APPENDIX TO THE REPORT OF THE MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE EXPERIMENTAL EARMS REPORTS OF THE DIRECTOR - -- ___-- DC VliNION FIELD HUSBANDMAN, (Acting) ii CHEMIST (Asst. Director) - - HORTICULTURIST - CE REALIST - - - BOTANIST - - - ENTOMOLOGIST - ANIMAL HUSBANDMAN - AGROSTOLOGIST - POULTRY HUSBANDMAN - - - TOBACCO HUSBANDMAN - - - - SUIT. EXPERIMENTAL STATION, Chart ottktown, P.E.I. FARM, Nappan, N.S. STATION, Kentvtlle, N.S. STATION, Freuerioton, N.B. STATION, Ste. Anne de la Poca- tiere, Que. - STATION, Cap Rouge, Que. FARM, Brandon, Man. ii Indian Head, Sask. STATION, Rosthern, Sask. n Scott, Sask. ii Lethbridge, Alta. ii Laoombe, Alta. FARM, Agassiz, B.C. II II II II II II J. H. GRISDALE, B. Agr. J. H. GRISDALE, B. Agr. FRANK T. SHUTT, M.A. W. T. MACOUN. C. E. SAUNDERS, Ph. D. H. T. GUSSOW C. GORDON HEWITT, D.Sc. E. S. ARCHIBALD, B.A., B.S. A. M. O. MALTE, Ph.D. A. G. GILBERT F. C HARLAN. J. A. CLARK, B.S.A. R. ROBERTSON W. S. BLAIR. W. W. HUBBARD. JOS. BEGIN. GUS. A. LANGELIER W. C. McKILLICAN, B.S.A. ANGUS MACKAY Wm. A. MUNRO, B.A., RS.A. R. E. EVEREST, B.S.A. W. H. FAIRFIELD, M.S. G. H. HUTTON, B.S.A. P. H. MOORE, B.S.A. FOR THE YEAR ENDING MARCH 31, 1913. PRINTED BY ORDER OF PARLIAMENT PRINTED BY C. H. PARMELEE, PRINTER TO THE KING'S MOST EXCELLENT MAJESTY 19H [No. 16—1914.] e " I I '"" *&i 1 •''i^W EH ."»?#' -'f^* \£m • -** m *■>* ■?■ S^f* v r 9 J3 cc H ■a £ C J E 09 a St! ft* s op O c s o a a. Sa CD Si 16—1914 4 GEORGE V. SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 A. 1914 APPENDIX TO THE REPORT OF THE MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE EXPERIMENTAL FARMS REPORTS OF THE DIRECTOR DOMINION FIELD HUSBANDMAN, (Acting) CHEMIST (Asst. Director) - - HORTICULTURIST CEREALIST - - BOTANIST , ENTOMOLOGIST ANIMAL HUSBANDMAN AGROSTOLOGIST POULTRY HUSBANDMAN TOBACCO HUSBANDMAN - SUPT. EXPERIMENTAL STATION, Chart ottetown, P.E.I. FARM, Nappan, N.S. STATION, Kentyille, N.S. STATION, Fredericton, N.B. STATION, Ste. Anne de la Poca tiere, Que. STATION, Cap Rouge, Que. u FARM, Brandon, Man. ii Indian Head, Sask. STATION, Rosthern, Sask. ,, ii Scott, Sask. „ ,, Lkthbridge, Alta. „ ii Lacombe, Alta. FARM, Agassiz, B.C. J. H. GRISDALE, B. Agr. J. H. GRISDALE, B. Agr. FRANK T. SHUTT, M.A. W. T. MACOUN. C. E. SAUNDERS, Ph. D. H. T. GUSSOW C. GORDON HEWITT. D.S< E. S. ARCHIBALD, B.A., B.S.A. M. O. MALTE, Ph.D. A. G. GILBERT F. CHARLAN. J. A. CLARK, B.S.A. R. ROBERTSON W. S. BLAIR. \V. W. HUBBARD. JOS. BEGIN. GUS. A. LANGELIER W. C. McKILLICAN, B.S.A. ANGUS MACKAY Wm. A. MUNRO, B.A., B.S.A. R. E. EVEREST, B.S.A. W. H. FAIRFIELD, M.S. G. H. HUTTON, B.S.A. P. H. MOORE, B.S.A. FOR THE YEAR ENDING MARCH 31, 1913. PRINTED BY ORDER OF PARTAAMENT PRINTED BY C. H. PARMELEE, PRINTER TO THE KING'S MOST EXCELLENT MAJESTY 1914 [No. 16—1914;] 4 GEORGE V. SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 A. 1914 *5f APPENDIX TO THE REPORT OF THE MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE ON EXPERIMENTAL FARMS Ottawa, March 31, 1913. Sir, — I have the honour to submit herewith, for your approval, the twenty-sixth annual report of the work curried on at the several Dominion Experimental Farms and Stations. As will be noted, the matter in this report is arranged in a different way to that which has obtained in former years. Section A contains my report as Director, in which are incorporated accounts of the preliminary work on the new Experimental Stations at Invermere and at Sidney, British Columbia, as well as a resume of the results obtained on the Sub- stations at Grouard, Grande Prairie, Athabaska Landing and Fort Vermilion, in Alberta, and at Tvamloops and Salmon Arm, in British Columbia. This is followed by synopsis of the work in the various Divisions on the Central Farm and at the branch Farms and Stations, with general notes on some of the features of the year's operations. For the preparation of these, I am indebted to the chief officers of the Divisions here, and to the Superintendents of the branches. The section is concluded by brief reports from the Superintendents of several of the newer Stations, where experimental work has not yet been so well established as to permit of a detailed account of the year's work. Section B contains detailed reports on the various lines of experimental work under way throughout the Dominion Experimental Farms system during the year. These have been prepared by the Dominion officers having supervision of such work on the Central and branch Farms in collaboration with the Superintendents of the latter. These detailed reports fall under the heads of Animal Husbandry, Agrostology. ; Botany, Cereal Breeding and Variety Testing, Chemistry, Entomology, Field Hus- ■ bandry, Horticulture (including Vegetable Gardening and Flowers). Poultry Hus- bandry and Tobacco Husbandry. iv EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 4 GEORGE V., A. 1914 The detailed report on Poultry Husbandry at the Central Farm is very brief this year. The synopsis included in Section A was prepared only in part by Mr. A. G. Gilbert. Mr. Gilbert was sick during a great part of the year, hence the experimental work carried on here was small, and the report thereon, with the few statistics which make up the Ottawa part of the detailed report under the above heading, has been put into shape by Mr. V. Fortier, Assistant Poultry Husbandman. • Section A, which provides a concise, yet comprehensive, account of the work, is designed especially for those desirous of obtaining general information as to what is being done on the Experimental Farms system. Section B is intended more immediately to aid the farmer in the various details of his work. It is hoped that this new arrangement, which groups together the year's work along any one line, will prove more convenient and useful to the farming community than the former system, whereby such work was recorded in widely separated portions of the report. I have the honour to be, Sir, Your obedient servant, J. H. GRISDALE. Director, Dominion Experimental Farm*. To the Honourable The Minister of Agriculture, Ottawa. 4 GEORGE V. SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 A. 1914 CONTENTS SECTION A. Pages. DrnECTOR's Report — J. H. Grisdale, B. Agr. Including general notes, Reports from New Stations and Substations, and Synopsis of work of various divisions and at Branch Farms and Stations. 1-107 SECTION B. Prepared by Field Husbandry., Report from — ■ Ottawa, Ont O. C. White, B.S.A 113-130 Charlottetown, P.E.I J. A. Clark, B.S.A 131-133 Nappan, N.S R.Robertson 134-136 Cape Rouge, Que G. A. Langelier 137-139 Brandon, Man W. C. McKillican, B.S.A 140-161 Indian Head, Sask -.Angus Mackay 162-175 Rosthern, Sask W. A. Munro, B.A., B.S.A 176-182 Scott, Sask R. E. Everest,. B.S.A 183-189 Lethbridge, Alta W. H. Fairfield, M.S 190-^209 Lacombe, Alta.. .' G. H. Hutton, B.S.A 210-218 Chemistry, Report from — Ottawa, Ont Frank T. Shutt, M.A 221-275 Horticulture, Report from — Ottawa, Ont W. T. Macoun 279-306 Charlottetown, P.E.I J. A. Clark, B.S.A 307-313 Nappan, N.S R. Robertson 314-320 Kentville, N.S W. S. Blair 321-326 Ste. Anne de la Pocatiere, Que Jos. Begin 327 Cap Rouge, Que G. A. Langelier 328-335 Brandon, Man W. C. McKillican, B.S.A 336-346 Indian Head, Sask Angus Mackay 347-358 Rosthern, Sask W. A. Munro, B.A., B.S.A 359-364 Scott, Sask R. E. Everest, B.S.A 365-369 Lethbridge, Alta W. H. Fairfield, M.S 370-379 Lacombe, Alta. .- G. H. Hutton, B.S.A 380-390 Agassiz, B.C P. H. Moore, B.S.A 391-396 Substations at — Salmon Arm, B.C 397-398 Fort Vermilion, Alta 399-405 Grouard, Alta 406-407 Athabaska Landing, Alta 408 Forts Smith, Resolution and Providence, Alta 409-410 Cereal Breeding and Variety Testing, Report from — Ottawa, Ont Chas. E. Saunders. Ph.D 413-428 Charlottetown, P.E.I J. A. Clark, B.S.A 429-432 Nappan, N.S R. Robertson 433-435 Cap Rouge, Que G. A. Langelier 436-43S Brandon, Man W. C. McKillican, B.S.A 439-445 Indian Head, Sask Angus Mackay 446-449 Rosthern, Sask W. A. Munro, B. A., B.S.A 450-452 vi EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 4 GEORGE V., A. 19H Page Prepared by Cereal Breeding and Variety Testing, Report from — Concluded. Scott, Sask : R. E. Everest, B.S. A 453-455 Lethbridge, Alta W. H. Fairfield, M.S 456-464 Lacombe, Alta G. H. Hutton, B.S.A 465-468 Agassiz, B.C P. H. Moore, B.S.A 471-473 Substations at — Grouard, Alta 468 Fort Vermilion, Alt.i 469-470 Botany, Report from — Ottawa, Ont H. T. Giissow 477-498 Entomology, Report from — Ottawa, Ont C. Gordon Hewitt, D. Sc 501-518 Animal Husbandry — (1.) Beef Cattle, Report from — - Ottawa, Ont E. S. Archibald, B.A., B.S.A 523-526 Charlottetown, P.E.I J. A. Clark, B.S.A •.. 527-530 Kentville, N.S W. S. Blair 531 Nappan, N.S "\ . . . R. Robertson 532-534 Brandon, Man W. C. McKillican, B.S.A 535-537 Indian Head, Sask Angus Mackay 538 Lacombe. Alta G. H. Hutton, B.S.A 539-540 Lethbridge, Alta W. H. Fairfield, M.S 541-542 (2.) Dairy Cattle and Dairying, Report from — Ottawa, Ont E. S. Archibald, B.A., B.S.A 543-562 Charlottetown, P.E.I J. A. Clark, B.S.A 563 Nappan, N.S R Robertson 564-569 Cap Rouge, Que G. A. Langelier 570-571 Brandon, Man W. C. McKillican, B.S.A 572 Lacombe, Alta G. H. Hutton, B.S.A 573 Agassiz, B.C ..P. H. Moore. B.S.A 574-577 (3.) Horses, Report from — Ottawa, Ont E. S. Archibald, B.A., B.S.A 578-579 Charlottetown, P.E.I . . J. A. Clark, B.S.A 580 ■ Nappan, N.S R.Robertson 581 Cap Rouge, Que G. A Langelier 582-584 Brandon, Man W. C. McKillican, B.S.A. . .... .'. . . 585 Lacombe, Alta G. H. Hutton, B.S.A 586 Agassiz, B.C P. H. Moore, B.S.A 587 (4.) Sheep, Report from — Ottawa, Ont E. S. Archibald, B.A.. B.S.A 5S8-5S9 Charlottetown, P.E.I J. A. Clark, B.S.A 590-594 Nappan, N.S R. Robertson 595-596 Brandon, Man W. C. McKillican, B.S.A 597 Lethbridge, Alta W. H. Fairfield, M.S 598-600 Agassiz, B.C P. H. Moore, B.S.A 601 (5.) Swine, Report from — Ottawa, Ont E. S. Archibald, B.A.. B.S.A 602-607 Nappan, N.S R. Robertson 608 Brandon, Man W. C. McKillican, B.S.A 609 Lacombe, Alta G. H. Hutton, B.S.A 610 Agassiz, B.C P. H. Moore, B.S.A 611-613 CONTENTS vii SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 Page Prepared by Agrostology, Report from— Ottawa, Ont O. M. Malte, Ph.D 617-624 Charlottetown, P.E.I J. A. Clark, B.S.A 625-629 Nappan, N.S R. Robertson 630-632 Cap Rouge, Que G. A. Langelier 633-635 Brandon, Man W. C. McKillican, B.S.A 636-643 Indian Head, Sask Angus Mackay 644-649 Rosthern, Sask W. A. Munro, B.A., B.S.A., 650-652 Scott, Sask R. B. Everest, B.S.A 653-654 Lethbridge, Alta W. H. Fairfield, M.S 655-662 Lacombe, Alta G. H. Hutton, B.S.A 663-664 Agassiz, B.C P. H. Moore, B.S.A 665-668 Substations at — Fort Vermilion, Alta 668-669 Poultry Husbandry, Report from — Ottawa, Ont AG. Gilbert 673-678 Lacombe, Alta G. H. Hutton, B.S.A 679 Agassiz, B.C P. H. Moore, B.S.A 680 Special Articles — The Preservation of Eggs Frank T. Shutt, M.A 681-682 Black-head in Turkeys C. H. Higgins, B.S., D.V.S 683-686 Tuberculosis in Poultry C. H. Higgins, B.S., D.V.S 6S7-689 Tobacco Husbandry, Report from — Ottawa, Ont F. Charlan 693-694 St. Jacques de l'Achigan, Que O. Chevalier 694-695 Farnham, Que O. Chevalier 695-696 Harrow, Ont W. A. Barnet 697-69S 4 GEORGE V. SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 A. 1914 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE EXPERIMENTAL FARMS FOR THE YEAR ENDING MARCH 31, 1913 REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR J. H. GRISDALE, B.Agr. NOTES ON THE SEASON'S CROPS. The figures given in the following tables are taken from the Census and Statis- tics Monthly, issued by the Department of Trade and Commerce. The total area under field crops in the Dominion in 1912 was 32,449,000 acres, a decrease of 404,074 acres from the total for 1911. This was due to the smaller area in hay and clover, which was 426,000 acres less tban in 1911. In other crops there were slight increases in area. The total value of all field crops grown last year, calculated at local market prices, is set at $511,951,000, while, in 1911, the return was $565,711,600, calculated on the same basis, a decrease of $53,760,600. This was caused by both lower yield and lower values in many cases. The tables below give the results in more detail. Comparison of Yields and Prices obtained for the years 1911-12. Crop. Fall wheat Spring wheat Oats Barley Rye Peas Buckwheat Mixed grain Flax Beans Corn for husking Potatoes Turnips, etc .... Hay and clover. . Fodder corn Sugar beets Alfalfa 16—1 Average Yield Per Acre. 1911. Bush 22 20 37 28 18 15 22 29 11 19 59 143 373 Tons 1 9 8 2 1912. Bush. 20-99 20 39 31 19 15 26 34 12 17 56 172 402 37 •25 10 06 04 34 •38 •92 •40 •5S 19 •51 Tons. 1-47 10 26 1074 279 Average Price Per Bushel. 1911. 825 •611 ■364 •566 •774 •025 •641 •607 •507 •920 •648 ■60 ■23 1155 484 658 9 868 1912. •84 •60 •32 •46 73 126 •62 •59 •91 2 20 •62 •39 •23 11 07 474 5 00 11 65 Total Production. 1911. Bush. 26,014,000 189,837,300 348,187,600 40,641,000 2,694,400 4,506,100 8.155,500 16,679,000 12,921,000 1,155,600 18,772,700 66,023,000 84,933,000 Tons. 12,694,000 2,577,200 177,000 227,900 1912. Bush. 16,396,000 182,840,000 361,733,000 44,014,000 2,594,000 3,773,500 10,193,000 17,952,000 21,681,500 1,040,800 16,569,800 81,313,000 87,505,000 Tons. 11,189,000 2,858,900 204,000 310,100 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 4 GEORGE V., A. 1914 Comparison of Eastern Canada Prairie Provinces and British Columbia as to Yields and Prices obtained. Eastern Provinces. Western Provinces. British Columbia. Okop. Average Yields per Acre. Bush. Average Prices. Average Yields per Acre. Bush. Average Prices. u a cj &oa Jt a m • si » »- 9 . be ai eS 4; 1911. 1912. $ 1911. f 1912. 1911. 1912. 1911. 1912. Bush. 1912. 1912. Fall Wheat 20 95 17 95 28-88 258 20-63 15 33 32 56 27 97 18 81 16 74 966 192-12 377-78 Tons. 144 11 16 272 872 •92 24 99 20 73 46 64 3156 27:30 11-40 194 6 299 4 Tons 1-66 8 00 247 21-87 20 97 44 90 32 95 •733 •607 •281 •465 •67 •59 •25 •34 3300 30 33 56 00 45 33 30 66 103 1 00 473 712 1 1 97 49 696 536 84 69 418 **7 93 Peat, •51 •64 1 38 Rye 17-47 13 57 134 7 384-2 1 819 87 636 9116 25 56 12 75 217 63 306 55 Tona. 170 700 2 49 •610 1 50 •448 •355 Per ton. 10 93 500 •56 ■95 •38 •46 Per ton. 8 73 500 10 52 Flax 233 15 415 90 Tons. 228 '4:20 •49 '53 Tons. 1-64 853 222 Per ton. 11-57 673 10 -M Per ton. 11-20 5- 00 10 55 Per ton. 17 45 Alfalfa 1700 REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR % SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 METEOROLOGICAL RECORDS AT OTTAWA. Table of Meteorological Observations taken at the Central Experimental Farm, Ottawa, from April 1, 1912, to March 31, 1913, giving maximum, minimum, and mean temperature for each month, with date of occurrence, also, the rainfall, snowfall, and total precipitation. Month. a .a c3 S -3 a 'S ID S 03 a a CD 43 n CD XI bo ■9 43 43 05 s eg »— « G 'S i— i ci O a _o ^ 3 CD umber of days Precipitation. _C 43 .2 * OB 2 CD — « 43 * a % H rt W P h3 P 4 m Ph £ a P o o o O 0 o In. In. In. In. April 49 20 28 95 m as 39 07 67-0 S20 15th . . 28th'. . 7'0 33 0 1st ... . 14th . . 2-60 5 15 200 2 80 13 17 0-68 7th. May 66 49 46 02 20 40 56 25 5 15 1 44 24th. 73 68 49 5^ 24 0!) 61 62 88-4 24th . . . 39 4 7th. . 135 1 35 140 42 6th. July 81 17 56 94 24 19 69 03 95-P 7th . 45 0 31st 3-89 3 89 13 0 83 15-16th. 71 89 53 20 18 68 62 54 815 14th . . . 40 4 30th . . . 4 94 4 94 19 1 18 25th. 66 01 49 97 16 04 58 01 80 C 7th . . 28 5 30th . . . 401 4 01 20 0 62 10th. October 58 39 39 47 18 9148 92 75 -C 6tb . . 26 2 16th . . . 247 2 47 15 0 66 23rd. November .... 40 89 27 96 12 93 34 42 58-4 6th .. . 5 2 28th . . 2-59 23 00 4 89 13 2 10 25th. 30 85 14 47 16 37 22 65 50 0 6th . . — 4 8 21st 117 10 00 2 17 17 0 SI 19th. 29 05 12 10 17 49 20 ltd 42-0 j31st --16 0 13th . . 2-17 23 75 4 54 21 0 92 3rd. 21 02 0 19 20 8310 60 37'8 21st. .. —18 0 25th . . T 23 50 2 35 14 0 70 14th. 34 99 17-38 17 60 26-18 58-8 24th . . —14-2 8th . . 220 32 54 24 25 462 16 192 060 9th. 106-50 43 18 Eain or snow fell on 192 days during the 12 months. Heaviest rainfall in 24 hours, 1-44 inches, on May 24. Heaviest snowfall in 24 hours, 21-00 inches, on November 25. The highest temperature during; the 12 months was 95-8. on July 7. The lowest temperature during the 12 months was: — 18.0, on February 25. During the growing season, rain fell on 13 days in April, 17 days in May, 14 days in June, 13 days in July, 19 days in August, and 20 days in September. April, July, and November show the lowest number of days with precipitation, viz., IS each. Total precipitation during the 12 months, 43-18 inches, as compared with 29-95 inches dur- ing 1911-12. 16—1J 4 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 4 GEORGE V., A. 1914 Rainfall, Snowfall, and Total Precipitation from 1890 to 1912-18; also, the average annual amount that has fallen. Year. Rainfall. Snowfall. Total Precipitation 1890 Inch 24 30 23 31 23 27 21 24 24 33 29 29 25 26 25 23 1 21 24 22 28 18 20 32 es. 73 19 78 79 05 01 53 18 75 86 48 21 94 43 95 71 90 73 70 13 40 94 12 54 Inches. 64 85 73 50 105 00 72-50 71 50 87 50 99 75 89 00 112 25 77 25 108 00 97 25 101 75 85 00 108 75 87 25 24 50 72 50 134-75 107 90 6125 88-25 98 50 106 50 Inches. 31-22 1892 37-54 34 28 1893 S9 04 1896 30-20 ' 35 76 31 50 1899 33 08 35 97 4163 1900 , 40 72 38 "91 1903 . , 36 10 34 92 1905 1906 January 1st to March 31st 36 79 32 42 4.34 1909 10 28-94 38 18 32 91 34 51 1910-11 27 "72 191112 29 95 1912-13 43 18 596 05 2135 25 809 81 25 91 92 S3 35 20 Record of Sunshine at the Central Experimental Farm, Ottawa, from April 1, 1912, to March 31, 1913. Months. April May June July August September. October . . . November. December. January. . . February.. March Number of days with Number of days without Total hours Sunshine. Average Sunshine. Sunshine. Sunshine. per day. 26 4 234 6 7-82 25 6 204 3 6 59 29 • 1 308 6 10 28 30 1 312 5 10 08 30 1 178 8 5 76 22 8 102 1 3 40 26 5 173 0 5 58 20 10 83 8 2 79 17 14 66 2 2 13 21 10 94 4 3 04 26 2 124 2 4 43 20 11 107 7 3 47 WILLIAM T. ELLIS, Observer. REPORT OF TEE DIRECTOR 5 SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 PUBLICATIONS ISSUED DURING THE YEAR. In addition to the Annual Report of the Experimental Farms, there were issued, during the year ending March 31, 1913, the following : — A Guide to the Dominion Experimental Farms and Stations. This was brought out in several editions, one covering the whole Experimental Farm system, and the others dealing with the Maritime Provinces, Quebec, Ontario, the Prairie Provinces and British Columbia, respectively. A description of each Experimental Farm is given, with an account of the work being taken up at each. The book is profusely illustrated with maps and plates, and is intended to serve both as a guide to visitors to the Farms and as an acceptable form of reply to inquiries as to the lines of work being carried on. In the regular series of bulletins, No. 72, on Milk Production in Canada, was prepared by the writer of this report. In it, an effort has been made to cover the ground of dairying, dairy breeds, the breeding and feeding of dairy cattle, diseases of dairy cattle, buildings, and dairy farming in general, in as complete a manner as possible within the limits of a bulletin. Especial attention has been given to treating the subject in a practical manner and to presenting it in an easily understood form. In the second series, there have been issued: — Bulletin No. 10, on the Large Larch Sawfly, by the Dominion Entomologist, Dr. C. G. Hewitt. This bulletin gives the results of the author's work and observations on this destructive insect. Bulletin No. 11, entitled ' Legislation to prevent the Introduction and Spread of Insects, Pests and Diseases Destructive to Vegetation, with Kegulations regarding the Importation of Vegetation into Canada.' This publication, issued by the Dom- inion Entomologist, gives the legislation and regulations, with latest amendments, along the lines stated in the title. No. 12, on ' Feeding for Beef in Alberta,' by G. H. Hutton, B.S.A., Superin- tendent of the Experimental Station at Lacombe, Alta., gives the results of a series of tests in steer feeding at the Lacombe Station. No. 13, on ' Experiments in Steer-Feeding in Manitoba,' by W. S. McKillican, B.S.A., Superintendent of the Experimental Farm at Brandon, Manitoba, gives the results of steer-feeding experiments at the Experimental Farm there. In both these bulletins the possibility of profitable steer-feeding is demonstrated. No. 14, on ' Corn Growing in Manitoba,' by W. S. McKillican, B.S.A., was pre- pared with a view to make the growing of Indian corn for ensilage more popular and widespread in Manitoba. .The results of experiments in this line on the Brandon Farm are given, suitable varieties are named, and correct cultural methods suggested. Of pamphlets, three have been issued, all by the Dominion Horticulturist, Mr. W. T. Macoun:— No. 9, Hardy Rose Culture in Canada; No. 10, Tomato Culture; and No. 11 on Cabbage and Cauliflower Culture. Of circulars, three were issued. by the Division of Botany: — No. 1, Potato Canker imported into Canada; No 2, The Orange Hawk-weed; No. 3, Potato Canker. Nos. 1 and 2 are coloured cards, with descriptive matter, designed to hang up in post offices, schools, etc. No 3 gives a fuller description of the disease illustrated in No. 1. Two entomological circulars were issued: No. 1, by J. M. Swaine, M.Sc, on Tent Caterpillars, giving the life-history of this insect, and discussing methods for its control; and No. 2, by Arthur Gibson, on Flea Beetles and their Control. 6 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 4 GEORGE V., A. 1914 CORRESPONDENCE. The correspondence of the Experimental Farm system, as listed below, may be divided into letters of administrative and of technical character, the former having to do with the conduct of the Farms themselves, and the latter, which comprises most of the correspondence with the public, being made up principally of replies to inquiries on all classes of subjects relating to agriculture. It is not only a great advantage to Canadian farmers to have an institution such as the Dominion Experi- mental Farms to which they can refer their difficulties, but the letters received from them are also, on the other hand, a great aid to the Experimental Farm officers in keeping in touch with the farmer. The various officers of the Central and Branch Farms are at all times glad to receive communications from those desiring information on subjects related to agri- culture in its many phases. The number of letters received and sent from the different Divisions of. the Central Farm and from the Branch Farms and Stations is shown in the following table : — Director's Office Animal Husbandry... Field Husbandry Horticulturist Cerealist Chemist Entomologist Botanist Agrostologist Poultry Division French Correspondent. Miscellaneous Totals. Division. Letters Letters Received . Sent 20,642 12,072 ),354 2,143 358 1,089 5,82(1 6,330 13,430 3,077 2,736 2,658 5, 105 6,938 2,107 2,5 SI 1SS 296 4,833 6,463 7,S86 5,615 16,565 4,939 81,024 54,151 REPORTS, BULLETINS AND CIRCULARS. Reports and bulletins mailed 16,475 Circulars re distribution Seed Grain 29,603 SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR BRANCH FARMS AND STATIONS. Farm or Station. Charlottetcwn Fredtsrieton Nappan Kentville Ste. Anne de la Pocatiere. Cap Rouge Brandon Indian Head Rosthern Scott Lethbridge Lacombe Agassiz , Totals. Letters Letters Received. Sent. 1,116 1,242 964 1,121 3,924 3,618 2,216 2,464 256 194 1,701 2,027 3,409 3,278 13,391 13,212 1,813 1,921 668 642 2,975 3,137 4,304 3,821 3,150 3,373 ?9,947 40,050 These totals for the Branch Farms and Stations are exclusive of reports, bulletins and circulars sent out. By adding the figures for the Central and Branch Farms, the total number of letters received is seen to be 120,971 and of those sent, 94,201. SEED DISTRIBUTION. The annual distribution of samples of seed grain and potatoes was carried on. All applications for grain were filled from Ottawa, as well as most of those for pota- toes, coming from Ontario and Quebec. The details of the distribution from Ottawa are given further down, where mention is made of this and other work of the Domi- nion Cerealist, to whose charge it is entrusted. In addition to the seed sent from Ottawa, amounting in all to 8,276 samples, there were distributed from the Branch Farms and Stations, 5,224 samples, as follows: — Charlottetown 28 Nappan 484 Brandon 367 Indian Head 2,788 Lethbridge 280 Lacombe 858 Rosthern 176 Agassiz 243 5,224 There was, in addition, a large distribution of inoculated soil for growth of alfalfa, made especially from the Western Farms, as well as a distribution of sweet corn from the Cap Rouge Station to applicants in Quebec, and of tree seeds, etc., from the Prairie farms. After sup^ying the grain required for this distribution, the remainder, after keeping what was required for seed next year, was sold in lots of from two to six bushels. 8 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 4 GEORGE V., A. 1914 NEW BUILDINGS. An extension to the Chemical Laboratory on the Central Farm was practically- completed this year. The increased work of this Division made such an extension most necessary, and will enable it to take up lines of work heretofore unattempted owing to lack of laboratory room. A cow barn, to accommodate twenty-four milch cows, was also built. . It is constructed with a view to experimental work in feeding and pure milk production. Arrangements are also made for research into the comparative digestibility of feeds. On the Branch Farms and Stations, the heaviest building operations took place on the Experimental Station at Kentville, N.S., the Experimental Farm at Indian Head, Sask., and the Experimental Station at Lacombe, Alta. On several of the other Farms and Stations buildings were erected also, as mentioned further on in this report. NEW DIVISIONS FORMED. It was decided this year to subdivide the work heretofore carried on by the Dominion Agriculturist. This step was made necessary by the rapid expansion of the work, rendering it impossible for any one officer to do justice to all the different lines of experiment. Two Divisions have been formed as a result, those of Animal Husbandry and of Field Husbandry. A third Division, that of Forage Plants, was also formed during the year. The officer at the head of this Division is known as the Dominion Agrostologist, and has to do with the study of forage plants and roots, with a view to the breeding of new varieties, as well as the testing of sorts now known. Work is being carried on at Ottawa and, to some extent, at the various Branch Farms. The Division will work in conjunction with the Divisions of Animal Husbandry and of Field Hus- bandry, as to the practical testing of varieties produced. For the past year, the work of the Division of Field Husbandry has been carried on by Mr. O. O. White, B.S.A., under my supervision. During the year, the Tobacco Division, which heretofore had been a separate branch of the Department, became a part of the Experimental Farms system, its chief officer, Mr. F. X. Charlan, remaining in charge. In addition to the experimental work carried on by this Division on the Central Farm at Ottawa, branch Tobacco Stations are established at Harrow, in Ontario, and at Farnham and at St. Jacques de l'Achigan, in Quebec. ADDITIONS TO AND CHANGES IN THE STAFF. In June, 1912, Mr. E. S. Archibald, B.A., B.S.A., was appointed Dominion Animal Husbandman. He was born at Yarmouth, N.S., May 12, 1885, and received his primary educa- tion at Yarmouth Public School and Yarmouth Academy. He entered Acadia Univer- sity in 1901 from which he took his Arts degree in 1905. He also graduated from the Nova Scotia Horticultural School in the same year, and from Nova Scotia Agricul- tural 7. Above Ground. May 20 '■ 18. .. 21. K 22. Headed. Julyl. June 25. Julyl.. Harvested. Sept. 10. Aug. 25. „ 28. m 30. Two varieties of clover were sown, but the growth was not very vigourous. Lettuce, sown May 6, was above ground on June 3, and was fit for use June 212. Best varieties, Cos Trianon and Grand Rapids, both of which were cut four times. Radishes were sown May 7, and were up on June 6. Fit for use June 20 to 25. Garden peas were sown May 7, and were up on June 6. Pods were formed on July 15 and the crop was harvested September 4. Cauliflowers, sown May 10, gathered August 7 ; one weighed 2 pounds and another If pounds. Cabbages, sown in March in boxes in the house; planted in garden, May 15; harvested, September 15, to the number of 212, weighing from 4 to 5 pounds each. The heaviest was 6J pounds. Table beets were, as a rule, small. Carrots were of fair size, but a light crop. The potato crop totalled 1,014 barrels. The last spring frost was on June 2. There was a slight frost on July 23, and the first frost of autumn occurred on August 81. Flowers were not a success this year. 16 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 4 GEORGE V., A. 1914 EXPERIMENTS AT FORT VERMILION, PEACE RIVER DISTRICT, ALBERTA. The spring of 1912 opened very early, the snow starting to thaw during the early part of April. Seeding was begun on April 29, but was not general until May 2. May opened very dry and continued so throughout the month, and, as a result, growth was very slow. June was very dry and hot, with only %oo of an inch of rain during the whole month. This gave tbe crops a permanent set-back which all the rains of July could not remedy. The crops that were not ploughed under were very light. July opened showery and cold, a slight frost occurring on the nights of the 9th, 14th and 19th, which did considerable damage. The first part of August was showery, and the ripening period was prolonged. Prom the 13th to the 24th, however, the weather was good, and considerable cutting was done on the experimental plots. Prost occurred three times towards the end of the month. Notwithstanding, every- thing on the Experimental Station was a decided success, the wheat, when threshed, showing a yield of from 45 to 69 bushels per acre. Some of the varieties tested were Red Fife, Marquis, Bishop and Preston. Kubanka, a durum wheat, yielded 34 bushels per acre. Three varieties of oats were grown, the Banner, Tartar King and Improved Ligowo, yielding 60 bushels, 63 bushels 18 pounds, and 72 bushels 32 pounds, respec- tively. Four varieties of barley ranged in yield from 75 bushels 30 pounds to 55 bushels 30 pounds per acre. Longfellow Red Nose corn gave a yield of 12 tons 360 pounds of green fodder per acre. I Four varieties of turnips gave from 16 tons 1,600 pounds, to 21 tons 1,440 pounds per acre; four varieties of mangels from 10 tons 1,600 pounds to 16 tons 1,600 pounds, four varieties of carrots from 8 tons 20 pounds, to 11 tons 500 pounds; and three varieties of sugar beets, from 8 tons 800 lbs to 18 tons per acre. Five varieties of potatoes were tried, the Irish Cobbler giving the lowest yield, 96 bushels per acre, and the Carman No. 1 the highest, 288 bushels per acre. No alfalfa was under trial this year, all the plots having been ploughed up. Brome grass, sainfoin and canary grass gave good crops, the last-named at the rate of 4 tons per acre. Timothy, tall fescue, rye grass and awnless brome grass were poor, owing to drought in spring. Vegetables did well, some of the specimens being of record size for the Peace River district; cabbage and cauliflower reached 15 pounds in weight, and other sorts in proportion. Varieties grown successfully in the open comprised asparagus, beans, table beets, carrots, celery, cucumbers, lettuce, parsley, garden peas, parsnips, radish, rhubarb, squash, spinach and table turnips. Tomatoes were cut down by frost on July 14. Some twenty-nine varieties of flowers were sown in the open and gave a profusion of bloom until the first fall frost on September 23. Fourteen varieties sown in hot- beds and planted out late in May also did excellently. Of seventy-three varieties of ornamental shrubs and trees, the records for the season indicate satisfactory growth and bloom in the great majority of cases. No winter-killing is reported. In fruits, the cross-bred apple trees and their seedlings made from fair to very good growth, though none fruited this year. Plum trees did not do well. Raspberries and black, red and white currants all fruited. METEOROLOGICAL RECORDS. Following will be found the meteorological records for Fort Vermilion and also A table comparing these with records taken at Ottawa. Plate II Exhibit of Farm Products. Grouard, Alberta, Sept. 18 and 19, 1912. View of part of Experimental Station, Fort Vermilion, Peace River District, Alberta. 16 — 1914 — p. 16 REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR 17 SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 Table of Meteorological Observations taken at Fort Vermilion, Peace River District, Alberta, from April 1, 1912, to March 31, 1913, showing maximum, minimum, and mean temperature, the highest and lowest for each month with date of occur- rence, also, rainfall, snowfall, and total precipitation. Months. April.... May June July August. Septem.. October., Novem . , Decern . January, Febr . . ., March . , S S3 s 48-28 69 61 75 75 7168 7160 6483 46 24 26-83 926 -10 78 1163 20-41 S 3 S S 3 21 33 42 40 43 27 22 7 -14 -33 -16 -13 « to a > A = a c -c.2 _, 0 <** d si -w O « 0 « fc. & "5 n 0 §CL, Ph * In. 18 2 3 4 9 11 3 5 6 4 6 4 2 58 C > S * 2 a In. •40 •40 •06 •41 •94 11 •40 12 10 10 •30 •30 133 20th 28th 27th 20th 9th 18th 1st 29th 6th 26th 13th 3rd Record of Sunshine at Fort Vermilion, Peace River District, Alberta, from April 1, 1912, to March 31, 1913. Months. April May June July August . . . September October . . November December. January . . February . March Number of days with Sunshine. Number of days without Sunshine. 25 29 26 27 23 29 16 14 18 19 23 30 5 2 4 4 8 1 15 16 13 12 5 1 Total hours Sunshine. 170 1 2«8 8 288 6 239 5 194 5 239 6 104 5 53 9 62 8 78 5 120 4 218 4 Average Sunshine per day. •67 •31 •62 •72 •27 ■98 "37 •79 ■02 •53 •30 04 16—2 18 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 4 GEORGE V., A. 1914 Some Weather Observations taken at Central Experimental Farm, Ottawa, as com- pared with those taken at Fort Vermilion, Peace River District, Alberta. APRIL. u 5 a S H £ a V .SPS w I s o ® 0 d "5- o t« e G • a §3 43 o ■ : ■ — » s « be '""' f- a > JS 100 On the 78 acres above reported on, the whole surface was encumbered with heavy windfalls. The standing timber was fairly uniform in quantity and size throughout. Dividing the trees into three classes, according to diameter, the percentage of each per acre would run about as follows. The powder used per acre is also given. Six to 18 inches diameter, 26 per cent per acre; powder, 10 sticks. Eighteen to 60 inches diameter, 37 per cent per acre; powder, 20 sticks. Sixty to 108 inches diameter, 37 per cent per acre; powder, 40 sticks. In November two trials were made of the char pit. system, but owing to heavy rainfall, they were not a success. Two tests were also made, under similar conditions, on two large stumps, stand- ing side by side to see whether by running a cable from each to a 7-foot stump and tightening it by wedges, the side tension would help in pulling the stump clear of the ground when blown up. Thirty sticks of powder were used under each stump. The results, however, were not as good as when no cable was used. Four acres of the proposed eight-acre park adjoining the British Columbia Elec- tric Railway Company's station, were cleared of fallen timber, and the ravine, which runs from the highway diagonally through the farm near the British Columbia electric line, was stumped, cleared and the piles burned. FENCING, ROAD-MAKfNG AND GRADING. Owing to a resurvey of the property, the boundary lines were changed, necessi- tating the pulling up of new wire fence on the north, south and west sides, on each side of the East Saanich road, the British Columbia Electric Railway Company's and the Victoria and Sydney rights-of-way. Fence was also put up along the 42-foot road running through the farm to the water-front. This road gives access to the railway stations as well. The East Saanich road was widened from 30 feet to 66 feet for 1,310 feet, and was cleaned, levelled and graded. It is fenced with turned posts and Page wire fencing. A road was made, levelled and graded through the horticultural grounds, 15 feet wide, for 1,000 feet to the western boundary of the Station. A winding road, 20 feet wide, around and through the eight-acre park was made, levelled and graded ready for traffic. This road passes through some swampy places where it was filled in with stones gathered while clearing the land. DITCHING AND DRAINING. January and February were so wet that it waa necessary to do some ditching and draining to facilitate clearing the land and getting it ready for the season's crop. REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR 29 SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 Three thousand feet of ditch was dug to take off surface water and drain swampy land, 4,346 feet of tile of diameters ranging from 3 inches to 24 inches was laid and seventy 24-inch square cedar culverts put in. Two drop wells, 6 feet x 3 feet x 29 feet concreted, were dug to receive laterals. Two wells 7 feet deep x 3 feet diameter lined with brick furnish an abundance of good water for domestic and horticultural requirements. AGRICULTURE AND HORTICULTURE. The land on the station is slightly rolling, with a loamy soil, varying in depth from one to several feet. The subsoil is a brick and tile clay, containing 12 to 24 per cent of iron oxide and aluminium oxide. Fifty acres have been stoned, cleared, levelled, ploughed, harrowed and rolled, ready for crop. It is proposed to devote twenty acres of this to shrubbery, small fruits and vegetables, and the other thirty will be sown to oats, clover and roots. Hot and cold frames are now (March 31) in operation, forcing the seeds for an early planting-out in 200-foot plots. Plane and dogwood trees will be set out along the 150-foct avenue which extends to the water-front from the East Saanich road, a distance of some 2,810 feet. The clearing, draining, levelling and grading of this road is now well under way. LIVE STOCK. Five general-purpose horses have been bought for the farm work. These are all in good condition and working well. BUILDINGS. When work on the Station was started in October, 1912, there were some build- ings on the property, which have been temporarily adapted for stabling, storing feed and implements, workshop, office, etc. The commanding location of the Station, the magnificent view of mount Baker, Bazan bay and the straits of Georgia, the uniform elevation running from the water- front to the west boundary with a fairly even seven per cent gradfe, the variety of soils, the plentiful supply of pure water from natural springs, the even climatic con- ditions the year round, all make for a future ideal farm. THE DIVISION OE FIELD HUSBANDRY. Field crop experimentation which, in the past, has formed a part of the work of a larger Division having to do with both the culture of field crops and the raising of live stock, now constitutes a Division in itself. Its work is being directed along very practical lines and, as relating to all Experimental Farms and Stations, briefly includes: — 1. Investigations of the relative merits of different crop rotations, includ- ing special rotations for ' dry farming ' conditions. 2. Studies in the methods of culture of, and curing, field crops. A series of cultural experiments adapted to prairie conditions has now been under way two years on each of the six prairie Farms. These tests involve approximately five hundred plots on each Farm, and include twelve different lines of investiga- tion. 3. Determinations of the costs of growing field crops under regular farm conditions. 4. Experiments to show the value of under-drainage and irrigation. 30 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 4 GEORGE V., A. 1914 5. Studies of the influence of size and character of cultural implement* on cost of crop production. 6. Comparisons (in a limited way) of varieties of grain and forage crops as food producers. ROTATIONS. The most important work at present in progress at the Central Experimental Farm is the testing of rotations considered suitable for live stock farming. During the past year a re-arrangement was made so that there are now permanently located thirteen rotations varying in duration and treatment. They are being studied, keep- ing in mind the following points of merit: — 1. Their ability to supply different crops in the proper proportions for certain needs. 2. Their power to keep weeds in check. 3. Their comparative profits. 4. Their effect on the fertility of the soil. Owing to the changed location of many of them, and to the fact that it was not possible to have the regular crops grown in every case, aJl of the results for the past year are not being published to show comparisons, nor will they be included in averages that will be compiled in later years. The results to date have not been of such a nature as to warrant making state- ments as to the relative effect of the various rotations that we have tried on the fertility of the soil. From a summing up of past investigations and results we would, however, submit, the following rotations, as having given excellent results here, where the object is to supply suitable kinds of feed in the right proportions for live stock raising. Rotation ' D.' This is of three years' duration and is well suited for intensive dairy farming where soiling crops are used. First year. — Corn or other hoed crop. Apply manure during the winter or spring at the rate of 15 tons per acre, shallow plough in the spring for corn (fall plough for roots) turning under manure and clover, work well before sowing. Second year. — Grain. Seed down with 10 pounds red clover, 2 pounds alsike, 6 pounds alfalfa and 6 pounds timothy per acre. Third year. — 'Clover hay, two crops expected. Rotation ' C An excellent four-year rotation made up of equal areas of hoed crops, grain, hay, pasture. First year. — Corn or other hoed crop. Plough previous August, manure 20 tons per acre, work at intervals, and ridge up in fall. Second year. — Grain. Seed down with 10 pounds red clover and 10 pounds to 12 pounds timothy per acre. Third year. — Clover hay, two crops expected. Second crop may be saved for seed. Fourth year. — Timothy hay or pasture. REPORT OF TEE DIRECTOR 31 SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 Rotation 'A.' This is of five years' duration, and contains a relatively larger proportion of grain to roots and hay than ' C First year. — Grain. Plough previous August, top -work and rib up in October. Seed down with the grain 10 pounds red clover per acre, which allow to grow to be turned under the following spring. Second year. — Corn or other hoed crop. Apply manure during the winter or spring at rate of 25 tons per acre, shallow plough in spring, turning under both clover and manure. Third year. — Grain. Seed down 8 pounds red clover, 2 pounds alsike and 10 pounds timothy per acre. Fourth year. — Clover hay, two crops expected. Fifth year. — Timothy hay or pasture. On some farms no rough pasture is available, and more is required than any of the above rotations supplies. Though it has not been tested here, we might men- tion the following seven-year rotation as being likely to meet the requirements of 6uch a case: — Grain, clover. hay, pasture, hoed crops, grain, clover hay, pasture. In view of its long duration it would be preferable to supply the manure in two applications, using part for the hoed crop, and part on the last year pasture in pre- paration for grain. If an examination of the above rotations be made, there will be noted a few desirable characteristics common to them all. 1. Grain fields are always seeded down with clover, even though it be used only as a fertilizer, as in the case of the first year of rotation ' A.' 2. Grass and clover seedings are heavy. Increased crops of hay and rare failures of a catch have justified them. 3. Hoed crops form a large proportion of every rotation. An attempt to farm a small area without a hoed crop was not successful. Weeds could not readily be kept in check. 4. No field is left in hay for more than two successive years. Our records show that the second crop almost always costs more per ton than the first and that succeeding crops are very liable to be grown at a loss. 32 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS A GEORGE V., A. 1914 CHOP RETURNS 1912. The table given below shows the costs of producing the various crops grown on the ' 200-acre farm ' (so-called) and the profits therefrom during the past year. In calculating the various items presented, the following values have been used: — EETUBN VALUES. Oats $ 0 34 per bushel. Oat straw 4 00 per ton. Hay 7 00 ■■ Corn ensilage 2 00 u Turnips and mangels 2 00 h Forage crops (green) ._ 2 00 » Potatoes 0 60 per bushel. Swine pasture 15 00 per acre. COST VALUES. Manual labour $ 0 17 per hour. Horse labour, including teamsters — Single horse , 0 27 n 2 horse team 0 34 » 3 horse team 0 41 n 4 horse team , 0 48 n Rent 3 00 per acre. Barnyard manure - 1 00 >■ Machinery (inclusive of threshing machinery) 0 60 ■■ Seed oats . . 1 00 ■ Turnip, mangel, corn and potato seed charged at actual cost. Grass and clover seed charged at actual cost. Twine charged at actual cost. Threshing charged according to actual labour expended. Statement of Crop Returns on ' 2CM>acre Farm,' 1912. Crop. Oats (including cost of straw) Oat straw (3orn Roots (mangels and turnips) Potatoes Green feed (peas and oats) Hay Fig pasture Area. Acres 5622 48-50 14 78 400 360 57 22 315 187-47 Total Cost. $ ots 862 74 1,183 82 516 23 251 10 65 09 955 98 39 34 3,874 30 ■ o « O ™ ■ 5 « > ft $ cts. 15 35 24 40 34 93 62 77 18 08 16 71 12 49 20 6G ® * ft §s ^ . S § a $ cts. 0 25 1 51 1 50 0 14 1 80 5 52 Total Yield. Lbs. 115,415 147,710 1,565,820 687,520 106, 8G0 72,330 347,585 Average Yield per acre. 60 38Bu. 131 T. 1614T. 2326 T. 4'45Bu. 10-05 T. 304T. £ Value. 1- t! tt>ci 2 n £ S » 2 > & > a, < < $ cts. $ cts. $ cts. 1,154 15 20 53 5 18 295 42 5 25 1,565 82 32 28 7 88 687 52 46 52 11 59 890 50 222 62 159 85 72 33 20 09 2 01 1,216 54 21 26 4 55 47 25 15 00 2 51 5,929 53 ol 63 10 97 Total Profit. $ cts. 291 41 295 42 382 00 171 29 639 40 7 24 260 56 7 91 2,055 23 Note.— A few acres used for cattle pasture and for cutting green and feeding in field where it could not easily be weighed, were calculated on the basis of the average yield of hay for the remainder of the farm. Owing to the fact that the charges for both horse and manual labour are higher than in previous years, with no corresponding increase in the valuation of the pro- ducts, the net profits as given above are not so great as last year. A comparison of the value of the returns for the past fourteen years shows, however, very appreciable increases up to the present, and indicates that our system of cultivation and cropping 16— 1914— p. 32 REPORT OF TEE DIRECTOR 33 SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 is gradually but surely building up the fertility of our soil. Using the same prices throughout, the value of the products of the 200-acre farm per acre were: $14.39 in 1899, $21.30 in 1-900, $22.98 in 1901, $24.18 in 1902, $21.61 in 1903, $24.50 in 1904), $29.30 in 1905, $23.23 in 1906, $24.45 in 1907, $23.87 in 1908, $28.51 in 1909, $29.58 in 1910, $27.38 in 1911 and $31.63 in 1912. PROPOSED EXPERIMENTAL WORK. In addition to the rotation tests and to the costs-of-production work now under way, it is proposed to inaugurate a series of cultural experiments similar in purpose and outline to those being conducted on our Prairie Farms. In the carrying out of such work we are, however, very greatly handicapped because of the limited area of land at our disposal. The growth of the other Divisions and the establishment of new Divisions have necessitated the concession of small areas from time to time to make possible the new work. We have now, in all, less than two hundred acres on which to carry the stock of the Division of Animal Husbandry, and to conduct experiments, which cannot always be designed to supply the greatest amounts of the kinds of food required. By the use of soiling crops and other intensive methods, we have endeav- oured to produce a maximum of feeds. Much further economizing of space through this means is not practicable, however, and I would present for your consideration the need to acquire more land, if the Division is to carry out to best advantage the work for which it was instituted. ANIMAL HUSBANDRY DIVISION. At the commencement of the fiscal year of 1912-13, the Animal Husbandry work was made into a Division separate from Field Husbandry, by the splitting up of the former Agric\iltural Division. Two appointments were made, namely, E. S. Archi- bald, B.A., B.S.A., as Dominion Animal Husbandman, and G. B. liothwell, B.S.A., as Assistant Dominion Animal Husbandman. The field of work for this new Division covers directly the care, breeding, feeding, housing and marketing, the testing of foodstuffs, live stock methods and machinery, and much similar investigational work with horses, cattle, sheep and swine on the Central Experimental Farm. In con- sultation with the Director and the Branch Farm Superintendents, this Division will assist in the same lines of work on the Branch Farms, thus consolidating and sys- tematizing the live stock experimental work. The year 1912-13 has been most favourable to • all classes of live stock on the Central Farm. Grass started early in the spring and, although suffering slightly during the drought 'of July, yet the copious fall rains induced very heavy after-growth, which afforded excellent pasture. Unfortunately, owing to the shortage of land, only nineteen acres are available for pasturage, which prevents the expansion of the live stock work. However, the Field Husbandry Division supplies a large amount of soiling crops which facilitates fairly extensive animal feeding. There are 369 head of live stock at present in the stables, made up as follows: 18 horses, 114 pure-bred breeding dairy cattle, 24 grade dairy cattle, 5 beef steers, 57 sheep and 151 swine. HORSES. During past years, the horses were kept for labour purposes exclusively, but during the year 1912 a small start was made in breeding work. This is to gather data relat- ing to the cost of colt rearing and the many other phases of the horse industry. That every farmer should do a large amount of this work with brood mares, and raise one or more colts per year, we are convinced is profitable. Data on this subject will be most valuable. 16—3 34 EXPERIMENTAL FARM 8 4 GEORGE V., A. 1914 The eighteen horses perform all labour for the Field Husbandry, Horticultural, Cereal, Botanical and other Divisions, as well as road making, messenger service and trucking for the offices. During the past year, the teams performed 6,452 days' labour which, at 70 cents, gives a total valuation of $4,516.40 returns. ISTo experimental horse feeding was conducted during the past year. DAIRY CATTLE. The pure-bred dairy herds now in the stables are Holstein, Ayrshire, Guernsey, French Canadian and Jersey. The purpose of keeping these herds is to acquire more information along the lines of experimental breeding and feeding, to distribute a small number of breeding cattle at reasonable figures, to obtain milk with which to conduct dairy manufacturing and marketing experiments, and to demonstrate the most modern and advisable methods of economic dairy husbandry. Two grade milch cow herds, Holstein and Ayrshire, containing 12 head each, were established during the past year. These cows are kept for several reasons, namely: (1) to supply milk for dairy experimental manufacture; (2) to test the high-quality grade cow for economy of production; (3) to test the grade against the pure-bred cow, -and (4) to obtain the female offspring from these cows and sired by the best obtainable pure-bred bulls of the breeds, which should show the advantage of continued and persistent upgrading of the grade herds. This latter experiment is well under way on several branch Farms. Data of such import cannot be acquired too rapidly. Feeding Dairy Cattle. The possibility of feeding 138 head of cattle, containing 78 milch cows, on a 200-acre farm which includes only 19 acres of pasture, would scarcely be credited by the average farmer; yet this has been clearly demonstrated, and a wide margin of profit shown. This is made possible only by the use of a large amount of soiling crops, and a heavy acreage of corn for ensilage. Meals are fed to cows during the pasture season as well as in the winter. The profit accruing from meal feeding of milch cows on pasture has been demonstrated beyond a doubt and an increasingly large number of farmers are annually adopting this method. Several dairy feeding experiments of a more or less extensive nature have been started during the year, but to date there have been but few conclusive results. The value of molasses as a food for dairy cattle is receiving marked prominence from many feed companies. Many farmers are now using either the blackstrap feeding molasses or a patented molasses meal. To gain more data on this subject, a series of experiments was started, the first stage of which pointed to the following facts: (1) When molasses replaces a meal (composed of 6 parts bran, 3 parts gluten meal, 2 parts cottonseed meal, and 2 parts dried brewers' grains) pound for pound to the extent of 10 per cent of total meal fed, it proves quite satisfactory; this is due probably in large measure to the increasing of the palatability of the feed. (2) When molasses replaces the meal to the extent of 20 per cent, the cows dropped in their milk flow and milk cost, to produce, more per hundred pounds; it is worthy of note that on the 20 per cent molasses (li to 2 pounds per day) the cows gained in weight and condition. (3) When molasses replaced meal to the extent of 30 per cent, the cows dropped heavily in milk flow and milk cost more per hundred pounds. This quantity of molasses slightly scoured the cows and caused loss in bodily weight. The above is but a brief example of the investigational work being carried on with this and other foodstuffs which are in common use on our Canadian dairy farms. Milking Machines. The scarcity of good labour is the greatest problem facing the Canadian dairy- man of to-day, and nowhere else in his work as much as in the milking of cows. So REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR 35 SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 little information on this most important question of dairy labour-saving machinery is at hand that it was considered necessary to install a milking machine with which to conduct a series of experiments, and to acquire these much-needed data for the com- mercial dairyman. A Sharple3 Mechanical Milker, consisting of six units, was installed, and during the subsequent eight months much valuable information has been acquired. Altbough no conclusive evidence has yet been obtained, there are a few facts which., even at this date, are evident. These are briefly as follows: (1) At least 50 per cent of the labour in milking may be saved by the use of the milking machine, but this is partly offset by the extra work in washing and sterilizing the machine twice per day. (2) Scrupulous care must be taken in the cleaning of the machine. As yet, careful hand milking has given milk freer from bacteria, which is due largely to the difficulty of obtaining absolute sterility of the rubber parts of the milking machine without destroying the rubber. (3) The machine performs the milking operation more thoroughly than the majority of average farm hands. (4) Cows take to, and respond well to, the machine, as a rule not drying off in their milk much more than by hand milking. A separate publication covering the details of this work is planned when the experiment has covered a greater period and solutions of the many difficulties, of minor detail, have been achieved. Dairy Cow Returns. It is worthy of mention that the quality of the dairy cattle on the Central Farm continues to make improvement. The following is a brief summary, showing returns of some of the cows in the four herds. Profits are based on the following valuations : Butter, 30 cents per pound; skim milk, 20 cents per hundredweight; pasture, $1 per head per month ; hay, $7 ; straw, $4 ; green feed, $3 ; and meal, $25 per ton. No. of head. Age Years. Breed. Days in milk. Pounds milk production. Average per cent fat . Profit ove-- feed between calvings(labour,manure and calf not included). 40 3 and up Four Breeds. 360 7433 415 §65.12 13 2 Four Breeds. 391 5689 4-87 52.98 5 3 and up Ayrshire. 401 9679 3.96 6 15 94.77 5 3 and up Guernsey. 393 6600 72.49 5 3 and up Canadian. 314 6519 4 36 57.32 5 3 and up Holstein. 403 12425 338 96.69 The above figures include only cows which have finished their lactation period, some of the best profit-makei-s in the herd not being reported. The grade herds also are not included, as they have not yet finished a year's work. Although, in the above, the milk is valued on the basis of butter at 30 cent.-' per pound, or milk at $1.65 per hundred pounds, yet, in reality, the manufacture and sale of cream. Coulommier and Cheddar cheese, certified milk and the like has, on a large part of the milk, netted $3 per hundredweight. The demand for these finished dairy products in all the larger Canadian cities has opened up the possibilities of splendid markets for farmers who are willing to go into the manufacture of the same. 16— 3i 33 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 4 GEORGE V., A. 1914 The dairy manufacturing work continues to hold a very prominent position in the work of the Farm, and includes experimental and demonstrational work in the manufacturing and marketing of the above-named products. A new line of work was undertaken during the past year, namely, the production of certified milk. This naturally includes much investigation as to the most economical and perfect procedures both in the stable and in the dairy. In order to secure data that may be regarded as conclusive, this work must be continued for another year before publishing details. BEEF PRODUCTION. No breeding cattle of the beef breeds are maintained owing to lack of pasture and stable accommodation. Beef work for the past year has consisted wholly of steer-feeding experiments. Representatives of the Shorthorn, Aberdeen Angus, Hereford, and Galloway breeds, one year of age, were included in this experiment. Although not sufficiently uniform to give conclusive comparative results, yet much information of value was gained. The outstanding feature of this experiment was a demonstration of the fact that long-keep steers, especially with an absence of pas- ture and with the present high prices of food-stuffs, give but slight, if any, profit. SHEEP. The carrying of sheep on the Central Farm is continued under great difficulties. A wide field of investigation and demonstration is opened and in need of prompt attention; nevertheless, with almost no pasture accommodation, such work must remain nearly untouched. Breeding work, on a small scale, is continued with the two breeds, namely Shropshire, representing the medium. wool type, and Leicester, representing the long wool type. Probably no class of live stock is in such backward condition or needs such prompt attention from both experimental and demonstra- tional view-points as sheep. As much work as possible is being conducted on the branch Farms, both in breeding and experimental lamb feeding. swiLxe. Another most successful year is to be reported for swine husbandry as to net profit, experimental feeding, experimental breeding and the distribution, at a low price, of young, pure-bred breeding animals. Three breeds are maintained, namely, Yorkshire, Tamworth and Berkshire. Two very useful and interesting feeding experiments conducted during the year are of much importance to the swine industry. In the summer feeding of hogs for market, it was found that green cut clover, when replacing one-quarter of the meal ration, may acquire a food value of $6.20 per ton. In the winter production of pork, much valuable information relating to the comparative values of meal, skim milk and turnips for growing and fattening hogs was acquired. Such experimental work is being continued in order to demonstrate the most advantageous methods of feeding, and the comparative values of the many food-stuffs either raised on the farm or com- monly found in our markets. new cow barn. It was found necessary to build a small cow barn for the accommodation of 24 milch cows. The object of this building is to have quarters properly equipped both for the carrying on of da'.ry feeding experiments and experiments in pure milk pro-, duction. This building also contains a large room to be utilized, co-operatively with the Chemical Division, for the work on digestibility of food-stuffs. Aside from this, the barn represents a good type of complete modern dairy barn construction as to capacity, economy of structure, strength and lightness of framing, durability, con- REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR 37 SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 venience, light and ventilation; and one in which both healthy cattle and pure milk may be produced. To date, this structure has proven eminently satisfactory. The accompanying illustrations will show its type of structure. There is now at the Central Experimental Farm probably the most modern and complete system of live stock barns, which represent the best type, that can be found in Canada. Many inquiries as to the details of these buildings are coming to the Animal Husbandry Division, in increasing numbers, from all parts of Canada. In consequence, this Division each year is assisting an increasingly large number of farmers in planning for, either the erection of new, or tbe remodelling of old, farm buildings. Such work is encouraged as much as possible ' owing to the fact that the average Canadian farm barn is most undesirable for the maintenance of healthy stock or the economical production of high-quality milk and beef. The correspondence of this Division includes inquiries from all parts of Canada relating to the many phases of animal husbandry, such as the best known methods of feeding, breeding, care, management, housing and the prevention and treatment of the many minor ailments of all classes of stock. In consequence, a large amount of information is distributed. The Dominion Animal Husbandman, in attending to his duties outside the Central Experimental Farm, has officially visited each of the Branch Farms on which live stock work is conducted or being planned for. In addition much of his time was taken up in attending meetings in various parts of Canada, judging at numerous exhibitions and in studying live stock conditions and the needs for experimental and demonstrational work relating to the same. HOETICULTUEAL DIVISION. The Horticultural Division has charge of the orchards, small fruit and vegetable plantations, forest belts and ornamental trees and shrubs on the Central Experimental Farm, and carries on experiments in cultural methods and varieties, in spraying and in the breeding of new fruits, vegetables, and ornamental plants. In addition to the work on the Central Farm as much aid is given as possible on the branch Farms and Stations in developing horticulture. Much correspondence is carried on by the Horticultural Division with farmers and horticulturists throughout Canada and other countries. FRUIT AND VEGETABLE CROPS IN CANADA, 1912 The apple crop in most fruit districts of Canada in 1912 was scarcely a medium one, but in British Columbia it was good. In Eastern Canada, the fruit which was comparatively free of apple scab in the early part of the season, became badly affected in many places in the latter part of the summer, owing, doubtless, to the damp weather. This reduced the grade and the prices, which for the best fruit were rela- tively low. In Eastern Ontario and the southwestern part of the province of Quebec, the ravages of the Tent Caterpillar lessened the crop very much where the tr^ees were not thoroughly sprayed, and left the latter in bad condition for developing fruit buds for 1913. Pears were a good crop in the warmer parts of Nova Scotia, but in Ontario tbe crop was below medium. In the upper part of British Columbia it was good, but rather light in the lower mainland and on Vancouver island. The same notes will apply to the plum crop as to the pear, except that along the lower St. Lnwrenee, especially in L'Islet county, it was good. A noted feature of the disposal of the plum crop here was that the bulk of it was canned locally and sold co-operatively. 33 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 4 GEORGE V., A'. 19,14 The peach crop in Ontario was a medium to good one, but the prices obtained were not as high as usual. In the Okanagan district of British Columbia, where most of the peaches of that province are produced, the crop of fruit was good, but the prices obtained were low. The grape, which is one of the most reliable fruits, gave a good average crop in I \ i tario, where it is mainly grown. Owing to the cool season almost everywhere in Canada, the tenderer kinds of vegetables, such as tomatoes, melons, squash, etc., did not ripen as well as usual, but those vegetables, the foliage, roots or tubers of which are used, did well. The potato crop was a particularly good one, nearly everywhere in Canada where it is grown; but, unfortunately, as is often the case when the yield is large, the price obtained was small. At the Central Experimental Farm the crop of apples was medium to good and very free from scab and Codling Moth. There were a few European plums and a good crop of the American varieties. The cherry crop was almost a total failure, as usual, the flower buds being nearly always injured by winter. The grape crop was below medium, and the fruit did not ripen as thoroughly as in some years. The crop of currants, gooseberries, and raspberries was light to medium, and the crop of strawberries good. The potato crop was very good; tomatoes, below medium and melons light. Most of the other vegetables did well. DIVISION AND UTILIZATION OF LAND. The area of land in the Horticultural Division at the Central Experimental Farm is 99 acres, divided as follows: — Fruits and vegetables 46 acres. Forest belts 21 " Ornamental grounds 30 " Nursery and rose garden 2 " Total 99 acres. On this area of land are grown a very large number of plants of tree fruits, small fruits, vegetables, forest trees, and ornamental trees, shrubs and herbaceous plants in more or less permanent plantations, and in nursery rows. The lawns are extensive, and require much care to keep them in good condition. Owing to the large number of experiments in progress, the work involved in giving the necessary attention to them on this ninety-nine acres is very heavy, compared with what it would be on the same area under commercial crops, wbere the labour could be reduced to a minimum. The Horticultural Division may at present be divided into five parts, or heads, under which most of the work falls. These are as follows: — 1. Pomology. 2. Vegetable Gardening. 3. Ornamental Gardening. 4. Plant Breeding. 5. Correspondence and Office Work. In addition to tl :..~:.e, or rather included in them, is the work in connection with the branch Farms; the forest belts planted both for ornamental purposes and to test the rate of tree growth; meetings attended, publications and visits to other horticul- tural districts for the purpose of studying conditions in different parts of Canada. REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR 39 SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 POMOLOGY. Under Pomology is included the study of varieties of fruits for the purpose of learning their relative merits in regard to yield, season, quality, and profit. It also includes the identification, classification, and description of fruits as well as their propagation, planting and care, with experiments in cultural methods, including spray- ing. The exhibition and judging of fruits may be grouped under Pomology. During the past year, this part of the work has received much attention. Many varieties have been described in detail on cards, which are filed for future reference and compilation. Varieties which have been sent in for identification have been named and the information sent to the correspondents. Many new varieties have been propagated for test on the Central and Branch Farms, and for trial in other places, and a number of new ones have been planted out at Ottawa. A Wealthy Apple Orchard Closely Planted. In 1896, a small orchard of about one-third of an acre was planted with Wealthy apple trees, ten feet apart each way, there being 144 trees in all, or at the rate of 435 trees per acre. Trees have been taken out from time to time until, in 1912, there were 97 remaining. A record has been kept of the cost of caring for this orchard and of the revenue therefrom. The total net profit per acre, 1896-1912 (17 years), has been $1,508.24. The average net profit per acre per year from date of planting is $S8.72, and the average net profit per acre per year from date of fruiting, 1899, is $107.73. Spraying Experiments. Among experiments in spraying conducted in the Horticultural Division in 1912, was one for the purpose of comparing the relative value of the lime-sulphur wash with Bordeaux mixture in controlling late blight of the potato. The average differ- ence in yield in favour of Bordeaux mixture over nine varieties was 62 bushels 36 pounds per acre. EXHIBITION! Fruit was exhibited at the Provincial Exhibition, Quebec; the Central Canada Exhibition, Ottawa; and the Annual Meeting of the Society for Horticultural Science, at Cleveland, Ohio. Fruit was also judged at several places by officers of the Horticultural Division. VEGETABLE GARDENING. This includes the testing of varieties of vegetables for comparison of their relative merits as regards season, yield, quality, etc.; the comparison of different strains of the same variety; cultural methods, and spraying; and the study of commercial methods of production both in the field and under glass. In 1912, special attention was paid to potatoes, peas, and tomatoes, though all the principal kinds of vegetables were under experiment. Potatoes. Thorough spraying with Bordeaux mixture to prevent late blight, and the applica- tion of a mixture of 1£ pounds arsenate of lead and 8 ounces of Paris green to 40 gal- lons of water to control potato beetles, with thorough culture and a good season, ensured a good crop of votatoes in 1912. Among 136 varieties of potatoes tested in uniform plots in 1912, the following were the most productive twelve, in order of total yield per acre: Dalmeny Hero, 580 bushels 48 pounds; Eureka Extra Early, 563 bushels 12 pounds; Table Talk, 554 bushels 24 pounds; Conquering Hero, 550 bushels; Rochester Rose, 536 bushels 48 43 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 4 GEORGE V., A. 1914 pounds; Delaware, 528 bushels; Burpee's Extra Early, 519 bushels 12 pounds; Dal- housie Seedling, 519 bushels 12 pounds; Early Hebron, 514 bushels 48 pounds: Carman No. 1, 510 bushels 24 pounds; Houlton Kose, 501 bushels 36 pounds; Clyde, 499 bushels 24 pounds. TOMATOES UNDER GLASS. Eor the past two winters, a variety test of tomatoes has been conducted in the greenhouse. Taking- the results of the two years, the following varieties have given the most satisfactory returns: Industry, Sutton's Satisfaction, Livingston's Globe, Bonny Best, and Winter Beauty. ORNAMENTAL GARDENING. \ Under Ornamental Gardening comes the culture of ornamental trees, shrubs, and herbaceous plants, and the study of their individual characteristics, such as height, form, colouring, and season of bloom, so that information will be available to Canadians to enable them to plant their places in such a way that the trees, shrubs and herbaceous plants will blend or be contrasted with one another to form pleasing landscape effects. The education of the people by lectures and bulletins on orna- mental gardening and the encouragement of the beautifying of home surroundings, so much needed in Canada, also received attention during the year. In addition, large collections of roses, irises, phloxes, paconies, lilacs, gladioli, geraniums and other ornamental plants have been got together for study. There was a fine display of these at the Central Farm in 1912 and visitors were much interested and pleased with the ornamental grounds as a whole. NOVELTIES OF MERIT TESTED. Many varieties of annuals were tested in 1912, among these being some novelties of merit: Alonsoa Warscewiczii compacta Cosmos C-i'mson Bay, Calliopsis Radiata Golden Bay, Dimorphotheca aurantiaca hybrids, Hcliauthus Helios, Linaria Maroccana Excelsior, Nemesia hyhrida Blue Gem, Papaver Danebrog; and Phlox paniculata Elizabeth Campbell and Phlox paniculata Frau Anton Buchner, perennials. FOREST BELTS. The forest belts, planting in which was begun in 1888, furnish interesting data on the relative growth of the different timber trees and the merits of mixing the species or of planting them in blocks of one kind. The annual measurements of a number of trees were taken in 1912, as in previous years. PLANT BREEDING. The improvement of fruits, vegetables, and ornamental plants by cross-breeding and selection, and the study of the laws of inheritance in different kinds and varieties of horticultural plants is, in brief, the field of work which is covered in plant breeding in the Horticultural Division. Up to comparatively recent years, Canada has had to depend almost entirely on other countries for her new varieties of fruits, vegetables, and ornamental plants, and, while many of these succeed admirably in this country, it is felt that, if originated in a climate more nearly like where they are to be grown than has been the case in many instances in the past, those that show especial merit are likely to prove more useful than are those introduced from climates very dis- similar. During the past twenty-five years, much attention has been paid to the breeding of horticultural plants at the Central Experimental Earm. REPORT OF TEE DIRECTOR 41 SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 NEW VARIETIES OF APPLES. Many varieties of apples of handsome appearance and good quality have origin- ated in the Horticultural Division, and the best of these have been sent out for test to different parts of Canada to compare with those already on the market. In 1912 there were 152 varieties of apples originated in the Horticultural Division which fruited for the first time. Of the total of 1,148 new sorts which have fruited, 81 have been named. The following names were given to varieties fruiting in 1912 : Ascot, Brisco, Diana, Epsom, Galena, Grover, Humber, Manda, Moreno, Orlando, Pandora, Pedro, Ramona, Eustler, Vermac. There were some very promising seedlings of Northern Spy apple which fruited in 1912. These show much greater hardiness than Spy while preserving many of the Spy characteristics and, with a fruiting season from autumn to late winter, it is expected that in time some of these will take the place of varieties now on the market. Cross-bred Varieties of Apples Originated by Dr. Wm. Saunders. Many varieties of hardy hybrid apples, crosses between the Siberian crab (Pyrus baccata) and the apple originated by Dr. Wm. Saunders, have already been intro- duced into the prairie provinces and have proven hardier than any previously tested there. Second crosses now fruiting which have a larger quota of apple blood have given fruit 2£ inches in diameter and, if they prove sufficiently hardy on the prairies, will be very valuable. Some named in 1912 are: Angus, Elkhorn, Gretna, Trail and Wapella. New varieties of black currants and raspberries of much merit have been intro- duced. These were also originated by Dr. Saunders. Seedling Strawberries. New and promising varieties of strawberries originated in the Horticultural Division were named in 1912 as follows: Cassandra, Cordelia, Desdemona, Hermia, Julia, Lucetta, Mariana, Miranda, Ophelia, Portia, Silvia, Viola, and Virgilia. Seedling Plumi The following names were given to promising new plums in 1912: Corona, Fir- mana, Hazel, Ehoda, and Vesta. EARLY STRAINS OF VEGETABLES. Special attention is being paid to the development of early strains of vegetables which will be of great value in the colder parts of Canada, as well as in the more temperate sections. Good progress was made in this work in 1912, and provision has been made for greater efforts in plant-breeding in the future. CARD INDEX' SYSTEM. The card index system installed last year in the Horticultural Division for the purpose of filing the records of the Central Farm and branch Farms and Stations has entailed a large amount of work, but is proving very satisfactory. BRANCH FARMS. The work of the Horticultural Division in relation to the branch Farms and Stations has grown rapidly. It is its aim to aid the Superintendents in as many ways as possible and to help them develop the horticultural work on the Farms of which they have charge, and also to help to so systematize the work that the results will be 42 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 4 GEORGE V., A. 1914 made of the greatest value to the people of Canada. Curing the past year, much has been done in the directions above mentioned. Material, consisting of plants, seeds, labels, record books and other things have been furnished the branch Farms and Stations through the Horticultural Division, as in previous years. In order to learn what plants and seeds are needed, and to keep the Government in touch with the results of experimental work throughout Canada, the record books of the branch Farms and Stations are sent to the Central Farm each year and what information is needed is copied on cards representing a Central Card Index System, making it easy to learn what is growing at each of the Farms. The Superintendents furnish reports to the Dominion Horticulturist, each week, of the work which has been done so that he may be in a position to answer any questions which may be asked at any time of the year in regard to what is being done in horticulture at the branch Farms. In 1912, the Dominion Horticulturist visited all the branch Experimental Farms and Stations, some of them more than once, and made plans with the Superintendents for the development of the horticultural work. Seedling Apples at Prairie Farms. In the effort to obtain hardy varieties of apples for the prairie provinces, seed- ling trees of the hardiest Russian apples in addition to the hybrids originated by Dr. Wm. Saunders are now being grown in large numbers, and tested at the six: Prairie Farms. The plan is to plant yearlings in nursery rows three feet apart and the plants one foot apart in the row and leave them in these rows until they have gone through two or three winters, when these proving hardy will be transplanted to orchards. In 1912, there were 18,000 of these sent from Ottawa and planted, about 3,000 at each of the six Prairie Farms. Seed of apples fruited in Manitoba has been planted to compare the trees grown from these with those grown at Ottawa of the .same varieties. A large quantity of seed was sown in the autumn of 1912, as it is desired to test this method on a large scale. PLACES VISITED AND MEETINGS ATTENDED. The Dominion Horticulturist, who was appointed a delegate to the Royal Inter- national Horticultural Exhibition held in London, England on May 22-30, 1912, attended this great exhibition, the largest horticultural show ever held in any country. While in England, he visited a number of places to obtain information useful to him in his work. While making his visits to the branch Farms in Canada he took the opportunity of studying conditions in several places and districts in different parts of the West. He made a special inspection of the nurseries in British Columbia. Some of the more important meetings which the Dominion Horticulturist attended were: The Annual Meeting of the Ontario Fruit Growers' Association, Toronto, Ont. ; Annual Meeting of Ontario Horticultural Association, Toronto, Ont.; Annual Meet- ing of the Niagara Peninsula Fruit Growers' Association, Grimsby, Ont., and St. Catharines, Ont. The Annual Meeting of the Quebec Pomoloo:ical Society was attended at Ma ed on aid College, Que. At all of these meetings addresses were given. As President of the Society for Horticultural Science, he delivered the Presidential address at the Annual Meeting held at Cleveland, Ohio, on December 31, 1012. The Assistants in the Horticultural Division also attended meetings, delivered addresses, and helped judge at various exhibitions. REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR 43 SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 THE CEREAL DIVISION. The season of 1912 was distinctly unfavourable for cereals over almost the whole of Canada. During the early part of the summer drought and intense heat were prevalent; and these conditions were followed by months of wet, cool weather, about as unfavourable for the ripening and harvesting of grain as could well be imagined. Under such conditions, normal crops could not be expected, and the injury done to grain intended for seed purposes was very great. In some districts the heat and drought of early summer caused the young plants of cereals to produce a small number of heads rather prematurely. Later on, when wet weather came, stooling of the plants occurred and a considerable crop of late heads was produced. There was not ttme, as a rule, for these to ripen; but they grew to a good height and often quite overshadowed the earlier heads; so that when the first heads were ready for harvesting they were almost hidden beneath a mass of green stalks. Under conditions such as these, it was quite impossible to make as accurate observations as usual on the dates of ripening of the various cereals. The yields obtained were also rather misleading, espcially owing to the fact that the early-maturing varieties suffered most, because they were farther advanced when the wet weather set in and were, therefore, less capable of recuperating. The first severe frosts came rather later in autumn than usual. The results ol the season were therefore less disastrous tban might have been expected. The quality of the grain was, however, considerably lowered in most districts, while in some localities sprouting of the seed in the stooks occurred to a very seriou3 extent. Cereal investigations and the propagation of new and approved varieties for dis- tribution and sale could not make very good progress in such an adverse season, but pome valuable observations were made, and on some of the Experimental Farms a considerable quantity of seed grain of good germination was harvested. VISITS TO BRANCH FARMS AND STATIONS. The eastern Farms were visited by the Dominion Cerealist in July, and those in the west in August and September. The conditions affecting cereals were carefully studied and plans were made, by consultation with the Superintendents, for modifica- tions and improvements in the work whenever such seemed practicable. At Cap Rouge the very unfavourable, wet spring had been followed almost immediately by hot, dry weather. Under such abnormal conditions the prospects for grain crops were very poor. At Charlottetown and Nappan, the grain was in a much healthier state, and gave promise of reasonably good yields. Harvesting was in progress — between showers — at the western Farms when these were visited in August. While, for the reasons already explained, the season was an unfavourable one for early-maturing varieties of grain, general satisfaction Was found to prevail in regard to the harvest prospects for the early varieties of wheat. Marquis and Prelude. In most instances, the high expectations were fully justified by the weight of grain threshed. "While the varieties of cereals under cultivation in some of the older settled portions of Manitoba and Saskatchewan are satisfactory, and the need of new and improved kinds is not very great, the condition of affairs is quite otherwise in northern districts an.1 over a large portion of Alberta, where the early-maturing varieties of wheat hitherto introduced, including Marquis, can not be depended on to ripen every season, especially when sown on summer-fallow land. For these con- ditions, Prelude wheat will be of enormous value, but tests of a large number of the new cross-bred sorts produced by the Dominion Cerealist at Ottawa and now available for trial elsewhere should be inaugurated without delay, so that the very best vnrie- 44 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 4 GEORGE V., A. 1914 ties for the various conditions of soil and climate may be discovered. In barley and oats, also, there is need for more extensive variety tests than are possible at present. About a hundred important, new cross-bred barleys are now being tested at Ottawa only, and these should be studied at other points as well. MARQUIS WHEAT. Marquis wheat was so fully discussed in the report of last year that a passing reference will be sufficient on this occasion. The year 1912 has been another ' Marquis year,' owing to the conditions being rather unfavourable for the growing of Red Fife. Not only did Marquis give yields which, as usual, surpassed Red Fife, on the great majority of farms, but the winning of the highest award at the International Dry- Farming Congress at Lethbridge last autumn again attracted the attention of the whole world to this variety. Marquis is now being grown by so many farmers in almost all parts of the western country that there has been no difficulty in securing good seed this winter. While any attempt to estimate the probable acreage of Mar- quis for the coming season will probably be quite inaccurate, it appears' that at least one million acres of this variety will be sown. The widespread popularity of Marquis is all the more noteworthy when we recall that this variety was introduced into Sas- katchewan in 1907, when about half a bushel of seed was sent from Ottawa for trial on the Experimental Farm at Indian Head. Almost the whole of the seed now in the farmers' hands traces back to that first shipment, very little seed grown at Ottawa having since been sent out. Many excellent yields of Marquis wheat were reported last season, the most remarkable being on the Indian Head Farm, where a plot of one-fortieth of an acre gave a crop at the rate of over 81 bushels per acre. This is probably a world's record for spring wheat. PRELUDE WHEAT. Preliminary tests at Ottawa and at some of the branch Experimental Farms having cleai'ly demonstrated the great value of this new variety, a few small samples were sent last spring to farmers in Saskatchewan and Alberta, so that a better idea might be obtained as to its adaptability to various districts. The tests on the branch Farms were also increased in number and in acreage. The season was particularly unfavourable for varieties which develop rapidly, because excessive heat and drought prevailed during the early part of the summer, conditions which proved very trying to all grains which were moderately well advanced. Those sorts which develop slowly were not so seriously injured. In one or two cases, small plots of Prelude wheat were almost entirely destroyed during this dry period; but, on the whole, the record made by the new variety was most satisfactory, the yields in some instances being really remarkable. Two special cases deserve mention. Mr. E. B. Cay, of Beatty (near Melfort), Sask., sowed five pounds of Prelude wheat on one-fifth of an acre of larid and threshed C03 pounds. Mr. W. J. Borton, of Bottrel, Alberta, sowed one pound of seed on a relatively large piece of land and secured 123 pounds of clean grain. Of course in this case the wheat did not ripen so early as it would have done had it been sown more thickly. One would not advise such extremely thin seeding under ordinary circum- stances, but it is perhaps justifiable when only a very small quantity of seed can be obtained, and when its value is (as in the present instance) quite beyond any ordinary scale of prices. The conclusions to be drawn from the experience of this past season confirm those of previous years. Prelude wheat can be unhesitatingly recommended as the best variety available for districts where extreme earliness is necessary and where there is a tendency toward the production of long straw. For dry districts, where straw is apt to be short, Prelude cannot be recommended. The Dominion Cerealist hopes to intro- REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR 45 SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 duce a very early-maturing sort in the near future which, though not quite so early in ripening as Prelude, will produce somewhat longer straw. A very early-maturing wheat with decidedly long straw may perhaps be an impossibility. The regular distribution of Prelude wheat in five-pound samples was commenced this winter. As there was on hand only a very small stock of seed, compared with the amount asked for, it was necessary to refuse most of the applications which were received, especially those from districts where the need of this particular variety was not so very great. More than 200 samples were sent out, chiefly to northern localities in what may be roughly described as the settled areas of Saskatchewan and Alberta. Provision has been made for a good acreage of Prelude on the Experimental Farms this season, so that there may be a large stock for distribution, and perhaps some seed for sale also, next winter. DISTRIBUTION OF SEED GRAIN BY MAIL. The annual free distribution of seed grain and potatoes, whicn is now in pro- gress, is being carried on in a manner similar to that of the previous year. The grain for distribution was grown chiefly on the Experimental Farms at Indian Head and Brandon. Some Ottawa seed is also being used and the stock of potatoes has been obtained entirely from a field grown on the Central Experimental Farm under the supervision of the Dominion Botanist. In spite of the unfavourable character of the season, both the yield and quality of these potatoes were unusually good. All grain for distribution is grown with the greatest care, so as to be free from admixture with other varieties. After threshing, it is thoroughly cleaned by the best obtainable grain-cleaning machinery and, finally, it is hand-picked, if necessary, to remove any remaining impurities. By these precautions, it is possible to send out seed of the very highest type, distinctly superior, as a rule, to the best commercial stocks. While the adoption of so high a standard makes it impossible to distribute as large amounts as in years gone by, there is no doubt of the advantages of the pre- sent system. Seasonable regulations are now being enforced so that samples of seed are sent only to those applicants whose requests give evidence of some thought. Those who have failed to send a report on a sample received in a previous season are not eligible for further samples. Considering its inherent difficulties, the claim may fairly be made that this distribution is now managed in such a way as to give general satisfaction. Undoubtedly it is proving of immense value to Canada. The principal varieties distributed this season are as follows : — Spring Wheat. — Marquis, Bed Fife, White Fife, Huron, Prelude. Barley. — Manchurian (6-row), Canadian Thorpe (2-row). Oats. — Banner, Abundance, Ligowo, Daubeney. Peas. — Arthur, Golden Vine. Potatoes. — Irish Cobbler, Gold Coin, Carman No. I1, Delaware. MILLING AND BAKING TESTS. An extensive series of milling and baking tests has been carried on during the past winter. These h.'-ve included many new cross-bred varieties produced at Ottawa by the Dominion Cercdist, and some of the standard, old varieties as well. The samples tested were chie^y grown at Ottawa, last season, but samples from some of the branch Experimental Farms were included, as it is important to study the varia- tions which occur in baking qualities when varieties of wheat are grown under different conditions. 46 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 4 GEORGE V., A. 1914 Attention is being given to problems in connection with the making of bread, both' from a baker's point of view and a housekeeper's; and the laboratory is now prepared to investigate any cases of contaminated, spoiled or suspicious flour which may be submitted. No detailed report of the teste of this winter will be made at present, as it is intended to publish a bulletin on this subject as soon as practicable, giving an account of most of the work which has been done along these lines for several years. EXPERIMENTS WITH VARIETIES OF GRAIN AT OTTAWA. On the Central Experimental Farm, last season, there were grown four principal series of plots : — 1. Very small plots of unfixed types produced in the second and later genera- tions from cross-bred seeds. 2. Small propagation plots in which the new cross-bred sorts which have shown themselves to be fixed in character are increased until enough seed is available for a plot of one-sixtieth of an acre. A few named (commercial) sorts are also grown in these plots, as well as selected strains from named varieties (commercial or other- wise). 3. The regular series of plots of one-sixtieth of an acre each, in which the com- parative tests of varieties are carried on. ■1. Larger plots of varying size where those varieties which have given evidence of special merit are propagated on as large a scale as the limited amount of land (and sometimes of seed) permits. Seed from the best of these plots is sent to the branch Experimental Farms the following year for more extended trial. The following figures will give an idea of the extent of this work, last season, at Ottawa: — Very small plots of cross-bred sorts, not yet fixed 470 Small propagation plots 201 Plots of one-sixtieth of an acre 434 Larger propagation plots 45 Total plots 1,150 There were grown at Ottawa, last season, the following numbers of varieties of wheat, emmer, oats, barley, peas, rye, beans and flax: — New cross-bred varieties, under numbers 426 Cross-bred varieties, named 38 Selected strains from commercial sorts 83 Commercial sorts, unselected 58 Total varieties and selections COS The above figures would have been somewhat larger if there had been enough land available for the ( ereal Division to make possible the sowing of all the varieties which were on hand. Unfortunately, a large number of barley plots had to be omitted on account of the short, ige of land. In view of the great amount of material which is being studied, it should be explained that the object in view is to test a multitude of varieties and finally though Ling almost all of them, to retain everything which has shown outstanding merit. REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR 47 SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 To the public, there will be introduced only a few of the very best sorts. The great disadvantage of introducing too many varieties for the use of the farming community is fully recognized, and any such error is being carefully guarded against. Very short lists of varieties recommended for cultivation in the different provinces are published from time to time, for the guidance of farmers. CROSS-BREEDING AND SELECTING CEREALS AT OTTAWA. Cross-breeding and selection have been continued as in other years. An interest- ing new beardless barley called - Arlington Awnless,' which has recently been intro- duced by the Department of Agriculture at Washington, furnished an opportunity of making some promising new crosses for the production of still better beardless sorts. Crosses were also made last summer between Marquis and Prelude wheats, for the purpose of combining, as far as possible, the splendid qualities of these two varieties. Other crosses in wheat and oats, were effected. The amount of material now on hand is very great, but it is felt that some new crosses should be made from time to time, so that Canada may not lose the high posi- tion she now holds by the remarkably successful efforts which have been made here for the improvement of cereals. DIVISION OF CHEMISTRY. As heretofore, the work of the Chemical Division, under the superintendence of Mr. F. J. Shutt, Dominion Chemist and Assistant Director, has been carried forward with a two-fold purpose — the prosecution of research which might lead to the solution of problems in Canadian agriculture, general and specialized, and) the more immediate and direct education and assistance of the individual farmer in matters pertaining to his every-day work. Though spoken of here, for the sake of clearness and con- venience, as distinct classes of work, there is, at times, no sharp line of demarcation to be drawn between them. One frequently prompts and assists the other and thus it is, {that many investigations of wide importance have been taken in hand as the result of information or suggestion contained in a correspondent's appeal for help. Much of the most fruitful and timely work, yielding results of an essentially practical and widely useful character, has been the outcome of efforts to obtain the data necessary to enable one judiciously to advise ,the farmer in his difficulty. Naturally, no detailed account can be given in the report of the year's activities in this branch of the work, which seeks directly to advise and inform the farmer through correspondence. It must, therefore, suffice to say that the endeavour has been made to make the Division a Bureau of Information in matters relating to the Chemistry of Agriculture, to which all may apply, and that there is a steadily increas- ing number of those who are sending in questions having reference to the economical maintenance and increase of soil fertility, the nature and amounts of plant-food constituents in manures and fertilizers, the special requirements of crops and farm animals, the relative nutritive values of forage crops and feeding stuffs, the composi- tion of dairy products, the constitution and preparation of insecticides and fungi- cides, and a host of allied subjects in general and specialized farming that call for chemical aid. The experience of twenty-five years has shown this work of answering inquiries and reporting on samples sent in by farmers to be most useful, giving help v, lien and where it is wanted to those who will benefit by it. It has proved very popular and it is thought, successful in disseminating knowledge to those on the farm and further, has won for the reports and bulletins of the Farms many interested and earnest readers. This educational work necessarily occupies a considerable por- tion of the time of the Chief of the Division. 43 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS. 4 GEORGE V., A. 1914 A classified list of samples received for examination from farmers and of those in connection with the various investigations that have been carried on during the year, is presented in the following table. The total number, 2,821, exceeds that of the previous year by nearly 500, and of 1911 by over 1,000, a fair indication of the increasing appreciation on the part of farmers of this branch of the work. Samples Received for Examination and Report for the Twelve Months ended March 31, 1913. a o ei . c3 cj Samples. o g8 -p CD "3 CO n O 3 <5 -to o d tionally good, and in one or two cases only- due to unfavourable weather conditions — could the roots be accounted too poor for profitable sugar extraction. Averaging the results from the three varieties tested at :h Farm, the highest sugar-content was obtained at Lethbridge, Alta., on the n< irrigated plot (17-68 per cent) and the lowest at Brandon, Alan.. (13-40 per cent). three Farms in the the average sugar-content was above 17 per cent and at three others between 15 per cent and IT per cent. It has been conch from this investigation, which lias been carried on systematically since 1901, that beets suitable for factory purposes can be grown at widely distant points in the Dominion. FERTILIZING MATERIALS. These include naturally-occurring materials and certain by-products of agricul- tural value by reason of the plant food they possess. Those analyzed and reported on during the year include marl and similar calcareous deposits, ground limestone, agricultural limestone — a product from lime-kilns — gypsum or land es, river, marsh and mussel muds, lobster refuse from the packing -houses, dog-fish scrap, a potash residue from the oxygemacetylene plant and several other prodn of fertilizing value. Without inserting analytical data — which space forbids — it would be impossible here intelligently to discuss the agricultural importance of all these varied materi The reader must, therefore, refer to the annual report of the Division of Chemistry where they are considered in detail and their uses indicated. It must suffice to say that many of them can be very cheaply obtained and will be found of value in improv- il h and in supplying notable amounts of plant food. Some of these are of the nature of amendment thers may be ranked with commercial fertilizers, and all may em loyed, as conditions dictate, as aids to the maintenance and increase of soil fertility. ;CTICIDES AND FUNGICIDES. The more important materials of this nature examined during the year are included in the following list: Formaldehyde, copper-sulphate, agricultural blue- earbolized wheat protector, apterite, lime-sulphur wash, potassium cyanide and I arsenate. Only one sample of formaldehyde was found below standard strength. The alts generally show that the manufacturers are putting out an article of very fairly uniform strength and one in conformity with the guarantee. 16— 4£ 52 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 4 GEORGE V., A. 1914 Of the samples of bluestone submitted, two were found to contain notable per- centages of sulphate of iron ; they were, in fact, ' agricultural bluestone ' being sold lor bluestone, which is sulphate of copper. Agricultural bluestone is the name given to a crystalline mixture of sulphate of (•upper and sulphate of iron. For the treatment of wheat it is distinctly inferior in fungicidal properties to bluestone proper and for the preparation of Bordeaux mix- ture it is useless. Readers are cautioned against buying it. Carbolized wheat protector is a preparation found to consist essentially of sul- phate of iron and crude carbolic acid. Its efficiency for the prevention of smut in grain is extremely doubtful. Apterite is a compound described as a ' soil fumigant and fertilizer.' It is essen- tially a mixture of sulphides of lime (probably gas lime) with naphthalene. Experience in Canada with similar preparations is as yet limited, but such as there is has not been very favourable. Five brands of lime-sulphur sold in Canada have been analyzed, the sulphide sulphur ranging from 21-87 per cent to 25-09 per cent, amounts that may be con- sidered satisfactory. The larger number of lime-sulphur washes put on the market by reputable firms have been found of good quality. Potassium cyanide, when obtained in sealed original containers, has proved of guaranteed strength. The chemical rapidly deteriorates on exposure, so that samples taken from open bottles are frequently of inferior quality. Very considerable differences in lead arsenate content have been found to exist amoung the various brands of this insecticide upon the market, and results obtained here point to the desirability of compelling the manufacturer to give a guarantee on the label of the package, stating the percentage of arsenate of lead present. THE FERTILIZING VALUE OF RAIN AND SNOW. The total precipitation, as recorded at the Central Experimental Farm, Ottawa, for the year ending February 29, 1913, was 39-36 inches, 9-62 inches falling in the form of snow. Analysis showed that this furnished 6-141 pounds of nitrogen, per acre, in forms readily available for crop use. Records taken here indicate that the proportions of this amount furnished respectively by the rain and the snow, have not appreciably varied for the past four years, about eight-tenths of the nitrogen com- pounds being found in the rain. THE WATER-SUPPLY OF FARM HOMESTEADS. Of the 386 waters sent in during the year from various parts- of the Dominion, 1 v;8 have been submitted to complete sanitary analysis. Of these, 89 were pronounced as pure and wholesome, 43 as suspicious and probably dangerous, 41 as severely con- taminated and 15 as too saline to be used as a potable supply. The worst waters were from shallow wells dug in barnyards, or in the neighbour- hood of similar sources of pollution. These merely draw upon the ground water in their immediate vicinity and must become, by reason of their location, contaminated. The abandonment of such wells is strongly advocated. The bored, or driven well, obtaining its supply from a deep-seated source, and below one or more strata of impervious rock, has, h'a rule, yielded good water. Both as to quantity and quality. the bored well is more satisfactory than the 'hole in the ground' so commonly found in the country. It is gratifying to note that such wells are now replacing the old form of supply on many Canadian farms. REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR 53 SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 MISCELLANEOUS. The work of the year has also included the analysis of 185 samples for the Meat Inspection Division, Department of Agriculture. These were collected at the various packing houses in Canada and included lards, preserved meats, dye stuffs and colour- ing matters, preservatives, pickling solutions, spices and condiments, etc., etc. This examination is made with a view of determining their nature, purity and character of adulteration, if present. Samples of water from Coquitlam lake, B.C., the source of the supply for the city of New Westminster, and where a large dam is being constructed, have been examined monthly for the Water Power Branch, Department of the Interior, for which Branch, also, a number of mechanical analyses of ' fill ' used in dam construc- tion in different parts of the Dominion have been made. For the Dominion Parks Branch, Department of the Interior, a report has been made monthly on the water supply used at Banff, Alta. Analyses show this to be a water of exceptional purity. Analyses of a number of natural waters have been made at the request of the Department of Marine and Fisheries, with a view to determining if certain alleged pollution might be such as to affect fish life or lessen their value in hatchery opera- tions. Also, as for many years past, reports have been made on the composition of dog- fish scrap produced at the Government Reduction Works in the Maritime Provinces. DIVISION OF FORAGE PLANTS. The desirability of a closer study of those plants useful as food for stock has become more and more evident from year to year. Until 1909, experimental work with forage plants constituted part of the work of the Division of Entomology and Botany, under the late Dr. James Fletcher. After his death, separate Divisions of Entomology and of Botany were formed. That part of forage plant investigation dealing with the families of grasses and leguminous plants was taken over by the latter Division, while the study of field roots and Indian corn was carried on by the Cereal Division. In 1912, it was felt that the growing need of wider experimental work, looking both to the testing of present varieties and to the originating of new and improved sorts, demanded the creation of a Division of Forage Plants, under the charge of a specialist in this line of work. Accordingly, all forage plant investigational work was placed in the hands of Dr. M. O. Malte, a brief ' account of whose career appears else- where in this report. The farm plants coming within the scope of the Work of this Division are: — 1. Field roots. 2. Indian corn. 3. Leguminous plants. •4. Grasses. In addition to these groups of forage plants, some experiments with broom corn are also being conducted by the Division. FIELD ROOTS. The work with field roots, including turnips, mangels, carrots and sugar beets, was continued along the lines followed in the immediately preceding years, i.e., it con- sisted chiefly in the testing of different varieties as to yielding power. Of turnips (including swedes), nineteen varieties were tested, the highest yield- ing variety being Best of All, with a crop of 40 tons 1,634 pounds per acre. 54 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 4 GEORGE V., A. 1914 Of mangels, twenty-three varieties were tested. The highest yielding varieties were four of the Yellow Globe type, which averaged 42 tons, 1,303 pounds per acre. The other nineteen varieties yielded a much smaller crop, their average being 2G tons, 5 per acre. Of earr> its, six varieties were grown, their average yield being 18 tons, 545 pounds per acre. Of sugar beets, three varieties were tested, the average yield being 15 tons, 1,978 pounds to the acre. INDIAN CORN. Of Indian corn, twelve varieties were tested, yielding an average of 16 tons, 1,700 pounds to the acre. The very wet weather during the first part of June, and the unfavourable conditions during practically the entire season had, on the wl quite a disturbing effect on the results of the experiments. CLOVER, ALFALFA AND GRASSF.S. The year's work with leguminous forage plants and grasses consisted chiefly, save for comparative testing of the yield of those 'varieties' which were alrea growing in the experimental field, in starting the breeding of new varieties and strai from old, long-tried species. As is well known, the production of new varieties and strains can be accom- plished by following three main courses, viz.: — 1. Line Breeding, i.e., breeding from individual parent plants by means of self-fertilization. 2. Mass-Self Hon , by which production of new so-called vai is effected ' by raising parent plants, selected en masse. 8. Hybridization, by which new strains are produced by combining desir- able characters of two parent plants into one individual. Whether Line Breeding, Mass-Selection or Hybridization should be used for the production of new varieties and strains depends largely upe.) two factors, viz.: (1) the way in which the plants worked with can be fertilized, and (2) what kinds of character the breeder wants to develop. The influence of the ways of fertilization on the breeding methods to be employed can lie demonstrated by the following two examples: — 1. A Timothy plant growing among other individuals of its kin is apt to be cross- fertilized, and there is no doubt that the bulk of the timothy seed produced in the field is the result of cross-fertilization. A timothy plant isolated in such a way that pollen from other individuals has no chance whatever to reach its pistils, can he fertilized by its own pollen and produce seed of good quality. 2. A Red Clover plant is always fertilized by insects carrying pollen from one flower to another. If a red clover plant is isolated so that it cannot be visited by insects, it will not produce- a single seed. What is of more importance in this con- i 'ion is, however, the fact that red clover is perfectly self-sterile, i.e., a flower of a certain individual cannot be fertilized by pollen developed by that individual, ery red clover seed produced is therefore the result of a cross-fertilization between two individual plants. This clearly undcrs ood, it is evident that Line Breeding of red clover is entirely out of question. The method to be employed must he mass-selection or hybridization. Whether Mass-Selec ion or Line Breeding should he used as a basis for breeding work depends also upon what results are looked for. When the aim is to secure uniform strains distinguished by certain constant morphological characters, Line Breeding is practically the only safe method to use. REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR 55 SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 When, however, certain physiological or biological characters are looked for, mass- selection can be used to advantage. RED CLOVER. Red Clover, being a self-sterile plant, new varieties and strains must be produced by means of mass-selection and hybridization respectively. When breeding red clover, three qualities particularly should be taken into con- sideration, viz. : winter-hardiness, quality of seed, and yield of hay. It has been proven in cereals which, like red clover, consist of thousands of distinct types, that resistance to disease and hardiness are hereditary characters sub- jected to the same general laws of heredity as govern the transmission from a mother- plant to its progeny, of strictly morphological characters. It is therefore very reason- able to suspect that winter hardiness in red clover is a hereditary character that can be transmitted from one parent plant to its progeny. If this be the case, it will be a simple matter to produce a variety able to with- stand, without being killed to any extent, the most severe Canadian winter. The task could be accomplished by sowing seed from those individuals which survive after a severe winter and which, therefore, according to our conception, represent hardy ' lines ' or strains. After sowing the seed thus saved, a progeny may be expected that will prove hardier than was the parent crop originally sown, and by saving the seed year after year, a perfectly hardy variety will soon be obtained. This method of improving the hardiness is simply mass-selection effected by nature herself. With this aim in mind, seed was saved during the summer of 1912 from all plots of red clover except two, the intention being to use it for the production of hardier varieties. In ord:er to produce, by means of artificial crossings, red clover ' strains of high yielding power and with seed of a desirable type, seed collected from a number of individual plants during 1911 was sown in hills two feet apart each way. Several unfavourable factors, however, prevented most of the seed sown from germinating and developing properly. TIMOTHY. Timothy being able to produce seed when self-fertilized as well as when cross- fertilized, all three breeding methods referred to above can be used. What should be especially looked for in timothy breeding is the production of constant strains of superior yielding power. Such strains can hardly be secured except by a phenomenal chance of luck by mass-selection. Line breeding must be considered the safest if not the only way. In order to secure material for line breeding of timothy, seeds collected from a num- ber of wild plants were selected. Of the seedlings obtained, about 1,200 were planted in the field 3 feet apart each way. The further development of these plants will decide how many of them will be selected as mother plants for production of new strains. Similar steps have been taken, although on a much smaller scale, to secure material for breeding work with orchard grass and with certain other forage plants. 55 EXPERIMEyTAL FARMS 4 GEORGE V., A. 1914 THE DIVISION OF ENTOMOLOGY. THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE DESTRUCTIVE INSECT AND PEST ACT. This includes the inspection and fumigation of imported nursery stock and the field and laboratory work against the Brown-tail Moth. The new arrangement whereby this Department and the Department of Agriculture of British Columbia co-operate in the work of inspection and fumigation of imported nursery stock at Vancouver, B.C., has worked most satisfactorily. As indicating the importance of our inspection of imported plants may be mentioned the discovery by an inspector at Vancouver during the inspection last spring of eight egg-masses of the Gipsy Moth in an ever- green (Thuja) from Japan. From these egg-masses several hundred larvae of the Gipsy Moth emerged. During the importation season of 1911-12, over 3,800,000 trees and plants were inspected. Owing to the danger of the importation of the Mediter- ranean Fruit Fly (Ceratitis capitata) from the Hawaiian Islands, the importation of all non-canned fruit from those islands was prohibited by the passing, in April, 1912, of Regulation No. 16 under the Act. In December, 1912, Regulation No. 17 was passed requiring a certificate of inspection to accompany all forest plant products originating in those of the New England States which are infested with the Gipsy Moth and imported into Canada. The importation of coniferous trees and Christmas greenery from the same states was also prohibited by the same regulation. As recorded in the last annual report of this Division, the area infested with the Brown-tail Moth in New Brunswick was found to have increased very considerably. In 1911, as a result of our discovery that the Brown-tail Moth had spread from the state of Maine into New Brunswick, a thorough scout was made and in the spring of that year the infested area was found to be approximately 400 square miles. During the summer of 1911, the Brown-tail Moths apparently invaded the province to so great an extent that during the winter inspection of 1911-12 it was found that the infested area consisted of about 6,400 square miles. The light character of the latter infestation may be gathered from the fact that only 2,452 winter webs were collected. In Nova Scotia, the infestation was found during the inspection season 1911-12 to have spread a few miles farther eastward and a larger number of winter webs were collected; 7,503 webs were gathered, compared with 4,490 during the previous season. FIELD LABORATORIES. In 1911, by the courtesy of the Department of Agriculture of Ontario, a field laboratory was provided at Jordan Harbour, Ont. During the past season the field work of the Division was extended by the provision of small portable buildings in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Quebec and by the provision of temporary quarters in western Ontario and British Columbia. The following is a brief resume of the field work which was started in connection with these laboratories. In Nova Scotia, Mr. G. E. Sanders commenced an important series of investigations on the life-history and control of the Bud Moth. An orchard of ten acres was placed at the disposal of the Division, for spraying experiments, by Mr. Ralph Eaton, of Kentville, N.S. Con- current studies were commenced on the Green Fruit Worm (Xylina spp) now becom- ing a serious pest in some orchards. Results have already been obtained which would indicate that it will bt possible to recommend a system of spraying which will control these insects and at th? same time render unnecessary some of the applications. now employed. The work carried on by Mr. J. D. Tothill at the New Brunswick field laboratory located at Fredericton, N.B., consisted chiefly in the importation and colonization of two of the most important enemies of the Brown-tail and Gipsy Moths, namely, the predaceous beetle Calosoma sycophanta and the tachinid fly parasite Compsilura con- cinnata. Supplies of these were collected, thanks to the courtesy of Dr. Howard, REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR 57 SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 Chief Entomologist of the United States Department of Agriculture, in Massachusetts, into which state they had been imported from Europe. Considerable numbers of the beetles were reared and two colonies were placed out and went into hibernation. Two strong colonies of the tachinid parasite Compsilura were placed in the field, and before the close of the season it was found that individuals from one of these had spread three miles from the point of colonization and had parasitized the native Fall Web- worm (Hyphantria textor), a most encouraging result. The parasites of certain of the more serious native pests are being studied. In Quebec, a field laboratory is located at Covey Hill, south of Montreal, in an orchard seriously infested with the more common species of apple insects. Here, Mr. C. E. Petch, during the latter half of the summer, commenced an investigation on the Apple Curculio (Anthonomus quadrigibbus) and also made observations on the Apple Maggot (Rhagoletis pomonella). At the laboratory at Jordan Harbour, Out, and at Bowmanville, Out., Mr. W. A. Ross continued his studies on the Apple Maggot. While the wet season militated somewhat against the carrying out of all the work which had been outlined, important results, which will prove of practical value, were obtained and it is hoped that a third season will complete this thorough investigation. Owing to an outbreak of the Chinch bug (Blissus leucopierus) in Middlesex County, Ont., Mr. H. F. Hudson was sent to the centre of the infested district where he investigated the outbreak and the possibilities of control . measures. Although serious damage had been inflicted in places, the insect does not appear to be spreading rapidly and investigations will be continued during the coming year, when White Grubs (Laclinosterna), which are causing serious and widespread damage, will also be studied. Temporary quarters were furnished for entomological work in British Columbia at Hatzic, in the Fra&er valley, and here Mr. R. C. Treherne commenced an investiga- tion on the Strawberry Root Weevil (Otiorhyncus ovatus). An excellent beginning was made on a study of the life-history of the species and a number of experiments were carried out with a view of discovering practicable methods of control. The rota- tion of strawberry beds associated with proper cultural methods appears to be at present the most satisfactory method. A visit was made by Mr. Treherne to the States of Oregon and Washington for the purpose of studying this and other insects which are common in the Pacific Coast region. A permanent laboratory has now been erected on the Experimental Farm at Agassiz, and this will serve as head- quarters for the work in British Columbia. The extension of our work into the field by the establishment of field laboratories, of which a brief outline of the work carried on during the first season has been given above, has not only rendered possible the inception of really valuable investigations on certain of the more serious insect pests and their control, but in many other ways has enabled the Entomological Division to reach a larger number of people to whom its work can be of service. As representatives of the Division, its field officers have been able to advise farmers and fruit growers and carry on an educational campaign which, if persisted in, must prove of incalculable benefit. INSECTS AFFECTING FIELD CROPS. The serious outbreak of cutworms in Southern Alberta was inquired into. It was found that between th. rty and forty thousand acres of grain had been destroyed in the neighbourhood of J'iethbridge. As the methods of control which were recom- mended appeared to be ineffectual and as the chief injurious species (Porosagrotis dclorata Sm.) had not been previously recorded or studied, arrangements have been made to carry out a thorough investigation during the coming year. The experiments on the control of the Root Maggots were continued and the results, on the whole, confirmed those of the previous years as. to the superiority of 53 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 4 GEORGE V., A. 1914 ihe tarred-felt paper discs for cabbages and cauliflowers, and hellebore decoction and screening the beds for radishes and onions. It is hoped that the results of the three years' work will be ready shortly for publication. INSECTS AFFECTING FRUIT TREES. Reference has already been made to the work on fruit insects which has been carried on at the different field, stations. A very important result of the work in Nova Scotia was the discovery by Mr. G. E. Sanders of the presence of living San Jose scale, which had been brought into the province on nursery stock imported from Ontario. Assistance was given the provincial Government in the inspection of nursery stock which had been imported during tbe last three years, and a con- siderable number of trees infested with living scale were found. The work on the Indian orchards for the Department of Indian Affairs was con- tinued, and a full account of this will be published in the annual report of that Department. INSECTS AFFECTING FOREST AND SHADE TREES. The appointment of Mr. J. M. Swaine to have charge of the forest insect investi- gations has permitted of the very considerable extension of the work in this most important direction. 'During the year he has visited the Riding Mountain Forest Reserve, Man., Algonquin Park, Ont., and one or two districts in Quebec and, as a result, has collected a large amount of material and information which will be of great service in connection with future work. A shipment was obtained of the cocoons of the Large Larch Sawfly infested with the useful parasite (Mesoleius tenthredinis) from the English Lake district and these were distributed by Mr. Swaine in Manitoba in the Riding Mountain Reserve. It is hoped to receive a further supply of parasitized cocoons from England this spring. INSECTS AFFECTING DOMESTIC ANIMALS AND MAN. An investigation was made into the distribution of the Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever Tick (Dermacentor venustus) in western Canada. A large number of ticks belonging to several species were received, and it was found that D. venustus was fairly common in southern British Columbia and also occurred in southern Alberta. Observations were also made on the life history of this species. On account of the discovery by Drs. Sheppard, Rosenaw, Brues and Anderson that the Stable Fly (Stomaxys calcitrans) could transmit the virus of Poliomyelitis (infantile paralysis), investigations on the life-history and habits of this insect were resinned and some interesting and valuable data have already been obtained. The campaign against the hou^e fly was continu ] it is gratifying to record the appreciation with which efforts in this direction are met. INSECTS AFFECTING GARDEN AND GREENHOUSE. Experiments have been carried out and are still in progress on the control of White flies (Aleyrodcs \ by fumigation, and on the control of wood lice, or sowbugs, of which are seriou.-1. pests in some greenhouses. APICULTURE. In view of the further extension of this work, consequent upon the appointment Mr. F. W. L. Sladen as Assistant Entomologist to take charge, a beginning was ide by the importation of pure Italian queens from Bologna, Italy. It is planned REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR 59 SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 to carry on queen-rearing work and varietal studies. Experiments were also com- menced on the outdoor wintering of bees, twelve colonies being placed in large wooden ses specially constructed to contain four hives each MISCELLANEOUS. The correspondence for all parts of the Dominion relating to the identification of insect pests and requesting advice as to methods of control has increased consider- ably. The field ion are already rendering useful service in their respective regions in the matter of advising farmers and fruit growers in regard to the control of insect pests. An increasing number of collections of insects have been named for individuals and educational institutions. A collection of insects is being arranged in the Division, the various o ■ for certain on! An exhibit of injurious and beneficial insects and their work was : 'd for the Dominion Exhibition held at Ottawa. Vis i made to various pr< for the purposes of giving add] an . - Id work. In May, the Dominion Entomologist visited Nova idek and Massach in connection with the field laboratoi in those provinces and the Brown-tail Moth campaign. The International Coi ■ of Entomology, held at Oxford. England, v attended from August 0 to 10, and on August 12 he attended a conference called the Secretary of State for the Colonies at the Colonial Office to work out a schi for Imperial co-i ion in preventing the spread and 1 ion of insect pests. ': inference, and a pre. Dnferenee ! ave resulted in the establishment of the Imperial Bureau of Entomology, to which ref once is made later. Lectures and addresses have been given at Halifax, St. John, N.B.. Toronto, Winnipeg, etc. In February a visit was made to North PorLal and Winnipeg. Mr. Gibson lectured on the control of fruit pests at a short com held at Charlottetown, P.E.I., in January, and has t ed other meetings, already stated, Mr. Swaine has visited inces, st .■: forest insect depre- dations. Mr. Sladen conducted a shi lture at the Nova Scotia Agricultural College in January, and tly studied apicultural conditions in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. By these and ilar means, the Division has been enabled to extend its energies over a large field. IMPERIAL BUREAU OF ENTOMOLOGY. An Imperial Bureau of Entomology has been instituted in connection with the Colonial Office, and it has been d t0 co-operate in its maintenance. Its chief function will be that of an intelligence bureau. In this connection, information will be collected fr '• parts of the world concerning injurious insects and the plants, or animals, which they attack. A journal, The Review of A 7 Entomology, is also being published, and this contains summaries of current literature relating to injurious insects and their control. The Bureau will also undertake the identification of insects. As a means of co-ordinating the work of preventing the spread and fur- thering the investigation of injurious insects within the Empire, the Bureau will undoubtedly prove of considerable service. 60 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 4 GEORGE V., A. 1911 THE DIVISION OF BOTANY. The work of this Division has been partly new and partly continued along the same lines as last year. INSPECTORS UNDER THE DESTRUCTIVE INSECT AND PEST ACT. An extensive inspection of potatoes and potato crops was carried on. The follow- ing inspectors acted for longer or shorter periods of time: Messrs. Sydney Dash, Hugh H. Lindesay, Herbert Groh, B.S.A., P. Lavoie, Rolph Holmden and H. Selwyn. As the work terminated in the different localities, the services of the inspectors were dispensed with, and at present only two remain to finish the work and start a new campaign towards planting time. CORRESPONDENCE. The correspondence is one of the principal features of the advisory work of the Division, and takes up considerable time; the number of letters received and despatched steadily increases, amounting for the year of report to 2,107 letters receiyed and 2,531 sent out, or nearly double the number dealt with the year previous. Cor- respondence is the means by which the Experimental Farms are kept in closest con- tact with the farmers and fruit-growers of the Dominion, and- although among the inquiries received there are, naturally, many relating to the same subjects, yet much useful information is often gained from this source on the distribution of weeds and plant diseases; furthermore, by these means, new problems have frequently been brought to our attention. This year, some one thousand plants and weeds were identified, and information given as requested by their senders. A large number of inquiries dealt with diseases of economic plants, and the remainder were of a miscellaneous and executive character. INVESTIGATIONS. (a) Grain Diseases. Smut Diseases of Grain. — The great importance of the diseases of grain and related crops caused by smut fungi, necessitated close attention to the study of cer- tain phases of the life-history of these destructive organisms, and the control of such diseases. Since the organization of the plant pathological work of this Division, special attention has been paid to this problem. These investigations have now been concluded, and a bulletin (No. 73) has been prepared. Studies of the Discolouration of Wheat Grains. — From time to time there have been received samples of wheat showing a shrivelling of the grain, accompanied by a more or less brownish discolouration. In some cases large samples submitted showed as many as 17 per cent grains discoloured. On germination, the young plant developed fairly well at first, but soon the rootlets began to decay before the food supply of the grain became exhausted. A considerable series of fungi appeared and were isolated; while some of them may be of secondary nature and harmless, yet they appeared fairly constantly, and experiments are being carried on to test their relation to the discolour- ation. At present, fungi like Cladosporium, Macrosporium, Hormodendron, Epicoc- cum, Septoria rm in the province. SEED FAIRS AND EXHIBITIONS. Exhibits were prepared and shown at the two County Exhibitions and at the Provincial Exhibition held at Charlottetown. The Superintendent gave assistance by judging and by giving addresses at six fall exhibitions and at five seed fairs held during the winter. The attendance and interest at all of these were excellent. The quality of the exhibits of field crops showed much improvement. He also gave assistance at the Short Course held at the Nova Scotia College of Agriculture, Truro, N.S., from January 10 to January 16, 1913, and assisted by Messrs. Boving, of Mac- donald College, B. IT. Landells, of Nova Scotia Agricultural College, and S. J. Moore, Seed Inspector, gave the instruction on Field Husbandry at the Prince Edward Island Short Course held at Charlottetown from January 27 to February 8, 1913, at which about five hundred students were in attendance. Owing to the large number of students, it was necessary to make two divisions and repeat all the work. VISITS TO FARMS AND AGRICULTURAL MEETINGS. The Superintendent made as many personal visits to farms throughout the province as possible, and gave information and instruction as opportunity offered. 72 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 4 GEORGE V., A. 1914 In conjunction with the Conservation Commission, sixty quarter-acre alfalfa plots were sown, and inoculated soil sent from the Experimental Station to all who applied for it. This was so distributed that such soil should be available this spring in almost every section of tbe country. He addressed Farmers' Institute meetings in many dis- tricts of the province during the year, which were well attended. CONVENTIONS AND ASSOCIATIONS. The Superintendent attended the Central Farmers' Institute Convention, the Fruit Growers' Association, the Dairymen's Association, the Floral Association, the Stock Breeders' Association, both Maritime and Provincial, and the meetings held at the Winter Fair at Amherst, N.S. DISTRIBUTION OF SEED POTATOES AND SALE OF SEED GRAIN. Twenty-eight samples of potatoes were sent out in April, 1912, two lots of Mar- quis wheat and eleven lots of Banker oats were sold to farmers for seeding in 1912. VISITORS. There were 5,427 visitors to the Station during the year; many more are plan- ning to come during 1913. METEOROLOGICAL RECORDS. MONTHS. April. May . June. July August. . September October. . November December. 1913. January . . February. March.. . Tempkrature Fahrenheit. Maximum. Date. Degrees 16 27 24 and 25 10 14 15 7 7 20 1 21 Minimum. Date. Degrees 62 79 84 91 81 73 73 65 50 50- 48- 60- 5 1 11 1 30 22 17 12 13 10 and 29 7 8 12 27 36 39 45 38 28 25 -2 -17-5 -4* Monthly Mean. Total Annual. 35 50 67 64 61 54 47 37 26 24 17 13 40 30 80 Precipitation. Rainfall. Days. 9 9 12 16 19 9 15 15 10 11 1 13 139 Ins. 237 264 249 683 2 68 2 90 372 359 640 2-01 •34 3 21 38-18 Snowfall. Days. 7- 36 Ins. 7-9 65 105 15-7 218 14- c'S 3 16 2 64 49 645 3-58 252 4-61 764 4582 Bright Sunshine. 103-1 hrs. 2350 251 195 181 167 134 51 68 826 117 6 131 • 1780 6 Note : — One inch of rain being figured as equivalent to ten inches of snowfall. - Ah 16-1914— p. 72 REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR 73 SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 EXPERIMENTAL STATION FOR THE ANNAPOLIS VALLEY. Kentville, N.S. The Superintendent, Mr. W. S. Blair, assumed his duties on the loth of June. Active work at this Station was started in the spring. During the summer, several buildings were erected, grading was done, and necessary roads were made. As the greater portion of the farm was in woods when taken over, the labour on the land has been principally stumping, clearing and breaking. An orchard of eighteen and one-half acres was set out in May, on land which had been cleared the pre- vious season. LOCATION. This Station is located partly within the limits of the town of Kentville, about one mile from the centre of the town. It extends from the Cornwallis river in a southwestern direction for about one and one-third miles. The width of the farm is variable, running from 1,200 feet frontage on the main road leading from Kentville to Wolfville, to 2,400 feet at the widest point farther south. The Dominion Atlantic railway runs through the northern section of the farm. FARM AREAS. The farm at present comprises an area of 294 acres. The first purchase from Kenneth Sharp was for an area of 250 acres. During this year, 44 acres were pur- chased from Eugene Roy. An option is held on 7 acres, which it is proposed to add to the above area, making in all 301 acres. The marsh land survey is 11£ acres of which 9 acres are within the dyke. About 18 acres on the northern portion of the farm, on which the buildings are located, which is more or less broken with abrupt hills and will not be fit for agricultural purposes, has been graded ready for seeding to grass, and will be given over largely to ornamental planting. Some scattered apple trees around the hillside on this area produce annually about one hundred barrels of apples, principally Ribston and King. Above this, there is 55 acres which has recently been cleared from woods, of which 18£ acres have been planted to orchard. The most of this 55-acre field is now in fairly good condition for cropping. It is all sloping toward the north, and the soil is of a sandy loam, thin and poor. Above this, extending to the southern boundary, the land is fairly level, not quite so sandy and apparently more fertile. Sixty acres of this is ready for stumping and ploughing, and another forty to fifty acres no win woods will be cleared later. About 100 acres is taken up by a deep ravine, some one and one-quarter miles long, which is heavily wooded. This area will not be cleared but will be preserved as a natural park. BUILDINGS CONSTRUCTED. During the summer, eight buildings were constructed. The Superintendents house, 43 by 40 feet, with a kitchen 2S by 18 feet; foreman's house, 30 by 30 feet, with a kitchen 24 by 12 feet; double tenement house for herdsman and gardener, 40 by 32 feet, with kitchen 30 by 25 feet; barn, 78 by 47 feet, to accommodate horses and twenty-five head of other stock, with a root house, 38 by 18 feet and 10 feet deep, to hold 100 tons roots, and a silo, 30 feet high and 15 feet in diameter, 125 tons corn; attached carriage house, 30 by 18 feet; dairy building, 20 by 15 feet; poultry building, 26 by 18 feet, and a greenhouse, 50 by 20 feet, with potting and 74 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 4 GEORGE V., A. 1914 work room attached, 25 by 18 feet. These buildings were all built of wood and, with the exception of the barn, which was clap-boarded with pine siding, were shingled with cedar shingles. EXPERIMENTAL ORCHARDS. As no mature orchards are growing on the farm, it has been considered advisable to lease 5-acre blocks of mature orchard at Berwick, Kings county, Bridgetown, Annapolis county, and Falmouth, Hants county. These orchards are to be devoted to experimental work in spraying, fertilizing, thinning of fruit, etc. In this way it is hoped that information of greater value to the orchardist will be secured than is possible with the young orchard just planted at the Station. ORCHARD PLANTED. Eighteen and one-half acres of orchard, made up principally of varieties com- mercially grown in the Annapolis valley, were planted in the spring of 1912. These •trees have made excellent growth. STOCK. One driving horse and three pair of team horses are kept at this Station, Three pair of working oxen for breaking up stump land are also used. Nineteen steers were fed during the winter. These were put in to make manure for field work and to use up rough feed and some 1,500 bushels of roots grown during the year. The steers were an uneven lot and no experiments were conducted with them. One cow is kept for milk. EXPERIMENTAL FARM FOR NOVA SCOTIA. Nappan, N.S. The spring of 1912 opened dull and cold with some frosts during April. No snow fell, but there was a rather heavier precipitation than usual. May was also cold and, for the first three weeks, dry, just enough rain falling to retard seeding opera- tions. Seeding was general about the 15th of the month. During the last week of May, the rainfall was heavier than usual. Although no great amount of rain fell during June, showers were frequent, and the month was cool. Grain and roots did fairly well during the month, but corn was at a standstill. July was a warm, dry month until the 22nd, from which date until the end of the month, 6-62 inches of rain fall. Hay and grain did well during this month, but roots made only a poor growth. From the 22nd of July until the end of August, rain was practically continuous, making haying almost impossible, lodging the grain and having a most disastrous effect upon the root crops, it having been impossible to do any cultivation during all that period. As a result, unusually small crops of roots and corn were harvested. From this time onward, the season was quite favourable for harvesting and the usual fall work. There were no extremes of drought, wet, heat or cold until the last day of November, when 18 degrees of frost were registered. December and January were unusually mild, with very little zero weather and not snow enough falling at any time to make sleighing. February was very cold, the extreme being -15 degrees on the 7th. Seventeen inches of snow fell, making good sleighing during the latter part of the month. Fine, typical winter weather prevailed during the first week of March, gradually getting warmer toward the middle of the month, which ended with high winds and snow squalls. RETORT OT THE DIRECTOR 75 SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 LIVE STOCK. The experiment commenced last year of grading up the common cattle of the district, by the use of a pure-bred bull, was continued. The twelve heifers originally chosen have all calved and have finished a lactation period between January 1, 1912, and January 1, 1913. It will, of course, be some years before comprehensive and final results can be announced, but the milk records and profits shown year by year are of considerable interest. In feeding for beef, the results of the experiment commenced in January, 1912, and finished April 30. 1912, show that forty-five steers, divided into three lots of 15 each, gave an average profit per steer of $11.23, $9.48 and $12.69 for the three lots respectively. The experiment commenced this year was concluded on March 15, in time for Easter delivery. There were thirty-four head under feed, one lot of ten and one of twenty-four. The former gave an average profit per steer of $19.61 and the latter one of $18.22. A sheep-feeding experiment was also conducted. Forty grade wethers were divided into four lots of ten each and were fed different rations. The net average profit of each group was : Lot 1, $1.43 ; lot 2, $1.37 ; lot 3, $1.43, and lot 4, $1.50 per head in each case. A test of the value of skim-milk as a feed for swine was conducted during the year, one lot being fed three pounds of skim milk per day and another, six pounds, the other constituents of the ration being the same for both lots. Those fed the larger quantity of milk made more economical gains, a saving of x% of a cent per pound increase in weight being effected. CEREALS, CORN FOR ENSILAGE AND ROOTS. In cereals, eleven varieties of wheat ranged in yield from 36 bushels to 20 bushels per acre. Twelve varieties of oats ran from 97 bushels 20 pounds to 82 bushels 12 pounds per acre. Six varieties of six-row barley yielded from 59 bushels 8 pounds to 40 bushels per acre, and the same number of two-row sorts ranged from 62 bushels 24 pounds to 41 bushels 32 pounds. The pea crop was a very poor one, owing to the continued wet weather delaying harvesting until September 24. The yields of ten varieties were from 17 bushels 20 pounds to 7 bushels 20 pounds per acre. Five varieties of buckwheat gave yields of from 47 bushels 24 pounds to 41 bushels 32 pounds per acre. The unfavourable season reduced the yield of Indian corn for ensilage, the average being five tons of forage per acre. In roots, turnips yielded from 31 tons 1,000 pounds to 25 tons 700 pounds per acre; mangels, from 25 tons 400 pounds to 10 tons 400 pounds; sugar beets, from 8 tons 200 pounds to 5 tons 100 pounds; and carrots from 16 tons 1,000 pounds to 12 tons 500 pounds. Nineteen varieties of potatoes ranged in yield from 413 bushels 20 pounds to 171 bushels 40 pounds per acre. FRUITS AND VEGETABLES. ) The apple crop was above that of 1911 in quantity, and equal to it in quality. Most small fruits did fairly well, although there was some damage from the wet weather which also delayed and, in some cases, prevented the maturing of vegetables such as tomatoes, garden corn and melons. An exhibit of farm products was made at the Nova Scotia Provincial Exhibi- tion, Halifax, N.S., and at the Colchester County Exhibition at Shubenacadie, N.S. 76 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 4 GEORGE V., A. 1914 During the year, the Superintendent delivered a considerable number of addresses at various points, as well as assisted at Short Courses, etc. The number of visitors to the Farm during the year was 4,015. The annual distribution of seed potatoes was carried on, the number of samples distributed being 484. The following are the meteorological records for the year ending March 31, 1913. METEOROLOGICAL RECORD. Months. Temperature F. Monthly. Rainfall. Snowfall. Total Precipita- tion. Sunshine. Maximum. Minimum. Mean. 1912. April May Date. 16 27 25 10 23 15 7 7 19 12 1 20 0 66 77 84 92 81 73 74 66 51 52 51 62 Date. 10 6 15 1 26 10 22 30 13 10 7 8 © 17 24 35 40 38 33 25 14 0 -4 -15 -1 o 37 64 50 27 56 29 63 61 CO 75 52 99 Hi 80 36 32 26 33 23 96 13 31 Inches. 1.84 2 74 2 32 6- 62 4-82 286 1-67 320 522 242 •45 586 Inches. 2 Inches. 2 04 274 232 6.62 4-82 286 1-67 370 562 2-92 215 616 Hours. 117 0 1H4 0 242 0 August 151-0 175-80 149 90 146 90 1913. January 5 4 5 17 3 77-45 8150 80 95 112 15 140- Note. — Ten inches of snowfall is reckoned as one inch of rainfall. EXPERIMENTAL STATION FOR NEW BRUNSWICK. Fredericton, N.B. As the land for the Experimental Station here was not purchased until Septem- ber last, this report can only be very brief. The land comprises an area of approximately four hundred and fifty (450) acres. It is situated within the limits of the city of Fredericton, fronting on the St. John river, and is crossed by the Canadian Pacific railway, the platform known as Doak being on the Station land. The line of the St. John Valley railway crosses the Station close to the bank of the St. John river. The centre of the farm is about three miles down river from the centre of the city proper. The area was made up of farms, belonging respectively to John O. Adams, Dell Gunter, H. C. Jewett, A. H. Waterhouse and W. W. Boyce. None of these farms had more than a small proportion of land in a good state of cultivation. Of the whole area, only about one hundred acres has been in crop. Some twenty acres of sod were ploughed for the planting of corn, potatoes, roots, etc., and about six acres were ploughed on the Boyce property when it was bought. Much of the land requires drainage to secure maximum crops. With the object of getting all the land lying between the Canadian Pacific rail- way and the river under cultivation, comprising an area of approximately three hundred acres, as much land as possible was brushed and ditched before winter con- ditions set in. The place was also surveyed, and a road through the centre of the REPORT OF TEE DIRECTOR 77 SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 farm laid out from the river to the Canadian Pacific railway track. There was some work done on the construction of the road. Cedar posts and woven wire were bought and a portion of the roadside levelled for fencing. During the winter, from four to five men were kept at work cutting bushes ana wood, and digging and hauling gravel for road purposes. The nearest gravel pit from which a supply could be obtained was across the St. John river, on the property of the Fredericton and Grand Lake Coal and Railway Company. Two hundred and ninety yards of this gravel were bought, and hauled to the Station. As there was quite a demand for the wood growing on the land which it was desired to clear, it was possible to sell it for what it was worth standing, and the purchasers have cut the land clean, piled the brush and removed the wood. It is hoped to be able to burn this land over, and use for sheep pasturage what it is not possible to break up this coming season. As no barns suitable for Experimental Station purposes are on the place, a com- plete outfit of new buildings will have to be erected, as well as a residence for the Superintendent, and several houses for the staff. Four Clydesdale grade mares were sent from Ottawa, and worked throughout the fall and winter. Two of these mares were bred on the 4th of December to a Clydesdale stallion. Some manure has been purchased in the city and hauled to the farm. Ornamental plants and trees have been ordered, and will be set in 1913 in nursery rows. No stock other than the horses above mentioned have been bought with the exception of a small flock of fowls. These fowls, comprising eleven Barred Plymouth Rock and six Rhode Island Red pullets with a cockerel of each breed, were put in on the 1st January. They laid, during January, 184 eggs; during February, 84; and during March, 287; a total of forty-six and a quarter dozen for the three months from the seventeen pullets. These birds were kept in a shed, which, while dry, was as cold as out-of-doors. The only provision made for protection from the cold was an enclosed roosting pen, across the front of which a curtain was dropped at night. An ample supply of litter was given, and kept dry by frequent renewal. The whole grain part of the ration was scattered through the litter, and the hens kept at work scratching. On fine days, the flock had the run of the barnyard. While the ther- mometer was above zero, no inconvenience from cold seemed to be felt, but when it fell lower, and especially when the wind was high, egg production shrank, the birds seemed to be rather mopy, and the combs of the cockerels were frozen somewhat. Small wheat and screenings formed a considerable portion of the ration, and it was aimed to supply a moderate quantity of everything necessary for health and egg production. Raw turnips were provided, and apparently much relished. Cut green bone was mixed with mash consisting of boiled potatoes and cracked oats. Some coarsely cracked corn was scattered in the litter with the wheat. The eggs sold at thirty cents per dozen. Some repairs were put on the buildings to make them comfortable for horse stabling, and two small houses on the farm, occupied by the foreman, teamsters and some of the extra men working on the farm, were also repaired to some extent. An office building of one story, 12 feet wide by 30 feet long, was built. Implements and tools needed for the fall work were purchased and a portion of the equipment for 1913 ordered. 78 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 4 GEORGE V., A. 1914 EXPERIMENTAL STATION FOR EASTERN QUEBEC. Ste. Anne de la Pocatiere, Que. the farm : situation, area and nature. The Experimental Station for Eastern Quebec has been described as follows in the Experimental Farms Report for 1911: — ' This farm is composed of two holdings, one of eighty-four arpents, occupied by Mr. Antonio Gendron, and a part of that occupied by Mr. Georges Hudon, about sixty arpents, making 144 arpents, or about 120 acres, in all. ' These properties lie immediately west of Ste. Anne de la Pocatiere station on the Intercolonial railway. They are traversed from east to west by the main travelled road of the counties of Kamouraska and LTslet. A much-used road to the southward starts on the west side of the Gendron property. ' These farms consist each of a stretch of level land extending south from the Intercolonial railway for about 1,100 yards to the foot of a hill, from which point they rise for another 1,000 yards, or thereabouts. The level part of the land consists of heavy clay soil, possible of drainage, which would be needed. The upper, or rising land, consists of porous gravelly soil, in some parts covered, to a greater or lesser extent, with boulders. The hill land is, in part, arable, or capable of being made so. The lots are each about 120 yards wide. The land would be very suitable for experi- mental work, as it is quite typical, in character and situation, of the land of this district.' To complete this description, it may be stated that the farm is situated seventy- five miles from the city of Quebec, in latitude 47-22 north and longitude 70-02 west, on the south shore of the St. Lawrence. The average altitude from the St. Lawrence river is 47 feet for the low part of the land and 334 feet for the southern limit. As the farm rises from the railway like an amphitheatre, a good view of it may he obtained from the Intercolonial trains. A creek runs obliquely through the farm, at the foot of the hill; the water in this creek is of excellent quality. It is the surplus of the springs on the hill, which have been piped. The water pipe, which belongs to the Ste. Anne de la Pocatiere college, passes along the western boundary, and supplies the farm with water. THE SEASON. The season was extremely damp and cold, most unfavourable for field work and the ripening of crops. More than 80 per cent of the farmers of this district will have to import seed grain for next year. The hay crop, which looked very promising at the beginning of the season, only gave an average yield, of poor quality. It rained for twelve consecutive days, from the 1st to the 17th of June. During ^ lie night of the 15th the creeks overflowed their banks and the low land was sub- merged. The grain which had been sown during the first week of May was damaged to some extent. However, only the grain sown at that time gave satisfactory yield.-, for from the 14th May to the 20th June, very little seed could be sown in this district. The land on the Experimental Station had been so carefully prepared during the fall of 1911 that the average yield of oats, in spite of the unfavourable season, was 32 bushels to the acre. The Indian corn was sown on June 24 and 25; it came up well and made a good >wth during the first half of July, which was dry and rather hot. The latter part of July and August was very damp, cold and cloudy. Haying was slow and difficult. A splendid second growth was obtained on clover meadows REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR 79 SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 and a good catch of clover and timothy was secured in the grain fields. September was wet and cold; there was a white frost on the 16th, two inches of snow on the 29th and sleet on the 30th. October was also a very rainy month ; much grain had to be left in the fields and the rest was housed in bad condition. November was damp, but the total fall of rain and snow was not very large. December was mild, with a little more snow, but hardly enougn to make good winter roads. The winter was characterized by frequent and light falls of rain and snow, and sudden changes of temperature. The high winds accumulated large quan- tities of snow in the woods and the ravines ; the earth which was bare became covered with ice, owing to the frequent thaws during the winter. It is to be feared that the meadows will be damaged or destroyed. The worst snow storm of the winter came on the Gth and 7th of March ; there was a big thaw on the 2nd and 22nd of March, with a high gale. The rest of the snow almost completely disappeared, and the roads were flooded for several days in many places. The rest of the month was cold, with a heavy rain on the 31st. i LIVE STOCK. There is, as yet, no live stock on the farm, with the exception of horses, but there will be some next year. There are two teams of draft horses, weighing respec- tively 2,900 and 2,800 pounds, and a light horse for lighter work and for the use of the Superintendent. An old horse, unfit for work, was sold and replaced. IMPROVEMENTS. The following buildings are now on the farm : A house, 28 x 33 feet (the resi- dence of the Superintendent), which was repaired last summer. It was clapboarded and given two coats of paint; the old shingles were replaced by galvanized iron; a good stone wall, with good sashes and double doors, was built around the basement. The tipper story was boarded up and divided into four rooms, making a comfortable and good-looking house. Another house, 30 x 32 feet, which will be used as a house for the herdsman, was repaired in the same way, with the exception of the masonry around the basement, and the roofing. It is now a comfortable building. A barn 28 x 95 x 20, with a stable 20 x 40 which may be used as a sheep barn when repaired and improved is on the property. Some urgent repairs have already been made. There is also another barn of 27 x 75, with a stable 27 x 28. It is in rather poor shape and in a poor situation, and will have to be taken down. However, it has been repaired for temporary use. A shed in fairly good shape but sunk in the soil, was raised two feet and put on a good stone foundation; temporary grain bins were built in the upper story. A shed, 14 x 15, was rebuilt and turned into a storeroom. The large dairy stable is supplied with water through a pipe, 882 feet long and one inch in diameter; two half-inch pipes (146 feet and 148 feet respectively) con- nected with the above, bring the water to the houses, which have been fitted with closets and sinks. The water pipes were laid at an average depth of 54 inches. Draining wells (cesspools) of 6 x 6 x 5 were dug about 50 feet from the houses, to receive waste water. These wells are wooded and covered with cedar. The soil is very permeable at that place and the waste water readily escapes through the bottom of the wells. IMPROVEMENT OF TTTE ROADS. The front road, which was in very poor condition, has been repaired; it has been graded, widened and left with a good crown and good ditches. The land being £0 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 4 GEORGE V., A. 1914 a heavy clay, it is hard to keep this road in good shape in wet weather. It should be covered with stones or gravel. FENCES. Along the front road a fence of 8 strands of No. 9 wire, and 40 inches high, was laid on good turned cedar posts, 6x6 inches and set 10 feet apart. These posts are connected at 52 inches from the level of the soil by a rail, 3 x 4, and the whole fence is painted with two coats of paint. Gates, 15 feet wide, give access to the different fields, and a double artistic-looking gate, 16 feet wide, and one 4 feet, of the same design, close the avenue. The gate and corner posts are 8x8 and 12 x 12 respec- tively, sunk to a depth of five feet and set on stones; facing the proposed buildings, there is a lawn fence painted green. On the high road, to the west, and on the south road facing the farm, as well as on other parts of the farm, 3,188 yards of fences, 48 inches high and made of 10 strands of No. 9 wire were put up. All the posts are dressed cedar, 6 to 8 inches ; the upper part is rounded and painted. They were set at intervals of 16 feet 6 inches. The posts are sunk 3 feet and more in the soil, which makes a very strong fence. Gates. 14 and 15 feet, at various places on the high road, give access to the other fields. A number of culverts of various sizes, according to the widths of the creeks, were laid on the farm. A bridge, which was too low and in poor condition, was rebuilt on good foundations of stone and cedar. DRAINAGE. More than 6,000 feet of drains were laid during the past season; part of these drains were laid in a four-acre field at the foot of the hill. This was ploughed last July; it was worked up, graded, cleared of stones and an orchard of more than 400 trees will be set out in the spring. A number of ditches were dug or widened; others were started, and will be com- pleted next season ; others again will need to be made larger. A large number of etones were removed from various parts of the farm, and more particularly from the drained fields. Nearly six acres of new land were ploughed for the first time, and more than 600 yards of stone were taken off the fields. About 14 acres of land, covered with brush, or wood of little value, were cleared. The greater part of this area is marshy land, on the high part of the farm. When drained, this area will be possible of cultivation. The other fields were not laid out in a suitable manner for an Experimental Station when the property was purchased. A part of the old fences were removed; and four different rotations of three, four and five years respectively will be started this spring. FRUIT TREES. There are, near the buildings, thirty-four apple trees of all ages, including six varieties; some of these trees yield very little fruit, while others do not yield any- thing. The apple crop was an average to a poor one, and of inferior quality. There are, in the same place, eighteen plum trees, made up of five varieties. The plum crop was a very good one on the Station and in the whole district. Two shipments of European plums, forwarded on the 5th and 12th of September to the Dominion Eruit Exchange, at Ottawa, were classed as ' choice.' Two other shipments to M. Vipond & Co., Montreal, were classed ' excellent.' Some dead trees were removed and some others will have to be specially treated. CEREALS. Cereals were not grown from an experimental point of view last year. About twenty- five acres were sown in oats from the 6th to the 14th May. The varieties used were the REPORT OF TEE DIRECTOR 81 SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 Banner and the Wide Awake. The crop was good in yield and quality. It was cut from the 13th to the 21st of September; the average length of the straw was three feet six inches, and the average yield thirty- two bushels per acre. A little rust was observed in the various fields, as well as some smut in the fields otn the heavy clay land, and a great deal of smut in a field of about three acres, situated on a moist, sandy loam. Two acres of oats were sown on the 24th of June, but did ot ripen. The oats gave a great growth of straw, which remained green until the 28th of September, date- of cutting. Another acre of oats sown on the 26th of June on a piece of new land met the same fate. One acre of buckwheat sown on the 29th of June on new land made a poor start, and was ploughed under on the 2nd of September. FODDER CORN AND ROOTS. The season was most unfavourable to fodder corn. Three acres of Longfellow were sown on the 23rd and 24th of June. The seed was put in hills, thirty-six inches apart; the corn came up promptly but did not grow to a height of more than five feet, owing to the cold weather; also it suffered from a light frost on tine 16th of September. The corn was cut on the last day of September, and gave some two tons to the acre. Another crop sown on new land gave about three tons. A field of turnips, Magnum Bonum variety, a little less than one arpent in area, sown on new land the 3rd of July, with very little manure, came up very slowly and in a very uneven manner, on account of the unevenness and dampness of the field. However, in September and October the roots made a strong growth; the average yield of this field was eight tons to the acre. METEOROLOGICAL RETURNS. Month. Monthly temperature F. Rainfall. Snowfall. Precipita- tion. Hours of Maximum. Minimum. Average Sunshine. Date. 19 9 21 Degree. 35 12 61 Date. 22 7 Degree. 25 4 Degree. 15.65 23.33 Inches. 2.05 0.00 1.47 Inches. 20.00 24.00 30 00 Inches. 4-05 2-40 447 73 3 95.4 107.5 Note.— The recording apparatus was received on the 30th December. EXPERIMENTAL STATION FOR CENTRAL QUEBEC. Cap Rouge., Que. CHARACTER OF SEASON. The past season was the most unfavourable which the farmer of the Cap Rouge district has had for a quarter of a century. All crops, except hay, were below the average. April was rather cold, and the snow went away slowly. On the 28th, the ice bridge was still solid on the St. Lawrence river, in front of the farm. The first thing sown outside was sweet peas, on May 1. This month was one of the worst in years. It rained on fourteen different days, from the 7th to the 31st, and as there was nothing done before the first-mentioned date, seeding was kept back. 16—6 82 . EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 4 GEORGE V., A. 1914 There was precipitation during thirteen of the eighteen first days of June. This kept seeding back so long that many farmers could not put in more than half the grain which they had intended to sow. The bulk of the oats was sown, at the Station, during the first and second weeks of the month, corn from the 19th to the 26th, potatoes on the 24th, swedes on the 28th and 29th. A drought lasted from the 20th of June until the end of July. The land, which had been repeatedly flooded in early June was now parched and cracked. Everything had been sown late, and the dry weather stopped germination. At the Station, hay- ing commenced on the 10th and was finished on the 20th. August was wet and cold. Farmers who had delayed haying had a great deal of trouble, besides obtaining only a poor quality of feed. Grain grew well during this month, but corn, potatoes and roots were at a standstill. September was damp and cloudy, sunshine averaging only a little over three hours per day. Corn did not grow, and was practically a total failure all through the district. October was wet, as it rained on seventeen days. Nearly all the grain was cut during this month at the Station and vicinity. Much of it was still green, and most of it was light and will be useless for seed in 1913. Cutting corn was only begun on the 1st, and potatoes were dug ion the 12th, at the Station. November was dull, there being only 26-2 hours of sunshine during the month. Swedes were pulled from the 6th to the 11th. On the 14th, sleighs were used, but were discarded for wheels on the 22nd, and put into use for the winter on the 26th. December was quite mild. The rain of the 20th, immediately followed by severe cold, caused a great deal of damage to fruit trees. January was also very mild, and the rain of the 17th brought the snow down to ten inches. This was about two feet less than usual. February was colder than last year, and furnished the only regular winter weather of the season. There were two bad storms, on the 15th and 22nd, and trains on most railways were either cancelled or very late. March was mild and wet. The rains caused an early thaw, and the cold weather of the end of the month froze the ground which had been uncovered early. Thie will injure meadows and pastures, especially on low-lying places where the water stood. FIELD WORK. That the season was a very bad one, can readily be seen when crops of 1911 are compared with those of 1912. For instance, corn only yielded 21 per cent of what it did last year; swedes, 38 per cent; potatoes, 25 per cent; oats, 71 per cent. Hay yielded about the same as the year before. Cultural experiment with Indian corn. — This was commenced in 1911 and con- tinued in 1912. The following figures show comparative yield for the two seasons : — In drills, 42 inches apart, 8 inches between plants. . 100 per cent. 48 " " 8 " " " .. 95 In hills, 42 " " 42 " « " .. 69 " « 36 " " 36 " " " .. 65 Of course, these results are far from definite, and too much importance should not be attached to them until two or three more experiments, at least, are made. Rotations. — To make room for the extension of the orchard, one of the 6-year rotations had to be dropped out temporarily. A five-year rotation, however, was started so that there are now four: one 3-year, one 4-year, one 5-year, one 6-year. REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR 83 SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 LIVE STOCK. Horses. There are now at the Station five mares and two fillies, a 2-year-old and a weanling, all registered French-Canadians besides two teams of from 2,601) to 2,900 pounds weight per team, and a driver of about 1,000 pounds. Four of the pure-bred mares are in foal to a stallion of the same breed. Exercise for colts. — Without feed of the right kind, and lots of it, it is impossible to grow a young animal as he should be grown. But when fed heavily, and kept in the stable during winter, a colt adds more weight to his body than the limbs can support, and the legs go wrong. The only practical preventive is exercise. A pad- dock, with a shed boarded on three sides and facing south, well bedded with straw, is the right place to keep the youngsters. At the Station, a weanling filly was turned out in such a place, every day of the winter, except three or four very stormy ones, from about eight in the morning until five in the afternoon. There was from one to three feet of snow in the paddock. She was fed with good clover hay, bran and oats, and the day she was one year old, she weighed 730 pounds. As her dam's weight is about 1,125 pounds, she should make a mare at least 100 pounds heavier than her mother. Experiment wintering a horse at low cost. — The gelding which was used for this experiment last year was in splendid shape for the season's work. He had received one pound of hay from mixed grasses, one pound of straw, and one pound of swedes per day for each hundred pounds of his own weight. The bulky ration and the root- had a very beneficial effect on the digestive tract of the animal. The same experiment was made in 1912-13 with a very nervous mare, fifteen years iold. She weighed 1,350 pounds on November 1, 1912, and 1,455 on March 31. 1913. If she goes through next season's work in good shape, it would seem advisable for farmers who own more horses than they can U3e in winter time to try this way of feeding the idle animals. Cattle. There are now at the Station, one bull, nine cows, five heifers, registered French- Canadians; also ten cows, grades of the same breed, and four heifers out of these by a pure-bred Canadian bull. The milk of each cow is weighed at each milking and a butter-fat test made each month. The cows themselves are weighed at different times, so that it will be interesting to see if the heifers of the grade cows, especially, will be improved in size, also in milk productiveness, by the use of a good sire, and with rational feeding. Swine. There are now one aged and two young boars, nine breeding sows, and three gilts, all registered Yorkshires. No feeding experiments have been started. Sheep. One ram and six ewes, registered Leicesters, were bought for this Station, and will be shipped as soon as the weather gets mild enough to prevent injury to the young ones, a number of which were dropped since the dams were purchased. Poultry. There are two pens of White Wyandottes, but as there is not room for more at present, just a few chicks were hatched this year. 16— 6i 84 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 4 GEORGE V., A. 1914 TESTS OF VARIETIES. This year, fourteen varieties of wheat, ten of peas, six of two-row barley, seven of six-row barley, eleven of oats, five of oats and barley, five. of carrots, eight of mangels, three of sugar beets, ten of swede turnips, and three of Indian corn were tested. A uniform piece of land was chosen for the test plots, and a three-year rotation will be used. It will be divided into equal parts, one for roots and corn, one for cereals, and one to note how clover grows when seeded down with different cereals, with different varieties of the same cereal, and with the same cereal sown in different quantities. HORTICULTURE. Fruit. — A certain number of apple and plum trees, also of currant, gooseberry and raspberry bushes were added to the variety tests. About half an acre was planted to grapes, and an area of over seven acres of land was transferred from the agri- cultural to the horticultural division, to extend the apple orchard. Vegetables.— There were 215 different varieties tested, and it was interesting to note that some of them only yielded from thirty to forty per cent of others of the same kind sown alongside. A couple of acres were used to grow vegetables for the market, and a part of the crop wa.s packed in ' Home Hampers.' which are slatted crates containing six four-quart baskets. It is the intention to continue doing educa- tional work in this line, as the price which the grower receives for his goods when marketed in the ordinary way is generally quite small compared with what the con- sumer has to pay for them. Flowers. — Over 300 different kinds of annual and perennial herbaceous plants, shrubs, and bulbs were tested. A good deal of work was done on the ornamental grounds, which will be very attractive when completed. STATION IMPROVEMENTS. Granary. — A three-story granary, 40 x 50, was built during the year. A part of this will be used as an exhibition room, in which different varieties of cereals, weeds, etc., will be displayed; it will also be employed to hand-pick grain in during the winter. The upper or third story will be for the cereal division, and will serve as a storage room for all grain from the test plots, and that which is grown to be sold or distri- buted for seed. All the rest of the building will be for feed for live stock. The grist and the fanning mills will be installed on the ground floor underneath large hoppers made to hold one thousand bushels each. Workshop. — A two-story workshop, 42 x 25, was also built during the year. It is on a concrete foundation and floor, and contains a good forge, wood and ironwork- ing benches, anvil, vise, drills, etc. The upper story is used to store paint, glass, hardware and pieces for implements. Downstairs are places for small tools. All vehicles and machines will be looked over yearly, during the winter, repaired, and painted. Loose pieces, such as neck-yokes and whiffle trees are marked with a number, which is the same as that on the machine, so that there may be no mixing or exchang- ing of parts. Painting Buildings. — All the Station buildings were painted, except the Super- intendent's and the Foreman's houses. Clearing Land. — About seven acres of land were stumped and ploughed. This is part of a tongue of brush, situated between two fields. Its removal will be quite an improvement to the looks of the property, whilst giving much-needed ground for crops. Drainage. — Nearly 8,000 feet of tiles were put in during 1912, and excavations made ready for 3,000 feet more which will be laid early in 1913. REPORT OF TEE DIRECTOR 85 SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 Waterworks. — An artesian well js being dug ©m the highest point of the Station, not far from a small pond. A concrete tank, to be filled by an engine, will be built in the ground, and from it water will be brought by gravitation to the different build- ings of the Station, and to many of the fields. VISITORS. During the year, 1,330 persons visited the Station. A remarkable fact is that farmers very seldom criticise the Experimental Farm system after they have visited one of the Stations and have seen the work done or in preparation. This shows the wisdom of doing everything possible to improve facilities for such visits. DISTRIBUTION OF SEEDS. Up to March 31, 1913, 503 packages of sweet corn, and 200 of tomato seed were distributed whilst about 400 more packages of sweet corn were made ready to send out. METEOROLOGICAL DATA. Month. 1912. April May .... June July August September October November.. .. December . . . 1913. January February March 27 29 26 8 14 9 7 11 7 18 1 22 Temperature. CD 60 4>_ * 43 o ten varieties of six-rowed barley, seven varieties of two-rowed barley, eight varieties of flax and ten varieties of field peas were tested in uniform test plots. Quantities of seed grain, of a number of the best varieties, were grown for dis- tribution by the Dominion Cerealist, and for sale in small quantities. The season was an unfavourable one for experimental work with grains. The extreme drought followed by extreme wet caused a heavy second growth in all the earlier crops; wet harvest weather increased the difficulties, so that the results obtained are not, in all cases, typical of the usual results obtained from the different varieties. FIELD ROOTS AND FORAGE CROPS. Excellent crops of field roots were obtained this season. The wet weather of late summer and early autumn just suited them. These crops deserve more general cultivation in this province. Tests were made of fourteen varieties of turnips, eight varieties of mangels, seven varieties of sugar mangels or sugar feeding beets, three varieties of sugar beets for sugar production, and six varieties of field carrots. Indian corn was not as good a crop as usual, on account of the low germination of seed and unfavourable conditions at time of planting. However, yields were obtained which amply justified the growing of the crop. Tests were made of ten different varieties of corn for fodder. The crop was stored in the silo as xisual, and made a great bulk of very excellent feed. The crop of hay, grasses and clover was rather short, as it was injured by the June drought. Alfalfa was much better able to withstand the dry weather, and pro- duced two very good cuttings. A set of twenty-eight plots of grasses, clovers, alfalfa, and mixtures, sown in 1911, produced crops this season which gave an interesting comparison of the productiveness of the different sorts. REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR 87 SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 LIVE STOCK. The herd of cattle consists chiefly of the milking type of Shorthorn. The milk records show that, while these cattle cannot equal the regular dairy breeds in milk production, they do much better than the ordinary cattle of the country. At the same time, they are capable of producing offspring of reasonably good beef type. From December 19th, to January 18th inclusive, one of these cows gave 1,810$ pounds of milk. Great interest is taken in this type of cattle by the farmers of Mani- toba and the other western provinces, and there is quite a keen demand for young stock. All the males and the surplus females are sold to farmers at low rates. In addition to Shorthorns, two Ayrshire females and two grade females are on hand. An experiment in feeding steers outdoors, as compared with stabling, was com- pleted in May, 1912. As in previous experiments of this nature, outdoor feeding was proven to be practicable and profitable. In November, 1912, a carload of steers was purchased, in order to continue the steer-feeding experiments. This year all the steers are being fed outdoors, but some receive alfalfa in place of part of the grain ration. The experiment is not completed at the time of writing. The flock of ewes has done well during the season, and has produced a good crop of lambs. A hundred range lambs were purchased in November, 1912, for the pur- pose of conducting a feeding experiment. One night in January, dogs attacked them and worried them so badly that thirty-three of them were killed or injured so seriously as to necessitate their being killed. The remainder were so upset by fright and lesser injuries, that the experiment was rendered entirely valueless. A small number of Yorkshire and Berkshire swine are kept; they have done well during the season. A feeding experiment was conducted to compare the feeding values of barley and shorts. The result proved a victory for the barley. A sufficient number of horses are kept to do the work of the Farm. No experi- ments have been conducted with horses, and very little breeding. HORTICULTURE. Twenty-three varieties of potatoes were tested in uniform test rows, and were also subjected to a cooking test. Tests were also made of the effect of various com- mercial fertilizers on potatoes. The usual variety tests of all the different kinds of garden vegetables were also conducted. Garden crops were fairly successful, yield- ing abundant crops, in most instances, but being rather late. The usual display of flowers was made, and was greatly admired by numerous visitors. Sweet peas were specialized in, and fifty-seven varieties were in bloom at one time. No additions were made to the arboretum. Notes were taken as usual on the growth, hardiness and other characteristics of all the different kinds of trees and shrubs. Additions were made to the fruit orchard by purchasing trees of promising varieties of apples and plums from several nursery firms, and planting them out in the place of other trees that had died or proven unsatisfactory. A good crop of native plums was harvested, and quite a number of cross-bred apples, of very good quality and fair size, were produced. Three thousand young apple seedlings of standard varieties were received from the Dominion Horticulturist, and planted out in nursery rows. A new plantation of bush fruits was set out. Specimens of the most promising varieties of black, red and white currants, gooseberries and rasp- berries are included in the plantation. POULTRY AND BEES. Small flocks of hens, of Barred Rock and Silver Grey Dorking breeds, are kept. No experimental work with poultry has been done during this year. The birds have been healthy and have laid reasonably well. 88 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 4 GEORGE V., A. 1914 The bees wintered satisfactorily, and ten hives were taken out in the spring. During the summer there was a greater interest shown in bees than usual. Six hives were sold, and more would have been taken if they could have been spared. Fifteen hives were stored away in winter quarters. The cold dark season was unfavourable for honey production and the quantity stored was not as great as usual, but was of the usual excellent quality. EXCURSION. On July 3, 1912, an excursion was run to the Experimental Farm by the Virden Agricultural Society. The train started at Elkhorn and received passengers at each station between that point and Brandon. This is the first excursion to this Farm for many years. About 200 persons took advantage of the excursion. DISTRIBUTION. During the year, the following distribution was made: 367 samples of seed potatoes, 35 bundles of trees and cuttings, 22,200 pounds of inoculated soil for alfalfa. VISITORS. During the year about 9,000 visitors inspected the Farm. METEOROLOGICAL RECORD FOR BRANDON. Months. Highest Temperature. Lowest Temperature. Mean Temper- ature. Total Rainfall. Total Snowfall. Hours. Bright Sunshine. 1912. May Day. 4 26 30 1 11 3 4 18 27 28 33 30 Deg. 71.9 84 101.5 97.8 82.1 80.2 75.4 54.6 39.9 36.9 32 46.4 Day. 14 13 5 18 3 25 22 27 8 12 26 2 Deg. 14 21 35 36 38.4 18.5 16 5 -27 -37.6 -38.6 -29.7 Deg. 41.2 51.5 62.1 61.3 59.9 49.8 41.6 29.2 9.3 -8.5 -3.8 7.7 Inches. .86 2.94 24 6.46 1.17 3 46 .24 Inches. i Hours. 226.4 208 June 224.9 ICG 3 August 118.1 September. . . November.. . . 1 10 11 6 5 126.5 137.8 85 1 December.. . . 1913. February March. 61.1 73 6 112.4 148.2 15.37 *40 1688.4 •Reckoning 10 inches of snowfall as equivalent to 1 inch of rainfall the total precipitation for the year ending March 31, 1913 was 19'37 inches. EXPERIMENTAL FARM FOR SOUTHERN SASKATCHEWAN. Indl\n Head, Sask. The winter of 1911-12 was remarkable for little snow, few storms and exceedingly cold weather in January. The winter of 1912-13, just passed away, has been noted for fine weather up to the end of the year, few storms, considerable snow, and the usual cold January. Seeding commenced early in April, with both weather and soil conditions favour- able. On the Experimental Farm, wheat was sown on April 8, peas on the 9th, barley on the 25th and oats on the 29th. Fall rye, fall wheat and Prelude spring wheat were cut on August 5. barley on the 12th and oats on the 14th. All wheat, oats and barley were in stook by the last of the month, excepting a few acres of late oats. Threshing coimnenced on the REPORT OF TEE DIRECTOR 89 SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 Experimental Farm on September 3, with, fall rye and fall wheat and, after many delays from unfavourable weather, was completed on October 9. Rains discoloured the barley after being in stook, and injured the wheat sample considerably. With few exceptions, all grain crops gave excellent returns last year, those from the experimental plots exceeding those of any previous year in the history of the Farm. Marquis heads the list of wheats in yield, while Prelude is first in earliness, being from twenty to twenty-five days earlier than Red Fife, which has in the past been the variety chiefly grown in the "West. Fall wheat, which is usually a failure in southern Saskatchewan, gave a good yield, though the sample was only fair. Oats did well on summer-fallow, and an average return was obtained on stubble land. Barley yields "were all satisfactory excepting two varieties, which were only fair. Peas were overtaken by frost before maturing and both yield and quality were injured. The hay crop did not equal that of 1911, on account of the dry weather in June checking the gro"wth of the first cutting. Wet weather at the time of cutting made the task of saving the crop more difficult than usual. In the experimental work witb grasses and clovers, the chief point worthy of notice was the small yields of hay obtained where the seed was sown with a nurse crop. In Rotation ' R,' where the grass and clover seed was sown with oats, the yield was only S80 pounds per acre, and in Rotation ' P,' 1,791 pounds. In the cultural tests the yields were much better, but still below those plots where the seed was sown alone. Corn, roots and potatoes were especially good the past year. Carrots and sugar beets, although small in yield, as is usually the case here, were of excellent quality. SUMMARY OF CROPS EXCLUSIVE OF UNIFORM TEST PLOTS. Acre?. Yield. 73.35 57.07 37.44 8.16 Bush. 2,099 4,267 2,124 338 39 98 6 172 5,000 Tons. 110 19 10 24 10 Lb. 26 29 43 40 00 Flax . 40 45 00 00 00 Alfalfa ' 00 00 00 Vegetables, with a few exceptions, were satisfactory. Beans failed to mature before being caught by frost. Corn, the squaw variety excepted, shared the same fate. Melons were a failure, while tomatoes had to be gathered before fully matured. Beets, cabbage, cauliflower, celery, carrots, etc., were, as they always have been, very satisfactory. Last year was particularly favourable for trees; although spring frost killed a large part of the blossoms, no injury or set-back to the trees took place, and all made a large growth and matured the wood during the long season. Shrubs did exceedingly well; lilacs, caraganas, honeysuckles and other flowering sorts were conspicuous by the large quantity of bloom. As usual the flower beds were prolific in bloom and beauty. In annuals, asters, yerbenas, petunias, stocks, and pansies were very conspicuous; and in perennials, dahlias, gladoli, paeonies, and tulips have seldom been surpassed. 00 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 4 GEORGE V., A. 1914 Late spring frost caught the crab-apple and plum blossoms before the fruit was set, and the crop was not large, although good. In small fruits, currants and raspberries were never better; while gooseberries and strawberries were a failure, chiefly caused by the late spring frost. A large number of seedling apple trees were set out last spring, and made a satisfactory growth during the season. During last spring four registered mares were purchased, with the intention of raising sufficient colts to replace old and worn-out animals. Only one mare is with foal, although all were bred. At present eleven heavy work horses, and two light horses are on hand. The herd of cattle on the Farm at present consists of thirty-six pure-bred Short- horns, and four grade animals. The flock of sheep consist of one pure-bred Shropshire ram and three pure-bred ewes, in addition to eleven grade ewes. There are at present on the Farm, two pure-bred Yorkshire White boars, four pure-bred Yorkshire White brood sows, one pure-bred Berkshire boar and one pure- bred Berkshire brood sow. Two breeds of poultry are kept on the Farm, and the flock at present consists of twenty-nine Barred Plymouth Rocks and twelve White Wyandottes. During last year an enlarged horse stable, replacing the one destroyed by fire in the winter of 1911-1912, was erected, but not entirely completed when severe weather stopped the work. The building, which has been occupied since the new year, is 70 x 32 feet, the bottom story being cement, and the top, lumber. The silo, which was partly destroyed by fire, was rebuilt in time for the corn crop in September. Four feet were added to the length of the staves, making the height thirty instead of twenty-six feet. A long-felt want in the way of granary room was supplied last year in the erec- tion of a building 26 x 50 feet x 8 feet high, the foundation and floor being made of cement. A building 21 x 44 feet, and 12 feet high, was put up during the year, to hold the large machinery, such as threshing machines. On account of delay in obtaining the necessary plans, etc., the large barn could only be commenced, when cold weather stopped the cement foundation work. A new office building was erected early in the season and occupied late in June. The size is 20 x 25 feet, one and one-half stories high, giving ample room for the increased work on the Farm. During the season, as opportunity occurred, trees, hedges and shrubs were removed, where they were too numerous, about the Superintendent's house and along the drive- ways, with the intention of having more open space and lawns. The rotation experi- ments commenced in 1910 and the cultural tests commenced in 1911 were carried on during the past year. The most notable result obtained in the rotation tests was the poor returns received in seeding grass seed with a nurse crop. Mr. Robert Whiteman, B.S.A., had charge of the cultural experiments this year. DISTRIBUTION OF SAMPLES. A distribution of samples of products of the Farm was made in the spring, chiefly to residents of Saskatchewan. The following is a list of the samples sent out: Potatoes, 3-lb. bags, mailed to Ontario and Quebec, 1,383. Potatoes, 3-lb. bags, mailed to Saskatchewan, 1,405. Garden peas, 1-lb. bags, 139. Garden corn, 1-lb. bags, 139. Small seeds, 131 packages containing 1,310 packets of flower and shrub seeds. Tree seeds, maple, 249 packages of 1-lb. each. Tree seeds, ash, 255 packages of i-lb. each. REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR 91 SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 Tree and shrub seedlings, 329 packages containing 75 trees each. Express parcels containing trees and shrubs, 15, of 50 trees each. Crab-apple and plum seedlings, 60 packages containing 12 trees each. Rhubarb roots, 96 packages containing 6 roots each. Inoculated soil: — 201 packages of 100 lbs. each were taken from one of the old alfalfa fields, and shipped to residents in the province, the applicants paying freight charges and cost of bag. VISITORS. During the past summer, 2,2-34 men, women and children visited the Farm. A good many were from the town, and walked or drove through the grounds on Sun- days. The students from Regina College paid the Farm a visit on June 22, and the Normal School students from Eegina, about 150 in number, visited the Farm pn September 12. No excursions were run to the Farm last year on account of having no large buildings in case of rain. METEOROLOGICAL RECORDS. Temperature. Rainfall. Snowfall. Sunshine. Month. Maximum. Minimum. Mean. Date. Degrees Date. Degrees Degrees. Days. Inches. Inches. Hours. 1912. April 21 25 27 24 10 18 1 9 9 28 16 31 78 81 97 90 80 74 80 61 39 40 40 45 5 4 15 14 29 24 18 27 8 • 20 26 1 12 22 34 39 39 22 20 8 19 45 35 31 40.50 49.45 61 63 60.29 59.71 46.23 39.93 29.40 13.19 6.51 1.50 10.58 5 13 8 14 9 8 3 .4C 3. 66 1.42 3.42 2.17 1.98 .25 3. 194 5 May 155 8 27 s 5 July 141 2 130 3 September October i." 3.50 12.25 8. 13. 11.75 117.8 113 S 84.3 December 53.2 1913. January •"7 9 63 . 1 March 121. Totals 60 13.30 *52.50 1.511.4 * Reckoning ten inches of snowfall as equivalent to one inch of rainfall, the total precipitation for the year ending March 31, 1913, was 18.55 inches. EXPERIMENTAL STATION FOR CENTRAL SASKATCHEWAN ROSTHERN, SASK. WEATHER CONDITIONS, 1912-13. The season opened under normal and favourable conditions, and seeding was begun on April 10. All crops made good growth until early in June, when dry weather set in, crops that had not a goodly supply of soil moisture suffered greatly, and even those under the most favourable conditions suffered to a very appreciable extent. Showery weather prevailed until nearly the middle of May, and hay crops especially 92 EXPERIA'EXTAL FARMS 4 GEORGE V., A. 1914 were very promising, but with the continued dry weather until late in June the meadows of two years' standing, or longer, became yellow and did not fully revive again all summer. In the months of July, August and September, there was more than average precipitation, which had a peculiar effect upon the grain crops. The plants had adapted themselves to the dry weather conditions of June by stooling very little, but with the heavy rains in July the stools developed and, at harvest time, there was the unusual circumstance of several stages of development in the plants of any one plot and, in many cases, in the heads of grain of one plant. Some of the wheat was ripe while other heads in the same plant were in blossom. This condition of irregular growth worked to the disadvantage of the farmer at every stage. In the first place, there was no means of determining the best time to cut; after cutting, the green straw delayed the drying of the grain; at threshing, a great deal of the undeveloped grain blew out with the straw which very materially lowered the yield as compared with the yield promised from the stand, and at marketing, the presence of immature grain with the good grain lowered the grade. Following are the meteorological records for the past year: — METEOROLOGICAL RECORDS. . Month. 1912. April. May. June July August September. October. . . . November. December . 1913. January . . February . March . . Totals. Date. 11 27 23 30 23 12 1 18 27 29 17 8 Temperature F. Ma IX. Date. 63. 15 84.2 20 93.8 16 76.2 16 79.2 30 73 2 28 67.7 21 41.0 29 38.8 11 38.6 20 35.0 26 41.1 1 Min. 16.8 28.2 34.0 38.2 37.2 20.6 17.7 0 ■23.2 49.5 34.0 33.8 Mean. 39.21 48.5 61.88 57.7 58.6 45.74 38.48 23.99 8 15 13.3 0.6 4.25 Precipitation. 1911-12 0.86 2.38 3.55 2.89 1.79 1.81 0 0.90 0.85 0.30 0.30 0.60 16.23 1912-13 .67 2.20 2.81 5.25 2.15 2.76 0.22 0.82 0.5 0.55 0.32 0.35 18.60 Hours of .Sunshine. 251.4 246.7 363.7 164.9 192.2 133.0 107.4 64.3 62.4 73.9 103.8 160.3 1923.9 EXPERIMENTAL WORK. The work begun in 1911 under the heading of Cultural Investigation Work, was continued in 1912, but as such work requires time to collect reliable results, very little can yet be deduced from most of the experiments. In the work begun at the eame time on rotations, however, something can already be learned by studying the results of this work carefully. Allowing a fair market value for all crops pro- duced, and a fair wage, and necessary allowances for wear and tear of machinery, rent of land and other incidental expenses, it will be seen in the first place, that the more the variety of crops, within certain limits, the greater is the return from the soil. Another notable feature in this work is the great returns obtained from somewhat more than ordinary cultivation. The returns from land poorly cultivated and sown to but one crop continuously show poor returns for the capital invested. In the work on test of varieties, several new varieties of wheat bred by Dr. O. Saunders were under test, but none has shown any decided advantage over Marquis. Attention is called to the work carried on with potatoes last season, and par- ticularly the different yields obtained from different methods of planting and cultiva- REPORT OF TEE DIRECTOR 93 SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 tion, the two most notable features being the bigh yields from deep planting as opposed to shallow planting and from level cultivation as opposed to ridging. BUILDINGS. The contract was let in September for a large barn, but because of danger of frost, work could not be continued on this, and there is still insufficient accommoda- tion for the live stock. There is also need of space for grain, and particularly for the variety samples. DISTRIBUTION OF SAMPLES. In the spring of 1912 there were 176 samples of potatoes sent out, besides a num- ber of samples of caragana, maple and ash seed. WATER SUPPLY AND SEWAGE DISPOSAL. In the report of 1910 the water supply system and the sewage disposal system were described, and now, after 3£ years of continuous trial, their efficiency has been proven. The only mistake that was made was in the laying of the tile drain, leading from the septic tank to the cesspool, 7 feet deep instead of 9 feet. At 7 feet the pipe froze in the winter of 1911, and in July of that year was laid two feet deeper, since which time it has continued to do efficient service. THE GROUNDS. The work in the horticultural department was considerably extended in 1912, and in March of this year (1913) the services of an experienced gardener were secured. EXPERIMENTAL STATION FOR NORTHWEST SASKATCHEWAN. Scott, Sask. character of season. The crop season of 1912 opened favourably. Work on the land commenced with (harrowing on the 11th day of April, and on the 13th the varieties of spring wheat were sown. The soil was in good condition and, generally, the seed went into a favourable seed bed. After seeding, germination was uniform, and the grain crops had a good start. During May,, the rainfall was moderate, amounting to 2-46 inches. In June, the precipitation was 2-19 inches. This low rainfall for June was associated with hot weather, which tended to hasten early varieties of grain towards maturity, at a sacrifice of yield. In July, a very heavy rainfall was recorded, totalling 6 -10 inches. This amount of moisture, coming late in the season, benefited the slower- maturing grains to some extent. However, a second growth was so encouraged that the sample, in many cases, was marred by the immature grain appearing among the good. The length of the growing season made it possible for all crops to mature, September 15 being the date of the first damaging frost. In this part of Saskatchewan, the crops in 1912 were good. On account of other unfavourable conditions, however, the year rates as a poor one from a grain-grower's standpoint. The open season for fall work was short, the plough being stopped by October 31. Owing to the scarcity of labour (all of which was required for threshing opera- 94 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 4 GEORGE V., A. 1914 tions) very little was accomplished with cropped land, by way of soil preparation, for the seeding of 1913. After the ground froze up, considerable good weather was experienced, which permitted threshing to he completed on the majority of farms throughout this district. Following on this fine period of early winter, January proved the coldest month of the year, resembling closely the same month in 1911. After twenty-four days of steady cold, the weather moderated and the balance of January, with February, was favourable winter weather. March was a month of good cold weather up to the 27th, when spring conditions obtained control. The 6nowfall for the winter of 1912 and 1913 was light. However, seeding prospects for 1913 (in view of the depth of frost, and the moisture in the soil from the two preced- ing rainy seasons) are bright. WORK CARRIED ON DURING YEAR. During the year, on the Experimental Station, the regular work in farm crops and horticulture was carried on. Very satisfactory results were obtained in the majority of tests. Results of special note were observed in crops of well-matured field peas, good yields of barley, and heavy returns with oats. Potatoes and turnips gave good yields of tubers and roots of excellent quality. Also, the flower border was very pleasing, in a beautiful, persistent bloom, which extended over several weeks of the season. For horticulture, the area was enlarged, and considerable stock of a permanent nature was added; sample hedges, an arboretum and a new orchard were started. In November, a substantial and commodious implement shed was erected, near the barn. This building is 70 feet by 25 feet, with 10-foot studding at the back, and 12-foot studding in the front. The roof is a suitable design for spread and strength, and also permits of high doors. This roof has a peak formed by a 20-foot run and an 11-foot run of rafter; the short rafter is placed at the front. The shed is entered by three pairs of doors, 10 feet, 12 feet, and 16 feet in width. The centre pair slide on th© inside of the wall, which allows all doorways to be open at the same time. Two of the work mares, bred in 1911, reared foals in the season of 1912, which, from the first, have been thrifty and promise to make useful workers for the farm. During the year, over 700 visitors were recorded at the Station. These received personal attention by some member of the staff. This visiting was confined largely to the summer months, when crops and growth of interest could be seen. In the course of the year the Superintendent visited the Provincial Farm at the Agricultural College, Saskatoon, the Dominion Experimental Station, Rosthern, and the Provincial Winter Fair, held in Regina. He also attended the Saskatchewan Agricultural Societies' Convention, held at the university. Saskatoon. WORK FOR THE PROVINCIAL EXTENSION DEPARTMENT. H. C. Love, gardener at the Scott Station, officiated as judge of vegetables, grains, and grasses at the Summer Fair, Unity, July 31. At a ploughing match of the Wilkie Agricultural Society, on June 18, the Superintendent acted as judge. He also attended as judge of horses in July and August at the following fairs: Kindersley, Zealandia, Luseland, Brock. Outlook, Brownlee, and Hanley. On March 29, 1913, he addressed a meeting of farmers in the Cut Knife Hall, on Diversified Farming, and, following this, conducted the organization of the Cut Knife Agricul- tural Society. REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR 95 SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 METEOROLOGICAL RECORDS. Month. Temperature F. Maximum. Minimum. 1912. Date. 29th 15th 22nd 31st 9th 11th 1st 1 7th et 18th 1st 28th loth 31st Degrees. 685 850 955 880 810 745 75 0 47 0 441 388 38 8 460 Date. 26th 12th 4th 14th 30th 28th . . . 31st 29th 5th 20th 3rd 1st Degrees. 122 24 7 28-7 34 2 32 9 15 7 14 2 82 -19 8 -48-8 -354 -356 May 1913. Mean. Degrees. 40 65 49 41 6171 58-00 59 74 45 64 39 09 27 00 16 86 -9 47 3 33 11-08 e _o "3 Inches. Not any. •46 19 16 93 01 15 •20 •27 •59 •42 •23 a c 5 CO Hours. 235-9 255-5 343 0 183 5 192o 1327 161 0 84" 9 913 839 104-4 157 4 EXPERIMENTAL STATION FOR CENTRAL ALBERTA. Lacombe, Alta. the climatic conditions. Seeding commenced on the 15th of April, which is an average for earliness. Germination was prompt, growth rapid, but maturity was delayed and harvest opera- tions interfered with by an unusually heavy rainfall. The precipitation for the year totals 23-64 inches, and is the heaviest on record. There was little snow throughout the winter, there being good sleighing for a week in March. METEOROLOGICAL REFORT. Months. 1912. April May , June July August September. October November . December . 1913. January . February March . . . Total Highest Tempera- ture. F. 63 82 89 78 84 75 70 58 58 ■3 •7 6 5 5 '8 6 3 6 45-3 556 52 1 Date. 8th 14th 20th 30th 22nd . . . 11th 11th 17th , 8th 28th. 15th. 8th.. Lowest Tempera- ture. F. 17 23 25 30 30 20 13 2 -10 ■9 •5 ■6 4 0 3 6 9 ■6 -35 5 -28 6 -23 6 Total Precipita- tion. 26 •92 00 •29 •44 •27 •56 93 08 •93 115 •81 23 64 Total Hours Sunshine 1962 232 9 304-0 177-1 177'7 175 2 147*5 88-5 742 63' 3 103 2 164 1 1903-9 Date Lowest Tempera- ture. 6th. 10th. :ler 4 8 8 1 12 4 10 1 4 2 Good. Fair. Rochester Rose Empire State H tf It Poor. Everett Fair. 1 2 N it 243 124 51% 28 96 REPORT OF TEE DIRECTOR 107 SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 During the year the water system has been completed, and this has given excel- lent satisfaction. Although the main is small, when worked within its capacity it frives one hundred pounds of pressure. All the Farm buildings were painted, and the , >erintendent's house and Foreman's cottage were repaired; an ice-house was also built. Late in the fall, the erection of a boarding-house was begun; this, at the time of writing, is not completed, but, when finished, it will be one of the Farm's most valuable assets. It will hold from ten to twenty mem and is being well equipped. Chief among the implements purchased this year is a corn-planter and also a corn-binder, both of which gave excellent satisfaction; the planter, in particular, paying more than one-half the purchase price in saved labour this season. 4 GEORGE V. SESSIONAL PAPER No. 10 A, 1914 Dominion of Canada DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Experimental Farms REPORT FROM THE DIVISION OF FIELD HUSBANDRY J For the Year ending March 31, 1913 PREPARED BT Assistant Dominion Field Husbandman.Central Farm, Ottawa - O. C. White, B.S.A. Superintendent Experimental Station, Charlottetown, P.E.I. - J. A. Clark, B.S.A. Superintendent Experimental Farm, Nappan, N.S. R.Robertson. Superintendent Experimental Station, Cap Rouge, Que Superintendent Experimental Farm, Brandon, Man.-- Superintendent Experimental Farm, Indian Head, Sask Superintendent Experimental Station, Rosthern, Sask. - Superintendent Experimental Station, Scott, Sask. Superintendent Experimental Station, Lacombe, Alta. -- Superintendent Experimental Station, Lethbridge, Alta. -- G. A. Langelier. •- W.C. McKillican, B.S.A. -- Angus Mackay. -. Wm.A. Munro,B.A.,B.S.A. -- R. E. Everest, B.S.A. -- G. H. Hutton, B.S.A. -. W. H. Fairfield, M.S. 109 4 GEORGE V. SESSIONAL PAPER No. 18 A. 1914 REPORT FROM THK DIVISION OF FIELD HUSBANDRY. Central Experimental Farm, Ottawa, March 31, 1913. J. H. Grisdale, Esq., B.Agr., Director of Experimental Farms, Ottawa. Sir, — I have the honour to submit nerewith the accompanying account of the work conducted by the Division of Field Husbandry for the year 1912. In addition to my own report of the work carried on at the Central Farm, there will be found reports from J. A- Clark, Superintendent Experimental Station, Char- lottetown, P.E.I. ; R. Robertson, Superintendent Experimental Farm, Nappan, N.S.; G. A. Langelier, Superintendent Experimental Station, Cap Rouge, Que.; W. C. McKillican, Superintendent Experimental Farm, Brandon, Man.; Angus Mackay, Superintendent Experimental Farm, Indian Head, Sask. ; Wm. A. Munro, Superin- tendent Experimental Station, Rosthern, Sask.; R. E. Everest, Superintendent Experi- mental Station, Scott, Sask.; W. H. Fairfield, Superintendent Experimental Station, Lethbridge, Alta., and G. H. Hutton, Superintendent Experimental Station, Lacomba, Alta. The experiments and investigations now under way are being conducted along very practical lines, and, as relating to all Experimental Farms and Stations, briefly include : — 1. Investigation of the relative merits of different crop rotations, includ- ing special rotation for ' dry farming ' conditions. 2. Studies in the methods of culture of, and curing, field crops. A series of cultural experiments adapted to prairie conditions has now been under way two years on each of the six prairie Farms. These tests involve approximately five hundred plots on each Farm, and include twelve different lines of investigation. 3. Determination of the costs of growing field crops under regular farm conditions. 4. Experiments to 6how the value of underdrainage and irrigation. 5. Studies of the influence of size and character of cultural implements on cost of crop production. 6. Comparisons (in a limited way) of various grains and forage crops as food producers. In these reports particular importance is attached to the rotation tests which are being carried on at all Farms and Stations with a view to determining how best to 111 112 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 4 GEORGE V., A. 1914 grow a variety of crops suitable for live stock purposes. A comprehensive set of experiments in soil cultivation, inaugurated in 1911, is reported upon for the first time from some of the prairie Farms. While the data this year do not afford any conclusive evidence, we believe that they will be followed with interest and that they will ultimately supply us with much needed information along the lines taken up. I have the honour to be, sir, Your obedient servant, O. C. WHITE, Assistant Dominion Field Husbandman. DIVISION OF FIELD HUSBANDRY SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 113 CENTRAL EXPERIMENTAL FARM, OTTAWA. REPORT OF THE ASSISTANT DOMINION FIELD HUSBANDMAN— 0. C. WHITE, B.S.A. WEATHER CONDITIONS AXD CROP NOTES, 1912. The crop year of 1912 will be remembered as one of the rainiest on record. The month of April was slightly cooler than the average, but cultivation was, nevertbeless, commenced in fairly good season, the first grain being sown on April 26. On April 30 the last spring frost was registered. May was exceedingly wet, with the result that seeding operations generally were greatly prolonged, and the seed bed in many cases could not be well prepared. June was just moderate in temperature, with no very hot days, and usually quite cool nights. The early part of the month was showery, the latter part quite dry. The only really hot weather during the whole growing season was between July 3 and July 10. In August the weather turned cool again, and rains were so frequent that harvesting was much delayed, and the quality of the seed in general was poor. Here, where the land is well underdrained, corn made a very good growth, but throughout the district many failures were reported. September continued cool and showery, but no frosts occurred until the 30th. October was cool but fine, and roots were harvested in good condition. Winter set in on November 25. Some Weather Observations taken at Central Experimental Farm, Ottawa, 1912. TEMPERATURE F. PRECIPITATION. 6 Month. ■13 00 CO M to X 49 IT CD •s o d cS CO 2 'a a '5 O a xn o H oo E 3 ** O co~ 00 g to % O o 36 35 44 67 82 88 95 81 80 75 58 50 4 4 0 0 0 4 8 5 0 0 4 0 O —26 —24 —17 7 33 39 45 40 28 26 5 — 4 2 0 0 0 0 4 6 4 5 2 2 8 o 224 12 04 19 34 39 07 56-25 6162 69 03 62 54 58-01 48-92 34 42 22 65 Inc 0 0 0 2 5 1 3 4 4 2 2 1 hcs. 11 07 02 60 15 35 89 94 01 47 59 17 Inches. 25 00 29 75 14 00 2 00 23 00 10 00 Inc 2 3 1 2 5 1 3 4 4 2 4 2 hes. 61 04 42 80 15 35 89 J 94 01 47 89 17 Inches. 095 130 075 0 68 144 0 42 083 1 18 062 066 2 10 081 Hour 119 141 211 2:14 204 308 312 178 102 173 83 66 s. 1 2 0 0 3 6 5 8 1 0 8 2 28-37 103 75 38 74 2134 6 CROP RETURNS— < 200-ACRE FARM.' Based on the valuations used in the rotation experiments (see page 117), there are given below the costs of producing the various crops grown on the ' 200-acre Farm ' (so called), and the profits therefrom, during the past year. 16—8 114 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 4 GEORGE V., A. 1914 i— i a 5- a t-c O 03 I O o If S3 O 43 « o u O 55 H a w H H 02 4a 43 rH CS c CI © •* CO rH CO « •* t c IN •* « id OS CM O — i—( 1C OJ r-l Ol © t~ m rV «© © c ce t- CO CO ira , , i © c3 cm" 43 c H DO 4^ 00 a: CO «o rH s T-t t~~ erage rofit acre . i-H oc O 00 O lO 09 o t~ c N ■<«< CM O €© i-l IC T— rH > ;-> ti 00 43 O CO Ifi oc N m Oi CO C > eo erage alue acre. lO CI CN lO ce © e>' © CO o 10 (M CO s © rH IO rH €© CM co "* c CM p- u 00 43 O o w IN Ol © CO ■* - " eo rH T OC lO is co lO a lO if 3 -HH 10 it: I-- c Si CO t- Cft 9E> o s c: 00 t- rH -f n ■* > >> fcl CO K i-i e* -i- © © ©' CD i-l © i—i CO IM ^f © i— i CO »o O o o r © IO rH rH CM w ^ co s ■a a ■4-3 r^? «r l> 00 JO oc CO _c 10 t^ iC t- ■- CM t» o.2 h5 -h «* ■j: Xt s l"~ ^J< t— i rH lO © i-T rH CO 43 i 03 ~H . o 4) a 00* m f-H © •>* © 4> U 00 rH Si so O • CO "i" Ci b. © t^ •f ^ bo e* lO -* >* pq 00 CO CN © •» rH IM CO cc rH rH r- - fc qj 0) > a «! 43 S3 43 o -f (M CO c CO 00 •* © oo t^ OO IM rn © Oi CO CO O O CM co 50 r-l IQ id 00 C8 +5 i-H co" O H TJ O 00 o © CM »Q h- CM IC t~ c CO CM i- T | s oc "3" rH t CO 13 co t-1 00 s o rH •3 << 1 •T ^^ OS 00 h .2* 00 43 10 '3 « (4-1 o 43 o . 43 oo -c a ■ ; cu O c es o o c4 X o bo 3 b0 H 72 4- cS X a. 2 4- 0) a, <44 c D 43 8 C •i rH 03 C ■e s OJ ^ rj 43 4- h o 43 S !-*> b n 43 ca 0. 0 o c aj ' O O C C W p. 6 w £ H 09 H-a -a -a os 3 O ."4 u 03 H V > is o ^2 1> O 3 O a <1> en bo G OJ OJ 0) S- >4H bo £ ■^'cl IS a"" C3 *44 O C rg'ft »3 CO P 00 ■ 2 4, 3 a H o DIVISION OF FIELD HUSBANDRY 115 SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 Owing to the fact that the charges for both horse and manual labour are higher than in previous years, with no corresponding increase in the valuation of the products, the net profits, as given above, are not so great as last year. A comparison of the value of the returns for the past fourteen years shows, however, very appreciable increases up to the present, and indicates that our system of cultivation and cropping is gradually but surely building up the fertility of our soil. Using the same prices throughout, the value of the products of the ' 200-acre Farm,' per acre, were : $14.39 in 1899, $21.30 in 1900, $22.98 in 1901, $24.18 in 1902, $21.61 in 1903, $24.50 in 1904, $29.30 in 1905, $23.23 in 1906, $24.45 in 1907, $23.87 in 1908, $28.51 in 1909, $29.58 in 1910, $27.38 in 1911 and $31.63 in 1912. ROTATION OF CROPS. The most important work at present in progress at the Central Experimental Farm, is the testing of rotations considered suitable for live stock farming. It will perhaps not be out of place to repeat what has been said in previous reports in connection with this experiment. ' The true farmer will ever have two objects in view when managing his farm : To so manage as to increase gradually but surely the margin of profit, and, at the same time, to render his farm more productive. Many factors must necessarily unite to produce such desirable results, but of one feature we may be certain, there will be followed on such a farmer's farm a regular rotation of crops, for no other single practice in farm management can compare with this in importance. The rotation or rotations adopted, will, of course, depend upon the line of farming followed, and to some extent upon the character of the soil and the physical peculiarities of the farm as a unit, but a rotation there will be. ' Crop rotation means a certain succession of crops which regularly repeats itself each time the course is run. It really means, further, that the crops follow each other in such order as to insure each having supplies of plant food of such a character as to aid in securing good returns from each particular crop. ' Hence, in arranging a rotation, it is very necessary to have some knowledge of the food requirements of different crops and to know something of the values of the residues from the different crops included. Certain forage crops, such a3 corn, roots, potatoes and hay, require an immense amount of food for stem, leaf and root production — that is an abundance of nitrates as is found in clover or other sod turned down, and in well-manured lands. Other crops, such as cereals, can get along best with a lighter supply of nitrates, but need more phosphates, hence do well after some forage crop has taken up the superabun- dance of free nitrates found after sod. It is evident, therefore, that a good rotation will include (1) meadow or pasture, (2) roots or corn, and (3) some cereal crop. ' Various combinations of these three classes are possible, and the natural aim of experimental work will be to determine (1) the comparative values of rotations as soil improvers, and (2) their relative suitability for different lines of farming.' During the year a re-arrangement of the rotations in this experiment was made. Owing to their changed location and to the fact that it was not possible to have the regular crops grown in all cases, the results are not altogether comparable, and will not be included in averages that will be compiled in later years. The test now includes five rotations, A, B, C, D and It, most of which may be found in more or less common use in the better farming districts of Eastern Canada where live stock is kept. 16— Si 113 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 4 GEORGE V.f A. 1914 They are permanently located, it is hoped, and are being studied, keeping in mind the following points of merit: — 1. Their ability to supply different crops in the proper proportions for certain needs. 2. Their power to keep weeds in check. 3. Their comparative profits. 4. Their effect on the fertility of the soil as indicated by an increase or decrease of crop returns from one period of years to another. Rotation 'A.' First year. — Corn. Manure applied in spring at rate of 15 tons per acre. Shallow ploughed shortly before corn planting time, turning under both clover and manure. After corn is harvested land is shallow ploughed or cultivated. Second year. — Grain. Seeded down with 8 pounds red clover, 2 pounds alsike and 10 pounds timothy per acre. Third year. — Clover hay. Two crops expected. Top dressed in fall with manure at rate of 15 tons per acre. Fourth year. — - Timothy hay. Field ploughed in August, top worked and ribbed up in October. Fifth year. — Grain. Seeded down with 10 pounds red clover, which is allowed to grow to be turned under following spring for corn. Rotation ' B! First year. — Corn. Manure applied in spring at rate of 15 tons per acre. Shal- low ploughed shortly before corn planting time, turning under both clover and manure. Second year. — Grain. Seeded down with 10 pounds red clover, 2 pounds alsike and 5 pounds timothy per acre. Third year. — Hay. Ploughed late fall, manured at rate of 15 tons per acre. Fourth year. — Grain. Seeded down with 10 pounds red clover, 2 pounds alsike and 5 pounds timothy per acre. Fifth year. — Clover hay. Rotation ' C First year. — Corn. Second year. — Grain. Seeded down with 10 pounds red clover and 12 pounds timothy per acre. Third year. — Clover hay. Fourth year. — Timothy hay. Field ploughed in August, manured at the rate of 24 tons per acre, worked at intervals and ridged up in late fall in preparation for corn. Rotation ' D.' First year. — Corn. Manure applied in spring at rate of 18 tons per acre. Shal- low ploughed shortly before corn planting time, turning under both clover and manure. DIVISION OF FIELD HUSBAXDRT 117 SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 Second year.. — Grain. Seeded down with 10 pounds red clover, 2 pounds alsike, 6 pounds alfalfa and 6 pounds timothy per acre. Third year. — Clover hay. Rotation ' R.' First year. — Corn. Manure applied in spring at rate of 1*3 tons per acre. Shal- low ploughed shortly before corn planting time, turning under both clover and manure. Second year. — Peas and oats mixed. Cut green for catttle. Seeded down with 10 pounds red clover, 2 pounds alsike, 6 pounds alfalfa and 6 pounds timothy per acre. Third year. — Clover hay. Cut green for cattle. To make comparisons of the returns and net profits in these experiments the fol- lowing arbitrary values have been used: — Return Values. Oats per bushel $0 34 Oat straw per ton 4 00 Hay " 7 00 Corn ensilage '* 2 00 Turnips and mangels " 2 00 Potatoes per bushel 0 50 Forage crops (green) per ton 2 00 Swine pasture per acre 15 00 Cost Values. Manual labour per hour $0 17 Horse labour, including teamster — Single horse " 0 27 2-horse team " 0 34 3-horse team " 0 41 4-horse team • " 0 48 Rent per acre 3 00 Barnyard manure (spread over rotation) per ton 100 Machinery (inclusive of threshing machinery) per acre 0 60 Seed oats " 1 00 Turnip, mangel, potato and corn seed charged at actual cost. Grass and clover seed charged at actual cost, distributed over the number of years in hay and pasture. Twine charged at actual cost. Threshing charged according to actual labour expended. 118 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 4 GEORGE V., A. 1914 ROTATION a o eS « O (J Description of Soil. 8 O eS C • i-» e8 4> < Ac. 1 1 1 1 1 5 Items op Expen.- k 6 Surface soil . Subsoil. Crops. b 3 a s G d Seed, twine and use of machinery. Manual Labour. V i* c o •& O K to u 3 o a O O A 2 A 1 A 5 4 ^3 F.S. 18. F.S. 17. F.S. 16 F.S. 15. F.S. 14. Aeroresra Gravelly clay loam, ii i it ii te Clay hard pan. ii it it 1911. Hay H ay - Oats 1912. Timothy hay Clover hay.. $ c. 9 52 9 52 9 52 9 52 9 52 $ c. 1 97 1 88 1 97 2 87 2 87 No. 5 • 30 5 8 14 $ c. 85 5 10 85 1 36 2 38 47 CO 11 56 02 10 51 Averaare rwr acre in 11 )12 ROTATION B2 E 1 F.S. 13. F.S. 12. F.S. 11. F.S. 10. F.S. 9. Clay loam. it n Clay hard pan. it ii ii ii 12 1 1 1 1 1 Hay Hay Clover Oats Clover 9 00 9 00 9 00 9 00 9 00 45 00 1 97 1 88 4 69 1 97 4 fi9 4 30 10 4 10 68 5 10 B5 B 4 hay.. 1 70 68 B3 hay. . 1 70 Xcrcrvpcrnt 3 5 15 20 58 9 86 A vera are ner acre in 19 ROTATION C2 CI C4 C3 F.S. 8. F.S. 7. F.S. 6. F.S. 5. Clay loam. Clay- hard pan. Aggregate Average per acre in 1912. Corn.., Hay.. Hay.. Oats . . , Oats. Corn. Hay. Hay. 9 00 9 00 9 00 9 00 1 97 1 77 3 07 3 07 5 30 10 10 36 00 9 88 55 85 5 10 1 70 1 70 9 35 Indicates loss. DIVISION OF FIELD HUSBANDRY SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 119 Hours. s X. R 0 h <*< o OX! oo ^"* O O OS E c5 £ h 02 03 w ® . IF*3 03 V rs » 00 **- * s - CD 00 [_ o fe ti ° c cu 00 U o rC "So a m s ca- ll IB 0 6 c3 CO a) 00 c r=! CO 00 £ O ■4 F Si u fc. Surface soil . Subsoil. s V a es s S * £? I* 0 o a o c a c3 eS Q c3 o o g9 (- +3 n O o « tl ■S3 Ac. rt CO w O 1911. 1912. $ c. $ c. No. $ c. 1 Clay hard D 1. F.S. 4. . F.S. 3. . Loam pan. ti ... 1 1 Corn.. . . 9 00 9 00 1 97 1 87 4 30 0 G8 D 2. Hay.. . . 5 10 D 3. "F.S. 2. . H ... 1 Oats.. . . Hay 9 00 6 09 10 1 70 3 Aggregat 27 00 9 93 44 7 48 A vpraffp ner anre in 1C 12 ROTATION R 1. R 2. R 3. EPGS1 EPGS2 EPGS3 Sandy loam. Hard pan Aggregate Average per acre in 1912 l-6]Peas & oats. 16 Corn 16 Hay 4-8 Hay Pi^as & oats . Turnips 11 40 14 40 9 74 3 36 6 20 1 02 3 40 DIVISION OF FIELD HUSBANDRY SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 121 D." in raising Crop. Horse labour (including teamster. ) Hours. OJ g 03 O 03 J3 CD © be o a ^3 09 (M No. No. s CD O 2 11 7 20 No. 6J - 6 Hi d9 03 O J3 No. 2 3 to U J S3 «*-! O OQ ■~t o Q 9 C. 3 79 8 18 2 65 14 62 bo a O D $ c. 1 25 DO Q cj O H 1 25 $ c. 16 69 24 15 19 44 60 28 20 09 o u a c3 H (-. O CO O O $ c. 16 69 24 15 19 44 60 28 20 09 a o o o o $ c. 0 38 1 70 5 14 Particulars of Crop. Weight in Pounds. c3 u Lb. 1,482 1,48: Lb. 1,768 Lb. 1,768 7,570 7,570 o?; s % » t* EC bC o o Lb 28J420 28,420 IE o 9 C. 18 36 28 42 26 50 ?3 28 24 42 o O o a cS & -3 tS c3 bS ■w 'O 'S 3 4a J-3 o o. C m o o 1-1 < CO w O O 1911. 1912. $ c. $ c. No. $ c. Gravelly S 1. E.P.G.S.4 Sandy loam . clay . . ICorn. .. Oats 9 00 1 94 5 0 85 S 2 E.P.G.S.5 E.P.G.S.S H n 1 1 Oats Peas & oats . Hay 9 0J 9 00 2 10 2 77 12 9 2 04 8 3 Hay. . . . 1 53 S 4 ITT. P f 4 S 0 | 1 Hay. . . . 9 00 1 87 26 4 42 4 36 00 8 68 8 81 "'~»"&w f - . ROTATION PI P2 P3 P4 R.P.G.S.G E.P.G.S.7 EPGS. 10 EPGS. 11 Sandy loam . it . ii Gravelly clay . . ii •i . . H 1 1 1 1 Corn. . . .-.i , Hay Hay Peas & oats . Hay Coru 9 00 9 00 9 00 9 00 1 97 2 10 2 77 1 87 5 12 y 26 0 85 2 04 1 53 4 42 1 36 00 8 71 8 84 A v^-in-Q r,o,- g«ro in 1019 • DITISION OF FIELD HUSBANDRY SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 125 ,'S" (Shallow ploughing and deep cultivation). in EAisiNG Crop. PAKriCULARS OF CROP. Horse labor (including teamster). Cost of threshing. 4» CO O s 45 O H CD CJ 19 rH U o CM CO O O a" o rH u O CO 53 XI rH H o **H -t> CO O O Weight in Pounds. i ca > r-H c« o H e u O 03 M CD Ch o M o **H o CD s CS r> Hours. CD "s-S ^3 r- 1 CO o o a C5 H 0Q >> eg w Roots, ensilage or green feed . CO rl 0 si CD To s CO E e3 CD CD CO O -c CN S c3 CD CD CO SH O r<3 CO S c3 CD CD CO M O t. o M CD P- tC o •~ Ph No. h l i No. 2 6i 5i 27 No. 6* 5^ No. 1 1 $ c. 3 85 5 21 2 14 11 07 fa 2 09 $ c. 17 73 18 35 15 44 26 36 $ C. 17 73 18 35 15 44 28 36 $ c. 0 24 1 95 4 77 1 47 Lb. 2,459 Lb. 3,321 Lb. Lb. $ c. 31 23 18 86 22 64 35 84 $ C. 31 23 18 86 22 64 35 84 $ c. 13 50 6,470 18,860 35.S40 0 51 7 20 2 3 i 9 48 22 27 2 09 77 88 77 88 2,459 3,321 6,470 54,700 108 57 108 57 30 69 19 47 19 47 27 14 27 14 7 67 'P" (Deep ploughing). \ 1 1 2 ii 6i 1 1 3 85 5 21 2 14 8 98 2 36 18 03 18 35 15 44 24 27 18 03 18 35 15 44 24 27 0 22 1 71 4 86 1 25 2,774 3,226 6,160 21,470 38,750 34 19 21 47 21 56 38 75 34 19 21 47 21 56 38 75 16 16 3 12 6 12 2 10 li 14 48 20 18 2 36 76 09 76 09 2,774 3,226 6,160 60,220 115 97 115 97 39 88 19 02 19 02 28 99 28 99 9 97 128 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 4 GEORGE V.f A. 1914 Comparative Costs, Returns, and Profits, 1912, ' Shallow Ploughing and Deep Cultiva- tion ' versus ' Deep Ploughing.' Rotation. Total coat to operate. Total value of returns. Net profit. $ cts. 19 47 19 02 $ cts. 27 14 28 99 $ Cts. 7 67 9 97 COMMERCIAL FERTILIZER EXPERIMENT. In 1909 three rotations, having for object the gaining of information as to the value of commercial fertilizers in regular farm rotation, were introduced. In this experiment, superphosphate, muriate of potash and nitrate of soda are being substi- tuted to a greater or lesser extent for barnyard manure. In 1S12 a further rotation was added in which no fertilizer of any kind is used. The nomenclature has been changed, so that rotations ' A,' ' B,' ' C ' Fertilizer are now 'X,' ' Y ' and ' Z,' respect- ively, and the added rotation is termed ' N.' Rotation ' N '. This rotation is of four years' duration, and includes, grain, hay, pasture, roots. The grain follows roots, the land being ploughed shallow or cultivated after the hoed crop is harvested. With the grain is sown 8 pounds red clover, 2 pounds alsike and 12 pounds timothy per acre. Field is left seeded down two years, first year of which is cut for hay, second is pastured. In August, pasture land is ploughed 5 inches deep, worked at intervals during the autumn and ribbed up in the late fall. The following spring the land is worked into good tilth and sown to roots, no manure or commer- cial fertilizer of any kind being applied. Rotation ' X '. This rotation is of four years' duration, and includes grain, hay two .years, roots. The grain follows roots, the land being ploughed or cultivated in the fall after the hoed crop is harvested. With the grain is sown 8 pounds red clover, 2 pounds alsike and 12 pounds timothy per acre. The clover hay is cut twice in the season. After the second year hay the land is manured at the rate of 15 tons barnyard manure per acre, and ploughed in August, 5 inches deep, worked at intervals during the autumn and ribbed up in the late fall. The following spring the land is worked into good tilth and sown to roots. Rotation ' Y '. This rotation is of four years' duration, and includes grain, hay two years, and roots. The grain follows roots, the land being ploughed or cultivated in the fall after the hoed crop is harvested. With the grain is sown 8 pounds red clover, 2 pounds alsike and 12 pounds timothy per acre. The clover hay is cut twice in the season. After the second year hay, the land is ploughed in August, 5 inches deep, worked at inter- DIVISION OF FIELD HUSBANDRY 127 SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 vals during the autumn and ribbed up in tbe late fall. The following spring the land is worked into good tilth and 300 pounds superphosphate, 75 pounds muriate of potash and 100 pounds nitrate of soda are applied before being sown to roots. In addition to the above, the land receives a dressing of 100 pounds nitrate of soda per acre each year that the field is in hay or grain. This application is given in early spring on the grass, and just as the grain is coming through, when under grain. Rotation ' Z! This rotation is of four years' duration, and includes grain, hay two years, roots. The grain follows roots, the land being ploughed or cultivated in the fall after the hoed crop is harvested. With the grain is sown 8 pounds red clover, 2 pounds alsike and 12 pounds timothy per acre. The clover hay is cut twice in the season. After the second year hay, the land is manured at the rate of 7£ tons barnyard manure per acre and ploughed in August, 5 inches deep, worked at intervals during the autumn and ribbed up in the late fall. The following spring the land is worked into good tilth and 150 pounds superphosphate, 37i pounds muriate of potash and 50 pounds nitrate of soda are applied before being sown to roots. In addition to the above the land receives a dressing of 100 pounds nitrate of soda per acre each year that the field is in hay or grain. This application is given in early spring on the grass, and just as the grain is coming through, when under grain. In the following tables of results, rotation ' 1ST ' is not included, as it had not been under proper rotation long enough to be comparable with the others. 123 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 4 GEORGE V.. A. 19U FERTILIZER ROTATION Crf XI. X2. X3. X4. ci o o Description of Soil. Surface soil . Subsoil. A. S. 5 Clay loam . . A. S. 8 A. S. 11 Black muck. A. S. 14 .. Clay hard- pan. Aggregate Average per acre in 1912 Average per acie for 4 years. . . Ac. Crops. 1911. Hay Mangels , Hay Oats 1912. Mangels. . Oats Timothy hay Clover hay. . Items of Expense 3 a 3 a c3 a erf $ c. 6 75 6 75 6 75 6 75 27 CO G 75 5 C3 (3 4) a T3 2 » s CO c. 2 10 1 94 3 07 3 07 10 IS 2 55 1 70 Manual Labour. 3 No. 83 5 5 10 o O 14 11 0 85 0 85 1 70 17 51 4 38 5 90 FERTILIZER ROTATION Y 1. A. S. G Y 2. Y 3. Y 4. A. A. A. S. 9 S. 12 S. 15 Clay loam . . Clay hard- pan. m Black muck. Aggregate Average per acre in 1912 Average per acre for 4 years. Hay Mangels . Hay Oats Mangels Oats........ Timothy hay Clover hay. . 7 14 7 14 7 11 7 14 2 10 1 94 3 07 3 07 83 5 5 10 28 5G 10 18 7 14 2 55 7 41 1 6S 14 11 0 85 0 85 1 70 17 51 4 38 6 09 FERTILIZER ROTATION Zl.. A. S. 7 Z2.. A. S. 10 Z3.. A. s. 13 Z4.. A. s. 10 Clay loam . . Clay hard- 1 >an it Black muck. Gravel Aggregate Average per acre in 1912 Average per acre for 4 years. Hay Mangels . Hay Oats Mangels Oats.; Timothy hay Clover hay. . 8 07 8 07 8 07 8 07 32 28 8 07 6 97 2 10 1 94 3 07 3 07 10 18 2 55 1 68 83 5 5 10 14 11 0 S5 0 85 1 70 17 51 4 38 6 02 * Indicates loss. Plate VI . '•"■'«jkw Mf The Oat Crop, Experimental Station, Lacombe, Alta. 16— 1914— p. 128 Threshing. Experimental Station, Lethbridge, Alta. DIVISION OF FIELD HUSBANDRY SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 129 " X. " (Barnyard manure.) in raising Crop. Particulars op CRor. Horse labour (including teamster). be a ]3 eg 3 la 43 43 <*- O 43 EG o O 43 CO O o 43 o H OS u o cj t-l t- O 43 CO O O a o +3 i— i h O CO 3 43 ,-4 f-. O «44 43 CO O O $ c. 1 44 0 21 4 53 4 46 Weight in Pounds. CD "a > 43 o H CD CJ 5 n CO a, o u o CD 3 "oS > Hours. 03 CO 2 *; -C 3 <4-l O 0 43 O O a '23 u C5 4a m 03 w CO • bc^3 /T? 43 CO on O 43 CO S s +3 CD u O 43 o cj u CD cu 43 ta G (4 No. 6 1 No. 15* 2 4| 8 No. 6 7 No. 5 No. 11 75 3 55 1 80 2 99 $ c. 2 12 $ c. 34 71 15 21 12 47 14 51 $.c. 34 71 15 21 12 47 14 51 Lb. 2,492 Lb. 3,238 Lb. ' 5,500 6,500 Lb. 48,360 $ c 48 3ti 31 40 19 25 22 75 $ C. 48 36 31 40 19 25 22 75 $ c. 13 65 16 19 6 78- 1 8 24 20 09 2 12 76 90 76 90 2,492 3,238 12,000 48,360 121 76 121 76 44 86 5 02 0 53 19 23 19 23 623 809 3,000 12,090 30 44 30 44 11 21 4 91 0 31 18 45 18 45 339 525 2.82S 12,508 26 90 26 90 8 45 MY" (Commercial Fertilizers.) 154 2 4* 8 11 75 3 55 1 80 2 99 20 09 5 02 4 72 35 10 1 20 11 68 f 12 86 14 90 1 20 0 30 0 27 35 10 14 68 12 86 14 90 77 54 19 39 20 17 77 54 19 39 20 17 1 43 0 35 5 29 4 41 1,421 1,421 355 297 1,909 4,860 6,750 49,130 1,909 47; 448 11,610 49,130 2,9021 12,282 2,733 12,782 49 13 18 03 17 01 23 62 49 13 18 03 17 01 23 62 107 79 107 79 26 95 26 95 26 25 26 25 14 03 3 35 4 15 8 72 30 25 7 56- 6 08 ,'Z " (Barnyard manure and Commercial Fertilizers.) 6 154 2" 44 8" 6 7 5 11 75 3 55 1 80 2 99 0 88 36 03 15 29 13 79 15 83 36 03 15 29 13 79 15 83 1 49 0 50 5 45 5 22 1,035 48,360 48 36 14 24 17 71 21 21 48 36 14 24 17 71 21 21 12 33 1 1 1,945 ' 5,060 6,060 1 05* 3 92 5 38 20 09 0 88 80 94 80 94 1,035 1,945 11,120 48,360 101 52 101 52 20 58 5 02 0 22 20 24 20 21 259 486 2,980 12,090 25 38 25 38 5 14 4 80 0 23 19 70 19 70 281 469 2,932 13,322 27 33 27 33 7 63 16—9 130 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 4 GEORGE V., A. 1914 Commercial Fertilizer Experiment. — Comparative Costs, Returns and Net Profits, average of 4 years. Rotation. Cost to Operate. Value of Returns. Net Profit. $ cts. 18 45 20 17 19 70 $ cts. 26 no 26 25 27 33 $ cts. 8 45 6 08 7 63 PROPOSED EXPERIMENTAL WORK. In addition to the rotation tests and to the costs of production work now under way it is proposed to inaugurate a series of cultural experiments similar in purpose and outline to those conducted on our prairie farms. In the carrying out of such work we are, however, very greatly handicapped because of the limited area of land at our disposal. The growth of the other Divisions and the establishment of new Divisions has necessitated the concession of small areas from time to time to make possible the new work. We have now, in all, less than two hundred acres on which to carry the stock of the Division of Animal Husbandry, and to conduct experiments which cannot always be designed to supply the greatest amounts of the kinds of food required. By the use of soiling crops and other intensive methods we have endea- voured to produce a maximum of feeds. Much further economizing of space through this means is not practicable, however, and I would present for your consideration the need to acquire more land, if the Division is to carry out to best advantage the work for which it was instituted. DITISIOX OF FIELD HUSBANDRY SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 131 EXPERIMENTAL STATION FOR PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND, CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT, J. A. CLARK, B.S.A. WEATHER CONDITIONS AND CROP NOTES, 1912. A mild spell of weather about the middle of April gave promise of an early spring. Cold, dull weather followed, and it was not until the 11th of May that seeding began at this Station. The greater part of May was so backward that the leaves and the blossoms were fully three weeks later bursting out than in the spring of 1911 ; a frost that wilted the clovers occurred on the 22nd. June was decidedly cool. The mean temperature was more than a degree below the average. Cutworms did much damage in the province. During the first half of July the heat was extreme, and during the latter half the rainfall was excessive. Large quantities of hay were ruined throughout the province. The cool, late spring and the heavy rains of July and August caused the hay crop to fall below the average, both in quantity and quality. The early grain also suffered much from this, and gave yields much below the same varieties sown later. This was a very unusual occurrence in this province. In many sections haymaking was continued until harvest, or about the third week in August. The oats filled well, but smut was very prevalent. Rust and the joint worm did much injury to the wheat crop. September proved to be a good harvest month. The late grain ripened very slowly, yet where it did mature it was heavy and well filled. No killing frost occurred during .the month. The potato crop was good, and when harvested was very free from rot. The corn, mangels and sugar beets were scarcely an average crop, but the turnips and carrots gave heavy yields. A severe frost occurred on the 16th of October, but it was not until the 12th of November that the more hardy vegetation was killed. The weather was open and a very large percentage of the fall work was completed in the early autumn. Some Weather Observations taken at Charlottetown Experimental Station, 1912. Month. Temperature F. Precipitation, Total Highest. Lowest. Mean. Rainfall. Snowfall. Total. Heaviest in 24 hours. Sunshine. January ■ o 500 480 600 62 0 790 845 915 810 730 730 650 500 0 — 3 -17 — 4 12 27 36 39 45 38 28 25 — 2 0 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 0 0 3 24 13 30 35 50 57 64 61 54 47 37 26 17 46 80 72 53 82 90 68 02 71 01 60 Inches. 2 01 034 321 2 37 2 64 249 6 83 268 290 3 72 3 59 540 Inches. 157 21 8 14 0 79 Inch 3 2 4 3 2 2 6 2 2 3 4 0 es. 58 52 61 16 64 49 S3 68 90 72 24 45 Inch 0 1 0 0 0 1 2 0 0 1 1 1 es. 67 30 63 88 83 16 18 72 83 58 06 05 Hours. 826 117 6 180 6 April 163 1 235 0 251 1 July 195 8 list 1819 167 9 65 105 134 2 517 687 38 18 76 4 45 82 1,830-2 16— 9i 132 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 4 GEORGE V., A. 1914 ROTATION OF CROPS. Six rotations varying in duration and treatment were started in 1912, on the land to the west of the farm buildings. The area they cover extends north along the rail- way to the De Blois road. They are laid out in fields as follows :— A and B, 1-00 acre each; C, -57 of an acre; D, 1-00 acre; F, -88 of an acre; G, •4 of an acre. Rotation 'A' (five years' duration). First year. — Corn. Manured 25 tons per acre. Second year. — Oats. Seeded down. Third year. — Clover hay. Fourth year. — Timothy hay or pasture. Fifth year. — Oats. Rotation ' B' (five years' duration). First year. — Corn. Second year. — Grain. Seeded down. Third year. — Clover hay. Fourth year. — Grain. Seeded down. Fifth year. — Clover hay. Rotation ' C ' (four years' duration). First year. — Hoed crop. Manured 20 tons per acre. Second year. — Grain. Seeded down. Third year. — Clover hay. Fourth year. — Timothy hay or pasture. Rotation ' D' (three years' duration). First year. — Hoed crop. Manured 15 tons per acre. Second year. — Grain. Seeded down. Third year. — Clover hay. Rotation 'F' (four years' duration). First year. — Hoed crop. Manured 20 tons per acre. Second year. — Grain. Seeded down. Third year. — Clover hay. Fourth year. — Grain. Seeded down. Rotation ' G' (seven years' duration). First year. — Grain. Second year. — Hoed crop. Third year. — Wheat or barley. Seeded down. Fourth year. — Clover hay. Fifth year. — Timothy hay. Sixth year. — Pasture. Seventh year. — Pasture. The land available for this rotation work was very uneven. On rotation ' A ' there had been several buildings, as well as a cellar and an old brick -yard. Two feet of brick clay were removed from part of the land before the normal surface was DIVISION OF FIELD HUSBANDRY 133 SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 reached. Rotations ' B ', ' D ' and ' F ' were partly drained in 1911. Rotation ' C ' contains a filled pond, house cellar and door yard. Rotation ' G ' also contained a large pond area that was drained and filled. Careful accounts were kept which will prove valuable in time. On these fields the cereals considered most suitable to the province were multiplied, so as to be available to those wishing to purchase pure seed. MIXED GRAINS. Experiments are being conducted to determine the best mixture of crops for green feed, and for the production of grain for feeding stock. The results of these will be published when averages for several years have been obtained. PROPOSED EXPERIMENTAL WORK. Cultural experiments have been held in abeyance pending the addition of more land to the Station. A great amount of work along these lines has been planned, and will be instituted just as soon as the land can be properly prepared for it. 134 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 4 GEORGE V., A. 1914 EXPERIMENTAL FARM FOR NOVA SCOTIA, NAPPAN, N.S. REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT, R. ROBERTSON. WEATHER CONDITIONS, 1912. The spring of 1912 opened dull and cold with some frosts during April. On the 10th the thermometer registered 15 degrees of frost and on the 25th 7 degrees. No snow fell during the month, but there was a rather heavy precipitation of rain. During May the weather was cold, and for the first three weeks dry, with just enough rain falling to retard seeding operations, which became general about the 15th. The precipi- tation during the last week of this month was much heavier than usual. June, although having no great amount of rainfall, was both cool and damp. Grain and roots did fairly well, but corn was almost a complete failure. July was a dry, warm month until the 22nd, after which rain fell continually until the end of the month, giving a total precipitation of 6-62 inches. Hay and grain did well, but roots made poor growth. The latter part of August was practically continuous rainfall. Haymaking was almost impossible, the grain lodged badly, and root crops suffered severely. Due to the heavy rains no cultivating could be done after July 22. September's rainfall of 2-86 inches was below the average, but this, together with the heavy rains of the previous month, made the harvesting operations slow, especially in the case of grain. No frost was recorded up to this time. October was a very fine month with a light precipitation and a few light frosts, a splendid month for harvesting roots and getting the general fall work done. November was also a very seasonable month enabling the fall work to be further advanced than usual. Some Weather Observations taken at Nappan Experimental Farm, 1912. Month. Temperature F. Precipitation. Total Sun- shine. Highest. Lowest. Mean. Rainfall. Sn< v\ fall. Total. 1912. 0 45 45 48 6G 77 84 92 81 73 74 66 51 0 -24 —18 -15 17 24 35 40 38 33 25 14 0 0 11-70 18 22 27-54 37*64 50 27 56 29 63(il GO 75 52 99 46 80 36 32 26 33 Inches. •55 16 1 26 Inches. 14.00 16 00 1150 Inc 1 1 2 2 2 2 6 4 2 1 3 5 lies. 95 76 41 04 74 32 J 62 82 86 67 70 62 Hours. 148 50 124 00 11700 May 2 2 2 6 4 2 1 3 5 04 74 32 62 82 86 67 70 62 117 00 164-00 Juna 242 00 151 00 175 80 149 90 146 90 77 45 81 50 34-36 4150 38 51 1695 06 DIVISION OF FIELD HUSBANDRY SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 135 CHOP YIELDS. Below is a summary of the yields of the crops grown, exclusive of uniform test plots of grain and potatoes. Field grain 1,110 bush. 381b. Turnips and mangels 6,315 » 15 ■■ Fodder corn 25 tous 50 .. Hay . 134 .. 1,975., The field grain consisted of upland and marsh oats, barley and mixed grain (2 bushels of oats, 1 bushel of barley and 1 peck of peas, sown at the rate of three bushels per acre). The yields were as follows : 8 acres upland oats yielded . . 55 bush. 6 lb. per acre. 6 ti marsh oats it 22 n 8 m 13 it barley ■■ 34 n 4 n 8| ii mixed grain ■• 46 ■■ 20 h TURNIPS. Six varieties of turnips were grown in fields of one-half acre each. The land was a clay loam in only a fair state of fertility, and was given a dressing of barnyard manure at the rate of 24 tons per acre. Where commercial fertilizer was used in addition to the manure, it was applied at the rate of 300 pounds per acre. The following were the results: — Varieties of Turnips with Manure alone, and with Commercial Fertilizer in addition to Manure. Area. Acres. Name of Variety. Improved Greystone, manure with fertilizer ,, M only Rennie's Prize, manure with fertilizer ,. it only Magnum Bonum, manure with fertilizer ,i ii only Best of All, manure with fertilizer ii •> only Canadian Gem, manure with fertilizer ... . M ii only Kangaroo, manure with fertilizer n ii only Yield ] ~er Acre. Yield per Acre. Tons Lb. Bush. Lb. 31 1,115 1,051 55 30 1,490 1,024 50 20 1,470 691 10 20 1,340 689 00 17 580 576 20 20 560 676 00 16 500 541 40 18 400 606 40 18 1,370 622 50 14 1.900 498 20 10 1,220 353 40 7 1,760 262 40 In addition to the above, four acres of turnips were grown in acre plots, on a clay loam on which was spread manure at the rate of 20 tons per acre. On account of the extremely wet weather this crop received very little cultivation. The following are the results: — 1 acre mixed Best of All and Greystone 625 bush, per acre. 1 ii Hartley's Bronze 390 m ■■ 1 „ Elepha ■; 33 0 » ■■ 1 ii mixed Hartley's Bronze and Sutton's Champion 210 ■■ »i 135 I EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 4 GZORGE V., A. 1914 MANGELS. Three varieties of mangels were grown in one-third acre plots. The land was a clay loam and was given a dressing of 20 tons of manure per acre. The following yields were obtained : — Yields of Field Lots of Mangels, Nappan, 1912. Area. Name of Variety. Yield per Acre. Yield per Acre. Acres. * i Mammoth Long Red Tons. Lb. 11 1,445 10 475 8 200 Bush. Lb. 390 45 Yellow Globe. 341 15 270 SPEING WHEAT. Three varieties of spring wheat were grown in half-acre fields. They were sown on May 15 and 16. The results were as follows: — Yields of Field Lots of Spring Wheat, Nappan, 1912. Area. Name of Variety. Yield per Acre. Acres. White Fife ... Bush. Lb. 23 14 19 I Red Fife 17 30 DIVISION OF FIELD HUSBANDRY SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 137 EXPERIMENTAL STATION FOR CENTRAL QUEBEC. CAP ROUGE, QUE. REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT, G. A. LANGELIER. WEATHEE CONDITIONS, 1912. The past season was the most unfavourable which the farmer of this district has experienced for a quarter of a century. The month of April was cold and the snow disappeared slowly. In May, seeding was retarded by the excessive rainfall, which occurred on fourteen different days between the seventh and the thirty-first. The wet weather continued into June, there being precipitation during thirteen of the first eighteen days of the month. This was followed by a drought which extended from the twentieth of June until the end of July. The land, which had been repeatedly flooded, was then parched and cracked, and the late sown crops germinated poorly. August was wet and cold, and those who delayed haying for finer weather found little opportunity to cure it properly. Grain grew well, but corn, potatoes and roots were at a standstill. September continued damp and cloudy, sunshine averaging only a little over three hours a day. Corn did not grow well, and was practically a total failure throughout the district. In October, rain fell on seventeen days, making it difficult to harvest the grain in good condition. Much of it was still green when cut, and seed, as a rule, was of poor quality. November continued dull. On the twenty-sixth the ground froze up so that no further field work could be done. Some Weather Observations taken at Cap Eouge Experimental Station, 1912. Month. January . . . February . . March , April May June July August. . . , September. October November. December. Total. Temperature F. 34 35 43 60 80 83 92 77 74 72 59 47 Precipitation. Highest. Lowest. Mean. -24 -19- -14- 5' 26- 35- 44' 39- 31- 28- 10- -13- ■0 1 •2 9' ■2 15 •o 31 •2 51- •2 66- '2 66" ■2 59- ■2 53- 2 44- 2 30 2 16- •94 •00 •28 35 ■31 •18 •81 •20 •37 •94 92 •83 Rainfall. Snowfall Inches. 0-28 0 2 8 3 0 10 3 2 2 1 23 78 08 01 92 21 34 74 94 04 35 57 Inch 08. 347 215 21-7 20 20-3 20 2 120 4 Total. Total Sunshine. Inches. 3 2 2 2 8 3 0 10 3 2 4 3 75 15 40 98 08 01 92 21 34 74 97 06 4761 Hours. 79 63 165 215 194 212 224 138 91 87 26 39 0 ■3 •3 •2 0 0 •7 0 ■2 ■0 ■2 •5 1,535 4 133 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 4 GEORGE V., A. 1914 FIELD CROP YIELDS. With the exception of hay, the yield of all crops was below average. No further explanation than the inclement weather need be given for the poor showing made, and indicated in the following table: — Field Crop Areas and Yields, Cap Rouge, 1912. Crop. Corn Turnips . . Potatoes .. Oats (green.). Oats (ripened) Hay..... Variety. Longfellow Select Purple Top. Irish Cobbler Banner , Banner. . Clover. . . Timothy. Acreage. 731 300 100 192 25 46 27 15 21 75 Total area in field crops 87 ' 59 Total Yield. Lb. 40,185 33,790 1,713 5,5G5 22,032 108,000 65,250 Yield per Acre. 2 tons, 1,497 lb. 5 „ 1,203 ., 28 bush. :*3 m 1 ton. 26 bush. 2 tons. 1J » 898 „ 5 ., ROTATION OF CROPS. With a view to learning something of the relative value of different rotations, and of showing the advantages of a well-ordered succession of crops over long continued growing of the same crops, four rotations were inaugurated in 1911. The work with them has been continued, but we do not feel warranted in presenting any figures until we have the results of at least one more year's work. It will be noted that rotation ' J ' is omitted from the number reported as having been started last year. It has been temporarily dropped to make room for the extension of the orchard. Rotation ' B ' of five years' duration has been added, so that there are now under test the following: — Rotation ' D' (three years' duration). First year. — Corn, roots, potatoes, peas, and peas and oats mixed to cut for green feed or for hay. Second year. — Oats. Seeded down with 10 pounds red clover, 6 pounds timothy, and 3 pounds alsike per acre. Third year. — Clover hay. Two crops cut if possible. Rotation ' C ' (four years' duration). First year. — Corn, roots, potatoes, peas, and peas and oats mixed to cut for green feed or for hay. Second year. — Grain. Seeded down. Third year. — Clover hay. Fourth year. — Pasture. DIVISION OF FIELD HUSBANDRY 139 SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 Rotation ' B ' (five years' duration). Fi?st year. — Corn, roots, potatoes, peas, and peas and oats mixed for green feed or for hay. Second year. — Grain. Seeded down. Third year. — Clover hay. Fourth year. — Grain. Seeded down. Fifth year. — Clover hay. Rotation ' K ' (six years' duration). First year. — Corn, roots, potatoes, peas, and peas and oats mixed for green feed or for hay. Second year. — Grain. Seeded down. Third year. — Hay. Fourth year. — Hay. Fifth year. — Pasture. Sixth year. — Pasture. PLANTING CORN IN HILLS AND DRILLS. The experiment started in 1911 to learn the relative merits of sowing corn in drills and in hills in this climate and locality has been continued. The following table shows the results for each year, and the average for two years. Planting Fodder Corn in Hills and Drills. Method of Planting. In drills 42 inches apart, 8 inches between plants ti 48 m 8 ii ii In hills 42 ., 42 -, „ ii 06 ii 36 ti ii Yield 1911. Yield 1912. Tons. Tons. . 13-89 4 09 13 82 3 83 1192 •83 11 33 •OS Average yield 2 years. Ton? 9-29 882 G 37 GOO The rather marked difference in favour of the drill-sown com may be partly accounted for in 1912 by the nature of the season. The almost incessant rainfall pre- vented seeding until June 19. A long drought then followed. The corn sown in drills with the horse planter, was seeded deeper, and nearer moisture, than that sown in hills with the hand machine. The drilled corn, therefore, germinated more quickly and was cultivated at an earlier date, thus receiving an advantage at the outset that counted for much in that particular season. This test will be continued and reported upon next year.' 143 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 4 GEORGE V., A. 1914 EXPERIMENTAL FARM FOR MANITOBA, BRANDON, MAN. REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT, W. C. McKILLICAN, B.S.A. EOTATION OF CEOPS. There is a growing sentiment in the province of Manitoba in favour of increasing the number of live stock kept, growing more forage crops, and thus going in for that system of agriculture, known as mixed farming. This province has long been known as a grain-growing country. It seemed specially adapted to that purpose; the great fertility of the soil, the ease with which large areas could be cultivated, and the quality of the grain produced, all tended to make wheat production the mainstay of prairie farming. Thirty years of that method have begun to bring about the inevitable result. Weeds are becoming more prevalent, fertility is beginning to fail, and soil blowing is becoming more of a difficulty, each year. These difficulties are more per- ceptible on some farms than on others, depending on how well the land has been farmed. The very essence of the advantage of mixed farming, is that it makes possible a more scientific rotation of crops than can be practised under grain growing. By causing the various crops to follow each other in the most desirable sequence, it is possible that the fertility and cleanliness of the land may be kept up, and that each crop may leave the land in a suitable condition for its successor. In order to get definite information as to what rotations are suited for Manitoban conditions, eight different rotations have been adopted for this Experimental Farm. Some of these have been in operation for a few years, others are partly in operation, and one has not yet been started. In order that the results obtained in various years may be comparable, fixed valua- tions have been established upon which to calculate them. These valuations will be used from year to year, regardless of fluctuations in rates of wages and values of products. Thus, in some seasons the actual profits will really be greater than is shown, in others, when prices for products are low, the profits will be less. These constant values, however, permit of a fairer comparison of the different rotations, and of periods of years within a single rotation. He lc. lc. He 3c. $10 00 10 00 12 00 10 00 10 00 10 00 10 00 2 00 2 00 1 00 2 00 2 00 5 00 3 00 3 00 4 00 1 00 1 00 25 DIVISION OF FIELD HUSBANDRY 141 SESSIONAL PAPER Ncf. 16 The following values have been fixed: — Beturn values. Wheat (from the machine) per lb Barley " " « Oats " " Peas Flax '* " "...'...'.'.'.'.'..'.'..'. '.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'. " Timothy hay -.".". ... . ...... '.'.'.per ton. Red Clover hay Alfalfa hay " Brome Grass hay " Western Rye Grass hay " Mixed hay Green hay " Oat straw " Barley straw " Wheat straw " Pea straw " Flax straw " Dry corn stalks Corn ensilage " Mangels and turnips " Sugar beets • " Pasture, each horse per month. " cow " sheep " Cost values. Rent per acre. 2 00 Barnyard manure spread on fields (charged equally over all years of the rotation) per ton. 100 Seed wheat per acre. 1 50 Seed oats " 1 00 Seed barley " 1 00 (All other seeds to be charged at actual cost, ^ost of grass seed to be charged equally on the years producing grass. Twine charged at actual cost.) Machinery per acre. 60 Manual labour per hour. 19 Horse labour (including teamster)— Single horse per hour. 27 Two-horse team 34 Three-horse team 41 Four-horse team 48 Additional horses each hour. 7 (Work done by traction engine is to be converted into the amount of horse labour required to do the work, and charged accordingly.) Threshing (covering work from stook to granary) — Wheat per bush. 7 Oats " 4 Barley " 5 Flax " 12 Peas f " 7 Rotation ' D' (four years' duration). First year. — Wheat. Second year. — Wheat. Manured preceding fall at rate of 3 tons per acre. Third year. — Oats. Fourth year. — Summer-fallow. 142 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 4 GEORGE V., A. 1914 This is a typical grain-farming rotation, except that manure is applied every four years. The first crop of wheat is sown on summer-fallowed land. After the crop is harvested the land is manured in the fall and then ploughed. A sec and crop of wheat is then sown. The stubble is ploughed in the fall, if possible, and a crop of oats is grown the following year. The land is summer-fallowed in the fourth year, in pre- paration for wheat again. The soil on which this rotation is located is a black loam, varying from clayey to sandy. Operations were commenced on this rotation in 1910, and it has been in full operation in 1911 and 1912. Rotation ' E' (four years' duration). First year. — Wheat. Second year. — "Wheat. Third year. — Oats. Fourth year. — Summer-fallow. This is identically the same rotation as ' D,' except that no manure is applied at any time. It is the same rotation as used by many of the best grain farmers in Manitoba. The operations have been exactly the same as on ' D,' except for the appli- cation of manure. The land is the same as ' D,' each field lying contiguous to the corresponding field in ' D.' Rotation 'F' (five years' duration). First year. — Wheat. Second .year. — Wheat. Third year — Corn or roots. Manured preceding fall. Fourth year. — Oats or barley. Seeded with grass and clover. Fifth year. — Clover hay. This is a mixed-farming rotation for conditions where there is such a sufficiency of permanent pasture that it does not have to be included in the rotation. It provides hay and corn or roots, for stock, and substitutes the latter crops for summer-fallow. It produces a crop, on every field, every year. It gives two-fifths of the land to wheat. The first year, wheat is sown on the clover sod of the former fifth year. After the wheat is taken off, the land is fall ploughed. Wheat is sown again the second year. The land is then manured in the fall, and either fall or spring ploughed. The third year corn is planted, and the land is kept clean by frequent intertillage. Barley or oats is sown the fourth year on the corn stubble, without ploughing. Along with the barley or oats is sown a mixture of '•'> pounds of timothy, 5 pounds of western rye grass and 8 pounds of red clover per acre. The fifth year, a crop of hay. largely clover, is harvested. As soon as the hay is off, the land is ploughed, and worked up for the wheat of the first year again. The soil on which this experiment is located is black loam and is mostly of a fairly heavy clay mixture. This rotation was begun in 1910, and by this year (1912), was almost in full operation. The only exception was a piece of three acres in the field allotted to corn; this piece was rather bad with couch grass, and was given an excep- tionally thorough summer-fallowing in an effort to get rid of this pest. DIVISION OF FIELD HUSBANDRY 143 SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 Rotation ' G ' (six years' duration). First year. — 'Wheat. Second year.— Wheat. Third year. — Oats and barley. Seeded with crass and clover. Fourth year. — Clover hay. Fifth year. — Pasture. Sixth year. — Corn or roots. Manured preceding fall. This is a mixed-farming rotation which provides for one-third of the farm in wheat and, in addition, gives a good area to different kinds of feed for live stock, including pasture. The latter necessitates the building of divisional fences between the fields. The wheat of the first year is sown among the stubble of the corn of the sixth year, without ploughing. The trash from the corn is raked off and burned, and the land harrowed. After the first crop of wheat is harvested the land is fall ploughed for a second crop. After the second crop, it is again fall ploughed. The third crop is oats or barley, and with it is sown a mixture of 5 pounds of timothy and 8 pounds of red clover, per acre. The fourth year, there is a crop of hay, mostly clover. As soon as it is removed, the aftermath is used for pasture. The fifth year is pasture, up till about the middle of July or first of August, when the aftermath of the hay field is ready to carry the stock. The pasture is then manured, and ploughed under. There having been only two years of grass, the sod is not very hard to plough, and does not need to be backset. The sixth year is corn or roots. These are thoroughly cultivated, so that the land is left as clean as a good summer-fallow, and is ready for wheat again, without ploughing. The land used for rotation ' G ' is a heavy clay loam. This rotation was the first started on the Farm, and has been in full operation several years. The amount of hand labour expended on the corn this year was exceptional, and is due to a set of circumstances, including poor seed, late spring, dry June, and very wet July, which made extra efforts necessary if the field were to be kept clean. Rotation ' H ' (six years' duration). First year. — Wheat. Second year. — Wheat. Third year. — Summerrfallow. Fourth year. — Oats. Seeded with grass and clover. Fifth year. — Hay. Sixth year. — Pasture. Manured. This is a mixed-farming rotation, suitable for those who do not wish to grow corn or roots on a large scale. It gives one-third of the land to wheat, and one-sixth each* to oats, hay and pasture. It requires divisional fences on account of the pasture. The rotation is located on heavy clay land. A change has been made in the nature of this rotation, and this year, 1912, is the first year of the present order of crops. The land on which it is located is rather badly infested with couch grass. An effort is being made to put it in good shape. However, at the present time, it is not fair to the rotation to publish # comparison of results, obtained here, as contrasted with results obtained on land in good condition. 144 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 4 GEORGE V., A. 1914 Rotation ' I' (six years' duration). First year. — Flax. Second year. — Oats. Third year. — Summer-fallow. Fourth year. — Wheat. Seeded with grass and clover. Fifth year. — Hay. Sixth year. — Pasture. Manured. This rotation is very similar to ' H,' the difference being that one crop of wheat is replaced by flax, and the position of the other crop of wheat is changed with the oats, so that the seeding down is with wheat. This rotation is in the present ordei this year for the first time. It occupies half of the same fields as occupied by ' H,' and is under the same disadvantage as regards couch grass. The seeding mixture for both ' H ' and ' I ' is as follows : 8 pounds western rye grass, 6 pounds red clover and 2 pounds alsike per acre. Rotation ' Q ' (eight years' duration). First year. — Roots and peas. Second year. — Wheat or oats. Seeded with grass and clover. Third year. — Hay. Fourth year. — Hay. Fifth year. — Pasture. Sixth year. — Pasture. Seventh year. — Pasture. Eighth year. — Green feed and rape. Manured in fall. This rotation is located in a piece of poor, gravelly soil, on the high land, at the rear of the Experimental Farm. It is used as a sheep farm, and the rotation is arranged accordingly. The first year is divided between peas and turnips. They are sown on land that grew green feed and rape the year before, and was manured and fall ploughed. The next year, the field is seeded down, with oats or wheat as a nurse crop. Two years of hay and three of pasture follow. In the last year of pasture, the land is ploughed in midsummer, and backset the following spring. A crop of green feed (peas and oats), and a crop of rape for pasture, are grown the last year. The land is then manured, and ploughed for the first year crops again. This rotation was in partial operation in 1911 and 1912, but is not yet in complete operation. - Rotation ' W (ten years' duration). First year. — Wheat. Second year. — Wheat. Third year. — Corn or roots. Fourth year. — Oats. Fifth year. — Barley. Sixth year. — Alfalfa. Seeded without nurse crop. Seventh year. — Alfalfa. Eighth year. — Alfalfa. Ninth year. — Alfalfa. Tenth year.— Alfalfa. DIVISION OF FIELD HUSBANDRY . 145 SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 This is distinctly an alfalfa rotation. For the use of this crop it is necessary to have a long rotation, as the alfalfa is expensive to seed, and takes some time to reach its highest production. This rotation would be best suited to a dairy or stock farm, as half the land is alfalfa. The soil on which rotation ' W ' is used, is heavy clay. This rotation has not yet been started. All that has been done is to allot a block of land, and get most of. it seeded to alfalfa. The land has not as yet been subdivided. The first year wheat will be sown on land that grew alfalfa for four years and was ploughed in midsummer after the first cutting of the last year of alfalfa was taken off. After fall ploughing, another crop of wheat will be taken off. The land will then be heavily manured, and sown to corn or roots. Following the hoed crop, oats will be sown, without ploughing. Following the oats, a crop of early maturing barley (probably beardless) will be grown, and the land given a partial summer-fallow, either before the barley is sown or after it comes off. The next year, alfalfa will be sown without a nurse crop. Three full years of alfalfa hay, and a first cutting of the fourth year, will be harvested. The land will then be ploughed in midsummer, and made ready for wheat again. The details of costs, returns and profits of rotations ' D/ ' E,' ' F ' and ' G ' are given in the following table : — ■ 16—10 14S EXPERIMEXTAL FARMS 4 GEORGE V., A. 1914 ROTATION B O q t-3 OS * Crop. Items of Expensb E 3 S3 OB S a Seed, twine and U3e of machinery. Manual Labour. Horse labour (including teamster). Hours. EO Q m u P O 09 o O OS H o 43 S cS OB O) OS O 43 05 3 © -^ o s: ■~ O 43 CO S a D ai 09 h o -* o 43 O B O ^-3 GO TO O D 4 Plot 1 . . i. 2.. .. 3.. .. 4 Ac. 3-5 35 35 3-5 1912. Summer-fallow. . Oats Wheat Wheat $ c. 7 00 12 25 12 25 7 00 $c. 2 10 6 86 8 07 8 79 No. $c. No. No. 14g 9| No. 3 4 5 No. 20$ 12 13^ $ c. 10 57 D3.. D2.. D 1 7 6 1 33 1 14 1 33 12 00 11 35 3 92 Aggregat ... . e in 1912 ROTATION E4... E3... E2 .. El... 1 f Plot 1 . 3'5 ISummer-fallow. . „ 2..I 3 5 Oata „ 3.. 35 Wheat ,, 4..I 3-5 [Whsat 7 00 7 00 7 00 7 00 2 10 6 sa 8 07 8 79 7 6 7 1 33 1 14 1 33 24 14§ 94 "T2. 3 5 20i 12 134 10 57 12 00 11 55 3 92 ROTATION F5., F4. F3. F 2. . Fl. G4 G3 G2 Gl GO G 5 Plotl.. 80 „ 2.. 80 „ 3.. 80 ,. 4.. 8 0 „ 5.. 8-0 1 Wheat Wheat Hay... Barley . Corn . . . Aggregate. Average per acre in 1912 Plot 1.. 2.. 3.. 4.. 5. . 6.. Hay.... Barley . Wheat.. Wheat . Corn. . . . Pasture . Aggregate Average per acre in 1912 16 00 16 00 16 00 28 80 28 80 18 96 20 2SI 26 16! 15 68! 23 00 14 12 25 12 1444 66 7:": 28 27 45 2 25 274 H4 274 28* }23| 37 8 154 63 5 04 154 26 92 10 31 6 49 16 04 82 01 ROTATION 12 00 12 00 20 00 20 00 20 00 12 00 io so; 12 24 14 40| 15 30 17 88 13 80 19 6 10 9 2734 51 97 154 124 24 25 25 60 4 9 6 12 20 18 28 4 25 19 20 20 83 10 96 42 34 DIVISION OF FIELD HUSBANDRY SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 D. " 147 in raising Crop. 9 3 3 43 ■ (M o 43 bp 'S3 w Particulars op Crop. - 43 m O u o H o c o 3 I* o 43 ■ o O a o -^> (Li O •6 i-i u o 09 o o Weight 125 Pounds. c 9 43 o H « 3 h V & ft o b 5 «44 o o 3 "3 > g § S a. 43 ca o u s 0 43 CO o u a '3 i u 43 GO 5? § 3 G -o a 3 CO 43 o O Notos. $C. 6 c. 19 67 40 64 38 34 30 14 8 c. 5 02 11 61 10 96 8 01 $c. Ins. Lb. Lb. Lb. Lb. $c. 8 c $C. -5 62 10 70 7 78 22 47 8 20 0 20 6,970 4,74u 7,800 8,400 4,800 9,600 78 10 65 60 108 80 22 31 18 74 31 08 5 53 0 48 0 43 9 10 S.F. 1911 cost $7.46 pet 128 79 J252 50 9 20 18 03 8 83 E. 7 40 4 65 9 10 19 67 34 56 32 41 30 14 116 78 5 62 9 87 9 26 8 61 8 34 0 19 0 49 0 43 7,072 3,900 7,800 8,400 4,800 9,600 71 30 54 40 108 80 234 50 20 37 15 51 31 08 16 75| -5 62 10 50 6 28 22 47 8 41 S.F. 1911 cost n. 46 per acre. ;F. " 13 23 22 40 77 77 71 27 :.3 40 84 90 202 51 9 72 8 91 6 68 10 61 25 31 0 45 0 49 6 19 11,340 19,200 2j\2ie 14.400 22,800 19,200 158 40 267 40 60 85 241 36 165 00 19 80 33 43 7 61 30 17 20 62 10 08 24 52 0 93 19 50 -4 69 22 10 41 25 12,170 110,000 3 aort-s S.F. for eouch grass, hence Icea. 489 85 -93 01 12 25 22 S3 10 0; "G. : ■■: 4 : 29 36 17 00 61 58 13 37 19 751174 94 5 80 4 89 10 26 70 50! 11 75 63 !*;, 10 53 29 16 4 30 425 34 11 81 0 18 0 37 0 20 16,320 1O.S00 11.46C 12,000 13,020! 18,000 ■14,000 , 97 00 ■iso 00 158 M) ... 182 60 114,000 171 0!) . . . i 54 00 S43 40 16 17 11 28 30 00 19 74 26 47 1! 72 30 43 19 90 28 50 -0 66 9 00 4 70 23 43 11 02 Pasture on aftermath worth §27. Pastured 18 cattle 3 id. 16—10* 143 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 4 GEORGE V., A. 1914 CULTURAL EXPEKIMENTS. The work of inaugurating the system of cultural experiments ,has made progress during the year. All the operations which the system called for have been carried out. On most of the experiments, the preparatory work has been completed, and results should now be obtained. On some experiments, where several years of prepa- ration are necessary, the work has not yet reached the stage where results are expected. Operations commenced on the cultural plots on April 29, but wet weather pre- vented further operations until May 9. Spring ploughing and other spring work was accomplished with difficulty on account of the wet condition of the soil. Later on, the weather turned very dry, and the germination of turnips and rape was uneven. During the hot dry weather of June, a difference could be observed in the plots under the various methods of treatment. The heavy rains of July caused an excessive growth of straw, and a large amount of secondary shooting. Oats and barley lodged very badly, and it was impossible to entirely avoid waste in harvesting. As a result of these peculiar weather conditions, the results obtained are almost valueless. Methods that theory and practice have heretofore shown to be objectionable, have produced just as good yields as the best methods; in some cases, such as in depth of ploughing, the results that would be expected are practically reversed. The year's results are, therefore, quite disappointing; instead of giving some definite information, as was expected, the figures are largely contradictory and confusing. We report the yields, as they occurred, for what they may be worth. DEPTH OF PLOUGHING WHEAT STUBBLE TO BE SOWN TO OATS. The wheat stubble was ploughed and disced the preceding fall. The oats were sown May 16. All plots came up on May 27, headed on July 17, were cut on Septem- ber 10 and were threshed on September 25. Depth of Ploughing Wheat Stubble to be sown to Oats. Plot No. Depth of Ploughing Wheat Stubble, fall of 1911. Yield of Oats per acre, 1912. Ploughed 3 inches deep Ploughed 4 inches deep Ploughed 5 inches deep Grain. Lb. 2,800 2,080 2,800 Straw . Lb. 3,200 3,320 4,400 DEPTH OF PLOUGHING SUMMER-FALLOW TO BE SOWN TO WHEAT. The land was ploughed on June 15, 1911, was packed and harrowed after plough- ing, and was cultivated twice afterwards, during the summer, with a stiff tooth culti- rator, and harrowed after the first cultivation. Wheat was sown on all plots on May 13, 1912, after a double harrowing. All plots came up on May 22, headed on June 8, were cut on August 7 and threshed on September 12. DIVISION OF FIELD HUSBANDRY 149 SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 Depth of Ploughing Summer-fallow to be sown to Wheat. riot No. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Depth of Ploughing Summer-fallow, 1911. Ploughing Ploughing Ploughing Ploughing Ploughing Ploughing Ploughing Ploughing Ploughing Ploughing 3 inches deep 4 inches deep 5 inches deep 6 inches deep 7 inches deep 8 inches deep ,. 5 inches deep and subsoiling 4 inches. 6 inches deep and subsoiling 4 inches. 7 inche-! deep and subsoiling 4 inches. 8 inches deep and subsoiling 4 inches. Yield of Wheat per acre, 1912. Grain. Lb. 2,600 2,560 2,400 2,400 2,240 2,480 2,440 2,160 2,520 2.C40 Straw. Lb. 2,600 3,680 2,S80 2,880 3,520 2,800 2,400 3,220 3,240 3,b40 DEPTH OF PLOUGHING SOD TO BE SOWN TO WHEAT. There has not been time to get results on this part of the experiment, as the first grass seed was sown in 1911 ; and, consequently, there was no sod to plough up the same season. Sod has been ploughed, the various depths, in 1912, and the 1913 crop will give the yields produced thereon. SUMMER-FALLOW TREATMENT. The plots on which this year's results are obtained, were summer-fallowed in 1911. With the exception of plots 11 and 13, they were ploughed on June 14, 1911. Those getting a second ploughing, received it on September 28, 1911. The other operations, during the summer, were according to the methods outlined below. Wheat was sown on May 10, and, with the exception of plot 10, came up on May 19. On plot 10, it came up on May 21. All headed out on July 6, were ripe on August 26, cut on August 28 and threshed on September 12. 150 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 4 GEORGE V., A. 1914 Treatment of Summer-fallow to be sown to wheat. Plot No. 5 C 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 Treatment of Summer-fallow, 1911. Plough 4 inches, June, pack if necessary and practicable, cultivate as necessary Plough 6 inches, June, pack if necessary and practicable, cultivate as necessary Plough 8 inches, June, j>ack if necessary and practicable, cultivate as necessary Plough 4 inches, June, cultivate. Plough 4 inches, September, harrow Plough 6 inches, June, cultivate. Plough 6 inches, September, harrow Plough 8 inches, June, cultivate. Plough 8 inches, September, harrow Plough G inches, June, cultivate. Plough 4 inches, September, harrow Plough 4 inches, June, cultivate. Plough 6 inches, September, harrow .... Plough 4 inches, June, early as possible, cultivate. Plough 0 inches, September, leave untouched Plough 5 inches, June, seed to rape or other green forage crop and pastun off , Plough 0 inches, May 15, harrow and pack if necessary, cultivate as ■ sary Ploughs inches, June 15, harrow and pack if necessary, cultivate as neces- sary • • • Plough G inches, July 15, harrow and pack if necessary, cultivate as neces- sary Fall cultivate before summer-fallowing. Plough G inches, June, harrow and pack if necessary, cultivate as necessary. Fall plough, 4 inches, 1" fore summer-fallowing. Plough 6 inches, June, harrow and pack if necessary, cultivate as necessary. Plough 6 incites, June, pack, cultivate as necessary Plough G inches, June, no packing, otherwise same as other plots Yield of Wheat per Acre, 1912. Grain. Straw. Lb. Lb. 2,560 5,360 2.560 4,6 10 2,700 4,. 140 2,400 4,440 2,720 3,680 -,. 1,32 2,400 1,200 2,320 1,5 2,240 4,1' 2,320 4,280 2,721 5,200 2,521! t,280 2,410 4,760 2,440 5,480 2,720 2,700 2,i;oo 5,640 4.4 10 1 5,020 STUBBLE TREATMENT. The plots on which this experiment was conducted, grew wheat in 1911. The treat- ment of the stubble was performed, according to directions given below, in the fall of 1911 and spring of 1912. Wheat was sown on plots 1 to 10, on May 13; they all came up on May 23; plots 3, 4 and 5 headed out on July 6; plots 1, 2, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 headed out on July 8. All ripened on August 28, were cut on August 31, and threshed on September 25. Plots 11, 12 and 13 were sown to oats on May 16. All came up on May 28, headed out on July 20, were ripe on September 11, were cut on September 11 and threshed October 3. DITISIOX OF FIELD HUSBANDRY 151 SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 Treatment of Wheat Stubble to be sown to Wheat. Plot No. 1 2 3 1 5 6 7 8 9 10 Treatment given Wheat Stubble preceding Wheat. Plough, autumn Disc harrow, autumn Burn stubble— then disc, autumn Burn stubble— then plough, autumn Burn stubble in spring— seed at once Plough in spring — seed at once Disc at cutting time — spring plough Disc at cutting time- autumn plough Plough, autumn — subsurface pack at once. Plough, spring — seed — subsurface pack . . . Yield of Wheat per acre, 1912. Grain. Straw. Lb. Lb. 1,720 2,680 2,080 3,200 2,120 2.720 1,900 2,900 2,280 3,320 2,280 3,320 1,920 3,800 2.040 3,960 2,280 3,720 1,680 3,120 Treatment of Wheat Stubble to be sown to Oats. Plot No. Treatment given Wheat Stubble preceding Oats. Yield of Oats per acre, 1912. Grain. Straw. 11 Lb. 3,400 3,320 3,640 Lb. 3,800 12 3,880 13 Cultivate, autumn— spring plough, seed 3,160 SEEDING TO GRASS AND CLOVER. The various operations that were called for this year, in this experiment, were carried through. As several years' preparatory work are necessary, in growing the different crops which precede the seeding down, it has not been possible to obtain results as yet. The following are the methods being tested in this experiment : — 1. Seeding Eye grass 16 pounds, and red clover 10 pounds with nurse crop on summer- fallow. 2. Seeding Rye grass 16 pounds, and red clover 16 pounds, alone after summer -fallow. 3. Seeding Rye grass 10 pounds, and red clover 16 pounds, with nurse crop on first year after hoed crop. 4. Seeding Rye grass 16 pounds, and red clover 16 pounds, alone after hoed crop. 5. Seeding Rye grass 16 pounds, and red clover 16 pounds, with nurse crop on first year wheat stubble. -,%..* i_ 6. Seeding Rye grass 16 pounds, and red clover 16 pounds, alone after first year wheat. 7. Seeding Rye grass and red clover with oats to cut green on first year wheat stubble. 8. Seeding Rye grass 10 pounds, and red clover 10 pounds, alone on first year wheat stubble, manuro*8 tons per acre, ploughed preceding fall. 9. Seeding Rye grass 10 pounds, and red clover 10 pounds, with nurse crop on second year wheat stubble. .,,,,» j i ** j 10. Seeding Rye grass 10 pounds, and red clover 16 pounds, alone after second year gram 11. Seeding Rye grass 16 pounds, and red clover 16 pounds, with nurse crop on second year after hoed crop. BREAKING SOD FROM CULTIVATED GRASSES AND CLOVERS. As the block of land allotted to this experiment was not in sod at the start, it was first necessary to grow the sod. The land was seeded down in 1911, produced a crop of hay this year (1912), and will be ready for the first set of plots to be broken up in 1913. 152 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 4 GEORGE V., A. 1914 The following methods are to be tried in this experiment: — 1. Plough July 20 to 30, 5 inches deep. Pack and disc at once — disc in fall. 2. Plough October, 5 inches deep. Pack— disc harrow. 3. Plough earlv July, 3 inches deep. Backset September, cultivate as necessary. 4. Stiff tcoth rip July— plough 5 inches deep September— cultivate. 5. Spring plough, 5 inches deep — seed same spring to wheat. 6. Duplicate No. 5— sow flax. 7. Repeat No. 5 — sow peas. 8. Plough May 15— work as summer-fallow. APPLICATION OF BARNYARD MANURE. Two years' work have now been put on these experiments, and the various opera- tions have been carried out each season. A third year is necessary on many of the plots before comparative results are obtained, as most of the work, in these two seasons, has been of a preparatory nature. The following methods of applying manure are being tried: — For Corn. 1. No manure, second year stubble, ploughed in autumn. 2. Apply on surface in autumn after ploughing second year stubble, and work in at once. 3. Applv in spring on surface of ploughed land, second year stubble, and work in at once. 4. Plough in autumn right after applying, second year stubble. 5. Plough in spring right after applying, second year stubble. 6. Winter apply, plough in spring, second year stubble. 7. Winter apply, green manure (cut straw) on second year stubble — plough in spring. 8. Winter apply, green manure (cut straw) on summer-fallow — disc in. 9. Summer-fallow — no manure. For Wheat. 1. Apply in winter green manure (cut straw) first year stubble — disc in. 2. Apply in winter green manure (cut straw) summer-fallow — disc in. 3. Apply with spreader after grain sown on first year stubble. 4. Apply with spreader after grain sown on summer-fallow. 5. No manure — fall ploughed — first year stubble. 6. Apply on surface first year stubble and plough in, in autumn. 7. Apply on surface first year stubble and plough in, in spring. 8. No manure — disc — first year stubble. 9. No manure — burn stubble. For Barley. 1. Apply in winter green manure (cut straw) on first year stubble — disc in. 2. Apply in winter green manure (cut straw) on summer-fallt>\, sow barley on summer- fallow. 3. Apply with spreader after barley sown on first year stubble. 4. Apply with spreader after seeding barley on summer-fallow. 5. No manure — fall ploughed — first year stubble. 6. Apply on surface first year stubble and plough in, in autumn. 7. Apply on surface first year stubble and plough in, in spring. 8. No manure — disc — first year stubble. 9. No manure — burn stubble. For Oats. 1. Apply in winter green manure (cut straw) first year stubble — disc in. 2. Apply in winter green manure (cut straw) summer-fallow — disc in. 3 Apply with spreader after grain sown on first year stubble. 4. Apply with spreader after grain sown on summer-fallow. 5. No manure — fall ploughed — first year stubble. 6. Apply on surface first year stubble and plough in, in autumn. 7. Apply on surface first year 6tubble and plough in, in spring. 8. No manure — disc — first year 6tubble. 9. No manure — burn stubble. DIVISION OF FIELD HUSBANDRY 153 SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 GREEN MANURING. In this experiment the plots were given the treatment described below in 1911, and were sown to wheat in the spring of 1912. Plots 1, 5 and 6 were ploughed on June 15, 1911. The crops of green peas and tares were ploughed in, on plots 2, 3 and 4, on July 15, 1911. Manure was applied on plot 5 on October 20, 1911. Wheat was sown on all these plots on May 11, 1912. All came up on May 20. Plot 5 headed out on July 4 and the others on July 8. All ripened on August 28, were cut on August 31 and threshed on September 25. Green Manuring for Wheat, followed by Oats. Plot No. Treatment of land year previous to Wheat. Yield if Wheat per acre, 1912. Grain. Straw. 1 2 3 Peas, two bushels Golden Vine (or other similar variety) Peas, two bushels Golden Vine, ploughed under when in Lb. 2,320 2,280 2,240 2,520 2,680 2,920 Lb. 5, 1C0 4,520 5,240 3,960 4,800 8 880 4 5 Summer- fallow. Barnyard manure, 12 tons per acre, applied 6 Summer-fallow SEED BED PREPARATION. This experiment was conducted with wheat sown on summer-fallow. The summer-fallowing had been equally well done on all plots. The plot called 'poor preparation ' was harrowed once, the one called ' good preparation ' was harrowed twit e, and the one called ' extraordinary preparation ' was harrowed four times. The whe.t was sown on May 9; it came up on May 20, on plots 2 and 3, and on May 22, on plot 1. All ripened on August 2-8, were cut on August 31 and threshed September 25. Preparation of Seed Bed for Wheat. Plot No. 1 2 3 Treatment given. Poor preparation Good preparation Extraordinary preparation Yield of Wheat per acre. 1912. Graio. Straw. Lb. 1,440 1,040 1,500 Lb. 3,760 5,160 5,640 This experiment was also conducted with oats on fall-ploughed wheat stubble. The land was ploughed on October 23. The ' poor preparation ' plot was sown after ploughing and packing only. The 'good preparation' plot was ploughed, harrowed twice and packed. The ' extraordinary preparation ' plot was ploughed, harrowed four times and packed. The oats were sown on May 14, came up on all plots on May 26, headed on July 17, were ripe on September 10, cut on September 10 and threshed on October 2. 154 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 4 GEORGE V., A. 19M Preparation of Seed Bed for Oats. Piot No. Treatment given. Poor preparation Good preparation Extraordiniry preparation Yield of Oats per acre, 1912. Grain. Lb. 3,010 3,640 3,G40 Straw. Lb. 4,060 4,760 4,360 SOIL PACKERS. Packing for Wheat sown on Summer- falloiv. The plots for this experiment were all summer-fallowed in 1911. Plots 15 to 20 were packed, after ploughing, as described in the following table. The ploughing was all done on June 14. Packing and other spring work was done on May 10 and 11. All plots were sown to wheat on May 10, ail came up on May 19 ; plots 2, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 18, 19 and 25 headed out on July 4, plots 3, 4, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 and 21 headed out on July 6; plots 1, 22, 23 and 24 headed out on July 8. All ripened on August 26 and were cut on August 28. Soil Packing in Preparation for Wheat following Summer-fallow. d o l 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 10 20 21 ■ 24 25 Cultural Treatment Given. !l-. Harrow, seed • • ii surface pack ii H harrow M subsurface pack „ ,i harrow H combination pack „ ii harrow Surface pack, seed, surface pack Subsurface pack, seed, subsurface pack. . . . Combination pack, seed, combination pack Surface pack, harrow, seed Subsurface pack, harrow, seed Combination pack, harrow, seed Harrow, seed J Plough for summer- fallow, surface pack, cultivate; next spring, smoothing harrow, seed • • • • Plough for iuumer-f allow, subsurface pack, cultivate; next spring, smoothing harrow, seed • • Plough for summer-fallow, combination pack, cultivate ; next spring, smoo_th- inf, harr< >w, seed • ■ • • Plough for summer-fallow, surface pack, cultivate; next spring, smoothing harrow, seed, surface pack . . _ • • Plough for summer-fallow, subsurface pack, cultivate ; next spring, smooth- ing harrow, seed, subsurface pack ■ • Plough for summer-fallow, combination pack, cultivate ; next spring, smooth- ing harrow, seel, combination pack Harrow, seed harrow when 6 inches high .... suiface pack when 6 inches high, roll when 6 inches high am* Yield of Whrat pep. Aorz, 1912. Grain. Pounds. 2,440 2,920 2. 3.080 3,360 3,620 4,120 3,360 3,320 3,200 3,89,0 3,920 3,440 3,700 3.810 3,520 3,960 4,030 3,000 3,560 3,920 5,000 2,800 3,840 4,280 4,280 5,120 DIVISION OF FIELD HUSBANDRY 155 SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 Packing for Wheat Sown on Spring -Ploughed Stubble Land. The plots on which this part of the experiment was conducted were in wheat the previous year. They were all ploughed April 29. The harrowing and packing was done on May 10 and 11. Wheat was sown on May 10; all plots came up on May 21. Plots 4, 5 and 6 headed on July 4; plots 8 and 10 headed on July 6, and plots 1, 2. 7, 9 and 11 headed on July 8. All ripened oh August 26, were cut on August. 30 and thredied on September 25. Sooil Packing for Wheat sown on Spring-ploughed Stubble Land. o O 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Cultural Treatment Given. Harrow, subsurface pack, harrow, seed Harrow, surface pack, 'narrow, seed , Harrow, combination pack, harrow, seed Harrow, subsurface pack, harrow, seed, subsurface pack . . . Harrow, surface pack, harrow, seed, surface pack. Harrow, combination pack, harrow, seed, combination pack Harrow, seed, harrow Harrow, seed, sm face pack Harrow, seed, subsurface pack Hairow, seed, combination pack Harrow, seed Yield of Wheat per A cue, 1012 Grain. Pounds. 2,080 2,400 2, SCO 2,2S0 2,^40 2,240 2,160 2,080 2 640 2,120 2.! )S0 Straw Tcunds. 3,920 3,640 3,720 4,360 3,760 3,840 3,520 3,9C6 3,080 Packing for Wheat sown on Fall-Ploughed Stubble Land. The plot3 on which this part of the experiment was conducted were in wheat the previous year. They were all ploughed on October 5, and no further work was done during the fall. The harrowing and packing was done on May 10 and 11. Wheat was sown, on all plots, on May 10. All came up on May 20. Plots 23, 24 and 25 headed out on July 4; the remainder headed on July 6. All ripened on August 26, were cut on August 30 and threshed on September 25. 153 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 4 GEORGE V., A. 1914 Soil Packing for Wheat sown on Fall-Ploughed Stubble Land. o 53 12 13 14 15 1G 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 Cultural Treatment Given. after seeding. No packer, harrow, seed Subsurface pack in fall, seed in spring. Subsurface pack in spring, then seed. Subsurface pack in spring. Surface pack in fall, seed in spring. Surface pack in spring, then seed Surface pack in spring, after seeding Combination pack in fall, seed in spring Combination pack in spring, then seed Combination pack in spring, after seeding No packer, harrow, seed Surface pack in fall, seed, surface pack ... Subsurface pack in fall, seed, subsurface pack Combination pack in fall, seed, combination pack Yield of Wheat per Acre, 1912. Grain. Straw. Pounds. Pounds. 2,040 3,9G0 2,080 4,720 2,000 4,400 2,120 4,280 2,080 3,920 2,200 3,400 2,120 3.480 2,040 3,960 2,000 4,000 1,800 3,000 1,920 3,280 1,S00 4,200 2,000 3,600 1,760 3,040 DEPTH OF SEEDING. This experiment was tried with wheat on summer-fallow. The land was given the usual good cultivation. Wheat was sown, on all plots, on May 13. Plots 1 and 2 came up on May 22, plot 3 on May 23 and plot 4 on May 24. Plots 1 and 2 headed out on July 8 and plots 3 and 4 on July 10. AJ1 ripened on August 26, were cut on August 27 and threshed on September 12. Depths of Seeding Wheat. o Depths Sown. 1 Sowing 1 inch deep . . . 2 S wing 2 inches deep . 3 Sowing 3 inches deep . 4 Sowing 4 inches deep . Yield op Wheat per Acre, 1912. Grain. Pounds. 2,200 2,440 1,880 2,000 Straw. Pounds. 3,000 3,280 2,920 2,840 This experiment was also tried with oats, on wheat stubble. The stubble land was ploughed on October 24, the previous fall, and was worked into good tilth in the spring. Oats were sown, on all plots, on May 16. Plots 1 and 2 came up on May 27, and plots 3 and 4 on May 28. All plots headed out on July 17, ripened on September 10, e cut on September 10 and threshed on October 2. DIVISION OF FIELD HUSBANDRY SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 Depths of Seeding Oats. 157 o C Depths Sown. Sowing 1 inch deep. . Sowing 2 inches deep Sowing 3 inches deep Sowing 4 inches deep Yield of Wheat per Ache, 11)12. Grain. Pounds. 3,000 2,840 2,960 3,120 Straw. Pounds 4,200 4,760 2,440 3,280 COMMERCIAL FERTILIZERS. The plots for this experiment grew wheat in 1911, and the fertilizers were applied when the wheat was sown. This year they grew oats, without any further fertilizing. The oats were sown on May 14; all plots came up on May 26, headed out on July 17, ripened on September 10, were cut on September 11 and threshed on October 3. Application of Commercial Fertilizers. o o I— » Treatment Given. 10 11 Check. No fertilizer 320 pounds nitrate of soda per acre 600 pounds superphosphate per acre . . . 200 pounds muriate of potash per acre . Check. No fertilizer 320 pounds nitiate of soda per acre 600 pounds superphosphate per acre . . . 200 pounds muriate of potash per acre. 320 pounds nitrate of soda per acre 600 pounds superphosphate per acre. . 320 pounds nitrate of soda per acre 200 pounds muriate of potash per acre . 600 pounds superphosphate per acre. . . 200 pounds muriate of potash per acre. Check. No fertilizer Basic slag, 1U00 pounds per acre Yield of Oats per Acre, 1912. Grain. Straw. Pounds. Pounds. 3,720 3,640 3,480 3,920 3,640 3,480 5,160 4,920 4,880 4,360 3,720 5,480 3,760 4,6-iO 3,600 6,400 3,640 3,400 3,400 4,760 4,600 4,200 UNDERDRAINAGE. These plots produced wheat this year, 1912, following wheat in 1911. They were all ploughed on October 16; sufficient cultivation was given in the spring to put the land in good tilth. The wheat was sown on all plots, on May 11, came up on May 21 headed out on July 4, was ripe on August 27, cut on August 30 and threshed on September 25. 153 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 4 GEORGE V., A. 1914 TJndrained Land versus Land Drained 3 feet and 4 feet deep. 6 43 c «— 1 Treatment Given. Yield of Wheat, per Acre, 1912. Grain. Straw. 1 Pounds. 2,040 2,000 1,900 2,360 2,040 2,120 2,080 2,000 2,160 2,160 Pounds. 3,960 2 4,800 3 4,040 4 4,440 5 4,3G0 6 4,280 7 8 4,320 3,600 9 10 3,810 4,240 QUANTITIES OF SEED PER ACRE. Wheat sown on Wheat Stubble. The land was fall ploughed, and was harrowed and packed in the spring. The wheat was sown on May 16. Quantities of Wheat sown on Wheat Stubble. Quantity of Seed per \cre. No. of Days Maturing. Yield of Wheat per Acre, 1912. 102 104 104 105 106 108 Bush. Lb. 25 20 1* bushels l| bushels 1 bushel 24 00 28 40 27 20 31 20 32 00 Wheat sown on Summer-fallow. The land was well summer-fallowed, in 1911. The wheat was sown on May 8. Quantities of Wheat sown on Summer-fallow. Quantity of Seed per Acre. No. of Days Maturing. Yield of Wheat per Acre, 1912. 105 105 107 107 108 109 Bush. Lb. 38 00 37 20 X In; 31 20 - 31 20 28 40 32 00 DIVISION OF FIELD HUSBANDRY 159 SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 Oats sown on Oat Stubble. The land was ploughed in the fall of 1911; it was harrowed and packed in the spring, and sown to oats on May 16. There was a considerable amount of volunteer grain, from the previous crop, which thickened the stand. Oats sown on Oat Stubble. Quantity of Seed per Acre. No. of Days Maturing. Yield of Oats per Acre, 1912. 4 bushels 116 116 117 117 118 118 Bush. Lb. 80 00 89 16 t^5 30 2h bushels 1 J bushels 80 00 80 40 93 58 Oais sown on Summer- fallow. The land was well summer-fallowed, in 1911. The oats were sown on May 9. Quantities of Oats sown on Summer-fallow. Quantity of Seed per Acre. No. of Days Maturing. Yield of Oats per Acre, 1912. 117 117 117 117 118 119 Bush. 125 1 22 125 121 117 116 Lb. 30 12 SO 00 22 16 3£ bushela 3 bushels Barley sown on Barley Stubble. The land was ploughed the preceding fall. It was harrowed and packed in the spring, and the seed sown on May 20. There was a considerable quantity of volun- teer grain, from the previous crop, which thickened the stand of grain. Quantities of Barley sown on Barley Stubble. Quantity of Seed per Acre. No. of days Maturing. Yield of Barley per acre. 95 97 97 97 98 101 Bush. 57 !'..• 52 55 54 66 Lb. 24 40 24 1-j bushela ■ 00 C8 32 160 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 4 GEORGE V., A. 1914 Barley sown on Summer-fallow. The soil was the same as used for wheat and oats. The seed was sown on May 20. Barley sown on Summer-fallow. Quantity of Seed per Acre. No. of days Maturing. Yield of Barley per acre, 1912. 3 bushels 98 98 98 99 99 Bush. 82 89 86 82 74 Lb. 24 2^ bushels 08 2 bushels 32 li bushels 24 1£ bushels 08 Flax sown on Summer-fallow. The land was well summer-fallowed in 1911, and was harrowed before the flax was sown. The flax was sown on June 8. Quantities of Flax sown on Summer-fallow. Quantity of Seed per Acre. No. of days Maturing. Yield of Flax per acre, 1912. 431b 107 107 107 107 108 108 Bush. 17 14 19 20 17 18 Lb. 08 381b 36 331b 16 281b 00 23 lb OS 18 1b 32 WEATHEK CONDITIONS, 1912. The season of 1912 was one of extremes. Spring was cold and backward; a heavy snowfall in the middle of -April delayed the commencement of seeding, and frequent light showers kept the land unfit for cultivation and made all crops late in being sown. Next followed a period of extreme drought. June was the driest June in the history of the Farm. July went to the other extreme again, with an unusually heavy rainfall. Wet conditions continued until the end of September, and greatly hampered harvesting and threshing, and lowered the quality of the grain crops. October and November were fine and gave a most acceptable opportunity for catching up with the sadly delayed farm operations. The winter season has been about normal, with the usual amount of cold weather and snow. DIVISION OF FIELD HUSBANDRY 161 SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 Some Weather Observations taken at Brandon Experimental Farm, 1912. Tem PERATURI . F. Precipitation. Sun- shine. Months. 00 U r-H i— t J2 .~ <_, 3 ce o O 4a EC 73 3 3 ■ 3 c8 O Pi CO u 3 O w No. 134 9| Cost of manual labour. C2. .. Lot 1 . . . M 2... - 3... Acres. 6 26 6'26 6 26 1911. Wheat 1912. Wheat $ c. 12 50 12 50 12 50 $ c. 20 38 20 10 3 75 $ c. 2 56 C3. .. Wheat Summer-fallow.. 1 80 CI... Wheat Aggrega 37 50 44 23 23 4 36 A v erage Der aci e in 1912 ROTATION P2. P3. P4. P5. P6. P7. P8. PL Lotl. 2. ■A. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 6-00 Summer-fallow. Wheat Wheat Summer-fallow. Corn Barley Seeded 00 Reeded. Aggregate Average per acre in 1912. Wheat Wheat Summer-fallow. Roots Barley Hay Pasture Summer-fallow . 23 25 23 25 23 25 23 25 23 25 23 25 23 25 23 25 186 00 21 20 21 00 3 60 12 30 20 00 3 61 81 71 19 18 70 591 38| 28 764£ 3 61 3 42 13 30 112 29 7 31 5 32 145 25 ROTATION R3 .. R4 Lot 1 . . . i. 2... ii 3... .. 4... •• 5... „ 6... ,. 7... •i 8... i. 9... Aggrega! Average 5-5 5-5 55 55 55 5-5 Hoed crop Wheat Wheat Oats Wheat 20 16 20 16 20 16 20 16 20 16 20 16 20 16 20 16 20 16 19 03 16 66 3 30 18 81 16 79 3 30 194 10 20 22 3 70 1 90 R5 Oats R 6 Wheat 3 80 R7 1 80 R8 Hay Pasture Corn 4 18 R9 . 55 55 5'5 Hay Rl 3 30 12 10 67 187 12 73 R2.. Summer-fallow 35 53 181 44 93 29 335 63 64 per acr 3 in 1912 DIYIS'ION OF FIELD HUSBANDRY SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 165 C." Expense in Raising Crop. CD 3 m .55 '3 Particulars of Crop. Horse labour (including teamster). 5P !£ CO CD - 4^ o CO O o -^ CO O O C3 ■^ O H CD u o OS 1— 1 u o at o o "cd CO - 1-1 s- CO C ' o Weight in Pounds. CD > o H CD u o c3 CD P< o O CD 3 'a > Hours. Value of horse labour. '5 C2 'i u GO -C CD co S 5 x £ TO o — "5b a 5 CD -^ | d S c. 9 51 20 24 19 06 $ c. 10 78 7 38 S c. 55 73 62 02 35 31 S c. 8 9 9 9 5 64 $ C. 36 1 59 In. Lb. 9, 250 6, 33'J Lb. 21,450 13,675 Lb. Lb S c. 134 05 9L 23 § c. 21 41 14 57 S c. 12 51 ... 4 B7 — 5 61 23 100 48 81 18 16 153 06 24 41 225 28 35 98 11 99 11 54 8 15 8 15 11 99 3 84 ; R." ... 174 8 94 91 14 18^ 8 20 221 59 23 38§ 96 ... 14 15 lls94 56 15 44 42 20 54 7 37 42 08 17 18 11 3S 18 24 79 39 70 99 96 30 192 26 89 34 39 55 23 25 65 33 13 23 11 83 16 05 32 04 14 89 0 32 0 44 6 15, 300 9,760 27,350 17, 460 32,130 420,000 217 67 138 86 630 00 207 28 53 77 30 00 36 28 23 14 105 00 34 54 8 96 5 00 23 05 11 31 —16 05 15 0 24 ... 17,515 72 96 19 65 4 6 59 3 87 10 89 10,755 pasture 2 37 1 13 —10 89 19 251 259 196 65 46 80 650 41 109 39 1,277 58 212 92 103 53 13 67 13 67 .... 26 61 26 61 12 94 9?> 5" 10 5 10 42 3H 59 46 33 20 45 18 26 11 92 17 42 9 84 81 60 66 48 47 05 82 45 63 82 31 98 20 16 91 07 90 94 14 83 0 31 6 6 6 6 15,654 10, 132 14,934 8,364 31,500 24, 200 20,450 17,600 224 47 125 52 212 34 101 24 24 20 33 00 40 81 22 82 38 60 18 40 4 40 0 00 25 98 ... 15 84 24 19 22 26 15 23 4 34 12 08 0 22 10 74 8 66 14 99 11 60 5 81 3 66 16 55 17 63 0 33 0 20 — S 00 23 01 0 80 34 4,840 — 1 41 2 34 77 52 70 28 ::: 54 88 29 16 .... 254,000 —16 55 381 00 09 27 51 64 S^r 1684 3124 186 35 57 44 582 10 105 81 1,101 77 200 30 94 49 11 76 11 76 22 26 22 20 10 50 165 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 4 GEORGE V., A. 1914 CULTTJEAL EXPERIMENTS. In the spring of 1911 our work on coil and crop management was greatly extended. In addition to the inception of rotation tests a comprehensive set of experiments was inaugurated with a view to determining methods of cultivation likely to prove best, within a specified rotation. This work involves 478 plots, each one-fortieth of an acre in extent. Considerable preparatory work was necessary, and even now certain of them have not reached the point where results of value are being obtained. The following brief outline will indicate the object* and nature of this work : — Experiment 2A — Depth of ploughing wheat stubble to be sown to oats. 2B- — Depth of ploughing summer-fallow to be sown to wheat, fol- lowed by oats. 20- — Depth of ploughing sod to be sown to wheat, followed by oats. 3 — Summer-fallow treatment previous to sowing wheat. 4A — Treatment of wheat stubble to be sown to wheat. IB — Treatment of wheat stubble to be sown to oats. " 5 — Seeding to grass and clover. G — Breaking sod from cultivated grasses and clovers. " 7A — Applying barnyard manure for corn or roots. " TB — Applying barnyard manure for wheat. " 7C — Applying barnyard manure for barley. " 7D — Applying barnyard manure for oats. " 8 — Green manuring. " 9 — Seed-bed preparation. 10A— Soil packing for wheat sown on summer-fallow. 10B — Soil packing for wheat sown on spring-ploughed wheat stubble. IOC — Soil packing for wheat sown on fall ploughed stubble land. " 11 — Depth of seeding. " 12 — Commercial fertilizers. " 13 — Under-draining. DEPTH OF PLOUGHING. Depth of Ploughing Wheat Stubble to be sown to Oats. o l 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Depth of Ploughing Wheat Stubble, Fall of 1911. Ploughed 3 inches deep . 4 .. 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 Date of Sowing. May 13. „ ' 13. .i 13. •i 13. I, 13. n 13. .. 13. ., 13. ,, 13. ii 13. Date of Coming Up. May 26, „ 2G. " 26. „ 26. ii 26. ii 26. i. 26. i. 26. ii 26. „ 26. Date of Head- Julv 22. .. * 22. n 22. „ 22. ■i 22 i. 22. ■i 22. ■■ 22. n 22. .. 22. Date of Ripen- ing. Sept. Days to Mature, 116 116 116 116 116 116 116 116 116 116 Yield of Oats per Acre, 1912. Grain. Pounds. 2,700 2,920 2,720 2,800 2,640 3.160 3,280 3,440 3.560 3,840 Straw. Pounds. 2,840 2,400 2,360 2,320 2,520 4,000 4,680 3,680 3,520 4,960 DIVISION OF FIELD HUSBANDRY SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 167 Depth of Ploughing Summer-fallow to be sown to Wheat. - 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Depth of Ploughing Summer-fallow, 1911. Date of Sowing . Ploughing 3 inches deep ii 4 n M 5 II ii 6 ii ii 7 it ii 8 n Ploughing 5 inches deep and subeoiling 4 inches Ploughing G inches deep and subsoiling 4 inches Ploughing 7 inches deep and subsoiling 4 inches Ploughing 8 inches deep and subsoiling 4 inches Apr. 11. 11. 11. 11. 11. 11 11 11. 11. 11. Date of Date of Date of Days Coming Up. Head- ing. Ripen- ing. to Mature . May 10. July 5. Aug 19. 130 „ 10. 5. .. 19. 130 1 „ 10. 5. i. 19. 130 .. 10. 5. ., 19. 130 ii 10. 5. .. 16. 127 n 10 „ 5. ii 16. 127 ., 10. 5. .. 19. 130 -, 10. 5. ., .20. 131 ,. 10. 5. ., 20. 131 M 10. H 5. ,. 20. 131 Yield of Wheat per Acre, 1912. Grain. Pounds. 2,480 2,920 2,960 2,640 3,000 3,160 3,440 3,040 3.000 3,280 Straw. Pound-'. 4.3(50 2,800 3,7(!0 4,360 4. (WO 4,<:4:i 4,520 5.960 6,520 5, SCO o Depth of Ploughing Sod to be sown to Wheat. Depth of Plouging Sod, 1911. Ploughed 3 inches deep 11 4 11 11 5 n Date of Sowing. Apr. 15 ., 15, 11 15 ,1 15. Date of Coming Up. May 14 . ■1 14. ., 14. ■1 14. Date of Head- ing. July 16. ,i 16. .. 16. „ 16. Date of Ripen- ing. Aug. 19 ., 19. .1 19. ,. 19. Days to Mature 126 126 126 126 Yield of Wh eat per Acre, 1912. Gi Pounds . 1,580 1,500 1,900 1,780 Straw. Pounds . 3,260 2,300 2,060 3, 260 163 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 4 GEORGE V., A. 1914 SUMMER-FALLOW TREATMENT. Treatment of Summer-fallow to be sown to Wheat, followed by Oats. Treatment of summer- fallow 1911. 1 Plough 4 inches June, pack if necessary and practicable, cultivate as necessary 2 Plough 6 inches June, pack if necessary and practicable, cultivate as necessary. . . 3 Plough 8 inches June, pack if necessary and practicable, cultiv ate as necessary . Plough 4 inches June, cultivate. Plough inches September, harrow 5j Plough 0 inches Jut e, cultivate. Plough inches September, harrow 6 Plough 8 inches June, cultivate. Plough inches September, harrow 7 Plough 6 inches June, cultivate. Plough inches September, harrow 8 Plough 4 inches June, cultivate. Plough inches September, harrow Plough 4 in lies June early as possible, cul- tivate Plough 6 inches September, leave untouched 10 Plough 5 inches June, seed to rape or other forage crop and pasture off 1 Plough 6 inches May 15, harrow and pack if necessary, cultivate as necessary 12 Plough 6 inches June 15, harrow and pack if necessary, cultivate as necessary 13 Plough G inches July 15, harrow and pack if neces-ary, cultivate as necessary 14 Fall cultivate before summer-fallowing, Plough C inches June, harrow and pack if necessary, cultivate as necessary 15 Fall plough 4 inches bef Te summer-fallow- ing. Plough 0 inches June, harrow and pack if necessary, cultivate as necessary. . . 16 Plough 6 inches June, pack, cultivate as necessary 17 Plough 0 inches June, no packing, otherwise same as other plots Date of seeding. April Date of coming up. 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 May 12 12 12 Date of heading II 11 12 It 12 II 12 tl 12 11 12 It 12 11 12 II 12 II 12 II 12 II 12 II 12 II 12 June 2! „ 29 >, 2 29 July Date of Ripen- ing. Aug. 15 .. 15 .. 15 it 15 „ 18 .. 18 „ 18 .. 18 ii 18 „ 18 „ 18 ., 19 ,i 19 .. 20 „ 20 i. 20 .. 20 Davs to mature. 12G 126 120 126 129 129 129 129 129 129 129 130 130 131 131 131 131 Yield of Wheat per acre 1912. c Si C5 Lb. 3,400 3,480 3,440 3,200 3,040 3,240 3,0S0 2,520 2,520 2,800 3,080 3,160 3,280 3,240 3,000' 3,080 3,120 is cS u 02 Lb. 4,160 6,120 5,3(10 5,200 5,020 4,560 4,280 3,920 1,760 4,920 3,960 3,740 5,480 5,160 4,000 5,000 4,880 DIVISION OF FIELD HUSBANDRY SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 STUBBLE TREATMENT. Treatment of Wheat Stubble to be sown to Wheat. 169 o O l 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Treatment given Wheat Stubble preceding Wheat. Plough, autumn Disc harrow, autumn Bum stubble, then disc, autumn. . . Burn stubble, then plough, autumn Burn stubble in spring, seed at once Plough in spring, seed at once Disc at cutting time, spring plough. . Disc at cutting time, autumn plough Plough aut'n., subsurface pack at once Plough spring, seed, subsurface pack Date of Sowing . Date of Coming- Date of Head- Date of Ripen- Days to Mature . up. ing. ing. April 15 May 12 July 6 Aug. 10 117 ■1 15 . 12 • 6 . 10 117 H 15 . 12 6 ■ 10 117 ii 15 , 12 • 6 , 10 117 n 15 , 12 • G . 10 117 i. 15 . 12 6 , 10 117 » 15 , 12 i 6 - 10 117 „ 15 • 12 6 , 10 117 .. 15 , 12 6 , 10 117 ii 15 , 12 • 6 , 10 117 Yield of Wheat per Acre, 1912. Grain. Straw Pounds. 1,020 1,780 1,300 1,140 1,540 1,860 1,940 i,780 2,180 1,540 Pounds. 1,220 2,38<) 1,260 1,380 1,660 1,740 1,260 l,92o 1,3C0 1,200 Treatment of Wheat Stubble to be sown to Oats. o o n 12 13 Treatment given Wheat Stubble preceding Oats. Plough autumn, subsurf. pack at once. Plough spring, seed, subsurface pack. Cultivate autumn, spring plough, seed. Date of Sowing. May 13 ii 13 ,i 13 Date of Coming- tip. May 23 ii 23 ,. 23 Date of Head- ing. Date of Ripen- ing. July 23 1 Aug. 30 ii 23 ii 30 n 23 ii 30 Days to Mature . 109 103 109 Yield of Oats per Acre, 1912. Grain . Straw Pounds. 2,120 2,2-10 2,240 Pounds. 2,820 1,840 2,800 GREEN MANURING. Green Manuring for Wheat followed by Oats. ft bb fee Yield of Yiela of Oats per Acre bo bo .n Ed Wheat per following 0 Treatment of Land year previous to Wheat. o CO 6 o T3 a ,0 4-3 eg 5 Acre, 1912. Wheat grown, 1911. fe o o 5 43 42 10 CD c3 a) 03 o3 c3 Grain Straw; Grain Straw fc p Q P A O Lb. Lb. Lb. Lb. 1 Apr. ii May 13 July 8 Aug. 19 130 2,300 5,440 2,240 3,840 2 Peas, ploughed under early July . . n ii ii 13 tf 8 ft 19 130 2,840 3,520 2,200 3,000 3 Peas, ploughed under when in H ii ii 13 It 8 tl 19 130 2,300 3,880 2,080 2,480 4 Tares, ploughed under late July. . u ii ti 13 It 8 11 19 130 2,840 3,240 2,200 3,520 5 Summer-fallow, barnyard manure, 12 tons per acr^ applied on summer-fallow in September. . it ii u 13 If 8 11 19 130 2,440 4,800 2,360 2,560 6 ii ii ti 13 It 8 II 19 130 3,000 2,720 2,400 2,700 170 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 4 GEORGE V., A. 1914 SEED BED — PREPARATION Preparation of Seed Bed for Wheat following Summer-fallow. CJ Treatment given. . 60 O E» <4* o > a A Yield of Oats per acre, 1012. c Grain. Straw. 1 May 13.. „ 13.. .. 13.. May 23.. ,. 23.. . 23.. July 24.. ■• 24.. .. 24.. Aug. 31.. „ 31.. „ 31 . . 110 110 110 Lb. 2,640 2,000 3,920 Lb. 4,000 2 3 Good preparation .... Extraordinary preparation. 4,000 3,280 DITISIOX OF FIELD HUSBANDRY SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 SOIL PACKERS. Soil Packing in Preparation for Wheat following Summer-fallow. 171 o p-i 1 2 3 ll 6 7| 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 Cultural Treatment Given. Date of sowing. Harrow, seed Harrow, seed, surface pack Harrow, seed, surface pack, harrow Harrow, seed, subsurface pack. Harrow, seed, subsurface pack, harrow Harrow, seed, combination pack Harrow, seed, combination pack, harrow Surface pack, seed, surface pack Subsurface pack, seed, subsurface pack. Combination pack, seed, combination pack Surface pack, harrow, seed Subsurface pack, harrow, seed Combination pack, harrow, seed Harrow, seed Plough for summer-fallow, surface pack, cultivate the next spring, smoothing' harrow, seed.. | Plough for summer-fallow, subsurface i pack, cultivate the next spring,; smoothing harr. >w, seed Plough for summer-fallow, combination pack, cultivate the next spring, smoothing harrow, seed Plough for summer-fallow, surface pack, cultivate the next spring, sn oothing harrow, seed, surface pack. Plough for summer-fallow, subsurface pack, cultivate the next spring, smoothing harrow, seed, subsurface pack Plough for summer-fallow, combination pack, cultivate the next spring, smoothing harrow, seed, combination p-ick Harrow, seed ...... | Harrow, seed, harrow when 6 inches1 high Harrow, seed, surface pack when 6 inches high Haii ow, seed, roll when G inches high . Han ow, seed April. 15 15 lft 15 15 15 15 15 15 15 15 15 15 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 Date of coming up. Date of hc-adine May. 15 15 15 15 15 15 15 15 15 15 15 15 15 15 15 15 15 15 15 15 15 15 15 15 July. t 7 7 7 7 T I 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 Date of ripening August . 17 17 17 17 15 17 17 1 17 17 17 17 17 17 17 15 15 17 17 17 17 17 17 17 17 17 Days to mature. Days. 124 124 124 121 122 124 124 124 124 124 124 124 124 127 125 125 127 127 127 127 127 127 127 127 127 Yield of Wheat per acre, 1912. Grain. Straw Lb. 2,140 2,340 2,740 2,140 2,660 2,780 1,910 1,820 2,300 1,890 1,220 1,G20 1,580 1,0*0 1,220 2,060 1,200 1,140 1,560 2,220 1,780 1,660 1,580 1,180 1,180 Lb. 2,260 3,900 2,540 1,260 1510 2,020 2,460 1,420 2,540 2,020 1,310 1,460 2,380 1,220 1,980 2,020 1,840 1,740 2,140 1,860 2,620 1,540 2,900 1.380 1,700 DEPTHS OF SEEDING. Depths of Seeding Wheat. o c 5 Depths Sown. Sowing 1 inch deep ii 2 inches n i> 3 H ii n 4 ii it Date Date of i Date of of sowing. April. coming up. heading. May. June. 11 13 7 11 13 7 11 15 5 11 15 5 Date of ripening Days to mature. Aut 5 19 19 19 116 130 130 130 Yield of Wheat per acre, 1912. Grain. Straw. Lb. Lb. 2,600 2,840 2,720 2,880 3,400 3,600 4,680 3,840 172 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 4 GEORGE V., A. 1914 Depths of Seeding Oats. 0 -' Depths Sown. Date of sowing. Date ot coming up. Date of heading. Date of ripening Days to mature. Yield of Oats per acre, 1912. _0 Grain. Straw. 1 Sowing 1 inch deep May. 13 13 13 13 May. 25 27 27 27 July. 20 20 20 20 Sept. 4 4 4 4 114 114 114 114 Lb. 2,840 2,720 3,160 3,640 Lb. 2,080 2 it 2 inches n 3,360 3 4 3,280 3,360 COMMERCIAL FERTILIZER. The plots for this experiment grew wheat in 1911, and the fertilizers were applied when the wheat was sown. This year they grew oats. Application of Commercial Fertilizers. o o Treatment Given. Check. No Fertilizer 320 pounds nitrate of soda per acre. . . 6i'0 pounds superphosphate per acre. . 200 pounds muriate of potash per acre Check. No Fertilizer 320 pounds nitrate of soda, 600 pounds superphosphate, 200 pounds muriate of | )Otash, per acre 320 pounds nitrate of soda, 600 pounds superphosphate, per acre . . 320 pounds nitrate of soda, 200 pounds muriate of potash, per acre 600 pounds superphosphate, 200 pounds muriate of potash, per acre Check. No Fertilizer Basic Slag, 1,000 pounds per acre Clover in place of grass 13|CIover in place of grass 14 Barnyard manure, 16 tons applied once in 4 years Barnyard manure, 8 tons applied once in 4 years 16 Check. No Fertilizer 8 9 10 11 1 15 Date of sowing. May 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 Date of coming up. May. 27 27 27 27 27 27 27 27 27 27 27 27 27 27 27 27 Date of heading. July. 22 22 22 22 22 22 22 22 22 22 22 •22 22 22 22 22 Date of ripening Sept. 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 Days to mature 112 112 112 112 112 112 112 112 112 112 112 112 112 112 112 112 Yield of Oats per acre. 1912. Grain. Lb. 3,600 3,760 3,600 3,080 3,680 3,800 3,040 3,280 3,920 3,760 3,200 3,280 2,880 2,400 2,320 3,160 Straw. Lb. 5,000 3,800 4,800 3,360 3,6S0 5,040 3,400 4,320 2,680 4,400 4,000 2,840 2,200 2,760 3,560 4,440 DIVISION OF FIELD HUSBANDRY SESSIONAL PAP^R No. 16 UNDERDRAIXAGE. Ux'draixed Land versus Land Drained three feet and four feet deep. 173 Treatment Given. No drainage. 1 2 3 Drained 3 feet deep. 4~ 5 6 No drainage. Drained 4 feet deep. No drainage Date Date of of Sowing April. 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 Coining Up. May. 14 14 14 14 14 14 14 14 14 Date of Head- ing. July. 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 Date of Ripen- ing. Aug. 10 19 19 19 19 19 19 19 19 Days to Mature , 130 130 130 130 130 130 130 130 130 Yield of Wheat per Acre, 1912. Grain. Straw Lb. 1.8G0 1,820 2,860 2,820 2,780 2,460 2,260 1,940 1,820 Lb. 3,180 1,100 2.740 3,900 1,740 2,820 2,540 2,260 1,220 FIELD CROP YIELDS. SPRING WHEAT. Yields of Spring Wheat following Different Crops. Variety. Previous Treatment. Area. Yield per Acre. Total Yield. Red Fife Root land Acres. 5 50 * 550 600 580 625 3 00 6 25 10-00 10 00 10 80 200 110 1 15 Bush. Lb. 46 48 45 16 42 35 28 24 40 39 3 16 53 43 48 40 16 4 47 6 42 18 54 26 Bush. Lb. 257 24 Red Fife 248 58 Red Fife Red Fife Stubble 255 30 161 Red Fife Fallow 154 10 Red Fife Fallow , 117 9 Red Fife Stubble 105 31 Fallow 430 486 40 Marquis, (Special Register- ed) > Fallow 173 20 94 12 Fallow 46 35 363 " E " (Variety not 58 10 73 35 2,588 39 Average yield per acre: 35 bushels 17 pounds. 174 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 4 GEORGE V., A. 1914 OATS. Yields of Oats, following Different Crops. Variety. Previous Treatment. Area. Yield per Acre. Total Y ield. Fallow Acres. 9 5 ' 07 5 24 835 22 92 3 67 2'22 Bush. 101 52 46 53 77 95 108 Lb. 26 21 32 22 4 15 20 Bush. 916 327 245 447 1,767 350 241 Lb. 16 Pea land Fallow 28 32 26 10 57-07 4,296 13 Average yield per acre.: 75 bushels 9 pounds BARLEY. Yields of Barley following Different Crops. Variety. Previous Treatment. Area. Yield per acre. Total yield. () \ C No 21 A eres. 10.50 2.50 2.44 2.42 8.16 5.29 6.13 Bush. Lb. 36 6 32 38 55 40 57 73 2.S 58 33 59 25 Bush. Lb. 379 15 allow. . . . 81 47 Canadian Thorpe 136 11 137 45 Manchurian 600 21 310 21 0 36 J 41 37.44 2,011 9 Average yield per acre : 53 bushels 35 pounds. PEAS. Two varieties were sown in field lots on fallowed land, at the rate of two bushels of Golden Vine and three bushels of Arthur per acre. Both were sown on April 19. Golden Vine was ripe on September 10: Arthur was ripe on September 5. They yielded as follows: — Arthur 36 bushels 51 pounds per acre. Golden Vine 50 bushelb 49 pounds per acre. FLAX. Premost flax was sown on fallowed and on potato Lin 1 at the rate of 40 pounds per acre. That sown on fallow, on. May 28, was ripe on September 10. That sown on potato land, on May 15, was ripe on September 2. Yields wore as, follows:— Premost, on fallowed land 17 bushels '•» pounds per acre. Premost, on root land 14 bushels '2U pounds per acre. DIVISION OF FIELD HUSBANDRY 175 SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 Some Weather Observations taken at Indian Head Experimental Farm, 1912. Month. Temperature F. Pbecipitation. Total Sunshine. Mean. Highest. Lowest. Rainfall. Snowfall. Total. Heaviest in 24 hours. February. . . March ■ — S 06 o 30 35 42 78 81 97 90 80 74 80 61 39 o —47 —26 —28 12 22 34 39 39 22 20 8 —19 Inches. Inches. 345 150 400 300 Inches. 0 345 Inches. Hours. 68 8 7 6 40 49 61 GO 59 46 39 29 41 93 60 45 63 29 71 23 93 40 0 0 0 3 1 o O 2 I 0 0 15 40 70 66 42 42 17 98 35 35 101 9 6-40 3 66 142 3 42 217 198 0 25 15*-: 194 155 278 141 130 f 117 113 84 4 May . 0 16 139 0 35 0 76 053 075 0 15 "hob" 5 8 5 July September ?! "i-66" 350 12 25 3 8 8 November 3 December 13 19 1-225 53 2 Total 13-30 28 70 16-17 1,5965 176 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 4 GEORGE V., A. 1914 EXPERIMENTAL STATION FOR CENTRAL SASKATCHE- WAN, ROSTHERN, SASK. REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT, WM. A. MTJNRO, B.A., B.S.A. WEATHER CONDITIONS, 1912. The season opened under normal and favourable conditions, and seeding was begun on April 10, and all crops made good growth until early in June, when dry- weather set in and crops that had not a goodly supply of soil moisture suffered greatly, and even those under the most favourable conditions suffered to a very large extent. Showery weather prevailed until nearly the middle of. May and hay crops espe- cially were very promising, but with the continued dry weather until late in June the meadows of two years' standing, or longer, became yellow and did not fully revive again all summer. In the months of July, August and September, there was more than average precipitation, which had a peculiar effect upon the grain crops. The plants had adapted themselves to the dry weather conditions of June by growing very little, and with the heavy rains in July the plants developed, and at harvest time there was the peculiar circumstance of several stages of development in the plants of one plot, and in many cases in the heads of grain of one plant. Some of the wheat was ripe while other heads in the same plant were in blossom. This condition of irregular growth worked to the disadvantage of the farmer at every stage. In the first place there was no means of determining the best time to cut; after cutting, the green straw delayed the drying of the grain; at threshing a great deal of the undeveloped grain blew out with the straw which very materially lowered the yield as compared with the yield promised from the stand, and, at marketing, the immature grain with the good grain lowered the grade. Another unfavourable weather condition of 1912 was the unusually high precipita- tion in August, September and October. The continued wet weather in the latter part of July and August delayed the ripening of the grain, and then the wet weather of September and October prevented drying, and in many cases caused sprouting in the shocks. The redeeming feature was the delay of very cold weather until December which made it possible to continue threshing throughout the month of November. Following are the meteorological records for the past year : — DITISIOX OF FIELD HUSBANDRY 177 SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 Some Weather Observations taken at Rosthern Experimental Station, 1912. Month. Temperature F. Precipitation. Total Highest. Lowest. Mean. Rainfall. Snowfall. Total. Heaviest in 24 hours. Sunshine. January February o 34 4 0 —54 1 -27S — 30 0 168 28-2 340 382 372 20 6 17 7 00 —23 2 o 12 52 Inches. Inches. 3 3 6 Inches. 0.3 Inches. 02 02 0 6 036 071 0 97 1-26 0 55 1-24 0 15 045 03 Hours. 1016 39 40 63 84 S3 76 79 73 67 41 38 3 4 0 2 8 2 2 2 7 0 8 5 4 39 48 61 57 58 45 38 5 09 21 5 88 7 6 74 48 0 0 0 2 2 5 2 o 0 0 0 3 6 67 20 81 25 lo- re 22 82 5 115 7 222 7 May 067 220 281 5-25 2 1/ 2 66 022 0-37 2514 246-7 363-7 July. 164-9 192-2 September 1 133 0 107 4 23 99 815 45 5 64 2 62 4 Total 16 33 22 5 18 58 2.025 9 16— 13 178 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 4 GEORGE V., A. 19U ROTATION OF CROPS. Records of costs of operations and values of products were kept for four different rotations varying in duration from three to nine years. Rotation ' C First year. — Summer-fallow. Second year. — Wheat. Third year. — Wheat or coarse grain. Rotation ' J.' First year. — Summer-fallow. Second year. — Wheat. Third year. — Wheat or coarse grain. Fourth year. — Oats. Seeded down with rye grass, red clover and alfalfa. Fifth year. — Hay. Sixth year. — Pasture. Rotation ' P.' First year. — Summer-fallow. Second year. — Wheat. Third year. — Wheat. Fourth year. — Summer-fallow. Fifth year. — Hoed crops or legumes. Sixth year. — Barley. Seeded down with rye grass, red clover and alfalfa. Seventh year. — Hay. Eighth year. — Pasture. Rotation ' R.' First year. — Summer-fallow. Second year. — Hoed crop or legumes. Manured 15 tons per acre. Third year. — Wheat. Fourth year. — Oats. Fifth year. — Summer-fallow. Sixth year. — Wheat. Seventh year. — Oats. Seeded down with rye grass, red clover and alfalfa. Eighth year. — Hay. Ninth year. — Pasture. The following schedule shows the valuations that have been fixed for computing the results of these rotation experiments: — Return Values. Wheat (from the machine) per lh. ljc. Barley " " " lc. Oats " " " lc. Feas " He. D'lax " •' " 3c. Timothy hay per ton. $10 00 Red Clover hay ™ 00 Alfalfa hay tt 12 00 Brome <-*rass hay -. ' 10 00 Western Rye Grass hay 10 00 DIVISION OF FIELD HUSBANDRY 179 SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 Mixed hay per ton. $10 00 Green hay " 10 00 Oat straw ** 2 00 Barley straw " 2 00 Wheat straw " 1 00 Psa straw " 2 00 Flax straw " 2 00 Dry corn stalks " 5 00 Corn ensilage " 3 00 Mangels and turnips " 3 00 Sugar beets " 4 00 Pasture, each horse per month. 1 00 '* cow '. " 100 " sheep " 25 Cost Values. Kent per acre. $2 00 Barnyard manure spread on fields (charged equally over all years of the rotation) per ton. 100 Seed wheat , per acre. 150 oeed oats 100 Seed barley 1 00 (All other seeds to be charged at actual cost. Cost of grass seed ' to be charged equally on the years producing grass. Twine charged at actual cost.) Machinery per acre. 60 Manual labour per hour 19 Horse labour (including teamster)— t Single horse Per h°ur- Two-horse team "t 34 Threp-horse team ••• r, 41 Four-horse team *° Addit'onal horses •■ « Work to be done by traction engine is to be converted into the amount of horse labour required to do the work and charged accordingly. Threshing (covering work from stook to granary) — Wheat per bush. Oats Flax Peas Barley "„ ,{> 12 7 16— 12* 180 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 4 GEORGE V., A. 1914 ROTATION Items of Expense o d o T5 a e3 II o H 05 H 05 CO ■a o 3 4 V M a oj^ 3 o +3 DO '3) O O EH r^ i-3 O . & £-1 i-O 0 ,_, <*- ~c c £ 43 )-H O H O O H O M w PS EH t> Pn No. 9 c. 8 c. $ c. $ c. 8 c. Iu. Lb. Lb. Lb. Lb. $ c. $ c. $ c. 3 4 71 2 17 16 70 8 35 0 54 8 1,873 8,064 29 00 14 50 6 15 2 7 20 4 44 3 15 5 32 12 40 17 86 6 20 8 93 - 6 20 2 0 39 8 2,727 9,892 41 28 20 64 11 71 7 16 35 2 72 46 96 23 48 70 28 35 14 11 66 0 89 7 82 7 82 11 71 11 71 3 89 2 4 44 5 74 3 82 1 23 3 14 7 25 3 43 2 10 4 12 18 38 17 57 21 60 8 99 8 72 12 45 9 19 8 78 10 80 4 48 4 36 6 22 0 37 0 58 0 21 8 8 8 2,939 1,810 3.E05 7,272 8,56S 9,510 42 81 28 41 44 55 21 40 14 20 22 27 12 21 3 5 42 2 11 47 1 - 4 48 1 7,725 38 62 i 36 40 39 20 38 40 The wheat plot sown to a depth of three inches produced the greatest yield of grain, which fact is further emphasized by observations made in general farm practice in the district. Depths of Seeding Oats. Variety. Banner Depth of Seeding. 1 inch . . 2 inches 3 i. 4 M Date Date Number of Yield of of Sowing. of Ripening. Days to Mature. Grain per Acre. Lb. May 1 . . . 1... „ 1... ,. 1... Sept 11... „ 11... M 11... „ 11... 133 133 133 133 3,720 4,160 4,440 4.0S0 Yield of Grain per Acre. Bush. Lb. 109 122 130 120 14 12 20 00 DIVISION OF FIELD HUSBANDRY SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 185 Four different depths were employed in the seeding of oats, namely, one, two, three and four inches. The plot sown at a depth of three inches gave the largest yield of grain, which fact points to the advantage of seeding oats to a good depth under conditions such as exist here. DATES OF SEEDING. Experiments to learn the best time for sowing spring wheat, oats and barley in this district gave the following results this year : — Dates of Seeding Spring Wheat. Variety. Date. of Sowing. Date of Ripening. Number of cays to Mature. Average length of straw including head. Strength of straw on scale of 10 points. [ Average length of head. Yield of grain per acre. Yield of grain per acre. April 15. . .. 20.. i. 29. . May 6.. Aug. 30.. •i 30.. Sept. 3 . . 3.. 137 132 127 120 Inches. 32 32 34 38 10 10 10 10 Inches. 3i H 3 3 Lb. 1,570 1,440 1,840 1.80C Bush. Lb. 26 10 24 00 30 40 30 00 It will be noted that the third date of seeding gave the largest return. This may probably be partly accounted for by the unusually heavy rainfall in July, which favoured the later crops. Dates of Seeding Oats. Variety. Date of Sowing. Date of Ripening. Number of days to Mature . Average length of straw including head. Strength of straw on scale of 10 points. Average length of head. Yield of grain per acre. Yield of gra n per acre. April 13.. i, 20.. ii 29.. May 6.. Sept. 13.. ., 13.. .. 13.. .. 13.. 153 146 137 130 Inches. 59 61 60 70 5 4 3 2 Inches. 10 9 11 Lb. 4,189 4,720 4,510 3,960 Bush. Lb. 123 7 138 28 132 22 116 16 Dates of Seeding Barley. Date Date No. of Average length Strength of straw A v erage length of head. Yield of grain per acre. Yield of grain per acre. Variety used. of sowing. of ripening. days to mature. of straw including head. on a scale of 10 points. Inches. Inches. Lb. Bush Lb. April 15. . Aug. 28.. 135 43 5 4 2.800 58 16 ii ... .. 22.. Sept. 3.. 134 47 4 3 3,200 66 32 ii ... ,, 29. 3.. 127 41 3 3 3,280 68 16 ii ... May 6.. 3.. 120 42 2 3 3,680 76 32 186 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 4 GEORGE V., A. 1914 The latest sowing, on May 6, gave the highest yield. This plot would receive the greatest benefit from the late rains which, in part at least, accounts for the decided advantage it gave over the earlier seeding dates. QUANTITIES OF 'SEED PER ACRE. This test was conducted with spring wheat, oats and barley. Quantities of Spring Wheat per Acre. Variety. Marquis Quantities of seed per acre. | bush. Ii - if ,. 2i ., 2| .. Date of sowing. Date of ripening April 15 Aug. 30 „ 15 m 30 15 15 13 30 30 30 Number of days to mature. 137 137 137 137 137 Average length of straw including head. Inches. 40 33 34 32 24 Strength of straw on scale of 10 points. 10 10 10 10 10 Average length of head. Inches. H 3 3i 34 Yield of grain per acre. Lb. 1,200 1,560 1,570 1,320 1,160 Yield of grain per acre. Bush. Lb. 20 26 26 22 19 00 00 10 00 20 One and three-quarter bushels per acre was the amount of seed giving the largest yield. After the quantity of seed sown is deducted, it will be seen that one and one- quarter bushels per acre gave the largest net return. With the knowledge at present available for this district, one and three-quarter bushels per acre may be expected to give the best results. Quantities of Oats per Acre. Average Strength Yield Quantities Number length of Average of Yield of Variety. of Date Date of of Straw length grain grain seed of of days to straw on a of per per acre. per acre. sowing. ripening. mature. including head. scale of 10 points. head. acre. Inches. Inches. Lb. Bush. Lb. Banner. 1 bush . Apr. 24 Sept. 13 142 67 5 10 4,760 140 00 H n ■- .. 24 .. 13 142 - 69 4 12 3,480 102 12 ii 2 ii 24 „ 13 142 60 4 10 4,200 11'3 18 H 3i «• „ 24 .. 13 142 62 3 10* 3,360 98 28 n 3 ii 24 „ 13 142 58 3 9 3,240 95 10 ii 3i .. .. 24 .. 13 142 64 3 10£ 2,880 84 24 Of six different amounts used, the lightest seeding, that of one bushel per acre, gave the highest yield. This result was scarcely to be expected, but to some extent it was due to the plot standing more erect for ripening and harvesting than those of heavier seeding. The quantity of straw was in excess of the usual growth. This excep- tional result is not sufficient evidence on which to recommend a reduction of the quan- tity of seed oats generally sown. DIVISION OF FIELD HUSBANDRY 187 SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 Quantities of Barley per Acre. Average Strength Yield Quantities Number length of Average of Yield of Variety. of Date Date of of straw length grain grain seed of of days to straw on a or per per acre. per acre. sowing. ripening. mature. including head. scale of 10 points. head. acre. Man- Inches. Inches. Lb. Bush. Lb. ehunan. 1 bush . Apr. 23 Aug. 28 127 46 5 3 4,000 83 16 it Ii » .. 23 ■i 28 127 42 5 3i 3,880 80 40 ii 2 „ 23 h 28 127 39 4 3| 3,360 70 00 it •2\ ,. 23 .. 28 127 40 4 2| 3,080 64 8 M 2 i- „ 23 „ 28 127 39 4 3f 3,000 62 24 Of the five amounts used, the lightest seeding, one bushel per acre gave the best return. The thin seeding maintained its upright growth to a greater extent than the heavier-sown plots, permitted a more complete harvesting of the grain produced, and encouraged the full development of the maturing kernels. This result may be regarded as somewhat of an exception and not sufficiently conclusive to warrant any reduction of the amount of seed generally used. WEATHER CONDITIONS. In 1912 conditions at time of seeding were favourable. After seeding, germina- tion was uniform and the grain crops had a good start. During May the rainfall was moderate, amounting to 2-46 inches. In June the precipitation was 2 -19 inches. This rainfall for June was associated with hot weather which tended to hasten maturity of early varieties of grain at a sacrifice of yield. In July a very heavy rainfall was recorded, the total being 6-16 inches. This amount of moisture, coming late in the season benefited the slower-maturing grains to some extent. However, a second growth was so encouraged that the sample in many cases was marred by the immature grain appearing among the good. The length of the growing season made it possible for all crops to mature, September 15 being the date of the first damaging frost. Some Weather Observations taken at Scott Experimental Station, 1912. Tkmpeeature F. Pbecimtation. Month. an ■- '■*■ — T ■*• - £ _ — i— i CO g O H O 318 36 5 46 0 68-6 85 0 95 5 88-0 8L0 745 75 0 470 44 1 0 —43 3 o —15 3 6-28 119 406 49 4 617 580 597 456 39 9 270 168 Inches. Inches. 37 Inches. 3 70 Inches. 15 05 •23 Hours. 100 8 —30 —31 12 24 28 34 32 15 14 8 —19 3 8 2 7 7 2 9 7 2 2 8 2 8 3 2 08 30 97 3 1990 235 9 246 219 6 16 293 201 05 2 2 6 2 2 46 1!) 16 93 01 10. 20 27 •62 •so 100 •73 •98 05 15 05 255 5 343-0 1^3-5 192 5 132 7 1 2 2 0 0 7 161 0 84 9 913 22-45 2077 4 183 EXPERIMENTAL FIRMS 4 GEORGE V., A. 1914 YIELD OF FIELD CROPS. WHEAT. Two varieties of wheat, Marquis and Huron, were grown in field lots. Both varieties were sown en fallowed land and received similar treatment. From each field a very fair crop of grain was obtained, Huron leading by four bushels per acre. This variety is a favourable yielder at this Station. Marquis was grown on other fields, which received varying treatment. Pea ground, spring ploughed, gave a larger crop of better quality grain than did wheat stubble, fall ploughed. Wheat stubble, fall ploughed, gave a greater yield than wheat stubble not ploughed. The stubbled-in field required less time to mature, but was very low in yield per acre. Yields of Spring Wheat in Field Lots. Variety. Dtte of sowing. Date of ripening. No. of days maturing. Previous treatment. Yield of . grain per acre. Yield of grain per acre. April 20.... „ 27.... n 27. . . . 20. . . . ,. 20. . . . Aug. 00.... .. 30.... ii 30.... n 30.... u 24.... 132 125 125 132 120 Summer-fallow Lb. 1,883 1,637 1,519 1,150 686 Bush. Lb. 31 23 Marquis Summer-fallow 27 17 Pea ground, spring ploughed Wheat land, fall ploughed. . Sown on wheat stubble 25 19 19 10 11 26 OATS. Two varieties of oats were grown in field lots, Abundance and Banner. Both varieties received similar treatment, being grown on spring-ploughed wheat stubble, which had been broken in 1910. The Abundance variety gave the larger yield per acre by about ten bushels. Ban- ner was also a good crop, beautiful in straw and grain. Yield of Oats in Field Lots. Variety. Date of so wing. Date of ripening. No. of days maturing. Previous crop. Yield of grain per acre. Yield of grain per acre. Abundance. . . Banner May 3 .. 2 Sept. 9 ,. 7 129 128 Wheatland, spring ploughed. Wheatland, spring ploughed. Lb. 3,130 2,815 Bush. Lb. 92 2 82 27 BARLEY. 0*ne variety of six-rowed barley was grown in the field. This barley, Manchur- ian, made a very nice growth, the crop standing well and threshing a fair yield of grain. The sample was lacking somewhat in size and colour. It was sown on pea ground, spring ploughed, on May 3, ripened on August 23, and yielded 53 bushels 22 pounds per acre. DIVISION OF FIELD HUSBANDRY 189 SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 PEAS. One variety of peas was grown in the field. The growth throughout the season was good, and the threshed result of fully matured grain is of particular importance to this portion of the province. The Arthur variety, used on this field area, seems best adapted to our need in a field pea. It was sown on May 3, on summer-fallowed ground, ripened on September 10 and yielded at the rate of 35 bushels 1 pound per acre. SUMMARY OF CROPS, 1912, WHEAT. Bushels. Pounds. Two varieties in field lots 16 acres 375 Uniform test plots 11 22 Cultural experiment plots 59 31 Total 445 53 OATS. Two varieties in field lots 8^ acres 685 1 Uniform test plots 61 29 Cultural experiment plots 15 S Total 762 BAELEY. One variety in field lot \\ acres 80 10 Uniform test plots 23 31 Total 103 41 PEAS. One variety in field lot 3% acres 131 14 Uniform test plots 3 34 Total 134 48 Spring rye 28 Flax 1 36 Potatoes 569 3 Roots 351 25 Corn 943 HAY. Western Eye Grass and clover 10 tons. 610 190 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 4 GEORGE V., A. 1914 EXPERIMENTAL STATION FOR SOUTHERN ALBERTA, LETHBRIDGE, ALTA, REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT, W. H. FAIRFIELD, M.S. THE SEASON. The season of 1912 resembled that of 1911 in that the rainfall during the early part was deficient, while during the latter part the usual amount was received. The results of the crops on the Station during the summer of 1912 have been interesting, although in many instances somewhat disappointing. The season opened up in a most propitious manner. Work on the land began on March 28, and the first seeding was done on April 1, although it would have been possible to have begun a little earlier. The soil was left moist from the fall of 1911 and the land was in excellent shape to work in the spring; consequently, the grain crops, in fact all crops planted, were put in under exceedingly favourable conditions where land had been prepared the summer or fall previous. However, the rainfall during April, May and until the end of June in the immediate vicinity of Lethbridge was extremely light. Grain sown on summer-fallowed land and on very early spring ploughing, where the land was cultivated immediately afterwards, came up well, because it was possible to place the seed in moisture. Germination on land that was not so treated was not good. On account of the previous season closing up so early in the fall of 1911 it was impossible for the farmers in southern Alberta to do much fall ploughing, the result being that a great deal of grain was ' stubbled ' in this past spring, and most of this, in the Lethbridge district, germinated poorly. The rainfall was very light, indeed, until the last few days in June; from then on, during July, August and September it was above normal. On account of this light rainfall during the first part of the growing season, all early sown crops, and especi- ally winter wheat, suffered acutely. Crops that looked extremely promising early in the season gave but low yields. Late-sown crops, on the other hand, did much better providing they ripened before the frost. The yield of all the crops on the non-irrigated portion of the station was rather low, with the exception of peas and such late growing crops as turnips, potatoes, etc. On the irrigated portion of the Station, however, where water was applied in June, and in some cases even in May, the yields were very much more satisfactory. In the case of hay, however, especially alfalfa, we found the rainy season rather diffi- cult to operate in, as it was hard to get it cured properly. Alfalfa usually makes its most rapid growth when supplied with the necessary moisture during the hot weather of July and August, but this year, on account of the many showers during this period, the weather was not so hot as it ordinarily is, so the alfalfa fields did not pro- duce quite as much as they usually do. DITISIOX OF FIELD HVSBAXDRY SESSIONAL PAPER No 16 Some Weather Observations taken at Lethbridge Experimental Station, 1912. 191 Month. January . . . February. , March April May June July ...... August. . . . September October . . . November December. Total. Temperature F. Highest. 46 49 63 69 82 94 86 88 76 71 57 50 Lowest. -23 -23 -22 17 23 28 30 35 23 14 10 -0 ■8 ■5 •5 4 ■6 ■3 0 1 1 •2 1 ■9 Mean. 14 28 19 44 51 62 58 60 47 42 39 13 07 04 ■33 ■94 41 57 ■61 ■07 •34 •51 27 16 Precipitation. Rainfall. Inches. 020 066 1 73 278 141 261 002 941 Snowfall . Inches. 10 9 2 38 0 Total. Inches. •69 •40 ■44 •20 •66 ■73 •78 41 •61 ■07 •99 •23 13 21 Heaviest in 24 hours. Inches. 34 20 22 08 26 66 37 37 19 57 66 20 Total sunshine. Hours. Ill 7 140 6 230 9 209 9 280-4 3227 250 6 240 1 169 3 172 9 129 3 102 3 2360 6 192 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 4 GEORGE V., A. 1914 YIELDS OF GRAIN 111 FIELD LOTS. WINTER WHEAT (NON -IRRIGATED). The following fields of Kharkov winter wheat were sown September 2, 1911, on rammer-fallowed land ploughed the different depths indicated in the table. Depths of Ploughing for Winter Wheat. Area. Depth ploughed. Date ripe. Yield of grain per acre. Acres. 102 Inches. 6 5 4 1912. July 21 July 21 July 21 Bush. Lb. 23 32 106 20 55 102 18 33 On September 12, 1911, 3-32 acres of Gbirka winter wheat were sown on summer- fallowed land. This was ripe on July 30, and yielded at the rate of 28 bushels per acre. OATS (NON-IRRIGATED). A field of Banner oats, 15-73 acres in size, was sown on land on which grain had been grown the year previous. It was sown on April 24 and ripened August 23. The field yielded at the rate of 45 bushels and 25 pounds per acre, but was considerably damaged by the cutworms. OATS (IRRIGATED). The following field lots of oats were grown in 1912: — Variety. Area. Preparation of land. Date sown. Date ripe. Date irrigated. Yield per acre. Banner Acres. 12 •32 264 539 Spring ploughed alfal- fa sod Land on which grain was grown in l'Jll. . Summer-fallow.. Grain in 1911 April 15.. 17.. 6 . 27.. .Sept. Aug. ii ii 13 . 21.. 13.. 27.. June 4.. 4.. 11.. 12.. Bush. 100 94 132 67 Lb. Banner i, j Banner 7 19 Banner 11 DIVISION OF FIELD HUSBANDRY 193 SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 BARLEY (IRRIGATED). The following fields of barley were grown in 1912 : — Variety. Swedish Chevalier Mansfield Odessa Claude O. A. C. No. 21. . . Swedish Chevalier. Clifford Area. Acres. •0S7 •4o •29 •65 •037 •22 •4 Condition of land, 1911. In peas J n peas In peas. .... In peas In alfalfa Hoed crops Summer-fallow. Dat« > sown. Apr. 29 ... ii 29.... ii 29.... ii 29.... it 26.... M 20. .. ii 29.... Dat e ripe. Vug. 9... ii 8... ii 6.... it 7.... it 6 ... it 20.... it 20.... Date irrigated. June 11... 11... 11... 11... 5... 8... 11... Yield per acre. Bush. Lb. 57 37 50 55 49 99 88 16 28 2 20 26 34 31 PEAS (IRRIGATED). The following field lots of peas were grown in 1912 : — Variety. Area. Date sown. Date ripe. Date irrigated. Condition of land in 1911. Yield per acre. Paragon . . . Mackay Acres. •52 •049 Apr. 2 Sept. 14.... June 5 June 5 Grain Bush. Lb. 62 10 74 50 EXPERIMENTS ON NON-IRRIGATED LAND. ROTATIONS. In the tables below are given the results obtained in the various rotations on the non-irrigated land. Some heavy yields are recorded, notably the turnips on rotation : T.' They produced 25 tons per acre, and gave a net profit of $36.43. In computing the results given, fixed valuations for the items debited and credited to the rotations were adopted. The following values have been fixed : — Return Values. Whea (from the machine) per lb Bailey " '* Oats " " Peas " '* Flax " '* Timothy hay per ton Red Clover hay Alfalfa hav Brome Grass hay Western Rye Grass hay Mixed hay Green hay Oat straw Bailey straw Wheat straw W—13 rib. He '* lc. ft lc. it He ft 3c. • ton. $10 00 tt 10 00 tt 12 00 ff 10 00 ft 10 00 if 10 00 ft 10 00 ft 2 06 tt 2 00 ft 1 M !J4 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 4 GEORGE V., A. 19U Pea straw per ton. $2 00 Flax straw " 2 00 Dry corn stalks " 5 00 Corn ensilage " 3 00 Mangels and turnips " 3 00 Sugar beets " 4 00 Pasture, each horse per month. 1 00 " cow " 1 00 " sheep " 25 Cost Values. Rent per acre. $2 00 Barnyard manure spread on fields (charged equally over all years of the rotation) per ton. 100 Seed wheat per acre. 1 50 Seed oats " 1 00 Seed barley " 1 00 All other seeds to be chareed at actual cost. Cost of grass seed to be charged equally on the years producing grass. Twine charged at actual cost. Machinery " 60 Manual labour per hour. 19 Hoi labour (including teamster) — Single horse " 27 Two-horse team " 34 Three-horse team 41 Four-horse team 48 Additional horses each hour. 7 (Work done by traction engine is to be converted into the amount of horse labour required to do the work and charged accordingly.) Threshing (covering work from stook to granary) — Wheat per bush. 7 Oats " 4 Barley 5 Flax ;; 12 Peas 7 dotation 'A! Wheat continuously. Rotation ' V '.' Alfalfa continuously. Rotation ' B.' First year. — Summer-fallow. Second year. — Wheat. Rotation ' C First yc xr. — Summer-fallow. Second year. — Wheat. Third year. — Wheat or coarse grain. Rotation ' M.' First year. — Summer-fallow. Second year. — V heat. Third year. — Coarse grain. Manure on stubble in fall. Fourth year. — Summer-fallow. Fifth year. — Peas and oats for hay. Sixth year. — Barley or oats. DIVISION OP FIELD HUSBANDRY 195 SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 Rotation ' S' First year. — Summer-fallow. Manured in preparation for hoed crops. Second year. — Hoed crops. Tli ird year. — Wheat. Fourth year. — Summer-fallow. Fifth year. — Wheat. Sixth year. — Coarse grain. Seven tli year. — Summer-fallow. Eighth year. — Peas and oats for hay. Seeded in fall to rye. Ninth year. — Rye pasture. Rotation ' 27 First year. — Summer-fallow. Second year. — Wheat. Third year. — Oats or harley. Fourth year.- — Summer-fallowed May. Seeded to alfalfa late in June in rows 28 inches apart, , Fifth year. — Alfalfa hay or seed. Sixth year — -Alfalfa hay or seed. Seventh year. — Alfalfa hay or pasture. Eigh tli year. — Summer-fallow. Ninth year. — Hoed crops. Tenth year. — Wheat. Manure applied on stubble. 16— 13* 193 El 1'liltIAI ItNTAL FARMS 4 GEORGE V., A. 1914 ROTATION i 9 >i a d o o ■2 3 4 o X B « H < Ac. A ! .. Lot 1... 1-57 Crop. 1019. Wheat.. . Aggregate Average per aore in 1912. . I'l'KMH OP EXI'KNKK ■J a T3 a £ $ o. 3 14 3 14 2 1)0 I 0 &> £1 en Jo. D 26 6 26 3 35 Manual Labour. 0 o w c. 18 o u $ c. (i 82 0 32 0 20 Hone labour (inoludiag teamster). Hour 3. o A 01 "So .5 en N( o N< li o No. a I o J3 No. H 7 "12 I O w 3 •5 «* $ c. 4 f.3 4 68 2 96 ROTATION V I ..|Lot 1...I 10(5 lAlfalfa 3 18 0 64 86 8 66 8? 2 os 3 18 0 64 6 65 2 98 3 00 (1 00 0 27 2 81 ROTATION B 2. . Bl.. Lot 1.. .. 2.. 1 57 157 Wlioat Summer-fallow. AKK-n>Kate Average per acre in 1912 3 14 3 14 3 78 0 94 ;.'. 1 05 1A 18«72 6 28 4 67 1 05 2 00 l 10 0 33 1 07 8 92 9 99 3 18 ROTATION 0 2... Lot I.. „ 2. i. 3.. 1 57 1 57 Wheat 3 14 3 14 3 14 3 G7 2 73 0 94 5 1 0 95 0 lo "ij u IA HA 1 03 C 3. . . OatS 3 92 01... 157 Summer fallow. . 6 76 i; Aggregal 0 12 7 34 1 14 11 71 2 00 1 50 0 24 2 49 ROTATION M 2. . Lot 1.. .. 2.. .. 8.. .. 4.. .. 6. „ 6.. 1 25 125 125 1 25 1 25 1 25 Wheat e oo 5 00 5 00 6 00 6 00 6 00 3 27 2 27 0 75 2 00 2 27 0 75 8| 1 0 70 o 19 11 6 12J 0 92 M 8 ( lata 14 2 98 M 4 . Summer-fallow. . 1 y.ih and oats. . . Summer-fallow. . 6 08 M 5.. M 8.. Ml.. 6 A 1 0 97 0 19 $ 2 33 3 71 0 00 Aggregat 30 00 11 31 2 05 22 20 4 00 1 51 0 27 2 96 DIVISION OF FIELD HUSBANDRY SESSIONAL PAPER No. 1C 197 in raising Chop. CD x> p ■ O J= 'S w Particulars op Chop. •id CO 8 3 o H ® E 8 o if 00 O o 73 ,2 CO i—i "S «a to O o Weight in Pounds. B 5 § s. £ o CM o a> P 15 t % & p E a 'js CO s E o s o a 3 M 3 E 0 CO 05 w «5 i 0Q a CD TJ a 3 CO 3 Notes. So. 2 25 $ c. 15 60 $c. 9 94 $ c. 0 31 In. 7 Lb. 1,931 Lb. 2,877 Lb. Lb. 27 19 $o. 17 32 $c. 7 38 75 p.c. of cro|w w.i rati'll l>y cutworm :inil IT sown wit li 2 25 15 00 27 19 Marquis wheat which got fronted before il was cut. 1 43 9 94 9 94 17 32 17 32 7 38 1 V. " 13 45 12 69 24 13,235 79 41 74 92 62 23 Tlirr<«o,uttiiiirnof alfalfa wnni niacin. It wan irrigated twice, ;■ nd ditch water waa emp l.h'cl into it all. it 79 41 — 12 09 12 69 12,486 74 92 74 92 62 23 1 wards. B." 2 96 11 95 13 00 7 61 8 28 0 28 7 2,540 2,990 35 37 22 53 11 98 24 95 15 89 ... . 2,540 2,990 35 37 22 53 7 95 7 95 . ... 809 952 11 26 11 26 3 31 C. " 2 01 3 71 11 43 13 27 7 70 7 28 8 74 1 90 0 30 0 14 7 7 2,260 3,170 2,630 2,600 31 45 31 86 20 03 21 88 12 72 13 14 6 38 32 85 20 92 5,436 5,230 05 81 41 91 1 35 0 97 6 97 — 1,154 1,111 13 97 13 97 7 00 M. " 1 75 2 52 11 04 12 94 11 83 10 30 14 37 11 75 9 32 10 35 9 40 8 24 11 50 9 40 0 46 0 20 0 18 1,475 2,141 1,815 1 ,892 20 59 23 33 29 20 28 01 10 48 18 66 23 36 22 91 7 10 8 82 .5' 12 11 49 Cutworms damaged the oats. ' 5,8 10 3 20 2,713 2,511 7 47 72 83 58 20 101 76 ■SI II 1 00 9 31 9 31 13 56 13 50 4 25 193 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 4 GEORGE V., A. 19T4 ROTATION O o ?3 S9. SI. S2. S3. S4. S5. 8 6. S7. S8. a _o 0D 5 9 C 03 43 4? DQ O c3 t-l T-l (4 o EM c +3 T3 a J3 Is > *4-l o CD ft o O «*H J3 cS h 43 O! CD 43 43 QO o O c5 O «3 03 O o 43 00 O O a •r-l 83 w -4-* o o K 4^> o 3 o (4 ftl $ c $ c. 8 51 9 28 $ c. 6 81 7 42 $ c. Ins. Lb. Lb. Lb. Lb. $ c 2 00 $ c. 1 60 $ c. 62 days pasture for cow. 1 21 45 17 16 \\ 11,150 16 73 13 3h 3 78 2 17 10 31 11 08 8 27 8 86 0 33 7 1,878 2,333 26 21 20 97 12 70 1 89 10 27 8 21 0 38 7 1,605 2,315 22 56 is 05 12 21 3 40 13 37 9 96 10 69 7 97 0 15* 7 2,881 2,551 28 06 22 45 14 69 Manured. 11 80 9 44 7,000 35 00 28 00 23 20 Seeded in fall to rye. 106 06 84 83 130 56 104 45 9 43 9 43 11 6ll 11 61 2 18 "T." 3 55 12 39 12 39 12 39 13 16 39 64 12 62 13 40 12 95 15 30 11 83 7 89 7 89 7 89 8 38 25 25 8 04 8 53 8 25 9 81 7 54 3 76 3 76 3 76 3 3 3 213 213 213 85 20 85 20 85 20 54 28 54 28 54 28 75 07 19 76 46 39 Seed saved, Grimm. 3 55 46 39 Seed saved. Grimm. 3 55 46 39 49 82 11 59 Seed saved, Grimm. 0 03 0 32 78,575 117 86 31 02 2 59 7 2,210 3,110 2 45 4 08 0 36 0 15 7 7 21 05 3,456 2,625 3,000 29 38 37 56 18 71 23 92 10 46 14 17 156 07 99 47 471 42 300 30 200 86 9 94 9 94 30 03 30 03 20 09 200 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 4 GEORGE V., A. 1914 The following is a summary of the above tables: — Costs, Values of Products and Profits of Rotations ' A,' ' V,' ' B,' ' C,' ' M," S ' and ' T.' Rotation. 1 A ' wheat continuously. ; V ' Alfalta continuously 1 B ' two years' duration . . 1 C ' three years' duration ' M ' six years' duration. 'S' nine years' duration. ' T ' ten years' duration. . Total Cost per Acre. $ cts. Total Value per Acre. 9 12 7 6 9 '.)4 69 95 1)7 31 9 43 9 91 $ cts. 17 32 74 92 11 26 13 97 13 56 11 61 30 03 Net Profit per Acre. $ Ct8. 7 38 62 23 3 31 00 25 18 20 09 CULTURAL EXPERIMENTS. A comprehensive set of experiments in soil cultivation has been undertaken, but we do not feel it advisable to publish the results of the work this year, as it was more or less of a preparatory nature. The lines of investigation along which we are working are as follows : — Experiment » « « «< 1 — Prairie breaking. 2A — Depth of ploughing wheat stubble to be sown to oats. 2B — Depth of ploughing summer-fallow to be sown to wheat followed by oats. 2C — Depth of ploughing sod to be sown to wheat, followed by oats. 3 — Summer-fallow treatment previous to sowing wheat. 4A — Treatment of wheat stubble to be sown to wheat. 4B — Treatment of wheat stubble to be sown to oats. 5 — Seeding to grass and clover. 6 — Breaking sod from cultivated grasses and clovers. 7A — Applying barnyard manure for corn or roots. 7B — Applying barnyard manure for wheat. YC — Applying barnyard manure for barley. 7D — Applying barnyard manure for oats. 8 — Green manuring. 9 — Seed-bed preparation. 10A — Soil packing for wheat sown on summer-fallow. 10B — Soil packing for wheat sown on spring-ploughed wheat stubble. 10C — Soil packing for wheat sown on fall-ploughed wheat stubble. 11 — Depth of seeding. 12 — Commercial fertilizers. 13 — Underdraining. DIVISION OF FIELD HUSBANDRY SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 DATES OF SEEDING. Marquis Wheat (Non-irrigated). Dates of Seeding Marquis Wheat. 201 Date sown. April 1.. Ap'il 12 April 22. May 1 . . May 11. May 22. May 31. June 11. Date ripe. August 7 August 8 August 8. .. . Aug-ust 17 . . . August 23 . . . September 16 September 16, September 16 Size of plot . Acres. 1/60 1/60 1/60 1/60 1/60 1/60 1/60 1/60 Length of straw. Inches. 24 24 2A\ 284 31 | 35 34 36} Length of head. Inches. 24 2| 2£ 3 2| 2l 2£ 3 Weight of straw per acre. Tons. Lb. 1,500 1,680 1,620 1,290 1,800 430 1,110 Yield per acre- Bush. Lb. 25 24 23 23 21 *20 *25 *26 30 30 30 *Grain badly frosted. Was not ripe at time of killing frost September 14 and 15. Kharkov Winter Wheat (Non-irrigated). The table would indicate that September 1 was the best date to seed. From our observations we are of the opinion that from August 20 to September 1 is about the best period for the Lethbridge district. Dates of Seeding Kharkov Winter Wheat. Date Sown. 1911. July 15 August 2 . . . . August 15 September 1 . . September 15. October 2 October 16 November 2. . . Date Ripe. 1912. July 24.. July 24.. July 24.. July 24. . July 29., Aug. 5. Aug. 12. Size of plot. Acres. 1-20 1-20 1-20 1-20 1-20 1 20 1-20 1-20 Length of Straw Length of hejd. Inches. 25 25 26J 26 27 25 24 25 Inches. Weight of straw. Lb. 1040 1240 1280 1620 1570 1310 1700 1650 Yield per acre. Bush. Lb. 7 12 12 18 19 15 24 22 50 00 40 20 40 30 00 20 Bush. Lb. Average yield per acre for 4 years. 4 12 23 28 22 L9 18 13 37* 6* 51 30 32 00 00 42 Average yield for three years only. 20* EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 4 GEORGE V., A. 19U Banner Oats (Non-irrigated.) An experiment was started with dates of seeding oats, the first seeding being done on April 1, and the last on July 2. The land was summer-fallowed in 1911. Dates of Seeding Banner Oats. Date Sown. April 1 April 15 May 1 May 16 May 31 June 15 July 2 Date Ripe. August 17 August 17 August 17 August 2/! September 14 Cut for green feed September 15, Cut for green feed September 15, Length of straw. Inches. 32 30 33 34 38 Length of head. Inches. 5* 5* 6 7 7 Weight of straw per acre Tons Lb. 1 880 1 760 1 940 1 1480 1 1960 Yield per acre. Bush Lb. 68 67 77 93 86 ?.H 2 22 18 16 Size of plots. Acres. 1-60 1-tiO 1-60 1-60 1-60 Mensury Barley (Non-irrigated). An experiment was started with dates of seeding barley, the first seeding being done on April 1, and the last on July 2. The land was summer-fallowed in 1911. Dates of Seeding Mensury Barley. Date sown. April 1.. April 15. May 1 . , May 16., May 31 . June 15 July 2... Date ripe. August 10. August 10. August 23. August 30. Size of plot. Acres. 1/60 1/60 1/60 1/60 1/60 1/60 1/60 Length of straw. Inches. 27 26 28 34 34$ 38 33 Length of head. Inches. 25 2 5 25 3 2 32 3i 3 * Grain frosted on September 14 and 15, almost ripe. Flax (Non-irrigated). Weight of straw, per acre. Tons. Lb. 400 400 520 400 970 840 140 Yield per acre. Bush. Lb. 26 27 32 26 29 "40 *26 12 24 24 12 18 00 12 An experiment with dates of seeding flax was begun this season. It was sown on summer-fallowed land in plots one-sixtieth of an acre in size. The first seeding was made April 1, and the last July 2. As will be noticed in the table given below all the flax sown on and after May 15 was frosted. DIVISION OF FIELD HUSBANDRY SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 Dates of Seeding Flax. 203 Date sown. Date ripe. Length of straw. Weight of straw per acre. Yield per acre. Remarks. April 15 May 1 May 15 May 31 July 2 August 24. . August 27 August 30 Sept. 16*. ... Sept. 16* Sept. 16* Inches. 19 20 23 24 25 2H Pounds. 1,680 1,740 2,460 2,340 3,240 2,430 Bush. Lb. 23 32 27 42 25 40 25 40 27 42 13 22 Frosted September 14 and 15. Frosted September 14 and 15. Frosted Sep ember 14 and 15. Cut for green feed Sept. 16. *Date cut. RATES OF SEED PER ACRE. Kharkov Winter Wheat (Non-irrigated). In these experiments the winter wheat was sown on summer-fallowed land. Rates of Seeding Kharkov Winter Wheat. Rate Size Length Length Weight Yield Average yield per of Date sown. Date ripe. of of of per per acre acre. plot. straw. head. straw. acre. for 4 years . Lb. Acres. 1911. 1912. Inches. Inches. Tons. Lb. Bush. Lb. Bu>h. Lb. 15 1/20 Sept. 1.... Aug. 5. . . 29 2f 1,460 18 20 25 25 30 1/20 Sept. 1.... July 31.... 27 «-2 . . 1,750 23 50 30 57 45 1/20 Sept. 1.... July 27.... 26 2? 1 140 23 00 32 27 60 1/20 Sept. 1.... July 27... 28 2§ 1 240 27 00 37 43 75 1/20 Sept. July 27.... 26 2f 1,910 23 20 38 6 90 1/20 Sept. 1.... July 27.... 25* 2* 1,9>0 24 20 37 50 105 1/20 Sept. 1.... July 24.... 26 2| 1,500 23 20 34 22 120 1/20 Sept. 1.... July 24.... 25 2* 1,300 21 40 34 30 Red Fife Wheat (Non-irrigated). Rates of Seeding Red Fife Wheat. Rate Size Length Length Weight Yield Average yield p^r of Date sown. Date ripe. of of of per per acre acre. plots. straw. head. straw. acre. for 4 years. Lb. Acres. 1912. 1912. Inches. Inches. Tons. Lb. Bush. Lb. Bush. Lb. 15 1/20 April 1 Ausj. 20.... 37* 3 1840 16 40 11 55 30 1/20 April 1 Aug. 17. . 35 3 1 120 19 40 16 15 45 1/20 April 1 Aug. 15 33 O 1600 25 00 21 15 60 1/20 April 1.... Aug. 12.... 30 2| ■ . . 19cS0 24 00 21 40 75 1/20 April 1.... Aug. 12.... 30 3 1 80 26 20 22 25 90 1/20 April 1 Aug. 11.... 31 3 1 240 25 00 22 15 105 1/20 April 1 Aug. 10 28* 3 1 GO 25 00 23 45 120 1/20 April 1 Aug. 9.... 26 3 1810 23 40 23 204 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 4 GEORGE V., A. 1914 Banner Oats (Non-irrigated.) The size of the plots used was one-twentieth acre each and they were all sown April 15. Banner oats were used and they were sown on summer-fallowed land. Rates of Seeding Banner Oats. Rate per acre. Lbs. 15 30 45 60 75 90 105 120 Size of plot. Acres . 1/20 1/20 1/20 1/20 1/20 1/20 1/20 1/20 Date sown. 1912. Apr. 15. Apr. 15. Apr. 15. Apr. 15. Apr. 15., Apr. 15. Apr. 15. Apr. 15. Date ripe. 1912. Aug. 17. Aug. 5. Aug. 5. Aug. 1. Length of straw. Inches. 38 35 35 33 32 32 32 32 Length of head. Inches. Weight of straw. Tons. Lb. 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 860 1,080 440 1,290 640 450 510 1,870 Yield per acre . Bush. Lb. 73 18 67 2 70 00 65 30 72 12 49 4 55 30 48 18 Average yield per acre for 4 years. Bush. Lb. 42 49 52 54 54 49 50 45 22 24 22 8 is 28 15 2 Mensury Barley (Non-irrigated). The results would seem to indicate that 90 pounds was about the right amount to sow per acre. We find that from 85 to 90 pounds is about the right amount to use here. Bates of Seeding Mensury Barley on Summer-fallow. Rate per acre. Lb. 15 30 45 60 75 90 1<)5 120 Size of plot. Acres. 1/20 1/20 1/20 1/20 1/20 1/20 1/20 1/20 Date sown . 1912. Apr. 18.. Apr. 18.. Apr. 18 . Apr. 18.. Apr. 18 . Apr. 18.. Apr. 18.. Apr. 18 . Date ripe. 1912. Aug. 8.. Aug. 7. Aug. 6. . Aug. 3.. Aug. 3. . Aug. 1.. Aug. 1. . Aug. 1.. Length Length of of straw. head. Inches. Inches. 27 2 26 2 5 27 2 20 2 22 2 22£ 2 22 2 21 2 Weight of straw Per acre. Tons. Lb. 1,710 1,920 1,310 1,820 200 460 320 1,700 Yield per acre. Bush. Lb. 20 23 15 18 15 26 30 25 30 36 00 36 20 32 20 00 EXPERIMENTS ON IRRIGATED LAND. Rotation ' U.' Average yield per acre for 3 years Bush. Lb. 9 13 15 18 19 24 25 22 45 16 00 00 41 5 30 44 In this rotation wheat yielded 29 bushels per acre, and gave a net profit of $36.43. Potatoes on alfalfa sod yielded 757 bushels per acre making the rather phenomenal net profit of $307.38 per acre with the potatoes valued at 50 cents per bushel. DIVISION OF FIELD HUSBANDRY 205 SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 Rotation ' U.' First year. — Seeding alfalfa. Second year. — = Alfalfa hay. Third year. — " Fourth year. — " Fifth year.— " Sixth year. — " Seventh year. — Hoed crops. Eighth year. — Wheat. Ninth year. — V> heat or coarse grain. Tenth year. — Coarse grain. 206 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 4 GEORGE V., A. 1914 ROTATION O *> o o Hi 4 u < 4 Items op fcl p a a a « a 43 a tatoes 1 61 U 7. Alfalfa Potatoes 28 59 U 6 . Alfalfa 4 59 U 5 . 5 13 U 4.. 5 13 U 3.. 5 13 Aggregat 42 00 30 m 58 91 A vfipn.c« n«r af>.r e in 1912 4 20 3 10 6 89 DIVISION OF FIELD HUSBANDRY SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 "U" 207 Expense in Raising Crop. JD 3 43 09 <4H O 43 Ho w Particulars of Crop. Horse labour including teamster.) (JO a ]3 OS CD Si ,JS 43 o 43 00 O O 43 m O o Is o H CD s- o3 « O «4H 43 0Q O O i— i CD CO 3 -Q rH S- o 43 to O O Weight in Pounds. CD Is H? 43 o H CD U a * fa CD ft ft O u « «** O CD 3 > Hours; CD 03 E O X! O 3 CD O > a "3 u OS 43 u K "Si CO *co og pd CD 6 co u Ji CD "be s S3 s s 43 s s CL 49 CD m O ,C CO 3 ce CO h o -r u a a u ft 43 O u Ph 6 "i 1 21, 1| 1S 1? 7! 10 10 10 6 i e 72 4* 1 20£ h $ c. 2 55 2 90 4 33 2 89 1 10 22 23 3 87 3 65 3 40 3 40 $ C. ' 2 36 9 36 4 13 $ c. 13 18 K> 27 13 89 12 24 13 35 71 12 14 14 14 46 14 21 14 21 $ c. 13 18 10 27 13 »9 12 24 13 35 71 12 14 14 14 46 14 21 14 21 $ c. 23£ 21 9 In. 3 3 8 8 9 3 3 3 3 Lb. 2,000 2,0' 0 3,540 Lb. ' 1,544 1,691 5,157 Lb. 8,351 3,310 Lb. $ c. 50 11 16 55 21 5t 21 69 49 78 378 5<» 70 38 65 05 65 05 65 05 $ C. 50 11 16 55 21 54 21 69 49 78 378 50 70 3* 65 06 65 05 65 05 $ C. 36 93 6 28 7 65 ... 9 45 36 43 H 11,730 10,842 10,842 10,842 45,420 3(i7 38 56 24 50 59 50 84 50 84 50 32 8 85 191 07 191 07 803 70 S03 70 5 03 89 19 11 19 11 80 37 80 37 61 26 203 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 4 GEORGE V., A. 1914 Rates of Seeding. Spring Wheat (Irrigated.) The size of the plots used was one-thirtieth of an acre. They were sown April 2 on summer-fallowed land. The variety used was Red Fife. One irrigation was given on June 8. We now have results from five seasons. Rates of Seeding Spring Wheat. Rate per acre. Size of plot. Date sown. Date ripe. Lenpth of Straw. Length of head. Weight of straw per acre. Yield per acre. Average yield per acre for 5 years. Lb. Acres. 1012. 1912. Inches. Inches. Tons. Lb. Bafch. Lb. Bush. Lb. 15 1/33 Apr 2... Aug. 23.. 50 3.7 3 7.^0 5ii 3t 30 1/30 Apr. 2 ... Aug. 23.. -19.2 3.5 3 1,470 63 30 40 30 45 1/30 Apr. 2 ... Aug. 20.. 50 3.5 3 420 63 41 42 60 1/30 Apr. 2 Aug. 20 . 44.5 3.5 3 630 63 41 52 75 1/30 Apr. 2.... Aug. 14. . 4S 3.5 3 495 61 45 44 25 90 1/30 Apr. 2 . . Aug. 14.. 47 3 5 3 60 64 45 3* 105 1/30 Apr. 2.... Aug. 14.. 43.5 3.5 3 660 66 30 47 51 120 1/30 Apr. 2... Aug. 13.. 41.5 3.5 2 1,280 62 43 50 Oats (Irrigated.) In the following experiment the size of the plots used was one-twentieth of an acre. They were sown April 15 on land on which hoed crops were grown in 1911. The variety used was Banner. One irrigation was given on June 4. We now have the results for five years from this experiment. Rates of Seeding Oats. Rate per A 03 h O Q o >-i m o !-• q i-5 << Pi m w O m IN Ac. 1911. 1912. $c. %Q. No. $ c No. No. C2... Plot 1.... 10 Summer-fallow. Barley 2 90 3 58 2i 0 47 3 C3... ,. 2.... 10 Wheat Bar^y......... 2 00 3 48 2J 0 47 4 C 1 .. „ 3... Aggregate. Average pe 10 Wheat Summer fallow 2 00 0 60 If 6 00 7 66 500 1 66 0 94 82 r acre i nl912 2 00 2 55 0 31 255 ROTATION K3 K4 K4 K4 Kl K2 Plot 1 . . . . 3 909 ., 2.... 3 909 ,, 3.... 3-909 ■i 4.... 3 903 ,. 5.... 3-909 .. 6.... 3 909 Wheat.... Barley. . . . Oats Oats. Green feed. Hoed crop. Barley . . . . Hay Hay Hay Hoed crop. Wheat.... Aggregate Average per acre in 1912 . 15 64 7 23 H 1 00 • 15 61 5 87 14| 2 81 15 64 5 87 10 1 90 15 64 5 87 m 3 09 15 64 32 43 329 62 51 36 15 64 9 55 Si 1 57 93 84 66 82 383£ 72 88 . ... 4 00 2 85 15 21 3 11 7| 15 14 141 48i 7 107 434 ROTATION L2... Plot 1.... 1 L3... ii 2... 1 L4... ii 3.... 1- L5... n 4. .. I- L6... ,. 5.... 1- LI... .. 6.... 1- 74 ■74 Hay . . . Hay . 74 Hay . . . 74 Wheat. 74 Oats... 74 Barley . Pasture. Pasture. Wheat . Oats. .. Barley . . Hav . . . Aggregate Average per acre in 1912. 6 96 6 96 6 96 6 96 6 96 6 96 41 76 4 00 18 64 1 79 3i 4 L4J 125 0 62 0 76 0 24 1 19 2 81 0 271 18 3 2 63 292 251 ROTATION N N N N N N N 3.. 4.. 5.. 6.. 7.. 1.. 2.. Plot 1. m 2. .. 3 n 4 ,. 5. ,, 6 n 7. 1-085 Alfalfa. r Co Alfalfa. 1-085 10S5 1-085 1085 1-085 Alfalfa Alfalfa Alfalfa Alfalfa Green feed. Aggregate Average per acre in 1912 Alfalfa Alfalfa Alfalfa Alfalfa Alfalfa Spring Wheat. Barley 03 03 03 03 03 4.03 4.03 28.21 3.71 4.87 4.87 4.87 4.87 4.87 2.6H 2.16 29.17 3.84 93 H 62 4 9 422 6 2 1.85 1 28 1.2S 1.28 1.28 0.76 0.38 H 28 22 101 Hi 3 IT! 13 <:. 458 DITISIOX OF FIELD HUSBANDRY 213 SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 "C. :r in Raising Crop. CD | 43 IB o X. '£ Particulars op Crop. (including teamster.) 00 .9 r« 50 CD (H H *3 o - 4a W O O 4a m Q s 43 o H CD O cS r-i MH o 43 CO O 10 3 0 Q Weight in Pounds. CD 4a O H ® o CD a o ~ o KM o CD J3 "3 CD s Hours. . 01 b O H **- . C r. 3 c 4) .£3 3 C3 "*« a '3 i *a qq cp bo -S S c3 on 4a o o C c3 u 1 4a ~ CO — z M D -t> CD 01 O a. o p> o o CC O u No. 14 No. 03 S c. 1 53 1 87 5 27 8 67 $c. 1 74 1 56 $c. 9 32 9 38 7 87 $c. 9 32 9 38 7 87 cts. 26 30 In. No. 1,675 1,500 No. 5,419 3,504 No. No. Sc. 22 17 18 50 S c. 22 17 18 50 $ c. 12 85 9 12 —7 87 . ... 2i 93 3 30 26 57 3,175 8,923 40 67 j 14 10 '50 3 15 2 89 1 10 ... 8 86 1,058 2,974 13 56 4 70 llj 8 03 5 10 4 76 5 01 31 61 4 66 4 85 8 33 36 75 29 42 28 17 29 61 142 19 39 75 9 40 7 53 7 21 7 57 36 37 10 17 37 4,660 6,759 53 36 67 29 51 60 4(3 00 99 61 103 67 13 65 17 21 13 2d 11 77 25 48 26 52 4 25 13,301 10,166 9,200 19,036 9 68 5 99 4 20 114 42 -10 89 33 7,146 16,938 16 35 274 59 17 13 18 >05 89 11,800 23,697 32,670 19.036 421 53 29 58 110 2 32 0 56 13 04 503 1,010 1,393 812 17 97 4 93 9 35 9 35 23 27 19 08 17 46 12 83 5 37 5 37 4 55 3 38 38 39 38 66 25 08 38 73 2 61 1 94 22 06 22 22 14 41 22 26 — 2 76 2,53' 3,090 2,205 9,327 7,759 3,035 ' 7^520 —3 43 H Si 6 84 7 80 4 51 4 64 2 29 2 95 3 64 2 30 13 37 1 55 10 97 20 10 03 38 7 37 8 69 11 25 4 38 14 89 H 17| 19 24 8 89 91 34 7,825 750 20,121 7,520 148 79 33 02 09 142 1 84 0 85 8 75 1,927 720 14 25 5 50 1.78 0.93 0.93 ■ 0.93 0.93 3.84 3.82 "2M 2.32 12.53 11.55 5,456 3,140 .... 3.140... 3,140 . 3,140 32.74 18.84 18.84 18.84 18. S4 31.64 24.85 30.17 17.36 17 36 17.36 17.36 29.16 22.90 18 62 11.11 10.24 11.11 10.24 11.11 10 24 7 12 7.12 7 12 11.11 13 74 12.71 10 24 12.66 11.71 39 27 2,100 2,230 7,285 2,546 7 12 8 16 50 11 19 1 13.16 4.77 83.42 4.330 9,831 18,016 164.59 74 79 06 1.73 0.63 10.98 10.98 570 1,294 2,372 21.67 10 69 214 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 4 GEORGE V., A. 1914 ROTATION Crops. Items of Expexsk to m Manual Labour. Horse labour Hours. 3 CD >* .2 c3 o d o +3 a o o < Rent and manu Seed, twine anc of machinery. n u 1 in O O V m u o o "3a S3 3 o OQ Acres 1911. 1912. $ c. $ c. No. * c No. No. O 3.. Plot 1 . . . . 32107 Wheac Oats 9.18 6 3^ 6£ 1.21 10| 0 4r „ 2 ... .. 3. ... 2-727 3-266 Summ'r-fallow 7 70 9.33 1.04 10 10 2.1 21£ 0 5.. Summer-fallow. 12i 2.33 O 6.. 0 7.. ii 4... .. 5... 4 119 4 119 Barley . .... Oats Hay Pasture. ... 11.78 11.78 8.f)l 8.51 io| 2.00 14^ 0 1.. ,, 6.... 4 110 Green feed .... Hoed crop .... 11.78 28.75 336 63 84 ■ilh 80| 0 2.. ii 7 Aggregate. Average pe 4 119 Wheat 11.78 0 91 18 3 42 7 73.42 73.83 3834. 72.83 41 A 13GA r acre i n 1912 33,370 pounds potatoes. 5,410 pounds coin. DIVISION OF FIELD 1IUSBAXDRY SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 215 O. <> r» >> ik Raising Crops. CO 3 43 tc o 43 bo '35 X Particulars of Crop. ( including teamster.) be CO S-. 43 o -^ t: O O 43 DQ O O 11 o H CD U o e3 rH o 43 CO O o 13 u J2 rH U O 43 CO Q o Weight in Pounds. CO 3 i— * c3 > C3 43 O H (- Hours. CO O i 2 3 43 > c 1 a (4 O o •a to r ° 43 CS 43 CO g eg CO 43 CO DO o CO S cS CO 43 O CD o *3 49 o M < m § O . •OCOOOlOlOl-HN (N(M(MCOT»'*N;OM (M£Oio «Hffit-H-*Tti-)iHHioom«»woc)oi''iOtw CO CO CC 00 CC CO IT. OCl-fMfNIMOWCONHXHXO » S O C lO O lO O "J C ffl !C lO N W lQ LO lO O C5 lO ■* c<5 (M 55 Oi -ti IM CO CO CO toscoi-mmffi isown mo 43 o3 (4 3 M»OlSi-l»OINHO;iOON»OlOOJlt'-Oi-lT)'t~-tOlOO!Ot-XCt'-KN jj HiocineLont-iNWNoo-toNrxxcocHfcoxejc-iNXOfimN • NiHrHi-'COCOrtrfCOCOC^COCOCOC^mrHffrtMC-'l-tfi^t'fOCTiOOOO OOOHrl ft iHt-l r-< N e 0 CNiooamsfNNioaHeotsxHMHoaaoTiiHino'jiox')1 jj OlOOJOOiaO: NOOOQOt-HO CO .9 CD 02 »-l to t-i i,W!StOOWS.3)tD*sat-Min*NW'*ONOffl jj MSir,!JOOOO!l0100l'".WiOffllOXONlOHr-CO • -t -t ^ CO « « N H fl 'M CI H X f H O W "T H f X X « I— i I— I r-t •— li— IHi- ( i— I rH I-" I— I t— IH rH — i I— I i— I i— I iH f-fHlOt-fflnNO s h r x m io w o ■ (M i-H OXl- 3 o cs Pw « o _ . • - d y D o o be a ft ^3 oS P a & ip . . ■ * <44 ■ - o3 a 0) •■? h-1 13 C § ■1 SB PQ u > - oS CD JO - s 3 §1 SO? a =S h6c cs -03 c3 c3^ = a h a a jag CD 0. rt o o at +3 d 0 a m _2 d aJ "S" — O 43 ^ ^1 So a> $ « ££-n d^ 5nh -j 0 03 cs O X) 3 cs >> U ■a cS PQ CJO a T3 T3 CS 3 O :33 oj 43 J3 s* 'u a) O "J o j- OS-rJ o 2 be •I >> — -v be £ >>« -r - W j r - h ° °% fl^ -u c a o hESs O O jj - ^- ^ rf r«^-i <*-/? u o « p . ^ -w 5 Jj0 0| Pfl « .. 4) 2 o a". 2 § o > g •5 S 0} X B p. d> 43 0) C ' be: ho .2 -a " a O : a a bo cS a o S 3 _ „, x O m a; ^ cs eS ^ c 43 a) O C m pSShS^So . ;_, c3 u ' U-C bO « o! 1) OOH HM'VN(NinOr-0!OMaai>-llaked or quick lime exists soon after its admixture with the soil, the presence of carbonate of lime, then, whether supplied as lime, marl or finely-ground limestone. Performs a very important triple role — physically, chemically and biologically — in influencing for good a soil's productiveness. Physically, it is of value to all classes of soils, lightening and mellowing heavy clays and cementing and giving 'body' to sandy loams. For the improvement of texture it plays a most important part, especially in conjunction with efficient drain- age, right culture and the supplying of organic matter. From the chemical standpoint, it is first to be regarded as plant fond, and hence indispensible to the best results for all soils deficient in lime. This deficiency may be due to the character of the rocks that formed the mineral basis of the soil or it may have arisen through a long term of cropping and the leaching out of soluble lime DIYISIOX OF CHEMISTRY 247 SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 compounds by the rain. Soils rich in lime, other conditions being favourable, produce a strong and vigorous vegetation of the highest nutritive qualities. A further very important chemical function is that of neutralizing acidity or sourness, a frequent cause of failure, especially with clover, alfalfa and other legumes. Very few farm crops will thrive in a sour soil, even if the acidity is not strongly marked, and all do well on a neutral or slightly alkaline soil. From various causes — ■ imperfect drainage, deficiency in lime, an excess of organic matter — many soils tend to become sour; even upland soils at times exhibit this tendency and correction or neutralization by lime becomes necessary to restore fertility. Herein lies, probably, the most important function of lime in soil treatment. Biologically, lime is necessary for the development of soil bacteria, those minute organisms present in large numbers in every fertile soil and to whose life and growth are due the preparation of food for the use of higher plants — farm crops. Without this bacterial life, a soil would indeed be 'dead'; with conditions favourable to its development (and the presence of lime is one of them) we may utilize, in a very high degree the stores of food, organic and mineral, largely inert as they occur in the soil. for it is through this agency, chiefly perhaps, that these stores are attacked and made to yield nourishment for crops. There is a use and an abuse in the application of lime. The endeavour to keep up fertility by its frequent application without the addition of the essential elements of plant food and humus-forming material, will undoubtedly lead to the soil's exhaus- tion and diminished yields. There is ample proof in this country, as in other lands, for this assertion. Because there is a response at first to liming, it must not be con- cluded that productiveness can be maintained simply by this means. Rational farming calls at times for lime and the intelligent farmer will recognize the conditions that make its application desirable. It may then be depended on to give a profitable return, but science and experience alike teach that sole dependence upon this means results eventually in the running-out of the .land, and failure. In the following tabular scheme, we present the data obtained on certain samples of marl examined during the year. Analysis of Marls (air-dried). Laboratory No. 11.213 12,1)09 13, 105 13,753 14,"53 14,102 Locality. Antigonish, N.S . Pavilion, B.C.... Port Hope, Ont Lower West River, N.S Stf. Luce, Que Clydesdale, N.S Moi sture, organ ic matter, etc. p-c. 5 17* 5 25 18 97+ 416 616 646 Carbonate of Lime. P- 81 89 80 81 87 85 73 73 53 00 00 09 Mineral matter insoluble in acid. p. c. 13 10 5 02 •50 14 94 6 81 854 * Containing 0 5S per cent Ca S04 (calcium sulphate), t Containing 16 11 per cent organic matter. No 11213. — From Mount Cameron, Antigonish, N.S. A yellowish, earthly deposit, in small lumps and powder. Associated with the carbonate there is about 0-5 per cent of sulphate of lime. Though not of very high quality, it would prove a useful amendment for all soils in need of lime. Its effect, no doubt, would be more marked and immediate if the material were crushed, say to the condition of a coarse powder. 243 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 4 GEORGE V., A. 1914 No. 12609. — From Pavilion, B.C. This deposit in an air-dried condition was of a yellowish-grey colour, the mass being crumbly and friable, with the general appear- ance of marl. The data show that this is a marl of excellent quality. ISlo. 13105.- — From the bed of a creek at Port Hope. As received, this was a greyish-white pasty mass, containing many small shells. In addition to 80 per cent carbonate of lime, the marl contains about 16 per cent vegetable organic matter, which would enhance the value of the deposit for certain soils. No. 1S75S. — From Lower West river, Antigonish, N.S. A light yellowish-grey earthy deposit, in powder and small lumps and having the appearance of weathered, disintegrated limestone. Of fair quality. Its efficiency, no doubt, would be enhanced by crushing. No. 14053. — From bottom of a lake near Ste. Luce, Eimouski, Que. As received, was whitish-grey pasty mass; on drying, it was found to be friable and easily reducible to powder. The analysis confirms the impression from its appearance — that it is a marl of very fair quality. No. 1^102. — From Clydesdale, N.S. A yellowish-red, earthy deposit in lumps of very considerable hardness. Analysis shows the presence of 85 per cent carbonate of lime, but in order that this material might prove an efficient amendment it would be necessary to reduce it to powder. No. 13813. — From the bottom of a lake near St. Jovite, Que. A light-grey, earthy deposit, containing a good many small shells. A qualitative examination showed very little insoluble matter and the sample was reported as a shell marl of good quality. No. Ilf055. — From Hedley, B.C. This calcareous material, evidently formed by deposition from water highly charged with lime, was submitted to qualitative analysis and found to consist essentially of carbonate of lime. No. 11/.108. — From Consecon, Ont. As received, this was greyish-white and showed little or no admixture with clay or sand. It was completely soluble in dilute hydro- chloric acid with brisk effervescence. Results by qualitative examination showed the excellent quality of this marl. CALCAREOUS DEPOSIT. No. 13969, Calcareous deposit. From Hedley, B.C. Analysis showed this tn he a mixture of sulphate and carbonate of lime. Analysis. Sulphate of lime (gypsum) 77-27 per cent. Carbonate of lime ] 1-02 Mineral matter insoluble in acid 3-!0 " Undetermined ..-.jl " 100-00 Though the percentage of carbonate is not very large, it is nevertheless sufficient to make the deposit of value for correcting sourness in poorly-drained soils. It could, of course, be used on all types of soils, to supply lime, and to act as an indirect fertil- izer. DIVISION OF CHEMISTRY 249 SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 Nos. 12351-2. — These arc two samples of ground limestone forwarded from England with a view to establishing trade in Canada, provided their composition were satisfactory and there was a sufficient demand in agriculture for such material. Our analysis showed 90.07 per cent and 96.52 per cent carbonate of lime, respectively. Although these are of excellent quality and quite satisfactory from the mechanical standpoint, it seems doubtful if importation from such a distance could be prosecuted with profit. Canada has immense areas covered with limestone, and the question of crushing and transportation, so that the material can be delivered to the farmer at a reasonable price, will no doubt be solved if experience shows that our soils generally respond to this amendment. GROUND LIMESTONE, LIME-KILN REFUSE, ETC. No. 11+019. — From the quarries at Cap St. Martin, Que. The ground limestone was partly as powder and partly as fine fragments of limestone rock. Analysis. Carbonate of lime 9501 per cent. Oxide of iron and alumina -96 Mineral matter, insoluble in acid 4-14 The results indicate a limestone of good quality and one eminently suitable for agricultural purposes. It is desirable, however, that the material should be more finely pulverized. Nos. 11+155 and llfl56. — These are two samples of so-called ' waste lime ' from Randolph, N.B. Their analysis showed that they contained a large proportion of caustic lime. This product results presumably from the incomplete burning of lime- stone in the manufacture of quicklime. Analysis. Blue Rock. Magnesia No. 11155. No. 14156 In fine powder 58-60 per cent. 48-22 per cent. In coarse powder and himps 41-40 51-78 100-00 " 1CO-O0 Carbonate of lime 34-23 " 25-73 Caustic and slaked lime 43-45 " 30-67 Mineral matter insoluble in acid 1-50 -19 Both are good, but for agricultural purposes ' Blue Bock,' No 14155, is. the better by reason of its higher lime-content and its larger proportion in the condition of a fine powder. No. 11+111, 'Agricultural Limestone.' — This sample obtained from V.-V. L and B Co., Victoria, and forwarded from Agas>i ;, B.C., was stated to be ground limestone containing about 10 per cent free or quicklime; evidently, as in the preceding case, it is a product of lime kilns. It was in the condition of a fine powder. A nalysis. Mineral matter, insoluble in acid 4-97 per cent. Carbonate of lime , 67-Ftt Caustic and slaked lime 21-73 This' should prove a useful source, agriculturally, of lime, and one from which good results might be expected, especially on heavy clays and sour soils. Its com- position and fine mechanical condition point to a high degree of efficiency. 250 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 4 GEORGE V., A. 19H No. 1S96S. — Lime refuse or waste from +annery, forwarded from Fredericton, \.B. This, as received, was a greyish-white, pasty mass, with a small quantity of hair, but apparently no other foreign matter. The analysis in the air-dried condition gave the following data: — Analysis. • Carbonate of lime 38-79 per cent. S'aked lime 54-55 Mineral matter insoluble in acid 1-05 Undetermined (organic, etc.) 5-61 100-00 An excellent material for dressing lands in need of lime or for composting with ?wamp muck or peat. No. 13623. — This was forwarded as a limestone from Cape George, Antigonish, N.S. This rock, it was claimed, had shown itself to have considerable value as a fertil- izer. Our correspondent says, 'We spread it on the land last spring; it melted down like ashes and gave excellent results.' This sample was in hard lumps or fragments, not unlike shale. Analysis. Moisture 1-93 per cent. Mineral matter insoluble in acid 75-44 Oxide of iron and alumina 10-60 Lime* 2-94 Magnesia* 3-41 Phosphoric acid '17 * This lime and magnesia exist essentially as carbonates. It is obvious /that rock could not be classed as a limestone, since the carbonate of lime does not exceed 5 per cent. The percentage of phosphoric acid is very small, not exceeding that in many soils of medium fertility — and certainly not more avail- able. It is rather difficult, therefore* to understand how this material can have any marked influence as a fertilizer, save in so far as it may favourably affect the mechan- ical condition of the soil. GYPSUM OR LAND PLASTER. Gypsum or land plaster is a naturally-occurring sulphate of lime, containing about one-fifth of its weight of water, known as water of crystallization. When gypsum is strongly heated (burned), this water is driven off and plaster of Paris remains. This is not used in agriculture, but is much valued in the arts from its property of making a white, hard cement when mixed with the requisite amount of water. Gypsum, from the agricultural point of view, supplies lime, an essential con- stituent for plant growth. Since, however, this lime is combined with sulphuric acid and is present in a neutral condition it follows that gypsum cannot take the place of quick or slaked lime, marl or ground limestone (which are essentially alkaline in character) for the treatment of sour or acid soils. Apart from its function in supply- ing lime, it seems probable that the combined sulphuric acid in gypsum has, on certain types of soils, a manurial influence, but it is doubtful if its value from this standpoint is of any great economic importance. Undoubtedly its chief value is as an indirect fertilizer, setting free potash from its inert or locked-up stores in the soil. While it does not add to the sum total of DIVISION OF CHEMISTRY 251 SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 the soil's potash, it performs a U3eful function in increasing the amount of this constituent in a form available for crop use. It is this property that has made it specially beneficial as a top dressing for clover, a crop that particularly responds i i available potash. The application of land plaster is usually from 300 to 500 pounds per acre, but larger dressings are sometimes found of benefit to heavy soils. Gypsum possesses the property of 'fixing' ammonia, and for this reason is largely ed in stables and cow barns. Thus employed, the sprinkling or dusting of the finely-ground material in the stalls servos to retain the nitrogen of the very readily decomposable urine and incidentally to keep the atmosphere of the building clean and sweet. It is this use of land plaster that we specially recommend, for by this means the value of the resulting manure is enhanced without any hindrance to the exercise of the other useful functions of this amendment subsequently in the soil. By reason of its property of flocculating clay, its application to heavy loams may pi'ove of very considerable benefit in rendering them plastic and more open and friable. Similarly, an application of gypsum is valuable to lands affected by ' Black alkali.' The sodium carbonate (sal. soda) which such soils contain not only acts directly as a corrosive chemical, cutting into and eating away the plant tissues (especially at the immediate surface of the soil, but its acts most injuriously on the physical condition of the soil. All kinds of alkali have a tendency to destroy good tilth, but this is par- ticularly marked in the case of black alkali. Soil, so affected, readily puddles, becomes impervious to water and air and dries into hard, refractory masses. The addition of land plaster converts the carbonate of soda into sulphate of soda — the chief constituent of ' white alkali,' a milder form of alkali as regards vegetable life and one with less effect on the physical condition of the soil. Commercial gypsum is somewhat variable in composition; poor samples may not contain more than 65 per cent sulphate of lime, while high grades will reach 90 to 95 per cent. Analysis of some samples recently examined are as follows: — Analysis of Gypsum. A. B. C. D. p. c. 9412 1 03 485 p. c. 04 40 ■32 5 28 p. c. 87-47 1 43 1110 p. c. 9180 2 90 5 2! 100-00 100 00 100 00 too- 00 Samples A, B, and C are from the Tobique River district, N.B., where gypsum is largely quarried, and D is from Hants county, N.S. In addition to the vast deposits found in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, gypsum occurs in several locali- ties in Ontario, and more particularly in the vicinity of Paris along the Grand river, associated with dolomite rocks. WOOD ASHES. No. 12852. — This sample was taken from a heap of leached ashes from an old potash works at Carleton Place, Ont. Analysis showed that the ashes had been very thoroughly leached, the percentage of potash being only -022. While the fertilizing value of this residue must be very small, its application would no doubt improve certain soils, so that, if cheaply obtained, it might be found useful as an amendment. 252 LXPER1AIEXTAL FARMS 4 GEORGE V., A. 1914 Laboratory No. 1311k- — This is the ash from a ' waste ' burner of a shingle mill near Sidney, B.C. An analysis has afforded the following data : — Analysis. Per cent. . Mineral matter insoluble in acid (sand, clay, charcoal, etc.) 19-20 Lime, present largely as carbonate 12-40 Potash MO Phosphoric acid .92 While these ashes do not possess as high a percentage of potash as good quality hardwood ashes (which on an average contains from 5 per cent to 6 per cent) they undoubtedly have a fertilizing value. They should be found more particularly useful for leafy crops1 — corn, potatoes, roots, clover, etc. — on light and sandy loams. Their profitable use would of course depend largely on their cost laid down at the farm. Laboratory No. 13521. — From Valcartier, Que. These ashes, presumably, had been obtained by house to house collection and, as received, were quite dry. They appeared to contain a considerable amount of charcoal, scraps of iron, pottery, etc. Analysis of (Air-dried) Ashes. Per cent. Moisture 1-04 Mineral matter insoluble in acid 41-43 Organic and volatile (charcoal, etc.) 17-80 Oxide of irou and alumina 20-90 Lime 1014 Magnesia >77 Potash 2-76 Soda 1-08 Phosphoric acid 1-10 Carbonic acid, etc. (undetermined) 2-92 100-00 Good, unleashed wood ashes do not, as a rule, fall below 5.5 per cent potash; this sample, therefore, is of inferior quality. It would seem that these ashes have been partially leached, or contain too high a percentage of sand and other foreign matter. They were being sold at from $8 to $10 per ton, whereas from their potash- content they were worth about $3.50 per ton. The lime and phosphoric acid present are, of course, of agricultural value, but they would not appreciably influence the market price of the ashes. POTASH RESIDUE FROM OXYGEN-ACETYLENE PLANT. This is the by-product from the oxygen acetylene plant and results from the pre- paration of oxygen (used in welding and other high temperature operations) by the heating together of potassium chlorate and maganese dioxide. The latter is unchanged in the process, merely acting as a catalytic agent and facilitating the evolution of oxygen gas; the chlorate is reduced to chloride. The residue therefore consists of potassium chloride and the insoluble manganese dioxide. Considerable quantities of this by-product have accumulated at several centres in the Dominion. The inquiry is, can this material be used agriculturally as a source of potash, either by itself or mixed with other fertilizers, without injury to soil or crops? Laboratory No. 11361. — This sample was from Winnipeg, Man., and was found to contain 70.G7 per cent potassic chloride, equivalent to 44.G0 per cent potash (K2O), all of which is entirely and easily soluble in water and readiy available for plant use. Laboratory No. 1S69S. — This from New Glasgow, N.S., and contained 85.27 per cent potassic chloride, equivalent to 53-84 per cent potash (K,0). DIVISION OF CHEMISTRY 253 SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 It is evident from these results that this residue is very rich in potash and one that should prove of considerable agricultural value. The question naturally arises : Would the associated manganese dioxide have any injurious effect on vegetation? Experiments have shown that small quantities of soluble manganese compounds act as stimulants on plant growth, but that larger amounts are toxic. The manganese in this residue is quite insoluble, and there seems no reason to suppose that any injurious effect would follow its application. As yet we have no results from practical field tests with this material and, therefore, it can- not be definitely stated that the manganese would not become, in the course of time, more or less soluble in the soil. If such proved to be the case and injury to crops resulted the potash salts could be leached from the residue and subsequently used in fertilizer preparations. But any such injury to crops is not to be feared and we should have no hesitation in using it, in the ordinary application that potash fertil- izers are made. ROCK SUPPOSED TO CONTAIN POTASH. Laboratory No. 11683. — The active search that has been prosecuted in the United States during recent years for native sources of potash has, in some degree, spread to Canada. This has led to sending to the Farm laboratories by explorers and others of several samples of rocks, mineral waters and brines supposed to contain potash in notable quantities and in a condition more or less available for agricultural pur- poses. So far the quest has not been sucessful and, to the best of our knowledge, the sea-weeds of our coasts remain to-day the only native source of potash suitable, without treatment, for agricultural purposes. The analytical data now to be given are from a rock specimen obtained in the East Kootenay, B.C. It was soft and of a slaty-grey colour, with irregular veins or pockets of a lighter and softer material scattered throughout it. For analysis the whole sample was crushed to a fine powder. For water-soluble potash five grams were shaken for five days in 1000 cc. of dis- tilled water and filtered. The filtrate contained -0927 per cent potash. Qualitative analysis showed the presence of a considerable amount of sulphate of lime. Digestion with hydrochloric acid. This involved digestion with strong hydro- chloric acid (Sp. Gr. 1-115) for several days at the temperature of boiling water. The results obtained are as follows. Analysis. Per cent. Insoluble rock matter 8-72 Oxide of iron and alumina (Fe203, Alo03) 106 Lime (CaO) 29-10 Magnesia (MgO) 6-38 Soluble silica (SiO,) -43 Sulphuric acid, combined (S03) 26-98 Phosphoric acid (P205) trace Potash -25 Water, carbonic acid, etc., by difference 27-58 100-00 Total potash by fusion. For this determination, the rock was thoroughly decom- posed by fusion with alkaline carbonates, and the result lixiviated with dilute acid. The solution contained -51 per cent potash. It is evident, in the first place, that the rock is essentially sulphate and carbonate of lime and might be regarded as a low-grade gypsum. Secondly, these three analyses are conclusive in showing that this rock has no value as a commercial source of potash. 254 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 4 GEORGE V., A. 1914 MARSH MUDS FROM CORXWALLIS., KLVGS CO., N.S. Laboratory No. 1327 k- — This is from the bank of a creek, taken below the level of the grass-producing mud. It dries on exposure into masses or lumps of a dull red colour which, though hard, are fairly friable. Examination indicates that the mineral or rock constituents are very finely ground; there is neither coarse sand nor gravel present. Although there is sufficient silt and clay present to give tenacity to the Iried material, it would appear that the chief component is fine and -very fine sand. There are no visible evidences of organic debris. Laboratory No. 13275. — From the land upon which the salt grass grows. In aeneral appearance and nature this mud bears a strong resemblance to the preceding -ample. Closer examination, however, shows it is not as homogeneous, that many of the lumps are, save on the outside, greyish, and the dried masses are somewhat ten- acious and refractory, possibly due to the presence of a little more clay. It is free from gravel and coarse sand and under the microscope has much the same appear- ance as No. 13274. Laboratory No. 13276. — This was designated as 'blue marsh mud,' underlying the red marsh mud, Laboratory No. 13274, to a depth of six inches to six feet. This, in the air-dried condition, is grey and forms rather tough masses. Except in colour it is not unlike the two preceding samples, though possibly somewhat richer in clay. Analysis of (Air-dried) Muds. No. 13274. No. 13275. No. 13276. Per cent. 1 21 4-82 81*39 922 120 13 •46 114 Per cent. 203 9 38 72 37 12 72 •36 19 •245 Per cent. 1-32 G-38 Mineral matter insoluble in acid (clay, sand, etc.) 78 94 9 05 •38 11 •64 * 118 These data are in fair accord with those previously obtained in the Farm labor- atories from the examination of tidal deposits of the bay of Fundy, and very clearly, in our opinion, indicate the general nature of these muds. They are amendments rather than fertilizers, that is, they may be used to generally improve or recuperate soils (and more particularly so when applied liberally and for the first time on worn soils) rather than to furnish notable amounts of available nitrogen, phosphoric aeid and potash, which is the special function of commercial or chemical fertilizers. The amounts present in these tidal deposits of the more essential elements of plant food do not, as a rule, exceed those in soils of average quality, nor are these muds rich in organic matter which would make them of value in increasing the soil's store of humus-forming material. Nevertheless, they have a value for occasional use, as renovators, probably benefiting the land as much from the phy.- il as from the chem- ical standpoint. While the amounts of the fertilizing constituents in these marsh muds are not large, such plant food as is present, exists in a comparatively high state of avail- ability and to this fact, apart from their physical influence on the soil, undoubtedly these muds very largely owe their value. This p1iase of the subject — the availability DIVISION OF CHEMISTRY 255 SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 ol the plant food in marsh muds — was investigated some years ago, and a discussion i hereof will be found in the Report of the Division of Chemistry for 1899. All three samples are of the same type or character and no great differences in agricultural value exist between them; No. 13275, however, by reason of its larger percentage of organic matter and nitrogen, might be expected to prove the best of the three samples. The colour of No. 13276, bluish-grey, would become red on exposure of the mud to the air, due to oxidation of its iron, and not until this change is brought about would it be advisable to incorporate the mud with the soil, when applied as an amendment. It is difficult to see wherein any very great advantage can result from the con- tinued use of these muds, for they do not supply in any notable quantity those ele- ments in which most poor soils are more or less deficient. They may affect favour- ably the texture of a soil and they furnish a certain small amount of plant food, but they cannot be regarded as substitutes for farm manures or comparable to commercial fertilizers. That some benefit may accrue from their application is quite possible, but we certainly think it advisable to try out the 'mud' on a small area before going to any considerable expense in digging and hauling it on to the land. RIVER MUD. This sample (Laboratory No. 11230) was forwarded from Launching, P.E.I., where it was stated it can be obtained easily and in large quantities. The inquiry accompanying it was as to its fertilizing value on sandy loam that was somewhat light and dry. In the air-drie^d condition the mud was of a light-reddish colour, in lumps of an easily friable character, consisting largely of sand with a few small shells. Analyse of (air-dried) Mud. Per cent. Moisture 316 Organic and volatile matter 13-87 Mineral matter insoluble in acid (clay, sand, etc.) 69-78 Oxide of iron and alumina 6-9-5 Lime -56 Fertilizing constituents — Phosphoric acid -36 Potash -28 Nitrogen *52 The chief manurial value of this deposit lies in its organic matter and nitrogen, in both of which it is comparatively rich. In phosphoric acid, potash and lime, the amounts are not exceptional, but rather those found in many good, fei'tile soils. While as regards plant food it is not comparable to farm manures or commercial fertilizer, it is reasonable to suppose that it would prove a useful amendment, more particularly for heavy soils, poor in vegetable matter. These latter it would improve physically as well as chemically, rendering them more open and friable. While, of course, it should not be depended on solely to maintain fertility, an occasional applica- tion would no doubt give a good return. Bivcr Mud, Laboratory No. 11272. — From the bod of the Murell river, P.E.I., and dug in salt water. In the air-dried condition (water, 4-44 per cent) it was found to contain 2G.44 per cent organic (vegetable* matter and .81 per cent nitrogen. It is thus shown to be a valuable amendment for soils exhausted bv cropping, and which e not been adequately manured. Composting the partially dry material for a few weeks would be desirable, though on some soils there might be a fair response to an application of the crude, raw muck. 255 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 4 GEORGE V., A. 19H OYSTER MUD. This sample (Laboratory No. 11231), was sent from Amherst, N.S., and stated to have been taken from an old oyster bed in the channel of a river. The correspon- dent inquired as to its value as a fertilizer. It was of a reddish colour and consisted of a matrix of clay in which was embedded a number of shells and fragments of sea- weed. On drying it formed rather hard masses, which, however, were capable of being reduced by moderate crushing. Its analysis accorded the following data: Analysis of (Air-dried) Mud. Per cent. Moisture -86 Organic and volatile matter* 7-43 Mineral matterf 91-71 100-00 •Containing nitrogen -144 t Containing carbonate of lime 5-66 Although this material has a certain agricultural value, it cannot properly be considered as a ' fertilizer,' that is, it would not furnish in notable amounts any of the essential constituents of plant growth, nitrogen, phosphoric acid and potash. It is rather of the nature of an ' amendment,' and might be found useful for land that would be benefited by liming. The proportion of nitrogen does not exceed that in many soils of average fertility. It could not, therefore, be considered as of any special value for furnishing this important element. The amounts of phosphoric acid and potash were not obtained quantitatively but qualitative results showed that they were insignificant and, therefore, of no particular, value from the standpoint of enriching the soil. MUCKS. Laboratory Nos. 11115-6. — From Broughton Station, Que. These two samples of swamp muck were rather peaty in character and decidedly acid. As received, their analysis gave the following results: — Analysis. No. 11115. No. 11116. Per cent. Per. cent. Water 24-46 18-24 Organic matter 62-58 69-26 Mineral matter (clay, sand, etc.) 12-96" 12-50 10000 100-00 Nitrogen in organic matter 1-33 1-59 These are excellent mucks, rich in nitrogen and undoubtedly useful for the im- provement of soils poor in humus. It is possible that their employment without previous treatment might prove advantageous for heavier loams, but they should be composted for lighter soils. INFUSORIAL EARTH. Laboratory No. 18289. — From Hillbank, Vancouver island, B.C. This material, not unlike marl in appearance, underlies a large area of loam land which is of a peaty nature. Examination shows it to be a species of ' infusorial earth,' consisting largely of diatoms and sponge spicules. It is of no agricultural value, being practi- cally destitute of plant food. Not infrequently deposits of infusorial earth and of fine silt or clay are mistaken for marl, the usual occurrence of which is below swamp DIVISION OF CHEMISTRY 257 SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 muck. Marl, which is carbonate of lime, may be recognized by the brisk effervescence set up on the addition of acid; there is little or no effervescence from the other deposit named. LOBSTER REFUSE. No. 13911^. — This waste product from a lobster cannery in Nova Scotia was received in the form of a coarse powder. Our correspondent writes, ' This material contains both body and shell of the lobster. We have dried it and ground it in a simple way in order to get it into condition for handling. We should be glad to have a report as to its fertilizing value. As received, the product was quite sweet and in excellent condition for application to the soil. Analysis. Per cent. Moisture 5-71 Nitrogen 4-70 Phosphoric acid*.... 2-72 Lime (present as carbonate, phosphate, etc.) 20-90 It is quite evident that this material has a very considerable fertilizing value, for from present results one ton would contain 94 pounds nitrogen and 54 pounds phosphoric acid. The nitrogen is not present in an immediately available form, but in mellow, warm and moist soils it would no doubt be readily set free in a condition usable by crops. Similarly, the phosphoric acid is not of immediate value to crops, but the ready 'decomposition of waste in the soil would quickly liberate it in more or less easily assimilable forms. Indeed, it might be expected to act as quick and forcing manure, provided the soil is not too heavy and the moisture and temperature conditions are favourable. It should also be valuable in the making of composts. As will be seen, it is essentially a nitrogenous fertilizer and in consequence its use, in many cases, would have to be supplemented by an application of the mineral elements — phosphoric acid and potash — for the best results. This could be accom- plished by the addition of superphosphate and muriate or sulphate of potash — the proportions being dictated by the character of the soil and the nature of the crop to be fertilized. The analysis in 1897 of two somewhat similar samples of dried lobster refuse showed, on a 10 per cent moisture basis : — A. B. Per cent. Per cent. Nitrogen 5-2 3-2 Phosphoric acid 2-8 3-4 These results indicate a certain variableness in composition, which, considering the nature of the refuse, is easily understood — the larger the proportion of ' bodies ' the more nitrogeneous the waste, whereas a preponderance of tails, claws and shells would render it more distinctly phosphatic in character. DOG FISH SCRAP. The dog fish, a species of shark, by reason of its voraciousness and its abundance in Atlantic waters, has done great injury to the cod, haddock and other fisheries on the eastern coast. To keep it in check and thus protect the fisheries, the Government some years ago offered a bounty for the capture of this pest and established a reduc- tion works (at Canso, N.S., and Shippigan, N.B.) wherein the fish could be utilized * Equal to 5-72 per cent phosphate of lime. 16—17 253 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 4 GEORGE V.r A. 1914 to advantage. The chief products of this rendering or reduction, as it is called, are oil and a scrap or refuse characterized by a high percentage of nitrogen and hence of considerable value as a fertilizer. The process, in the outline, is as follows: — On bringing in the fish, the livers are removed and the remainder softened and ' digested ' in suitable vessels by means of superheated steam.* This causes the greater part of the oil to separate. After drawing off the oil the residue is run through presses, to further exclude oil and get rid of a large proportion of the water, and dried in spiral heaters. For the past seven years this scrap has been periodically analyzed in the Farm laboratories at the request of the Department of Marine and Fisheries (the branch of the Government service controlling the reduction works) and the results published for the benefit of farmers in the reports of this Division. During the past year, two samples of this scrap from the works at Canso, N.S., have been submitted to analysis. Analysis of Dog-fsh Scrap. No. 11268. No. 132-7. Per cent. Per cent. Moisture 8-44 3-87 Nitrogen 8-89 10-80 Phosphoric acid 2-S8 3-90 Total mineral matter 8-1 0 S-00 Mineral matter insoluble in acid -47 -09 Oil 21-72 22-19 In all essential features, these results agree fairly well with those of previous years. They indicate the high manurial value of the scrap, primarily as a source of nitrogen, and secondarily of phosphoric acid. From the natui'e of the material and the method of its preparation, some variation in composition might be expected from time to time — and such has been the case. Hitherto, however, the larger number of pamples have fallen within the following limits: Nitrogen, 7.5 per cent and 9.5 per cent; phosphoric acid, 2.5 per cent and 3.5 per cent. Of the present samples, No. 13287 is decidedly superior, both as regards nitrogen and phosphoric acid, to the average output of the works. The value of this scrap in the field as compared with other fertilizers is a matter not yet finally settled. Some farmers in Nova Scotia Lave spoken highly of the response observable on its application, while others report that they have been disappointed in its use. Fish waste, as a rule, is a quick, forcing manure readily nitrifying in warm, moist loams that are moderately light. In cold, heavy, ill-dried clays, however, the setting free of its plant food in available forms would be necessarily slow and consequently upon such there would not be an adequate return the season of application, even though the soil stood in need of nitrogenous fertilizer. It will be noticed that this scrap contains from 20 per cent to 25 per cent of oil. This is objectionable, not because oil is of no manurial value but because its presence in such large quantities retards the decomposition of the refuse in the soil and the setting free of its plant food. Moreover, if large dressings are applied for a number of years, the accumulation of oil may injuriously affect the tilth of the soil. Correspondence is invited from those who have tried or who purpose trying this fertilizer; possibly information can be given as to its use that may be of assistance. It is well to bear in mind that it is not a ' complete ' fertilizer ; for many field and garden crops it should be supplemented by phosphatic and potassic fertilizers. The home mixing. of fertilizers is not a difficult matter, and formula? will be suggested to meet various requirements provided particulars are furnished as to the nature of soil and its history as to manuring and cropping and the character of the crop to be grown. * The livers being exceedingly rich in oil, which is considered of finer quality than that in the bodies of tha fish, are separately rendered. DIVISION OF CHEMISTRY 259 SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 NITRATE OF LIME ( LIME-NITRATE, LIME-NITRE, ETC.) This is a fertilizer of recent introduction, containing from 12 to 14 per cent of nitrogen present in a highly soluble and available form. This material is not pure calcium nitrate but is essentially a mixture of this compound and lime. Its manu- facture on a large scale is now carried on in several European countries — notably in Norway, Austria and France — and though there are several processes in operation, they are all the same in principle — the oxidation of atmospheric nitrogen by means of an electric arc or flame and the subsequent neutralization of the nitric acid so formed by lime. As yet, there is but little experience on this continent with lime nitrate, but experiments of an extensive nature which have been in progress for so many years, in England and other European countries, go to show that its nitrogen, unit for unit, is just as valuable as that of nitrate of soda. It is considered as among the most promising of the competitors of Chili saltpetre in the fertilizer markets of the world. As a source of immediately assimilable nitrogen it is capable of wide application, but it is thought it will be found, by reason of its basic character, particularly suitable for peaty and clay soils. A sample submitted for our examination, forwarded from London, England. Laboratory No. 1-3179, and stated to contain ' about 13 per cent nitrogen ' was analyzed and found to contain 12-984 per cent nitrogen, of which 12-954 per cent was readily soluble in water. Its concentrated and highly available character will be apparent from these data. The fertilizer, as received, was in the form of a coarse, grey powder, not unlike in appearance to finely crushed shale, and was readily soluble. INSECTICIDES AND FUNGICIDES. FORMALDEHYDE. There is in these days, a very large and ever-increasing use in agriculture of formaldehyde, chiefly in the treatment of wheat for the prevention of smut. For this purpose, in many districts of the Canadian Northwest, it has almost entirely taken the place of bluestone (copper sulphate) — the time-honoured smut preventive. This substitution has much to commend it, for, compared with the bluestone solution, that of formaldehyde is equally efficacious in destroying smut, is more easily prepared (since dilution only is necessary), and is less injurious to the vitality of the treated grain. We have, from time to time since 1902, analyzed samples from the various brands on the Canadian market and the results have shown that the manufacturers are put- ting out an article of very fairly uniform strength and conforming to the guarantee. Occasionally a sample is sent in that has proved below strength, but such, it has always been found, had been purchased from bulk and not in the original container. Our records, as remarked, do not show that adulteration exists to any degree, never- theless it would appear that both manufacturer and user would be better protected if the formaldehyde were sold in sealed bottles, say of 1, 2, 5 and 10 pounds each, rather than retailed from bulk. A sample received during the year (Laboratory No. 11257) from Delmas, Sask., and which had been purchased from bulk (manufacturers unknown) was found on analysis to contain 31.82 per cent formaldehyde. This is decidedly below standard strength, which calls for approximately 37.3 per cent by weight or 40 per cent by volume. Another sample (Laboratory No. 11383), forwarded from Parr, Alta., was found to contain 3"8.05 per cent formaldehyde and was therefore in conformity with the guarantee. 16— 17* 260 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 4 GEORGE V., A. 1914 LIME-SULPHUR SPRAY. Liine-sulphur spray is fast supplanting Bordeaux mixture in many of our fruit- growing districts as a fungicidal wash, especially as a preventive against apple spot. It is not improbable that this increasing popularity is due in a large measure to the ease with which the spray may be prepared — simple dilution only being necessary — when the concentrated wash is purchased. Home manufacture of the lime-sulphur wash, once so common, is now comparatively rare. It is certainly a somewhat trouble- some operation and it entails a determination of the strength of the resultant wash in order to arrive at the correct dilution necessary before it is ready for use. How- ever, for those who consider it the more economical to prepare the wash and who have facilities for the work, formulas and directions will be found in the reports of this Division for 1908 and 1909, and further assistance if desired, will be given by cor- respondence. The commercial lime-sulphur washes upon the market have been examined by us for a number of years past. Consideration of the results indicates that the larger number of brands are now well-made, contain a goodly proportion of their sulphur as sulphide and are of fairly uniform and satisfactory strength. In the first years of this spray, inferiority due to faulty manufacture was occasionally noted, but methods have evidently improved, so that now it is seldom one meets with a wash that has been poorly made or is below the recognized standard strength. Samples of five prominent brands sold in Canada have been submitted to analysis, with the following results : — Analysis of Lime- Sulphur Washes. o >> O o H3 11321 11350 11385 11386 14507 Brand. ' Vanco,' Toronto, Ont ' Grasselli,' Cleveland and Toronto, Ont ' Niagara,' Burlington, Ont ' Rex,' Burlington, Ont ' Victoria,' Victoria, B.C Specific gravity. 1-2076 1-2925 12S55 13020 1-3140 Sulphur in solution. Total. p. c. 23 20 25 73 24 84 25 51 2180 As sulphide. P 21 25 24 24 23 . c. •87 •09 00 •43 •62 "We have in these data satisfactory evidence of good quality and they further indicate, as has been noted in past years, that no great difference in strength exists among the larger number of lime-sulphur washes put on the market by reputable firms. The questions of strength of sprays for summer and winter use, methods for determining strength by the hydrometer and necessary dilution, with other informa- tion relating to the concentrated and diluted wash, are discussed at some length in the report of this Division for 1912, copies of which are obtainable on application. The chapter will be found of interest to all orchardists using lime-sulphur spray for the control of insect and fungus pests. SOLUBLE SULPHUR. This compound has recently been introduced by the Niagara Brand Spray Co., Burlington, Ont, as a substitute for lirne-sulphur. It is in the form of a fine, yellowish powder and for use is dissolved in water, in which it is almost entirely soluble. If successful as a fungicide, it would be an important competitor of the DIVISION OF CHEMISTRY 261 SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 lime-sulphur wash as the preparation of the spray is a very simple and clean operation and freight charges would be very light compared with those on the heavy, bulky lime-sulphur. Two samples from the material freshly manufactured, were submitted to analysis : Analysis of Soluble Sulphur. Total sulphur , Sulphur present as sulphide ii ii in compounds other than sulphides Matter insoluble in water. No. 13655. p. c. 58-20 44-07 14 13 traces. No. 13673. p. c. 56 20 40 30 15 90 •40 Both samples contained carbonate of soda, as a residual in the process of manu- facture. The sulphur compounds have sodium as a base and it is quite evident from the data that a large percentage of them exist in other forms thau sulphide. From our experience, and that of other investigators, it is the sulphide sulphur that prac- tically determines the fungicidal value of the spray and, consequently, these other- than-sulphide compounds — sulphites, hyposulphites, etc. — may be left out of consid- eration by the orchardist. There is as yet no experience with this spray, either as to effectiveness in con- trolling fungous diseases or its harmlessness to foliage, and therefore its value as a substitute for lime-sulphur cannot as yet be stated. While it might prove effective as a winter spray on dormant wood it seems probable, from its strongly alkaline char- acter, that it might be injurious to tender foliage, save in very dilute solutions. APTERITE. This preparation is described as a ' soil-fumigant ' and ' fertilizer ' and, further, as a ' scientifically prepared powder,' the purpose of which ' is to destroy the many insects and other pests which live or hibernate in the soil and damage the crops.' It is a purplish red powder smelling strongly of napthalene. Its examination yielded the following data: — Analysis. Per cent. Phenol and homologues (crude carbolic acid, naphthalene, etc.) 20-50 Oxide of iron and alumina 3-20 Silica 6-65 Lime (present largely as sulphide and carbonate) 29-05 Sulphur (present as sulphide) 3-36 Magnesia -38 Soda trace Potash none •Phosphoric acid traces Nitrogen traces It would appear to be essentially sulphide of lime, probably gas lime — a by-pro- duct of the gas works long recognized >as having a value for the destruction of noxious insects in the soil — with napthalene oils. The red dye present is probably a ' lake.' As it only contains mere traces of nitrogen, phosphoric acid and potash, it cannot be said to have any value as a fertilizer, though its lime may act as an amendment. Preparations of this character have been used in England to protect many classes of crops from insect ravages, being used at the rate of 2 to 3 cwts. per acre, and dug or ploughed in before sowing the seed or planting the land. The experience with 262 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 4 GEORGE V., A. 1914 these ' deterrents ' or soil disinfectants in Canada is as yet limited, but such as there if* has not been very favourable from the economic standpoint. It will be understood, therefore, that at the present time we are unable to recommend them and that further experimental work is necessary to establish their usefulness and efficiency. The analysis of a similar preparation (Vaporite) will be found in the report of this Division for 1908. COAL-TAR DISINFECTANTS AND DETERRENTS. Two products of this nature forwarded by the Kingsdale Poultry and Supply Co., Sussex, N.B., have been submitted to analysis. ' Cow Spray/ Laboratory No. 11325. — This is probably a by-product of coal dis- tillation below 250° C. It consists almost entirely of coal tar %drocarbons, one-third of which distils over below 150° C. (light oils of the nature of kerosene) and a second third between 150°C. and 210°C. The remaining third consists of heavy napthalene oils, distilling between 210°C. and 240°C. There is present a small amount of tar residue. We have no knowledge as to its practical usefulness as a protection to cattle, against flies, but preparations of this character have been advocated and used for this purpose. 'Lice Spray,' Laboratory No. 11326. — This is an emulsion consisting essentially of coal tar hydrocarbons and a resin soap. It probably contains cresols or analogous bodies. Coal oil (kerosene) has long been used, and with success, for ridding the poultry house of lice, and there seems little reason to doubt that a preparation of this nature would serve the purpose equally well. It remains to be shown, however, that it would be more efficacious or cheaper than the older and well-tried remedy. LEAD ARSENATE. Three brands of this insecticide have been analyzed, the samples being submitted by the Horticultural Division which had them under trial in the Farm's orchards. Analysis of Arsenate of Lead. 6 >> u O c3 (a Brand. Water. Total. ars< nic oxide. Total lead oxide. Soluble arsenic oxide. Soluble lead oxide. p. 0. p. c. p. c. p. c. p. c. 11387 55 16 4814 36 22 1144 14 15 17 55 30 22 33 96 40 88 •06 06 08 Nil 11388 11389 Rex ti It is quite evident from the results obtained in the labratory that considerable difference in lead arsenate content exists among the various brands of this insecticide upon the market. As we pointed out in a previous report there are, no doubt, diffi- culties of manufacture that militate against turning out continuously a product absolutely constant as to water-content (which necessarily fixes the lead arsenate content), but there seems no reason, if good methods are used, why greater uniformity than is to be observed to-day could not be attained. Many firms are now putting t DIVISION OF CHEMISTRY 263 SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 guarantee on the label, stating percentage of lead arsenate present and particulars as to soluble impurities. This practice is to be commended as furnishing the pur- chaser information required in. making sprays of any desired strength and in allow- ing him to judge of the relative values of the various brands offered for sale.* AGRICULTURAL BLUESTONE. This compound, a crystalline mixture of the sulphate of copper and sulphate of iron, is frequently sold for bluestone or sulphate of copper, to which it is distinctly inferior in the treatment of wheat for the destruction of smut. Further, it is worth- less for the purpose of making Bordeaux mixture, the common use of bluestone by orchardists. Some years ago there was a considerable amount of this compound on the market in the Canadian Northwest and we warned our readers against purchasing it, as the fungicidal power, as shown by our experiments, was very materially reduced by th9 presence of the sulphate of iron. For sometime past no samples have been received at the laboratories, but one was forwarded a few months ago from Arm- strong, B.C., which bad been sold as bluestone. This sample, (Laboratory No. 13550), proved, on analysis, to contain 77-05 per cent of sulphate of iron. Subsequently a similar sample was forwarded by another correspondent from the same district and was found equally impure. Bluestone has a deep blue colour (it may be slightly effloresced on the surface due to loss of water of crystallization) and if to its solution in water a slight excess of ammonia is added, the precipitate that at first forms dissolves entirely, the solution being intensely blue. Agricultural bluestone may be recognized by its greenish ht» and by tbe fact that on the addition of ammonia to its solution a dirty, yellowish- red precipitate of hydrated oxide of iron persists. The term ' agricultural ' as applied by the trade to this compound, is misleading; there is no use in agriculture in which it is not inferior to bluestone — and for some purposes, as for Bordeaux mixture, it ia worthless. CARBOLIZED WHEAT PROTECTOR. This preparation made by G. B. Clark, Woburn Sands, England, is sold for the treatment of wheat, oats and barley for the destruction of smut, and consequently comes into competition with the two well-tried remedies, (bluestone and formaldehyde). It is also stated to act as a preventative against ' rust, bunt and mildew and the ravages of slugs, wire-worms, and the attacks of birds and other farm pests.' It is a reddish powder, smelling strongly of carbolic acid. Its analysis afforded the follow- ing data : — Anah/sis. Per cent. Sulphate of iron 71-89 Sulphate of copper 25-93 Crude carbolic acid -56 Red ochre 40 Mineral matter insoluble in acid -61 Undetermined -36 10000 It is not at all probable that the use of this compound, which is practically ' agricutural bluestone,' with a little carbolic acid and coloured with ochre, would prove as effective for the treatment of wheat as either of the chemicals now in common use. For smut destruction, the value of carbolic acid in dilute solutions is extremely doubtful ; such evidence as we have "would appear to be distinctly adverse to its suc- * A chapter of the physical and chemical properties of arsenate of lead, together with an account of the 'neutral' and 'acid' forms found on the market, will be found in the Report of the Chemical Division, 1912. 254 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 4 GEORGE V., A. 1914 cessful employment as a fungicide. Sulphate of iron (copperas1), as our experiments have shown, has a very low fungicidal power compared with that of bluestone (sul- phate of copper). Consequently, we may conclude that its value for this purpose practically depends upon its bluestone content, which the analysis shows to be 25 per cent. POTASSIUM CYANIDE. This chemical is used for the production of hydrocyanic (prussic) acid used in tbe fumigation of nursery stock, greenhouses, etc. Commercial grades nowadays usually contain large percentages of sodium cyanide or, indeed, they may be entirely sodium cyanide. This in itself is no disadvantage, but rather the reverse, since weight for weight, the sodium compound will disengage a larger amount of hydro- cyanic gas than will the potassium salts. Certain low-grade cyanides, however, are on the market and these will be more or less ineffective unless used in larger quantities than called for by formula. It will be, therefore, for the purchaser when ordering tc stipulate the high-grade cyanide (98 per cent to 100 per cent) and further, if possible, to obtain it in unopened containers as put up by the wholesale druggist. The latter precaution is advisable by reason of the readiness with which this compound deterior- ates when exposed to the air. In a bottle of cyanide kept loosely corked for some months and examined in the farm laboratories it was found that the lumps at the top had lost nearly two-thirds of their strength. Several samples of cyanide bought from bulk were analyzed and were found to a greater or less degree below the guar- anteed strength, but those obtained in original and sealed containers conformed with ■ he guarantee. Owing to the extremely poisonous character of cyanide and of the hydrocyanic >cid gas, which it so readily evolves, the very greatest care must be exercised in handling this material or in conducting a fumigation. The work should be performed by responsible and experienced persons. GOPHER POISON. The more common poison used to-day in the northwestern provinces for the destruction of gophers, is strychnine, though from our own experiments at Indian Head, Sask., and that of the Wyoming Experiment Station, carbon bisulphide is probably a more effective exterminator of these pests. Carbon bisulphide is a highly inflammable liquid, with a very disagreeable smell. Though not corrosive, its vapor is detrimental to health when breathed in quantities, it, however, can be used without danger provided ordinary care is exercised — more especially in regard to flame and fire. The method of use is to saturate a small ball of rags or cotton waste with the bisulphide and thrust it into the fresh burrow in the -veiling, closing the mouth of the burrow with a little earth. Dry balls of horse manure have been used successfully instead of cotton waste. The fumes from the bisulphide are very heavy and sink down the burrow or tunnel, destroying the gophers by suffocation. Strychnine is dangerous to live stock running loose and, moreover, it is difficult at times, when food is plentiful, to get the gophers to eat the poisoned grain. Strych- nine is intensely bitter even in very dilute solutions and no doubt the gophers are often deterred from eating the grain by tasting the poison on the outside of wheat. For this reason, the poisoned wheat, while still damp, might be sprinkled with a little sugar. In gopher-infested districts, solutions of strychnine are frequently distributed by municipalities to farmers, a certain strength or number of grains of strychnine per fluid ounce being stipulated. A number of such solutions have been forwarded DIVISION OF CHEMISTRY 265 SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 for examination to ascertain if they are equal to the guarantee. In the majority of instances these have been foimd of guaranteed strength, but in a few cases they have been weaker. We advise that on the labels, in addition to directions for use and the caution to be observed in its employment in order to avoid the poisoning of children and stock, tbe amount of strychnine per fluid ounce be stated. Strychnine and strychnine sulphate are white, crystalline solids, but may be brought into solution by the addition of a few drops of acid or a little strong vinegar. Strychnine sulphate is fairly soluble and for this reason is, perhaps the better form to use, when the solution is not bought. In employing either of these substances, the poison should be entirely dissolved before covering the grain with the solution. All the samples of strychnine and strychnine sulphate (crystallized) submitted to analysis have been found pure. The quantity usually recommended is one ounce of strychnine to one bushel of wheat. The wheat should be allowed to stand in the poison solution (of which there should be sufficient to cover the grain) for 36 hours, or until the grain is quite soft, showing thorough saturation with the poison. A teaspoonful placed at the mouth of each burrow should be ample. We would again emphasize the necessity for the greatest care in the handling and use of this deadly poison, to avoid accident. THE FERTILIZING VALUE OF EAIN AND SNOW. The sixth year of this investigation, the object of which is to ascertain the possible enrichment of the soil, per acre, due to nitrogen compounds furnished by rain and snow, closed on February 28, 1913. The collection of the samples submitted to analysis has been made on the Central Experimental Farm, situated on the outskirts of Ottawa, and every precipitation of rain and snow that would yield a sufficiency for analysis from the catchment area employed has been chemically examined* In previous reports we have dealt at some length with the various factors that influence the nitrogen-content of the precipitation' — and especially that of the rain. It may, therefore, suffice to enumerate the more important of these and to state briefly that the total amount of nitrogen so furnished per acre, per annum, has not been found to follow the total precipitation closely. While the direction of the prevailing winds, considered apart from velocity during the falling of rain and snow, as for instance toward or from the city, does not apparently markedly influence the nitrogen content, its velocity or violence may and frequently does very appreciably affect the character of the rain in this respect. The rain during thunder storms is invariably rich in nitrogen, and this we have attributed chiefly to the presence of an increased amount of dust in the air, though to some extent the nitrates may be increased by the electric discharges (lightning flashes) of the storm. It has been repeatedly noted that the rain falling during or immediately following cyclonic storms of great severity and which ' filled ' the atmosphere with dust particles, had an exceedingly high nitrogen-content, more particularly present as free and albuminoid ammonia. Another factor and probably the most potent, is frequency of precipitation, and this is more particularly true during the summer months. A scanty rainfall after a period of hot, dry weather, is invariably rich, and on the other hand the later collec- tions after several days of showery weather show a rapidly decreasing nitrogen-content. During the year March 1, 1912, to February 28, 1913, 107 samples were collected and analyzed, being fifteen more than the year previous. •The catchment basin is approximately 60 by SO inches, and is placed about 25 feet from the ground, which, for some distance around, is in lawn and shrubbery. 266 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 4 GEORGE V., A. 1914 The principal data for the year are recorded in the following table, comprising monthly totals of precipitation, the average nitrogen-content for the month expressed as ' free ' and ' albuminoid ' ammonia and as ' nitrates ' and ' nitrites.' The last column gives the pounds of nitrogen, so supplied, per acre. Rain and Snow at Ottawa for the Year ending February 28, 1913. Month and Year. 1912. March April May June July August September October November December 1913. January . February Precipitation in Inches. Rain. GO 15 35 89 94 01 47 59 17 217 30-34 .Snow. 14-00 2 00 23 00 10-00 23 75 23-50 9H25 Total in Inches of Rain. ■40 •80 15 •35 -89 94 01 47 •89 17 454 235 39-96 Nitrogen. In Free Ammonia. p. p.m. •29 •79 •61 •55 "34 •31 •39 •37 •38 •31 •21 13 In Albu- minoid Ammonia. p. p.m. •07 •28 •04 •14 06 •07 10 •09 •07 •29 •07 •06 In Nitrates and Nitrites. p. p.m. 11 21 28 34 30 17 18 18 13 32 •05 13 Total. p. p.m. •47 1-28 •91 103 •70 ■55 •67 •64 •58 P2 S3 •32 Pounds of Nitrogen. per acre. 149 •815 .062 •315 •617 •616 •609 •358 •642 •452 ■339 170 6144 Attention may be directed to the more salient features in the foregoing tabls and one or two comparisons made with similar data from previous years. The total precipitation, 39-96 inches, is considerably higher than that recorded since the begin- ning of the investigation, 1907, and exceeds that of the average for 22 years by prac- tically 5A inches. As the snowfall for the year was practically normal, it necessarily follows that the increased precipitation was as rain, which was considerably heavier in May, August and September. The rainfall of 2-17 inches during January may be quoted as exceptional, and this serves to explain the larger amount of nitrogen for that month than has usually been found. The total nitrogen for the year amounted to 6-144 pounds— an amount practically identical with that of the preceding year and, excepting the year ending February, 1909, when the results were abnormally high owing to bush fires, -403 pounds, above the average for the period of investigation February, 1907, .to February, 1913. The precipitation data and amount of nitrogen per. acre for the past six years are given in the following table: — DIYISIOX OF CHEMISTRY SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 Precipitation and Amount of Nitrogen per Acre, Ottawa, 1908-1913. 257 Rain in Inches. Year end ne Februar Average for 22 years 29 ins , 08. s, 1909. 28, 1910. 28, 1911. 29, 1912 28, 1913. 2\ 05 22 99 2879 19 67 20 33 30-34 2523 Snow- in Inches. 133 00 1,6 25 80-75 73 ' 00 104-25 96 25 92 36 To al precipation m Inches. 37 35 32 63 36 87 26 97 30 76 39 96 31 47 Pounds of Nitrogen pnr Acre. 332 364 809 271 100 144 It is interesting to note that the proportions of the total nitrogen furnished by the rain and snow respectively have remained practically constant for the past four years, and it would seem that, for the precipitation at Ottawa, somewhat more than eight-tenths of the nitrogen is to be found in the rain. For the past year, we have 5-113 pounds nitrogen, or 83 per cent of the whole, in the rain, and 1-031 pounds, or 17 per cent, in the snow. For the period 1908-1913, the data are given in tabulated form as follows : — Amounts of Nitrogen furnished by Eain and Snow. • Total. By Rain. Bt f- iKOW. Pounds. Proportion. Pound&. Proportion. Year ending February 29, 190S 28, 1909 Lb 4 322 8 364 6-869 5-271 6- 100 6144 3 243 7 528 5 83 4 ' 424 5-075 5113 per cent. 75 90f S5 84 83 83 1080 •836 101 ' 17 1025 1-031 per cent. 25* 10 II 11 T! 11 II 11 11 l» If If It It 28, 1910 28, 1911 2.*, 1912 28, 1913 15 16 17 17 * Snowfall exceptionally heavy. t Rain abnormally rich in ammonia due to bush fires. Considering the distribution or proportion of the various nitrogen compounds, the results of the past year are in close accord with those previously obtained; of the total nitrogen, 6-144 pounds, it will be observed 4-434 pounds, or 72 per cent, were present as free and organic ammonia, and 1-710 pounds, or 2-8 per cent, as nitrate3 and nitrites. The results in the following table are of interest in showing the greater richness of the rain ttnd the proportions of the several nitrogen compounds as present in both rain and snow: — 263 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 4 GEORGE V., A. 19H Average Nitrogen-Content of Rain and Snow. (Amount of Nitrogen per acre, as Free and Albuminoid Ammonia and aa Nitrates and Nitrites.) NITROGEN. t Precipita- Parts pee Million. Percentage of Total. Per Acre. Number of Samples Analyzed. tion Inches. eS "° j a . ^ * 3d CO <0 3a j T> OS o.S ce to o-y *» 7! ■d o.S ee -2 rU 2 c g In Albumin Ammon In Nitrates Nitrite 1i 43 o ~3 In AlVjumin Ammon In Nitra and Nitrite As Free Albumin Amnion rj-1 -r-4 9l Raiu . . 85 30 34 .409 .129 .216 .744 55 16 29 3.630 1.483 Snow. . 22 96 25 .265 .104 .104 .473 56 22 22 .804 .227 The rain and snow in falling through the atmosphere exert a cleansing action, washing out and filtering out many impurities, both gaseous and solid. This function of the precipitation undoubtedly has an important hygienic bearing but, further, as we have seen, it furnishes the soil with a notable amount of that most important and most costly of all plant foods, nitrogen, in a condition immediately available for crop use. Among the many useful ways in which the rain and snow affect agricul- ture, this role in which they act as fertilizing agents must not be overlooked. From the data of this investigation it would appear that the manurial value of the rain and snow, at current prices of nitrogen in fertilizers, would be almost $1 per acre, annually. THE WATER SUPPLY OF FARM HOMESTEADS. There ought to be little necessity nowadays to urge upon farmers the desirability of a pure water supply, for in recent years there are few subjects that have received more attention in the agricultural press and in the literature issued by authorities on hygiene. The relation generally of water to health, the fact that there are certain diseases, more or less prevalent in rural parts as in cities, and which are frequently epidemic in character, that are essentially water-borne, constitutes knowledge that should be in the possession of all. Nevertheless, a survey of present conditions on the average farm and the outbreaks of typhoid fever that still occur from time to time on farms, in villages, assure us that it is incumbent to continue our propaganda again and again, to bring before our people the danger to health in using a polluted water supply. For twenty-five years, the Chemical Division of the Dominion Experi- mental Farms has taken an active part, not only in the dissemination of information regarding the importance of pure water to the good health of the farmer and his family and the thriftiness of his stock, but in examining and reporting upon such samples of well waters as may be submitted according to directions for collection, etc., obtainable upon application. Many have availed themselves of this privilege and during that period many hundreds, probably thousands, of samples from farm home- steads have been analyzed. But the work must be continued and extended, for we feel assured that there still remains a very large number of farmers who as yet have not fully realized the importance of pure water and who, by reason of an improperly DIVISION OF CHEMISTRY 269 SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 located well and disregard of hygienic principles, are using water of very doubtful quality. We have enlarged from time to time in the annual report of the Division, and elsewhere, upon the great risk of pollution that follows when the well, usually quite shallow and drawing merely on the ground water of the immediate environment, is located in the barnyard, near the farm buildings, or otherwise in the proximity to sources of contamination. Unfortunately, such wells are only too common. Conveni- ence has been secured but health jeopardized; in too many instances the results has been polluted water, a water that is a serious menace to good health. We take the position that such wells should be abandoned at the earliest possible moment and that, until a purer supply is available, there should be no neglect in boiling all the water required for drinking and culinary use. Boiling will not make bad water good, but it will make it reasonably safe as regards the possible dissemination of infective disease germs. When the location of the shallow well is satisfactory from the hygienic standpoint it may yield a good water, and a safeguard of considerable value may be adopted by keeping an area of say fifty yards radius around the well free from manure and all kinds of filth (preferably this area should be sod) and by lining the well, say to a depth of ten feet from the surface, with puddled clay or concrete. This lining may be from six to twelve inches thick and should project some twelve inches above the mouth of the well to preclude the entrance of surface wash. The impervious lining ensures that all water entering the well shall pass through at least a certair layer of soil that is able to perform its function as a natural filter. Next in order is the bored or driven well, obtaining its supply from a deep seated source, the well being sunk through one or more layers of impervious rock until a water-carrying stratum is reached. Such wells constructed so that not only is surface water excluded but that there is also a perfect sealing where the pipe enters the solid rock, are strongly advocated and it is gratifying to be able to record they are replacing the shallow, ground-water well on Canadian farms. Ordinarily they yield a water of good quality and quite palatable, though one perhaps not quite so suitable for certain domestic purposes as the softer water from shallow wells. Occasionally the salinity is high, especially from the presence of sulphates, but in most districts tbe water is seldom non-potable from this cause. But it must not be supposed that the bored well is always and necessarily free from organic impurity; instances have come under our notice in which the presence of drainage matter has been shown both by chemical and bacteriological examination. The pollution may have arisen from faulty sealing where the pipe enters the rock, or, as is more frequently the case, by the passage of the pipe through a shaly rock or one full of fissures which allowed the downward flow of surface water without exerting any purifying influence thereon. Provided the farmer has found by such means an ample and good supply, a pump may be installed, actuated by windmill, small gasoline or hot-air engines and the water piped to tanks in the house and barns. The convenience, comfort and economy in labour of such a service, in addition to the value to be placed upon a wholesome supply, make it one ideal for the rural home and well worth the cost of installation. It permits not only a constant supply of water in the kitchen but the putting in of a bath-room and the disposal of sewage by the septic tank system — modern conveni- ences which undoubtedly tend to better health conditions. We must add one word of caution as to the judging of water by tbe farmer from its appearance, its temperature and its odour or absence of odour. Usually, if a water is not objectionable to sight and smell it is considered satisfactory. A water may be clear and sparkling, very cool and odourless and yet be most seriously polluted. There- fore, reliance should not be implicitly placed upon these characteristics, though they are those which all good waters should possess. 270 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 4 GEORGE V., A. 19U In the appended table, we give the analytical data and a very brief report upon 1SS samples of water from various parts of the Dominion, examined during the past year. Of tbese eighty-nine have been pronounced as pure and wholesome, forty-three as suspicious and probably dangerous and forty-one as seriously contaminated. There were fifteen too saline for use as a potable supply. Farmers desiring an examination of their water supply are invited to send for a copy of the directions to be followed in tbe collection and shipment of the sample. Samples are being constantly received at tbe laboratories wbich, owing to insufficiency in quantity, dirty containers or corks, or other causes, cannot be submitted to analysis ; trouble and expense to the farmer will therefore be saved if these instructions are first obtained and faithfully carried out. DIVISION OF CHEMISTRY 271 SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 co I o OS ►J I-H ►J >■* a. -H U) *£) Pn ai W a H cu C/J H CO m t-3 >*■ D (J • -^ t;33 . • . fe -.2 eS » • «0 ® ^ § g.2 0 | §1 g-d g cj 5 w -cc? ju g cd co 3 -i '3 JS " p^ >» 03 0*H.C^5 = =*ptr3 E • g h cc J; ^^: go,3_c: cc"-~ 5" = S^.^ c>> 3 0 d (iict)l>fe!>02l>!> a: h- ^ co 93 Pi Q Heavy M Trace Free ti .... Trace'. .'.'.'.'. Free F. trace Free 9 ..... 0) . CD ...fiSct. .a... .a.o t. rt . oj . cj CD . . *:> t-o> Frf cd t- 0 co a e •uotiuiSj no ssoi »;:iw*'Xf onc-rocc oh«©©oo©oociihooh«©©©ooo©cm :■: '^ J) C O O ■* CO i-i 31 CO -F CO CO (M C71 ■* O i-H r*< CO CI CO CM OT! 00 l>- CI CM f H* 1M CO lO CO CO HOC CT. O CO SI -* CO t-I tH IO^NCCOTjOC-i tH t-H t-I t- H •*< CC CN> Ci ,_i rH rH rH CO -*■ r-i —i Tf-r •uorjiuSj ' iajrespipg -rooccooco ocexioeoooaocoosoiCNOoooo © © cm © oo C X f)« C/C -^ O O CO O t-l CXCOKO-'OO- S CM iQ "CT ^ l-( CO rH CO C» CM -? CO CM T HC1 l^-?'/. C1HHCT i— 1 - . ". ;"l —1 CM t-l i-i CM CM •0 oCOI 1* SPH°S I^°X © © CM "Cr -r X © OO-d-OCO-^OCMOCSOOOOOCMCCOOOOOOOOOO OO-rXC-''/) CO 'O CM O >cr CO O CO CO CM -*1 co 71 X -r CO t~ CO X c CO i~ -f ti> CO Tr> co CC CM HC130 l— CO -M O CO CO CM CM i-l rH f CM CC — 10 B ! — ' I C CM i-H t-l rH CM CTl cc: 0. CO cm co t-i co co cm co -r -c io « n a lo ci « n h co t-< t-< 31 co 1—* CM CM t— 1 CO CM ■anuonqQ IP 9 » d "? ° ,?»??°?a) ° ^ = <= ° »<= d '=> ° , No. 65 P.O.... E.H..T J.B.H N.P.C B.Wr.Co CcJcZ R.S.S., No. 66 ., No. 67 ,. No. 68 ,. No. 69 J.TI.McN H.H.C A.K J.C, No. 1... .. No. 2... S.D.McA J.B.II A.W.F J.C.W R.S., No. 7<>.. n No. 71... 11 No. 72... » No. 73... T.M.K F.T.S G.B W.A.M .0 1 5 ►3 Sfiuthport. P.E.I North Thompson, Kamloops B.C Banff, Alta Kelowna, B.C Biakenev. Onfc ! 1 3 .c : a c* J > -» — :d S3 > w J S* 0 0 = Allensville, Muskoka, 0 Wvcollar. Sask c 3 c — - Orillia, Ont Banff, Alta it .... 11 uaquin^ t-i CM CO •* lO 1-- T-t H cm c<; rH r HHr -1 r 5 t-oc « -< rH tH r B : 5-iM:o-rocOf.co-.Ci-i?i:c ■* 1CMCMCNC1CMCMMC>1WCOCOCOCOC>S 272 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 4 GEORGE V., A. 1914 o »— t 0, a 2.2 2.2 3^3 - j3 ^ s fi ■. ffl fiS^: «" "J »jS |>£6^5^ 3 fi 3 m S DO Sjrtfl > :f.-'j-/.«09i?K?-b'y:? « C fc s •- 3 » C O c7QO^03p=-a> : >> -C • f> . . ea . o • o > . > : ft ^2 . • - . OS ca • eS • . cj- . . o3 t>= 3' Ld a> a> . a; >" o - S* o>e3 >.u cacs co - co - c: a) 2-= g - 5 r = rr;g , g = .co ©©©©©©©©©©© CM CO©©©©©© -oooooocoooooooo •uop Mi'O'OBIMXl-rOOOOKI-Ot-CfflO-l1 ■OCNOCC»«-*^CO"'r-tl ONNttCNfflNt'KaNffl -r -*< • C5 «C ao os M to ir? CO CO t^ 03 —i CM cr O -iuSj uo SSCCJ HHll CM eo«o »o CO ■ I— 1 SO rH i— i rH 1— ( 1 ~ ooooooooooooocooooo -s^sc: OOOOOOOOO -o •uoHiuSj 1"*ON-*CO»tt>OIOCCONO'0>OCI«M • O Tf SO 0C crco-r-^xoooco -cm C! M O S O - C! - .'. -r X - -)> CO ,_ OO • lONt- CO x i - -r © © c?i -f co • © aaqju spi[og CM CM CO HWHIOONHCIHN «* CN iH COO -CM CMCOCO CI COO .- i1 o 1 CM CO CM CN .-i ©©©©©©©©©©© CN CO©©©©©©© oooooooc ©©©©©© •0 o901 NtClO'/!N»!00'*^-X::COOa!CiNei»0-1'KOO-tfOOODO!COO* C5 O K M lO H O O M r- H Or- -^ H r H K O - O Tl L- CM Hi'OWTtii^-rocso %*« -! © • O S.Wg.Mg _X g _rtO«-0 J _w g o £'-*'-l g W gCM -Biaomaiy aoa^j £ "«£ "*>£ "-S " " £ -«£ 5^ £" fin NN10C5C5NN(MM'iji»c0CR0>OO©HHC0CMNW ?3KmcOf'*OOHHH a rg (M cm cm i-i i-h 1-H i-l i-l r-H i-l CM CI CM ?1 CM CM CM N CM CO CO CO eg Q o ^ ex l-J l-J < • . . .»-in . .^.tfjca • • • • -H : a • > • : : : 6 d ■ :^1^ *"*.•*. -i-^cn : ■ • • • 5 «:•;:: ■ • :4 G^cc = £0 5 ic ^5 e. i r B id as f • g- 5 ■ c :o ■S-g -^ c — : [ •- — — ' i 1 a — a ■2, 6 . 43 * • :£ : : -» . . ' fie , ; o **> • ' ^ CD 43 co fcr S^ ^ ■f a J S 0 ■— rS c« ►> . . £ oc« ^ » S« «iS" g^^i a; Sii 032 2!-^ hij-p Q J O ^ 3)^ - ^ ft O O •aaqran^j lOtDNcoooHnM'O'intSNcocic >r-ICMCO-*a ' ■*> -v -v • IC )lO «C iC K )lO AOif i «a iscscc C3 ■-: - cfi cc IwUStS DIVISION OF CHEMISTRY 273 SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 a o -ta a o osog -?.£ L. p x p ci fee £< . C 03 ! p 5 I s £ CO _2 03 r, p *"* t_^ ^ — — r* 3 k . ci * s -t> o « O aj 1*1 r. 5 = 03 OZTjZC oS s o ■ « 5 2 g 00 S O GO " • - ci 03 5 o - 3 >> 33 S 3 P3 ►« S- 3C S O ® 3 ^J O 3.- u g h gg p tf Pn > pn 7; P. Tfi>~~r.'—-r.-r.~ 03 r- ,— *_^ +2 03 «r* 03 .03 03 03 P 03 ;p 03 s o 03 03 *o « * 2 p o ci a. ® 03 . C ■ O O T3 03 • 03 r* p P s .si| 15 n B 3 » es A1 8 ^ '-3 _p 'o p. ->°S r- 03 6 s o w 03 "3 -P st TJ p B "5 03 03 3 G 03 Jj"E J3 p" _C '-3 e3 P s es - -w * P O . P * P -« C P Cm r— **" O 03 £t - £ P 0) 03 ci P si so : s x s 03 . 03 a> O i) O 03 03 03 - - ci 03 - . - i 08 - 03 C3 - - — — * - " u • h h * r* Hfa E-, £hEh 03 03 - 03 - es 03 a, C3 03 ci ci 03 03 ci r. u . 03 . U . ^ 03 *= 03 . O . . cS . Oj-/ 03 03J/J 03 PmNPh Eh ^E-^H m ' -fa^^>fa : 6 =d 03 - 03 - c3 NOOOOOOOOOOO _ atOONffl^ieiCOeOOOO'-Of^XOOOOOQOQONX I"^^.--.;::*-., i __j ^.i /»i r-.-i ^-\ ~e\ *— #v '-^ i^>- n4 -M r*~i rf\ i^ NK X CO S IN H rt r- N "1 N o n T X a N'J-l1 M n c r-l •* tH fH i-( rH »-l •* i-l rH (N OOOOOOOOOOOO»O»*{0OOO««t)OOO OOOOOOOOOCMOO O r-> S-ioe!Nenfia ^■3 ao ** c-i co cq c-i ON 'NHi-iN (N ■ C. N K n X C « C) w l1 I^N !C Krn LT t-ffi C3 NX a X C3 C. M1 C t^C-T*OiCCO-a"OOOOCCCC WMSrHCO ^lOeMWNCfiNHNWNSWOSCOHMMCiS O 1Q H CO N 1Q O) CO (M-HCNCO CO ■* CO O "f CO CO w ooi-oiaoisoiooiooo loioocoooocooiocoeioooeooooio ^oootooaoooooo ^ CO'ifrHiCOOO^HrH' V« OWN O MCONf ioOCM gOCOt-.lblOC33M-.NlB J COOOClON lb© mTr,rtHO CN00t-(i-(CO^-?* OCOONOnNrJ'O C1CC CO,-* rH * I-H O rHt-lCS©H-l"^3 WOO i-l CO nco N CM 03 03 03 03 .^c?S g 03^^ 03 § 03 . ^^ 03 03 . 03 ' © riT CO ' i-HrH fe^EH ©1^ JO00-Cl-C31"«lHO3iJ'lON ^CN O© gcCCO©©©?-. M © © ■* rt 1-- © g© £^ CO •* © lO ^r cm ..• lK CO sc SOON ■ ^- oc © 8 « co S Ph h' o co a M » C£ CO CO M X O N lO c a m if lO CO CO N ■* "O t X .: X O H a a iO N CO O CO - -• © CO C3 CM CI CJ i— CO©©©S©©©©©©rH©©'-|©©-1He,-H,--lr-l©©'*'"J« - - - SrHHHHHHHHrHNflf)C-lN«N?IC3.CMCOC0 r- - H H HtH H HCT CICO cn t- 'X. en t-t— t- C.K-h v: o Otf? : k ,4 cjj a d S DC d ffi p- s ffi 03 ffi pi X rHCM ■ • O O ' '• KKod ; Q ■© rH • ■ coco : : o o • OHP-: -h =DOr>PJcq -W^j <^oi h-j ^d«?ri&H d O O - - r— rHCM ^ O O fed .-iPQHS «d pi<r- p , * ^ 2 3 2 O P « CO <3 P *» O (3 Or?iO O p 030 be « C r5 ^c u CO o c 03 be • p :o ■■E :o? ej-c p 03 — -^* • 03 P "C -^ ^ x ci C « ci . -^CCh :-go .Ccq S.p' - -p^ CO S5Pl«-3 r." ; . ^_CC ci £ *^ v OS H— tM is o O p =>_S — yiC *» -* > PC § < C^3i'^fc£'u3c S- = ci es c.O. c! O aHT* c 03 3 ~ M rH ^H i^^ ^H »^H rH ^^ rH i™H fH fH rH rH ^H f^H fH 16—18 274 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 4 GEORGE V., A. 19U t3 | C5 f— I I CM I— I Oi CO P5 O o i-i - a, m H Pi -•J P4 £ s Q w Eh H CO GO H P CO 3 <1 g • 1-4 43 T5 T3 U si 3 1 a II e. from pollution. e. and wholesome. ted. xminated. cious. usly polluted. esome. 49 a 8 Contaminated. if Seriously contami Very suspicious. Unpolluted. Wholesome. it usly contami suspicious. ted. from organic e. ted. cious. suspicious. cious. esome. ii •a 3 3 •2 s .2 § o >>j3 u a ,3 & >» c o 'u r — 9h>3 ik fe k -a 3-a) -3^^-^>J2lOo = - a, - *» « a 1 kT a0 -1- « „° 3 >* 3 •> OT>~-5hOTPhOT>OT:> c3rK c3„^ O O 3 0J> OT ->H CO P, Pn O OT 02 !> 3 o OT O 03 DO 2 ■ = ® is a> = -= =-S ?> - g s> - = ai • tu.si.aJ c o - i u i u i u a> -SO - ti S S J) S -0) - _G *H £=< &< ^ Sfe HE=« HSh.H^H fe CO Tf O 00 00 -j,i.';x>;xHHHt>no uo ssoq; CM r-i CM t- 1-1 i-l i-l H -*< I-H 0©©©00©©OC©©©©©©©©©CO©-<1"o» »3M»Mhh rnai'l'Xl-Ni'r-iNWH i-fCM©t^-TCOTj>©35CMCMi-i©t^© ja^j'B spi[og NJlrt co cm r- en ?o o i-i i-> i-l CM CM i-i CO o -r O ID m< CO CM t-i 90 •* © 00 CO 00 O oxsiiNaoxoooo^aooioooftos^oovos) "0 oQOI 00MS»«aO-f»OOaia0000N3 1.O'*t>.OTtiNNN©O»>-? if 51 © 35 CO — 1 £eMeM©©oo>r-> £ -H ■* (i< CM i-( iH Ph CM = rH 2 - - - - COg ©O© ©©©Ci-lCM go gCM © ©CO © ©© ® io "TN Pu^ s^13*1? °°*& Hfi *"" fe -jjij UI U9#0J?! KJ «t--jio3aco»'MH3!Oi|Ni-n3-)'Hi-'oa»occioyj»N3nM«N» HH?!If OC I-iOOKOiHOHHOOOCOOHHOoCJOr-OSOOHO "Biaorauiv pxouiuinqjy 00 00 CM © „: 35 iH -.•CO ^ © „; •*> CM ,; 00 © CO J gSg»§g^22333Si © ©r-i^H £©© «1« gCM &-*,-< g©©© * _l fcl ' fci " fc. . t-c ' t« c3 J rt — « b •■Biuouicuv »9JJ[ rt Pn ft, fe^ii, fq £ Pi s cocooococococo t-l CM CM CM CM CM CM CO CO ^-( rH iH t-I CM i-l t-l rH rl i-H rH S3 > - . U - o o fe Q . • H W LO O N * * . . . C0 3S© • ^ . " CM W ■* • •J . CO 00 00 • « . . 00 CO 35 ".O s iHCM • . 00 X OO • * ' , • • :z % o o . • O 0 o . = • • o • , , 0 . 3 fc^Ka* ££ a : *4°* :<4as. «d. PH* _P^>CC ; ,-- ??d =&:'WM. =oa : - *tj b^ HiClJ^ tf hipq^Wrta ^~<& n'a o :^j • O • O -i^> ts •PQ • '. '.~o '• W - < PQ O • - ■■■I ■i 5 O i-5 St. Therese, Que St. John, N.B.'.. Loggieville, N.B The Lodge, N.S. Coquitlam Lake, . -t- • C : = a 1 X 0 "is* . ; G ; • :•% =w's: •• > a 3 -c : SOT .£ = >OOT OTa 5 3 „ . e c3 — — t o O ft if Meota, Sask Frelighsburg, Qu ■lumping Pound, Portsmouth, Ont Salmon Arm, B. RllUQoll (lilt ■ c ■ > 3.S > 5 3 O -^ 39 - M A ^§ > c3 ! » " cr : o -a 3=0 -■g s •aaquiuu OHNMtlOa M^0035©i-HCMCO'r»OCSt-COC»©^eMCO'>»© -f CM CO ■* -o i.o i.-: o i B ) M N ^ 1 CM O 1 CM C5 S> i co co « ) CO c : S V Ct CO CO TT - -1 ■ — -1 - -J. — — " "3" O DIVISION OF CHEMISTRY 275 SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 as o u S a ■ '* ft . u 3 ~ od llution olesom ntamii anic in a and wholeso aminated. and wholesoi 33 3 DO a o 3 .— i 0 0 B 2 * " = a iciii '5 ■ft - Si 00 3 OD 5 nd wh ions. some. I I C 08 «£j «*« _« " 90 V s oS o CO £ - v 0 ~ t ]) l) I o 1; «- X I _2 >> a --. 3 u a. o a. x -~ 3-i Q co £ 73 ^ 3V E& fa > f> 03 > S 3 3^. co u co eg - 0) - §^•2 . . §-§.2 • « Sag"©* o ft.2 t2 b'S»2 '& en E C K co J3 :« 550«ps. 3 J/". 72 OP»72!> 50 co I 3 o SI a : c3 u 3 3h OD 11 CO ll - H fa fafa fa Hi-3fa. oiitiooeoxoai'ocoiNOs^ooooi'oso ■* cn co ^< © do cn © co ej : $ ■pt"« - - D : Jj g £ 1^ x Oi ej co eg U ej — N X N a o o> N X ffl K a 'J 3 o a » 1" ?5 3 "J O ■* t^ !£ l- a x ;i; o o WWNlIN'CMNI- rrCOO t-OnnMHHtM-r 2:0 J.H r-t CO i-i HJJiM r-i — i—i Oti»500NC10000'/jIM1'01'»0»iOSS'*tM5:i50!»0» ooxH^KNHHt xoNbbKHSxofi'MMi'rroMi^'fi-iai OiniOl^O^NCO-t1 HNi-)Jr"rtXlOf OJJHH1"j:iT.f OHJllit-N fC3C5CNt~'i<.---r no:i hm tosw n i-hi-h •* O rH O»00OOOflOOfflOOK3»'JOO2OJ0»TiioO1'O'MOT«OC M -t< biwMiiwbbinNMOON". tMi'bi'aaibni-iccx-i|^«a>b « a i^ m i» rn o a n h h s -r x ji h a w t^ x o n « m x t- s i- a « t h w a (CnKMOK) rt» C5 M -r NT) --r i-H O CS CN CN o eo i-h o o w © o o „: io o o • © o © o « o © o © o © © *: © © © o o © m © 10 • • • • S *Tl oe««-tn i ■ IO CN 00 £ i-H i*l I cl © © lO i— I $ i-i r-l 3-1 fa i-:ihjih:io333h CN © O — I i-H CN a) I- fa. „:.-H© CM gO-i-HO fa^ MCO?l?)XX^T«H ,;Nf r Xl-^X r;533-J7)5S» C3CN ^aofflso3i'fJf-tHLOx-rn-!'r;H7)t-fflnns3XMaMN30 ©©i-h©,-h,-h,-h©©o©©CN©©©©©©©©©©©©:0©.— — I55HN fa .io-^s©©©^©^!. ' " . —I -^ L. * L. CN fa fa 1/ 1) eo U ID ■ - co o3 t- - • ^ tH H .? CN ^ CN jhh «; OS ^" J© g eo » © © S©© l~ X i-H © © 5<) ' HHNNIM ^HMNr.KHlOOJSOOISCOvWSSISNTfaOf) r-( SM CN 0-1 Hr-r-li-Cl?1MTlUH?) r-i rH i-l CM *1 - a - - oS - - XI : S3 P4 o ^ : : •C5 'CN to ' .£35 o> ; . ess ess ■ r-t CM CO ■* IO © b 5 5 5 6 6 •h 0 O -bj W :Hg7i .og- ^■ ^~ * 4-> o ^ o ~ 3 so? 72 Pa S »J 2fJ O Ccl O :pq ' C3 :^ £a os ■ - o HhO :o *o" -o a W2 - d a t- e3 e« 2ffi "O rt .^'3 CJ *3:^o?--- p cr o eS £ WTfq |rH Cfq : 6 5 . © t-- . CS CSS : d p 6 33 :cq • CO Q D - H o s . c3 CS^ ft " eg a O OS •w . rv +3 ^J .^* -w C9.S »a ^ cr " o O 72 ^ OO ==2 W72 j- © i- cc © © r- cm cc -a- in © i- cc cr : © r-i c>i co "r ir; © t- oo © o - w x w it a t, m o io o o o © © © © © © © © © © t- 1» t- 1- t- 1>- 1, t^ t, t_ » oo co od do cc CO 00 oo 16— 18£ 4 GEORGE V. SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 A. 1914 Dominion of Canada DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Dominion Experimental Farms REPORT FROM THE DIVISION OF HORTICULTURE For the Year ending March 31, 1913 PliErARED BY The Dominion Horticulturist, Central Farm, Ottawa. W.T. Macoun. Superintendent — Experimental Station, Charlottetown, P.E.I. J. A. Clark, B.S.A. Experimental Farm, Nappan, N.S. R. Robertson. Experimental Station, Kentville, N.S. W. S. Blair. Experimental Station, Ste. Anne de la Pocatiere, Que. - - -Jos. Begin. Experimental Station, Cap Rouge, Que. G. A. Langelier. Experimental Farm, Brandon, Man. W. C. McKillican, B.S.A. Experimental Farm, Indian Head, Sask. Angus Mackay. Experimental Station, Rosthern, Sask. W. A. Munro, B.S.A. Experimental Station, Scott, Sask. R. E. Everest, B.S.A. Experimental Station, Lethbridge, Alta. W. H. Fairfield, M.S. Experimental Station, Lacombe, Alta. G. H. Hutton, B.S.A. Experimental Farm, Agassiz, B.C. -P. H. Mocre, B.S.A. Experimentalists of Substations at Salmon Arm, B.C., Fort Vermilion, Grouard, Athabaska Landing and Forts Smith, Resolution and Providence, in northern Alberta. 4 GEORGE V. SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 A. 1914 REPORT FROM THE DIVISION OF HORTICULTURE. Ottawa, March 31, 1913. J. H. Grisdale, Esq., B.Agr., Director, Dominion Experimental Farms, Ottawa. Sir, — I have the honour to submit herewith the twenty-sixth Annual Report of the Horticultural Division, being the fifteenth since I became head of the Division. Included herein will be found the reports which have been prepared by the Superintendents of the Experimental Farms and Stations at Nappan, N.S. ; Kent- ville, N.S.; Charlottetown, P.E.I. ; Ste. Anne de la Pocatiere, Que.; Cap Rouge, Que.; Brandon, Man.; Indian Head, Sask. ; Rosthern, Sask.; Scott, Sask.; Lethbridge, Alta. ; Lacombe, Alta. ; and Agassiz, B.C. ; also a report prepared by Mr. Thos. A. Sharpe, Salmon Arm, B.C., of experiments conducted on his farm. There are also reports from the Sub-stations at Fort Vermilion, Peace River district; from Grouard, Lesser Slave Lake; Athabaska Landing, Fort Smith, Fort Providence, and Fort Resolution, all in Northern Alberta. There is also at the end of the report for Lacombe a list prepared by me of fruits, vegetables, useful and ornamental trees and shrubs, climbers, herbaceous perennials, and annuals recommended for the prairie provinces. HORTICULTURAL DIVISION. The area of land in the Horticultural Division at the Central Experimental Farm, Ottawa, is 99 acres, divided as follows : — Acres. Fruits and vegetables 46 Forest belts 21 Ornamental grounds 30 Nursery and rose garden 2 Total . . 99 On this land are grown tree fruits, small fruits, vegetables, forest trees, and ornamental trees, shrubs and herbaceous plants in more or less permanent plantations and in nursery rows. The lawns are extensive and require much care to keep them in good condition. Owing to the large number of experiments in progress, the work involved in giving the necessary attention to them on this ninety-nine acres is very heavy compared with what it would be on the same area under commercial crops, where the labour involved could be reduced to a minimum. SUBDIVISIONS OF THE WORK. The Horticultural Division may at present be divided into five parts or heads under which most of the work falls. These are as follows: — 1. Pomology, 2. Vegetable gardening, 3. Ornamental gardening, 4. Plant breeding, 5. Correspondence and office work. 279 280 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 4 GEORGE V., A. 19H In addition to these, or rather included in them, is the work in connection with the branch Farms, the forest' belts planted both for ornamental purposes and to test the rate of tree growth; meetings attended; publications; and visits to the horticul- tural districts for the purpose of studying conditions in different parts of Canada. POMOLOGY. Under pomology is included the study of varieties of fruits for the purpose of learning their relative merits in regard to yield, season, quality, and profit. It also includes the identification, classification, and description, as well as the propagation, planting, and care of fruits, with experiments in cultural methods, including spray- ing. The exhibition and judging of fruits may also be grouped under pomology. During the past year, this part of the work has received much attention. Many varieties have been described in detail on cards, which are filed for future reference and compilation. Varieties which have been sent in for identification have been named, and the information sent to the correspondents. Many new varieties were propagated for test on the Central and Branch Farms and for trial in other places, and a number of new ones have been planted out at Ottawa. Fruit was exhibited at the Provincial exhibition, Quebec; the Central Canada exhibition, Ottawa; and the annual meeting of the Society for Horticultural Science, at Cleveland, Ohio. Fruit was also judged at several places by officers of the Horti- cultural Division. The general care of the orchards at the Central Experimental Farm also involved much work. VEGETABLE GARDENING. This includes the testing of varieties of vegetables for comparison of their relative merits as regards season, yield, quality, etc. ; the comparison of different strains of the same variety; cultural methods, and spraying; and the study of com- mercial methods, both in the field and under glass. In 1912, especial attention was paid to potatoes, peas, and tomatoes, though all the principal kinds of vegetables were under experiment. ORNAMENTAL GARDENING. Under ornamental gardening comes the culture of ornamental trees, shrubs, and herbaceous plants; the study of«their individual characteristics, such as height, form, colouring, and season of bloom, so that information will be available to Canadians to enable them to plant their places in such a way that the tiees, shrubs and herbaceous plants will blend or be contrasted with one another to form pleasing landscape effects. The education of the people by lectures and bulletins on ornamental gardening and t lie encouragement of the beautifying of home surroundings, so much needed in Canada, is also a part of ornamental gradening which received attention during the year. In addition, large collections of roses, irises, phloxes, paeonies, lilacs, gladioli, geraniums and other ornamental plants have been got together to study. There was a fine display of these at the Central Farm in 1912 and visitors were much interested in them and pleased with the ornamental grounds as a whole. The forest belts, planting in which was begun in 1888, furnish interesting data on the relative growth of the different timber trees and the merits of mixing the species or planting them in blocks of one kind. The annual measurements of a number of trees were taken in 1912, as in previous years. PLANT BREEDING. The improvements of fruits, vegetables and ornamental plants by- cross-breeding and selection and the study of the laws of inheritance in different kinds and varieties 16— 1914— p. 280 DITISIOX OF HORTICULTURE 281 SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 of horticultural plants is, in brief, the field of work which is covered in plant breeding in the Horticultural Division. Up to comparatively recent years, Canada has had to depend almost entirely on other countries for her new varieties of fruits, vegetables, and ornamental plants, and while many of these succeed admirably in this country, it is felt that, if originated in a climate more, nearly like where they are to be grown than has been the case in many instances in the past, those that show especial merit are likely to prove more useful than those introduced from climates very dissimilar. During the past twenty-five years, much attention has been paid to the breeding of horticultural plants at the Central Experimental Farm. Many varieties of hardy hybrid apples, crosses between the Siberian crab (Pyrus baccata) and the apple originated by Dr. Wm. Saunders, have already been intro- duced into the prairie provinces and have proven hardier than any previously tested there. Second crosses made by Dr. Saunders with more blood of the larger apples and having fruit of good marketable size were propagated in 1912 for intro- duction. Many varieties of apples of handsome appearance and good quality have originated in the Horticultural Division and the best of these have been sent out for test to different parts of Canada to compare with those already in the market. More than two hundred of these new sorts have been propagated, and eighty-two of the best, named. A large number of seedling strawberries has been raised in the Horticultural Division, and some of the best are being propagated for introduction. Special atten- tion is being paid to the development of early strains of vegetables which will be of great value in the colder districts of Canada as well as in the more temperate parts. Good progress was made in this work in 1912, and provision has been made for greater efforts in plant breeding in the future. New varieties of black currants and raspberries of much merit, which were also originated by Dr. Saunders, have been introduced. CORRESPONDENCE AND OFFICE WQRK. The correspondence and other office work of the Horticultural Division grows each year, and in 1912 the number of letters received and despatched was greater than ever before, the number of letters received being 5,820 and the number despatched 6,330. Of these, a large proportion required technical information, and it is believed that, through correspondence, much aid is being rendered to those interested in horti- culture in Canada. People who ask for information by letter are those who are most likely to put into practice the advice given. As this correspondence comes from all parts of Canada it is necessary to become familiar with the conditions from north to south and from east to west throughout the Dominion. The card index system installed last year in the Horticultural Division for the purpose of filing the records of the Central Farm and branch Farms and Stations' has also entailed a large amount of work, but is proving a very satisfactory means of getting at the records, as it enables one rapidly to find what is desired. The books were sent from the branch Farms to Ottawa at the close of the growing season of 1912 and the records which it was desired to put on the cards were transferred. BRANCH FARMS. The work of the Horticultural Division in relation to the branch Farms and Stations has grown rapidly. It is its aim to aid the Superintendents in as many ways as possible and to help them develop the horticultural work on the Farms of which they have charge, and also to help to so systematize the work that the results will bo made of the greatest value to the people of Canada. During the past year much has 282 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 4 GEORGE V., A. 1914 been done in the directions above mentioned. Material, consisting of plants, seeds, labels, record books and other things, has been furnished the branch Farms and Stations through the Horticultural Division, as in previous years. The Experimental Farm, Nappan, was visited by me on July 15, 1912, when tha experimental work in horticulture was gone over with the Superintendent, and some suggestions made in regard to the keeping of records and of future work. The Experimental Station, Charlottetown, P.E.I., was visited on July 16, 1912, for the same purpose, and notes were taken of matters which could be attended to by me for the Station. On July 18, I was at the Experimental Station, Kentville, N.S., and discussed with the Superintendent the situation of future plantations on the Farm, the positions of the roads through the horticultural part of the Farm, and the general plan of the planting. In May, 1912, my assistant, Mr. T. G. Bunting, before the appointment of the Superintendent, went to the Kentville Station and planted about twenty-one acres of orchard with the trees which had been ordered by me the previous autumn. I visited the Experimental Farm, Brandon, Man., on April 13 to 15, 1912, and again on August 29 to 30, 1912. A site was decided upon for a new bush fruit plant- ation, and the bushes were planted in the spring of 1912. It was also decided during my visit to remove every other box elder tree in the mixed avenue of this tree and white spruce, as the trees were crowding. The experimental work was discussed with the Superintendent and notes were made of things needful for the development of the horticultural work there. My first visit to the Experimental Farm at Indian Head, Sask., in 1912 was on April 15 to 16, when I discussed with the Superintendent the horticultural experi- ments planned for the year, and planned the planting of the grounds near the Super- intendents house, the hedge which formerly enclosed the ilower beds having been removed, at my suggestion, and the land ploughed and levelled in preparation for the planting of trees, shrubs, and flowers, and the making of a lawn. On August 28 to 29, when I made another visit, some further changes were planned, including the removal of every other tree in the avenue beginning at the entrance; the removal of trees and shrubs close to the Superintendent's house; the. making of herbaceous borders to the west of the house and in the enclosure east of the house. It was also planned to remove the maples which formed a closely-planted avenue to the south of this enclosure. The experiments with fruits and vegetables were carefully gone over at this time. I visited the Bosthern Experimental Station on April 28 to 30, 1912, and examined with the Superintendent the different plantations on the farm. I planned the arrangement of the sample hedges which were to be set out and did some further planting along the road leading from the entrance gate to the Superintendent's house. I was again at Bosthern on August 26 to 27, when perennial borders were planned, the arboretum borders gone carefully over, and many of the trees and shrubs named. On April 24 to 27, 1912, I was at the Scott Experimental Station, where an addition of three acres to the orchard was planned; an arboretum for testing species and varieties of trees and shrubs was laid out, and also a long herbaceous border, extending from near the Superintendent's house to the railway. I also planned and did considerable planting on about five acres of lawn and ornamental grounds, and decided the arrangement of the sample hedges. The Scott Experimental Station was again visited on August 24, 1912, and notes were taken on horticultural experiments in progress. The Experimental Station at Lethbridge, Alta., was visited on April 17 to 19, 1912, at which time I planted and assisted in the work of planting an area to be devoted to lawn and ornamental trees and shrubs west of the Superintendent's house. I also assisted in filling the vacancies in the arboretum with material from Ottawa, DIVISION OF HORTICULTURE 283 SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 and suggested — as I did also at the other branch Farms — the seeding down to grass of the land between the sample hedges, leaving a strip for cultivation close to the plants. The Lethbriclge Station was again visited on August 19 to 21, 1912, and the experimental work in horticulture discussed with the Superintendent. I spent April 20 to 23, 1912, at the Lacombe Experimental Station, and planned the planting of an area of about ten acres for lawn and ornamental grounds, and assisted in the planting. I also planned the planting of additional hedges. I examined the arboretum borders, orchard, and bush fruit plantations with the Superintendent, and explained the system of keeping records to the gardener, as at the other Farms. I again visited this Station on August 22-23, 1912, at which time I rendered what help I could in connection with the experimental work. I also planned a long peren- nial border to extend from near the Superintendent's house to the main gate. On April 8 to 10, 1912, I was at Agassiz, B.C., and among other things planned the planting of a farmer's home fruit plantation of about three acres, to contain such kinds and varieties of fruits as it would be desirable for farmers to grow for home use. I later ordered the material for this plantation. I also planned a long peren- nial border and discussed with the Superintendent some changes which it seemed desirable to make in the ornamental grounds. I again visited Agassiz on August 6, 1912, and went over the experimental work in horticulture with the Superintendent. On April 10 to 11, 1912, I visited the farm of Mr. Thos. A. Sharpe, at Salmon Arm', B.C., and examined the fruits in his orchard and other plantations and, on August 9, paid him another visit. Mr. Sharpe is testing a large number of varieties of apples, and, while the trees are yet young, the results should eventually be valuable. PLACES VISITED. On May 11, 1912, I left for England, having been appointed Canadian delegate to the Royal International Horticultural exhibition held in London on May 22 to 30. I reached London on May 22, and made my headquarters there throughout the period of the exhibition. The last previous International Horticultural exhibition held in England was in 1866. The exhibition of 1912 was the largest horticultural show ever held in any country, and I appreciated the opportunity of seeing it and of study- ing the many exhibits there. Many notes were taken which have already been put to good use. This exhibition also gave me the opportunity of meeting many horticulturists with a world-wide reputation. I visited the estates of Sir Trevor Lawrence, Burford Dorking; Sir Frank Crisp, Friar Park, Henley-on-Thames; Mr. Leopold de Rothschild, Gunners- bury Park, Acton, W. ; Mr. II. J. Elwes, Colesborne, Cheltenham. At all of these beautiful places, I saw many things interesting and new to me. I also visited the South Eastern Agricultural College and Experimental Station at Wye, Kent; the Woburn Fruit Experimental Station, Ridgemont; the Royal Gardens, Kew; the Glasnevin Botanical Gardens, and the nursery of Amos Perry, Enfield, where much information was obtained. While making my second journey to the western branch Farms in August, 1912, I visited orchards in the vicinity of Nelson, Grand Forks, and Trail, B.C. and got a very good idea of conditions in those parts of British Columbia. I also visited the Mitchell Nursery Co., at Coaldale and Lethbridge, Alta., and the Cloverdale Nurseries, near Edmonton, Alta. On October 18, I left to attend the Dry Farming Congress at Lethbridge, Alta., and from there I went to British Columbia and made an examination of the stock of the Riverside nurseries, Grand Forks, and the Coldstream nurseries, Vernon; tbe Kelowna Land and Orchard Co's. nurseries, Kelowna; the Layritz nurseries, Kelowna; 234 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 4 GEORGE V., A. 1914 the Royal nurseries, Vancouver; Brown Bros.' nurseries, Vancouver; and the Layritz nurseries, Victoria. My assistant, Mr. T. G. Bunting, on August 12-17, 1912, inspected fields of vegetables in the competition organized by the Ontario Vegetable Growers' Associa- tion. On August 25-28 he judged the fruits and flowers at the Provincial exhibition, Quebec. On June 29 and August 29 he judged the gardens in a competition at Vankleek Hill, Ont., and between September 2 and 12 he attended the National exhi- bition, Toronto, and the Western fair, London, Ont. My assistant in ornamental gardening, Mr. F. E. Buck, helped to judge the fruit and flowers at the Provincial exhibition, Quebec. He also attended the National exhibition, Toronto, and visited the Dale nurseries, Brampton, Ont., September 2-7, 1912, and the Ontario Pruit, Flower and Honey Show, Toronto, November 12-16, 1912. My assistant in plant breeding, Mr. A. J. Logsdail, acted as judge at the Horti- cultural exhibition at Haileybury, Ont., on August 27-30, and at Vankleek Hill, Ont., September 19, 1912. He attended the Fruit, Flower and Honey Show and the meeting of the Ontario Fruit Growers' Association on November 13-18, 1912. ADDRESSES. I attended the meeting of the Ontario Fruit Growers' Association and the meet- ing of the Ontario Horticultural Association, on November 13 to 16, 1912, and gave an address at the former on 'The Best Varieties of Small Fruits,' and at the latter on ' Continuity of Bloom in Small Gardens.' I also compiled and read the annual report of the Committee on Novelties of the Ontario Horticultural Association. At this meeting, my assistant in ornamental gardening, Mr. F. E. Buck, read a paper on ' Everlasting Flowers.' On December 4 and 5, I attended a meeting of the Quebec Pomological Society at Macdonald College, Que., for which I prepared an obituary of the late Prof. John Craig. As president of the Society for Horticultural Science in 1912, I delivered the presidential address at the annual meeting at Cleveland, Ohio, on December 31, 1912, my subject being ' The Relation of Climate to Horticulture.' On February 3 and 4, 1913, I attended the Short Course in Horticulture at Macdonald College, Que., gave a talk on ' The Best Varieties of Fruits for the Province of Quebec,' and also an illustrated address on ' The Improvement of Home Surround- ings.' At this short course, Mr Buck gave an address on 'Laying out Home Grounds.' On February 25 to March 1, I attended the meeting of the Niagara Peninsula Fruit Growers' Association, at Grimsby and St. Catharines, giving addresses on ' The Influence of Temperature on Fruit and Fruit Trees ' and ' The Best Varieties of Apples and Plums for Market.' On March 18, Mr. Buck addressed the Smith's Falls Horticultural Society. Mr. T. C. Bunting, one of my assistants, gave a talk on ' Small Fruits for the City Garden ' before the Ottawa Horticultural Society, July 23, 1912. PUBLICATIONS. During the year, I prepared pamphlet- on ' Cabbage and Cauliflower Culture,'. 'Tomato Culture." and on 'Hardy Roses;' also, a 'Spraying Calendar,' all of which were published. In addition to these, several articles were written for horticultural publications. These included an article on 'Apple Culture in Canada,' 'Bush Fruits and Their Culture,' and ' Horticulture in Canada,' for the new edition of Bailey's Cyclopedia of American Horticulture. An article on ' Fruit Growing in Canada ' was written for a book on ' Commercial Canada,' by F. Cook, and an article on ' The Christmas Tree,' for the December number of the Canadian Horticulturist. DIVISION OF HORTICULTURE 285 SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 The assistants in the Horticultural Division also prepared a number of articles for horticultural papers. . Donations During the Calendar Year 1912. bender. Donation. Adney, Tappan, Upper Woodstock, N.B Apple scions. Adams, E. E., Leamington, Ont Seeds of selected Earliana tomato. Arnold, Arboretum, Jamaica Plain, Mass., U.S Trees and shrubs. Armstrong1, 0. G., Orono, Ont., Potatoes, Aroostook Wonder. Barclay, W. G., Nelson, B.C Wild strawberry, Anderson's variety. Billings, Miss B. , Brockville, Ont Scions of Billings' Red apple. Courtneidge, W., Starbuck, Man Scions of Warren's No. 1 plum . Davis, James, Maple Creek, Sask Squaw corn seed. Elwes, H. J., Colesborne, Cheltenham, England Herbaceous plants and one species of pine. Fisher, A, L., Brockville, Ont Seeds of flowers and vegetables. Havebrugs Experimental Station, Esbjerg, Denmark. . . .Scions, Grev. A. W. Molkte pear, Skoofogerable and Elmelund apples. Henderson & Co., New York, U.S Seeds of vegetables. Hilborn, J. L., Leamington, Ont Seeds of selected Earliana tomato. Hunt, A. S., Lawrencetown, N.S .Scions of Schaffner's special apples. Gilbert, G. S., Burton, N.B Scions of Fameuse Seedling, Greenish Seedling, Peabody Early apple and Yellow crab apple. Johnson, H. D., Wolfville, Ont Scions of probably Fameuse apple seedling. Keen, Alfred, St. Mary's Ferry, N.B Scions of Keen's Crimson apple. Mitchell Nursery Co., Coaldale, Alta Seeds of white. flowered delphinium. Moore, Sir Frederick, Royal Botanic Gardens, Glas-Plants of herbaceous perennials. nevin, Ireland Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, England Trees and shrubs. Rowe, N. W., Won wood, Tavistock, England Scion of Pccket applu Revestadel Ministerio de Obras, Bogota, Republica de Colombia Potatoes. Sherrington, A. E., Walkerton, Ont Seeds of selected Early Detroit tomato. Smith, Chas., Sandbeach, N.S Potatoes, No. 1, seedling. Smith, W. H., Port Dover, Ont Scions of Red Seedling No. 3 apple. Tribe, James, Inkster, Man Seeds of Tribe's Magnum Bonum pea. Waters, A. A., Peel, Ont Orser beans. STAFF OF THE HORTICULTURAL DIVISION. W. T. Macoun, Dominion Horticulturist, T. G. Bunting, B.S.A. (resigned November, 1912), Chief Assistant and Assistant in Pomology. F. E. Buck, B.S.A., Assistant in Ornamental Gardening, A. J. Logsdail, B.S.A., Assistant in Plant Breeding, C. F. W. Dreher, B.S.A., Temporary Assistant in Vegetable Gardening, J. F. Watson, Secretary, H. Holz, Foreman, Wm. Ellis, in charge of greenhouses, H. J. Read, Assistant Foreman, J. Taggart, Foreman of Ornamental Grounds. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS. My chief assistant and assistant in pomology, Mr. T. G. Bunting, continued to render valuable services until he left in November, 1912, to become Professor of Horticulture at the Macdonald College, Que. Mr. F. E. Buck, my assistant in orna- mental gardening, has spent much time during the past year in the study of the plants under his charge, and has proven himself to be devoted to his work. Mr. A. J. Logsdail, who was temporarily employed in charge of the plant breeding during the latter part of the year, and permanently appointed at the close, did good work. Mr. Wm. Dreher, also temporarily employed during the latter part of the year, was able 233 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 4 GEORGE V., A. 1914 to render me considerable assistance in the work with vegetables. The secretary of the Horticultural Division, Mr. J, F. Watson, who has now been connected with the Division for twenty years, and who has become very familiar with the details con- nected with the correspondence, orders, accounts, and other work which a secretary's office entails, has again efficiently discharged his duties. He is aided by Mr. M. D. MacCallum, who during the past year has satisfactorily written many of the letters in the general correspondence. Mr. H. Holz, who has been foreman of the Horticul- tural Division for fifteen years and associated with me as foreman for twenty years, has again looked after the outside work with diligence and thoroughness. Mr. Wm. T. Ellis has now been in charge of the greenhouses at the Central Experimental Farm for twenty-five years, and during the past year again rendered faithful service. Mr. Horace Read, assistant foreman, has satisfactorily assisted in the experimental work, as in previous years, by making many of the records, and has again devoted consider- able time to the transferring of the horticultural records of the branch Farms to the central card system at Ottawa. Mr. James Taggart, as foreman of the ornamental grounds, continues to show much interest in his work, and in 1912 the grounds looked particularly well. I again wish to express my appreciation of the faithful services of the other men employed in the Horticultural Division, who have most of the manual work to do. My grateful acknowledgment is here recorded of the many kindnesses shown, and much assistance given me by the Superintendents of the branch Farms and Stations, By their ready co-operation in discussing suggestions made to them and in putting them into practice as far as was in their power, it has been possible for me to render considerable help in the development of the horticultural work under their immediate charge. I have the honour to be, Sir, Your obedient servant, W. T. MACOUN, Dominion Horticulturist. CHARACTER OF SEASON. Each year, for fourteen years, a record has been kept of the date when frost was out of the ground sufficiently to dig in certain parts of the horticultural grounds, the date in 1912 being April 10, and for the past fourteen years the average date is April 11. April was a cool month. The highest temperature was on the 15th, when it was 6T°F., and the lowest was on the 1st, when it was T°F. The last spring frost was on April 30, when 32°F. was registered. Tree fruits and small fruits came through the winter well. The month of May was moderately warm to cool and showery. The highest temperature was 82 °F. on the 28th, and the lowest 33 °F. on the 14th. June was a moderately warm month with no hot days, and cool at nights. The early part of the month was showery and the latter part was dry. The highest temperature was 88-4°F. on the 24th, and the lowest 39-4°F. on the 7th. The only really hot spell during the growing season was from July 3 to July 10, which was very warm. The lowest maximum temperature of these days was 92-4°F., on the 4th, and the highest was' 95-8° F. on the 7th, which was the hottest day of the year. It was 95°F. and over on the 6th, 7th, 8th and 9th. The warm weather continued DIVISION OF HORTICULTURE 287 SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 until the 15th, after which it was moderately warm to cool, and the remainder of the summer was unusually cool. The lowest temperature in July was 45-6°F. on the 31st. During August, the temperature was above 80°F. only three times, the warmest day being the 14th, when it was 81-5°F. The lowest temperature was 40-4°F. on the 30th. Showers were frequent in August. During September, the temperature reached 80°F. only once during the month, on the 7th. The first .autumn frost was on the 30th, when the temperature dropped to 28-5°F., killing tender annuals, grape leaves, tomatoes, melons, squash, etc. September was a cool, showery month. October was fine but rather cool. The highest temperature was 75°F., on the 6th, the temperature rising above 70°F. only three times during the month. The lowest temperature was 26-2°F., on the 16th. Owing to the cool summer and autumn, the conditions were unfavourable for the ripening of melons and grapes, although a con- siderable quantity of these did mature. Winter set in on November 25, in 1912, which is one day later than the average for the past fifteen years About 21 inches of snow fell, a very heavy fall for the first. There was little or no frost in the ground. The coldest day in November was the 28th, when it was 5-2°F., and the warmest was on the 6th, when it was 58-4°F. December was very mild for that month, the temperature being above freezing on 17 days, but the weather was very changeable. It was down to zero and below only four times during the month, the lowest temperature being -4-2°F., on the 21st. By the end of the month, there was only three or four inches of snow on the ground. January, 1913, was another very mild month, the temperature rising .above freezing on 16 days and being below zero on only 4 days. The lowest temperature was -16- °F. on the 13th. The weather was very changeable during the month, with considerable rain. By the end of the month there were only about 3 inches of snow on the ground. February was the coldest month of the winter, although the lowest temperature, which was — 18°F. on the 25th, was the highest minimum temperature in any winter of recent years, and there were no continuous spells of very cold weather. It was below zero on fifteen days of the month. The highest temperature was 37-8°F. on the 21st, but it was above freezing only three days. Owing to the many thaws during the month of January and the frosty weather which followed them, there was much ice during February, making conditions very unfavourable for herbaceous plants, parti- cularly strawberries. There was no heavy snowfall in February and at the end of the month there were only about ten inches of snow on the level, with ice beneath. The weather continued cold until March 10, at which time there was about eighteen inches of snow, the most there had been since early in December. Bush fruits, low-growing plants, and roots of trees did not have the usual protec- tion during the winter. By March 21, the ground was bare in many places, and by the 24th the snow was practically all gone except in drifts, and later light snows remained but a short time. While the winter, on the whole, was a mild one, the many changes of temperature must have been hard on plants. It is noted that most of the fruit buds of cherries and European plums are dead. FRUIT AND VEGETABLE CROPS IN CANADA, 1912. The apple crop in most fruit districts of Canada in 1912 was scarcely a medium one, but in British Columbia it was good. In Eastern Canada, the fruit was com- paratively free of apple scab in the early part of the season, became badly affected in many places in the latter part of summer owing, doubtless, to the damp weather. This reduced the grade and the prices, which for the best fruit were relatively low but were still lower for these poorer grades. In eastern Ontario and the southwestern part of the province of Quebec, the ravages of the tent caterpillars lessened the crop 288 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 4 GEORGE V., A. 1914 very much where the trees were not thoroughly sprayed, and left the trees . in had condition for developing fruit buds for 1913. Pears were a good crop in the warmer parts of Nova Scotia, but in Ontario the crop was below medium. In the upper country of British Columbia it was good, but rather light on the lower mainland and on Vancouver island. The same notes will apply to the plum crop as to the pear, except that along the lower St. Lawrence, especially in L'Islet county, where it was good. A noted feature of the plum crop there was that the bulk of it was canned locally and sold co-operatively. The peach crop in Ontario was a medium to good one, but the prices obtained were not as high as usual. In the Okanagan district of British Columbia, where most of the peaches of that province are grown, the crop was good, but the prices obtained were low. The grape, which is one of the most reliable fruits, gave a good average crop in Ontario, where it is chiefly produced. Owing to the cool season almost everywhere in Canada, the tenderer kinds of vegetables, such as tomatoes, melons, squash, etc., did not ripen as well as usual; but vegetables, the foliage, roots or tubers of which are used, did well. The potato crop was a particularly good one nearly everywhere in Canada where it is grown, but unfortunately, as is often the ease when the yield is large, the price obtained was small. At the Central Experimental Farm, the crop of apples was medium to good, and very free from scab and codling moth. There were a few European plums and a good crop of the American varieties. The cherry crop was almost a total failure, as usual ; the flower buds are nearly always injured by winter. The grape crop was below medium, and the fruit did not ripen as thoroughly as in some years. The crop of currants, gooseberries, and raspberries was light to medium, and the crops of strawberries good. The potato crop was very good; tomatoes below medium, and ripe melons light. Most of the other vegetables did well. SEEDLING FRUITS RECEIVED FOR EXAMINATION, 1911-112. There were not so many seedlings as usual received during the past year and, of those sent in, there were few that were promising. Following is a list of the names of persons from whom seedlings were received, with the numbers under which these were recorded. A description is published of two apples and a plum, these being of most interest. Apples: 5S3, crab apple from II. W. Roberts, Clarendon, N.B.; 584, from J. F. Cloutier, Ste. Eugene la France, P.Q. ; 5S5, from R. J. Wiggins, Elmside, P.Q. ; 586, from Duncan Bell, Ottawa, Ont. ; 587, small apple from John Dearness, London, Ont. (see full description) ; 588 and 589, No. 1 and No. 2 from A. E. Wilson, Clarence, Ont.; 590 and 591, No. 1 and No. 2 from C. L. Stephens, Orillia, Ont.; 592^ seedling of Longfield from Robt. Moore, M.D., Fort Frances, Ont.; 593, Wain apple from Mrs. C. L. Wain, Kamloops, B.C. (see full description), 594, from Mrs. S. W. Handy, Cascade, B.C. Plum: 595, from A. E. Guay, Ville Marie, P.Q. » APPLE SEEDLING FROM JOHN DEARXESSj LONDON, ONT. Size below medium to small, largest specimen 2£ by 2 inches, a smaller speci- men, 2 by If inches; form, oblong or oval; cavity narrow, medium depth, russeted; stem long, slender; basin open, shallow, wrinkled; colour pale yellow, well washed and splashed with attractive carmine; dots moderately numerous, pale, indistinct; DIVISION OF HORTICULTURE 289 SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 flesh white, crisp, tender, juicy; skin moderately thick, tough; core medium size, seeds medium size, hroad, acute; quality above medium. Season evidently mid to late September. An attractive-looking apple of striking shape. Tree found growing wild near Hawthorn, Pyrug corona* ia, and Amelanchier, suggestive of Chenango Straw- berry which might, perhaps, be a parent of it. Specimens sent by John Dearness, London, Ont., who found it on a botanizing trip. Should make an attractive orna- mental plant. APPLE SEEDLING FROM MRS. C. L. WAIN, KAMLOOPS, B.C. Size large; form conical slightly ribbed, rather abruptly and tapering near basin; cavity medium depth and width, russeted; stem medium length, stout; basin deep, medium width, wrinkled; calyx open; colour yellow washed with pinkish red on sunny side; predominant colour yellow; seeds medium size, acuminate; dots numerous, grey, distinct; skin thick, moderately tender; flesh dull white or yellowish; core medium; flesh crisp, rather coarse, juicy; flavour mildly subacid, pleasant; quality above medium; season probably October and November; tree a seedling. General notes: an attractive-looking apple but not good enough in quality for dessert and not acid enough for cooking. May be useful if very hardy. PLUM SEEDLING FROM A. E. GUAY, YILLE MARIE, P.Q. Size large; form nearly globular, irregular; cavity medium size, moderately shallow; sutmre no depression, clearly lined ; apex rounded, swollen opposite suture; colour yellow overspread largely by bright crimson red; predominant colour crimson red; dots indistinct; bloom none to very slight; skin moderately thin, toughish; flesh yellow, very juicy r somewhat soft; flavour, sweet, but lacking character; quality medium to above medium; stone roundish, much flattened, large, cling. General notes: A handsome plum, but sample too ripe to give justice; to all appearance, a first-rate fruit. A WEALTHY APPLE ORCHARD— CLOSELY PLANTED. In 1896, a small orchard of Wealthy apple trees was planted at the Central Experimental Farm, consisting of 144 trees, 10 by 10 feet apart, or at the rate of 435 trees per acre. The original area occupied by the trees was about one-third, 49i2i, of an acre, but this was reduced slightly in 1909, so that the area is now 349ios9 of acre, still nearly one-third of an acre. While the trees were planted ten by ten feet apart, since then some have died and others have been removed from time to time to give those which remained sufficient room to develop. Those removed have, as far as possible, been the poorer yielding specimens, a record having been kept of the yields of each tree since 1899. Of the original 144 trees, there are now ninety-seven left. Since the last report of this orchard was published, eleven trees have been removed. The trees are pruned moder- ately every year. The trees are too close to cultivate, but, as the ground is well shadSd by them, the sod does not become thick. The grass is cut and allowed to lie in the orchard. The trees are manured once in about three years. A record has been kept of the yields, sales, and expenses in connection with this orchard, which have been given in the annual reports for 1902, 1904, 1905, 1908 and 1910. Following is a statement of yields, sales, expenses, and profits from the time the orchard was planted to the end of 1912 : — 16—19 290 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 4 GEORGE V., A. 19H Wealthy Orchard, 1896-1912 Net profit per acre, 1896-1904 $ *87 16 1905 103 13 1906 112 SO " ir07 3.54 1908 104 34 1K>9 108 98 1910 105 47 1911 49 as 1912 399 44 Total net profit per acre, 1896-1912 (17 years) $1,508 24 Average net profit per acre from date of planting, 1896 to 1912.. $ 83 72 Average net profit per acre from date of fruiting, 1899 to 1912.. 107 73 Wealthy Orchard, 1910. Gallons. Fruit picked 29fi Windfalls 321| Total 617| Esti mated Sales of Fruit. per Aero 10 baskets at 45 cents $ 4 50 $14 41 68 " 35 " 23 80 76 23 137 " SO " 4110 13164 215 Total revenue, 1910 $69 40 $222 28 Estimated Expenses, 1910. per Acre. Pruning, 1 man 20 hours at 15 cents.... $ 3 00 $ 9 61 Mowing, 1 man 10 hours at 15 cents 1 50 4 81 Material used for spraying 1 20 3 84 Spraying 4 times 3 00 9 61 Cost of 215 baskets and covers at 4 cents 8 60 27 55 Putting on tree protectors, 1 man 10 hours at 15 cents 1 50 4 81 Rent of land 0 94 3 00 Commission on sales 2 83 9 06 Picking fruit and gathering windfalls, 61 hours at 16! cents 10 17 32 57 Packing fruit. 23 hours at 16§ cents 3 83 12 27 Total expenses. 1910 $36 57 $117 13 Net profits, 1910 32 83 105 15 $ 69 40 $222 28 Wealthy Orchard, 1911. Gallons. Fruit picked 330V Windfalls 129J Total 460 to Estimated Sales of Fruit. per Acrp 2 baskets at 25 cents $0 50 $160 153 " 30 " 45 90 147 01 155 Total revenue. 1911 $46 40 $148 61 DIVISION OF HORTICULTURE 231 SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 Expenses, 1911. Mowing, 1 man 10 hours at 16| cents Materials used for spraying Spraying 3 times Cost of 155 baskets at 4 cents Patting on tree protectors, 1 man 10 hours at 16J cents Kent of land Manure, 4 loads at 40 cents, teamster with team $4. Picking fruit and gathering windfalls, 49 hours at 17i cents Packing fruit. 18 hours at 17J cents Total expenses, 1911 Net profit, 1911 - Estimated per Acre. $ 1 65 0 96 2 25 6 20 $ 5 28 7 21 3 08 19 86 1 65 0 94 5 eo 5 29 3 00 17 94 8 58 3 15 27 48 10 09 $ 30 98 15 42 $ €9 23 49 38 $ 46 40 $148 61 Wealthy Orchard, 1912. Fruit picked Windfalls Total Sales of Fruit. 100 baskets at 25 cents 309 " SO " 145 " 27>, " 199 " 321 " 101 " 35 " 854 Total revenue, in 12 Expenses, 1012. Pruning, 1 man 31 hours at 19\ cents Mowing, 1 man 8 hours at 18J cents Lime sulphur and poison, 1 spraying Bordeaux mixture and poison, 3 sprays '. Spraying, 4 times Putting on tree protectors, 1 man 10 hours at 18| cents Rent of land 854 baskets and covers at 4 cents Picking fruit and gathering windfalls, 172 hours at 19J cents Packing fruit, 145 hours at 19J cents Commission on sales of fruit Total expenses. 1912 Net profits, 11)12 * Gallons. 1,686 964 2,650 » Estimated per Acre. $ 2.5 00 92 70 39 87J 64 67^ 35 35 $ 80 07 296 91 127 72 207 15 113 23 $257 60 $825 08 Estimated per Acre. $ 5 85 1 48 ] 4,5 1 04 3 13 $ 18 74 4 74 4 64 3 33 10 03 1 85 0 94 34 16 5 93 3 00 109 41 33 51 28 28 21 17 107 43 90 58 67 81 $132 S9 124 71 $-125 04 399 44 $257 60 $825 08 In the tables of revenue and expense given above, the estimates per acre are based on the sales actually made, assuming- that the yields, prices, and cost of pro- duction would be in the same proportion per acre. It will be noticed that the pro- portion of windfalls is very high. Those acquainted with the Wealthy apple will know that this variety is very subject to dropping. Some of the windfalls were sold. The fruit was all sold on the local markets. The rent of the land is low for orchard land, but fruit is not one of the main crops of the Ottawa district ,and the rent is estimated on farm land. 16— 19$ 232 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 4 GEORGE V., A. 1914 While it is of interest to record the returns from a closely-planted Wealthy orchard, 1 while the returns at the Central Experimental Farm have averaged well since ! trees began to fruit, close-planting is not recommended to the average farmer, as, if some of the trees are not removed in good time, the others will suffer. In any case, only early-bearing varieties, such as Wealthy and Wagener, should be treated in this way. Twelve feet apart each way would have been a better distance than ten feet. Another method of planting suggested for the best apple districts, is to have the permanent trees thirty-six to forty feet apart each way, with early-bearing varieties between, and thus have the trees at first eighteen by thirty-six feet apart, having in view the cutting out of the early-bearing trees in from fifteen to twenty years. An additional row of trees of an early-bearing variety might be» planted between the permanent rows, unless the space is utilized for vegetables or small fruits. A row of this kind, however, interferes with spraying before many years. When early-bearing, varieties are planted closely in solid blocks spraying may be done with a long hose and a row is left out for a driveway about every 100 feet. APPLES ORIGINATED IN THE HORTICULTURAL DIVISION, CENTRAL EXPERIMENTAL FARM. SEEDLING VARIETIES. Since 1903, there have been 1,148 apple trees which have fruited among those which have been raised from seed in the Horticultural Division without hand pollination, and of which only one parent is definitely known. Of these varieties one hundred and fifty-two fruited for the first time in 1912. Of the total of eleven hundred and forty-eight varieties which have fruited, eighty-one have been considered sufficiently promising to name and, of these, the descriptions of fourteen are now published all, but one, for the first time. Ascot (Northern Spy seedling). — Fruit medium to large; form roundish; cavity medium depth and width, russeted at base ; stem medium length, slender to moderately stout; basin deep, medium width, smooth; calyx closed or open; colour yellow well washed with crimson; predominant colour crimson; seeds medium size, acute; dots obscure; skin moderately thick, moderately tough; flavour subacid, pleasant but not high; core medium, open; flesh yellowish with traces of red, crisp, tender, juicy; quality good; season late November probably to February' or later. General notes: Resembles Northern Spy a little in outward appearance and considerably in flesh and flavour. Brisco (Langford Beauty seedling). — Fruit medium size; form roundish; cavity medium depth and width; stem medium .to long, slender; basin deep, medium width, slightly wrinkled; calyx closed or partly open; colour greenish yellow washed with deep attractive crimson; predominant colour deep crimson; seeds medium size, acute; dots few, yellow, distinct; skin moderately thick, moderately tender; flesh yellowish, crisp, juicy; core above medium, open; flavour briskly subacid, pleasant, spicy; quality good; season late September to middle November. General notes: Resembles Langford Beauty somewhat in outward appearance, also resembles Jon- athan a good deal in appearance and flavour. Diana (Langford Beauty seedling). — Fruit medium size; form roundish; oavity medium depth and width; stem medium length, moderately stout; basin open, deep, wrinkled; calyx closed; colour yellow well washed with attractive crimson; predom- DIVISION OF HORTICULTURE 293 SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 hi ant colour attractive crimson; seeds medium size, acuminate; dots few, white, indis- tinct; bloom thin, pinkish; skin moderately thick, moderately tender; flesh white with traces of red, crisp, tender, juicy; core medium size, open; flavour briskly subacid, aromatic; equally good; season October and November probably. General notes: Resembles Langford Beauty somewhat in colour and character of flesh. A hand- some apple. Epsom (Northern Spy seedling). — Fruit above medium to large; form roundish, conical; cavity medium depth and width, russeted; stem medium length, stout; basin deep, open, wrinkled; calyx open; colour pale yellow well washed and splashed with crimson; predominant colour crimson; seeds medium size, acute; dots few, small, white, distinct; bloom bluish; skin thick, moderately tough; flesh yellowish, tender moderately juicy ; core above medium, open ; flavour subacid, pleasant ; quality good ; season October to middle November. Much like Spy in shape, colour, flesh and flavour. Promising. Galena (Langford Beauty seedling). — Bruit medium to above medium in size; form roundish; cavity medium depth and width; stem short to medium, moderately stout; basin deep, medium width, slightly wrinkled; calyx closed or partly open; colour pale greenish yellow well washed with deep crimson, predominant colour deep crimson; seeds medium size, acute; dots very few, yellow, distinct; skin moderately tbick, tender; flesh white, with traces of red, tender, juicy; core medium size, open; flavour subacid, pleasant; quality good; season, October to late December. General Notes: Resembles Langford Beauty considerably in outward appearance and in flesh and flavour, also resembles Mcintosh considerably in outward appearance. Grover (Mcintosh seedling). — Fruit medium size; form oblate, slightly ribbed; cavity medium deptb, open ; stem short, stout ; basin medium depth and width, slightly wrinkled ; calyx partly open ; colour pale yellow well washed with deep crimson ; pre- dominant colour deep crimson; seeds large, broad, acute; dots few, white, distinct; bloom slight, bluish; skin moderately thick, tough; flesh white tinged with red, tender, juicy; core medium; flavour subacid, sprightly, pleasant, spicy; quality good; season December probably to middle winter or later. Probably later in season than Mcintosh. Resembles Mcintosh considerably in colour and in flesh, also somewhat about cavity. Promising. Humber (Golden Russet seedling). — Fruit above medium in size; form oblate to roundisb, flattened at ends; cavity open, medium depth, russeted; stem short, stout; basin open, deep, wrinkled ; calyx open ; colour yellow, washed with orange red, mostly on sunny side; seeds large, obtuse; dots moderately numerous, yellow, distinct; skin moderately thick, moderately tender; flesh dull white or yellowish, firm, rather coarse, moderately juicy; core small; flavour subacid, pleasant, spicy; quality, good; season January to late winter or spring. Resembles Golden Russet somewhat in flesh and flavour. Manda (Salome seedling1). — Fruit above medium size; form roundish; cavity open, medium depth; stem medium length, stout; basin medium depth and width, smooth; calyx open; colour, yellow washed, splashed and striped with carmine; pre- dominant colour carmine; seeds below medium, acute; dots obscure; skin moderately thick, tender; flavour subacid, pleasant; core medium size; flesh dull white, crisp, tender moderately juicy; quality good; season November to February. Moreno (Langford Beauty seedling). — Fruit medium to above; form oblate, conic; cavity narrow, medium depth; stem medium to long, moderately stout; basin 294 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 4 GEORGE V., A. 1914 open, medium depth, wrinkled; ealyx open or closed; colour pale yellow washed and splashed with carmine ; predominant colour carmine ; seeds medium size, broad, acute, dots obscure; skin thin, tender; flesh white, crisp and tender, juicy; core medium; flavour subacid, sprightly, pleasant; quality good; season October to mid-December. Niobe (Northern Spy seedling). — Fruit above medium; form roundish, regular or slightly ribbed, conical; cavity deep, medium width; stem medium to long, slender to moderately stout; basin deep, medium width, smooth to slightly wrinkled; calyx partly open; colour greenish yellow washed and splashed with rather dull crimson; predominant colour rather dull crimson; seeds above medium; dots few, white, indis- tinct; bloom thin, pinkish; skin moderately thick, tough; flesh yellowish, crisp tender, rather coarse, moderately juicy; core medium, open; flavour mildly subacid, pleasant; quality good to very good; season December to late winter. Described in 1912, also. Orlando (Northern Spy seedling). — Fruit medium size; form roundish, conical, ribbed; cavity deep, medium width, russeted; stem medium length, slender to moder- ately stout; basin narrow, deep, slightly wrinkled; calyx partly open or closed; colour yellow washed with bright crimson ; predominant colour bright crimson ; seeds medium size, acute; dots few, white, indistinct; skin moderately thick, moderately tender; flesh yellow with traces of red, tender, juicy, crisp; core medium, open; flavour briskly subacid, sprightly, aromatic; quality good; season late September to December. Pandora (Northern Spy seedling). — Fruit above medium; form roundish, slightly ribbed; cavity deep, open; stem short, stout; basin deep, open, nearly smooth; calyx partly open; colour yellow washed and splashed with light crimson; predominant colour light crimson; seeds medium size, acute; dots few, white, indistinct; skin moderately thick, tender; flesh dull white, crisp, tender, juicy; core medium size, open; flavour subacid, pleasant, not high; quality above medium to good; season November and December. Pedro (Mcintosh seedling). — Fruit above medium; form oblate to roundish, conic; cavity deep, medium width, russeted; stem short to medium, stout; basin narrow, medium depth, smooth; calyx open; colour pale yellow well washed with bright attractive crimson; predominant colour bright crimson; seeds medium, acute; dots obscure; skin moderately thick, tender; flesh dull white, tender, juicy; core medium size, open; flavour briskly subacid, pleasant; quality good; season Novem- ber to January. Bamona (Shiawassee Beauty seedling). — Fruit medium to above medium; form oblate: cavity deep, open, slightly russeted; stem short, stout: basin open, medium depth, wrinkled: calyx closed; colour pale yellow washed and splashed with carmine on sunny side: dots obscure; skin moderately thick, tender: flesh white, fine grained, tender, juicy: eore medium to small; flavour subacid, pleasant; quality good; season late August to mid-September. CROSS-BRED VARIETIES. While the larger proportion of trees raised from seed have not been the result of hand pollination, cross-breeding has not been neglected, and there are now 701 trees growing as the result of such work. Of these twelve fruited in 1912 and two of them were considered sufficiently promising to name, and descriptions of them follow. Bustler (Mcintosh x Lawver). — Fruit above medium; form roundish, slightly ribbed; cavity open, medium depth; stem medium length, stout; basin deep, medium DIVISION OF HORTICULTURE 295 SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 width, smooth; calyx open; colour yellow, almost or quite covered with crimson; pre- dominnnt colour crimson; seeds medium size, acute; dots numerous, yellow, distinct; hloom bluish; skin thick, tough; flesh yellowish with traces of red, moderately juicy, firm but tender; core medium size; flavour subacid, pleasant; quality above medium to good; season, December probably to March or later. Vermac (Lawver x Mcintosh). — Fruit below medium, almost small; form round- ish; cavity medium, depth and width; stem medium length, moderately stout; basin shallow, medium width, wrinkled; calyx closed or partly open; colour yellow almost entirely covered with rich deep attractive crimson; dots small, indistinct; bloom traces, bluish; skin thick, tough; flesh white tinged with red and a bright red core line, tender, juicy; core above medium to large, open; flavour subacid, pleasant, good, with aroma of Mcintosh; quality good; season probably eariy to mid-winter, decidedly later than Mcintosh. CROSS-BRED VARIETIES ORIGINATED BY DR. WM. SAUNDERS. A large number of cross-bred varieties were originated outside the Horticultural Division at the Central Experimental Farm by Dr. Wm. Saunders, late Director, an account of which work was published by him in Bulletin 68 called ' Progress in the Breeding of Hardy Apples for the Canadian Northwest.' These crosses are now under the charge of the Dominion Horticulturist, and following are descriptions of the besi of the second crosses which fruited in 1912, being the Fi generation from crosses between varieties of the Fi generation of the first cross and named varieties of larger apples. ' Dean/ for instance is P. baccata x Wealthy, and ' Angus ' is Dean x Ontario. The best of the first crosses which were crosses between the wild Siberian crab apple Pyrus baccata and varieties of apples, gave fruit little larger than the best named crab apples, while the second crosses, which have a larger quota of apple blood, have given fruit 21 inches in diameter, and, if they are sufficiently hardy, will prove very valuable. Angus (Dean x Ontario). — Fruit below medium to medium in size, 2 by 2£ inches; form roundish, slightly ribbed; cavity narrow, medium depth; stem long, slender; basin open, medium depth, wrinkled; calyx partly open; colour yellow washed with pinkish red; predominant colour pinkish red; seeds medium size for an apple, acute; dots few, small, white, distinct; skin thin, tender; flesh, yellow, crisp, breaking, moderately juicy, core medium; flavour, briskly subacid; quality above medium; season October to middle November. General Notes: No marked resemblance to Ontario. Of good size. Flesh, skin and stem, crab-like; seeds apple-like. Elkhorn (Jewel x Gideon). — Fruit large for a crab, small as an apple, If by 2\ inches; form oblate to roundish; cavity open, medium depth; stem long, slender: basin open, wrinkled; calyx closed; colour yellow, well washed with crimson; pre- dominant colour crimson; seeds small for an apple, acute; dots obscure; skin thin, tender; flesh yellowish, crisp, breaking, juicy; core above medium; flavour acid, pleasant; quality above medium; season late September and October. General Notes: This should make a good late crab apple for any part of Canada. No resemblance to Gideon. All marked characters are crab-like. Gretna (Pioneer x Northern Spy). — Fruit large for a crab, small for an apple, 9 by 2£ inches; form oblate; cavity deep, open; stem medium to long, stout to moder- ately stout; basin open, medium depth, wrinkled; calyx open; colour yellow, washed and splashed with crimson; predominant colour crimson; seed below medium for an 295 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 4 GEORGE V., A. 1914 tipple, large for a crab, acute; dots few, white, distinct; skin moderately thick, tender; flesh yellowish, crisp, breaking, juicy; core medium; flavour briskly subacid, pleasant, sprightly; quality good; season November to January. General Notes: Resembles Northern Spy considerably in colour, flesh and flavour. Promising. Martin (Pioneer x Ontario). — Fruit below medium 2\ by 2| inches; form round- ish; cavity narrow, medium depth, russeted; stem medium length, slender; basin medium depth and width to shallow almost smooth; calyx open; colour pale yellow washed with pinkish red; predominant colour pinkish red; seeds medium for an apple, acuminate; dots obscure; skin moderately thick, tender; flesh yellow, crisp, tender, juicy; core medium size, open; flavour subacid, pleasant; quality good; season October to mid-December. Ruth (Pyrus prunifolia x Pewaukee). — Fruit small for an apple, but as large as Martha crab apple, If by If inches to If by If inches; form roundish conical; cavity open, medium depth; stem long, slender; basin deep, medium width, wrinkled; calyx open; colour yellow well covered with deep crimson; predominant colour deep crimson; dots moderately numerous, white, distinct; skin, thin, tender; flesh yellow, stained with red, tender juicy; core above medium; flavour subacid, pleasant, no astringency; quality good; season October to November. Trail (Northern Queen x Rideau). — Fruit large for a crab, a little larger than Martha; form oblate, almost roundish; cavity medium depth and width; stem v.ery long, slender; basin open deep nearly smooth; calyx closed; colour pale yellow splashed and washed with orange red and crimson; predominant colour orange red; seeds below medium, acute; dots few, indistinct; bloom slight, pinkish, firm; skin thin, tender; flesh yellowish, crisp breaking; core medium; flavour subacid, sprightly, very pleasant; quality good to very good; season late August. Wapella (Dean x Ontario). — Fruit below medium for an apple, very large for a crab 2\ by 2\ inches; form roundish to oblong, ribbed; cavity medium depth and width; stem medium length, slender to moderately stout; basin open, deep, wrinkled; calyx partly open, or closed; colour yellow washed with red; predominant colour red; seeds medium size for an apple, obtuse; dots very few, indistinct; bloom pinkish, thin; skin moderately thick, moderately tender; flavour briskly subacid, pleasant; core medium; flesh yellowish with traces of red, crisp, breaking, juicy; quality above medium; season late December, probably to March or April. PLUM SEEDLINGS. The successful culture of the European or domestica plums is confined mainly to the warmest parts of Canada or where the winters are tempered by large bodies of water. The two native American species, Prunus nigra and Prunus americana, on the other hand, can be grown successfully where the winters are very severe. Many good varieties of these have been introduced and further improvement is being made. What is needed are early varieties of good quality for those parts where the growing season is short, and varieties with thinner skins for all parts. They should also, if possible, have good shipping qualities. At the Central Experimental Farm, a considerable number of good seedlings have been originated and some of the best have been named. The following five varieties were named in 1912. Four of these are seedlings of other Experimental Farm seedlings and are thought to be better than the parents. None of these is early enough for the prairie provinces, where only the earliest should be tried. Corona (Caro seedling). — Large; oval; lopsided; cavity medium size, shallow; euture slightly depressed, lopsided; apex knobbed, irregular ; greenish-yellow overspread with bright red; predominant colour red; dots indistinct; bloom moderate; skin thick, tough, slightly bitter, flesh yollow to greenish-yellow, firm, juicy meaty; sweet, DIVISION OF HORTICULTURE 297 SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 sprightly flavour; quality good; stone large, flattened, cling. Season late September. A very promising plum, large, of attractive appearance, of firm texture. Should prove to be a good shipper. Firmana (Consul seedling). — Large; oval, wedge, slightly lopsided; cavity medium to large, medium depth; suture indistinct; apex flattened; yellow, mottled and washed with carmine-red; predominant colour carmine-red; dots few, medium size, around apex; bloom moderate; skin medium thick; flesh yellow, firm, somcv dry; sweet to insipid flavour; quality medium; stone large, bean shaped, flattened, free; season late September. A plum possessing pre-eminently the characteristics of a good shipping fruit. Ten fruits weighed 10 ounces. Hazel (Gloria seedling). — Large; rounded ovate; cavity shallow, medium; suture indistinct, fairly clearly lined; apex rounded; yellow, generally entirely overspr- with a dull, rich red; predominant colour dull, rich red; dots, medium to large, dis- tinct, yellow, bloom moderate; skin thick, tough, but agreeable; flesh golden yellow, juicy, moderately firm; sweet flavour; good quality; stone large, elongated ovate, flattened. Season mid-September. A very attractive plum of considerable promise. Rhoda (Cheney seedling). — Large; oval (regular); cavity broad, moderately deep to shallow; suture slightly depressed, faintly lined; apex rounded; dark red; pre- dominant colour dark red; dots small, numerous, indistinct; bloom none to slight; skin fairly thin, tough, peels when ripe; flesh rich orange-yellow, firm, juicy; sweet, rich, pleasant flavour; good quality; stone broadly oval, dark colour, semi-free. Season mid-September. A good plum. Vesta (Gloria seedling). — Large to very large, oval; cavity medium to large, shallow; suture slightly depressed, fairly clearly lined; apex swollen, opposite suture; yellow overspread by bright pink to dark carmine-red; predominant colour light ear- mine-red; dots medium to large, distinct, yellowish; bloom moderate; skin thick, slightly bitter; flesh yellow, juicy, firm, meaty, sweet, distinctive flavour; good quality; stone large, flattened, oval, nearly free. Season late September. One of the best. Ten fruits weighed 12 ounces. Attractive, large, firm, of good quality; skin somewhat tough. SEEDLING STEAWBEKBIES. While seedling strawberries have not been grown on a very large scale at the Central Experimental Earm, a limited number of plants have been raised from seed, though none of these was hand pollinated. Of 650 seedlings which fruited in 1889, forty were saved at first and these were gradually reduced in numbers, but none was thought worthy of, introduction. In 1897, about 1,400 seedlings were raised from some of the best named varieties. These were gradually reduced to thirty-four, among which were some of great promise. In the winter of 1905-6, these were practically all winter-killed, so that nothing came of this experiment. In 1906, seed was sown of Bubach, Wm. Belt, and Marshall, and while the number of these which fruited was small, there being only ninety seedlings of Bubach, seventy-three of Wm. Belt and seven of Marshall, the proportion of very promising varieties has been large. None of the Marshall seedlings, though good in quality, were productive, but so promising were the others that in 1912, there were still being grown thirty-seven Bubach seedlings and twenty-four Wm. Belt seedlings. Both Bubach and Wm. Belt would appear to be excellent mothers to use in breeding strawberries. Twenty-one of the best of these sixty-one seedlings have been named as follows: Bianca, Cassandra, Celia, Cordelia, Desdemona, Erancesca, Helena, Ilermia, Julia, Lavinia, Lucetta, Mariana, Miranda, Octavia, Olivia, Ophelia, Portia, Silvia, Valeria, Viola, Virgilia, these being names of Shakespeare's heroines. It is proposed to send these out to the branch Experimental Farms and other places for further test. Follow- ing are descriptions of thirteen of these varieties : — 293 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 4 GEORGE V.f A. 1914 Cassandra (Bubach seedling), Imp. — Form roundish, wedge-shaped, regular; size large; external colour bright scarlet, glossy; colour of flesh deep salmon; core tender; texture juicy; flavour briskly subacid, pleasant; quality above medium to good; season medium to late; shipping quality moderately firm; plant vigorous; foliage good; a handsome variety of good size, form and colour. Productive. Cordelia (Bubach seedling), Per. — Form roundish, wedge-shaped; size large; external colour bright red, glossy; colour of flesh deep salmon; seeds medium; core tender; texture juicy; flavour briskly subacid, pleasant; quality above medium to good; season medium to medium late; shipping quality, moderately firm; plant vigorous; foliage good; attractive in appearance of good size, and productive. Should make a good commercial berry. Desdemona (Bubach seedling), Imp. — Form wedge-shaped; size medium to large; external colour dark red; colour of flesh dark red; seeds medium; core solid but ten- der; texture juicy; flavour briskly subacid, pleasant; quality above medium to good; season medium to late; shipping quality moderately firm to firm; plant vigorous, productive; foliage good; a good berry for home use. Hermia (Wm. Belt seedling), Per. — Form conical to wedge conical; size medium to large; external colour bright deep red, glossy; colour of flesh deep red; seeds medium; cora tender ;texture juicy; flavour subacid, good; quality good; season medium; shipping quality firm; plant vigorous, productive; foliage good. A good berry, attractive in appearance. Julia (Bubach seedling), Imp. — Form conical to somewhat wedge-shaped, fairly regular; size large; external colour bright to deep red, glossy; colour of flesh deep salmon; seeds medium; core tender; texture juicy; flavour briskly subacid, pleasant; quality above medium to good; season medium; shipping quality firm; plant vigorous, productive; foliage good. Ripens evenly to tip. Attractive in appearance. Should make a good market berry. Lucetta (Bubach seedling), Per. — Form blunt, wedge-shaped; size large; external colour deep scarlet; colour of flesh red; seeds medium; core tender; texture juicy; flavour subacid; quality medium; season medium early; shipping quality moderately firm to firm; plant vigorous, moderately productive; foliage good. Attractive in appearance. Should ship well. Mariana (Bubach seedling), Per. — Form wedge-shaped to roundish wedge-shaped; size large; external colour bright, deep scarlet, glossy; colour of flesh deep salmon; seeds medium; core tender; texture juicy; flavour subacid, pleasant; quality above medium to good; season medium to medium late; shipping quality moderately firm; plant vigorous, productive; foliage good; of good size and attractive appearance. Good for home market. Miranda (Bubach seedling), Per. — Form roundish to wedge-shaped, somewhat irregular; size large; external colour bright deep red, glossy; colour of flesh red; seeds depressed; core tender; texture juicy; flavour briskly subacid; quality above medium to good; season medium early; shipping quality firm; plant vigorous, pro- ductive; foliage good. A large firm berry which should be desirable for market. Ophelia (Wm. Belt seedling) Per. — Form long wedge-shaped, somewhat necked; size large; external colour bright scarlet, glossy; colour of flesh pale red; seeds medium; core tender; texture juicy; flavour briskly subacid; quality good; season medium l?te; shipping quality firm; plant vigorous, productive; foliage healthy. A large berry of good quality. DIVISION OF HORTICULTURE 299 SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 Portia (Win Belt seedling), Imp. — Form roundish conical to wedge conical; size large: external colour deep red, glossy; colour of flesh deep rich red; seeds very prominent; core tender; texture juicy; flavour briskly subacid, pleasant; quality good; season medium late to late; shipping quality firm; plant vigorous; foliage good. A late berry of good form and colour. Silvia (Wm. Belt seedling!. — Form roundish to wedge-shaped, blunt and flat at apex; size large; external colour deep red; colour of flesh deep salmon; seeds medium; core tender; flavour briskly subacid, pleasant; quality above medium to good; season medium late; shipping quality moderately firm; plant vigorous productive; foliage good. An attractive looking variety. Fruit ripens evenly and retains gocd size through the season. Viola (Wm. Belt seedling), Imp. — Form conical to somewhat wedge-shaped ; size large; external colour bright to dark red; colour of flesh deep rich red; seeds large, prominent; core tender; texture juicy; favour briskly subacid, pleasant; quality good; season medium late, shipping quality firm; plant strong grower; foliage good. A large-fruited variety. Should make a good shipper. Virgilia (Wm. Belt seedling), Imp.- — Form roundish to wedge-shaped; size large; external colour deep red; colour of flesh deep red; seeds medium; core tender; flavour Subacid, pleasant; quality above medium to good; season medium; shipping qualitv moderately firm to firm; plant vigorous, productive; foliage- good. An attractive looking berry, being of good size, colour and form. VEGETABLES. farmers' list of best vegetables. The 'Farmers' List of Best Vegetables' which has been published from time to time in the annual -report has been much appreciated. This list is really a summary of the variety tests, and gives, in a comparatively small space, the names of those vegetables which are considered the best. The following list has been revised up to the autumn of 1912 : — Asparagus. — Palmetto is proving a better variety than Conover's Colossal for general planting, as it is not so subject to the disease known as Asparagus Rust. Argenteuil is also a good variety. Beans. — Round Pod Kidney Wax and Wardwell's Kidney Wax are two of the best yellow-podded or wax bush beans, and are both early. Stringless Green Pod, Early Red Valentine and Early Refugee are three good, green-podded varieties. Refugee or Thousand to One is one of the best later sorts. Among Lima beans, the dwarf or bush, forms are the most satisfactory. Beets. — Meteor, Early Model. Electric, Egyptian and Eclipse are some of the best Borecole or Kale. — Dwarf Green Curled Scotch. Brocoli. — White Cape. Brussels Sprouts. — Improved Dwarf. The dwarf varieties have been found more satisfactory than the tall-growing ones. Cabbage. — Early Jersey Wakefield, Copenhagen Market (early), Succession (medium), Danish Ballhead and Drumhead Savoy (late!), Red Dutch (red) is a good 300 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 4 GEORGE V., A. 1914 list. Houser has been found freer from disease than most. For extra early use, Paris t is desirable, being nearly a week earlier tban Early Jersey Wakefield. Cauliflower. — Early Dwarf Erfurt and Early Snowball. Carrots. — Chantenay is one of the best, but if a good extra early sort is required, tbe Early Scarlet Horn can be planted with advantage. It is a small variety. Celery. — Golden Self-Blanching (Paris Golden Yellow) (early), French Success, Noll's Magnificent, Perfection Heartwell, Triumph, Winter Queen are all good late varieties. London Eed is a good red one. White Plume is desirable for the prairies. Corn. — Malakoff, Peep O'Day (extra early), Early Fordhook, Early Cory (early), Crosby's Early, Golden Bantam, Metropolitan (second early), Perry's Hybrid, Early Evergreen and Black Mexican (medium) Stowell's Evergreen, Country Gentleman (late). In planting, the Country Gentleman should not be omitted, as it lengthens the season very considerably and is of fine quality. Golden Bantam is the best second early for home use. It is of excellent quality. For the prairie provinces and other parts of Canada where the nigbts are cool, Squaw and Extra Early Adams, though not sweet varieties, develop better than others. Cucumbers. — Peerless White Spine or White Spine, Davis Perfect, Cool and Crisp, and Giant Pera are some of the most satisfactory. Boston Pickling and Chicago Pick- ling are good pickling sorts. Egg Plant. — New York Improved and Long Double Purple succeed best. Lettuce. — Grand Rapids, Black-seeded Simpson (early curled), Iceberg, New York, Giant Crystal Head, Crisp as Ice, and Improved Hanson (curled cabbage), Improved Salamander (uncurled cabbage). Grand Rapids is the best variety for forcing. Iceberg remains headed longest in summer. Trianon and Paris are two of 'the best Cos varieties. Melons, Musk. — Long Island Beauty and Hackensack are two of the earliest and best of the Nutmeg type Montreal Market is later, but of larger size and finer flavour. 'Emerald Gem and Paul Rose are two of the best yellow-fleshed melons. Melons, Water. — 'Cole's Early, Salzer's Earliest, Ice Cream, Phinney's Early are some of the most reliable. Onions. — Yellow Globe Danvers and Large Red Wethersfield are two of the best and most reliable. Australian Brawn is also good. Prize Taker is a good variety for transplanting. Parsley. — Double Curled is as good as any. Peppers. — Cayenne, Chili, Cardinal. The Early Neapolitan is one of the earliest of the large peppers. Peas. — Gregory's Surprise (extra early), Thos. Laxton, Gradus, American Won- der. Nott's Excelsior, Sutton's Early Giant (early), Sutton's Excelsior, Premium Gem (second early), McLean's Advancer, Heroine and Stratagem (medium to late). The foregoing varieties, not being tall growers, may be grown without supports. Quite Content, Telephone and Champion of England are three of the best tall-growing sorts. Potatoes. — Early: Rochester Rose, Early Ohio (pink), Irish Cobbler, Eureka Extra Early, Early Petoskey, New Early Standard (white), Bovee (pink and white). Main crop: Carman No. 1, Gold Coin, Factor, Dalmeny Boauty, Money Maker (white). DIVISION OF HORTICULTURE 301 SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 Radishes. — EarJy: Scarlet White-tipped Turnip, Rosy Gem, French Breakfast, Red Rocket (red), Icicle (white). Late: White Strasburg, Long White Vienna. Winter : Long Black Spanish, Chinese Rose-coloured, New White Chinese or Celestial. Rhubarb. — Linnaeus, Victoria. Salsify. — Long White, Sandwich Islands. Spinach. — Victoria, Thickleaved. Squash. — White Bush Scalloped, Long White Bush,, Summer Crook Neck. Late : Delicious, Hubbard. Tomatoes. — Early : Sparks' Earliana, Chalk's Early Jewel, Bonny Best, Dominion Day (scarlet). Medium: Matchless, Trophy (scarlet), Livingston's Globe, Plentiful (purplish pink). Turnips. — Early: Extra Early Milan, Red Top Strap Leaf. Swedes. — Champion Purple Top, Skirting's Improved. TOMATOES UNDER GLASS. In the annual report for 1912, the results of a variety test of tomatoes in a small greenhouse at the Central Experimental Farm were recorded. During the past year, eighteen varieties and strains were again tested in the same house. This house is used for ornamental plants as well, and only part of the space was available for the tomato plants. The plants were set fifteen inches apart in a single row on the benches on each side of a central walk, sufficiently far back so that a row of begonias could be grown in front of them. As they grew, the plants were tied to wires and kept pruned to single stems. Eour plants of each variety were used, two plants of each variety being on each side of the walk opposite each other. The seed was sown on June 12, 1912, germinated on June 18, the young plants were pricked out in a cold frame on June 24 and planted in the greenhouse on July 24. The plants made rapid growth and the first ripe fruit was picked on September 16 from Sparks Earliana No. 10 strain. Early in the season, the plants produced large clusters of flowers, the fruit set well and there were prospects of a good crop, but, during the months of August and September, there was much rain and dull weather, there being 99-9 hours less sunshine than the average during August, and 108-0 hours less than the average during September. As a result there was a poor setting of fruit during September. By the end of that month, the plants had reached the top of the house and, as there was practically no fruit on them except near the bottom, it was decided, as an experiment, to head them back to within three feet of the soil. This was done on September 28. Most of the plants, though checked severely, recovered from the effects of the heading-back and made medium growth again. On the new growth some moderately good fruit set, but the results obtained from such severe checking of the plants were not such as to warrant recommending it, as the different varieties did not recover equally well from the heading-back. The yields obtained in 1912-13 are not reliable, but, as indicating the varieties which are likely to give the largest yields in an unfavourable season, and under such treatment, the following record is given of the six most productive sorts, the varieties tested being Winter Beauty, Industry O.A.C. Selected 1910, Industry O.A.C. Selected 1910-11, Improved Express, Sutton's Satisfaction, Sparks Earliana No. 10, Bonny Best, Sparks Earliana (C.E.F %2) Chalk's Early Jewel, Dobbie's Champion, Dominion Day, Wealthy, Sutton's Al, XXX Earliest Scarlet, Cbx's Earliest, Greater Baltimore, Livingston's Globe. 302 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 4 GEORGE V., A. 1914 O 'A 03 S o 19 49 22 » 3S 40 50 ! 14 31 54 1 44 64 37 » 35 30 31 1 02 22 33 33 1 14 42 54 , 45 47 18 I 30 48 32 » 05 46 28 31 33 41 55 59 07 > 00 64 37 1 53 48 57 28 05 10 11 06 49 :;- 59 07 » 03 75 21 » 18 104 38 1 18 61 41 i 21 29 52 t 54 S9 54 312 EX PERI ML X TAL FARMS 4 GEORGE V., A. 1914 All the experiments were more or less affected by the injury mentioned previ- ously, so that the data should be considered relatively only. An experiment was conducted with Rural New Yorker potatoes to determine the effect of certain fertilizers in conjunction with an application of barnyard manure, which was applied evenly on all the plots at the rate of 22 tons per acre. Experiments with Potatoes. Different Applications of Fertilizers. Row. Treatment. Pounds per Acre. Total Yield per Acre. Yield of Marketable per Acre. Yield of Unmarket- able per Acre. a b c d e f N H4 P„ 05 K2 0 350 200 250 350 200 175 100 125 175 100 400 pounds basic slag. Check. Bush. Lb. 289 51 3f-6 24 316 48 355 18 243 06 220 Bush. Lb. 251 54 308 281 36 304 42 220 186 20 Bush. Lb. 37 57 48 28 35 12 50 36 23 06 33 40 An experiment was date to plant potatoes. conducted with Burbank's Seedling to determine the best Different Dates of Planting Potatoes. Row. Date of Seeding. Total Yield per Acre. Total Yield of Marketable. Total Yield of Potatoes not Marketable. a May 23 Bush. Lb. 319 248 36 303 36 114 24 181 46 115 30 Bush. Lb. 292 36 198 265 06 72 36 133 06 78 06 Bush. Lb. 26 24 b c „ 30 50 36 38 30 d e f „ 13 .. 20 „ 27 41 48 48 40 37 24 An experiment was conducted to observe the effect of liming sets and not liming them; planting them at once and holding them for one week after cutting. Different Dates of Planting Limed vs. Not Limed Sets. Row. Treatment. Yield per Acre. Yield per Acre of Marketable. Yield per Acre Unmarketable. a b c d Limed and planted May 23 Not limed, planted May 23. ... . Limed and planted May 30. ... Bush. 276 199 193 214 Lb. 08 06 36 30 Bush. Lb. 233 56 152 54 • 146 18 166 06 Bush. Lb. 42 12 46 12 47 18 48 12 Plate IX Iris and Paeonies, Charlottetown, P. E. I. 16— 1914— p. 312 Experimental Station, Charlottetown, P. E. I. Young orchard in distance. DIVISION OF HORTICULTURE 313 SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 FLOWERS. The season of 1912 was most favourable for flowers. From early spring until the late autumn the grounds at the Experimental Station were adorned with a pro- fusion of bloom. In the early spring the crocuses and squills unfolded almost in the snow; these were followed by great beds of tulips and narcissus, which bloomed to perfection in this moist climate. As the season advanced, irises in great clusters, then pseonies, great balls of beauty, many coloured, came and went, their beautiful foliage lasting throughout the summer. The annuals all came into competition with the roses, whose period of bloom extended from July 4 until November 16. Each had its own. particular beauty ; the Perpetual roses being to many the greatest wonder. Eighty-one varieties of sweet peas that were sown April 17, began blooming July 7, ami ccntjnued until NoveuiVcr 4. The average height attained was iwer 8 ' feet. Among the many other flowers deserving special mention, the beautiful collection of carnations, which had wintered outside, should have first place. The perennial phlox and asters during their season were very attractive. In the pond to the west of the barn the Kentucky water lilies covered a portion of the surface with their beautiful glossy leaves intermingled with large pink and white blossoms. Detailed records of all flowers grown were kept for reference. 514 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 4 GEORGE V., A. 1914 EXPERIMENTAL FARM, NAPPAN, N.S. REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT— R. ROSERTSON. Following will be found the Horticultural Report of the Experimental Farm, Nappan, N.S., for 1912-13. The apple crop of 1912 was above that of 1911 in quantity, but the quality was about the same, this being mostly due to the very wet season and lack of sunshine, which has a tendency to cause a lack of rich flavour and high colour. The trees in the commercial orchard, which was set in the spring of 1911, made good growth in 1912, having come through the winter very well, there being only four trees which had to be removed in the spring, namely; two Golden Russets, one Mcintosh Red and one Blue Pearmain. A close record has been kept of the cost of planting and care of this orchard, and the details of expenditures are given below. Cost of Commercial Orchard, 1911-12. Date. 1911. Number of hours manual labour. April 12, '12 1 man 1 day at $1.70 May 1, '12|2 men h „ 13, '12 2 i. 1 „ 30, 12 June 1, '1211 man 1 day at $1.70 - 5, '12; ii 6, M2;7 bush, mixed grain. 6, '12! " 15, 12 July 2, '12.2 men 1 day at $1.70 n 25, '12 !l man 1 Sept. 26, '121 „ \ „ 28, '12 2 men h Cost. $ cts . 69 50 Number of hours horse labour and teamster. 1 70 I horse 1 day at $2. 70 1 70 3 40 II 1 70 1 2 4 20 j . 1 3 40 1 70 0 85 1 70 1 horse 1 day at $2.70 1 team \ ,. $3.40 89 85 Cost. $ cts 25 80 2 70 team 1 day at $3. 40 3 40 horse 1 .. $270! 2 70 teams 1 .. S3.40J 6 80 team \ day at $3. 40 1 70 horse 1 u $2.70 2 70 2 70 1 70 1 70 51 90 Work engaged at. Cost 1911. Spraying (lime wash). Replacing dead trees. Pruning. Harrowing. Spraying (Bordeaux). Preparing seed-bed. For sowing between trees. Seeding. Cultivating near trees. Hoeing near trees. Spraying (Bordeaux). Cutting and stocking grain. Hauling in grain. $ cts. Manual labour 89 85 Horse and te.unster labour 51 90 141 75 By 117 bushels mixed grain at 50 cents 58 50 Total cost 83 25 DIYISIOX OF HORTICULTURE 315 SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 SMALL FHUITS. The small fruit plantation, which was set out in the spring of 1911, came through the winter well, all the currant bushes looking very healthy and yielding a fair crop this summer. The yield of each variety was kept and is as follows : — CURRANTS. Name. No. of Bushes. Quality. Date. Yield. Black. Quarts. Collins Prolific 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 Good ii Medium Good it it Poor Medium Good it July 31 11 II II II II II II II II II 8 o O 3 Trophy 3 Ontario 3 Saunders Kerry . . G 4 If 1 4 Eagle 2A Red. Cumberland Red Dutch Wilder 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 Medium Good tt Medium Good II II 11 II August 1 ii ■I it ii n Ii II 11 2 6 3 2 2 3 Rankin Red 1 Fay 4 1 White. 5 5 5 Good It ir August I ii i. 3 White Cherry 2 White Grape 3 31 S EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 4 GEORGE V., A. 1914 STRAWBERRIES. The strawberry crop of 1912 gave promise of being another large one and the yield was good up to the last two pickings, when the berries were practically ruined by rain storms. The following are the yields of the twenty best varieties. Size of the plots 16£ feet by 5 feet, or one 528th part of an acre: Name. Parker Earle Crescent Pearl Lovett Warfield Paris King Capt. Jack Princess Carrie Beder Wood . Haverland Ida G. H. Coughill. . . Early Beauty . . . Splendid Michel Early Morgan Favorite. John Little H. W. Beecher.. July 4 4 3 2 2 1 3 5 Date And Pickings. July 7 5 6 4 6 6 7 3 8 5 4 6 4 4 7 6 5 3 3 5 July 14 11 10 7 6 5 5 7 5 6 3 4 8 6 3 5 3 3 3 4 July 20 3 1 5 4 4 3 3 3 3 4 3 3 4 4 3 2 8 5 4 July 22 1 2 4 3 2 3 2 1 2 4 2 Yield per plot. quarts 24 22 22 21 18 18 18 17 17 17 17 16 16 16 16 16 15 15 15 Yield per acre. quarts 12,572 11,616 11,616 11,088 9,504 9,504 9,504 8,976 8,976 8,976 8,976 8,488 8,448 8,448 8,448 8,448 7,920 7,920 7,920 VEGETABLES. Experiments with potatoes. Nineteen varieties of potatoes were grown in uniform test plots of one-hundredth acre each, in rows thirty inches apart in the drill. The seed was cut with two strong eyes to the set, and planted in the rows one foot apart. The soil was a sandy loam on which clover hay had been grown the previous year. A light dressing of manure was applied and ploughed under. The land was again ploughed and well harrowed, and complete fertilizer applied at the rate of 400 pounds per acre. The drills were harrowed down about the time the potatoes were coming up, and again rowed up. The plants were sprayed three times during the season, with Bordeaux mixture, Paris green being added on two occasions to destroy potato beetles. Planted June 8, and dug October 3 and 4. DIVISION OF HORTICULTURE 317 SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 POTATOES. A further test was given to potatoes* by planting in rows different distances apart, and dropping the sets different distances apart in the rows, with the following results : Variety. Planted. Dug. Distance apart of Hows. Distance apart of Sets. Yield per Acre. Yield Marketable . Yield Unmarket- able. Carman No. 1 H it 1 " ii 1 .. 8 ,- 8 Oct. 8 -. 8.... „ 8 30 in 33 in 36 in 12 in L4 in 15 in Bush. Lb. 361 40 348 20 266 40 Bush. Lb. 251 40 266 40 175 .. Bush. Lb. 110 81 40 51 40 GARDEN VEGETABLES. PEAS. The seed was sown on the 3rd of June in two rows 32 feet long, one of which was allowed to ripen for seed and the other picked, of which a close record was kept. Variety. Remarks. Dates of Picking and Yield. Total. Fit for Use. July 13 .. 17 .. 21 „ 21' n 18 ,. 24 ii 12 Quality. Length of Pod. Size of Pod. Date. Lb. 18 18 11 13 3 11 5 Date. Lb. 11 3 9 6 5 3 3 Date. July 27 Lb. 9 Thomas Laxton. . . Sutton's Excelsior. Telephone Good... ii ... ti ... ii ... M ... Medium ii 3i-4 in. 3$-4 in. 3 in 3i 4 in. 3~in. Large . . n Medium Large . . Small . . Medium July 15 .. 19 ,. 27 - 21 ■1 19 Aug. 3 July 19 July 21 ii 27 Aug. 3 July 27 H 27 Aug. 6 July 27 38 lb. 21 „ 20 •• Premium Gem.... 19 ., ( Jradus Aug. 3 6 14 i. 14 ii American Wonder. Aug. 3 4 12 „ 313 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 4 GEORGE V.f A. 1914 BEANS. The beans were sown on the 3rd June, in duplicate rows 32 feet long, one of which was allowed to ripen for seed and the other picked, of which a close record was kept. The row which was left to ripen did not get a chance to dry before cold weather. Variety. Remarks. Dates of Pickings and Yields. Total. Fit for Use. June 23 ii 15 ii 29 July 3 June 30 Quality. Colour. Length of Pud. Date. Lb. 7 t 10 8 11 7 Date. Lb. Date. July 3 June 29 July 3 Lb. Early Refugee. . . . Wardell's Kidney. Valentine Good . . . Very m Good . . . ii ... Medium Good... it ... t' ... H ... 5 in ... . 5 .. . . -<2 " •• •1 ii 5 „ .. June 23 .. 17 ,, 21) 3 Aug. 3 June 27 1? 1. J July 1 7 12 7 7 4 11 3 3 30 lb. 20 .- 18 .. Dwarf Extra Early 15 ., 7 . TOMATOES. The seed was sown in the hotbeds on the 8th of April, they were pricked off into strawberry boxes the 1st of May, and remained there until the 20th of June, when they were transplanted into the open. Each plot consisted of ten strong plants, being set five feet apart each way, giving good room for cultivation and sunshine. The season was not at all suitable for the ripening of fruit, the weather being too dull, but there was a very good set of fruit, which was nearly all harvested green. A record was kept of each plot, and is given below. Variety. Dati , of Pickings and Yields. Date. Lb. Date. Lb. Date. Lb. Date. Lb. Total. Sept. 14 „ 15 5 1. 11 9 ,. 17 ,. 14 15 11 7 12 5 7 9 Sept. 19 ., 18 8 „ 14 „ 13 n 22 „ 19 20 14 10 14 9 11 3 Sept. 22 ,. 22 „ 1-1 .1 19 .. 15 19 10 17 20 5 Sept. 23 3 57 lb. 35 ii Sparks' Earliana. . 34 i. Trophy 46 ,i Pinny Bsst 19 i, 18 ii Chalk's Early Jewel 12 .1 CABBAGE. The cabbage was sown in the hotbeds on the 6th April and pricked off on the 29th April; where they remained until the 5th June, when they were transplanted to the open, in two rows 32 feet long and 3 feet between the rows. DIVISION OF HORTICULTURE 319 .ESSiONAL PAPER No. 16 Following is a record kept of the different yields: — Variety. Early Jersey Wakefield Early Paris Market Extra Early Midsummer Savoy. Danish Ballhead Large Low Flat Drumhead Fottler's Imp'd. Brunswick Small Lubeck Small Erfurt Winnings tad t Dates of Harvesting and Yields. Date. Lb. I Date. [ Lb. Date. Lb. Date Ju y is is! 19 22 o O 10 14 14 22 64 91 42 45 42 47 39 34 (-14 July 22 ir 22 ii 27 if 30 it i n 18 it IS ii 18 M m 83 72 64 61 64 64 49 49 22 July 30 22 35 30 30 II 15 71 II 30 11 II SO 11 II 22 32 35 11 Aug. 1. Aug-. 7. Lb. 18 11 Total. 169 lb. 198 „ 177 .. 124 ., 117 M 139 .. 99 „ 115 „ 97 .. CAULIFLOWERS. Variety. Danish Giant Early Snowball Extra Selected Early Erfurt Dwarf. Date. Lb. Date. Lb. Date. Lb. July 30 ii 27 11 31 Sept. 10 „ 10 5 22 30 11 Sept. 18 .. 18 ,, 15 30 17 7 Total. 63 lb. 78 „ 18 „ MUSK MELONS. Musk melons were planted in the hotbeds on the 4th March and germinated very slowly. They were transplanted out in the open on the 3rd June where they grew very slowly, the melons only being about half size when the frost set in. The following varieties were tried: — MUSK MELONS. Hackensack, Hoodoo, Montreal Market, Emerald Gem, Paul Eose, Earliest Ripe. Cole's Early WATER MELONS. Ice Cream. LETTUCE. The lettuce was planted in the open on the 3rd June, and all producing good heads, with the exception of Grand Rapids which seemed to germinate slowly. The following are the varieties which were planted: — Cos Trianon, Black Seeded Simpson, All Heart, Impd. Hanson, Red Edge Victoria, Grand Rapids, Giant Crystal Heart, Iceberff. CORN. The corn was planted on the 5th June. It all germinated and made good growth until about the 22nd July, when the wet weather set in, retarding the growth so that none of the plots ripened. The following varieties are planted : 323 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 4 GEOKGE V., A. 1914 Malakoff, Black Mexican, Fordkook Early, Stowell's Evergreen, Golden Bantam, Country Gentleman, Early Evergreen, Henderson's Metropolitan. CELERY. The celery was planted in flats in the hotbeds on the 4th April, and after being pricked out was allowed to harden off in cold frames, until the 30th May, when it was planted out in the open. Trenches were dug about fourteen inches deep and six feet apart. In the bottom of each trench three to four inches of manure was put, and then covered with loose earth to the thickness of two inches, and into this we set the plants, one hundred in each row. Notwithstanding the wet season there was a very good percentage of edible beads in the fall. The following is the percentage of the different varieties: — Per Cent. Paris Golden Yellow \ . '95 Giant Pascal 70 Kose Ribbed Paris 70 French Success 60 Nolls Magnificent 75 Evans Triumph 90 FLOWERS. Both annuals and perennials gave very prolific bloom in 1912-. The following are the annuals which do well with us: — Asters, Abronia, Ageratum, Brachycome, Balsam, Candytuft, Clarkia, Celosia, Coreopsis, Dianthus, Gaillardia, Larkspur. Mignonette, Nemesia, Nicotiana, Papaver, Petunia, Phlox, Portulaca Poppy, Stocks, Nasturtiums. Zinnia, TREES AND SHRUBS. No additions have been made to the arboretum during the year. The trees and shrubs are a source of great interest to the visitors to the Farm. There has been satisfactory growth and no serious ravages from insects or other pests. The shrubs have, as usual, produced a wealth of bJoom. Those worthy of special mention are: Tartarian honeysuckle, Caragana frutesceus, common lilac, Japanese lilac, Josika's lilac and Spirasa Van Houttei. Plate X? 16— 1914— p. 320 Ravine, Experimental Station, Kent ville, N.S. DIVISION OF HORTICULTURE 321 SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 EXPERIMENTAL STATION, KENTVILLE, N.S. REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT— W. S. BLAIR. This is the first annual horticultural report of the Kentville Experimental Station. APPLE ORCHARD. In the spring of 1912 there were about 21 acres planted to apple trees, consti- tuting the first orchard planted at the Station. Part of this orchard is comprised of a block of 4£ acres planted 20 by 20 feet apart, the permanent trees being 40 feet apart each way. The varieties used as permanent trees are Blenheim, Ribston, Nonpareil, Hubbardston and Crimson Beauty. The fillers used in this block are Wagener, Wealthy, Milwaukee, Duchess, Ontario, Cox's, Orange and Yellow Transparent. It is proposed to adopt various methods in the removal of the fillers in this block to determine, if possible, how long fillers can be economically allowed to remain. The remainder of the block was planted 40 by 40 feet apart, the following varieties being used: Northern Spy, Baldwin, R. I. Greening, Fallawater, Wellington, King, Gravenstein, Ben Davis, Gano, Banks, Mcintosh, Fameuse, Wolf River, Yellow Bell- flower (Bishop Pippin), Baxter, Red Astrachan and Dudley (North Star). The varieties Northern Spy, Baldwin, R. I. Greening, King, Ribston and Blenheim have been planted in equal numbers of Ontario and Nova Scotia grown nursery trees to determine the relative value of imported versus home grown trees for planting. The planting included 114 each of Wealthy and Wagener; 3"8 each of Blenheim, Ribston, Northern Spy, Baldwin, R. I. Greening and King; 19 each of Ben Davis, Gano, Stark, Rome Beauty, Mcintosh Red, Fameuse, Baxter, Wolf River, Red Astrachan, North Star, Cox's Orange, Hubbardston, Duchess, Nonpareil, Milwaukee, Golden Russet, Crimson Beauty, Yellow Transparent, Ontario, Tolman, Fallawater, Wellington, Gravenstein and Bishop Pippin. In addition to the above there were planted the following varieties of apples, from England, with number of trees of each: 2 each of Bramley Seedling, Lord Derby, Lane's Prince Albert, Grenadier, Beauty of Bath, Gladstone, Early Julian, Lord Grosvenor, Early Victoria, Stirling Castle, Newton Wonder, Worcester Pearmain, King Pippin, Allington Pippin, Wellington, Gascoyne's Scarlet, Warner's King, Lord SufSeld, Peasegood Nonsuch, Cox's Pomona, Devonshire 'Quarrenden, Tower of Glamis, Summer Pippin, Ecklinville, Norfolk Beauty, Hector Macdonald, Edward VII, Langley Pippin, Ben's Red, James Grieve, Baumann's Winter Reinette, The Houblon, Lady Sudeley, Charles Ross, Wm. Crump and Lord Stradbrooke; 1 each of St. Ever- ard and Encore. The seeds from a barrel each of King, Northern Spy, Blenheim, Baldwin and Ribston Pippin were sown in the autumn of 1911 with the object of obtaining seedling trees from which it is hoped to raise some good new seedling fruits. A large propor- tion of this seed germinated and the young trees made good growth in 1912. SHIPMENT OF GRAVENSTEINS IN BOXES AND BARRELS. A shipment of 45 boxes and 30 barrels of Gravensteins was made to London, England, during the past season. In order to make sure of the grade being the same 16—21 322 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 4 GEORGE V., A. 1914 in each case, one-third of the apples from each tree were boxed and the other two- !;irds were put into barrels. The shipment was made through the Berwick Fruit Co., Ltd. The following statement was furnished by the Manager: — Berwick, N.S., November 5, 1912. Trial lot of apples shipped to London. 45 boxes packed by the Experimental Station. 30 barrels packed by the Berwick Fruit Co. 45 boxes sold for 5/6. Total, net, £7/11/10. (Equal to 81 cents per box, or $2.43 per barrel) $36.72 30 barrels sold for 12/6. Total net £10/1 (equal to $1.62 per barrel) $48.74 Extra cost of box packing, including cost of boxes, paper, wrapping and extra handling, 15 cents per box; or barrel, 45 cents. Packed in boxes, per barrel $2.43 Less extra cost 45 $1.98 Packed in barrels , 1.62 Packed in boxes netted (cents per barrel more than those packed in barrels) 36 APPLE THINNING EXPERIMENT. To determine whether any gain would result from removing some of the fruit from heavily ladened trees, experiments were conducted during the season in an orchard in Berwick, N.S. The variety in this experiment was Gravenstein. The work of thinning was done on July 30. This was about two weeks after the June drop had occurred. The work should have been started ten days earlier for best results. The trees selected were as nearly alike as it was. possible to get them and they had apparently the same set of fruit. From the thinned trees all spotted and ill-shaped fruits were removed, and only one apple was left to a fruit cluster. The apples were left from four to six inches apart and were evenly distributed over the tree. After thinning, the ground under the thinned and unthinned tree was cleaned, and apples falling after that time were counted. This was done to find out whether thin- ning would prevent the excessive dropping which occurs in Gravensteins if they are heavily filled just before the fruit is mature, and also to get the number of apples each tree had on it to start with. A record was kept of the number of apples thinned from the tree. • It was found that the thinned tree had 3,137 apples and that the unthinned tree had 4,065 apples when thinning started. Drops from thinned and unthinned trees. Tree Thinned. Tree not Thinned. Per cent of total set removed by thinning. . . . 18-5 ■ " " which dropped after thin- ning 12-2 19-1 " " harvested 69-3 80-9 DIYISIOX OF HORTICULTURE 323 SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 It will be seen that 19 per cent of the total number of apples on the tree at the start dropped from the unthinned tree and that only 12 per cent fell from the thinned ti-ee. There was a lessened drop of 7 per cent from thinning. This falling for the most part occurred from a little over a week before up to picking time. The fruit was picked on September 20, which was before any serious dropping had occurred. Apples which fell from the tree at picking time were not counted as drops. Increase in Size. Apples to the barrel from thinned tree. 517 " unthinned tree 593 Per cent increase in size from thinning 12-81 Grade of Fruit. Thinned Tree Unthinned Tree. No. 1.' 70-00 42 00 2 23-80 38-65 3 5-60 16-13 Culls.. .; -60 3 22 This table shows that the thinned tree gave an increase of No. 1 fruit of 28 per cent and thinning decreased the No. 3 fruit 10' 53 per cent. The thinned tree gave 23-29 per cent less crop than the unthinned tree. It will be seen, however, that at the start the unthinned tree had 22 per cent more apples on it. The actual loss from thinning was, therefore, only 1-29 per cent. From an acre of 40 trees the gain from thinning as indicated by this experiment, at prices realized this year, would be as follows: — Yield and Value of Fruit per acre. Thinned. Unthinned. No 1 Per cent. . 70- 23 80 5-60 •60 Yield, brls. 153 12 52 06 12 25 1-31 Value. 382-80 83 30 12 25 ■33 Per cent. 4200 38 65 16 13 322 Yield, i rls. 93 60 84-80 36 00 7-20 Value. 234 CO 135 60 36 00 1 80 Total 100-00 218 74 478 68 100 00 221 00 407-40 This shows a total gain of $71.28. The cost of grading and thinning in the thinned tree was 11J cents per barrel. The cost of grading in the unthinned tree was 10 cents. The thinned fruit cost much less to grade, and, as is shown, the thinning in this experiment cost only 1£ cents per barrel after extra cost of grading the unthinned is deducted. This made a total cost for thinning of $2.62 per acre, giving a net return of $68.66 per acre in favour of thinning. Thinning Experiments with Ben Davis, Stark and Greening. For this work a commercial block of trees nine years old was used. The orchard had trees of Rhode Island Greening and Stark in straight rows, lengthwise of the block, and Ben Davis were used as fillers. The block was divided into six plots, cross- 16— 2H 324 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 4 GEORGE V., A. 1914 wise, taking in trees of each variety in each plot. The area in each plot was as follows : — Plot 1. — General thinning, 1 acre. Plot 2. — Thinned to 8 inches, \ acre. Plot 3. — Thinned leaving one fruit to a cluster, 1 acre. Plot 4. — Thinned to 6. inches, \ acre. Plot 5. — Not thinned, 1 acre. Plot 6. — Thinned to 4 inches, 1 acre. All spotted and deformed fruit was removed from all plots thinned. Plot No 1, General thinning. — This consisted of removing all deformed or spotted fruit and thinning the fruit which was in clusters, to generally one fruit. No rule as to spacing was adhered to. "Where the fruit was thick on a branch, fruit was removed, but where the set was light little was taken off. Plot No. 2, Thinned to 8 inches. — Well-formed fruit was left 8 inches apart. All clusters of fruit were thinned to one apple to a fruit spur. Plot 3. — The fruit clusters only were thinned, leaving only one apple to a fruit spur. Plot If., Thinned to 6 inches. — All clusters were thinned one apple to the fruit spur. Plot 5, Not thinned. — Check plot. Plot 6, Thinned to k inches apart. — All clusters were thinned one apple to a fruit spur. The following data were secured in this experiment: — Thinning Experiments with Ben Davis, Stark and Greening. Ben Davis. Apples removed, per cent. Apples picked No Barrels, apples, No No. of apples to barrel Increase in size over check, per cent Stark. Apples, removed, per cent. Apples picked, No Barrels, apples, No No. of apples to barrel Increase in size over check, per cent Greening. Apples removed, percent- Apples picked, No Barrels, apples, No No. apples to barrel Increase in size over check, per cent Plot 1. General thinning. 12-28 5,371 1123 477 12 31 25 33 1,238 298 415 7-77 18-75 3,662 935 383 1-80 Plot 2. Thinning to Sin. Plot 3. One to spur, fruit. 38 70 1,609 406 396 27-20 36 14 507 1-26 402 10 66 32 20 1,295 3 45 375 384 22-67 5,528 10-60 521 400 18 45 1,184 3 05 388 13 20 19 78 2,000 5-28 379 2-82 Plot 4. Thinned to 6 in. 36 00 1,898 3 S3 495 9-00 30 95 368 102 360 20 00 20 00 904 2 42 373 4 36 Plot 5. Check. Unthinned 0000 7,080 13 00 544 00 00 1,777 395 450 00 00 2,718. 6 97 390 Plot G. Thinned to 4 in. 23 78 3,340 639 522 4-00 From the above figures it will be easily seen that thinning in every case materi- ally increased the size of the fruit and that the heavier thinnings as a rule, gave the largest apples. DIVISION OF HORTICULTURE 325 SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 There are, however, some instances where it appears that heavier thinning beyond a certain stage does not increase the size, as in the Ben Davis plots, where plot 1, with 12-28 per cent apples removed, gives larger apples than plots 3, 4 and 6 where 22-67, 36 and 23-78 per cent respectively were removed- This is probably accounted for by the fact that a favourable variation in plot 1 gave apples which would have been larger in any case. The other plots which were thinned produced apples, the size of which was governed by the amount of apples thinned from the trees. In Stark, plot 4, with 30-95 per cent apples removed, produced the largest apples, showing an increase of 25 per cent in size over the check plot. The size here, however, does not seem to show any relation to the amount of apples, but the fact that in the case of every thinned plot there is an increase in size over the check plot, shows that there is an increase in size from thinning in this variety. Showing the results of Grading in the Different Plots in this Experiment. Ben Davis. Apples removed, percent.. No. 1, per cent No. 2, per cent Nos. 1 and 2, combined per cent No. 3, per cent Culls, per cent Stark. Apples removed, per cent. No. 1, per cent No. 2, per cent .... . Nos. 1 and 2, combined, per cent No. 3, per cent Culls, per cent Greening. Apples removed, per cent. No. 1, per cent No. 2, per cent . . ., Nos. 1 and 2, combined, per cent No. 3, per cent .... Culls, per cent Plot 1. General thinning. Plot 2. Thinning to 8 in. 12-28 49 15 4165 9080 8-34 •86 25 33 80 95 10 32 9127 7 67 1-06 18-75 70-66 10 81 8147 17 21 1-32 38 55 35 90 9 70 00 44 44 30 26 36 14 79 25 11-32 90-57 943 000 32-20 74-26 12-07 86 33 12-75 •92 Plot 3. One apple to spur. 22-67 50 43 41-18 9161 808 •31 18-45 76 58 12 53 89 11 8-88 200 19 78 82-80 801 90-81 751 168 Plot 4. Thinned to 6 in. 3600 49 22 37-80 87 02 12 60 •38 30 95 80-63 6 9S 87-61 1163 •77 20 00 68-52 19 38 87-91 11-80 29 Plot 5. Unthinned check. 00 00 31-22 40 00 7122 27 12 1 66 00 00 51-88 2300 74 88 22 18 2 94 00 00 64-51 897 73 48 24 01 251 Plot 6. Thinned to 4 in. 23 78 44-42 40 71 85 11 13 80 110 It can readily be seen from this table that, in every case, thinning has had the result of increasing the per cent of No. l's, increasing the per cent of combined No. 1 and No. 2 fruit, and greatly decreasing the per cent of No. 3's and culls. In Ben Davis, there is an increase on an average of over 18 per cent in No. 1 fruit, and in plot 2, thinned to eight inches, an increase of nearly 24 per cent. In No. 3's in this variety there is a decrease on an average of approximately 17 per cent, and plot 3, with the lowest per cent of this grade, gives a decrease of 19-04 per cent. 326 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 4 GEORGE V., A. 1914 In Stark arc found the highest per cents of No. 1, and an increase of nearly 30 per cent from thinning. No. 3's have been lowered in the thinned plots from 22 per cent to 7-67 to 11 per cent, or an average decrease of 13 per cent. Of the varieties in this experiment, in the thinned plots Greening shows the least increase of No. 1. This may be accounted for by the fact that the trees were young, not heavily filled and in a very vigorous condition, as is shown by the fact that the unthhmed plots gave 64-51 per cent of No. 1 fruit. In the per cents of combined No. 1 and No. 2 we have a decided increase in favour of the thinned plots and have as high as 90 per cent of these grades against 73 per cent in the check plot DIVISION OF HORTICULTURE 327 SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 EXPERIMENTAL STATION, STE. ANNE DE LA POCA- TIERE, QUE. REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT— JOS. BEGIN. The Experimental Station at Ste. Anne de la Pocatiere, Que., is situated within three miles of the south shore of the St. Lawrence river, about seventy-three mile9 below Quebec and Levis. While the winters are severe here, they are tempered somewhat by the nearness of the St. Lawrence river, which remains, in winter, a large body of open water. Because of this, fruits which will not succeed at Ottawa, for instance, do very well at Ste. Anne. An example is the European plum, of which many varieties succeed admirably here. It is proposed to test thoroughly many varieties of fruits, vegetables, and ornamental plants at Ste. Anne and to experi- ment with different methods of culture in order to determine which is the best for those parts of the province of Quebec where the climatic conditions are the same as at Ste. Anne. In the autumn of 1912, about three and one-half acres of sandy loam soil were thoroughly prepared for fruit trees. The land, which had been in sod for several years, was ploughed in the summer and kept thoroughly harrowed until winter. In the autumn of 1912, the land was drained by laying parallel rows of three-inch tile, fifty feet apart and about three feet deep, from one end of the area to the other, giving them sufficient fall to carry off the water through a four-inch tile at the lower end. When putting in the tiles, it was planned to have them come midway between two rows of trees so that there would be little danger of the roots filling them. 328 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 4 GEORGE V., A. 1914 EXPERIMENTAL STATION, CAP ROUGE, P. Q. REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT— G. A. LANGELIER. FRUIT. APPLES. Eight out of the twelve Yellow Transparents planted in 1911 produced fruit in 1912. Six Rochelles and twelve Baxters were ' added to the commercial orchard, whilst two trees of each of the following were put in for variety tests : — Mcintosh seedlings (455), Sorel, Jacob Red, Swayzie seedlings (486), Swayzie seedlings (471), Walbridge x Northern Spy (518), McMahan x Scott Winter (509), Wealthy seedlings (489), seedlings from E. K. Leonard (625), No. 1 from J. J. Persons (632), Salome seedlings (462), Lawver seedlings (460), Spencer Seedless (550), Trenton (493), Choate (636), Swayzie seedlings (541), No. 3 from J. J. Persons (634), Transparent de Croncels (774), Crab-apple from C. N. Vroom (628), Crab-apple from J. D. Hodgson (644), McMahan x Scott Winter (515), Winter St. Lawrence seedlings (470), Lawver x Mcintosh (507), Mcintosh seedlings (526), Swayzie seedlings (539), American Golden Russet seedlings (487), No. 1 from Wm. Chambers (629), Walbridge x Northern Spy (516), Linton (459), Russian seedling No. 1 (441), McMahan x Scott (514), Rufus (351), Lubsk Queen (573), Russian seedling (436), Fameuse seedling (488), Schoener von Nordhausen (494), Walbridge x Northern Spy (317), seedlings from Mr. Isenor (724), Walbridge x Northern Spy (517), Swayzie seedlings (476), Jewel (crab) (694), Burton (646), Hyslop (crab). PLUMS. One out of two Shropshire Damson, one out of two Snider Damson, one out of four Bixby, and the two Fitzroy, planted in 1911, produced fruit in 1912. The following trees were added to the plum orchard: — - Togo (0-612), Mankato (0-614), Yellow European (0-658), Bonne Ste. Anne (0-666), Terry (0-659), Brackett (0-615), Bixby (0-668), Consul (671). CHERRIES. One of the six Large Montmorency, planted in 1911, prsduced fruit in 1912. BLACK CURRANTS. The varieties planted in 1911 gave the following yields, in pounds, per acre: — Climax, 754; Boskoop Giant, 477*; Eagle, 275*; Eclipse, 261; Collins' Prolific, 232; Saunders, 174; Buddenborg, 145; Lee, 145; Kerry, 143; Victoria Black, 101*; Black Champion, 87; Clipper, 87; Topsy, 87; Ontario, 58. Success was the only one which did not bear. Six Magnus were put in this year. RED CURRANTS. The varieties planted in 1911 gave the following yields in pounds, per acre: — Red Grape, 812; Cherry, 188*; Victoria Red, 145; Greenfield, 101 J; Red Dutch, 101*; Fay, 87; Wilder, 87; Cumberland, 58; Perfection, 14*; Pomona, 14*; Rankin's Red, 10. XI 16— 1914— p 323 DITISION OF HORTICULTURE 329 SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 Six bushes each of Red Cross and of Greenfield were added to the plantation this year. WHITE CURRANTS. The varieties planted in 1911 gave the following yields, in pounds, per acre:— Large White, 145; White Cherry, 87; White Grape, 87. GOOSEBERRIES. The varieties planted in 1911 gave the following yields, in pounds, per acre: — Mabel, 696; Downing, 551; Silvia, 304£; Queen Anne, 275; Gibb, 261; Red Jacket, 203; Industry, 87; Josselyn, 87; Rideau, 87; Saunders, 72J. Six Houghton, twelve Pearl, and eighteen Downing were planted this year. RASPBERRIES. The varieties planted in 1911 gave the following yields, in pounds, per acre: — Columbian, 93310/ig; Eaton, 702%G; Herbert 6247/ic; King, 509%o; Heebner, 424; Loudon, 266% ; Sarah, 1336/ic; Marlboro, 48J. Twelve Cuthberts put in at the same time as above varieties in 1911, all died. In 1912, 160 canes were planted; Brighton, 16; Count, 16; Cuthbert, 16; Eaton, 16; Herbert, 32; King, 32; Loudon, 16; Marlboro, 16. STRAWBERRIES The following varieties planted in 1911 yielded, in pounds, per acre: — Bisel, 2,904; New Globe, 2,006|| : Grenville, 1,588. Nettie and Uncle Jim, though put in at the same time, produced no fruit. The following number of plants were added in 1912 : Beder Wood, 50 ; Bisel, 25 ; Buster, 50; Clyde, 10; Dunlap, 50; Enhance, 40; Excelsior, 50; Glen Mary, 50; Green- ville, 25; Nettie, 50; New Globe, 25; Parson, 50; Ruby, 50>; Sample, 50; Splendid, 50; 3 W's, 50; Uncle Jim, 50; Wm. Belt, 50; GRAPES. The following number of vines were planted in 1912: Brant, 15; Brighton, 4; Campbell's Early, 2; Canada, 14; Champion, 2; Cottage, 4; Early Ohio, 5; Florence x Potter, 5; Golden Drop, 2; Hartford, 5; Lindley, 5; Manito, 5; McTavish, 2; Merrimac, 5; Moore's Early, 5; Pattison, 3; Peabody, 5; Potter, 5; Potter x Florence, 2; Rogers, 17, 5; Wilkins, 5; Wyoming Red, 2; Yomago, 2. VEGETABLES. The past season was one of the most unfavourable in years, continuous wet weather until June 15 keeping back seeding operations, whilst a drought which followed right to the beginning of August delayed germination. The yields were thus exceedingly low. Besides the two hundred and fifteen varieties tested in trial plots, about two acres of vegetables were grown for market, also for seed to be distributed. These were raised between the trees, in the apple orchard. The celeriac did not germinate; the celery, sown in the greenhouse on March 21 did not grow enough to make it worth while transplanting; the same thing happened to egg plants ; all the musk melons and the water melons died after transplanting, and the same varieties sown in the open produced no fruit; the peppers did not produce anything, nor the squashes. 330 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 4 GEORGE V., A. 1914 The following tables give comparative yields of some of the more important vege- tables:— BEANS. Variety. Refugee, or 1,000 to 1 (Cap Rouge) Length of row. 30 feet. Keeney's Rustless Wax Old Homestead ... Early Refugee Ward well's Kidney Wax. . . . Stringless Green Pod Davis Wax (Cap Rouge) .... Challenge Black Wax (a E. ■ I H F.). Ready for use. Yield in quarts. Aug. 20.. •• 24.. 8.. •i 26.. 8.. July 31.. i. 31.. Aug. 12.. July 31.. .. 29.. 16 15 11 11" a 8 8 3 BEET. Meteor Ruby Dulcet Crimson Globe Early Blood Red Turnip. . . . Egyptian Blood Red Turnip. Blood Red Ball Yield in pounds. 30 30 29 26£ 24 m CABBAGE. Variety. Express Danish Summer Ballhead Early t, Flat Swedish Winningstadt _ Improved Aniager Danish Roundhead Early Jersey Wakefield it Paris Market Large Late Flat Drumhead New Early Market Copenhagen market Extra Amager Ballhead Fottler's Improved Brunswick Magdeburg Extra Early Midsummer Savoy ... . Small Erfurt Autumn King Lubeck DanishDelicatesse Red Red Danish Stonehead ISio. of plants. 40 40 40 30 40 30 40 40 30 40 40 30 30 30 40 40 30 30 30 30 Ready for use. July 7. Aug. 8. n 24. Sept. 14. Aug. 24. Sept. 14. Aug. 17. 8. Sept. 14. Aug. 8. ,. 26. Sept. 19. 5. .. 14. Aug. 29 24 Sept. 5 23 14 14 Yield. Heads. Pounds. 40 39 37 29 39 29 39 40 29 36 39 27 28 29 37 40 28 25 28 29 176 167 166 165$ 149* 149 145 144 140 138 136 136 121$ 121 1124 110 105* 99 64 54J CAIiKOT. Half Long Chantenay Improved Nantes. . . . French Horn Yield in Pound*. 42i 35| DIVISION OF HORTICULTURE 331 SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 CAULIFLOWER. Variety. No. of plant*. Ready for use. Marketable Heads. Veitch's Autumn Giant Danish Giant Extra Selected Early Erfurt Dwarf. Early Snowball 40 40 40 40 Sept. 9 July 7 15 15 30 12 7 6 CORN. Malakoff (Cap Rouge) . . Malakoff (C. E. P.) Ford book Early Pocahontas ('Cap Rouge) Pocahontas Golden Bantam Metropolitan Black Mexican Country Gentleman Early Evergreen Golden Rod Stowell's Evergreen Sept. 10. 14. Oct. 10. Sept. 19. 21. Oct. 10. Sept. 19 Number of Ears. 48 48 12 12 9 3 3 Not (it to use. CUCUMBER. Giant Pera Short Green (Cap Rouge) Chicago Pickling (Cap Rouged Cool and Crisp Short Green (Cap Rouge) Peerless White Spine Chicago Pickling (Cap Rouge). Early White Spine (Cap Rouge) Long Green Short Green (Cap Rouge) 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 Aug. Sept. 31. 9. 1. . 1... 1... 1... Not fit to use. No. of Cucumbers. 11 3 2 2 2 1 LETTUCE. Black Seeded Simpson Grand Rapids Improved Hanson All Heart Cos Trianon Crisp as Ice Dark Green Capucine Iceberg Big Boston Re i Edged Victoria (Cap Rouge). Rousseau Blond Winter Giant Crystal Head Unrivalled Summer Red Edged Victoria Wheeler's Tom Thumb Marketable Heads. 30 30 30 28 28 28 26 25 24 22 22 21 20 19 19 332 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 4 GEORGE V., A. 1914 ONION. Vaiiety. Larse Red Wethersfield Prizetaker Dark Red Beauty Danvers Yellow Globe Length of row. 30 feet. 30 H . 30 „ . 30 ,. . 30 .. . Ready for use. July 25 „ 27 ii 2!) ii 29 ii 29 Yield in pounds. Market- able. ft 3ft ft Thick- necks. 1541 13 10ft 9ft PARSLEY. Variety. Double Curled Carter's Fern Leaved Emerald Length of row. 30 feet 30 ii 30 .. Ready for use. July 22 .. 26 ,. 29 Yield in pounds. 10ft 4ft PARSNIP New Maltese . . Hollow Crown. 27ft 27 PEAS. Sutton's Excelsior . . Premium Gem Juno Heroine McLean's Advancer Straiagem American Wonder. . GraduE Gregory's Surprise. . Telephone Thos. Lax ton Yield in quarts. DIVISION OF HORTICULTURE 333 SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 POTATOES. Variety. Gold Coin (Nappan) Table Talk (Lacombe) Late Puritan (Nappan) Rochester Rose (Nappan) Reeves' Rose (Nappan) Vick's Extra Early (Nappan) . Money Maker (Nappan) Ashleaf Kidney (Nappan) . . . Empire State (Nappan). ... Everett (Nappan) American Wonder (Nappan). Dreer's Standard (Nappan). . . Irish Cobbler (Nappan) Carman No. 1 (Nappan) . . . Morgan Seedling (Nappan) . Hard to Beat (Nappan) Factor (Nappan) Dalmeny Beauty (Nappan). . . Length of row. 66 fe 66 ■ 66 , 66 . 66 . 66 , 66 , 66 , GG . 66 , 66 i 66 , t>6 , 66 , 66 . 66 . 66 , 66 , 3t Ready for use. Aug. 8. ., 15. ii £0. 3; 3. 3. ii 12. 8. ,i 20. „ 12. 8. 8. 3. 8. i. 15. „ 15. ii 20. ii 12. Yield in pounds. Market- able. Small. If 9 44 44 Gj H n 7 24 4| 14 it 2i Total. 664 73 64* 60 591 52§ 54f 47i 524 48£ 45 43 3SJ 30i 28 252 173 113 RADISH. Variety. French Breakfast (Cap Rouge) Forcing Turnip Scarlet White Icicle (Cap Rouge (c) Forcing Turnip Scarlet (Cap Rouge White Icicle (Cap Rouge— b) Non plus ultra (Cap Rouge— b) French Breakfast (Cap Rouge— a) . . . White Icicle (Cap Rouge— a) , ,t ii (Cap Rouge — b) . , Rosy Gem (Cap Rouge — b) Turnip Early Scarlet (Cap Rouge— a) b). White Tipped Scarlet Turnip Early Scarlet (Cap Rouge— b) Crimson Giant Turnip Rooted (Cap Rouge— a). . ii ii ii ii (Cap Rouge — b). Forcing Turnip Scarlet (Cap Rouge— a) Crimson Giant Turnip Rooted (Cap Rouge — c) . . Rosy Gem (Cap Rouge — b) Length of row. 30 feet 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 Ready for use. June 15. 15. 15. 15. 15. 15. 15. 15. 15. 15. 15. 15. 15. 15. 15. 15 15. 15 Yield in dozens. 21 19 18 18 174 104 if-i 154, 15 15 144 12 1U 11 10| 9 8 8 334 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS TOMATO. 4 GEORGE V.f A. 1914 Variety. Earliaria (Cap Rouge) Bonny Best (Cap Rouge) Rennie'a XXX Earliest (Cap Rouge) ii ii u Florida Special . . Chalk's Early Jewel (Cap Rouge) Sparks' Earliana (Cap Kouge. ) (C. E. ¥.)... ii ii (Sunnybrook Strain) Chalk's Early Jewel (Cap Rouge) Trophy Earliest of All Bonny Best (Cap Rouge) Chalk's Early Jewel Northern Adirondack Earliana (Cap Rouge) Sparks' Earliana (C. E. F. ) First of All (Cap Rouge) Matchless ii (Cap Rouge) Livingston's Globe No. of plants o 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 Ready for use. Oct. 11 . ., 11. .. 11. .. 11. ii 11. .i 11. m 11. i. 11. ., 11. .. 17. ,. 11. ■i 11. „ 11. M 11. I, 11. I, 11. ■I 11. ,1 11. II 11. No fruit formed. . Yield Green, Ripe. Pounds. " r. H 2* 2 2 TURNIP. Variety. Length of rows. Purple Top Milan Early White Flat Strapped. 30 ft. 30 ft. Yield in pounds. FLOWERS. A great deal of work was done during the year on the ornamental grounds which were laid out under the direction of Mr. F. E. Buck. Over three hundred varieties of annuals and perennials were grown, besides numbers of bulbs, shrubs, and hedges. HEDGES. It is important to learn what kinds of plants arc most suitable for hedge purposes in the province of Quebec, and basing the kinds to be tested on those which were succeeding best at Ottawa, the following trees and shrubs were planted. Each variety of these was planted in one row fifty feet long, the plants being eighteen inches apart in the rows. The hedges are placed fifteen feet apart: — Thunberg's Barberry (Berbers Thunbergii), Siberian Pea Tree (Caragana arborescens), Siberian Dogwood (Cornus alba sibirica), Cockspur Thorn (Crataegus Crus-galli.) Irish Juniper (Juniperus communis fastigiata), DIVISION OF HORTICULTURE 335 SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 White Spruce (Picca alba). Norway Spruce (Picea excelsa.) Blue Spruce {Picea pungens Kosteriana), White Pine (Pinus Strobus), Alder Buckthorn (Rhamnus Frangula). Tree Lilac (Syringa amurensis), Josika's Lilac (Syringa Josikaea), American Arbor-Vita3 (Thuya occidentalis). CONIFER.E. The following conifers' were planted in the spring: Abies concolor, 2; Cupressus sphaeroidea ericoides, 2; Cupressus pisifera aurea, 2; Cupressus pisifera filifera, 4; Cupressus pisifera plumosa. 2; Juniperus communis fastigiata, 2; Larix europaea, 2; Picea alba, 2; Picea Alcockiana, 2; Picea excelsa, 2; Picea pungens glauca, 2; Pinus Laricio nigricans, 2 ; Pinus montana Mughus, 2 ; Pinus ponderosa, 2 ; Pinus resinosa, 2; Pinus Strobus, 2; Pinus sylvestris, 2; Pseudotsuga Douglasii, 2; Thuya occident- alis, 1; Thuya occidentalis Elwangeriana, 2; Thuya occidentalis Hoveii, 2; Thuya occidentalis Wareana, 2; Thuya occidentalis compacta, 2; Thuya occidentalis Douglas Golden, 2. DECIDUOUS TREES AND SHRUBS. The following were planted in the spring of 1912: Acer tataricum Ginnala, 4; Aesculus Hippocastanum, 2; Berberis Thunbergii, 2; Caragana arborescens, 4; Cara- gana frutescens macrophylla, 4; Caragana grandiflora, 3; Catalpa Eaempferi, 2; Catalpa speciosa, 2 ; Cornus alba sibirica variegata, 2 ; Elaegnus angustifolia, 2 ; 'tfjiionymus exiropaeus, 2; Hydrangea paniculata, 1; Hydrangea paniculata grandi- flora, 24; Lespedeza bicolor, 2; Ligustrum amurense, 2; Lonicera Alberti, 2; Lonicera Morrowi, 3; Lonicera tatarica, 2; Lonicera tatarica flore rosea, 3; Lonicera tatarica grandiflora, 3; Lonicera tatarica virginalis alba, 3; Neillia opulifolia aurea, 3; Phila- delphus coronarius, 2; Philadclphus coronarius foliis aureis, 2; Philadelphus grandi- florus speciosissimus, 2 ; Philadelphus nivalis, 6 ; Philadelphus speciosissimus, 2 ; Potentilla fruticosa, 1; Prunus Grayana, 2; Pyrus Aucuparia, 2; Pyrus angustifolia, /f. pL, 2; Quercus palustris, 2; Rhamnus Frangula, 1; Ribes aureum, 2; .Rosa Rugosa, 2; $aii:z rosmarinifolia, 2; Sambucus nigra foliis aureis, 2; Spircea callosa, 3; Spircea japonica,l\ Spircea sorbifolia,l; Spiraea Van Houttei, 25; Symphoricarpus racemosus, 2; Syringa chinensis, 2; Syringa japonica, 2; Syringa villosa, 3; Syringa vulgaris Congo, 2; Syringa vulgaris Jacques Calot, 5; Syringa vulgaris Leon Simon, 2; Syringa vulgaris Ludwig 8 path, 6; Syringa vulgaris Marc Micheli, 2; Syringa vulgaris Michel Buchner, 6; Syringa vulgaris Mile Fernande Viger, 6; Viburnum dentatum, 3; Viburnum Molle, 3; Viburnum Opulus, 2; Viburnum Opulus sterile, 7. The season was such a bad one, with continual rain until the middle of June followed by a drought which lasted until the beginning of August, that many annuals bloomed very late, whilst others did not bloom at all. 336 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 4 GEORGE V., A. 1914 EXPERIMENTAL FARM, BRANDON, MANITOBA. REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT— W. C. McKILLICAN, B.S.A, Horticulture has been an important part of the work of the Experimental Farm at Brandon for the past twenty- three years, and during that time much useful information has been published which has assisted settlers in deciding what to plant, how to plant, and how to care for what they are trying to grow. In 1912 many varieties of fruit trees and bushes, ornamental trees and shrubs, vegetables, and herbaceous perennials and annuals were under test, and in the following report an account is given of the behaviour of some of them. VEGETABLES. The season was rather an unfavourable one for the vegetable garden. June was the driest in the history of the Farm, and the drought was combined with high temperatures. This interfered with the germination of late-sown seeds, and made it very difficult for newly transplanted plants to live. Following the drought came torrential rains, which washed out some plants and buried others. Finally, a cool, cloudy summer delayed the ripening of tomatoes, melons, and other crops that require much heat. The results obtained are as good as could be expected under the unfavourable weather conditions. POTATOES. Twenty-four varieties of potatoes were planted in uniform test rows on May 27, in black loam soil. One variety, Everett, was accidentally prevented from making full development, and is not included in the test. The remaining twenty-three varieties were dug on September 24. The following yields are calculated from the product of a 66-foot row, or one-two hundred and twentieth of an acre, of each variety. POTATOES— TEST OF VARIETIES. Name of Variety. Table Talk Wee McGregor Woodbury's White Rose. Empire State Ashleaf Kidney Reeve's. Rose Early Ohio American Wonder Irish Cobbler Early Bovee Late Puritan . Money Maker Morgan Seedling Peacock's Surprise Early White Prize Rochester Rose Manitoba Wonder Sabean Elephant Hamilton's Early Carman No. 1 Factor Gold Coin Hard to Beat. When Matured Late Medium. Late Medium. Early . . . Late Early . . . >t . . . Late. .. . Medium. Early . . Medium. i' i Late Medium. it liato . . . . Average Size. Large Small. Large Medium ti Large . . Medium Large . . Medium Small . . it ... Medium Large . . Medium Small . . Quality. Good Medium Good... Medium Good... it . . Medium Total Yield per Acre. Bush. Lb. 715 .. 594 .. 579 557 542 506 535 480 509 498 466 421 396 440 407 392 370 330 344 325 220 231 190 20 20 40 20 20 40 40 40 40 20 20 40 20 40 46 Yield per Acre of Marke- table . Bush. Lb. 663 568 564 531 528 498 476 462 458 458 455 388 385 381 352 3tl 330 322 293 281 205 194 156 40 20 40 40 40 40 20 20 40 40 20 40 20 20 20 20 ■K) « 2 < s Bush. Lb. 51 25 14 25 14 7 58 18 51 40 11 33 11 58 55 51 40 7 51 44 14 36 34 20 40 40 40 40 20 40 20 20 20 40 20 20 20 20 40 40 Form and Colour. Long, white. Oval, white. Long, white. Pink. it Long, white. Round, white. Long, pink & white Long, white. Long, russet. Long, white. Long, pink. ti pink and white Long, white. Oval, white. ti Lonsr, white. Oval, white. Long, white. DIVISION OF HORTICULTURE 337 SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 Five Year Averages. Thirteen, of these varieties have been grown for the last five years, and six more have been grown for three years. The following are the average results obtained in these periods: — Variety. Ashleaf Kidney Morgan Seedling American Wonder Empire State Reeve's Rose Late Puritan Irish Cobbler Money Maker Early White Prize Manitoba Wonder . Carman No. 1 Rochester Rose Gold Coin Woodbury's White Rose (average of 3 years). Early Ohio (average of 3 years) Peacock's Surprise (average of 3 years) Hamilton's Early n ....... Factor u Hard to Beat ■■ Average Earliness. Late .... Medium. Late . . . Medium. Late Medium-Early. . Medium-Late. . . Early Medium Early Late Medium Early Medium Medium-Early. Late Average Size. Large . . n it . . Medium Large . . Medium Small.'.' Mt dium Large . . Small . . Large . . Medium Larpre . . Medium Small. . . Average Yield per Acre Bush. Lb. 517 22 459 20 455 46 449 56 439 38 438 26 435 36 430 06 429 44 422 24 401 26 387 34 355 40 501 03 482 46 424 06 416 53 287 26 233 20 Commercial Fertilizers on Potatoes. Three kinds of commercial fertilizers were tested separately on potatoes, and a combination of the three was also tried. Acid Phosphate was used as a representative of fertilizers containing phosphorous, muriate of potash was chosen as a typical potash manure, and sulphate of ammonia was used for nitrogen. The plots were %o acre in size. The potatoes were planted on May 27 and dug on September 24. Fertilizer Used No fertilizer Acid phosphate (600 pounds per acre) Muriate of potash (320 pounds per acre) Sulphace of ammonia (160 pounds per acre) Acid phosphate (600 pounds per acre) "j Muriate of potash (320 pounds per acre) \ Sulphate of ammonia ,160 pounds per acre) J Yield per Acre. Bush. Lb. 441 50 352' 00 460 10 485 50 564 40 Each of these fertilizers costs about $9 or $10 per acre in the quantities used, exclusive of cost of application. 16—23 338 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 4 GEORGE V., A. 1914 Cooking Test. A cooking test was made of twenty-two varieties of potatoes. The following wore the notes taken on their cooking qualities: — Variety. Table Talk... . Wee McGregor.. Woodbury's White Rose Empire State Ashleaf Kidney. . . Reeve's Rose Early Ohio . American Wonder Irish Cobbler Early Bovee . .... Late Puritan Money Maker Morgan Seedling. . Peacock's Surprise Early White Prize Rochester Rose Manitoba Wonder Sabesm Elephant . . Hamilton's Early. Factor Character of Surface. Flavor. Smooth, shallow eyes. Gold Coin . . , Hard to Beat. It II Very smooth, shallow eyes Smooth, shallow eyes Smooth, medium eyes Smooth, deep eyes. . Smooth, shallow eyes Deep eyes Rather rough, rather deep eyes Smooth Very smooth, shallow eyes Smooth, medium eyes. . . . Very smooth, shallow eyes Medium smooth, medium shallow eyes Medium smooth Medium shallow eyes Smooth, shallow eyes ..... Smooth, very shallow eyes Smooth, shallow eyes. . . Very good Very smooth, shallow eyes Good Good Very good Texture. Very good . Good Rather coarse . Very good (Very good Medium . . Medium . Good... Dryness. Medium dry. . Dry Very good Good Very good Good Very good Good Medium. . Very dry , Dry Medium, vary i"g Dry Varying...... Rather moist . . Good H Very good . Good. Medium Good.... Medium . Very good . Medium. . . Wet Dry .. .. Medium. Dry.. Medium . Good. Rather moist. Dry Medium dry. Dry Remarks. Cooks quickly Some red flesh. Slow to cook. Some red flesh. Cooks very quickly. Cooks quickly, yellowish flesh. ONIONS. Five varieties of seed onions and three kinds of sets were planted on April 19 and 20. Variety. Dark Red Beauty Large Red Wethersfield. Ailsa Craig. Dan vers Yellow Glob3. . Salzer's Wethersfield Yellow Dutch Sets Multiplier Sets White Dutch Sets Date of ripening. Vield of one 60 foot row. lbs. 78 75 56 48i 38" 33 27 17 DIVISION OF HORTICULTURE SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 BEETS. Six varieties were sown in uniform test rows. 339 Variety. Ready for use. r Yield of 66 foot row. Remarks. Aug. 12 fulled, Sept. IG. Aug. 12 Aug. 12 Pulled, Sept. IG. Aug. 6 lbs. 139 129 119£ 116 102£ 90| Good shape, large, good quality Rather coarse. Early Blood Red Turn ip Good shape uniform size, good quality. Round, medium size, excellent quality. Rough, coarse, large. Long but small, good quality. Black Red Ball Rennie's Intermediate CARROTS. Three varieties were sown on May 5 in uniform test rows and were dug on Sep- tember 18. Variety . Half Long Chantenay. . , Improved Nantes . French Horn Yield of 66 foot row. • lbs. 69 57 52 The French Horn carrots were the best quality for table use. PARSNI. One variety of parsnip, the Hollow Crown, was sown on May IG and dug on Sep- tember 9. A 66-foot row yielded 75 pounds. SALSIFY. One variety of salsify, the Long White, was sown on May 16 and dug on Septem- - ber 9. A 66-foot row yielded 33 pounds. RADISH. Two varieties of radish were sown on May 8. The Early Scarlet White Tipped Turnip was ready for use on June 7 and the Forcing Turnip Scarlet on June 10. Both yielded small radishes of good quality. BEANS. Seven varieties of beans were sown on May 29. 16— 22 £ 340 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 4 GEORGE V., A. 1914 Variety. Challenge Black Wax . . . Ward well's Kidney Wax Valentine ... , Stringless Green Pod Keeney's Rustless Wax. . Early Refugee Refugee or 1000 to 1 Ready for use. July 25 ii 30 Aug. 4 II 15 II 17 It 19 II 22 Height. inches . 15 18 18 18 18 24 24 Remarks. Very good quality. Good quality. Excellent quality. PEAS. Thirteen varieties of peas were planted. A uniform test was not obtained, as the dry weather in June caused poor germination of the late sown varieties. The Keliance was the variety which produced the finest quality of peas. CORN. Five varieties of table corn were planted on May 28. Variety. Extra Early Adams . . . Mammoth White Cory Malakoff Fordhook's Early Golden Bantam Ready for use. Aug. 19 ., 27 „ 31 Sept. 3 5 Cooking Test. Texture. Fairly good. . Good Good A little tough Very good . . . Flavour. Fairly good. Medium, rather flat. Very good . Fair. Excellent. TOMATOES. Eleven varieties or strains of tomatoes were sown in a hotbed in April, and were planted out in the garden on June 6. Six plants of each kind were planted, three were pruned and three were left unpruned. The yield was as follows : — Variety. Spark's Earliana (C. E. F. strain No. 12-18). Spark's Earliana (C. E. F. strain No. 12-23). Rennie's XXX Earliest Bonny Best Spark's Earliana (Burpee) Spark's Earliana (C. E. F. strain) Trophy. •••••• Livingston Globe Matchless Chalk's Early Jewel Florida Special ... Average of 11 kinds Yield of 3 plants pruned. Ripe. Lb. oz. 14 05 9 00 3 2 1 1 1 1 1 07 15* 12 12 08 00 00 8 3 06 Green. Lb. oz. 23 00 16 00 20 00 20 00 25 00 14 00 10 08 23 00 3 00 13 08 14 00 16 09 Yield of 3 plants unpruned Ripe. Lb. oz. 1 03 1 03 1 03 1 12 13 Green. Lb. oz. 12 00 27 09 11 00 18 00 36 .. 16 03 8 06 6 11 6 11 17 12 3 09 14 14 DIVISION OF HORTICULTURE 341 SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 SPINACH. One variety of spinach, the Victoria, was sown on May 8, it was ready for use on July 19, and went to seed when 12 inches high. CELERY. Six varieties of celery were sown in the hotbed on April 11, and were set out on May 27. They were destroyed by a deluge of rain in July which filled the trench with mud; hence no results are available. PEPPERS. Three varieties of peppers were grown, but all were destroyed by frost on Septem- ber 23, without having fruited. LETTUCE. Thirteen varieties of lettuce were sown at various dates. Some of the later sown varieties were very badly affected by the June drought, and failed to develop heads. Variety. Cos Trianon All Heart Crisp as Ice Giant Crystal Head Iceberg Unrivalled Summer Wheeler's Tom Thumb. . Grand Rapi ds Improved Hanson Rousseau Blond Winter. Dark Green Capuciue. . . Black Seeded Simpson . . Red Edged Victoria Weight of average head. Lb. oz. 2 1 1 1 5 10 9 4 15 12 11 Remarks. Medium quality. Good quality. Very g od quality. Good quality. Good quality Did not develop heads. Went to seed before it could be used. The Iceberg is recommended as a very satisfactory variety. CABBAGE. Fourteen varieties of cabbage were started in the hotbed on April 17. were set out during the first week of June. They Variety. Flat Swedish Improved Amager Danish Roundhead. Large Late Flat Drumhead , Early Jersey Wakefield Brunswick or Short Stem Danish Summer Ballhead Copenhagen Market Magdeburg Extra Early Midsummer Savoy Small Erfurt Lubeck Winningstadt Early Paris Market Extra Amager Danish Ballhead Ready for use. Weight of Average Head. lb. oz. October 7 19 04 7 15 00 7 14 00 August 2 12 00 11 00 7 10 12 August 12 10 04 10 00 n 20. . . 9 00 August 10 . . . , . 9 00 8 00 7. ... 8 00 July 23 7 00 October 7 6 12 342 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS . 4 GEORGE V., A. 1914 CAULIFLOWER. Three varieties of cauliflower were sown in the hotbed on April 20, and set out during the first week of June. Variety. Danish Giant or Dry Weather Extra Selected Early Erfurt Dwaif . . Early Snowball Ready for use. August 30. >, 27 .. 14. Weight of average head. lb. 9 8 7 oz. 4 8 Remarks. Very tender, but lacked flavour. Very tender^ mild, fine. Very tender, good flavour. SQUASH AND MARROWS. Four kinds of squash and three varieties of vegetable marrow were grown this year. They were planted on June 7. Variety. Mammoth Whale Squash . . Hubbard Squash Summer Crookneck Squash Delicata Squash Long Vegetable Marrow . . . Long White Bush Marrow. Custard Marrow Ready f^pr use. September 24. .. 24. August 22. 14. 20. 16. 14. Weight of average specimens. lb. 24 16 4 3 16 11 6 oz. 2 8 8 8 Total weight from 12 plants. lb. 223 198 123 104 427 201 55 MELONS. Two varieties of water melon and one of musk melon were planted but did not fruit on account of the cool, backward' season. SMALL FRUITS. A new plantation of fruit bushes was set out this season. The old plantation had become unsatisfactory for testing purposes as there were many bushes of old varieties that had shown themselves unsuitable, and either none at all or only single bushes of the most desirable varieties. The following varieties have been set out in the new plantation: — RED CURRANTS. Six bushes each of Wilder Red Cross, Red Grape, Cumberland Red, Cherry, Greenfield Red, Victoria Red, Red Dutch, Pomona, Rankin's Red, Raby Castle, Per- fection. WHITE CURRANTS. Six bushes each of Large White, White Cherry, White Grape. BLACK CURRANTS. Six bushes each of Topsy, Eagle, Success, Climax, Collins Prolific, Victoria, Eclipse, Saunders, Clipper, Buddenborg, Kerry, Magnus. DIVISION OF HORTICULTURE 343 SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 GOOSEBERRIES. Eighteen bushes each of Houghton, Downing. RASPBERRIES. Twelve bushes of Herbert, six bushes of Sunbeam, twelve bushes of Caroline, six bushes of King, nine bushes of Loudon, seven bushes of Miller, five bushes of Turner. STRAWBERRIES. The strawberry crop was rather disappointing this year. The June drought was at its severest just when they should have been bearing. The plantation is getting rather old; this, with the drought, made a light crop. APPLES. The apple orchard is, in the opinion of the present Superintendent, very poorly located. It is on a steep southern slope, where the bright sun in March and April causes the sap to flow too early; this is followed by heavy frost, and the trees are injured. Good locations for an apple orchard are scarcely to be found on this Farm, as the light land practically all slopes southward, and the bottom land is too heavy and rich. It is still impossible to report success with standard apples. One tree, a num- bered variety called No. 179, bore some fine, large, red apples of good flavour. Most of the standard apple trees are in an unthrifty condition. The following varieties of crossbred or crab apples bore fruit: Silvia, Northern Queen, Ruby, Robin, Elsa, Prince, Alberta, Hyslop, Norman, Carleton, No. 171, East- man, Jewel, Tony, Osman and Eve, and Ostrakoff a Russian variety of apple. Of these, Silvia is the most satisfactory, the tree is vigorous and hardy, the fruit is of good flavour, and is the size of a good crab apple. The fruit is early ripening and does not keep well. Other varieties that did well are: Northern Queen, a small- sized crab, but well flavoured and prolific; Robin, much like Silvia, but not bearing so well, Ruby and Tony. All the cross-bred varieties seem fairly hardy except Pioneer and Lang, which seem more subject to sunscald and blight. A large number of trees, seedlings of cross-bred apples, are in the orchard. The fruit of most of these is quite inferior. However, two trees, both seedlings of Cluster, bore good crops of apples that compared favourably with the cross-bred apples. Vacancies in the orchard have been filled up by planting young trees. The following varieties were obtained from A. P. Stevenson, of Dunstan, Man.; Gipsy Girl, Blushed Calville, Kluevskoe, Antonovka, Volga Anis, Anisette, Phillips, Lyman's Crab, Repka Risla,^,. Simbirsk, Charlamoff and Hibernal. Trees of the following varieties were received from the Central Experimental Farm, Ottawa: Pioneer, Jewel, Columbia, Prince, Hibernal and Charles. SEEDLINGS OF STANDARD APPLES. A new departure in the testing of apple trees has been made this year. Hereto- fore the trees used have been two or three years old at the time they were received and planted out. They were planted in permanent locations and consequently took a great deal of room. This year, a large number of small seedlings, one year old, were obtained from the Central Experimental Farm and set out in nursery row3. They were planted in rows three feet apart, and are one foot apart in the row. Thus a large number can be tried in a small area. The object is to test the hardiness of the 344 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 4 GEORGE V., A. 1914 plants before they are set out in permanent locations. Large numbers are used so that a greater selection is possible. By obtaining younger trees, they will be more Thoroughly acclimatized by the time they reach bearing age. The young trees used are seedlings of some of the hardiest standard apples. It is hoped that among the variations that will occur in growing so many seedlings, some trees will combine a greater hardiness than heretofore obtained with fruit of reasonably good size and quality. The following are the seedlings planted in the spring of 1912 and the number alive in the following auturrui: — Variety. Number planted. Number alive in autumn. 458 195 611 483 529 48 237 381 371 142 479 424 412 26 Tetofsky 183 311 Total 2,942 2,348 j This experiment will be continued in 1913 by planting seeds of CharlamofF, Blushed Calville, Repka Kislaga and Hibernal, obtained from apples grown in Mani- toba in 1912 by Mr. A. P. Stevenson. PLUMS. A good crop of plums was harvested. The trees that are bearing are mostly native Manitoba plum trees. The fruit from these trees varies greatly; from some, it is very inferior; from others, of excellent quality. They vary also in earliness, in size of fruit and in the stage of maturity at which the fruit falls from the trees. Some of the better trees are well worth propagation. They are all quite hardy. Fruit was also borne by some seedlings of the Cheney variety. These plums are later than the native plum, but are larger. They vary in quality; the better ones are very good. Young trees of the Cheney and Aitkin varieties and some selected plants of the native Manitoba plum were purchased from the Buchanan Nursery at Winnipeg. Also young trees of the following cross-bred varieties, originated by Professor N. E. Hansen of South Dakota: Opata, Hanska, Sapa and Skuya, were purchased. These trees were planted in vacancies in the plum orchard and in locations from which inferior trees were removed. ' FLOWERS. The herbaceous perennials have bloomed profusely as usual. The iris made a splendid display early in the season. The pseonies bloomed abundantly, but the dura- tion of the bloom was shortened by the drought and the heat of the last of June. Perennial larkspur, scarlet lychnis, autumn daisy, columbines, and other perennials did very well. A large number of varieties of roses bloomed. Most of the annual flowers were started in a hotbed in April and set out early in June. The season was unfavourable, as the June drought was very hard on the DIVISION OF HORTICULTURE 345 SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 newly transplanted plants, and the cool, wet weather later on delayed blooming. How- ever, even under these disadvantages, a good display was made, which attracted much attention. A consignment of various kinds of bulbs for interior use in the winter and for early spring bloom in the garden was received from the Dominion Horticulturist. The tulips are the stand-by for the latter purpose; they made an excellent display this past spring. The bulbs for house use were very satisfactory, and as this method of obtaining bloom in the winter months is considered of special importance the following brief article prepared on this subject is included herewith: — BULB CULTURE IN THE HOME. Practically everyone plans to have a showing of flowers during summer months, but why should not the same precautions be taken in preparation for winter, when there is such a dearth of colour? The practice of raising bulbs, e.g., hyacinths,, daffodils, tulips, etc., for winter bloom should be more general. The work involved is comparatively trifling, and the results most gratifying, but, with this, as with many other things, just a little aside from the ordinary routine, people hesitate to make the start. Yet in reality, more time and care is frequently expended in coaxing into bloom a few sickly geraniums than would be necessary to produce a whole windowful of bright, cheery daffodils. The first requisite, naturally, is a supply of good fresh bulbs, which should bo obtainable of any reliable florist. These should be procured early in October, to insure bloom for Christmas, and should be potted in loose, sandy soil, provided with good drainage facilities. In general, the bulbs should be put in at such a depth that their tops will be just below the surface of the soil, or, as in the case of the daffodils, slightly above it. The arrangement of the bulbs in planting is a matter for individual taste to settle. One might have a long window box of tulips for example, with red or yellow in the centre, and a border of white; or pots, ranging in size from the four-inch size to those large, shallow fern pots, frequently used for hanging baskets. One precaution should be observed in combining different varieties, and that is, to be sure that those used together will bloom at the same time. A mass of bloom is certainly beautiful, but when one has a limited supply of bulbs to draw from, it is better to prolong the season of bloom, than to produce it all at once. Most bull is do not object to crowding, in a seven inch pot one can put half a dozen daffodils, or tulips or Roman hyacinths, while fully a dozen and a half of crocus will find plenty of room in the same area. A very little practice will acquaint one with the habits of the different kinds of bulbs, which, once learned, will facilitate pleasing com- binations in arrangement. When the bulbs have been planted, they should be watered and set in a cool cellar, or dark room. This marks the first and most laborious stage of the work; all that then remains to be done, is to see that they are watered occasionally (say once a iortnight, or less frequently according to the dampness of the cellar) and not allowed to freeze. The difficulty of knowing just when to bring the pots up to the light, may bo overcome in this way. After watering the pot, tip it upside down on the hand, allowing the soil to leave the pot, (it will remain intact if carefully handled), and determine the amount of root development. If the pot seems to be full of roots, it is ready for the light, if not, even if the foliage seems well started, leave longer in darkness, as development of foliage cannot be taken as an indication of root growth. 346 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 4 GEORGE V., A. 1914 The Dutch hyacinths can be successfully grown in water, but it is wiser to have plenty of stones in the water, that the roots may be less disturbed by handling. In this case, all that is necessary is to replenish the water as required — a small piece of charcoal is a good addition to the water. With a very small expenditure of time, labour, and expense, there is no reason why anyone should not have continuous bloom from Christmas until May, when outside flowers are in evidence again. Some of the varieties which might be suggested are: — Eoman hyacinth Brought up December 5. Paper White narcissus " December 18. Golden Spur daffodil " December 18. ' Sir Watkin daffodil " February 1. Dutch hyacinths January 12. Tulips (single) December 15. Crocus " January 10. Emperor daffodils February 18. Empress daffodils February 18. Scilla Sibirica " March 10. These are merely suggestions as to dates for bringing up, tne more reliable test will be that of examing the roots, described above, since cellar conditions will vary greatly in different homes. DIVISION OF HORTICULTURE 347 SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 EXPERIMENTAL FARM, INDIAN HEAD, SASKATCHEWAN REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT, ANGUS MACKAY. In 18S8, when the Experimental Farm at Indian Head was started, there was practically a bare prairie in that vicinity. Today, the forest plantations and the many species and varieties of ornamental trees and shrubs growing there show that great changes can be made where trees are planted and cared for, even on what was once open prairie. Within the shelter afforded by the windbreaks are grown crab apples, plums, small fruits, vegetables, and many herbaceous perennials and annual flowers. In the following report will be found the results of some of the horticultural experiments conducted during 1912. VEGETABLES. Vegetables all did well, with few exceptions. Frost overtook the beans before they were fully matured. Melons were a failure. Tomatoes had to be lifted and put in the hot-house before frost came. Corn, with the exception of the native varieties, did not ripen. POTATOES. The crop of potatoes in 1912 was a satisfactory one. The seed was planted in rows thirty inches apart, and twelve inches apart in the row. The yield was taken from two rows, sixty-six feet long. • Potatoes. — Test of Varieties. o 5 Variety Char- acter of Soil. Date Planted. ljAmeriean Wonder. ..Clay loam May 2 Carman, No. 1 . . . 3 Da'meny Beauty. . 4 Wee MacGreeror ... 5 Viok's Extra Early., 6 \ Reeve's Rose ..... 7 Everett 8 Table Talk 9 Rochester Rose. . . 10 Money Maker i lljHard to Beat j 12; Late Puritan ! 13 Morgan Seedling.. . . ' 14 Gold Coin 15; Irish Cobbler 16 Ashleaf Kidney 17 I >reer's Standard .... I 18fEmpire State ' 10 Factor 20 New Queen j 21 HV.ulton Rose 22| Early Norther ! 23! Early Hebron j 20. 20. 20. 20. 20. 20. 20. 20. 20 •20 20. 20. 20. 20. 20. 20. 20. 20. 20. 20. 20. 20. 20. Date Lifted. Sept. 2f>. 26. 2G. 26. 26. 26. 26 26. 26. 26. 26 26. 26. 26. 26. 26. 26. 26. 26. 26. 26. 26. 26. Growth. Medium. Strong . . Medium. 11 11 II 11 II II II II 11 II II II Medium. . Strong. . Small Large . . . ii H • it ti ti ii ii ii ii it Medium. Medium. Strong . . . Medium . ■I :: : i Large . . . i Medium. 1 Small ... 1 Yield per A ere. Bush. Lb. Form and Colour. 376 446 437 534 422 433 550 5S8 52S 479 211 511 495 589 532 545 536 536 253 205 420 977 370 12 30 4S 36 24 24 36 12 36 36 24 36 48 48 42 12 12 42 Long, white. Oval, white. H pink and white. Oval, red. Long, pink. Oval, white. •i red. Long, white. Oval, ti it ii Long, pink. Oval, white. Round, M Oval ii ii ii Round, it Oval, pink. 343 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 4 GEORGE V., A. 1914 ASPARAGUS. A good crop was obtained from the old beds of Barr's Mammoth, Barr's Elmira, and Conover's Colossal. In use from May 15 to June 29. BEANS. Variety. Kidney Rustless Wax . . . Wai'dwell's Kidney Wax Valentine Early Refugee ...._. Challenge Black Wax Stringless Green Pod . . . Refugee or 1,000 to 1 ... . Seed from C.E.F In Use. Aug. 4.. July 26 . n 31.. >- 29.. Aug. 4.. July 29.. Aug. 19.. Remarks. Frozen before ripe, Sept. 14. BEETS. Sown May 9; pulled September 26. Variety. Meteor Black Red Ball Early Blood Red Turnip . . Egyptian Dark Red Turnip Ruby Dulcet In Use. July 10. 20. 10. 10. 10. Yield per Acre. Bush. Lb. 1,360 845 1,295 1,198 1,585 20 20 20 40 20 Remarks. Large. Small. . Medium- Large CAULIFLOWER Sown in hothouse March 25; set out May 26. Variety. Danish Giant, or Dry Weather Early Snowball Extra Selected Early Erfurt Dwarf, Large Short Stemmed In Use. Aug. 15. .. 20. July 31. Aug. 1. Av. Weight per head. Lb. 7 4 6 8 Remarks. Medium crop. CELERY. Sown in hothouse March 25; planted out June 4, in trenches 18 inches deep, with 6 inches of manure in the bottom, and 4 inches of soil ou top of the manure. The celery was given several good waterings during the season. DIVISION OF HORTICULTURE 349 SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 Variety. Ready for Use. Weight per doz. heads. Remarks. Paris Golden Yellow Aug. 30.... .i 30.... ,i 30.... Sept. 13.... Aug. 27.... Lb. 13 17 10 16 12 16 10 Good crop. Giant Pascal French Success It II Noll's Magnificent II It Sown May 9; pulled October 19. CARROTS. Variety. In Use. Yield per Acre. Remarks. July 20.... .. 25... h 25.... Bush. Lb. 580 599 20 792 40 Extra good crop. CUCUMBERS. Sown in hothouse April 20; set out in garden May 30. Variety. In Use. Ripe. Length. Remarks. Aug. 20.... .. 27.... ,. 27.... Sept. 15.... .. 20.... .. 22.... Inches. 9 7 7 Good crop. II II CORN. Variety. Ford hook Early Malakoff Golden Bantam. White Squaw. . Red Squaw May 25. .. 25. h 25. '• 25. i. 25. In Use. Aug. 20.... i. 20.... Ripe. Sept. 15. ii 15. Remarks. Did not mature. H " it M Good crop, it 350 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 4 GEORGE V., A. 19U CABBAGE. Sown in hothouse March 25; set out May 26; taken up September 5. Variety. In Use. July Early Jersey Wakefield Early Paris Market . . . .^ Large Late Flat Drumhead Extra Early Midsummer Savoy Fottler's Improved Brunswick ... Lubeck Magdeburg Small Erfurt Winningstadt Sept. Danish Delicatesse, Red . Red Danish Stonehead Danish Summer Ballhead FlatSwedish Improved Amager Danish Roundhead Extra Amager Danish Ballhead Copenhagen Market Sept. July Aug. July Aug. Sept. II Aug. 24. 15. 4 24., 14. 29.. 29.. 30., 4.. 4., 4.. 14. 29.. 4. 4.. 1.. Average Weight. Lb. 6 12 4 13 10 9 G 8 G 5 12 11 8 7 9 Remarks. Medium solid heads. Small ii Large ii Small H Large n M M Medium n Small ii Medium ■■ Small H Large « II •!! Medium n Small H Medium ■■ BRUSSELS SPROUTS. Sown in hothouse March 25 ; set out May 26 ; ready for use September 13. Aver- age weight, 7 pounds. MUSK MELON. One variety (Earliest Ripe') was tested. Sown in hothouse April 20, set out in garden May 30. No fruit matured. ONIONS. Sown in garden April 19; taken up September 18. Variety. Johnson's Dark Red Beauty. Salzer's Wethersfield Danver's Yellow Globe Largo Red Wethersfield Large Silverskin Bushels per Acre. Bush. Lb. 348 299 40 309 20 290 212 40 Remarks. Good crop. Medium crop. Good crop. Medium crop. DITISIOy OF HORTICULTURE 351 SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 GARDEN PEAS. Variety. Gregory's Surprise May Gradus American Wonder McLean's Advancer Heroine , Stratagem Telephone Thomas Laxton Premium Gem Nott's New Perfection Sutton's Excelsior Juno Date Sown. Mav 24.... 11 24.... II 24.... tt 24... 11 24.... II 24 . . . II 24 ... . II 24.... ( 1! 24.... II 24 ... II 24 .... II 24 .... In Use. July 10 10 15 23 Aug. 14 H 14 July 25 .. 20 „ 20 Aug. 20 July 20 Aug. 14 Ripe. Aug. 19 Sept, 2. Aug. 19. Sept. 2. .. 10. .. 10. H> 10. Remarks. Medium crop. " n Large crop. Medium crop. Large 2 1 Medium 2 ..... '. Large 2 ! Medium 2. ... 'Small 10 1 Large PARSNIPS. Sown in garden May 19; taken up October 3. Variety. *.n Use. Yield per acre. Remarks. Aug. 28... Bush. Lb. 773 20 Good crop. PARSLEY. Sown in garden May 13; in use July 20; pulled October 14. Variety, Double Curled, good crop. PEPPERS. Tbree varieties were tried, Cayenne, Chili, and Early Neapolitan. These were sown in the hothouse March 25; set out in garden June 9. No fruit matured. Several plants of Early Neapolitan were allowed to remain in the hothouse during the summer and these gave a good crop of fruit, which ripened October 15. RADISH. Variety. _ Sown r in garden. In Use. Remarks. May 9 ii 9 n 10 SQUASH. Sown in hothouse April 20; transplanted in garden May 30. 352 EXPERIMEXTAL FARMS 4 GEORGE V., A. 1914 Variety. Summer Crookneck Delicata Custard Marrow White bush. Scallop. Long White Bush Marrow Long Vegetable Marrow White Congo Mammoth Whale Hubbard ^ In Use. Aug. 2. ii 15. Sept. 6. Aug. 15 i. 15. Average weight. Aug. 10. ,i 10. Lb. 3 3 2 14 10 Remarks. Good crop. Did not mature. Good crop. LETTUCE. Variety. Red Edged Victoria Unrivalled Summer . . . Wheeler's Tom Thumb.. Cos Trianon All Heart.. Grand Rapids Giant Crystal Head Black Seeded Simpson. , Crisp As Ice Iceberg . Improved Hanson Rousseau Blond Winter Dark Green Capucine. . Sown in garden. May 13. i. 13. i. 13. .. 13. .. 13. ii 13. ■i 13. .. 13. ,, 9. .. 9. ,. 9. ,, 9. ii 9. In Use. July 14 .. 14 ,i 14 ii 14 h 14 .. 14 ., 14 .. 14 h 10 „ 10 ,. 10 ii 10 .. 10 Remarks. Good crop. PUMPKIN. Sown in the hothouse April 20; transplanted in garden May 30. Variety. Jumbo . . Connecticut Field Mammoth King. . In Use. Aug. 15. i. 15. ii 15. Average weight. Lb. 30 14 13 Remarks. Good crop. SALSIFY. One variety, Long White, was sown in the garden on May 13; ready for use on October 3. Gave a medium crop. SPINACH. One variety, Victoria, was sown in the garden May 9; ready for use June 14. Gave a good crop. EGG PLANT. One variety, New York Improved, was tested; sown in hothouse April 6; set out in garden June 4. No fruit matured. Plate XII 7\ rfc/^fc- S&A >r»T Jewel Apple Tree, Experimental Farm, Indian Head, Sask. «r". . ■ - Trim \Wnm%%%WtL\%%%%mL%WBmm 16— 1914— p. 352 Havesting Potatoes on Irrigated Land, Lethbridge, Alberta. DITISION OF HORTICULTURE 353 SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 TOMATOES. Sown in hothouse March 25; transplanted in garden May 26. The yield is the number of pounds of fruit, both green and ripe, taken on September 10 from one plant of each variety set three feet apart. Variety. Sparks Earliana (Sunnybrook Strain) Chalk's Early J ewel Bonny Best Trophy Matchless Livingston's Globe Bennie's XXX Earliest Florida Special Sparks Earliana, 12-23, C.E.F Sparks Earliana, 12-18, C.E.F Sparks Earliana, C.E.F ... Sparks Earliana, I.H First Ripe. Sept. Aug. Sept. Aug. Sept. II Aug. 9. 28. 4. 4. 9. 10. 10. 28. 28. 10. 10. 30. Yield. Lbs. 7 4i 4" 3 5 5 5 6 4 7 6 8 Remarks. Large fruit. Small Large Small LargA Medium Large Medium TABLE TURNIPS. One variety, Early White Flat Strap Leafed, was sown in the garden May 19; ready for use July 12, giving a yield of 986 bushels per acre. SUMMER SAVORY. Sown in garden May 9; in use July 14; pulled September 11. Gave a good crop. SAGE. Sown in garden May 9 ; pulled September 11. Gave a good crop. RHUBARB. Old beds in use from May 15 up to September 4 ; made a good growth during the season. The following vaiieties were grown: — Myatt Linnseus. Victoria. Fottler s Improved. Royal Linnaeus. Prince Albert. Scarlet Nonpareil. Strawberry. FLOWERS. The show of flowers last year has seldom been surpassed, both in quality and length of time in bloom. Asters, stocks, verbenas and petunias were never better. Sweet peas were sown in four collections and were remarkable for size and beauty. In perennials, paeonies, tulips, gladioli, dahlias and cannas were extra fine. ROSES. Except the single varieties, none of the roses was conspicuous. Nine double varieties bloomed, these being La France, pink; Magna Charta, pink; Mrs. R. G. Sharman Crawford, pink; Frau Karl Druschki, white; Margaret Dickson, white; Ulrich Brunner, Madame Gabriel Luizet, Mrs. John Laing and Captain Hayward, red. The third and last c amed are the finest. 16—23 354 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 4 GEORGE V., A. 1914 FLOWERING .SHRUBS. Shrubs were conspicuous from the quantity of bloom. The lilacs, caragana and honeysuckle were extra good in this respect. ANNUALS. Sown in Hothouse. Trans- planted in garden. In Bloom. Variety. From To Mar. 25.. 26.. 25.. 26.. 26.. 20.. 20.. 5.. 20.. 26.. 26.. 25 . . 25.. 25.. 25 . . 26.. Mav 29.. 30 . 29 . 22.. 30.. 29.. June 4. . Mav 31 . 29.. 29.. 30.. 27.. 31 . . 27.. 29.. 30.. July 29 . 10.. Frozen off. . No bloom. . . June 20.. July" 10.'.' June 20.. 28.. 2.. 2.. 26.. July 7.. 28.. 25 . June 20. . Sept. ii Sept. Sept. II 11 Oct. Sept. it M Oct. 1' 20. Chrysanthemum 90 Lobelia 15. 15 Ifi Petunia, 4 varieties it it it ii 15. 28. 15 Portulaca 15 19 19. ANNUALS — SOWN IN GARDEN. Variety. Brachycome, mixed Bachelors Button Calliopsis Candytuft, selected Celosia, mixed Coreopsis Dianthus, 8 varieties. ...... Pimorphotheca, 3 varieties. Eschscholtzia, 2 varieties . . Gaillardia. . Godetia, dwarf mixed Gypsophila Larkspur, 3 varieties Mignonette, sweet scented n Red Victoria Nicotiania aftinis Poppy, 3 varieties. . . Papaver .' Salpiglossis, mixed Sweet peas Seabiosa, 3 varieties Silvia Sweet William Sown. May April May 21 21. 21 31. 21. 21. 21. 21. 21. 21. 21. 21. 21. 21. 21. 21. 21. 21. 21. 18. 21. 21. 22. In Bloom. From No bloom. . . June 7.. Aug. 15.. July 10.. Aug. 15.. Ii 5../ H 10.. July 10 . tl 14.. Aug. July II Aug. July Aug. July Aug. 5. 15. 30. 15. 10. 24. 12. 25. 5. 15. 1. 15. To Sept. Sept. 15. 12. 12. 15. 15. 26. 12. 12. 12. 19. 19. 20. 12. 15. 15. 15. 15. 15. 15. 15. DIVISION OF HORTICULTURE 355 SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 PERENNIALS. Variety. Achillea Blue Squills Bleeding Heart. . . , Columbine Comfrey Clematis German Iris Golden Glow Gladioli Heliahtbus Hemerocallis Iris sibiricn Japanese Paeonies. Remarks. Good . Medium. Good . II Medium. Good. Variety. Larkspur Oriental Poppy Paeony, assorted varieties Phlox (perennial) Shasta Daisy African Daisy Tall White Iris Canterbury Bell Tulips (17 varieties) Dahlia (Prince Imperial) Dahlia (33 varieties). . . . Canna, (1?> varieties) Remarks. Gi od. BULBS PLANTED IN FALL OF 1912. Thirty-five varieties of tulip, narcissus and crocus were Central Experimental Farm, Ottawa, and planted on October 28. received from the ROSES. Variety La France Magna Chat ta Mrs. R. G. Sharnian Crawford Fran Karl Druschki Margaret Dickson TJlrich Brunner Madam Gabriel Luizet Mrs. John Laing Captain Hay ward Colour. SMALL FRUITS. In small fruits, currants and raspberries were much more prolific than for years back. The insect which has destroyed the currants for the last few years was absent from the crop last season. Gooseberries had very little fruit, and strawberries were also a failure. The following varieties of small fruits are grown on the Farm at present. When picking, a record was kept of the weight of fruit gathered from one of the bushes of each, and the weights ore given below. The date3 of picking were from July 23 to August 7. 16— 23£ 356 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 4 GEORGE V., A. 19H RED CURRANTS. Variety. Benwell , Cherry , Cumberland , Early Scarlet Fay's Prolific Fertile d'Angers Greenfield Houghton Castle . . . London Red Large Red La Conde Long Bunch Holland Fruit Picked. Lb. 9 16 12 2 44 6 94 2 5 9 14 Variety. Moore's Early . . North Star . ... New Red Dutch Prince Albert . . Red Grape Raby Castle Rankin's Ked. . . Red Jacket Simcoe King. . . . Victoria Victoria Red . . . Versaillaise Fruit Picked. Lb. 2 12§ 6 5i 2 If 134 4 WHITE CURRANTS. « Variety. Fruit Picked. Variety. Fruit Picked. Lb. 2 lot 10 104 5 White Dutch Lb. 3 White Kaiser 24 144 84 Large White Brandenburg White Pearl White Grape Went worth Leviathan 31 BLACK CURRANTS. Variety. Black English Beauty Black Grape . Crandall's Missouri Clipper Climax Dominion Eclipse Ethel Eagle Tsmay's Prolific . . . Kerry Lewis Lee's Prolific Winona Fruit Picked. Variety. Mattie Merveille de la Gironde Magnus Ogden Ontario Oxford Perry Perth Stirling Stewart Star Standard Saunders Topsy Fruit Picked. Lb. 4 17 124 54 14 4 24 3 21 2f 4 3| 12 204 DITISION OF HORTICULTURE 357 SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 RASPBERRIES. Variety. Remarks. Variety. Remarks. Large crop. Medium u Small Large ■■ Poor ii Herbert Large crop. Medium » Ruby Turner Large m Medium n Large ■■ BLACK RASPBERRIES. Variety. Remarks. Variety. Remarks. Medium crop. ii ii No fruit. Older Poor crop. No fruit. List of gooseberries growing in the bush fruit plantation: — Companion, Cluster, Carrie, Carman, Cox's Late Green, Downing, Edna, Gover- ness, Gibb, Griffin, Houghton's Seedling, Industry, Lady Houghton, Mabel, Merton, Pale Red, Ruth, Rideau, Red Jacket, Ramsay, Richland, Smith's Improved, Saunders, Sussex, Sandow, Silvia, Troy, Vesta, Weir, York. LARGE FRUITS. Although crab-apple bloom was abundant, frost killed a large part before the fruit set, and the crop was light. The varieties that fruited are given, with yields. CROSS-BRED APPLES. When picking the crop of cross-bred apples a record was kept of the weight of fruit gathered from some of the best trees, and the weights are given below. The date of picking was Septembe !• 9. 358 EXPERIMENTAL FA RMS 4 GEORGE V., A. 1914 Orchard. Row. 3 2 3 2 3 5 3 2 3 2 3 3 3 4 3 5 3 7 4 2 4 *> 4 3 4 3 4 o 4 4 4 5 4 8 5 21 G 1 6 2 6 3 6 6 7 3 7 6 7 7 7 8 7 9 8 3 No. 231 235 243 244 245 230 268 286 325 385 404 405 407 415 419 439 497 800 874 893 911 939 9S3 1,033 1,056 1,092 1,104 1,190 Name. Tonv T«my Eve : Kve Aurora Progress Prairie Gem Aurora. . . r Charles Hunter Cavan Cavan Aurora Wealthy x P. l>*CL-ata. I Progress Charles -Cavan Sankey Northern Queen Pioneer Eve Alberta Prince Jewel Jewel Prince '. Eve ,.... Jewel Year Planted. 1904 1904 1904 1904 1904 1902 1902 1902 1902 1903 1901 1901 1901 1901 1903 1903 1903 1905 1905 1905 1905 2905 1908 190S 1:05 1903 19H5 1908 Began Fruithnr. 1909 1909 1910 1910 1909 1906 1907 1907 1906 191 >7 1905 1901 1905 1906 19:>7 1907 1908 1909 1910 1909 1909 1910 1912 1911 1910 1909 1910 1911 Weight of Fruit, 1912. Lb. 13 21 21 22 19 Uf 19 38 144- 19 24* 62| 10| 18i 14 36 16 n 124 15 16 8 8 84 74 22 33 16 Average Diameter. Ins. H H 1 1 1 1 4 l 14 1 n u 4 1 n i n H H n Si PLUMS. Wild varieties gave a fair crop but, like the crab-apples, the blossoms were injured by the frost, and only a few varieties bore fruit. Three cross-bred varieties, Aitkin, Assiniboin, and Owanka, received from Prof. Hansen in 1908, fruited the past season. The trees being small the crop was not heavy but the fruit was large and of good flavour. APPLE TREES. Some three thousand seedling apple trees were pirated last spring, in nursery rows, and made a strong growth. No doubt many of them will be killed, but it is hoped that some may survive and bear fruit. FRUIT TREES PLANTED IN 1912. Hybrid apple trees received from the Central Experimental Farm, Ottawa, and used to fill up the blanks in the different orchard?: 50 Charles, G6 Prince, 100 Jewel, 45 Silvia, 5 Columbia, 62 Pioneer. The following yearling apple seedlings were received from the Central Experi- mental Fai'm, Ottawa, and planted in nursery rows. 000 Anis seedlings, 550 Antondvka seedlings, 525 Beautiful Arcad seedlings, 55 Hibernal seedlings, 220 Tetofsky seedlings, 1G0 Duchess seedlings, 450 Charlamoff seedlings, 350 Yellow Transparent seedlings. DIVISION OF HORTICULTURE 359 SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 EXPERIMENTAL STATION, ROSTHERN, SASKATCHEWAN REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT, W. A. MUNRO, B.A., B.S.A. Although the Experimental Station at Rosthern is comparatively new, already information has been obtained which should prove of value to those living in this part of Saskatchewan, and the experiments conducted in 1912, while not as exten- sive as it is hoped they will be in the near future, give some indication of what is being done. VEGETABLES. As there was no regular gardener at Rosthern in 1912 the results in vegetables and flowers have not been so satisfactory as it is hoped they will be in the future. Then, too, the wind-breaks have not developed sufficiently to afford good protection to flowers and vegetables. There was a small garden in 1912 in an enclosure shel- tered by a wind-break that had been established previous to the purchase of the farm by the Government. The contrast of results from the attempt at gardening in this enclosure as compared with a similar attempt in the open was very marked, the garden in the enclosure being quite satisfactory, whereas that in the open was much injured by winds. The attempt to grow corn, tomatoes, melons, squash and cucumbers did not meet with success, for nothing ripened. Following are the results of the other vegetables under experiment: — CABBAGE. lows: There were under test this year, sixteen varieties of cabbage, with yields as fol- Copenhagen Market Improved Danish Roundhead . . , Flat Swedish Small Erfurt , Winningstadt Danish .Summer Ballhpad. . . . Magdeburg Lubeck Improved Brunswick Large Flat Diumhead Danish BaJlhead Early Jersey Wakefield . . . Early Paris' Market Danish Delicatesse Red Extra Early Midsummer Savoy Red Danish Stonehead. , 360 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 4 GEORGE V., A. 1914 These were weighed as they were pulled, a number of the outside leaves being left on. The difference in the average weight per head between the large and the small would show still greater if the cabbage had been stripped of all the loose leaves, because the small heads had a larger number of loose leaves than the large heads, some of the largest heads in fact being almost stripped enough to use. CAULIFLOWERS. Erfurt Dwarf . . Danish Giant . Early Snowball No. of Heads. 14 23 14 Weight. Lb. 32| 38 18i Average Weight per Head. Lb. 23 1-6 13 CARROTS. The following weights are, in each case, for a row thirty feet long: — Half Long Chantenay 51^ lb. Improved Nantes . . 46 ■< French Horn 44 ■■ PARSNIPS. Hollow Crown , 714 lb. ONIONS. Large Red Wethersfield 27 Danver's Yellow Globe 22 Salzer's Wethersfield 16 Johnson's Dark Red Beauty 9 lb. SALSIFY. Long White (Oyster Plant) 131 lb. BEETS. Meteor 21^ lb. Early Blood Red Turnip 17 „ Ruby Dulcet 15 u Egyptian Dark Red Turnip .... 11 Black Red Ball '. 4J POTATOES. The yields are the largest obtained in four years' experience at this Station. The seed cut to two eyes and, in the case of the varieties, was planted 12 inches apart in the row with rows 30 inches apart. They were planted with a plough to a depth of 4 inches. The yields given are for both 1911 and 1912. The discrepancy in the order of the yields is one of those unexplainable things that are the bane of experi- mental work. For instance, in last year's yield Empire State was the highest and Morgan's Seedling sixth. This year Empire State comes eleventh and Morgan Seed- ling first. This explains why the yield from an experiment should not be taken as very reliable until it has been repeated for at least five years. The yields are computed in each case from the weight of one average row of potatoes 78 feet long. The total DITISION OF HORTICULTURE 361 SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 weight of potatoes from .54 acre of these mixed varieties yielded 370.17 bushels, which works out at the rate of 685-5 bushels per acre. Varip+v Bush, per Acre. Vaiiety- 1912. 1911. Morgan Seedling 848 475 Dreer's Standard ^° ?28 Everett 824 497 Money Maker 822 514 Rochester Rose 807 453 Ashleaf Kidney 804 479 Dalmeny Beauty 744 448 Late Puritan 699 431 Reeves' Rose 659 484 Vick's Extra Early 625 431 Empire State 590 5Q5 Irish Cobbler 573 365 Carman No. 1 536 356 Hard to Beat 536 356 American Wonder 349 264 Factor 316 193 Of those varieties that have been tried for the two years the Irish Cobbler is the outstanding potato for quality, but this is the only desirable characteristic it has. It is a comparatively low yielder both years, is round and has very deep eyes. The following four new varieties have not been tried : — Purple Nuts 856 bushels. Up-to-date 778 Wee MacGregor 774 Table Talk 659 The above were under test in 1912 for the first time. As well as the test of varieties, considerable was done this year by way of cul- tural work. Four plots of six rows each planted on similar ground at different depths; at depths of 2 inches, 4 inches, 6 inches, and one plot to a depth of 4 inches, but the plough was followed by a subsoil attachment which loosened the ground to a still further depth of 4 inches, that is to say, the plot which was subsoiled was planted 4 inches deep but the earth was made loose to a depth of 8 inches. The evidence from this year's experiment goes to show the importance of deep planting. The yield of 565 bushels per acre for that planted at 2 inches deep does not represent the whole yield because, in every case, the sunburned or frozen potatoes have not been harvested and there were many such left on the ground. 4 inches deep, 4 inches subsoil '. 789 bushels per acre. 6 inches deep 775 4 inches deep 659 2 inches deep 465 A similar experiment was carried on to determine the value of hilling potatoes. The two plots were given the same cultivation until July, when one plot was ridged. A similar experiment conducted in 1909 showed a difference of 50 bushels per acre in favour of level cultivation. This result is quite in accord with similar experiments conducted in Ontario and England. In Ontario it is found that the hilled potatoes give a larger yield than the unhilled in a wet season, but the reverse is the case in a dry season. In England, where the climate is moist, the yield is in favour of the hilled potatoes. Unhilled 6(5 bushels per acre. Hilled 620 An experiment was conducted to determine the distance apart to plant potatoes. One plot was planted with the potatoes 12 inches apart in the row and 30 inches between rows, another plot with the potatoes 14 inches apart in the row and 33 inches 332 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 4 GEORGE V., A. 1914 between tlie rows, and another plot 15 inches apart in the row and 36 inches between the rows. In this experiment the yield from one row was greater where the distance apart was greater, but when consideration is given to the area the yield per acre was the reverse. The following were the results : — Lo Seed 12 inches apart, rows 30 inches apart 657 bushels per acre. Seed 14 inches apart, rows 33 inches apart 609 Seed 15 inches apart, rows 36 inches apart 570 One experiment was conducted to determine the value of the different parts of the potato for seed. One plot was planted with whole tubers. For the other two plots the tuber was divided across the middle and one plot was planted with the seed end of the tuber and the other plot with the stem end. The following are the results : — Whole tubers 867 bushels per acre. Seed ond 703 Stem end 615 This is the only experiment in which several varieties were used. All the other experiments were conducted with Irish Cobbler. One plot of potatoes was planted on land that had been summer-fallowed in 1911 and received a coating of manure at the rate of 12 tons per acre in the autumn of the same year. Another was planted on land that had grown a crop of peas in 1911 which was ploughed under in July of that year. The following are the results : — Summer-fallow, with manure 657 bushels per acre. Pea ground 563 '* FLOWEKS. Heretofore the flower garden has been in exceedingly cramped quarters and the display was unsatisfactory from the standpoint of arrangement, but there was a good opportunity to observe the development of the different varieties; Asters, antirrhinum, candytuft, coreopsis, larkspur, mignonette, nicotiana, phlox, poppy, pansy, petunia, portulaca, stocks, salpiglossis, verbena, dianthus, sweet peas and zinnia. All came to •full bloom and when grown in artistic arrangement in a large border will make a splendid showing. A border was prepared in 1912, twelve feet wide and extending completely around the lawns, to a length of about one-quarter mile. This was ploughed in the autumn of 1912 to a depth of four inches and subsoiled to a further depth of four inches. In this will be planted both perennial and annual herbaceous plants. In the autumn of 1912 more than three thousand tulip and other bulbs were received direct from Holland. These were planted in well-worked, rich soil to a depth of about five inches, eight inches apart in the rows, and eight inches between rows. The holes for planting the bulbs were made with a blunt spade handle. After planting, a layer of straw was put on the bed, and they were left in this condition until spring. For the past three years, tulips planted in this way have bloomed for from two to three weeks in May, and added very much to the appearance of the surroundings. BULBS FOR THE HOUSE. Several hundred bulbs of tulips, narcissi and hyacinth'', were potted in November, well watered, and left in a dark, cool cellar until the winter. Beginning about Christmas time these were taken up to a warm room and allowed to bloom. All the varieties of bulbs attempted in this way forced well and came to good bloom, with DITTKION OF HORTICULTURE 363 SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 the result that they supplied a continuous display of splendid flowers from Christmas until April. The soil for potting was made up of rich, black prairie mould and coarse sand in the proportion of one of each. The condition of the bulbs in the cellar is carefully watched, and as the soil begins to dry they are watered. There is no other method as good of obtaining inexpensive and satisfactory winter-blooming house plants as with bulbs. ERUITS. APPLES. Of about seven hundred apple trees received in 1909, 1910 and 1911, from various sources, nearly three hundred were in good condition in the spring of 1912, and, with the exception of the winter-killing of some of the tips, showed prospects of continued development. Two thousand nine hundred year-old seedlings were planted one foot apart in the spring of 1912. These were seedlings of Anis, Antonovka, Beautiful Arcad, Charlamoff, Duchess, Hibernal, Tetofsky, Yellow Transparent. Tn the autumn of 1912, four boxes of apples were received from Mr. A. P. Stev- enson, Dunstan, Manitoba, the varieties being Antonovka, Blushed Calville, Charl- amoff and Hibernal. The seeds of these were sown and mulched, and the seedlings will be used with the possibility of developing a variety hardy to this district. A number of varieties of native plums, gooseberries, raspberries, and black, red and white currants have been planted and are all doing well, but have not yet started to bear fruit. TREES AND SHRUBS. Toward the end of 1911 forty-one spruce trees varying from 12 to 30 inches in height were secured about seven miles north of Duck lake. The trees were promptly planted, and occasionally watered through the summer. In 1912 forty of these trees were alive and doing well. Early in June, 1912, 157 more trees were secured. Up to the approach of winter only two of these had died and the remainder sbowed good prospect of continuing to thrive. The success with these native-grown spruce has been much better than that with similar trees obtained from nurseries. There is one groat advantage in securing trees locally in this way, that they are planted the day following their being dug, whereas trees received from a nursery are oftentimes more than two weeks out of the ground. An insect pest was discovered on spruce trees last year, the spruce budworm, which is doing considerable damage throughout the district. It was found that spraying with any of the common insecticides is quite effective, but the spraying is considered to be quite an expensive operation for large ornamental trees. A quantity of maple, ash and caragana seeds was sown in the spring of 1912 and the seedlings attained good growth during the season. These ought to develop into good plants for transplanting by the spring of 1914. Plum stones obtained from local orchards and planted in the fall of 1911 did not. do so well, but cuttings from Russian poplar obtained locally made growths in some cases of two feet. This supply of nursery stock will constitute the first ornamental material for distribution, and will be ready in the spring of 1911. 364 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 4 GEORGE V., A. 1914 HEDGES. The following twenty-one hedges, each 50 feet in length, with thirty-four plants to the hedge, were started in the spring of 1912. They all made good growth and went into the winter in good condition: — Salix laurifolia — Laurel-leaved Willow Bhamnus catharticus — Buckthorn. Bhamnus Frangula — Alder Buckthorn. Elaeagnus angitstifolia — Russian Olive. Fraxinus pennsylvanica lanceolate — Green Ash (Native Ash). Crataegus Crus-galli — Cockspuir Thorn. Neillia Opulifolia aurea — Golden-leaved Spiraea. Salix — Siberian Hedge Plant. Acer tararica Ginnala — Ginnalian Maple. Syringa vulgaris — 'Common Lilac. Caragana arborescens — Sibirian Pea Tree. Cornus alba sibirica — Siberian Dogwood. Shepherdia canadensis — Buffalo Berry. Picea canadensis — Native white Spruce. Lonicera tatarica grandiflora — Tartarian Honeysuckle. Syringa JosiJcaea — Josika's Lilac. Syringa amurensis — Tree Lilac. Prunus americana — Native Plum (Brandon). Caragana frutescens — Caragana. Acer Negundo — Manitoba Maple. Corylus rostrata — Hazel (native). The ornamental border of the driveway from the entrance to the Super- intendent's house, which was begun in 1911, was still added to in 1912, and gives good promise of exhibiting results in an artistic arrangement of ornamental shrubs. DIVISION OF HORTICULTURE 365 SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 EXPERIMENTAL STATION, SCOTT, SASKATCHEWAN. REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT, R. E. EVEREST, B.S.A. The Experimental Station at Scott is situated on a bare prairie without a tree in sight, except those which have been planted at the Station. Exposed as it is to the wintry winds, it is not expected that the experiments with some things will be very satisfactory until protection is afforded by the trees and shrubs which have been planted for that purpose. Still, in 1912, some information was obtained which should be useful to settlers coming into this part of Canada, and it is hoped that year by year the results will be increasingly valuable. VEGETABLES. EXPERIMENTS WITH POTATOES. Nineteen varieties of potatoes were planted on the 25th of May in drills thirty inches apart, sets twelve to fourteen inches apart in the drills. After the crop was up the ground was harrowed and frequent cultivation given during the season. The last time through with the single cultivator, the moulds were turned' to throw a little earth toward the rows. The potatoes were taken up on the 8th of October, and were a very satisfactory crop for size and quality, and in the majority of varieties the total yield was good. potatoes — Test of Varieties. O 1 Name of Variety. 1 Morgan Seedling. 2 Ashleaf Kidney , 3 Wee McGregor . . 4 Table Talk 5 Money Maker 6 Gold Coin 7 Rochester Rose . . 8, Carman No. 1. . . . 9jEmpire^ State . 10 11 12 13 14 Deer's Standard Everett Late Puritan, Dalmeny Beauty . . Irish Cobbler 15JVick's Extra Early. 16 Reeves' Rose 17 Hard to Beat 18 American Wonder. . 19 Factor Date Date Yield of of Size. per Planting . Lifting. Acre. Bush. Lb. May 25.. Oct. 8.. Large 513 42 ., 25.. 8.. ii .... 438 50 - 25.. 8.. ii .... 409 12 ii 25.. 8.. ii .... 372 54 ■i 25.. 8 . Medium . . 372 52 .. 25.. 8.. ii . - 369 36 „ 25.. 8.. ii . . 359 42 .- 25.. 8.. it • . 331 6 n 25.. 8.. Large 330 .. •i 25.. 8.. h 315 42 n 25.. 8.. Medium. . 299 12 ii 25. . 8.. Large .... 298 6 -, 25.. 8.. Medium. . 293 42 ii 25.. 8.. ii . . 292 36 ,. 25. . 8.. Large 203 30 ,. 25. . 8.. Medium. . 194 42 ii 25. . 8.. ii . . 160 36 ■• 25.. 8.. Large . . . 144 6 .. 25.. 8.. Medium. . 103 24 Form and Colour. Long and white. Kidney shape, white. Oval, smooth, white. Oval, white. Long, white. Oval, white. Long, red. Oval, white. Oval, red. Long, white. Oval, white. Round, white. Long, pink. Long, red. Long, white. Round, white with pink eye. Oval, white. VEGETABLE TESTS. The results in vegetable tests, though not large, are encouraging indications as to what may be accomplished in the growth of garden produce. A number of the summer vegetables came in quickly and gave an abundant growth of good table quality. 353 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS BEANS. Sown in garden May 31. Did not ripen. 4 GEORGE V., A. 1914 Variety. Kenney's Rustless Wax Wardwell's Kidney Wax Valentine Early Refugee Stringless Green Pod Refugee or 1,000 to 1 Challenge Black Wax, (C.E.F). Remarks. A good green crop. BEETS. Sown April §4; pulled October 15. Variety Ruby Dulcet Egyptian Dark Red Turnip Early Blood Red Turnip . . Meteor Black Red Ball. CABBAGE. Sown in hotbed in April 12; set out in open June 1; taken up October 15. Owing to the work of worms in early part of the season, resettings were necessary at different times, which made the growth very irregular, and the yield light. Variety. Danish Summer Ballhead Improved Ama^er Danish Roundhead Large Late Flat Drumhead Copenhagen Market Early Jersey Wakefield Flat Swedish Eottler's Improved Brunswick or Short Stem. Winningstadt > [agi leburg Early Paris Market Small Erfurt Extra Early Midsummer Savoy I iiibeck Extra Amager Danish Ballhead Red Danish Stonehead In use. Aug. 15 tl 15 (1 15 II 15 .... II 1 . II II 15 „ 15 II 15 II 1 II 15 II 1 II 15 Average Weight. Lb. 5 38 32 3 3 3 3 3 ".^ ■-n Remarks. Solid. Soft. Medium solid. Soft. Medium solid. Soft. Failure. DIVISION OF HORTICULTURE SESSIONAL PAPER Mo. 16 LETTUCE. Sown in garden May 15; in use July 27. 367 Name of Variety. Dirk Green Capuoine.,. Rousseau Blond Winter Iiii]). Hanson Iceberg Crisp as Ice Giant Crystal Head.... All Heart Cos Trianon Wheeler's Tom Thumb . Red Edged Victoiia . . . Unrivalled Summer Black Seeded Simpson. . Grand Rapids Remarks. Fair heads. ii Good heads. ii Fair heads. Large heads. Small firm heads. Large heads. Small good heads. Good heads. Fair heads. Good heads. GARDEN PEAS. Sown April 24. Name of Va; iety. Heroine Premium Gem Juno Stratagem A merican Wonder . . McLean's Advancer. Telephone Gradus Gregory's Surprise . Sutton's Excelsior. . Thos. Lax ton In use. July 1(5 M 16 ., 25 1 ., 14 n 16 1 4 4 ,. 13 ., 16 Remarks. Splendid crop. CAULIFLOWER. Three varieties of cauliflower were sown in the hotbed on April 12, and were set out in the open June 1. Of these, the Danish Giant or Dry Weather, was the only one to produce heads, which, on the 15th of August were ready for use. CELERY. Three varieties of celery were sown in the hotbed on the 15th of April, and were set in the open June 15. Of these, the variety Giant Pascal gave the best return, and on the 15th of October was in use. CARROTS. Three varieties of carrots were sown in the open on May the 29th, and were pulled on the 15th of October. The average yield was 329 bushels and 14 lbs. per acre. 363 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 4 GEORGE V., A. 1914 CUCUMBERS. A good return was obtained from cucumber vines, whicb were allowed to occupy the hotbed frame after the transplanting of otner varieties had been completed. A number of large cucumbers, as well as a quantity of small picklers, were produced. onions. Four varieties of onions were sown in the garden, April 17. The seed germin- ated well, but perished immediately on account of dry weather. PARSNIPS. One variety of parsnips was sown in the open the 29th of May, and were dug on October the 15th. The name of the variety was Hollow Crown, and the yield was 193 bushels and 40 pounds per acre. RADISH. Two varieties of radish were sown in the open on the 15th of May, and were in use June the 27th. Both varieties gave a favourable return. TURNIPS. One variety of turnip was sown in the open on the 24th of April, and was pulled on October the 15th. The roots were ready for use on the 15th of July, and gave a yield of 745 bushels and 37 pounds per acre. Vegetables that did not mature and number of varieties of which seed was sown : — Tomatoes — Eleven varieties. Peppers — Three varieties. Egg Plant — One variety. Squash — Seven varieties. Corn — Three varieties. Water Melons — Two varieties. THE FLOWER BOEDER A flower border, 12 feet in width and 550 feet in length, running north and Bouth on the inner border of the lawn, was an outstanding feature. Commencing the 24th of June, and continuing until the first serious frost, the 15th of September, bloom was to be seen ; at times throughout August the entire border was a mass of variegated beauty. Seed was sown in hotbed on April 15 and 16. Transplanting into open took place from June 7 to 11. X 5 16— 1914— p. 368 DITISIOy OF HORTICULTURE 369 SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 Name. Antirrhinum .... * Artemisia Aster Balsam Calliopsis Candytuft Celosia *Clirysanthemum Dianthus Dimorphotheca. . *Eschscholtzia. . . Ga^llardia Lobelia Mignonette Nemesia Nicotinna Pansiea Petunia Phlox Poppies Portulaca , Salpiglossis Sweet Peas * Sweet Sultan. . . Tagetes Verbena .Viola Zinnia Perennial — Sweet William . No. of Varieties 9 1 13 1 1 1 3 1 7 1 2 1 2 1 s 1 5 4 7 3 1 1 55 1 1 8 4 1 In Bloom. From ro Vug. 1... Vug.'io!! . Oct. i. . Sept. 15. i... . Oct. 1. ruly 5... Sept. 15. rune 25... . Oct. 1. Aug. 15 . . . July 20.!. 11 1. Oct. 1. Tune 26 .. . Sept. 15. Aug.'iB!".! '. Oct". 1. Sept. 1... . Sept. 15. June 27 . . . II 15. „ 24... M 15. Aug. 5 . . . It 15. July 20... . Oct. 1. n 10... II 1. 1. 20... II 1. Aug. 1... . Sept. 15. July 15... II 15. .. 20.. II 15 Aug. 15 . . . II 15. July 25 . . . '. Oct. 1. ., 20... II 1. H 15... It 1. ., 25... . Sept. 15. June 25 . . . • Aug. 25. v Did not bloom. FEUIT TREES. Eleven more varieties of apples were added to the orchard list. In addition to this tree planting, over 2,800 seedlings were placed in the nursery row, and in autumn seeds from four varieties of apples ripened in Manitoba were planted in a protected frame. In these ways a strong effort is being made toward the production of hardy apple stock suited to this part of Saskatchewan. TREES AKD SHRUBS. At the rear of the lawn an arboretum was started, comprising trees of known hardihood, and many that have not been proved in this, district. Three hundred and ninety trees, including one hundred and seventy-two varieties, were planted in the arboretum. Some results as to their suitability will soon be available. 16—24 370 EXPERIMENTAL FAR US 4 GEORGE V., A. 1914 EXPERIMENTAL STATION, LETHBRIDGE, ALBERTA. REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT, W. H. FAIRFIELD, M.S. The Lethbridge Experimental Station is the only one of the prairie Farms or Stations where part of the land is irrigated. The climate of southern Alberta is dry and many things succeed much better when the land is irrigated than they otherwise would do. Apple trees are succeeding better at Lethbridge than at any other of the prairie Farms or Stations. Small fruits succeed well, and vegetables, especially when irrigated, succeed admirably. Owing to the dry winds, the protection of trees is greatly needed, and the native cotton wood, known as the Alberta Cottonwood, has proved one of the best trees for wind-breaks. THE SEASON. The season of 1912 resembled that of 1911 in that the rainfall during the early part was deficient, while during the latter part the usual amount was received. The results of the crops on the Station during the summer of 1912 have been interesting, although, in many instances, somewhat disappointing. The season opened up in a most propitious manner. Work on the land began on March 28, and the first seeding was done on April 1, although it would have been possible to have begin a little earlier. The soil was left moist from the fall of 1911, and the land was in excellent shape to work in the spring, consequently all crops planted were put in under exceedingly favourable conditions where land had been prepared the summer or fall previous. However, the rainfall during April, May and until the end of June in the immediate vicinity of Lethbridge was extremely light. Germination on land that was not so treated was not good. The rainfall was very light indeed until the last few days in June; from then on, during July, August and September, it was above normal. On account of this light rainfall during the first part of the growing season all early-sown crops suffered acutely. Crops that looked extremely promising early in the season gave but low yields. Late-sown crops, on the other hand, did much better providing they ripened before the frost. The yields of all the crops on the non-irrigated portion of the Station were rather low, with the exception of peas and such late-growing crops as turnips, potatoes, etc. On the irrigated portion of the Station, however, where water was applied in June, and in some cases even in May, the yields were very much more satisfactory. VEGETABLES. EXPERIMENTS WITH POTATOES ^NON-IRRIGATED.,) Seventeen varieties were planted on summer-fallowed land, in rows thirty inches apart, on May 13. The potatoes for planting were cut in pieces with two or three eyes in each, although medium rather than large-sized potatoes were selected, so as to avoid cutting as much as possible. They were dug September 27, and the yield was computed from one hundred and fortieth of an acre. DITTSIOY OF HORTICULTURE 371 SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 Potatoes. — Test of varieties (non-irrigated) sown, M"ay 15 ; harvested, September 27 ; size of plot, Yuo acre Potatoes from irrigated land vs. seed from non-irrigated land. In 1911 an experiment was started to see whether seed potatoes grown on the dry land were better than seed grown on irrigated land, and the experiment was again carried on this season. Three rows, each 126 feet long, rows thirty inches apart, were planted with Ash- leaf Kidney potatoes grown on non-irrigated land the previous season. Alongside, three more rows the same length were planted with seed grown on irrigated land the season previous. Total Yield per Acre. Yield per Acre, Marketable. Average Yield for Two Years. ieeft from irrigated laud Bush. Lb. 328 54 308 12 Bush. Lb. 279 4 277 32 Bush. Lb. 373 52 360 25 Potatoes planted at different distances apart. Potatoes were planted in rows 2\, 3, 3£ and 4 feet apart and the seta were put on one-half the rows two feet apart and on the other half one foot apart. The fol- lowing results were obtained: — 16— 24J 372 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 4 GEORGE V., A. 1914 Potatoes planted at Different Distances Apart (Non-Irrigated). S-, T O Sets put two feet apart. Sets put one foot a] >art. Distaiu of Amount of Seed used per Acre. Yield in 1912 per Acre. Average Yielcf per Acre for Three Years. Amount of Seed used per Acre. Yield in 1912 per Acre. Average Yield per Acre for Three Years. Feet. %h 3 3* 4 Lb. 598 598 598 644 Bush. Lb. 296 43 286 5 206 2 153 7 Bush. Lb. 269 33 234 31 193 32 164 31 Lb. 1,104 1,104 1,104 1,104 Bus!:. Lb. 343 28 322 34 237 40 240 .. Bush. Lb. 307 43 274 21 271 28 233 5 EXPERIMENTS WITH POTATOES (IRRIGATED). Test of Varieties. Eighteen varieties of potatoes were planted on land on which grain had been grown last year. They were planted on May 14 in rows thirty inches apart, the sets being placed one foot apart in the rows. The potatoes for planting were cut into pieces with two or three eyes in each, although medium rather than large-sized potatoes were selected so as to avoid cutting as much as possible. The crop was irrigated twice, on July 31 and August 7. They were dug September 28, and the yield was computed from one hundredth of an acre. Potatoes. — Test of Varieties (Irrigated), Lethbridge, 1912; Sown May 14; Dug September 28. Variety. 1 Table Talk 2 Wee McGregor 3 Dteer's Standard. . 4 Dalmeny Beauty. . 5 Factor 6 American Wonder 7 Reeve's Rose 8 Gold Coin 9 Morgan Seedling. . 10 Money Maker 11 1 Late Puritan 12|Carman No. 1 13 Empire State MiAshleaf Kidney. .. 15 Irish Cobbler 16 Everett 17 Vick's Extra Early lSiRochester Rose. .. Total Yield per Acre. Bush. Lb. 720 680 655 643 626 620 591 576 561 551 530 526 523 516 501 468 435 393 20 40 40 40 40 40 40 20 40 40 20 20 Yield per Acre Marketable. Bush. Lb. 666 646 628 616 606 603 558 556 538 525 520 503 508 498 468 450 410 378 40 40 20 40 40 20 20 40 20 20 20 20 20 20 Yield per Acre Unmarketable. Bush. Lb. 53 33 26 26 20 16 33 20 23 26 10 23 15 IS 33 18 25 15 20 20 40 40 40 20 20 40 20 20 20 20 Form and Colour. Oval, white. Oval, white. Round, white. Round, white. Oval, white. Oval, white. Oval, pink. Oval, white. Irregular, pink. Flat, white. Oval, white. Oval, white. Oval, white. Oval, white. Round, white. Oval, pink. Flat, pink and white. Oval, pink. Potatoes from New York (Irrigated). Five varieties of early potatoes were received from Honeoye Falls, New York, U.S.A., to be tested out, and they were sown on land that had been in hoed crops tbe year previous. They received two irrigations on July 28 and August 8. Thoy were DIVISION OF HORTICULTURE 373 SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 dug- September 23. The plots varied in size, but in most cases tbe yield was com- puted from one row 115-5 feet long. Potatoes from New York. — Test of Varieties (Irrigated), Lethbridge, 1912, Planted June 6; Dug September 23. Variety. Early Northern Irish Cobbler. Houlton Rose. . Early Hebron. . New Queen .... Total Yield per Acre. Bush. Lb. 518 20 517 11 359 53 258 27 185 37 Yield per Acre, Marketable. Bush. 498 342 240 Lb. 18 16 50 Yield per Acre, Unmarketable. Bush. 20 17 11 Lb. 37 37 Form and Colour. Oval, pink. Oval, white. Oval, pink. Oval. Oval, pink. Potatoes from Irrigated Land vs. Seed from Non-irrigated Land. Seed from non-irrigated land. Seed from irrigated land Total Yield per Acre. Bush. Lb. 511 514 13 15 Yield per Acre, Marketable. Bush. 477 494 Lb. 57 53 Average Yield for 2 Years. Bush. 544 486 Lb. 33 3 FRUITS1. The various kinds of fruit obtained on tbe Station during the past season con- sisted of red, white and black currants, raspberries and strawberries. There were blooms on half a dozen or so apple trees, but the heavy frost on June 6 destroyed all the apples that were set, with the exception of a single specimen of Florence crab, which matured, so this crab has the distinction of being the first apple tree to produce fruit on the Lethbridge Station. currants. Of the small fruits there is probably none hardier or easier to raise than currants, red, white, and black. A shelter from the west wind of some kind should be provided. In the following tables are given the results of the different kinds of currants we have under test. There are three plants of each variety planted 6 feet apart each way. The yields given are not at all large, particularly in tbe case with the black currants, but the plantation has not been set out long and this is the first year that they have produced fruit. To give some idea of the yield it might be interesting to point out that the New Red Dutch, which produced 13 pounds 9 ounces on the three plants, yielded at the rate of 5,465 pounds per acre. 374 EXPERT MEXTAL FARMS 4 GEORGE V., A. 1914 Red Currants. — Test of Varieties. White Currants (Irrigated). — Test of Varieties. Variety . Date of first ripe fruit. New Red Dutch July Large Red ■■ Red English | u Cumberland n Victoria Red La Conde Moore's Seedling | M Greenfield j „ Pomona Red Dutch | „ Raby Castle „ Prince Albert | ,. Red Grape Wilder Frauendorfer Long Bunch Holland Rankin's Red Champagne Fay's Prolific 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 17. 1. 1. 1 1. 12. 1. 1. 1. 1, 1. 16. 1. Date of last picking. fnh 30.. 24.. 24.. 31 . 31.. 31;. 21.. 31.. 31.. 30.. 31.. 31.. 31.. 31.. 24.. 31.. 31.. 24.. 24.. Actual yield. Lb. 13 11 10 10 0 9 9 8 S 7 7 7 5 5 4 2 2 1 1 oz. 9 14 12 6 13.} H 13 13J 10 11 o A a 124 ll G 3 of berry. Large. Medium. Largo. Medium . Large . Medium. Large . White Currants (Irrigated). — Test of Varieties. Variety. White Cherry White Brandenburg. . White Kaiser , White Pearl. Large White White Grape Verrieres White Climax Wentworth Leviathan . Date of first ri fruit. pe July 1.. .. „ 1 „ 20 II 1 . . . . H 1 . Date of last picking. July 31.... II 31.... II H 31.... II 23.... II 31 ... . It 24 ... . II 23.... II 10.... Actual yield. Lb. 13 12 9 9 7 5 5 2 2 Oz. 2 15 10 5 11 8 14 2 Size of berry. Medium. Large . it Medium . ii Large. it Medium. Black Currants (Irrigated). — Test of Varieties. Variety . Date of first ripe fruit. Beauty Eagle Climax Ontario Saunders Bang Up Norton Monarch Magnus Winona Eclipse Topsy '.... Morveille de la Oironde July 1 ■I 1 „ 1 „ 1 ,. 1 i, 1 •i 1 „ 1 -, 1 „ 1 i. 1 -. 1 ,- 1 Date of last picking. July 31 23 23 23 23 23 23 23 23 10 23 23 10 Actual yield. lb. 4 3 2 2 1 1 I oz. 10£ 2 V1- •'■2 3 15 104 14 lL'i 8 7i H Size of berry. Medium. Large. Medium. Small. Medium. Large. Medium. DIVISION OF HORTICULTURE 375 SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 RASPBERRIES. These did not yield quite so well this year as they did in 1911. The stand is not perfect in all cases so that the yields reported are not comparable and so do not do justice to the different varieties. The plantation was arranged for twenty plants of each variety, the rows 7 feet apart and two rows of each variety with ten plants in each row. In very few cases were there enough plants to fill the space and although, as has been said, the comparative yields are not reliable they are of sufficient interest to warrant reporting. The yield of the Marlboro computed per acre would be 3,068 boxes. Test of Varieties. — (Irrigated). Marlboro . . Early King. Loudon Sunbeam. . . Herbert. . . . Cuthbert . . Sarah Ruby Variety . Date of first ripe fruit. July 5 .- 5 ■i 18 .. 13 h 2< „ 13 ,, 27 ,. 5 Date of last picking. Aug. 22 „ 15 ■> 30 .. 30 ,. 19 „ 12 N 19 July 20 Actual yield. pts. 29£ 27^ 24| 18 9| 5 Size of berry. Large. Medium. Large. Medium Small. Medium. Small. Medium. In the growing of raspberries here it has been found that it is absolutely neces- sary to bend the canes down and cover them with earth in the fall before heavy frosts set in and then uncover them in the spring about the time the buds start to swell. To cover with earth it is necessary that the rows be put 7 or 8 feet apart so that there is room for a ditch from which to get the material. Covering with straw or manure has not been satisfactory, because we do not get enough snow to protect the canes during the winter when they are dried out with our drying winds. strawberries (irrigated). The strawberry crop from a commercial standpoint was a failure this year. The writer has raised strawberries in the Lethbridge district in his own garden for the last twelve years and this is the first year that the blooms have been seriously affected with frost. The low temperature that did the damage was on June 6. It destroyed all the fruit that was set at that time and injured the blooms, the result being that the fruit which followed was inferior and mis-shaped. Considerable fruit was obtained, of course, but it was small and irregular in shape. A new plantation was set out consisting of twenty-eight varieties. An excellent stand was obtained and the prospects are bright for a good crop this coming season. Strawberries are an easy fruit to grow in southern Alberta. Heavy mulching in the winter appears to be necessary; for this purpose, old straw or hay in which the weed seeds have been destroyed by sprouting is the best. If there are any spots on the patch from which this material blows off during the winter they should be re-covered. Barnyard manure or litter does not do well as a substitute for the straw or hay as it is apt to settle down too closely and sometimes smothers the plants. The period of blossoming can be retarded a week or ten days by leaving the mulch on as long as it appears to be safe. By so doing a damaging frost may be avoided. 373 EXPERI11EXTAL FARMS 4 GEORGE V., A. 19U VEGETABLES (IRRIGATED). Between the slow and poor germination caused by the dry weather, and attacks by cutworms, the vegetable garden did not give the results that might otherwise have been the case. BEANS. Seven varieties were tested. They were planted May 16. A good crop was pro- duced but none was matured at the time of killing frost. Name. Refugee or 1,000 to 1.... Challenge Black Wax. . Early Refugee . Valentine Stringless Green Pod Wardwell's Kidney Wax Keeney's Rustless Wax. Date first ready for use for string Leans. .\ugust 18 4 4 8 BEETS. Three varieties, Meteor, Early Blood Bed Turnip and Ruby Dulcet, were planted April 10. The first of these ready for use was the Meteor on July 20. Only a poor stand was obtained owing to the dry weather and the cutworms. CABBAGE. Sixteen varieties were tested. The seed was sown in the hotbed April 16. The plants were set out in the garden May 30. Two rows, each 30 feet long; 30 plants, 24 inches apart in the rows; rows, 30 inches apart, were planted of each variety. The first variety that was ready for use was the Early Paris Market on July 27. Yield in Name, pounds. Winningstadt 110 Bottler's Improved Brunswick 240 Extra Early Midsummer Savoy 105 Lubeck 240 Magdeburg 177 Danish Summer Ballhead 150 Extra Amager Danish Ballhead 209 Copenhagen Market 150 Improved Amager Danish Roundhead 325 Small Erfurt 190 Elat Swedish 109 Large Late Flat Drumhead 200 Early Paris Market 243 Red Danish Stone Head 150 Danish Delicatesse Red •. . . . 100 Early Jersey Wakefield 195 DIVISION OF HORTICULTURE 377 SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 CAULIFLOWER. Three varieties, Early Dwarf Erfurt, Danish Giant and Early Snowball, were tested. The seed was sown in the hotbed April 16, and the plants were set out May 30. Some plants in each variety were ready for use August 1. One head of the Early Dwarf Erfurt weighed 20 pounds CARROTS. Three varieties were planted April 10, but a poor stand was obtained. Name. Date ready for U9e. French Horn August 16. Half Long Chantenay " 12. Improved Nantes " 20. CELERY. The following six varieties were tested: Noll's Magnificent, Erench Success, Rose Ribbed Paris, Giant Pascal, Evans Triumph and Paris Golden Yellow. The seed was sown in the hotbed March 23. They all gave quite satisfactory results. CORN. Five varieties of corn were tested, Eordhook Early, Golden Bantam, Malakoff, Squaw and an unnamed variety of sweet corn. They were planted May 17. The first three varieties did not mature roasting ears before frost. The Squaw ripened practically all the ears, while the last variety, which was of excellent quality, partially ripened an occasional ear. CUCUMBER. Three varieties were tested. Seeds were planted of each in pots on April 16, in the hotbeds, and were set out in the garden June 22, with the following results: — Name. Date ready for use. Peerless White Spine August 29. Giant Pera September 6. Cool and Crisp " 6. Seeds of each of these varieties were planted in the open May 14, but they germinated very slowly and poorly, so were too late to produce anything. LETTUCE. Thirteen varieties were planted on April 9. The stand obtained was "very uneven, owing to poor germination on account of the dry weather. The first varieties ready for use were the All Heart and the Crisp As Ice, on June 2. MUSK MELON. One variety, Early Ripe, was planted, but none of the crop matured before frost. WATERMELONS. Two early varieties were tested, but neither matured melons before frost. ONIONS. The following varieties of onions were planted April 10; they germinated viy on account of the dry weather, and did not mature before frost: Salzer's 378 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 4 GEORGE V., A. 1914 Wethersfield, Johnson's Dark Red Beauty, Large Red Wethersfield and Danver's Yellow Globe. PARSLEY. Double Curled was planted in the garden April 9, and was ready for use June 10. PARSNIP. Hollow Crown was planted April 10, and 112 pounds was produced from 30 feet of the row. PEPPER. Two varieties of peppers were planted, Chili and Cayenne, in the hotbed March 23, and put out June 21, but were frosted before they matured. PEAS. Eleven varieties were planted on April 10. A fairly good stand was obtained. One row 30 feet long was planted of each variety. The rows were 3 feet apart. Date First Total Yield Name. Ready for use. (not shelled). Gallons. Heroine July 15 5 Sutton's Excelsior " 2 7 Telephone " 5 3* Stratagem " 2!) 5J Juno " 16 5i Gradus June 27 4J Thomas Laxtou " 27 3J Gregory's Surprise " 27 la McLean's Advancer " 28 1 J Premium Gem " 2S ] American Wonder " 28 2 RADISH. Two varieties, Forcing Turnip Scarlet and Extra Early Scarlet White Tipped, were tested. .They were planted in the garden April 9, and were both ready for use May 20. SALSIFY. Long White was planted April 17, but only small to medium sized roots were developed. SPINACH. One variety, Victoria, was planted April 1G. and was ready for use June 19. EGG PLANT. One variety, New York Improved, was planted in the hotbed March 23, and was put out in the open June 21, but was frosted before it had matured. SQUASH. The following varieties were planted May 13, but were frosted before any of the crop was thoroughly matured; Hubbard, Delicata, Summer Crookneck, Long Vege- table Marrow, Long White Bush Marrow. Custard Marrow, White Bush Scallop, and Mammoth Whale. TOMATOES. Eleven varieties were tested but very little fruit was ripened, as a Idling frost came on the morning of the 15th of September. DIVISION OF HORTICULTURE 379 SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 Name. Date first fruit ripened. Trophy September 11. Florida Special " 11. Chalk's Early Jewel " 8. Matchless " 11. Bonny Best " 8. Rennies' XXX Earliest " 11. Livingston's Globe '* 11. Sparks Earliana (Sunny-brook strain) " 8. Sparks Earliana (C.E.F. 12/18) " 11. Sparks Earliana (C.E.F. 12/2.3) " 8. Sparks Earliana (C.E.E. most productive and uniform) None ripened before frost • Tl'RXIP. Early White Flat Strap Loaf was planted April 9, and was ready for use June 24. FLOWERS. The bulbs, the first of all flowers, .did extremely well. The crocus, scilla and chiancdoxa started to bloom from April 20 to 22, and were in full bloom by the 25th to the 27th. The earlier varieties of tulips started to bloom May 7. All the varieties of tulips tested, some nineteen in all, wintered well,# and produced large, well-shaped flowers. Where the beds were sheltered somewhat from the strong west winds, the stems were much longer and the blooms were more nearly perfect. The annuals did not do as well as usual. But few of the varieties produced blooms when the seed was planted in the open. This was due to the fact of the slow germination caused by the dry weather. The plants grown in the hotbeds, and transplanted bloomed, but the relatively cool weather during the latter part of July and August was not conducive to a very luxuriant growth. The perennials, such as the pseonies, irises, phlox, etc., as usual, made the most satisfactory display of all. A number of roses were successfully flowered. 330 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 4 GEORGE V., A. 1914 EXPERIMENTAL STATION, LACOMBE, ALBERTA. REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT, G. H. HUTTON, B.S.A. At this Station the conditions are quite different from those at any. of the other prairie Farms or Stations. The elevation is high, the season is fairly moist, and the nights are usually quite cool in the growing season. Woody plants do not mature as well here as in places where the elevation is lower and the season drier. The tree fruits are not succeeding very well as yet, although, when better protection is afforded, it is hoped they will do better. Small fruits succeed well, and many kinds of vegetables also. The climate is particularly favourable for most annual flowers, which bloom very profusely here, as they do in most places on the prairies. The following report will give some idea of some of the things which were under test in 1912, and the results obtained. VEGETABLES. POTATOES. Twenty-eight varieties of potatoes were planted in 1912, on land ploughed out of sod in August of 1911, and fall worked. The seed was planted on May 21, in rows two and one-half feet apart; with cuttings, one to two eyes to the cutting, twelve to fourteen inches apart in the row. Shallow cultivation was practised throughout the season. The potatoes were dug on September 23. There was no rot apparent. Potatoes. — Test of Varieties. Name of Variety. Rochester Rose.. Wee McGregor . . Houlton Rose — Ashleaf Kidney . Early Norther. . . Early Hebron . . . Epicure Carman No. 1 . . . Late Puritan Einpire State. . . Morgan Seedling. Table Talk Dreer's Standard . . Irish Cobbler (U. S. seed) Gold Coin Everett Reeves' Rose ... . American Wonder. King Edward VII Money Maker Factor Irish Cobbler( Home grown seed). Hard -to Beat. . Longworthy . . . Vick's Extra Early. Dalmeny Beauty. New Queen.. Planted Dug. Average Size. May 21 Sept. 23 Medium ■ I 21 It 23 Large. . . June 4. II 23 Medium May 21 It 23 Large. . . June 4 11 23 it ... ti 4 II 23 Medium May 21 II 23 M ti 21 II 23 Large. . . it 21 It 23 ii ... H 21 11 23 it ... H 21 II 23 ti ... ii 21 It 23 Medium u 21 II 23 it June 4 If 23 Small . . May 21 It 23 Medium M 21 It 23 ti H 21 II 23 it it 21 II 23 ti H 21 II 2:; Small . . it 21 II 23 II • . . n 21 II 23 Large. . . ii 21 II 23 H ... M 21 11 23 Small . . ■I 21 II 23 Large. . . H 21 II 23 Small . . ii 21 It 23 11 ... June 4 II 23 It ... Total Yield per Acre. Bush. Lb. Bush. Lb Total Yield, Market- able. • 407 400 306 303 389 382 369 358 356 344 338 330 317 310 302 203 292 284 281 264 236 231 191 189 162 130 115 00 24 00 48 24 48 36 36 24 18 48 00 21 12 30 9 36 21 36 00 30 00 34 12 48 21 30 335 370 344 354 350 325 205 322 347 335 313 252 238 228 264 234 225 213 183 163 1P5 190 110 156 113 87 82 47 22 31 35 28 33 41 44 29 42 23 27 1 00 41 31 18 15 2 41 7 35 3 5 58 50 00 Total Yield, Un- market- able. Bush. Lb. 71 30 51 39 38 57 73 35 8 8 25 77 79 82 37 58 67 71 98 100 41 40 81 33 48 42 33 13 o 29 23 56 15 55 52 55 36 25 33 20 12 49 38 IS 6 34 19 23 25 21 7 50 22 30 Form and Colour. Pink, long. White, smooth, oval. Red, smooth, long. Pink, oval. Red, fairly smooth, long. Pink, ,t n Deep eyes, red round, White, oval, [little flat. Pink, long. White, oval. White, round. White, ova!. Red, oval. ii White, oval. Round, pink, quite deep White, long. [eyes. Round, white. White, round. Flat, white. White, irregular. White, oval. White, long. DITISION OF HORTICULTURE 381 SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 BEANS. Beans were planted on May 20, in rows thirty inches apart and two inches in the rows. Plants were up on June 9 and commenced to bloom on July 15. Valentine and Wardwell's Kidney Wax took first and second place respectively, as regards yield, while Keeney's Rustless Wax led as to quality, as shown by the following table: — Variety. Height. In use. Yield per acre. Quality. Valentine Ea rly Refugee Challenge Black Wax 1912 .... Stringless Green Pod Inches. 33 16 16 17 13 16 Aug. 21 „ 10 .. 21 >. 24 7 „ 22 No Crop . Bus. 23 68 72 58 62 34 Lb. 36 58 "Y " 19 Extra fine on Aug. 26. Good on Aug. 11. Poor. Very good on Aug. 12. Refugee or 1000 to 1 Wardell's Kidney Wax, Valentine and Challenge Black Wax, were all more or less troubled with anthracnose. BEETS. Beets were sown on April 30, five varieties being tested, as shown by the follow- ing table :- Variety. Meteor Ruby Dulcet Black -Red Ball Early Blood-Red Turnip . . Egyptian Dark-Red Turnip In use. Aug. 12 ■i 12 .. 12 ii 15 6 Yield per acre. Bush. 145 348 145 396 300 Lb. 72 29 12 53 5 BRUSSELS SPROUTS. Seed was sown on April 15 in the frame, but did not do well enough to make it worth while transplanting. Seed was re-sown on May 8 and the plants were trans- planted on June 25, but the crop was ultimately a complete failure. CABBAGE. Seed was sown on April 15, pricked out on May 24 and planted in the field on June 14. The following varieties were tested and the crop was harvested on October 21:— 332 EXPERIMENTAL FARhS 4 GEORGE V., A. 19U Variety. Early Jersey Wakefield Ea rly Paris Market Large Late Flat Drumhead Extra Early Midsummer Savoy Pot-tier's Improved Brunswick or Short Stem . Lubeck Magdeburg Small Erfurt Winningstadt Danish Delicatesse (Red) Red Danish Stonehead Danish Summer Ballhead Flat Swedish Improved Amager Danish Roundhead . Extra Amager Danish Ballhead In use Average weight per head. Lb. Aug. 23 5 ii 10 4 Oct. 1 6 Aug. 10 3 Sept. 15 54 n 12 H Oct. 2 5h Sept. 10 4 ,, 13 5 Oct. 21 4 M 21 3 Sept. 10 7 ii 9 i Oct, 21 4* II 21 4 CAULIFLOWER. No crop was harvested, as all the plants were destroyed by the cabbage maggot. CUCUMBERS. Three varieties, Giant Pera, Peerless White Spine, and Cool and Crisp, were tried but no fruit set. LETTUCE. Thirteen varieties of lettuce were planted, all of which grew vigorously. The varieties excelling as to table quality were Improved Hanson and Black Seeded Simp- Mi for curled-leaf sorts, and Cos Trianon and Capucine for smooth-leaf sorts. The curled-leaf varieties were found to be better than the smooth-leaf as a class. Variety. Red Edged Victoria Unrivalled Summer ... Wheeler's Tom Thumb.. Cos Trianon All Heart. ' J rand Rapids ■ iant Crystal Head Black Seeded Simpson . Crisp as Ice feel ierg. Improved Hanson Rousseau Blond Winter 1 >ark Green Capucine. . . Ready to Use. Quality. July 22 13 26 13 24 23 25 13 15 13 23 Ran to seed, no good heads. [Fair. Good, curled, tender. Best of smo >th leaf varieties. •Splendid, curled and tasty. Splendid quality. Very good quality. Splendid quality. On a par with Black Seeded. Fair. Best of curled leaf varieties. No good heads, ran to seed. One of the 1 test of smooth sorts. CARROTS. Seed was sown on April 30, thinned out on July 17, and dug on October 18. Seed was sown in rows thirty inches apart and plants were thinned to one and one- half inches in the rows. DIVISION OF HORTICULTURE 333 SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 Variety. In Use. Yield per Acre. French Horn August 6 ',, 10 ., 15 Bush. Lb. 607 50 Imp: oved Nantes Half Long Ohantenav 475 59 290 24 CELERY. Seed was sown in. the frame April 10 and transplanted July 6 into trenches. The varieties grown are shown in the following table. The crop was taken up Octo- ber 26. Variety. Number Heads Weighed. Average Weight. Quality. * 25 27 28 28 28 30 Lb. 16 43 25 37 34 37 French's Success Extra good, good si ze, tender and tasty. Noll's Magnificent A good variety. SWEET CORN. Four varieties of sweet corn were planted on May 6. The following table gives the results: — Variety. Malakoff . . . Ford hook Early Golden Bantam Squaw Tassels Formed. July Aug July 30 7 5 14 Yield for Twenty Hills. Ten cobs. ONIONS. Four varieties of onions were sown on April 17 and harvested October 11, Dan- gers Yellow Globe giving the largest yield per acre and being the nearest ripe at time of digging. Variety. Date Date Harvested. Yield per Acre Dark Red Beauty April 17 Salzer's Wetherstield „ 17 Danver's Yellow Globe ., 17 Large Red Wetherstield I ■> 17 Oct. 11 >• 11 ii 11 .. 11 Bush. Lb. 4?3 30 746 34 1,127 43 96iJ 59 384 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 4 GEORGE V., A. 1914 PARSNIPS. Seed of the Hollow Crown parsnip was sown April 30, in rows 30 inches apart, and thinned June 3 to 2 inches in the rows. Crop was dug October 18 and yielded at the rate of 493 bushels 41 pounds to the acre. PARSLEY. Double Curled Parsley was sown on April 30 and grew well, attaining a height of 11 inches and being ready for use on July 30. PEAS. Seed was sown in rows three feet apart and 1 inch apart in the rows, on May 8, of the following varieties: — Variety. Height. In Use. Yield per Acre. Quality. Gregory's Surprise Gracilis Ft. In. 3 1 5 6 2 4 3 0 3 7 3 4 6 0 3 7 2 10 2 11 3 9 July 14 >, 20 „ 22 „ 27 Aug. 10 „ 10 July 31 ■> 22 .. 17 ii 24 Aug. 10 Bush. Lb. 148 14 177 14 158 19 179 29 76 38 29 IB 156 48 112 56 166 53 103 52 160 50 On July 17, sweet, gocd quality. On Aug. 8, splendid flavour. On Aug. 6, fair. Aug. 24, excellent. Premium Gem One of the best tested. July 18, very sweet. Sutton's Excelsior RADISHES. Seed was planted on May 8 and July 11, respectively. Varieties used were: Forcing Turnip Scarlet and Early Scarlet White Tipped Turnip. A very good crop was obtained of each variety from the first sowing, but the second was totally des- troyed by the maggot. SQUASH. Seed was planted on May 4 and May 20, respectively, in hills, nine feet apart each way. No results were obtained from the first planting, but the following table shows the results of the second : — Variety. Ready to Use. Date of Blooming. Yielrl per Acre. Aug. 7 7 8 July 19 Tons. Lb. Oz. 106 4 White Bush Scallop (Custard Marrow) . 100 11 Long Vegetable Marrow, harvested on Sept. 16 Sept. 12 Aug. 24 3 1,787 3 1,160 TOMATOES. Seed of eleven varieties were sown in the hotbed on April 10 and were trans- planted June 15 to the open field. Eight varieties fruited this year, as against two DIVISION OF HORTICULTURE 335 SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16' last year, which is encouraging. Varieties fruiting were, in the order of productive ability: Sparks Earliana 12-18, Sparks Earliana (Sunnybrook strain), Sparks Em-liana 12-23, Bonny Best, Chalk's Early Jewel, Trophy, Sparks Earliana (C.E.F. strain), and Rennie's XXX Earliest. TURNIPS. One variety, Early "White Flat Strap Leaf, was sown on April 30 and was ready for use June 28. Plants and rows 15 inches apart and 2 inches in the rows, yielded per acre, when dug on October 18, 2,981 bushels 26 pounds. The table quality of these turnips in the early part of the season was fairly good. SALSIFY. Long White Salsify was sown April 30 and was dug on October 18, yielding 145 bushels 12 pounds per acre. ELOWER GARDEN. The following varieties of annuals were sown in the hotbed on the 10th of April, and set out in the open on the 20th of May. Variety. Asters, 13 varieties ... . . Antirrhinum, 11 varieties Balsam Brachycome Candytuft Coreopsis Dimorphotheca aurantiaca . . . Eschscholtzia, 2 varieties Lobelia Erinus Larkspur, 3 varieties Mignonette Nicotiana affinis Nemesia, 8 varieties Phlox Drummondii, 7 varieties Poppy, 3 varieties Pansy, 5 varieties Petunia, 3 varieties Portulaca, 2 varieties Stocks Sweet Sultan. . . . . Scabiosa, 3 varieties , Salpiglossis, 2 varieties Verbena, 8 varieties Violas, 4 varieties. ..._.. - Artemisia saccorum viridis . . . Calliopes Chrysanthemum, 2 varieties..., JDianthus, 8 varieties Gaillardia Linaria Papaver Danebrog Tagetes Zinnia • Bloomed from Bloomed to date. date. August 4 Seveie frost. July 2 October 15 it 18 August 30 1! 16 September 23 II 17 • October 17 August 9 September 23 ii 16 October 17 June 20 September 23 July 20 it 23 August 20 October 17 June 28 H 17 July 28 M 23 June 25 September 23 July 15 ii 23 tl 6 November 17 II 18 tt 17 June 6 September 23 July 30 it 23 ii 3 November 17 August 16 September 23 July 2 November 17 August 10 September 23 n 2 ii 23 July 10 November 17 Height 65 inches August 3 September 23 M 10 it 17 it 20 November 17 July 29 September 23 June 29 November 30 July 19 September 23 ii 28 it 23 August 9 August 30 16—25 386 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS TULIPS. 4 GEORGE V., A. 1914 Variety. Artus Chrysolora (single) Cottage Maid Duchesse de Parma. . . . .Toost van Vondel (red). . . Joost van Vondel (white) Keizerskroon La Reine Pottebakker (scarlet).... ii (white) . . . Proserp'ne Commenced to bloom. May 17 „ 16 „ 19 i. 18 ,- 15 i, 16 „ 16 „ 19 ,, 15 „ 14 „ 19 Variety. Vermilion Brilliant. . . . Couronne d'Or (double) Imperator Rnbrorum.. Murillo Darwin (late sincrle) . . . Gesneriana Spathulata. Isabella La Candeur La Merveille Picotee Yellow Hose Commenced to bloom. Mav 14 „" 16 ,- 17 i, 20 6 June DAFFODILS. Variety. Barri Cunspiciuis (single). Bicolor Empress ii Victoria Emperor G Iden Spur Incomparabilis Cynosure i. Figaro... Mixed varieties. Mixed varieties. Mixed varieties. Commenced to bit lom. June 1. May 30. it 30. ii 25. ii 28. ti 29. ii 28. Variety. Incomparabilis Sir Watkin Poeticus ii Ornatus Princeps Iris A nglica ii Hispanica CROCUS. Bloomed May 4. SCILLA SIBIRICA. Bloomed May 8 CHIANODOXA LUCILIAE. Weak growth, no bloom. SWEET PEAS. Commenced to bloom. „ 28. No bloom. M May 25. No bloom. July 20. Fifty-five varieties of sweet peas were sown April 10. The first to bloom was Helen Grosvenor. All varieties bloomed profusely until well into August. Soil and climate are well adapted to the production of bloom of superior merit. SMALL FRUITS. While black, red and- white currants fruited freely, it is perhaps well to defer nnother year the publication of the table of standing of the varieties being tested. Of the varieties of black currants under test, Beauty led with a yield of 13,209 pounds to the acre, while Bang Up, though not a heavy yielder, produced the choicest fruit. Among the red currants, Albert led with a yield of 9,995 pounds to the acre, while the fruit was large and of excellent quality. DIVISION OF HORTWULTURb 387 SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 As regards white currants, White Grape was first with a yield of 5,193 pounds to the acre, while Large White Brandenburg produced the best fruit. Gooseberries did not fruit at all. Of the raspberries, the red sorts alone fruited; Sunbeam and Early King pro- ducing the most fruit, while Herbert gave berries of splendid quality and size. The order of merit according to yield of strawberries was Warfield, Wm. Belt and Tennessee. ORCHARD. The apple trees came through the winter fairly well. Winter-killing was in evidence with many of the standard varieties. The cross-bred and crab-apples, as a class, are hardy, while such standard varieties as Hibernal, Charlamoff and Antonovka, give promise of success. Fruit formed on three trees of Eve, a cross- bred variety, but was blown off before mature. Two thousand nine hundred and ten yearling seedlings were set out in the spring of 1912. These were grown from seed of the following varieties: Anis, Anto- novka, Beautiful Arcad, Hibernal, Tetofsky, Duchess, Charlamofi, and Yellow Transparent. A large proportion of the trees secured by the growing of these seed- lings should be hardy, while a fair proportion of these hardy trees should produce a good quality of fruit. Mr. A. P. Stevenson, of Dunstan, Manitoba, supplied this Station with the following varieties of apples, from which seed was taken: Blushed Calville, Anto- novka, Charlamofi and Hibernal. These seeds were planted in a frame in October and trees will be produced from this northern-grown stock and handled in the same manner as outlined above. This system affords the quickest solution to the problem of securing hardy trees for this country, and varieties of satisfactory quality. TREE PLANTING. The principal tree planting of the year consisted in planting groups of trees and shrubs in the grounds, between the Calgary and Edmonton trail and the 'Superintendent's residence. It is proposed to complete this work in the spring of 1913, and when done, the grounds will be most attractive. The testing of these varieties of trees and shrubs will afford visitors a good opportunity of comparing varieties and making selections for their own grounds. LISTS OF BEST VARIETIES OF FRUITS, VEGETABLES, USEFUL AND ORNAMENTAL TREES AND SHRUBS, HERBACEOUS PERENNIALS, CLIMBERS, AND AN- NUALS FOR THE PRAIRIE PROVINCES. So much money is lost by settlers in the Prairie Provinces from buying plants which are unsuitable, that it has been thought desirable to publish a list of those recommended for planting. There is a great difference in the hardiness of plants. Many trees and shrubs which succeed in eastern Canada will not succeed on the prairies. This is particularly true of varieties of fruits, but it is also true in regard to other trees as well. It is important in the case of ornamental trees or trees for forest belts or wind-breaks to obtain trees grown from northern stock. In the case of those marked ' native ' in the following list it is very desirable to obtain trees 1G— 25£ 338 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 4 GEORGE V., A. 1914 grown from native stock, as the same species from the southern part of their range would not prove hardy in many cases. FRUITS RECOMMENDED FOR PRAIRIE PROVINCES. Apples, in the Most Favourable Sihiations.—'Blushed Calville, Hibernal, Anisette, Duchess, Charlamoff, Antonovka, Patten's Greening, Lowland Raspberry, Beautiful Arcad. Crab-apples. — Transcendent, Virginia, Hyslop, Florence. Saunders' Hybrid Apples. — Jewel, Charles, Silvia, Prince, Tony, Robin, and Elsa. These are about the size of other named crab apples, but hardier. Plums. — Cheney, Aitkin, Odegard, Assiniboine, and best early seedlings of the native plum of Manitoba, which are to be preferred above all others if earliest and best are obtained. In southern Manitoba, and possibly in very favoured locations in other provinces, the Sand and Compass cherries, which are more like plums than cherries, will succeed. There are a number of promising varieties among Hansen's hybrid plums, including Etopa, Hanska, Opata, Kaga, Owanka, and Sapa. Currants, Red. — Raby Castle, Stewarts, Red Dutch. Currants, White. — White Grape, White Dutch. Currants, Black. — Beauty, Naples, Lee's Prolific, Saunders, Victoria. Gooseberries. — Houghton. Raspberries, Red. — King, Loudon, Turner, Sunbeam. Raspberries, Purple. — Columbian. Raspberries, Black. — Older. The black raspberries are not very satisfactory. Raspberries should be covered with soil in winter in many places. Strawberries. — Senator Dunlap, Beder Wood, Crescent, Lovett, Enhance, and Pocomoke. The Senator Dunlap has proved the most satisfactory for general plant- ing. Strawberries need the protection of a straw mulch in winter. VEGETABLES RECOMMENDED FOR THE PRAIRIE PROVINCES. Asparagus. — Conover's Colossal, Palmetto, Argenteuil. Beans. — Round Pod Kidney Wax, Wardwell's Kidney Wax, among yellow-podded or wax, bush beans; and Stringless Green Pod, Early Red Valentine and Early Refugee, among green-podded varieties. Beets. — Meteor, Early Model, Blood Red Ball, Egyptian, Eclipse. Cabbage. — Paris Market (extra early) ; Early Jersey Wakefield, and Copenhagen Market (early1), Danish Ballhead and Drumhead Savoy (late) and Red Dutch (red). Cauliflowers. — Early Dwarf Erfurt and Early Snowball. Carrots. — Early Scarlet Horn, for early; and Chantenay for main crop. Celery. — White Plume (the earliest) and Golden Self Blanching (Paris Golden Yellow). Corn. — Squaw (flint), Early Adams (flint), Early Malakoff (sweet), Golden Bantam (sweet). Cucumbers. — Peerless White Spine or White Spine and Davis Perfect. DIVISION- OF HORTICULTURE 389 SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 Lettuce. — Grand Eapids (early curled) ; Iceberg, Giant Crystal Head, Crisp as Ice, and Improved Hanson (curled cabbage) ; Trianon and Paris are two of the best Cos varieties. Iceberg is one of the best for summer use. Melons, Mush. — Hackensack and Emerald Gem, under specially favourable cir- cumstances. Onions. — Early Elat Red, Large Red Wethersfield, and Yellow Globe Danvers. Barletta, White Queen and White Pearl are other early small white varieties, all much alike. Parsley. — Double Curled Peas — Gregory's Surprise, Thos. Laxton, Gradus, American Wonder, Nott's Excelsior, Sutton's Early Giant (early) ; Sutton's Excelsior, Premium Gem (second early) ; Reliance, McLean's Advancer, Heroine, Stratagem (medium to late) ; Tele- phone, Champion of England and Quite Content are three fine, tall varieties. Potatoes, early. — Early Ohio, Rochester Rose, Reeves' Rose (pink), Bovee (pink and white). The Early Ohio is not as productive as some, but is very early and dry. Irish Cobbler and Early White Prize (wbite). Main Crop. — Table Talk, Gold Coin, Carman No. 1, Wee McGregor (white), Ashleaf Kidney, Empire State. Radishes, Scarlet. — White Tipped Turnip, Rosy Gem, Erench Breakfast, Icicle. Rhubarb. — Victoria, Linnaeus, Strawberry. Squash. — Summer — Long White Busb, White Bush Scallop, Summer Crook Neck. Winter — Hubbard. Tomatoes. — 'Sparks' Earliana; the best strains of this variety are the most reliable, such as North Adirondack and Sunnybrook. Other good varieties not quite as early are: Chalk's Early Jewel, and Bonny Best. Turnips — Early. — Extra Early Milan. Turnips — Swedes. — Champion Purple Top, Skirving's Improved. TREES AND SHRUBS RECOMMENDED FOR THE PRAIRIE PROVINCES. Deciduous. For Forest Plantation and Windbreak. Box Elder or Manitoba maple (native), Acer Negundo; Green Ash (native), Fraxinus pennsylvanica lanceolata; American Elm (native), Ulmus americana; Paper or Canoe birch (native), Betula papyrifera; Cottonwood (native Alberta'), Populus deltoidea; Balsam Poplar (native), Populus balsamifera; Mossy Cup or Burr oak (native), Quercus macrocarpa, for southern Manitoba, especially; Hack- berry or Nettle Tree (native), Celtis occidentalis; Russian poplar, Populus petrow- sJcyana; Laurel-leaved willow, Salix pentandra, (S. laurifolia) ; Voronesh or Golden Willow, Salix Voronesh; Sharp-leaved willow, Salix daphnoides acutifolia; Bass- wood (native), Tilia americana, for southern Manitoba, mainly; Silver or Soft maple (native), Acer saccharinum (dasycarpum), for southern Manitoba, mainly. Evergreens and Conifers White spruce (native), Picea canadensis (alba) ; Black spruce (native), Picea mariana; Tamarack (native), Larix laricina; Lodgepole pine (native), Pinus contorta Murrayana; Riga pine, Pinus sylvestris rigaensis; and the Scotch pine, Pinus sylves- tris, which is not quite so hardy; Jack pine (native), Pinus Banksiana; Colorado or Rocky Mountain Blue spruce, Picea pungens. 390 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 4 GEORGE V., A. 19H Ornamental Trees and Shrubs. All of the above trees are ornamental, but in addition there are: Deciduous Trees. — American Mountain ash, Pyrus americana; Ginnalian maple, Acer tataricum Ginnala; Cut-leaved birch, Betula alba laciniata pendula; Canada plum, Primus nigra; American plum, Primus americana; Siberian crab-apple, Pyrus baccata; Pin cherry, Primus pennsylvanica. Evergreen Trees. — White cedar or Arbor Vitae, Thuya occidentalis. There aro many varieties of this, the hardiest being Thuya occidentalis Wareana, known as Siberian Arbor Vita?; Swiss Stone pine, Pinus Cembra; Dwarf Mountain pine, Pinus Montana Mughus; Savin or Juniper, Juniperus horizontalis (Sabina). The last two named are really shrubs. Shrubs. — Bush honeysuckle, Lonicera tatarica, and varieties; Albert Kegel's honeysuckle, Lonicera Alberti; Siberian Pea tree, Caragana arborescens; Shrubby caragana, Caragana fndescens; Dwarf caragana, Caragana pygmaea; Common lilac, Syringa vulgaris. Many varieties of this can be grown. Josika's lilac, Syringa Josi- Icaea; Himalayan, or Chinese lilac, Syringa villosa; Japanese or Tree lilac, Syringa japonica; and Syringa amurensis, resembling it very much. High Bush cranberry, Viburnum Opulus; Choke Cherry, Primus virginiana ; Cherry, Primus MaacTcii; Mis- souri or Golden currant, Ribes aureum; Van Houtte's Spiraea, Spircea Van Houttei, Spircea arguta; Sorbus-leavecl spiraea, Spircea Sorbifolia; Golden-leaved spiraea, Physocarpus opulifolia aurea; Meadow sweet (native), Spiraea salicifolia; Spiraea Billardii; Cotoneaster acutifoJia: Cotoneaster integerrima (vulgaris) ; Juneberry or Saskatoon berry, Amclanchier alnifolia; Siberian Dogwood, Cornus alba sibirica; Euonymvs linearis; Snowberry (native), Symphoricarpus occidentalis. Roses. — Japanese rose, Rosa rugosa and hybrids and several native species; also Persian Yellow and Old English Moss. Hybrid Perpetual roses should be protected by covering with soil in winter, and if so treated the following should succeed : — Madame Plantier (white), Frau Karl Druschki (white). Magna Charta (bright rose), General Jacqueminot (crimson scarlet), Mrs. John Laing (soft pink), Ulrich Brunner (cherry crimson'), Baronne de Bonstetten (velvety blackish-crimson), Mrs. K. G. Sbarman Crawford (deep, rosy pink), Madame Joly (pink). John Hopper (rose pink), Prince Camille de Rohan (deep velvety crimson). Pierre Netting (deep crimson). Climbing Plants. — Virginia Creeper, Ampelopsi* quinquefolia: Native Clematis, Clematis ligusticifolia, a very desirable native species; Frost-grape, Vitis vulpina, native of southern Manitoba, but not adapted to the open prairie; Climbing Bitter- sweet (native), Celastrus scandens; Wild hop. Herbaceous Perennials. — Many species and varieties of herbaceous perennials succeed in the prairie provinces. Among the most desirable are paeonies, German iris, perennial phlox, oriental and Iceland poppies, bleeding heart, coreopsis, yellow day lilies (Hemerocallix) , delphiniums, campanulas, platycodon. For lists of varieties, see the bulletin on Herbaceous Perennials, which can be obtained free on application to the Central Experimental Farm, Ottawa. Annuals. — Annuals succeed admirably in the Prairie Provinces, and many kinds can be grown successfully. Among the most satisfactory are the sweet pea, pansy, stocks, petunia, aster, verbena, pinks, nemesia, poppy, pblox Drummondi, and lobelia, but many more might be named. Geraniums, cannas, dahlias and gladioli, if started early, succeed well. DIVISION OF HORTICULTURE 391 SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 EXPERIMENTAL FARM, AGASSIZ, BRITISH COLUMBIA. REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT, P. H. MOORE, B.S.A. Horticulture is not now receiving the special attention here that it did for many years, as the situation of this Farm was found not to be very suitable for fruit trees. Some attention is, however, paid to this part of the work, and following will be found a report on some experiments conducted in 1912. VEGETABLES. POTATOES. Thirty-one varieties of potatoes were grown in 1912, on land similar to that which grew roots and corn and treated very much in the same manner, with the exception of artificial fertilizer. They were planted in rows two and one-half feet apart and from a foot to a foot and one-half apart in the drills. An accident happened to three varieties so that the following list contains only twenty-eight. All potatoes were somewhat touched with blight, but the percentage of rot at digging time was not very great in any case. Variety. American Wonder , Ear*.- Envoy Money Maker Everett Empire State Dreer's Standard Dalmeny Beauty Burnaby Mammoth Morgan Seedling Late Puritan Gold Coin Early St. George Vick's Extra Early Rochester Rose . Rochester Rose (Lacombe Seed) Irish Cobbler Early Rose Ashleaf Kidney 20th Century Hillcrest Reeves' Rose (Lacombe Seed). . . Reeves' Rose Early Potentate Bovee Wee McGregor Hard to Beat 1 able Talk Factor Yield per Acre. Tons. Lb. 10 9 9 9 9 S 8 8 7 7 7 7 7 7 <; 6 6 G 5 5 5 5 5 4 3 3 856 1,276 1,272 348 876 1,169 1,028 1,028 368 236 1,312 916 784 1,840 1,312 1,312 1,728 1,728 1,728 276 1,880 1,748 824 956 428 448 732 600 Planted. 1912 May 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 Har- vested. 1912 Sept. Oct. Sept. Oct. Sept. 9 6 9 6 5 12 10 18 18 13 2 5 5 14 14 16 18 20 4 11 12 12 12 10 11 5 10 11 Rotten. % 5 10 10 5 8 5 6 6 10 10 5 5 5 8 6 10 8 10 8 8 10 10 8 10 5 3 12 10 Small. % 15 15 25 25 7 20 10 20 20 15 20 25 25 17 20 25 30 25 20 24 20 20 20 20 25 32 28 30 Market- able. % 80 75 65 70 85 75 84 74 70 75 75 70 70 75 74 65 62 65 72 68 70 70 72 70 70 65 60 60 392 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 4 GEORGE V., A. 1914 A fertilizer experiment was carried on with potatoes, the fertilizer being supplied by the German Potash Syndicate. Three-quarters of an acre of land was used this experiment, and the following are the results of the different plots : — in Plot No. Fertilizer Applied per Acre. Planted. Harvested. Yield per Acre. 1 (Check) 1912. May 9 .. 9 .1 9 1912. Oct. 26 .. 26 m 26 11 tons, 600 pounds. 2 3 400 ii superphosphate. 140 ii nitrate of soda. 140 h nitrate of soda. 13 „ 160 ii 12 „ 1,420 u Not being able to secure enough of one variety of seed to plant the three- quarters of an acre, we were forced to use Dakota Reds. The seed planted was very large and rough, and the crop harvested could also be described in the same way. The market value of same was not very high. During the season a large variety of seeds were tested under conditions here. The land was a light, sandy soil and not very rich; the season being a dark and cool one. Such vegetables as require a warm, bright summer did not come to maturity. In the case of radishes, turnips, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, and cauliflower, the real comparative value of the variety tests was much interfered with by the cabbage mag- gots, as on these vegetables several different mixtures were tried for the prevention of the maggots and this made these plots not of a comparative nature. BEETS. Five varieties of beets were grown during the season with the following results. The weight of the crops is taken from two drills thirty feet long. They were har- vested when fit for table use as a market garden product. Variety. Egyptian Dark Red Turnip Meteor Ruby Dulcet Early Blood Red Turnip.. . Black-red Ball Planted. May 6, 1912 Harvested. Oct. 9, 1912 Weight of Crop. 8 pounds. 10 55 „ 17 18 PAKSXIPS. One variety of this vegetable was grown and gave a good return. The weight is taken from two thirty-foot drills. "Variety. Mellow Crown Planted. April 13, 1912... Harvested. Oct. 9, 1912. Weight. 92^ pounds. DIVISION OF HORTICULTURE SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 SALSIFY. One variety of this was tested and it gave the following results: — 393 Variety. Planted. Harvested. Weight. April 13, 1912 Oct. 9, 1912 47 pounds. PEAS. There were eleven varieties of peas grown, on© variety, Stratagem, germinated badly and the moles attacked other varieties, but the general results were as follows. All were harvested for table use. Weights are taken from one drill thirty feet long. Variety. Thomas Laxton. . .. Gregory's Surprise Gradus Telephone Stratagem McLean Advancer Sutton's Excelsior. American Wonder Juno Premium Gem.... Heroine Planted. April 12, 1912. 17 Ready for use. June 19, June 16, June 19, June 7, July 12, July 12, June 25, June 21, July 13, June 22, July 13, 1912. 1912. 1912. 1912. 1912. 1912. 1912. 1912. 1912. 1912. 1912. Weight of Crop . 5 6 8 13 8 11 11 14 10 15 20 10 lbs. 14 „ 7 .. 13 „ 2 ., 8 „ 13 n 5 H 3 H ii CUCUMBERS. Three varieties of cucumbers were grown and the weights in the following table were taken from an average of three hills and taken at a time when fit for market The Peerless White Spine was the most prolific yielder, but the quality of all use. three varieties was excellent. Variety. Cool and Crisp ...... Peerless White Spine Giant Pera Planted. May 25, 1912 .. 25, 1912 ii 25, 1912 Weight. 19 lbs. 27 „ 22 . MUSKMELONS AND WATERMELONS. Many varieties of melons have been tried for the past two years but without success in ripening any of them. In some cases fruit formed but it was always too small to be of use. Of muskmelons, the following varieties were tested: Earliest Kipe, Paul Rose, Montreal Market, Hoodoo, Hackensack, Emerald Gem; and two kinds of watermelons were also grown, namely Salzer's Earliest and Thennings. 394 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 4 GEORGE V., A. 1914 CORN. Eight varieties of sweet corn were tested with results as tabulated below. The weights were .taken from an average of ten hills. Stowell's Evergreen which is reported as a failure, was so on account of poor seed and non-germination of same; what'few plants did grow were weakly and sick. All corn was harvested in the roast- ing stage or fit for table use. Variety. Early Evergreen Fordhook Early Henderson's Metropolitan. Country Gentleman Black Mexican Malakoff Golden Bantam Stowell's Evergreen Planted. April 25, ii 21), ., 29, n 25, May 5, April 29, „ 25, ,- 25, 1912 1912 1912 1912 1912 1912 1912 1912 Weight. lbs. 42 H 39 36 H 341 .. 30 214 .1 Failure. SQUASH. Seven varieties of squash were grown and all were harvested while in the growing stage. The weights given are taken from three average hills. The long Vegetable Marrow has proven the most prolific this season, but all the others had a good quality of vegetable. Variety. Long Vegetable Marrow Delicata Hubbard Custard Marrow White Bush Scallop Mammoth White Long White Bush Marrow Summer Crookneck Planted. Weight. April 15, 1912 392 lbs. fl ll 223 .. II It 220i m tl ll 202| . H ll 202i „ M tl 183i .. ll It 6t;$ ,t CABBAGE. These varieties of cabbages came through after having been planted several tunes and having had several different treatments for cabbage maggot, therefore the results are not considered at all comparable. The weights were taken from average hills. Variety. Flat Swedish Large Late Flat Drumhead .... Lubeck Extra Amager Danish Billhead Red Danish Stonehead Copenhagen Market Fottler's Improved Brunswick. Improved Amager Roundhead . Danish Delicatesse Red Danish Summer Ballhead Extra Early Midsummer Savoy Winningstadt Small Erfurt Early Jersey Wakefield M agdeburg Early Paris Market Weights. 82 pounds. 75 DIVISION OF HORTICULTURE 395 SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 LETTUCE. Fourteen varieties of this vegetable were grown and they were weighed when in a stage fit for market use. Th weights were taken from fifteen foot drills. Variety. Giant Crystal Head ii ii (seed bed). Dark Green Capucine Grand Rapids Cos Trianon Black Seeded Simpson Improved Hanson Rousseau Blond Winter Crisp as Ice Unrivalled Summer Iceberg Wheeler's Tom Thumb Red Edged Victoria , Planted. March 25, 1012 29, 1012 20, 1912 29, 1912 20, 1912 20, 1012 29, 1012 20, 1012 20, 1012 20, 1012 20, -912 29, 1012 29, 1012 Weights. 63 pounds. 60 51 45 » 45 it 45 30 36 18 15 ii Seeded ear y BEANS. Seven varieties of beans were grown; they were all harvested in the green bean condition, and the weights were taken from one drill forty feet long. Variety. Keeney's Rustless Wax. . Early Refugee Challenge Black Wax . . . Refugee or 1,000 to 1. .. Valentine . . Wardwell's Kidney Wax Stringless Green Pod April 17, 1912 ,- 17, 1912 ,. 17, 1912 ,. 17, 1912 „ 17, 1912 ,i 17, 1912 „ 17, 1912 Weights. 30 pounds. 372 « 30 * 28 40 29-6 h 32 ARTICHOKES. One variety of this vegetable was grown, and the result was as follows. The weights were taken from one drill sixty feet long, wherein the plants were two feet apart. Variety. Planted. Weights. April 5, 1912 278J pounds. OMOXS. Four varieties of these were planted, but the land was not rich enough to grow a good crop of them, and what spoiled our experiment was the moles getting in and rootina out the plants, which made the results of the onions not comparable in any way. 395 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 4 GEORGE V., A. 19U TOMATOES. Eleven varieties of tomatoes were grown, and the weight of the yield was taken from five average plants The hop flea gave the plants a severe check at one time of the season, but, by judicious pruning, all the tomatoes were ripened, and the quality, in almost every case, was good. The following results were obtained from ripened tomatoes : — Variety. Sparks Earliana, (Sunnybrook Strain) Sparks Earliana (C.E.F) Rnnnie's XXX Earliest Florida Special Sparks Earliana 12-8 Strain (C.E.F).. Sparks Earliana 12-8 Strain (C.E.F). . Bonny Best Livingston's Globe Trophy Chalk's Early Jewel Matchless Planted. March 26, 1912 Weights. (Five plants). Lbs. oz. m .. 21 2 14 .. m . . 16| .. 13 2 14 6 184 •■ 30 9 lGf .. 21* .. DIVISION OF HORTICULTURE 397 SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 REPORT OF EXPERIMENTS ON THE FRUIT FARM OF THOS. A. SHARPE, SALMON ARM, B. C. The soil on this farm is mostly gravelly loam and, with proper preparation, is excellent for the production of clover and alfalfa, and of suitable varieties of apples, plums, prunes, sour cherries and all small fruits. Potatoes were exceptionally good in quality this year. In 1908 thirty-nine varieties of plums and prunes were planted. APPLES. Of the apples, nineteen varieties fruited in 1912; of these, Longfield, Jonathan, Ira and Newtown Pippin fruited freely, and are all valuable varieties. The others produced only a few specimens not sufficient to judge of their quality or productive- ness. There were also fifty-eight varieties of apples planted in the experimental orchard in 1911 and 1912, and nearly thirty varieties either in nursery on the Farm or ordered for this spring's planting. CHERRIES. Two varieties were planted, Olivet and Planchoury. Both produced good crops of fine fruit, of excellent quality for shipping and canning, as well as for eating out of hand. Two varieties are planted in nursery and about twenty ordered for this spring's planting. PLUMS AND PRUNES. All the varieties of plums and prunes fruited. German prune, Shropshire damson and Primate were the best in quality and productiveness, Purple being a good second. These are all good shippers. Two varieties of Peine Claude fruited, but ripened so late that they are evidently not adapted to this district. About twelve varieties of plums have been ordered for this season's planting. PEAES. There are thirty-eight varieties planted in the orchard, and several sorts in the nursery. SMALL FRUITS. Blackberries. — Eldorado, Snyder, and Stone's Hardy. These have grown vigor- ously and fruited well without winter protection. Red Raspberries. — Cuthbert, Pauline, Columbian and King. Tbose have proved vigorous and fruitful, also without protection. 393 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 4 GEORGE V., A. 1914 Grapes. — Saunders' Seedling-, Delaware, Brighton and Worden. These were all vigorous growers and ripened their fruit. Many of the above-mentioned varieties of fruit are selected sorts, got from Brit- ish and European nurseries for the Experimental Earm at Agassiz, B.C., and proved as being tested there, to he of sufficient merit to justify the test in the Salmon Arm district. New varieties of merit will be added as opportunity offers. The annual rainfall in this district is light, but, as there is seldom any frost in the ground during the winter, the melting snows sink into the soil, and this carries the growth well on into June, when, as a rule, there is a fair amount of precipitation in the form of gentle rains. There is, thus, quite sufficient moisture to enable the crops to mature, and a failure has not been recorded for over twenty years. On the uplands there are sel- dom late spring or early autumn frosts, tomatoes, garden corn, muskmelons and watermelons ripening well. DIVISION OF HORTICULTURE 399 SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 EXPERIMENTAL SUB-STATION, FORT VERMILION, PEACE RIVER DISTRICT, ALBERTA. This station is situated in the valley of the Peace river in latitude 58° 23'. It is over 300 miles north of Edmonton, and is in charge of Mr. Robert Jones, who has prepared the following report: — The spring of 1912 opened very early, the snow starting to thaw during the early part of April. Seeding was begun on April 29, but was not general until May 2. May opened very dry and continued so throughout the month, and, as a result, growth was very slow. June was very dry and hot, with only yioo of an inch of rain during the whole month. This gave the crops a permanent set-back which all the rains of July could not remedy. The crops that were not ploughed under were very light. July opened showery and cold, a slight frost occurring on the nights of the 9th, 11th and 19th, which did considerable damage. The first part of August was showery, and the ripening period was prolonged. From the 13th to the 24th, however, the weather was good, and considerable cutting was done on the experimental plots. Frot occurred three times towards the end of the month. VEGETABLES. Seeds sown in hotbeds April 19 to 21, transplanted to the open ground May 20 to 26. ASPARAGUS. Conovers' Colossal, one year old plants, in use May 22 ; large and good. BEANS, GARDEN. Sown May 2 in drills 30 inches apart : Stringless Green Pod, fit for table August 26; Challenge Black Wax, in use August 17. Neither of these did ripen. BEETS., TABLE. Early Blood Red Turnip, sown May 6, in use July 15. Egyptian Dark Bed Flat, sown May 6, taken up September 11. Early Dark Red Egyptian Turnip, sown May 6, very long, all very large. CABBAGE. Early Jersey Wakefield, in use July 29; averago weight, August 29, 14£ pounds. Danish Ballhead, average weight, August 29, 4£ pounds. Kildonan, very good and firm; average weight August 29, 6 pounds. Bed Rock, very fine and solid; average weight, August 29, 5£ pounds. CARROTS. Early Horn, sown May 6; fit for use June 29; fine flavour. TTalf Long Chante- nay. sown May 6; fit for use July 5; very fine, very large when pulled on September 11; yield, 720 pounds. 400 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 4 GEORGE V., A. 191 4 CAULIFLOWER Early Snowball, in use July 15; average weight, August 29, 12 pounds. Early Dwarf Erfurt, in use July 10 ; average weight, August 29, 10 pounds. CELERY. White Plume, in use August 29; very large and crisp. Evans Triumph, in use September 5; medium in size but fine. Golden Self Blanching, in use September 15; small. CUCUMBER. Peerless White Spine, Cool and Crisp ; some of the cucumbers were about 4 inches long when picked, very small. Both these varieties were considerably cut by frost in July. LETTUCE. Sown May 2; 1 row each of following varieties : Wheeler's Tom Thumb, Unrivalled Summer, Cos Trianon, All Heart; in use May 28; very fine and crisp. MUSKMELON. Miller's Cream Nutmeg, killed by frost in July. PARSLEY. Moss Curled, sown May 6; in use from early part of June. PARSNIP. Hollow Crown, sown May 6; fine and large when taken up September 11. PEAS, GARDEN. Sown May 2, 1912; the peas sown in drills thirty inches apart. Henderson's First of All, vines 22 inches long, pods 3 inches long, peas of a fine flavour; fit for tbe table July 8; ripe August 1. Gregory's Surprise, vine 24 inches long, pods of medium length containing from four to six medium large peas of a very fine quality; fit for use, July 22; ripe, August 1. Witham Wonder, vines 24 to 30 inches long and pro- ductive; pod 3 inches long; peas very fine; fit for table, July 10; ripe, August 5. Gradus, vines 34 inches long and moderately productive, pods 3 \ inches and well filled with large peas of a good quality ; fit for table, July 29 ; ripe, August 26. Premium Gem, vines 15 inches to 20 inches long, pod of a medium weight; in use, July 5; ripe, August 20. Stratagem, vines 36 inches long, pods long (4 inches), containing from six to nine large sweet peas of very fine quality; fit for table, July 15; ripe, August 3. American Wonder, vines of a medium length and very produc- tive, pods 3£ inches long, filled with peas of good size and fine quality; fit for table, July 1; ripe, August 3. Admiral Dewey, vines from 18 to 20 inches long, pods from 3 to 4 inches long; peas of a delicious quality; fit for use, July 25; ripe, July 27. RADISH. Sown May 2. New Triumph, Early Scarlet White Tipped Turnip, Winter Black Spanish; fit for use, May 30; very good. RHUBARB. Victoria; in use, May 27. Plate XIV Flowers at the Fort Vermilion, Sub-Station, 1912. Apple Orchard at the Fort Vermilion Sub-Station, 1912. 16 — 1914— p. 400. DIVISION OF HORTICULTURE SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 SPINACH. Broad Thick Leaved, sown May 6; in use June 1. 401 SQUASH AND MARROWS. Four hills of each of the following-, sown May 8„ planted 6 feet apart each way: Mammoth Whale, average weight at the end of August, 16 pounds; Summer Crook- neck, average weight at the end of August, 2 pounds; English Vegetable Marrow, average weight at the end of August, 6 pounds; Hubbard, average weight at the end of August, 4 pounds; Boston, fit for use July 25, average weight when picked August 31, 5 pounds. White Bush Scallop, very small when picked. White Congo, seeds of this did not germinate. TURNIP, TABLE. Extra Early White Milan, sown May 21, fit for use June 19; from plot of one- sixtieth acre the yield was 720 pounds when pulled September 11; very large turnips. TOMATO. One small package each of following varieties sown under glass April 23 ; trans- planted to the open ground May 29: — Sparks Earliana, C. E. F. strain, 1911; Most productive and early strain, 7-21; Atlantic Prize. Of these different kinds, 135 plants were transplanted and these were doing very well up to July 14, when there was a severe frost and they were cut right down. There were just a very few small ones, and very green, on September 1. Potatoes. — Test of Varieties. No. Name of Variety. Irish Cobbler. . Gold Coin Carman No. 1 . Early Rose. Rochester Rose 1st Plot Sown. May 1 .. 1 .. 2 .. 4 June 6 1st Plot Pulled. Sept. 20 u 20 „ 20 .. 18 .. 21 Yield per acre 1st Plot. Bush. Lb. 96 .. 168 .. 2SS . . 220 .. Description of Variety. Round, white, very small. White, small. Oval, white, medium. Pink, medium. Pink, medium. * From 5 pounds ; yield, when dug on September 21, 60 pounds. Indian Corn. — Test of Varieties. 6 Name of Variety. Date Sown. Date Cut. Height. Condition when Cut. Weight of Green Fodder per Acre. i Table Corn. Early C. E. F. Malakoff . . E. E. W. Cory May 4 H 6 .. 4 Sept. 6 .. 6 „ 6 Inches. 28 38 24 In tassel Aug. 15, just com- ing in silk when cut. Just coming into tassel. Tons. 6 6 4 Lb. 1,920 1,920 700 3 The plot of one-sixtieth of an acre of a dwarf semi-sweet corn seed sent me by Mr. B. C. Phipps from Colorado. This variety was in tassel August 6, in silk, August 26, Corn was formed but very green until cut. 16— 2G 402 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 4 GEORGE V., A. 19U Flower Garden. — Test of Varieties. Sown in open garden from May 20 to May 21. o 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 2; >r 28 29 Variety . Helichrysum Portulaca Gaillardia Mignonette Clarkia Phlox Drutnmondi Godetia Salpiglossis Scabiosa Brachycome Coreopsis Stocks Abronia umbellata California Poppy Japan Poppy Double Mixed. Shirley Poppy White Swan Poppy Double Annual Poppy Ageraturn Sem pie's Branching Aster. . Sweet Peas, 6 varieties Candytuft, Empress White . Dianthus or Pinks Single Poppy Primula ... Delphinium Centaurea or Dusty Miller. . Nasturtium, tall , ti dwarf When in Bloom. July August August 8 19 24 15 3 20 9 14 27 1 30 12 31 18 6 25 13 18 27 7 26 19 8 11 24 30 9 1 1 July June July June July August July June July June August Remarks Double, very good. Mixed colours, large and fine. Very good. Good. Very good. Good. Lirge and very gjod. Very good. Good. Very good. ti Large. Good. ti Very good. Good. ii Very good. Good. Very good, colour pink. Many colours, very good. Large and good. Good . Very good. Very large and pink. Very good. Good. Very good. All in bloom until the frost, September 23. Sown in hotbed, April 20 to 25; planted in open, May IS to 22. Antirrhinum Asters, 4 varieties 1 Brachycome Stocks Balsam j Zinnia, dwarf, scarlet j Pansies, 8 varieties . . . . . . j Verbena, Mammoth White | Phlox mixed 1 Lavatera, Rosea Spier. dens. ' Chrysanthemum, Eclipse . jCelosia Marigold, dwarf , ! Alvssum July 29 29 25 20 19 12 5 10 22 30 5 August 1 July 1 June 6 June July ii ii June July Good, many colours. Good . Very brilliant. These could not be better. Very good. Good. The finest ever produced Could not be better. Very good. Good. ii Very good. hero. ORNAMENTAL TREES AND SHRUBS UNDER TEST. 2 Acer tataricum Ginnala (Ginnalian maple), doing well. 2. Acer saccharinum (dasycarpum), (Silver maple), doing well. 4 Acer Negundo (Box elder or Manitoba maple), doing well. DIVISION OF HORTICULTURE 403 SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 4 Acer tataricum, doing fine. 2 Acer pictum, good. 2 Picea excelsa Bernoulli, good. 2 Amelanchier vulgaris, doing well. 2 Betula alba laciniata (Cut-leaved birch), doing well. 4 Berberis Thunbergii (Thmiberg's barberry), doing very well. 1 Clematis montana, doing well. 2 Caragana arborescens (Siberian pea tree), doing well; in bloom May 24. 2 Caragana grandifiora, doing very well; in bloom May 30, 1912. 2 Caragana frutescens, doing well; in bloom May 28, 1912. 2 Caragana pygma?a, doing well; in bloom May 28. 2 Cotoncaster tomentosa, fair. 2.Cratcegus Arnoldiana, good. 2 Celtis occidentalis, doing well. 4 Crataegus Carrieri, doing well. 2 Ceanoihus americanus, doing nicely. 2 Lonicera alpina, doing very well; in bloom May 30. 3 Lonicera Mundeniensis, doing well; in bloom May 29, 1912. 2 Lonicera Fenzlei. 2 Lonicera tatarica virginalis alba. 2 Lonicera Sidlivantii. 2 Delphinium, doing well; in bloom June G, 1912. Herbaceous perennial. 1 Diervilla lutea. 3 Euonymus europeus ovatus, doing well; in bloom May 25. 2 Hydrangea paniculata grandifiora. 2 Ligustrum amurense (Amur privet). 2 Fraxinus pennsylvanica lanceolata (green ash). 2 Populus angustifolia. 2 Lycium europaeum. 2 Philadelphia Lemoinei Mont Blanc. 2 Pseudotsuga Douglasii (Douglas fir). 4 Pinus Sylvestris (Scotch pine'). 1 Spir&a Billardii. 2 Picea pungens (blue spruce). 2 Pinus Strobus (white pine). 2 Quercus rubra (red oak). 2 Bhamnus Frangula (Alder Buckthorn). 2 Bibes aiireum (Missouri Currant. 2 Cupressus (Betinospora) pisifera. 6 White Birch, doing fairly well. 1 Syringa amurensis, doing well. 1 Syringa Japonica (tree lilac), doing very well; in bloom June 25, 1912. 2 Lilac Madam Casimir Perier, only fair. 2 Lilac Chas. Joly, doing fairly well. 2 Lilac Charles Tenth, doing well; in bloom June 10, 1912. 2 Lilac Michel Buchner, only medium. 2 Lilac Emile Lemoine, doing well; in bloom June 7, 1912' 2 Lilac Jacques Calot, doing well. 2 Syringa pelcinensis, doing well. 2 Lilac Congo, doing well. 6 Syringa villosa, doing very well; in bloom June 14, 1912. 2 Lilac Mdlle. Fernande Viger, doing quite well. 2 Thuga occidentalis Columbia, doing well. 16— 26* 4:4 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 4 GEORGE V., A. 1914 2 Lilac Mdme. Abel Chatenay, doing fairly well. 2 Spirea arguta, only medium. 2 Salix Voronesh (golden willow), doing very well. 6 Thuga occidentalis, doing well. 2 Thuga occidentalis globosa, doing well. 1 Thuga occidentalis, Hoveyi, doing well. 1 Viburnum molle, doing very well. 1 Syringa chinensis (rothomagensis) , doing well. 1 Lilac, no name, doing well, in bloom June 17, 1912. 1 Hippophae rhamnoides (sea buckthorn), doing well. 1 Rose delicata, doing well. 1 Rose rugosa alba, doing well; in bloom July 9, 1912. 1 Spirea sorbifolia, doing very well; in bloom June 22, 1912. 3 Amelanchier (June berries), doing well; did not bloom this spring FRUITS UNDER TEST. Cross-bred Apples. — Behaviour of Trees. 2 Alberta. — September 1, 1912, doing well. 2 Charles. — Have done very well. 2 Tony. — Doing only fairly well. 2 Prince. — Doing fairly well. 2 Golden. — Doing well. 2 Magnus. — Has done well. 2 Silvia. — Quite good. 2 Robin. — Only fair., 2 Pioneer. — Good. Seedlings of Cross-bred Apples. 2 Seedling of Alberta. — Doing very well. 2 Seedling of Golden. — Quite good. 3 Seedling of J excel. — Good. 2 Seedling of Silvia. — Have made good growth. Russian Apple Seedlings. 1 Varna. — Very good. 1 Charlamoff. — Doing fairly well. 1 Morden. — Doing very well. 1 Cheney. — Doing poorly. 1 Aitkin. — Doing poorly. Plums. Raspberries. 75 Herbert. — These have made very strong growth; 4 pints of fruit. 75 Heebnrr. — Have done well; 2 pints of fruit, picked August 5, 1912. RLACK CURRANTS. All of the black currants were in bloom from May 25 to June 1, and were picked August 3; medium in size. DIVISION OF HORTICULTURE 405 SESSIONAL PAPER No/16 Black Currants. — Varieties Tested and Yields. 2 Bang Up, 7 pints. 2 Norton, 3J pints. 2 Kerry, 10 pints. Climax, 7 pints. Topsy, 5 pints. Eclipse, 7 pints. BED CURRANTS. In bloom May 22; picked July 29, 1912. 2 Simcoe, 2 pints. 2 Eankin's Red, 3 pints. Greenfield, medium in size, 7 pints. Moore's Seedling, 4£ pints. Goliath, 6 pints. 2 Magnus, 6£ pints. 2 Saunders, 10 pints. Ethel, 11 pints. Ontario, 8 pints. Eagle, 7 points. Red Dutch 10 i pints. Large Red, 3 pints. Long Bunch Holland, 8 pints. Cumberland Eed, 5 pints. WHITE CURRANTS. 2 Large White, in bloom May 20, 1 pint. 2 White Grape, picked July 30, 1 pint. 2 White Cherry, very small in size, 1 pint. 2 White Kaiser, 1 pint. 2 White Dutch, 1 pint 406 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 4 GEORGE V., A. 19H EXPERIMENTAL SUB-STATION, GROUARD, LESSER SLAVE LAKE, ALTA. (Lat. 55° 31'.) The Fathers of the Mission were the first to practise farming at this point, on a large scale. Having begun agricultural operations in the district some eighteen years ago, they are now fairly in a position to give an exact report on the possibility of growing cereals, such as wheat, barley and oats, as well as roots and vegetables near Lesser Slave lake. The village of Grouard is situated at the northwest end of Lesser Slave lake, and is bounded by the forest on the east side, with very little open ground between that and the lake. The arable land here is limited in area, but here and there one finds clear spaces for cultivation. The land bordering on the lake is very sandy. To extend the cultivated area it was necessary to clear the forest and, accordingly, about ten acres of new land was made. This work was commenced in 1894. The; forest land is generally good, with four or live inches of humus on the surface. The subsoil is of friable clay. Grain does well on this land, but it has been little grown, potatoes and vegetables being sown in preference. The success obtained in growing cereals and | s has been decided enough in spite of some temporary set-backs from drought and frost (the latter rarely, twice in eighteen years) to encourage the breaking of new land in order to practise rota- tions as far as required. These rotations allowed the sowing of some eighty acres in grain for several years without growing the same crop on the name land oftener than once in three years. Currants fruited freely in 1912"and a tree of Pyrus baccata produced fruit which was harvested September 11. FLOWER GARDEN. Sown in hotbed April 3; transplanted in garden June 12. All flowered freely until frost came October 1: Alyssum, ageratum, antirrhinum, 2 varieties; asters, 3 varieties; balsam, phlox Drummondii, stocks, 4 varieties; godetias, 4 varieties; clarkias, 4 varieties; chrysanthemums, 2 varieties; marigold. In addition to the above, many varieties were sown in the autumn, on October 21', 1911, including godetia, clarkia, pansies, sweet peas, phlox, poppies, and lark- spur. All these varieties commenced to flower the first week in July. PKREXXIALS. Achillea, columbine, campanula, calycanthus, Delphinium Belladonna, Delphinium form-osa hybrida. All these flowered well throughout the season. Note on sowing flower seeds in Autumn. Any land, preferably a little dry, will do. The plants are more vigorous than those sown in the spring. Some varieties are as far advanced as if sown in the hot- beds in spring. The seed should be sown only at the approach of severe frost. They may be sown in their permanent places or in the nursery for replanting in the spring. They do better in early spring if trenches are made around the beds to carry off the streams of water when the snow melts. DIVISION OF HORTICULTURE 407 SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 VEGETABLES. Early Rose potatoes were sown May 18 and dug September 26. The field of three- acres yielded 600 bushels, or about one-third of the return from a field of the same size in 1911. Two varieties eacb of carrot3, beets, onions and celery gave good returns. Cab- bage, garden peas, beans, tomatoes, lettuce, radish, turnips, pumpkins and squashes, without exception, gave very satisfactory crops of properly-matured vegetables. The culture of the latter being specially under my charge, I will give the details of the results obtained this year. Potatoes. — Early Rose. Three acres were planted in rows 3 feet apart. They were planted May 18 and dug September 26, the crop being 600 bushels, just one- third of the previous year. Carrots. — Ox-heart and Chantenay, sown in garden April 26; good crop. Beets. — Half-long and Eclipse, sown April 30. Onions. — Yellow Danvers and Red Wethersfield, sown in the autumn, October 21. Both varieties yielded well. Celery. — Paris Golden Yellow and White Plume. Set out in garden, May 28. Both varieties did well. CABBAGE. Lenormand, Paris Semi-hard, Snowball, Express, Etampes, Spring, Succession, Quintol; transplanted in garden end of May. All did well. PEA«. Alaska, sown April 29; ready for use July 4; good quality. Nott's Excelsior, sown May 7; very good quality. Thomas Laxton, sown May 7; very good quality. BEANS. Wardwell Kidney Wax, sown June 1; very good quality. TOMATOES. Sparks Earliana, Trophy, Dominion Day; sown in greenhouse March 14, like the other varieties, and transplanted in garden June 5: first gathering August 15. LETTUCE. May King, a good quality: Boston, a good quality; Nonpareil, the best tested. RADISH. Round Scarlet, sown first week in May; a good variety. Scarlet Half Long White Tipped, the best tested. TURNIPS. Field. — Mammoth Clyde; very poor crop this year. Table Turnips. — Round White; good crop. 408 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 4 GEORGE V., A. 1914 SUB-STATION, ATHABASKA LANDING. It is much to be regretted that the pressure of other duties has compelled Bishop Robins to give up much of his experimental work at Athabaska Landing. In a letter received from him, he reports briefly on the character of the season of 1912 as fol- lows : — ' The summer of last year was very- dry at Athabaska Landing, and all garden industries suffered, by being dwarfed and late. Then, when rain came and a late spurt resulted, the August frost cut down all tender growth, includ- ing tomatoes, cucumbers, squash, and such things. The potato crop was very satisf actory. Green peas were late and yielded for a shorter time than usual, the taller varieties again doing better than the dwarfs. Beets and onions were light; indeed, the root products of the garden suffered most from lack of mois- ture. ' The cut worm troubled cabbages, and I did not know of the Paris green method of destruction at the time. ' The fruit trees have not shown their possibilities yet. You will remem- ber, I received a new consignment. The cu«rrants among them flowered and fruited at once, but the others had no opportunity, as growth follows quickly after the planting season. They will prove themselves better this year.' DIVISION OF HORTICULTURE 409 SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 REPORTS OF EXPERIMENTS AT FORT SMITH, FORT RESOLUTION AND FORT PROVIDENCE, MACKENZIE DISTRICT. Owing to the very poor success in the experimental work at the above points1 last year, it was thought advisable to discontinue the work for the present. However, the Fathers in charge of the Missions at these Forts have reported on their work for the season of 1912. The results, as a whole, are more encouraging than those of 1911, especially at Forts Resolution and Providence. FORT SMITH (Latitude 60°). At Fort Smith the season was a bad one in every respect. The snow had com- pletely disappeared by April 20, but the land could not be worked before May 8. On the 9th and 10th some grain was sown and vegetable seeds, such as White Flat Strap-leaf Turnip, Swedes, Half -long Chantenay and French Horn Carrots, Early Blood Red and Egyptian-Red Beets, and Red Wethersfield Onions; Alaska, Cleveland's Firs-t and Best, McLean's Advancer and Gregory's Surprise Peas; also cabbages, radishes and lettuce. On the 17th there was a slight snowfall, followed by a frost (26 degrees). This was followed by a drought, lasting throughout June, which did a lot of injury. In July, hail fell, and this was followed by a frost. In August there was frost again, which was especially injurious to the potato crop. In brief, this has been the second consecutive year quite unfavourable for crops It is thought, however, that better results will be obtained as more clearing is done. The nearness of the woods retains the moisture, so that, at the least fall in tempera- ture there is a frost. Every year, near the woods, there is a frost, while in the clear space near the river there is none. The land in the latter locality is not good, however, being very sandy, and will only produce a crop when well manured. In the garden near the house, in a sandy soil, turnips were grown weighing up to 8 pounds each; carrots did well, many weighing 1J pounds each; beets up to 3 pounds, but a large proportion had too many roots. Onions did not do well; few germinated, and these were very small. Peas did very well, though much later than the preceding year, not being ready for use until the end of July. They did not commence to ripen until the beginning of September. The Caractacus variety of pea seems still the best for this country, being earlier and more hardy. After these come Gregory's Surprise and Alaska; McLean's Advancer and Cleveland's First and Best are productive, but later. In another garden, some distance away, English Wonder and American Wonder peas were sown, but both sorts were frosted, owing to their nearness to the woods. The same happened to the tomatoes and beans. Squash produced a few flowers, but nothing afterwards. FORT RESOLUTION. Fort Resolution is situated on the Great Slave Lake, latitude 61° 14'. At this sub-station the results, as a whole, were good. The condition and variety of the field and garden crops were a surprise to travellers from the more settled districts. 410 .EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 4 GEUHGE V., A. 1914 The early part of June was dry, but there wa3 a light rainfall on the 10th, and a heavy one on the 30th. July was cold. Rain during the latter part of August was of great benefit to the potato crop. On September 17 there was a heavy storm from the north, the temperature fell rapidly and the weather thereafter remained cold. Onions did not yield a crop this year. Carrots and beets, sown May 17, were pulled September 18. Four varieties of cabbage tested were all destroyed by dogs. Three varieties of lettuce, sown May 18, were in use July 12 to 15. Turnips, sown May 20, were fit for use July 30, and four varieties of peas, sown May 14, were in use July 30. Gregory's Surprise ripened September 15. Some cross-bred apple seeds, sown in the greenhouse, March 18, produced plants ten to eleven inches high Apple seeds sown in the open did not come up. The two-year-old apple trees are some three feet high. Ten varieties of flowers, sown in the greenhouse and transplanted May 14 to 20, bloomed from July 31 to August 31. FORT PROVIDENCE. The work at Fort Providence, which is at latitude