placed in cold storage there and taken out from time to time as required. When the packages were opened, the fruits, which were chiefly apples with a few pears, were found to be in excellent condition. The total supply sent was about 400 bushel boxes and five barrels. The number of varieties of apples shown at the opening of the exhibition was over 60, and included all the leading commercial sorts grown in nearly all the apple producing districts of the Dominion. The display of Canadian fruit was well maintained to the close of the exhibition, and at that time there were over 30 varieties in a good state of preservation. In connection with the exhibit of fresh fruit there was also an extensive collection of other sorts of Canadian fruits preserved in anti- septic fluids. These also were attractive in appearance and gave to the exhibit addi- tional charms. The fruit sent from Canada was practically the only good display of the sort at Glasgow, and was a constant source of wonder to the many thousands of visitors who daily gathered around the exhibition tables. These repeated exhibits of choice fruits at the large European exhibitions are doing much to dispel the mistaken ideas held — even by educated people — regarding the climate of Canada and at the same time have brought the excellent quality of Canadian apples prominently before a large number of European consumers. The notices given by the press were most flattering, and the excellence of Canadian food products was thus brought under the notice of a large number of people in Great Britain who were unable to be present at the exhibition. SHOW OF CEREALS FROM THE HARVEST OF 1901. Later in the season another collection of representative samples of Canadian grain was forwarded from the experimental farms at Brandon, Manitoba, and Indian Head, N.W.T., all fresh from the wonderful harvest of 1901. These were kept to- gether and shown in a separate group, and assisted much in maintaining the interest in the Canadian display to the close of the exhibition. THE PAN-AMERICAN EXPOSITION AT BUFEALO, N.T. A very complete and attractive exhibit of cereals and other agricultural products was prepared by the Experimental Farms for the Exposition at Buffalo. A commo- dious building was erected there by Canada, and this exhibit filled the greater part of the central court. The experimental farms all contributed to this display, but the greater portion of the material was supplied by the Central, Brandon and Indian Head farms. Grain in the straw was a prominent feature in this exhibit, and the large well- matured heads, with long bright straw especially of that from the farms at Brandon and Indian Head was much admired. Large collections of all the best varieties put 80 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 1-2 EDWARD VII., A. 1902 up in small bunches labelled and shown under glass formed a very instructive feature in this exhibit. There were also a large number of different sorts of cereals of very fine quality shown in glass jars tastefully arranged on stands. A good display was made of pease, beans, Indian corn, millets and many other agricultural products, in- cluding a good collection of the more important grasses of Canada, the latter put up under the supervision of Dr. Jas. Fletcher, Botanist of the Experimental Farms. The walls above the glass cases of grain in straw and grasses were panelled with various designs ingeniously worked out with different varieties of agricultural crops. These had a pleasing effect and were much admired. These designs were made at Ottawa by the farm foreman, Mr. John Fixter, and worked out under his supervision. He also put up a very fine display of honey produced at the apiary at the Central Farm which attracted much attention. I had the opportunity of visiting this exposition twice during the season, and found that the Canadian exhibit attracted a large number of visitors who were unstinted in their praise of the magnificent samples and high quality of the agricultural products shown. REPORTS ON SOME JOURNEYS MADE. It has been my pleasure to attend many important gatherings of farmers, fruit- growers and others during the past year, where I have had opportunities of giving ad- dresses and of joining in the discussion of the subjects under consideration. It has been a matter of regret that the many pressing duties connected with my office have prevented me from accepting more of the kind invitations which have been received, and which under other circumstances I should gladly have responded to. VISIT TO THE EXPERIMENTAL FARM, NAPPAN, N.S. On my return journey from Sable Island I paid a visit to this farm, arriving May 24, when I carefully went over the different branches of work carried on there, and dis- cussed future plans with the Superintendent with the object of making the work of this farm increasingly useful to the farmers of the maritime provinces. I found the stock in good condition. The recent additions to the barn accommodation will enable the Superintendent to enlarge his work in this direction, and the added conveniences will permit of the work being conducted to greater advantage. The farm fields were in good order, but the season was backward and unfavour- able, and the crops were not all in. Those which had been early sown were well up and looking healthy. An additional area of land had been cleared which will be gradually brought under cultivation. The general appearance of the farm and the condition of the buildings and stock showed evidences of careful management. Some useful addi- tions have been made to the dairy herd by the recent importation of valuable animals from Great Britain. The flock of sheep has also been greatly improved during the year by disposing of the less desirable animals, and the addition of a number of pure bred Leicesters and Shropshires. In the horticultural branch additions have been made to the varieties of fruit under test, and also to the collection of ornamental trees and shrubs. The group of perennial plants has been enlarged and additional supplies of flowering bulbs provided. VISIT TO THE EXPERIMENTAL FARM AT BRANDON, MAN. In journeying west on my annual tour of inspection of the Experimental Farms, I arrived in Brandon on August 16. Harvesting had begun, and during the two or three days previous had made rapid progress, and on many farms a considerable area Canada's Agricultural Trophy at thk Glasgow Exhibition. REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR 81 SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 was in stook. The weather was very fine and almost everything looked promising. The farm presented a neat and attractive appearance with its long, straight lines of experimental plots, on many of which the crops were now ripening. The cereals all looked well, excepting some of the oats which had suffered somewhat from rust. In- dian corn was growing very fast and promised a heavy return, field roots were also progressing satisfactorily. Hay has been a very heavy crop ; the awnless brome grass and western rye grass have both done particularly well. The cattle in the pasture fields were in good condition, so also were the pigs and poultry. The buildings, imple- ments and the grounds generally all bore evidence of good care. The crops have yield- ed well as will be seen from the annual report of Mr. S. A. Bedford, the superinten- dent. Some of the neighbouring farms were visited and most of those well worked promised crops about equal to those on the Experimental Farm. Many of the trees in the Pyrus orchard had bloomed abundantly, but had been so injured by frost in June that there was very little crop. The plums had escaped in- jury from frost and the trees were well laden with fruit. Among these were a large number of new seedlings, none of which were ripe at that time, but on my return from the Pacific coast on the 12th September when I paid a second visit to Brandon, many of these varieties were ripe and proved of good quality. The small fruit plantations, the trees and shrubs in the arboretum and the hedges had all made satisfactory growth. The Dakota Cotton Wood Populus deltoidea which has until recently been a very pro- mising tree on account of its thrifty and rapid growth has for two or three years past been seriously affected by a yellow rust on the leaves which has destroyed the foliage and so weakened the trees that many of them have been killed outright. This is a serious trouble which seems to be spreading fast in Manitoba, and it is doubtful if it is wise to plant this cottonwood to any great extent as a timber tree on account of its liability to this disease. The Russian poplars so far have been free from this trouble. Samples of the diseased leaves were forwarded to Dr. Jas. Fletcher, Botanist of the Experimental Farms, and in his portion of this report particulars will be found of some of the characteristics of this troublesome growth. The flower beds about the buildings were full of bloom, and were much admired by visitors of which there were a goodly number every day. Experimental farm, indian head, n.w.t. This farm was reached on August 19, when a careful examination was made of the crops, not only on the Experimental Farm, but on other farms in the district. Some of the grain had been cut, but the harvest was two or three days later than in Manitoba, and the yields were much heavier. The heads on some of the oat fields were bo packed as to look from a little distance almost like a solid mass of grain. It was then estimated that some of the fields would give 100 bushels per acre. Wheat also has given larger crops than was expected. A perusal of the^returns given by Mr. A. Mac- kay, superintendent, in his annual report appended, show most remarkable and' unprecedented yields, and the neighbouring farmers have in many instances grown crops as large as those on the Experimental Farm. The hay crop has been unusually large. Indian corn gave very heavy returns, mangels and turnips also did well. The farm was found in its usual excellent condition, and reflected credit on the manager. The crop of fruits was also heavy. A considerable number of the Siberian crabs, Pyrus baccata bore such abundant crops that the trees had to be propped up to prevent them from breaking. These fruit trees which have proven perfectly hardy wherever tested in the North-west bear fruits of varying size, on some trees they are very small, on others they are of good size, but they all make excellent jelly if properly treated. 16—6 12 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 1-2 EDWARD VII., A. 1902 The Making of Jelly from the fruit of Pyrus baccata. Some of the varieties are astringent, and many experiments have been tried in Ottawa to ascertain the best method of treating these fruits to obtain jelly of high quality and free from astringency. These experiments were conducted by Dr.- C. E. Saunders, who has prepared the following notes : — ' In order to avoid unpleasant as- tringency in the jelly the following directions should be carefully carried out. Let the fruit be kept for some time after picking until it is thoroughly ripened. Take one quart of fruit, add about three pints of water, boil for about half an hour crushing the fruit when soft. Strain, first through a cullender and then once (or twice if a very clear product is desired) through a cloth. Heat the liquid to boiling ; add sugar and boil until it will set. This should take about ten minutes. The jelly should not be made very stiff. The amount of sugar to be added depends on whether a sweet or an acid jelly is desired. For a quart of fruit the quantity of granulated white sugar may vary from about a pound to two pounds. In the first case about one and one-quarter pints of jelly should be obtained, and in the second case a little more than a quart. The jelly from Pyrus baccata so made should be of a brilliant red col- our and of high quality.' A considerable number of these trees have been sent to settlers in different parts ox the North-west during the past five years, and in some instances have now reached a bearing age. A Disease Affecting Manitoba Maple Seed. While visiting this farm my attention was called to a disease which has affected the crop of Manitoba maple seed this year, and which has practically destroyed it all through the Indian Head district and as far west as Pense. This disease affects, first, the ends of the wings of the seeds which dry up prematurely, and the disease extends from there to the seed itself. As the disease advances dark spots appear which show through on the seeds, and when these are torn open the interior is found to be dark coloured and empty. A sample of this diseased seed was sent to Dr. Jas. Fletcher, and in his report appended fuller reference is made regarding this new pest. The plum trees at this farm also gave an abundant crop, and some of the varieties ripened well and were of good quality. The season was remarkable for the rapid growth of all sorts of forest and ornamental trees and shrubs. Flowers also did remark- ably well. VISIT TO REGIXA AND PENSE. A day was spent in examining the crops from Regina to Pense. The grain was found to be very heavy, and although the wheat was a little later in ripening than it was at Indian Head it matured well and was safely harvested before frost came. At Pense I visited the farm of Messrs. Spring-Rice, where I found very much to inter- est me. The crops were very fine and gave evidence of good farming, and the blocks of trees and shrubs were well cared for and making very excellent growth. A large pro- portion of these have been grown from young plants and seeds received from the ex- perimental farms. Many interesting flowering shrubs and plants were also found here all in a thriving condition. VISIT TO SOUTHERN ALBERTA. From Medicine Hat a trip was made to Lethbridge and from there south along the line of the large irrigation canal recently constructed by th# Canadian North-west Irrigation Company, known as the Gait Irrigation Canal, which draws water from an inexhaustible supply in lakes fed by the melted snows of the Rocky Mountains from REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR 83 SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 which flows the St. Mary's river. The length of the main canal is 61 miles, of the Lethbridge branch 32 miles, and of the Stirling branch 22 miles, making the entire length of this canal system, 115 miles. Water is now available for the irrigation of about 200,000 acres of land lying between the intake on the St. Mary's river — about five miles from the Montana boundary — to the town of Lethbridge. This great engi- neering work is likely to transform this section of country from one of comparative barrenness (for lack of necessary moisture) to one of great fertility. Through the kindness of Mr. A. T. Gait, and of the manager of the Irrigation Works, Mr. C. A. Magrath, I was given facilities for seeing this remarkable work. Nine years ago I drove across a portion of this country it was then almost uninhabited, a few bands of cattle only, then ranged the plains, and the only settlement of any size was Cardston. This was a Mormon settlement, numbering then about 400. Since that time the population of the district has increased to fully 4,000 people, and the increase has been most striking during the past two years. About Lethbridge the settlement is of the usual character, and consists of a mixture of nationalities, but that lying south-east of what are known as' the ' Rolling Hills ' and extending to the Montana boundary is almost entirely Mormon. GROWTH OF THE MORMON SETTLEMENT. In addition to the thriving town of Cardston, which now has a population of 1,200, there are two other rapidly growing towns, Magrath and Stirling, both of which were started in 1899. Magrath has now about GOO people, and Stirling 550. At each of these new settlements there were about 2,000 acres under crop this year. At each place eight sections of land containing in all 5,120 acres, are inclosed with a common fence and within this all the crops of the community are protected from the inroads cf stock. The houses of the settlers are well built, most of them being neat and com- fortable with pleasant surroundings. The streets are wide, and each house has about an acre of land which in most instances is well cultivated with garden vegetables, flowers and small fruits. Evidences of industry and frugality were everywhere seen. The vice of drunkenness is scarcely known among the Mormons, a very large propor- tion of them being total abstainers. Further, a considerable number of them drink neither tea nor coffee, using only milk or water as they believe this practice to be healthier and find it also more economical. Polygamy which is usually associated with Mormonism in the minds of most peo- ple, seems to be practically dead. It is said to be no longer a doctrine of the church, and as far as could be learned there was not the slightest evidence of such practice existing anywhere among the Mormons in Canada. They seem to be a law-abiding and industrious community, and their methods of co-operation are very helpful to the rapid progress of their settlements and the contentment of their people. In each set- tlement the head of each family is visited once a month by two of the leading men of the community, the wife also being visited at similar intervals by two of the leading women. During these friendly visits inquiries are made as to the health of the family and as to whether its supplies of food are sufficient, and when cases of suffering or want are discovered efforts are at once made to relieve them. One of the funds available in the community for relief purposes is known as the • Fast Fund.' Every family is said to have a fast day once a month, and on that day only one meal is eaten. The value of the other two meals is estimated and an equi- valent sum given to the fast fund. This practice, it is alleged, does the fasters no harm, and provides a fund to which all contribute from which supplies can be drawn for the relief of the needy. By such methods much is done to bind each family to the community by bonds of sympathy and common interest. 10— CJ 84 EXPERIUEXTAL FARMS 1-2 EDWARD VII., A. 1902 A Proposed Beet Sugar Factory for Southern Alberta. One of the wealthy men of Utah, Mr. Jesse Knight, who is reputed to have large revenues from mines in that state, takes a very active interest in the Mormon settle- ments of Alberta. lie has recently purchased a large cattle ranch not far from the irrigated districts, of 100,000 acres for one of his sons, stocking it with 5,000 head of cattle, at a total cost of about $450,000. He has also bought another large tract of land on which to found a new town and settlement, adjacent to the irrigation canal, to be named after his other son, Raymond, where Mr. Knight is about to establish a large beet sugar factory. A party of surveyors were working on the open prairie lay- ing out this town site at the time of my visit, contracts had been made for the plough- ing of 3,000 acres of land to be completed before the end of the season, and a number of four-horse teams were then busily engaged in this work. Some of the pioneer set- tlers for this new town had already arrived, and in the meantime were living in tents. The 3,000 acres then being ploughed will be cropped with grain in 1902, and the follow- ing year will be in condition for the growing of sugar beets. Each farmer coming into the settlement will have eighty acres of land and will contract in his deed of pur- chase to grow not less than ten acres of sugar beets each year, and in this way an abundant supply of beets will be assured. Mr. Knight is an ardent prohibitionist, and is having a clause put in each of his deeds of sale providing that in case of the estab- lishment at any time of any saloon or drinking place on any part of this property, such property shall be forfeited and revert to the original owner. It is expected that the beet sugar factory will be completed during the year 1902, and be ready to utilize the crop of 1903. A DRIVE OVER THE FOOTHILLS OF THE ROCKIES. Leaving Cardston a drive of fifty miles was taken over the rolling plains, which form the base of the foot-hill country, crossing the Blood Reserve and ending at the town of Pincher, which is situated on the line of railway through the Crow's Nest Pass. Many settlers are coming into this district, and the crops throughout this part of the country have been very encouraging. Notwithstanding its high elevation of from 3,000 to 3,500 feet the climate is such that fall wheat is grown in many localities quite successfully. This now forms an important crop, both at Cardston and Pincher, many of the farmers reaping from 30 to 40 bushels per acre. The variety chiefly grown at Cardston is a beardless red-chaff wheat known as Odessa ; that grown at Pincher is a bearded wheat the name of which has been lost. In all these settlements the people are in the midst of a good ranching country where cattle live in the open during the winter and most of the residents own more or less stock. THE GREAT COAL DISTRICTS. After going through the Crow's Nest Pass a day was spent at Fernie, the centre of the great coal producing district, visiting the mines. The output of the mine* there at that time was about 1,200 tons per day. A large proportion of this coal is made into coke which is vised for the smelting of ores in the mining districts. Three hundred coke ovens were in operation at Fernie, and one hundred more were being built. At St. Michael, 25 miles east of Fernie ; two hundred coke ovens were also in course of erec- tion, and some fine seams of coal are being opened there. The supplies of coal in this part of the Dominion are so vast as to be practically inexhaustible. REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR 85 SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 VISIT TO THE EXPERIMENTAL FARM AT AGASSIZ, B.C. Pursuing my journey westward I reached Agassiz, B.C., early in September. I found the crops of grain at the Experimental Farm very good. Wheat, barley and oats have all yielded well. The hay crop had been unusually heavy, and Indian corn, field roots and potatoes were very promising. Particulars of all these will be found in the report of the superintendent, Mr. Thomas A. Sharpe. The crops on the Experi- mental Earm may be taken as a fair index as to those on farms generally in the coast climate. The fruit crop in the Eraser river valley in which the Experimental Farm is lo- cated, was disappointing. Cold and wet weather in the spring prevented much of the fruit from setting, so that there was comparatively few apples and pears. Later in the season rot prevailed in the plums to such an extent that a considerable proportion of this crop was destroyed. The fruit trees in the more newly planted orchards were making satisfactory progress. The trees in the nut orchard had made good growth, and considering their age were bearing well. The forest and ornamental trees were making rapid growth, and many of the shrubs and flowers blooming well. An addi- tional area of land has been cleared to provide for increased pasturage and an enlarge- ment of the orchards and to give additional areas for field crops in the near future. The stock including the pure bred short-horns recently sent from Ontario were doing well, and the swine, sheep and fowls were all making satisfactory progress. In the interior of British Columbia the fruit crop was said to be good and of ex- cellent quality, but the limited time at my disposal prevented me from visiting any of these districts this year. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS. It gives me much pleasure to acknowledge gratefully my obligations to those who have rendered me special services. To the United States Department of Agriculture to whom I am indebted for a number of different sorts of cereals and other farm crops, to Dr. C. Doxrud, of the Technical School, of Christiania, Norway, for samples of cer- i als and other agricultural products grown in Norway. To the Director of the Royal Gardens, Kew, England, for seeds of trees, shrubs and plants from many countries, and to the Director of the Arnold Arboretum, Jamaica Plains, Mass., for seeds of promis- ing shrubs. Also to Prof. John Macoun, Naturalist of the Geological and Natural History Survey, and Mr. J. M. Macoun, assistant naturalist, for seeds of interesting Canadian plants. Acknowledgments are also due to the officers at the Central and Branch Experi- mental Farms, for faithful services rendered and for their earnest co-operation in carrying out the many lines of work planned. My hearty thanks are also due to those members of the staff who have rendered me help in those branches of the work over which I have had personal charge ; to the hor- ticulturist, Mr. W. T. Macoun, who has supervised the labour given to the trees and shrubs, and to the lawns on the experimental grounds; to the farm foreman, Mr. John Fixter, who has carefully watched over the different branches of the work, has taken special charge of the experiments with fertilizers and made the notes thereon, he has also helped me much by many practical suggestions; to Mr. George Fixter, who has managed the work connected with the experimental plots of cereals, fodder crops and field roots, and has taken records of the growth and yield of all these, and has thus aided me much in furnishing material for the preparation of this report, to him I am also indebted for the careful management of the many details connected with the dis- 86 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 1-2 EDWARD VII., A. 1902 tribution of samples of seed grain, and to Mr. Wm, Ellis, who has done careful work in testing the vitality of seeds, in the management of the greenhouse plants, in the propagation of many useful and ornamental species and in the taking of the meteoro- logical records. I desire also to acknowledge the faithful services of my secretary, Mr. Malcolm O'Hanley, to whose energy and industry I owe much of the success which has attended my general work. The employees also of all the farms in every branch of work are deserving of mention since they have shown commendable care and have faithfully discharged their respective duties. WM. SAUNDERS, Director Experimental Farms. 1-2 EDWARD VII. SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 A. 1902 REPORT OF THE HORTICULTURIST. (W. T. Macoun.) Wm. Saunders, Esq., LL.D., Director Dominion Experimental Earms, Ottawa. Sir, — I have the honour to submit, herewith, the fifteenth annual report of this division. During the past year many experiments were made with trees, shrubs, herbaceous plants, fruits, and vegetables, and a large amount of useful data was ob- tained, but owing to the necessarily limited space available, only that which it seems most desirable to publish is given. Character of Season. — Last winter was very unlike the previous one, for, while the weather during the winter of 1899-1900 was very changeable, that of 1900-1 was quite the contrary, and was noted for its long spells of cold weather. The winter set in very early, as snow fell on November 14, and remained. On account of this early fall of snow, and more following before very cold weather, the ground was protected from frost, and there was practically no frost in the ground all winter, a very un- usual occurrence at Ottawa. December was a cold month, the temperature falling to 18-8° E. below zero on the 10th. There was a considerable quantity of snow, and by Christmas there were fully 18 inches on the ground. During the month of January there was very little mild weather, and no real thaw. The lowest temperature was on the 20th, when it was 25-5° F. below zero, which was the coldest day of the winter. During that month the snow increased in depth, and by the end of the month there were fully three feet on the ground. February was a very cold month, and the temperature did not rise above the freezing point from January 22 to March 2. While there were no heavy falls of snow in February, that which came remained. The snow did not apparently begin to get less until about the middle of March, and then it went slowly, as the weather was not warm, and it was very cloudy from March 21 to April 10. After April 1, the wea- ther became considerably milder, and when it became bright on April 10, the snow was all gone except in the drifts. The heavy covering of snow all winter and the absence of frost in the ground afforded good conditions for the wintering of herba- ceous plants, and such things came through well, the strawberries, especially, being in fine condition. There was, however, an unusual injury in the nursery among the young apple trees, as the bark of many of them was badly split within a foot of the ground. The trees grew until very late last autumn and the snow fell early on the unfrozen ground when the young trees were well charged with sap. The cause of the splitting was probably due to the fact that the snow prevented the frost from reaching the lower part of the trunk until very cold weather came, and then the severe frost caused the bark to burst. Many ornamental trees and shrubs which have been quite hardy or nearly so in the past had a large amount of wood killed by winter. Fruit trees also suffered in their tops much more than usual, while raspberry canes were badly injured, and in consequence the crop was practically a failure in this district. As there was no frost in the ground, it was only necessary to wait until the snow disappeared and the soil dried sufficiently to begin outside work. The first ploughing of the season was done in the orchard on April 12, and hand labour on April 8. The spring continued very favourable for work, and there was scarcely any frost 87 88 EXPElUilEXTAL FARMS 1-2 EDWARD VII., A. 1902 after the early part of April. Tlie warmest day in April was on the 2Sth, when the temperature was 79 'S° F. Everything was well advanced by the middle of May, and at that time the season was fully a week earlier than in 1900. The warmest day of the month was on the 8th, when the temperature rose to 81*2° F. There had been very little rain all spring, but beginning with May 10, there were few days on which it did not rain until after June 3. This long period of rainy weather had a bad effect on the setting of fruit, as the conditions for the fertilization of the flowers were very unfavourable. As a result, the crop of apples, plunxs, and grapes was much lighter than it would probably have been otherwise. June was a warm month all the way through, and beginning with the 21th it was hot, the temperature rising to 96 r8° F. on the 28th. This hot weather continued till July 2, when the heat moderated, but from July 12 to IS, there was another hot spell, the highest temperature of the year being recorded on the 16th, when it rose to 99° F. This hot weather lessened the strawberry crop considerably, and was very injurious to potatoes, except where there was thorough cultivation. August was also a warm month, but not as warm as July. September was mild to warm. The first frost, which was a very light one, occurred on the 20th, when the melon vines were injured, but tomatoes were not hurt. There was a very high wind on the 28th which blew off a great quantity of apples and blew down several trees. The weather was fine and mild in October and very favourable for. fall work. The temperature did not fall belpw 30° F. until the 28th, when it went down to 27° F., killing the foliage of the grape vines. Up to this time such tender plants as Cannas had not been killed, and in sheltered places tomato vines were still green. The early part of November wars also very favourable for outside work. On the 13th there was a heavy rain, which, freezing on the trees, weighed down the branches very much and many were broken, the cutdeaved birches suffering most of all. Four inches of snow fell on the 14th and remained, and winter may be said to have set in on that date. Fruit Crop. — The season of 1901 was not, on the whole, a favourable one for fruit. Owing to very rainy weather during the blossoming season the apples, plums, and grapes did not set their fruit as well as usual, but there was not a good show of bloom on the apple trees from the outset, and the crop of this fruit was small, but of good quality. There was a fair crop of American plums, but the flower buds on the European varieties were winter killed, and hence there was no fruit from them. The pears had been so badly blighted in 1900 that there were few of the trees in con- dition to bear fruit, and hence there was practically none of that fruit. The flower buds of the cherries were killed by winter, and there was no crop. The raspberry crop throughout the Ottawa district was practically a failure, the canes having been badly injured by winter and in many cases killed outright. Although bent down at the experimental farm, for greater protection, they suffered badly, and there was a very light crop of this fruit. Strawberries came through the winter well and prom- ised a very heavy crop, but hot, dry weather came during the ripening season which lessened it considerably, though the crop on the whole was good. The grapes ripened well, but owing to poor fertilization of the flowers the crop was light. The potato crop, which was light in the Ottawa district, was good at the Farm. Tomatoes ripened well and there was a large crop this year. This was a favour- able season also for tobacco, the yield being good, and most varieties were well ma- tured. PROGRESS OF THE WORK. The work of the Horticultural Division continued to progress favourably this season, and most of the experiments undertaken in former years were carried on again. REPORT OF TRE HORTICULTURIST 89 SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 During last winter a bulletin of 74 pages on Apple Culture was prepared by the Horticulturist and published in April, 1901. There has been a great demand for this bulletin, and it is hoped that it will prove useful to Canadian fruit-growers. The top grafting 4 the rrore tender varieties of apples was continued again this year, though many of those grafted in the past suffered from blight in 1900 and were injured by frost last winter. There is still good evidence, however, of the value of top grafting some kinds which would not otherwise succeed here. A seedling apple orchard was begun this season, and 491 trees planted, most of which had been grown from seed of apples ripened here. It is hoped that from these seedlings a productive, hardy, late-keeping dessert apple of good quality will be obtained, as such a variety is much needed here. Many new varieties of apples were obtained from various sources, some of which were root grafted and others top grafted. The number of varieties in the orchard was also increased by young trees from the nursery. The American plums are proving very useful in this district, and there is now a large collection of named varieties in the orchard. As they fruit, these are de- scribed and those found the most satisfactory recommended for planting. A large number of seedlings have been raised from some of the best sorts, and as they fruit they too are tested and described, and if found to be of inferior merit, discarded. A few sorts of great promise have already been obtained. A new currant plantation was made last spring containing 111 varieties ; a straw- berry plantation containing 218 varieties, and this autumn a raspberry plantation was made of G3 varieties. Many experiments with vegetables were conducted this year, and the average re- sults of some which have been carried on for five and six years obtained, which are very valuable as a guide to farmers and market gardeners. The List of Best Vege- tables for Farmers, published in this report, gives in a concise form the conclusions reached regarding the merits of the different sorts. Experiments in testing different varieties of tobacco were continued, and the crop was harvested in good condition and cured in the tobacco house. This was a favourable year for tobacco, it having ripened and cured well. Measurements were again taken in the forest belts of the annual growth in height and circumference of the different kinds of timber trees, and new plantations were made where other trees had not succeeded. The Arboretum never looked better than it did this year. Large additions were made to the collection of herbaceous perennials, and some new sorts of trees and shrubs were planted. Five hundred and twenty-five species and varieties were ob- tained last spring and planted in nursery rows and will be put in their permanent positions next spring. Notes were made again this year on the hardiness and growth of the different species and varieties. As in the past, the correspondence has occupied considerable time, but this is one of the best means of conveying information obtained from the experiments conducted here direct to those who are most anxious to get it. The experiments made with a lime mixture for the destruction of the oyster- shell bark-louse were continued last winter, and additional experience gained as to the value of this remedy. Bordeaux mixture and Paris green were used very faithfully in spraying for fungous diseases and biting insects, and the good results from these applications were, as a rule, very apparent. Other mixtures and solutions were used in smaller quantities. Meetings attended and Places visited. — I had the pleasure of attending eight meetings during the past year, and while there endeavoured to be of as much service as possible to the farmers and fruit-growers with whom I came in contact. At the meeting of the Nova Scotia Fruit Growers' Association, held at Wolf- ville, N.S., on January 28, 29 and 30, I gave an address on ' The Development of 90 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 1-2 EDWAhD VII., £. 1902 Spraying in Canada,' and at the meetings of the Farmers' Associations, at Kentville, N.S., an address on ' Potato Culture.' From Nova Scotia, I went to Prince Edward Island, attending a special meeting of fruit-growers at Cardigan on February 5, and the meeting of the Farmers' Association at Middleton on the 8th. The meeting of the Prince Edward Island Fruit Growers' Association was held at Charlottetown on February 6 and 7, at which I gave an address on ' Apple Growing.' It was also my pleasure to attend the summer meeting of the Quebec Pomological Society, held at Riviere du Loup, Que., on August 20 and 21, where I gave a lecture on ' Hardy Fruits.' On September 12 and 13, I was present at the meeting of the American Pomological Society at Buffalo, N.Y., and delivered an address on ' Orchard Renova- tion ' ; and at the meeting of the Ontario Fruit Growers' Association, held at Co- bourg, Ont., on December 4, 5, and 6, I gave a talk on ' The American Plum.' While at Buffalo, in September, I visited the Pan-American Exhibition and stud- ied the fruit in the large collections there, and during the same absence from home I visited the Agricultural Experiment- Station, at Geneva, N.Y., and the Experiment Station at Cornell University, Ithaca, N.Y., in order to learn something of the work being done at these stations and something which would be helpful in my work at Ottawa. Returning homewards, I visited several fruit farms in the Grimsby dis- trict and examined the trees and crops there. During the autumn, I also visited the orchards and nursery of the Trappist Fathers at Oka, P.Q., and found much of inter- est there. At the same time I visited the orchards of Mr. R. W. Shepherd, Como, P.Q., where there was much to be seen that will be useful to me. Acknowledgments. — I have much pleasure in acknowledging, and am very grate- ful for, the many kindnesses shown me by fruit-growers both in Canada and the United States. Information which it was necessary to have, in order to do my work with greater accuracy, has been freely given by many fellow-workers, and I fully appreciate the value of such help. To the fruit-growers of Ontario and Quebec, who assisted me in getting the necessary data to compile the district apple lists for my bulletin on Apple Culture, I am particularly grateful, as the ready response to my inquiries made it possible to make the lists much more accurate than they would have been otherwise. I again take the opportunity of acknowledging the services of Mr. J. F. Watson, secretary to the Horticultural division, whose knowledge of the work relieves me of much office work which he is thus able to do himself. Mr. H. Holz, the foreman, con- tinues to suparintend the outside work satisfactorily, and I am pleased to note the great interest he takes in it. Donations. — The following donations were received during the year, and thia opportunity is taken to gratefully acknowledge the same : — DONATIONS. Sender. Arboretum, Arnold, Jamaica Plain, Mass., U.S. Beall, Thos., Lindsay, Ont Beach, Prof. S. A., Geneva, N.Y Botanic Garden, Durban, South Africa Botanic Garden, Madras, India Donations. Seeds. Scions of late red apple. Grape cuttings. Seeds. Seeds. Brodie, R., Montreal, P.Q Scions of a red Fameuse apple. Cockburn, J. C, Gravenhurst, Ont. Dempsey, W. H., Trenton, Ont DeWolfe, M. G., Kentville, N.S Dupuis, Aug., Village des Aulnaies, Que. Fonthill Nurseries, Fonthill, Ont Guay, A. E., Ville Marie, Que Hamilton, Robert, Grenville, Que Hodgins, A. S., Osnabruck Centre, Ont. Scions of Nora, Minto, and Sally Brown apples. Samples of 44 varieties of fruit. Apple scions. Bulbs. Tree and scions of Amaryllis plum, and seed- ling apple scions. Scions of 8 Japanese plums. Currant cuttings. Childs and Blair crab apple scion3. Apple scions. REPORT OF THE HORTICULTURIST SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 donations — Concluded. 91 Sender. Hutt, Prof. II. L., O.A.C., Guelph, Ont Iowa Horticultural Society, Davenport, la Jack, N. E., Chateauguay Basin, Que Kerr, \V. J., Renfrew, Ont Knox, A., Chesterfield, Ont Lalonde, A., Isle Perrot, Que Lathe, H., Lacolle, Que Leonard, E., Cobourg, Ont Macoun, J. M., Geological Survey, Ottawa Matheson, Miss Joan, Perth, Ont McFarland, F. H., Hyde PaiK, Vt., U.S Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, England Sears, F. W., Snow View Garden, via Nalnl Tal, N.W.P., India Shepherd, R. W., Como, Que Stubbert, G. E., Little Pond, C.B., N.S Terrill, A. M., Picton, Ont Tuttle, A, G., Baraboo, Wis., U.S Van Fleet, Dr. W., Rural New Yorker, N. York. Walker, Jos., Strathroy, Ont Wallenshlager, C, New Edinburgh, Ont Wilkins, O. F., Bridgebury, Ont Young, Charles, Richard's Landing, Ont Donations. 24 plants of Irene and Jucunda strawberries. Plum scions. Scions of Cox's Orange Pippin apple. 50 plants Shaffer raspberry. Apple scions. Scions of unknown apple. Apple scions. Scions of unknown apple. Seeds. Scions of Rufus apple. Scions of Roseau, McLure Pippin, Russian, Baldwin, Aurora, and Corliss Red apples. Collection of seeds. 100 nuts of Juglans rcgia. Scions of Early Joe and La Rochelle apples. Apple scions. Seeds of Terrill's Early tomato. Scions of Repka Malenka apple. Rosa tcichuriana hybrid. Scions of unknown apple. Scions of seedling apple. Seedling grape cuttings. Scions of seedling apple. I have the honour to be, sir, Your obedient servant, W. T. MACOUN, Horticulturist. APPLES. While there was practically no root-killing in the apple orchard last winter, trees died on account of the severe weather, evidently being weakened by blight in 1900. There was more injury to the tops of the trees than there has been for some years, probably due to long continued cold, dry weather, which caused more evapora- tion of moisture than the trees could stand. Two trees each of Ben Davis and Stark, the former planted in 1890, and the latter in 1S91, were killed outright, and two trees of Gano, planted in 1891, were much weakened. These are given as examples of comparatively hardy varieties which were affected by last winter, During the summer 17 trees were blown down and in nearly every case the trunk was rotten almost entirely through. These trees had all been planted since 1887. Every year a number of trees go in this way, and it is diffi- cult to tell what is the real cause, as it is not restricted to the tenderer varieties, but even the so-called iron clads rot in this way. The orchard has suffered much in past years from blight and root-killing and many trees are affected with the so- called black heart, and all these combined weaken them very much. The trees on the whole, however, look healthy and have been improving in this respect from year to year. The Russian orchard, comprised mostly of varieties of Russian origin, looks particularly well, the trees being healthier than in the standard orchard. 92 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 1-2 EDWARD VII., A. 1902 The crop of apples was light this year. There was not a good show of bloom to begin with and the wet weather which occurred during the blossoming season was very unfavourable to the pollination of the flowers, the result being that comparatively few apples set. Varieties which had good crops on some trees were McMahon White, Wealthy, Patten's Greening, Duchess of Oldenburg, Haas, Cross, Longfield, and Salome. There was little blight in the orchard this year, and the season was a favourable one for growth. The cover crop in a large part of the standard orchard was ploughed under on April 13, and after cultivating several times to kill sod, the ground was re- sown with common red clover at the rate of 12 lbs. per acre on June 4, which re- sulted in a good stand. The cover crop in all the Kussian orchard was ploughed under on April 23, and the soil kept cultivated until July 29, when it was re-sown with clover, and there was a fine cover crop by autumn. In other parts of the stand- ard orchard the clover was cut at intervals and allowed to rot, as has been the custom in previous years. In the spring, 86 trees were planted in the apple orchards. Of these, 69 were to fill vacancies, and 19 were planted in an additional row which was made to the Rus- sian orchard. The vacancies were caused by death and by the rooting up of trees of inferior varieties. The Tetofsky has not been found a profitable apple here, al- though the tree is very hardy. It is inclined to overbear, and the fruit is small and drops badly. In 1888, there were 40 trees planted of this variety, 27 of which were living last spring, and as the space was required for the testing of other kinds, 13 of these were removed. During the past season the early varieties were sprayed three times, and the late varieties four times with Bordeaux mixture and Paris green, and the fruit was practically free from spot, though the Codling Moth did some injury. Last autumn 47 trees, which were more or less affected by the Oyster-shell Bark-louse, were sprayed with the lime mixture, and the results were very satisfactory, there being few scales left on the trees. The trunks of the trees and large branches were washed with the alkaline wash for the prevention of borers. This wash is made by reducing soft soap to the consistency of thick paint by the addition of a strong solution of washing soda in water, and is applied with a brush. Only two borers were found in about 1,200 trees, showing that the orchards are practically free from this insect. Last winter was a very hard one on the young top grafted trees and some which had come through two winters without injury were killed outright. The blight of 1900 also had done much injury, both to the stocks and grafts, as a result there was a great set-back to this work. However, some varieties are doing well. The work was continued last spring and additional trees were grafted and others finished which had been begun in previous years. SEEDLING APPLE ORCHARD. Most of the named varieties of apples growing in America to-day were origin- ated as seedlings. Our forefathers brought apple seeds with them from the old land arid sowed them in this country. The young trees raised from these grew up and bore fruit, and occasionally a variety of merit would thus be produced, and then propa- gated. In later times chance seedlings grew up in the fence corners and other waste place?, and these also bore fruit and added their quota of good sorts. From trees like these have originated such fine varieties as Northern Spy, Baldwin, Fameuse, Mcin- tosh Bed, and many others. Of late years more systematic efforts have been made to originate new varieties from seed. But the varieties of really useful apples which have originated in this way have been very few indeed. At the Central Experimental Farm at Ottawa, considerable work has been done in raising seedling apples, especially from seed of Russian varieties, but no kinds of great merit have yet been produced. REPORT OF TEE HORTICULTURIST 93 SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 In the year 1890, an orchard wa3 planted comprising about 3,000 trees grown from seed imported from E. Goegginger, Riga, Russia. The seed from which these were grown was said to have been taken from apples grown north of Riga, Russia. Of these there are now 898 remaining, the rest having been killed by blight or winter or removed on account of weak growth or inferior quality. These began to fruit in 1897, when about 50 trees bore. In 1898 there were 40 trees which fruited ; in 1899 there were 43 ; in 1900 there were 26, and in 1901 there were 18, making a total of 177 trees which have borne fruit. None of these apples are sufficiently promising to be worthy of special mention, but a few of them are as good as the majority of the named Russian varieties. Nearly all of them are summer apples. As the Russian seedling trees had not produced any varieties of great merit (unless it be found that they are hardier than other kinds) it was decided to grow a large number of seedlings from the best varieties which had fruited at Ottawa, in order to try and obtain something good from them. Accordingly, seeds were sown in 1898, 1899 and 1900, and a large number of seedling apple trees raised from them, and this year 494 were planted out in the pear orchard, places being left for the per- manent pear trees. The trees were planted 10 by 10 feet apart in most cases. The soil was kept thoroughly cultivated, and the young trees made thrifty growth. The trees were made up of the following : — 79 seedlings of Mcintosh Red, 65 Lawver, 63 Shiawassee Beauty, 53 Wealthy, 53 Swayzie Pomme Grise, 39 Scott's Winter, 39 Winter St. Lawrence, 26 Northern Spy, 25 American Golden Russet, 10 St. Lawrence, 9 Edgehill, 6 Gano, 5 Fameuse, 3 Salome, 1 Ribston Pippin, 1 Pewaukee, 17 miscellan- eous (fruit not ripened here) ; total, 494. In addition to these, the following hybrids, originated by Prof. John Craig, were planted : — 5 Pyrus baccata, female, with Duchess of Oldenburg, male ; 8 Pyrus bac- cata, female, with Tetofsky, male ; 21 Pyrus baccata, female, with Martha, male ; a total of 34 trees. SEEDLING APPLES. Notwithstanding the poor crop of fruit this year, a number of seedlings were sent in for examination and description, among which were several of merit. It is always a pleasure to examine these fruits, and we trust that every year those who have new varieties will send them to the Horticulturist that he may compare them with other varieties. Full descriptions are published of the most promising of those which were re- ceived : — No. 203. — R. Hamilton, Grenville, Quebec. Apple seedling. — Size, medium to below, roundish, yellow, splashed and washed with deep red ; cavity deep, medium width ; basin deep, medium width, wrinkled ; stem short, slender ; calyx closed ; dots obscure ; skin thin but tough ; core, small ; flesh, white, crisp, very tender, juicy, tinged with red to core ; sub-acid, with a pleasant but peculiar flavour ; quality, good to very good ; season, December, January. Evidently a Fameuse seedling. Tested January 23, 1901. No. 204. — Joshua Bull, East Farnham, Quebec. Apple seedling. — Above medium size, roundish to oblate, pale greenish yellow, splashed and washed with carmine ; cavity, medium depth, open ; basin, deep, medium width, wrinkled ; stem, medium length, slender ; calyx, closed ; dots, obscure ; skin, thin, moderately tender ; core, small ; flesh, white, tinged with red, tender, juicy ; mild sub-acid, with a pleasant flavour ; quality, good ; season, early October. Said to be a seedling raised by Joshua Bull, East Farnham, Que. Might prove useful if a good cropper. Tested October 15, 1901. No. 205. — J. P. Jones, Echo Vale, Que. Apple seedling. — Large, roundish coni- cal, pale greenish yellow, splashed and washed with carmine ; cavity, deep, medium 94 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 1-2 EDWARD VII., A. 1902 width, slightly russetted ; basin, medium depth and width, wrinkled ; stem, short, moderately stout ; calyx, closed ; dots, obscure ; skin, moderately thick, tough ; core, small ; flesh, dull white, tender, juicy ; sub-acid ; quality, good ; season, early win- ter. May be a desirable apple if tree is very hardy. Tested November 4, 1901. No. 206. — A. Dupuis, Village des Aulnaies, Que. Apple seedling. — A medium sized, very productive apple of medium quality. No. 207. — Thos. Armstrong, Springdale, Ont. — Stanleydale, apple seedling. — A large, pale yellow apple, lightly splashed with pink on sunny side ; quality, above medium ; season, evidently from mid to late September. No. 208. — C. A. Cass, L'Orignal, Ont. Apple seedling. — Above medium size, roundish, pale yellow, almost covered with deep red, but a few patches only streaked with it ; cavity, deep, medium width ; basin, medium depth and width, wrinkled ; stem, medium length, moderately stout ; calyx, closed ; dots, moderately numerous, small, distinct, but not prominent, yellow ; bloom, rather heavy ; core, medium size ; flesh, white, tinged with red, crisp, juicy ; sub-acid, with a pleasant, Fameuse-like flavour ; quality, good ; season, probably early to mid September. A promising apple very much resembling Russell. Tested September 3, 1901. No. 209. — Miss Joan Matheson, Perth, Ont. — Eufus, apple seedling. — Medium size, roundish conical, pale yellow, well washed with crimson ; cavity, narrow, med- ium deptb, russetted ; basin, narrow, shallow, slightly wrinkled ; stem, short, slender ; calyx, closed ; dots, numerous, pale yellow, distinct ; bloom slight ; skin, moderately thick, tough ; core, small ; flesh, white, tinged with pink almost to core, juicy, ten- der ; sub-acid, pleasant flavour ; quality, good, almost very good ; season, mid-winter to late winter. Probably a seedling of Fameuse. Tested April 20, 1901. No. 210. — E. Leonard, Cobourg, Ont. — Unknown apple. — Above medium size, roundish, conical, green, splashed and washed with deep red ; cavity, rather shallow, open ; basin, narrow, shallow, wrinkled ; calyx, medium size, closed ; dots, fairly numerous, pale, distinct, but not prominent ; skin, thick and tough ; core, medium size ; flesb, yellowish white, crisp, tender, juicy ; sprightly sub-acid, pleasant flavour ; quality, very good ; season, late winter. No. 211. — T. W. Gibbs, Huntsville, Ont. — Apple seedling. — Above medium size, roundish conical, pale greenish yellow, splashed and washed with carmine ; cavity, medium depth and width ; basin, narrow, medium depth, slightly wrinkled ; stem, short, moderately stout ; calyx, closed ; dots, obscure ; skin, moderately thick, tough ; core, medium ; flesh, white, tender, juicy ; sweet, pleasant flavour; quality, good for a sweet apple ; season, October. A good sweet apple for its season. Tested October 9, 1901. No. 212. — C. Wallenshlager, New Edinburgh, Ont. — Large winter apple seedling. Nos. 213 to 216. — Thos. Erankland, Stonewall, Man. — Maude, Laura, Myrtle, and Annie apples. All small apples which may prove valuable in Manitoba. No. 217. — N. E. Jack, Chateauguay Basin, P.Q. — Norman, apple seedling. — Above medium to large, roundish, greenish yellow, well washed and splashed with deep red with a purplish tinge ; cavity, deep, medium width ; stem, short, moderately stout ; basin, narrow, medium depth, slightly wrinkled ; calyx, closed ; dots, small, yellow, moderately numerous, distinct ; skin, thick, moderately tough ; core, medium; flesh, yellow, juicy, rather coarse, mildly sub-acid ; quality, good ; season, mid-win- ter to late winter. A promising winter apple. This apple was partly described in the report of the Montreal Horticultural Society for 1883. It originated at Chateauguay Basin, P.Q., and was first brought to notice by the late Robt. Jack, of that place. REPORT OF TEE HORTICULTURIST 95 SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 VARIETIES OF APPLES, NEW OB NOT WELL KNOWN IN ONTARIO AND QUEBEC. For a number of years descriptions of apples have been published in the annual reports of the Horticulturist, most of which were of new or little known varieties. In a bulletin on Apple Culture, published this year, 53 kinds of apples were described, most of which were standard varieties. As there are so many new kinds continually appearing, it has been thought best to continue the work of describing the newer or not well known sorts. Akin Red. — Fruit, oblate to roundish, slightly angular ; medium size ; cavity, medium depth to deep, open, sometimes irregular on one side ; stem, medium length, slender ; basin, medium depth and width, slightly wrinkled ; calyx, medium size, partly open ; colour, yellow, almost covered with bright rich red d* crimson ; dots, numerous, yellow, district, not prominent ; skin, thin, moderately tough ; flesh, yellow- ish, crisp, juicy, very tender, melting ; core, medium! ; mildly sub-acid, pleas- ant flavour ; quality, very good ; season, mid-winter to late winter. A very beauti- ful apple. Promising. Received from W. C. Reid, Belleville, Ont., and described January 8, 1901, also from W. H. Dempsey, Trenton, Ont., and described December 10, 1901. Babbit. — Fruit, oblate, conic, angular, large ; cavity, deep, narrow, russetted ; stem, short, slender ; basin, narrow, medium depth, wrinkled ; calyx, medium size, open ; yellow, well washed and splashed with red with orange shade ; dots, few, yellow, distinct, but not prominent ; flesh, yellow, juicy, coarse, briskly sub-acid or acid, little character ; core, medium size ; quality, medium ; season, late winter. Grown at C. E. F. ; described January 4, 1901. Baraboo. — Fruit, roundish to oblate, large ; cavity, deep, narrow, slightly rus- setted, wrinkled ; stem, short, moderately stout ; basin, medium depth and width, slightly wrinkled ; calyx, closed ; pale greenish yellow, lightly splashed and streaked with bright purplish red (carmine) ; dots, fairly numerous, pale, indistinct ; skin, moderately thick, tender ; flesh, yellowish, crisp, juicy ; core, small ; briskly sub- acid ; quality, above medium ; season, early to mid-September. May be useful for season following Duchess, which it resembles somewhat. Grown at C. E. F. De- scribed September G, 1901. Boihen. — Fruit, oblate, angular, large ; cavity, deep, open, slightly russetted at its base ; stem, short, slender ; basin, deep, medium width, slightly wrinkled ; calyx, large, open ; pale yellow with bright reddish pink blush ; dots, fairly numerous, dis- tinct, prominent on blushed part ; skin, thick, tough ; flesh, yellowish, crisp, tender, juicy ; core, medium size, open ; briskly sub-acid, not high flavour ; quality, good ; season, late winter. Received from W. II. Dempsey, Trenton, Ont. Described De- cember 8, 1900. D owning' s Winter Maiden's Blush. — Fruit, oblate, large ; cavity, medium depth and width ; stem, short, stout ; basin, deep, medium width, smooth ; calyx, closed ; yellow with a pink blush, handsome ; dots, moderately numerous, pale yellow ; skin, thick, tough ; flesh, yellowish, buttery, juicy ; core, medium size ; mildly sub-acid, pleasant flavour ; quality, good ; season, mid-winter. Received from W. H. Dempsey, Trenton, Ont. Described December 21, 1901. Duffey's Seedling. — Fruit, oblong conical, above medium to medium ; cavity, medium depth, narrow ; stem, short, moderately stout ; basin, shallow to medium depth, medium width, wrinkled ; calyx, open ; yellow, well washed with deep red ; dots, fairly numerous, yellow, distinct, prominent ; skin, moderately thick, tender ; flesh, yellow, tender, rather coarse, moderately juicy ; core, medium size ; sub-acid, gg EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 1-2 EDWARD VII., A. 1902 peculiar flavour, spicey, riot altogether pleasant ; quality, above medium ; season, late winter. A handsome apple and a good keeper. Received from W. H. Dempsey, Tren- ton, Ont. Described January 4, 1901. Early Joe. — Fruit, oblate, medium size ; cavity, deep, open ; stem, short, stout ; basin, medium depth and width, smooth ; calyx closed ; yellow, well washed and splashed with bright red with a pink tinge ; dots, numerous, yellow, distinct, promi- nent ; skin, thin, tender; flesh, yellow, juicy, tender, melting ; core, email ; sub-acid, sprightly, pear-like, pleasant flavour; quality, very good to best; season, mid- September to late September. Specimens received from R. W. Shepherd, Como, Que. Described September 19, 1901. An old variety. Edgeliill. — Fruit, oblate, flattened, large to above medium size ; cavity, deep, medium width, russetted ; calyx, closed, or partly open ; stem, short, moderately stout ; basin, deep, open, to medium, almost smooth ; yellow, heavily splashed and washed with dark purplish red ; dots, yellow, moderately numerous, distinct ; skin, thick, tough ; flesh, white, tender, juicy ; core, small ; sub-acid, pleasant flavour, good ; quality, good ; season, early winter. This is a good dessert apple. The flavour is somewhat like St. Lawrence. Grown at C. E. F. Described November 11, 1901. Fameuse Sucre. — Fruit, oblate, flattened, medium size ; cavity, open, deep ; stem, medium length, moderately stout ; basin, medium depth and width, wrinkled ; calyx, closed ; pale yellow almost entirely washed or splashed with crimson ; dots, moderately numerous, purple, indistinct ; skin, moderately thick, tough ; flesh, white, crisp, ten- der, juicy, Fameuse-like ; core, small ; mildly sub-acid, pleasant flavour ; quality, very good ; season, mid to late September. Very similar to Fameuse in character of flesh and somewhat in flavour. Colour of skin is also very similar to Fameuse. Specimens received from R. W. Shepherd, Como, Que. Described September 19, 1901. Mr. Shepherd is not certain whether this is true to name. Hamilton. — Fruit, oblate, above medium to large ; cavity, deep, open, russetted ; stem, short, moderately stout ; basin, deep, open, slightly wrinkled, almost smooth ; calyx, open ; pale yellow with a pink blush ; dots, fairly numerous, indistinct ; skin, moderately thick, tender ; flesh, yellowish, tender, moderately juicy ; core, small ; sub-acid, pleasant flavour ; quality, good or almost good ; season, late October, No- vember. Not attractive enough looking to be very promising. Grown at C. E. F. Described November 8, 1901. Horn. — Fruit, roundish, below medium size ; cavity, medium depth and width ; stem, medium length, slender ; basin, shallow, opan, almost smooth ; calyx, medium size, closed, or partly open ; skin, yellow, almost covered with deep crimson ; dots, fairly numerous, medium size, yellow, conspicuous ; skin, moderately thick, tough ; flesh, yellow, tinged with red, juicy, very tender ; core, medium ; sub-acid, medium ; quality, good ; season, early winter. A very handsome apple. Received from W. 11. Dempsey, Trenton, Ont. Described November 10, 1900. Jefferis. — Fruit, oblate, size, medium to above ; cavity, deep, open, slightly russetted ; stem, very short, slender ; basin, deep, open, smooth; calyx, open ; pale yellow splashed and washed with crimson ; dots, fairly numerous, yellow, distinct ; skin, moderately thick, moderately tender ; flesh, yellowish, tender, melting, juicy ; core, small ; mildly sub-acid, pleasant flavour, good ; quality, very good ; season, September to mid-October. A fine dessert apple. Received from W. H. Dempsey, Trenton, Ont. Described November 2, 1901. An old variety. Kinnaird. — Fruit, roundish, prominently angular, above medium size ; cavity, medium depth and width ; stem, short, stout ; basin, medium depth and width, wrinkled ; calyx, medium size, open ; greenish yellow, well washed and splashed with REPORT OF THE HORTICULTURIST 97 SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 deep, dull red ; dots, few, obscure ; skin, thick, tough ; flesh, yellow, crisp, tender* moderately juicy ; core, small ; sub-acid, pleasant flavour ; quality, good ; season, mid-winter to late winter. Grown at C.E.F. Described January 8, 1901. Rochelle. — Originated with R. W. Shepherd, Como, P.Q. Fruit, roundish, ob- tusely conical, large ; cavity, deep, medium width ; stem, short, moderately stout ; basin, deep, medium width ; calyx, open ; colour, yellow, well splashed and washed with bright purplish red ; dots, fairly numerous, yellow, distinct, but not prominent ; skin, moderately thick, moderately tender ; flesh, yellowish, crisp, firm, juicy ; core, email to medium ; sub-acid, pleasant flavour ; quality, good ; season, early to near mid-winter. A large, handsome apple. Specimens from W. H. Dempsey, Trenton, Ont., and from R. W. Shepherd, Como, P.Q. Described November 27, 1901. For further information regarding the origin of this variety, see report of the Horticul- turist for 1S9(3, where it is already described. Milding. — Fruit, oblate, large ; cavity, medium depth and width, russetted ; stem, short, stout ; basin, medium depth, open, almost smooth ; calyx, open ; greenish yel- low, splashed and washed with purplish red mostly on sunny side ; dots, few, small, yellow, indistinct ; skin, thick, tough ; flesh, yellowish, crisp, juicy ; core, medium size, open ; sub-acid, pleasant flavour ; quality, good ; season, early winter. Received from W. H. Dempsey, Trenton, Ont. Described November 18, 1901. Missouri Pippin. — Originated in Missouri. Fruit, roundish conic, somewhat an- gular, medium size ; cavity, deep, medium width ; stem, short, slender ; basin, nar- row, medium depth, wrinkled ; calyx, small, partly open ; yellow, well splashed and washed with dep red ; dots, fairly numerous, small, yellow, distinct ; skin, thick, tough ; flesh, yellowish, crisp, moderately juicy, rather coarse ; core, small ; sub-acid, pleasant flavour ; quality, good ; season, late winter. Grown at C.E.F. Described December 24, 1901. A hardy variety which may prove useful in this country. Ohabena. — Fruit, oblate, above medium size ; cavity, deep, moderately open to open ; stem, short, to medium, moderately stout ; ; basin, deep, medium width, slight- ly wrinkled ; calyx, open ; greenish yellow, streaked, splashed and washed with pur- plish red mostly on sunny side ; dots, few, obscure ; skin, moderately thick, moder- ately tough ; flesh, yellowish, crisp, tender, rather coarse, juicy ; core, small ; briskly sub-acid ; quality, above medium ; season, late September to early October. Re- sembles Duchess somewhat in appearance and quality, but is a more oblate apple than Duchess. Grown at C.E.F. Described October 3, 1901. Palouse. — Originated in Washington Territory. Fruit, roundish to oblate, above medium size ; cavity, deep, open ; stem, medium length, slender ; basin deep, med- ium width, smooth ; calyx, open ; yellow, well splashed and washed with deep orange red ; dots, fairly numerous, yellow, distinct ; skin, moderately thick, moderately ten- der ; flesh, yellow, crisp, juicy ; core, medium ; briskly sub-acid, sprightly ; quality, almost good ; season, early to mid-winter. A handsome apple. Flesh not fine grained enough to make a good dessert fruit. Received from W. H. Dempsey, Trenton, Ont. Described November 12, 1901. Parlin's Beauty. — Fruit, roundish, ribbed (but not prominently), large ; cavity, deep, medium width, russetted ; stem, short, slender ; basin, deep, narrow ; calyx, small, closed ; pale yellow, splashed and washed with bright red, mostly on sunny 6ide ; dots, few, pale yellow, distinct ; bloom, slight ; skin, moderately thick, tough ; flesh, white, juicy, very tender, melting ; core, small ; sub-acid, pleasant but not high flavour ; quality, very good ; season, November. This is a very handsome apple and promising for its season. Received from W. II. Dempsey, Trenton, Ont. Described November 5, 1900. 16—7 98 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 1-2 EDWARD VII., A. 1902 Patten's Duchess. — Fruit, oblate, above medium size ; cavity, deep, medium width, slightly russetted ; stem, short, slender to moderately stout ; basin, deep, open, slightly wrinkled ; calyx, closed ; colour, greenish yellow, splashed and washed with orange red, mostly on sunny side ; dots, few, large, white, prominent ; bloom, slight ; skin, moderately thick, moderately tender ; flesh, white, crisp, moderately juicy ; core, small ; sub-acid ; quality, above medium ; season, October. Not desirable in this district, as it is not as good as Wealthy. It is a handsome apple. Grown at C.E.F. Described October 15, 1901. Patten's Greening. — Fruit, oblate, large ; cavity, deep, medium width, russetted ; stem, short ; basin, deep, medium width ; calyx, open, large ; pale yellow with traces of pale green, with a pink blush ; dots, moderately numerous, pale green, distinct ; bloom, slight ; skin, moderately thick ; flesh, yellow, juicy, tender, coarse ; core, small ; sub-acid ; quality, above medium ; season, October to mid-November. Grown at C.E.F. Described October 18, 1901. Switzer. — Fruit, roundish to oblate, medium size ; cavity, narrow to medium, medium depth ; stem, short to medium, moderately stout ; basin, shallow, medium width, wrinkled ; calyx, closed ; pale yellow, almost white, well washed with bright red ; dots, few, pale, distinct, but not prominent ; bloom, slight ; skin, moderately thick, moderately tender ; flesh, white, crisp, tender, juicy ; core, small ; sub-acid, pleasant flavour ; quality, very good ; season, late August to early September. Not \mlike Lowland Raspberry in many respects, but its season is later, and it is more acid, and the flesh is not as melting. Fruit is also not blotched with bright red. Promising. Grown at C.E.F. Described September 3, 1901. Titter's Red. — Fruit, roundish, large ; cavity, deep, open ; stem, short, moderately stout ; basin, open, medium depth, wrinkled ; calyx, open or closed ; pale yellow, splashed and streaked with bright carmine, mostly on sunny side ; dots, few, indis- tinct ; skin, thick ; flesh, yellowish, crisp, tender, rather coarse, juicy ; core, medium size ; mildly sub-acid, pleasant flavour ; quality, good ; season, early to mid-winter. Too coarse an apple for a good dessert fruit. Received from W. H. Dempsey, Tren- ton, Ont. Described November 14, 1901. Winter Banana. — Fruit, roundish, angular, medium size ; cavity, medium depth, open, slightly russetted ; stem, short, stout ; basin, shallow, open, slightly wrinkled ; calyx, open ; yellow, with a deep red blush ; dots, pale, obscure ; skin, thin, tender ; flesh, yellow, crisp, tender, juicy ; core, medium size, open ; mildly sub-acid, sprightly, good ; quality, very good ; season, mid-winter. Received from W. H. Dempsey, Tren- ton, Ont. Described January 5, 1901. PEARS. Many of the trees in the pear orchard were killed by blight in 1900 and others were badly injured, and although the disease was not as prevalent this year, trees which looked in fairly good health last autumn died in the spring, and it was found that they had been affected the previous year, though the disease had not shown. The only tree which fruited this year was a Bessemianka, which produced a few pears. A number of seedlings of the best varieties are being raised, and it is pos- sible that something which is comparatively blight proof may be originated. Following is a description of a seedling pear received from E. C. Beman, New- castle, Ont. : — No. 218. — E. C. Beman, Newcastle, Ont. Pear seedling. — Large, roundish to obovate, obtuse pyriform ; skin, greenish yellow with a faint bronze tinge on sunny Bide ; dots, numerous, russet, prominent ; stem, long, stout ; cavity, shallow, open ; RETORT OF THE HORTICULTURIST 99 SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 basin, medium depth and width, smooth ; flesh, yellowish, juicy, sweet, tender, melting ; core, small ; quality, good ; season, late October. Promising. PLUMS. There was little injury to the plum orchard by winter this year, as far as the wood of the trees was concerned, but the flower buds on the European varieties were all killed, there not being a single fruit of this type of plum. There were a few plums of the Japanese variety known as Botan, but this is of little value here. Some of the Miner type of plums yielded fairly well, but these seldom fruit heavily here. The Americana and Nigra varieties blossomed abundantly, and a number of kinds fruited heavily, but the crop was not an average one on these trees, as the weather during the blossoming season was wet and unfavourable for proper pollination. There is no doubt that in the Ottawa district, and where the climate is similar, the main dependence must be on the Americana and Nigra plums. These varieties, though not equalling the European plums in richness and tenderness of skin, afford good substitutes where better kinds cannot be grown successfully. The Nigra, or native plum, is thinner in the skin than the Americana, but not as rich. The fruit is also usually badly affected by blight (Cladosporium carpophilum, V. Thumen), and unless thoroughly sprayed does not mature, the blight affecting it when it is nearly full grown, causing it to wither and fall to the ground before maturing. The Nigra plum is also more affected by curculio than the Americana, which lessens the crop very much. The Americana plum is a heavy bearer of handsome plums which, though, as a rule, thick skinned, are handsome and of good quality, though sometimes astringent. During the past few years there have been many named varieties offered for sale and some of these are very good indeed, being much larger and richer than the older sorts. This year, when there was an abundance of European plums on the market from Western Ontario, the Americana plums, grown at the Farm, sold readily for 50 cents per 12-lb. basket. A tree of Bixby plum, planted in 1893, gave a yield of ll£ gallons, which, at 50 cents for 12-lb. basket was $2.87 worth of fruit from that tree, and in a good season the yield would be much more. The following quotation from a recent letter received from Mr. Alex. Stewart, Hull, Que., a prominent fruit-grower in this vicinity, is evidence as to the esteem with which these plums are held by other grow- ers. He writes : — ' I have not fruited a very great number of Americana plums as yet, as my orchard is young, but I am very proud of some of those that I have fruited. Their hardiness, fine appearance, and good quality make them of great value to the fruit grower of Eastern Ontario, and the Ottawa Valley in particular. The best five I have fruited so far are as follows : — Hawkeye, Stoddard, Wolf, DeSoto, Wyant. ' I sold my plums in 10-lb. grape baskets at 40 cents per basket ; 20-lb. baskets of western plums sold for 65 cents per basket at the same time. People will pay a third more for the local fruit. I took eleven 10-lb. baskets of Hawkeye off one tree five years planted. That will pay well. There will be quite a few plums planted about Ottawa next spring. I have given lists of the best varieties to a number of people. In five years from now we will see some good plums about Ottawa, and we may thank the Experimental Farm for their introduction.' Mr. H. C. Carstesen, Billings Bridge, Ont., who makes a specialty of the native plum, Prunus nigra, has also kindly furnished me with some information regarding his success with them. Mr. Carstesen's trees are practically all seedlings of his own raising, some being much better than others. The soil in which they are growing is a heavy clay loam. The trees are kept thoroughly sprayed with Bordeaux mixture to prevent blight. Mr. Carstesen now has between 300 and 400 trees in his orchard, but tnany of these are young. Some of his trees have yielded from four to five 10-quart 16— 7i 100 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 1-2 EDWARD VII., A. 1902 pails each. The follovring are some figures furnished hy Mr. Carstesen of some of his sales. ,i 189S, 79 pails, averaging 80 cents per pail. 1S99, 71 pails, averaging 93 cents per pail. 1900, 177 pails, averaging 87 cents per pail. 1901, 119 pails, averaging 82 cents per pail. Some of the best of the plums sold as high as $1 per pail. Mr. Carstesen could not obtain these prices if it were not that his plums are very early, as they begin to ripen the first week cf August and come on the market when there is little competi- tion with other plums. He says that he cannot supply the demand for them. The following extracts from a letter received from Mr. C. H. Snow, Cummings Eridge, Ont., show that all growers are not favourably impressed with these plums : — ' I cannot give you any encouragement so far as these American plums are con- cerned. The older the trees grow, the more rotten and miserable they look, and it would take a man doing nothing else but bolting and propping them up. Where- ever there is a crotch limb, down it comes by its own weight only. The recent sleet and rain that formed on the trees about 10 days ago pretty nearly finished the best of mine ; in fact, some of the trees of DeSoto will break off at the stump like a clay pipe. ' Now, for the fruit. The astringency in the skin shows up remarkably well when preserved. You should be at the table sometimes and hear the remarks of my child- ren when my wife brings out some Hawkeye plum preserve. There are plenty of our old Canadian plums better for preserves, and if the people would only spray them they would be all right, and so far as selling, they bring a better price per pail, coming in, as they do, the first week in August, before the Prunus domestica class are shipped in here. This lateness in ripening is a great drawback. It brings them in straight compatition with Lombard, Damsons, Yellow Eggs, and Gages, when sold this year the complaint was that the women folks found the skin too thick. The price paid me for a 2-gallon basket, nearly a pail, was 35 cents. Some of my neighbours got 75 cents and $1 for common wild plums. Still, the price is all right and would pay at this figure if one could sell a large quantity, but the competition is too keen from a much better source, viz. : the European varieties. The varieties so far fruited with me are : Stoddard, Rockford, DeSoto, Hawkeye, Wolf, Weaver, 2 kinds, Black Hawk ; the best of these are Stoddard, Hawkeye, and Wolf.' It is very true, as Mr. Snow writes, that the trees split easily, and this is a draw- back to the Americana varieties which the Nigras or native plums do not suffer from, but if the present market for these plums continues, paying crops will be obtained before the trees are too badly split to produce fruit, and as the trees begin to bear when young they may be replaced. The skin of the Nigra, or Canadian wild plum, breaks up easier in canning and preserving than the Americana, but they are not as rich, ike Cheney is one of the best of these. Many of the Americana plums are but slightly astringent when preserved. Hawkeye is one of the poorest for this pur- pose. The following recipes for canning and preserving Americana plums, published by Prof. E. S. Goff, in bulletin No. 87, of the Wisconsin Agricultural Experiment Station, Madison, Wis., will prove helpful to those who have not found the plums preserve well : — ' The native plums, especially those with firm pulp, after being treated by any of the methods mentioned below, are well adapted to all purposes for which the foreign plums are used. As a rule, more sugar is required for the native plums, but the pre- parations are rich in proportion. The harshness in the skin and stone of some native plums is readily removed by steaming them in an ordinary eooking steamer until the skin cracks ; or pour over them boiling water to which has been added common bak- ing soda in the proportion of half a teaspoonful to a quart. The thicker-skinned REPORT OF TEE EORTICULTURIST 101 SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 varieties may be readily peeled by placing them in boiling water two or three mia- utes. The recipes follow : — 1 Canning. — Pick the fruit when well coloured but a little hard, steam or cook in a porcelain-lined kettle until tender, put in cans that have first been treated to boiling water, and cover with boiling syrup made of equal parts of granulated sugar and water, filling the can to the top ; then run a silver knife around the can inside and let out the air, and seal at once. Plums cooked in the syrup are likely to be tough. Canned plums may be used for pies and for mixing with or flavouring other fruits. Plums are often canned without sugar to be used in winter for making fresh plum butter. The juice of canned plums makes excellent jelly.' One lady recom- mends splitting native plums to the stone on one side before cooking, to avoid crumbling. 'Drying. — DeSoto, Wyant and doubtless other varieties may be pared, pitted, and spread on plates, lightly sprinkled with sugar and dried, first in the oven and later in the sun. Cook like dried peaches. 'Plum Jelly. — The fruit should be gathered when only part ripe — about half coloured. This point is very essential. Put plums in a large granite or porcelain kettle — the latter is best — with barely enough water to cover them. Cook until tender, but not until they are in a pulpy mass. Having previously covered a large jar with a cloth, strain the fruit in and let the juice drop through, but do not squeeze. When all has drained through, strain once or twice more through another cloth, until the juice is perfectly clear. To one measure of juice provide one measure of granulated sugar, but do not put together at once. A very important point in the making of all jelly is that only a small quantity should be cooked at one time. Into a medium sized kettle put, say, four tumblers of juice ; let it boil briskly 15 or 20 minutes, then add the four tumblers of sugar, and in a very short time — usually from three to ten minutes — the jelly will be finished, light, clear and delicious. To test the jelly, dip a spoon into the boiling juice and sugar and hold it up ; when the jelly clings to the spoon in thick drops, take it off quickly and put into jelly glasses. The plum pulp which is left can be put through a cullender and used for plum butter.' 'Another recipe :—Plu m Preserves. — Take equal weights of fruit and sugar; place in stone jar a layer of fruit, then a layer of sugar — alternating thus until quan- tity desired is reached. Let stand over night ; in the morning drain off the syrup that will have formed into a porcelain-lined kettle, place same over the fire and let syrup come to a boil ; then pour it over fruit in jar again ; repeat this every day until the fourth heating, when fruit and syrup are both put in kettle and boiled for a few minutes. Place same in glass jars while hot, seal and put away in some cool and preferably dark place. ' Still another recipe. — To each pound of plums add a pound of sugar ; put the fruit into boiling water until the skins will slip ; peel and sprinkle sugar upon each layer of fruit in a bowl, allowing them to stand over night ; then pour off the juice, bring quickly to a boil, skim and add the plums ; cook very slowly till tender and clear, which will take about one-half hour ; take them out carefully and put into a pan ; boil the syrup for a few minutes longer until it thickens ; pour it over the fruit; seal or tie them up.' A better plum for this part of Canada will probably be obtained by crossing the Nigra with the Americana, as it is possible that a variety may be originated which will have the tough tree of the Nigra and the thinner skinned fruit of that species with the productiveness and freedom from disease of the Americana and the quality of that species. The trees at the Experimental Farm are ten feet apart in the rows, the rows being 20 feet apart ; this greater distance being required in order that the trees may be thoroughly sprayed. Ten feet is a little too close in the rows, as the trees are already 102 EXPERIMEXTAL FARMS 1-2 EDWARD VII., A. 1902 interlacing, but this could not very well be avoided, as the original trees were planted 20 by 20 feet apart and the additional trees set half way between. A satisfactory distance would be about 15 feet apart each way, which would permit of thorough spraying for a long time. The trees, which are rather easily broken and split on account of the heavy crop they bear and the great growth they make when young, are better protected than if they were planted further apart. In the report of the Horticulturist for 1900, a descriptive list was published of 13 of the best varieties of Nigra and Americana plums which had fruited at Ottawa, covering a season from August 24 to September 25. No new named varieties of special merit fruited this year, but among the young trees are a number of kinds which are spoken very highly of by those who have seen the fruit. Seedling Plums. — Many seedling plums are being grown at the Experimental Farm, and a number of the Americana seedlings have already fruited. This year 54 trees bore, consisting of 12 Wolf, 7 Yosemite Purple, 6 Speer, 6 Weaver, 12 DeSoto, and 11 Rollingstone seedlings. Of these there were only three which were considered equal or superior to the best named varieties under test. These have been named and are herewith described : — Don, Wolf seedling. — Planted in orchard, fall of 1895 ; tree hardy and vigorous ; fruit large, roundish ; suture a distinct line, not depressed ; colour uniformly deep, lively red all over ; dots numerous, small, yellow, distinct ; bloom moderately heavy ; flesh deep yellow, juicy, firm, with a sweet, rich flavour ; skin thick, and tough ; stone medium size, oval, somewhat flattened, cling ; quality, very good. Ripe Septem- ber 28, 1901, and September 27, 1900. Thought to be the best late Americana plum yet fruited here. Caro, Wolf seedling. — Planted in orchard fall of 1895 ; tree hardy and vigorous ; fruit very large, roundish ; suture fairly distinct, not depressed ; colour bright red, showing yellow in patches ; dots numerous, yellow, distinct ; bloom light ; flesh deep yellow, juicy, with a sweet, rich flavour ; skin thick, moderately tender ; stone large with an oval outline, but considerably flattened. Ripe September C, 1901, and Septem- ber 10, 1900. More attractive than Wolf and better in quality. Bouncer, Yosemite Purple seedling. — Planted in orchard fall of 1895 ; tree hardy and vigorous ; fruit very large, roundish ; suture a distinct line, not depressed ; col- our a uniformly deep purplish red all over ; dot3 numerous, yellow, distinct ; bloom moderately heavy ; flesh deep yellow, juicy, with a sweet, rich flavour ; skin thick and tough ; stone large, flat, cling ; quality very good. Ripe September 10, 1901, and September 22, 1900. A promising seedling plum of the domestica group named Amaryllis (No. 219) was received from Mr. Aug. Dupuis, Village des Aulnais, P.Q. It was a medium sized yellow plum of very good quality. CHERRIES. The cherry crop was a failure this year, the flower buds having been killed by winter. There has not been a full crop of cherries here since 1898, so that although the stocks and wood are hardy, the winters, as a rule, appear too severe for the fruit buds. The wood of the Morello cherries wintered well, as usual, but the Bigarreau, which are tender here, were killed nearly to the ground. The Dukes were not quite so badly affected, although they were much injured. The trees made good growth this year. GRAPES. The grape vines were uncovered on May 8, and it was found that they had win- tered well. There was a fine show of bloom at blossoming time and it was thought that the crop would be a heavy one, but the wet weather which set in was very un- REPORT OF THE HORTICULTURIST 103 SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 favourable for pollination, the result being that there was only about half a crop on most varieties. The season was favourable for the maturing of the fruit, and 115 varieties ripened, although some of them were late in doing so, as the weather was not warm enough for rapid ripening. The vines were thoroughly sprayed with Bor- deaux mixture during the growing season, and there was little disease of any kind. The system of pruning and training now adopted is thought to be one of the most satisfactory where grapes are grown for dessert purposes and for home use, where the vines have to be protected. The system is a modification of that known as the High Renewal. When a young vine is planted in the spring it is cut back to near the ground and after making the season's growth it is again cut back to one stem about 18 inches from the ground. Two canes only are allowed to grow during the second season, and when long enough these should be tied to the lowest wire, which should be from 18 inches to 24 inches above the ground. In the autumn the canes are bent down and covered with soil to protect the vine during the winter, the main stem also being covered. In the spring the canes or arms are spread out in opposite directions and tied along the lower wire, and three new wires should now be added 18 inches apart. This year being the third, there will be canes grow upwards from the buds along the outstretched arms, and a little fruit may set. During the growing season, laterals or side shoots should be pinched out. In the autumn of the third year the canes which have grown upright should be cut back to near the arms, leaving only one bud on each, in addition to the bud at its base, on the arm. The arms should, at the same time, be cut back until there are from 40 to 50 buds left in all, from which fruiting wood will grow during the fourth year. In the High Renewal system, pro- vision is made for the replacing of the arms every year by new ones, by leaving two additional stubs on the main stem from which new canes grow and which replace the two arms. In this system the arms are never more than one year old. The system adopted at the Experimental Farm is between this and the horizontal arm system, where the arms are left for a number of years. It is found that if the arms are left permanently they will get stiff and are difficult to bend down and cover with soil, and in the High Renewal system there is danger of breaking one year old canes, and also danger from winter killing, in either of which cases the crop would be lost. Bet- ter results can be obtained by having the arms at least two years old, but not more than four, and they may be renewed in alternate years. The amount of wood left oq the vines must be regulated by the earliness, productiveness and vigour of the variety. In most cases, 40 to 50 buds are sufficient to leave ; as a medium crop of well-grown, well-ripened grapes is better than a large crop of inferior fruit. By having the crop as near the ground as possible without the fruit being injured by the soil, the grapes will ripen better than if higher up, on account of the reflection of heat from the ground. When the vines are in full bearing, as they are in the fourth year, consid- erable pruning is necessary during the growing season. The vines are uncovered as soon as there is no further danger of severe frost and before the buds have swollen, about May 7 being the average time. The arms are then tied to the lower wire. In about a month afterwards it will be necessary to go through and tie the young shoots to the second wire and to pinch out unnecessary shoots, such as suckers and laterals. In about a week more they should be tied again and the laterals and suckers removed. Another pruning is necessary after the vines have grown above the top wire, when they are pinched back to that wire, and any other unnecessary shoots pinched out as before. In the report of the Horticulturist for 1900, a list was published of the twenty- five earliest varieties which had fruited here, with descriptions and notes as to quality and dates of ripening, as the early varieties are the most useful in the colder parts of Canada. New kinds are continually being tested, in order to find out whether there are any others which are as early, and also to test their quality and productiveness. A large number of varieties recently planted were originated by T. V. Munson, of Texas, from whom they were procured. 104 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 1-2 EDWARD V!!., A. 1902 Varieties of grapes planted in 1900 and 1001. — Atoka, Campbell's Early, Coler- aine, Delago, Delawba, Early Daisy, Hosford, Lucile, Lukfata, Lutie, McPike, Man- ito, Marvina, Mills No. 9, Nectar, Norfolk, Presly, Storr's Early, Wapanuka, Yo- mago. — 20 varieties. RASPBERRIES. The season of 1901 was very unfavourable for raspberries in this district. Owing to severe weather the canes were badly winter-killed ; the Cutbbert, which is the princi- pal variety planted, being so much injured that there was practically no fruit of that variety. Golden Queen appeared to be the tenderest, as there was not a cane left of this variety. A seedling originated by Mr. R. B. Whyte, Ottawa, Ont., now called Herbert, was quite hardy and it yielded the best at the farm this year. At the Ex- perimental Farm the canes were bent down as usual, but it appeared to have no bene- ficial effect. In the following table the yields for both 1900 and 1901 are given. The yields this year show the relative hardiness of the varieties rather than their produc- tiveness, some kinds not producing any fruit, and others very little. RASPBERRIES-TEST OF VARIETIES. Name of Variety. Med Varieties. Kenyon Henry Brighton Clarke Count. ... Marlboro Muriel Phoenix Boyle Red Antwerp Turner Dora Reliance Cassel Garfield Lome . Cardwell Nelson Trusty Alina Thompson's E'ly Prolific Hornet Cardinal King Craig Cuthbert Loudon Hansell Heebner Herstine ". Biggar's Seedling Fontenay Miller's Seedling Gladstone Deacon Herbert Sir John Bauniforth Empire Mary Hiram Sarah Magnum Bonum Knevett's Date of First Ripe Fruit. 1900. July 14 4 7 11 7 9 8 9 9 11 11 11 7 12 11 10 11 6 11 9 11 12 7 12 15 12 6 12 12 13 12 9 7 12 12 7 9 6 16 1901. July Date of First Picking. 1900. 1901. 9:Julv 5 .. 11 5 11 6 11 5 11 6 It 6 11 13 It G tt 6 11 9 11 6 11 6 II 10 II i tl 6 11 10 II 6 11 6 11 6 II 10 II 6 II 9 II 6 H G lJuly 12 ii ti July 20 II 9 July 'ic July July 16 July 13 13 13 13 13 13 16 16 13 13 13 13 18 16 13 16 13 13 13 13 16 20 13 16 20 16 13 18 18 18 16 13 13 18 18 16 •13 13 18 12 9 9 9 9 9 9 15 9 9 12 !• !) 12 9 It 12 9 9 12 12 9 12 9 9 July July July July 18 9 12 July Date of Last Picking. 1900. 1901. Aug. 13 July •• 6| ii h 91 .. n 13 Aug. n 9 July .. 13 Aug. July 17 9 9 13 Aug. 13 13 July 13 13 13 9 9 13 13 13 13 13 Aug. July Aug. II July July Aug. July 9 „ 9 July 9 12 22 9 9 17 13 17 17 13 13 9 13 17 13 27 9;July lJAug. 6l 6 Aug 18 July 25 30 18 22 2 22 30 22 6 24 22 2 G 30 27 22 15 27 15 2 22 30 30 2 2 22 30 2-1 2 30 July 22 No. of P1Ck- mgs. 1900 1901 18 6 Aug. M July 2 15 15 6 6 24 12 12 11 10 13 12 13 11 13 10 11 13 12 13 9 12 12 10 11 12 12 13 11 9 14 12 11 13 13 11 8 11 11 13 6 Total Yield 1900. 1 1901. XI iJ 32 28 27 26 15 26 13 24 9 22 10 21 0 20 1 16 12 16 7 15 14 15 13 15 2 15 2 14 11 14 11 14 3 13 7 12 15 12 10 12 5 12 4 11 3 10 11 10 11 10 10 10 9 10 8 8 7 7 6 9 4 5 9 7 ... 5 9 3 3 4 3 ... 9 ... 6 ... 5 ... 2 5 10 5 6 4 12 2 10 2 9 2 5 ■J C 3 1 0 15 4 13 5 11| 5 3 6 6£ 0 12 9 U 3 8 2 124; 3 14 5 5 2 6 2 7 3 iii 1 8 2 104 1 2 3 4 1 8* 0 2 12 6 4 2£ 7 04 1 14| 2 64 1 24 0 7 3 n 0 4 1 11 17 2 i'm 0 6 0 12 4 13^ 2 10 1 11 0 6 c is f o M O 36 36 36 36 36 36 36 36 36 36 3ft 36 36 36 36 36 36 36 36 36 36 36 36 36 36 36 36 36 36 36 36 36 36 36 36 36 36 36 3ft 36 36 36 36 36 RETORT OF THE HORTICULTURIST 105 SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 RASPBERRIES-TEST OF VARIETIES— Conducted. Name of Variety. Yellow Varieties. Caroline Yellow Antwerp. Golden Queen... . Champlain Lady Anne Purple Varieties. Shinn Duncan. . . Shaffer... . Ralph Percy Columbian Date of First Ripe Fruit. 1900. 1901. July 16 July 9 11 12 „ 10 ., 16 H 11 u 12 July 6 July 12 July 9 n 14 .i 10 .. 12 ., 12 » 16 ,, 16 • 10 9 ■ 18 H 16 Date cf First Picking. 1900. 1901. July 20;July 15 .1 16; n 12 .. 23j .. 16 .. 16 July 9 Date of Last Picking. 1900. 1901. No. of Pick- iTotal Yield, ings. 1900 1901 1900. Aug. 16' Aug. 6 .1 9| .. 6 ., 13 July 13 18 20 20 16 23 July 9 I. 12 .. 15 M 18 .. 12 n 18 July 27 July 15 Aug. 13 Aug. 6 ■I 13 it 6 ii 13 it 2 9JJuIy 22 ii 6 Aug. 2 ii 13 ii 6 11 8 8 9 8 4 3 13 10 10 8 10 7 8 2 9 8 9 i a c 16 1 11 8 4 14 3 14 27 8 18 15 11 10 8 7 8 2 7 7 1901. 6 1 0 8 o 60 a v -J 0 36 n 36 36 36 36 16 12i 36 4 13$ 36 8 1 0 4 6 Oi io '4 36 36 36 36 RASPBERRIES GROWN IN LARGER P LOTS. Cuthbert (red) July M N 11 N II H I8.T11W IS Aug. 16 .. 13 .. 16 .. 16 .. 13 .. 13 •• 9 ., 16 Aug. 6 6 July 22 ii 24 » 22 Aug. 2 12 9 12 11 11 12 10 12 6 6 '*5 5 4 8 92 7 07 7 43 2 45 8 84 5 71 14 47 3 72 12 7 0 |236 20 18 20 14 18 15 18 ,. 22 July 9 1. 12 .. 12 II 12 23 11 |236 Heebner » |236 jolden Queen (yellow). |23tf 33 13 93fS Progress (black cap) Hilborn u .... 31 7 25 1 72 74 236 Older 236 Shaffer (purple rasp- berry) 236 STKAWBEREIES. The strawberries wintered well this year and the prospects for a heavy crop were good, but during the ripening season there was very hot, dry weather which reduced the yield, although the crop on the whole was good. The advantage of thick foliage was very apparent this year, as such thin foliaged varieties as Clyde, though promis- ing a large crop, had their fruit badly scalded and withered up. While varieties with thick foliage did not suffer nearly so much. There were 350 varieties in the plantation, but of these 167 had been marked to discard in 1900, and the yields of them are not given. A new plantation was made in the spring of this year containing 218 varieties for comparison of yields and qual- ity. In addition to these, three plants each of those which had been discarded, were planted, in order to keep in touch with them. No fruit was allowed to ripen on the new plantation this year. In the following table will be found the yields of those varieties not discarded in 1900 with the yields for 1900 and 1901, and the average yields for the two years. In addition to this, other useful data are given regarding the different kinds. The crop recorded is from two rows each 15 feet in length. The rows were planted 3$ feet apart and the plants 15 inches apart in the rows. In 1899, when the plantation was made, the runners were kept pinched off until July, and in the spring of 1900 each row was cut back to 2 feet in width where necessary, and in the spring of 1901 the rows were again cut back to 2 feet. It is interesting to note that some kinds yielded better the first year than the second, one reason being that the varieties which make many runners are crowded the second season. On the other hand, some kinds which make few runners the first year yield better the second season when there are 106 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 1-2 EDWARD VII., A. 1902 more of them. The character of the season would also influence the yield. On the whole, the hest practice is to take only one crop off, letting the runners start in time to get a good stand the year the plantation is made. The names of the varieties in the table are in descending order of merit accord- ing to the yield of 1001. By examining the table it will be found that the six best yielding varieties, taking the average of 1900 and 1901, are Mele, Daisy, Buster, Howard's No. 41, Glen Mary, and Afton, all of which were described in the report for 1900, except Mele, which is a pale, soft berry of only medium quality and not re- commended. In the table the letter P. stands for pistillate, or imperfect flowers, and B. for bisexual, or perfect flowers. Name. Greenville Mele Bisel Sample Buster Carrie Arkansas Traveller . Bubach Enhance World's Champion . . Glen Mary Perfection Lloyd's Favorite. . . . Dora Vories Williams Beder Wood Cole's Seedling Howard's 41 Kyle Lincoln Kansas Prolific Barton's Eclipse Daniel Boone ....... Hood River Dr. Arp G. H. Caughell Tennessee Prolific . . Enormous Princess Parker Earle Sherman. Maggie Thompson's Late . . Wonderful Gen. Putman Lovett Logan Hatch E\p. Station No Name. . . - Morgan's Favorite . . Nick Ohmer Cyclone Mattie Warfield Brandywine Nehring's Gem Sadie Ridgeway Cameronian Man well Cobden Queen World's Champion.. Daisy 3 ea 3^? 00 ' DS P3 Oh o • — ' o P May P P P P B P B B B P P P B B B B P B P B P P tt 28 It 28 tt 29 II 29 II 27 II 28 tl 29 II 27 It 28 tl 25 If 27 It 28 tt 29 It 29 tt 28 p B B P P B B P P P P B B B B B B P 1' B P 11 B B B P B P II 25 If 22 It 25 tt 18 II 27 ft 21 It 27 fl 22 ft 29 If 19 It 25 tl 18 tl 29 tl 22 ft 28 It 20 II 29 tl 22 II 29 ft 19 II 28 fl 22; II 25 II 18 25 12} REPORT OF THE HORTICULTURIST SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 107 Name. Anna Kennedy , Anna Forest Louis Gauthier Imp. Westbrook Jucunda Wm. Belt New Dominion Stone's Early Clyde Phipen X 18!) Northern Carleton Klickita HattieWarfield Sharpless Seedling Lloyd... .. Young's Seedling Mayflower Afton Deveroux Sharp'ess Starr X341 Hiawatha Johnson's Early .ludsonia Champion of England Surprise Mrs. Cleveland Howell's Seedling Scarlet Ball. Winnie Warfield Livingston Beverly Little's No. 7 Lady Rusk Ona Tnbbs Klondyke Gandy Beede's No. 1. . Sandoval Will Warfield. . Earliest Crockett's Warfield Van Deman X 119 Satisfaction.. . . Gandy Belle.... Kentucky Marshall Staples Lax ton's Noble. Elba Erie McKinley Crescent X95 Steven's Early.. Swindle Repeater John Little. . . . Saunders Haverland Harville Edgar Queen. . . 3 J5 p p B P B B B P B B B B P P P B P B B P B B B B B B B B P B P P B B B P P B B B B B B B B P B B B B P B B B B P B P P P P B P B P B P S o o s> 43 Q May May 2!) 25 28 25 29 27 29 25 25 28 25 23 27 28 23 29 28 27 22 25 25 27 28 27 28 23 29 27 27 25 29 29 27 27 28 27 25 23 25 29 31 28 27 29 25 28 25 25 27 25 27 29 23 23 27 25 29 28 27 25 27 25 27 25 27 23 28 27 B two -w a A June' 19 20 29 20 24 25 25 19 19 24 21 17 22 25 19 25 20 22 17 22 24 25 24 21 24 20 19 25 24 22 24 26 25 25 25 24 21 19 19 26 27 20 21 25 20 20 22 17 21 21 21 26 19 17 20 17 26 24 19 25 22 24 19 19 21 19 20 19i M Ji a "3. 'S- a o ■■* u «M . o + ,0 K © bo 3 £f « •»■« — *■-■ Q 'A July 5 6 It 3 4 II 12 4 II 3 5 II 5 5 n 12 6 ti 12 6 i< 5 6 n 5 6 it 8 5 it 9 6 tt 5 7 tt 5 5 July 12 6 tt 9 7 11 £ 4 It 8 6 II 5 5 June 26 4 July 8 5 H 8 5 n 5 4 ii 8 5 ii 5 5 ii 8 5 H 8 6 11 7 6 II 9 5 II 5 4 n 8 5 ii 8 5 ii 12 5 ii 8 4 ii 9 5 ii 12 6 ii 8 5 ii 12 6 n 5 5 ii 3 5 ii 8 4 ii 9 4 ii 8 6 ii 5 5 ii 5 4 June 29 4 July 8 5 II 6 4 tl 5 7 11 9 6 II 5 5 II 5 5 II 8 3 II 12 7 II 3 6 It 3 5 June 29 5 July 8 3 H 3 4 it 5 6 H 12 5 II 3 4 ii 9 3 ft 3 5 it 3 7 ii 5 5 II 5 6 ir 8 6 ii 5 6 Oz. Lbs. Oz. Lbs. Oz. Lbs. Oz. 12£ 15^ n iff 5§ 7 11| 6| 108 EXI'EIUMEXTAL FARMS 1-2 EDWARD VII., A. 19C2 Name. - 43 ■/. DC +3 B 3 Date of first ripe fruit. 'E. CO u o I ■g. 1— 1 X Date of last pick- ing. o '£. 0 o-r — tc tt cS © ca i-t 2 '>, Is 43 0 H .-H O C5 Tl • »M >> 49 O JO ceo - 0 Oz Lbs. Oz. Lbs. Oz. Lbs. Oz. B B B B P B B B B B P B B B P B P B B P P B P P May II II II It M 11 II 11 M M II H M II II U N M 11 11 if tl II II N 11 II 11 II II 11 II II 11 II II It II It II 11 II II II 11 II It tl II II 11 II 11 tl 11 It It tl It 11 II It It It 11 11 M n 28 28 25 28 22 25 28 25 25 25 27 22 27 23 28 27 29 27 28 23 25 27 29 29 27 28 23 27 22 23 29 27 29 27 28 29 27 25 29 23 28 31 23 27 23 23 27 25 23 23 27 29 25 25 22 27 29 29 23 27 29 25 28 29 28 27 23 29 27 June 24 ,, 22 ., 12 h 22 « 17 .. 18 » 22 „ 18 .. 22 .. 18 ,. 21 ,. 12 .. 18 ii 20 .. 18 .. 20 h 24 H 18 h 22 M 14 H 18 „ 22 .. 24 ,. 18 K 21 ii 18 H 15 .• 24 .. 14 .. 20 ■i 18 ,. 18 „ 30 •i 18 ii 22 ., 22 .. 22 .. 17 .. 22 „ 18 .. 24 .. 27 ,, 15 „ 21 i, 15 6 „ 22 „ 22 ,. 22 ,, 15 ii 21 ii 24 „ 18 ii 20 .. 21 .. 24 ,, 18 ,, 22 ii 18 .. 17 .. 27 „ 18 ii 24 ii 24 .. 22 ., 24 ,. 18 ii 25 ■■ 18 June u ii H II H It II II tl II II tl II It II II It II II II It N It M 11 II N tl II II July June ti ii ii ii ii ii it July June n ti ti it tt ti it tt it ti tt it ti it it tt it i it it it it it ii it ti it 26 24 17 24 20 19 24 19 25 21 22 17 22 22 20 20 26 20 24 17 21 24 25 20 22 21 17 26 17 22 20 19 2 21 24 July 8 5 June 29 July 8 8 5 8 3 5 5 5 June 28 2 8 June 20 July 3 .. 12 H 8 .1 3 3 3 8 9 8 5 3 5 5 3 8 .1 3 5 ,. 12 3 June 26 4 4 5 5 5 5 5 5 3 4 5 5 4 5 3 4 5 5 3 5 4 4 5 5 5 4 7 3 6 5 5 5 4 4 2 4 4 3 5 6 3 3 4 4 5 5 2 3 4 5 4 4 4 3 4 4 2 4 3 4 3 5 3 1 4 2 3 4 4 6 7i 5 5 4 8 5 6f 4* 3* 6" 5| 6* H 6 6 H 4 6 BJ 3| 7 Sk 3J H 54 H 7 7 H 5i 4 H 7" 5 6 6 H H 4 34 l| 64 4 4| 6 6 H c» 5 54 5 4 53 4 4 44 bl 6 M 5 6i &| 5 5 2 114 10 14 7 74 6 74 8 1 10 14 J 12 34 4 n 21 Of 0 104 1 155 1 7 10 8 2 64 6 ll| 0 11 8 64 11 54 4 4 1 14 6 n 0 11 8 9£ 1 124 7 134 10 o| Y 12 2 i 2 6 9 34 1 3| 3 34 2 2 8 6£ 8 11 6 84 15 14J 1 54 2 54 6 5 6 14 0 144 3 124 9 14 0 5 9 1 0 124 10 10 10 10 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 7 7 7 7 f 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 4 4 4 3 3 3 3 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 0 4 3 1 1 7 6 124 7| 134 9 154 12| 12 9 84 8 74 6 34 0 15| 94 6 54 4 4 1 0 15 144 13* lo 12* 104 9 6 2 1 1 0| 0 15 15 ni 8 7 6 54 4 14 9 8 74 4 H 1 10 6 4 24 1 Of 15 15 134 124 10 2 15 12 10 l'H 8 10* X288 Senator Dunlap 8 8 10 10 6 04 13 Timbrell H. & H 15 4 5 4 9 5 7 4 8 0| 44 7 6 n Delia X77 - 74 3| W. J. Bryan Evans P B B B B B B P B P B B P 9 6 4 7 10 o§ 134 2 4 7 4 7 8 2 Greenville Seedling Hunn 15| 7* Cruse's No. 9 7i Liddle. 24 .Tnlv 3 26 19 25 19 26 3 17 22 17 19 27 24 25 17 22 25 20 21 22 25 21 24 20 20 29 19 26 26 25 26 22 27 20 8 June 25 July 9 8 8 .. 12 June 26 July 2 5 2 5 June 29 July 8 June 28 July 3 5 June 29 t. 26 July 3 D Juno 26 July 3 June 26 ii 29 July 8 5 3 June 26 July 5 3 June 28 July 9 June 29 Bovnton 8 54 Mrs. McDowell . . Jessie B P B B B B B B B B P P B P B B P B B B B B B B B B B B B 4