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SAUNDEES DIRECTOR, DOMINION EXPERIMENTAL FARMS UEfOHE THE SELECT STA^^DIXG COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE AND COLONIZATION ik-J Ai^ 1899 PRINTED BY ORDER OF PARLIAMENI ■i i OTTAWA PRINTBD BY 8. E. DAWSON, PRINTER TO THE QUEEN'S MOST EXCELLENT MAJESTY 1899 *1 ?. <^' '\r / 44«15 .o.£iea»!-^'a> - r ^ ^ 1/ RESULTS PROM TEST GROWING OF CROPS. m CoMMiTTEK Room 46, House op Commons, Tuesday, 30th May, 1899. The Select Standing Committee on Agrioulturo and Colonization met this morning at 10.45 a.m., the Chairman, Mr. Bain, presiding. Da. Saunders, Director of the Experimental Farms, being present at the request of toe committee, gave the following evidence : Mr Chairman and Gentleman,— It affords me much pleasure to appear again before the Committee and to have the opportunity of submitting some of the results obtained from the principal lines of work which have been carried on at the Experi- mental Farms during the year, hoping to have the benefit of your criticism, and of anv suffgoptions you may think it desirable to make. . a> . any sugge ^^^^^^^^ ^^ ^^^ ^^^.^ conducted at the Experimental Farms honest effort has been made to gain reliable information and to give to the farmers ot this country not a one-sided statement, but to present in a plain and simple manner the whole truth regardless as to how that may conform to any preconceived theory. During the eleven years that 1 have had the honour of holding the position of Director of the Dominion Experimental Farms constant effort has been made to assist the farmers of this country in their endeavours to overcome the difficulties which arVe in connection with their work, and to help them to make farming in Canada more profitable. Reliable information has been continually given and to some Sctent the material has been supplied by the proper care of which larger crops may bo expected. Th^ principles on wbich in my opinion good farming rests have been many times discussed and plainly set forth duri^ng the past eleven years, including : 1 The importance of maintaining the fertility of the soil without which a suc- cession of good crops cannot bo secured. In connection with this subject the proper careof Kyard manure and the best methods to adopt musing this groat and almost universal source to the farmer of plant food has claimed much attention ThTploughing under of green crops has been treated of and espec.a ly of clover, and its value demonstrated by many experiments, in enriching the land and adding humus ?o the soil whe.4y its powe? of holding moisture is materially .ncrease^ The farmer has also been frequently advised to economize the elements of fertility in hie land by a judicious rotation of crops. . , j- ^u • .„«* 2 The best methods of preparing the soil for crop including the important subject of underdraining, thorough ploughing, and subsequent harrowing, to bring ?he soil Sto a thorough condition of tilth. The importance in the eastern provinces of the Dominion of autumn ploughing and on the western plains of summer fallowing in order in the latter case to conserve the necessary moisture, also the advantages in some parts of the rolling of land, after sowing, to produce suitable conditions of moisture for the prompt germination of the seed. , , , . . e 3 The impdrtanci of early sowing has been demonstrated by a series of experi- ments' which have been carried on for 9 years in six successive sowings of the more iWtrnt ceS, whereby it has been shown that the best results are obtained by sorng the gra?n as soon al possible after the land is in fit condition to receive the *®^ With the oat crop it has been shown that a delay 6( a week in sowing beyond this period involves a loss of 10 to 12 percent, two weeks 20 per cent, 3 weeks nearly 30 per cent and by a delay of four weeks over 40 per cent of the crop is ost. With the ba"ley crof, a delay of one week beyon,.<>i the totol quantity of manuiopi'oduced annually by these 6 miuum , „„„j5 „,„ b°Ji1^ lV^^l:l't^'^ZVZ^ir^r^" ^'OV' would probably be at least twice what it now is. OTHEE EXPKBIMBNT8 WITH FEBTILIZER8. Having now continued the -^^Vf^-}li^^VZZll7^^^^^^ value of fLh manure as compared with rotted manme in the grow^^^^^ PS wheat for eleven years and barfey and o'.t^^^^^^ this obtained so very conclusive it has "O^^^^^J/'^Jf" 'es in the experimental work special line of work longer and some '™f 'i*^?'^/"*;:-^^^^^ fertilizers. In the w^ith fertilizers have been made ,n ^b* i««J^« ^e'^^ whi.h the first place, with ^^^ ^V^ ^ZVmaZT^hZ have been' made will continue to ten or eleven annual applications ^^/Jf JJ^^JJ^-Jontinued on these plots and the influence the crops, the "^""""g,^*^^^*^,". Before S changes were made in same crops are being grown without manure. Betore any c g ^^^ thecoureJ of this work fair representative «»"?'«« ?V ^g^^^^^^^^ ^ for the experi- chemist of the farms, Mr. F 'f. Sb«tt ^rom «acl^^^^^ the 95 P^o^« ^ ^^ ^^^^ f.en ments with fertilizore, also from tb«10 check plots on wnion f^ ^^^ ^^^,^ grown without fertilizers. When tt^^^^'^P'f.^^^f ""' conclusions as to future lines f ble. they will no doubt aid us m reaching «j;^«f^«^f ^^ gb" " f"^'^'"^^ ""' '^'" of experiments in this connection. I ™^y ^f^ ^^J jate He has dete. mined the morning of the particulai-s he has ^b ta«i«d^j^up t^^^^^^^^^^ ^as been used amount of nitrogen on most of the P'^f." o°,3°X„^n" Portion in the soil where the and they show at the V^^^^^ ^1"^%^J^S^'^ l^'^^^l'ZZT^ has been rotted manure has been used than f^m that to which tne i .^ ^^^ ^^. ^ r:'tL:trtitr;ie^it:L^^^^^^^ — ^- ^- g UH. WM. SAUNDERS. Bmallor than micht huve boon fairly expected. One reason for thb lios probably in ^ fl.oVtt. U>ore fertilizSrn contafn no' humuH. and that th>H .n^rod,en m he so. has heen la.Koly exhausted by constant cropping The capacity of the soil loi holding moisture has no doubt been thus eonHidorably reduced to the detriment of its c op producing power. To gain in ormation on this point there has been sown this ve^ir^with the grain on all the plots after the fertilizers were applied common red clover in the proportion of 10 lbs. per ace. The growth obta.neJ from this sow- inc will be plougl^d under late in tho autumn, and in this way much humus will be Idded to thi land, and at the same time the ortects of the addition of }ho fertilizing material accunul'ated by the clover plant will be noted. Clover has also been «own ou the plots hitherto treated with barnyard manure. It is expected that informa- tion of much interest and value will be gained by these moditicat.ons in the course of experiments referred to. There is no doubt that artificial lert.l.zers havejheir place in tho economy of farm management, nevertheless barnyard manure on which So large a proportion of our farmers depend wil , with the ploughing ""^er of green clover bo relied on as the chief means of enriching the soil in most parts of Canada. In the evidenca given you last year 1 referred at some length to the oropa obtained from some of the plots treated with artificial fertilizers. I do not deem it necessary to go over this ground again further than to remark that the experienco of another year has not materially modified any of the figures then submitted to vou or aflfeoted the conclusions then reached. Since it was shown at that time that finely ground mineral phosphate untreated, applied in libera quantity annually tor nine or ten years had produced no beneficial affect whatever, the use of this material was discontinued last season, and the Thomas' Phosphate substituted m the same Quantity on all the plots to which the untreated mineral phosphate had formerly been aonlied No very marked results have been had from this change; there has, however, been a perceptible increase in the weight of Indian corn grown on some of the plots so treated and a slight addition to the weight of the crop on some of the plots of roots. THE PLOnOHINO TINDER OF CLOVER. The experiments which have been conducted in the growing of clover to plough nnder to enrich the soil and add humus to the land have shown that clover can be sown with wheat, barley and oats without lessening the grain crop for the current year. They have Iilso shown that when ten pounds of red clover seed is used per acre, sown with the grain, and a fair catch is the result, the clover after the grain is cut makei a vigorous growth, serves the purpose of a catch crop during the summer, cathers a large quantity of nitrogen from the air and stores this up in its leaves, stems and roots fthat the roots range far and deep to gatherfood, going deeper than most other plants can go. and converting considerable quantities of unavailable plant food into available forms. The stores of nutritive material so gathered are, when the crop is ploughed under, of great advantage to the land and add materially to its fertility. The experience of another year has added fresh testimony along this lino and confirmed these conclusions. VALUE OP CLOVER AS AN ENRIOHER OP THE SOIL. The following experiments have afforded convincing testimony as to the value of clover when ploughed under as an enricher of the soil. In 1897 eight plots of I th of an acre each were sown with grain, two each with spring wheat, six-rovsred barley two-rowed barley and oats. On one plot in each case clover was sown with the grain in the proportion often lbs. of seed to the acre, while on the other plot the grain was sown without clover. The plots sown with clover had produced a good mat of growth by October when they were all ploughed about 8 inches deep. In the spring this land was disc-harrowed and harrowed with the smoothing ha""ow. after which the whole area was sown with one variety of oats, the Banner. These were sown on the 27th of April, and they came up on the 6th of May. The difference RESULTS FROM TEST OROWINO UF CROPS. 1 i„ .h, growth of .h. t';7,»» *-, i>'°:u" =r;7.." romarkable. ao oioaiiy was »'""'!""''„,,.„,. ,hnHo nlota on which no olovoi- seen al a conHidorablo (U«tttnco and ^^o outl me of thoHo plot* on w^^^^^^ to hnrvoHt the boundaiies oi mo »«*"'»' » ,.„anlt« Hluiwod an avorago increuso grain was cut and thio-shed ««Pa'*t«»y. . Tbo 'o ultn «ho^^^^^^^ avomg Bown with' it in different quantities P" ""'^'-^f'^'" intended to plant corn on this plotBonwhichnoolover BeedwasBOwn As twas ine^^^^^ P .j ^^^ Ld the following year the clover was allowed ^^^.^J'^^^J^ '''",„§' heavy growth. 23rd of May following by wh.ch Ume .t had m j^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ This was ploughed \«^«'- «^"if„°l J '""j*;^^ of corn, the Longfellow, harrow, when the whole area was plante J w^ih one va^^^^ ^ ^^ ^^^^ On the plots where the clover had been grown tb^J^^J^J^^^ J" ^ ^„8 j^e 15th of corn plants was quite mamfost all ^|^;?"«b 7 8«a80" ana w ^^^^^^ ^^^ -rrga^^r;i«^^ k^:::t:z^z ^z:^::: witr=?f fn r JA^^ - ^'^3 ihs. per ""so.o further exneriments have also ^^ made dunng J^J^y^i^.^f- mining the weight o^ clover loaves stems and roote per aoro ^urned.^^^ .^ ^^^.^^^ crop is ploughed late in the ^^t^^'^z/j'^™^^^ acre is attended with the years, and show that the use of 10 'bs. of clover seca per a« .^ ^^^ Ut results. In the set of plots P^o^'^ed for corn where Uiec^^ ground all winter and allowed to grow until ^^y.^*»"«J'"^uSd Socks of earth felative to the weight of the leaves ^^oms and roots we o obtained^ tJ ocR were cut out of these plots 4 feet by 4 in ^^^^J, ' .^^J.'^^i^hed '^T^ weight was Btems and roots of the dorer carefully °«"«°f ^jS^^e^Sod in the autumn, and found to average about double that obta.nod by .'^ «;™;';; ^^'^^Venever practicable, appeared on casual examination to bej^^y ™"f ^^'J^^;?^^ on collecting the the plants from the treated seed «««^«^ ,^^6 mostjigou^^^^^^ leavers, stems and roots in tbj manner already desoril^it^w^^^^^^^^ ^^^^ ^ ^^^^ lated seed had produced eigbt to°« ^^^ ^s., wdue in« | nitrogen. 205 lbs., a difference of 3 tons 469 lbs in ^J^^J^ "J^^be seeO^ t ea ^^^^ In regard to the' last point mentioned n «o°"««^;°".^ ^^'ha™ I ee replatedly urged of thf land, namely, by a judicious Ift^^-J «f/X,\^^r?S^ taken as most important. As the proportion of tb« eeveiai leuu nfe economy from the soil by different crops d»"ng their growth v^^^^^^^ ^.^^ ^^ ^. J^ PREPAEATION OF THE LAND FOE CROP. 1. ^*t ■" I J)Ht WM. SA VNDEHSt varied to meet the requlrcmonts of different climates. No snooeBS, however, ne«d b« expected anywhoie in the growing of crops on wet land ; in «ach oases under- draining Is essontiai. The removal thus of superfiaous molstoro raises the tempera- tnre of the soil, permits of the access of air, so ossential to the formation of avail- able plant food and tc healthy growth, and admits of early seeding, all of which are matters of very great importance. The benefits of undenlramiug have been domon- Btrated at the Central Farm in the reclaiming of a considerable area ol land w-hioh was formerly a swamp. Its benefits have '.iso been clearly shown at Nappan, N.S., nnd to a more limited extent at Brandon, Man. The advantages of fail ploughing in the eastern provinces of the Dominion have been repeatedly shown. The expo- sure of the soil to the action of frost, sunlight and air is beneficial, nnd spring work iH materially advanced and crops can bo got in earlier by the general adoption of this plan. „ ,, , • . ^ l The reduction of the surface to a thorough state of tilth is also important, so that a fine seed-bed bo provided, giving conditions favourable for prompt germina- tion and rapid growth of the young plant. The rolling of land after sowing is often useful, especially if the rain-fall is scanty, as this provides suitable conditions of moisture for rapid germination of the seed. It has been stated that rolling the land after seeding "warms the seed-bed," and that "examination made of eight farms in the spring on lands sown to grain showed that in clear weather the temperature was 3 degrees higher to a depth of 3 inches when the land was rolled than when the land was left unrolled." These particulars were taken from a book written by Prof. F. H, King, of Madison, Wis., on "The Soil." On page 232 he refers to the taking of ihe temperature of the soil on eight Wisconsin farms, between 1 and 4 p.m., at a depth of 3 inches below the surface, when he found the tempera- ture in rolled land to bo 2^^ degrees higher than on land not rolled. But he also says : " The effect of rolling the land on the temperature of the soil is often very marked, its general tendency being to make it warmer daring bright clear weather, but in cloudy and cold weather it has the opposite effect, rolled land tending to cool more rapidly." ' IMPORTANOB OP BAELY BOWING. With regard to the third element in successful farming, the importance of early sowing, I have already given you the results of a series of experiments which have been carried on for nine years, by which It has been shown that delay in seeding at Ottawa has caused an annual average loss of from 10 to over 50 per cent in crop, the proportion of loss increasing as the delay is greater. This, however, does not apply with equal force to all the climates of the Dominion, Similar experiments have been conducted for several years at all the branch farms, and the results obtained have in some instances varied considerably. At the Experimental Farm at Nappan, N.S., the results of delay In seed-ng have been much the same as at Ottawa, but the proportion of loss has been less. At the three western experimental farms, Brandon, Indian Head and Agassiz, although we occasionally find that late sown grain, espe- cially oats, gives larger crops than when sown early, these instances are excep- tional, and the average results show an advantage from early sowing, but the advan- tage is not so decideaas in the eastern provinces. THE BEST VARIETIES TO SOW. We now come to the consideration of the 4th important principle in connection with profitable farming, that of the selecting of the best varieties of grain, fodder plants, and roots, for seed to sow In the several climates of the Dominion taking Into consideration productiveness, quality and earllness of maturing. Long experience has taught me that attention to this point is a very essential element in successful farming. That there are varieties more productive and earlier in maturing than other sorts cannot be successfully disputed as the facts ascertained in connection '.>M eape- >* .!"M RESULTS FROM TEST nnnWlKO OF VHO/'S, I with the experimontul furras as well an the ox|ieiience of fftrmorH generally artord the •tronge»t evidence of the truth of this Htutement. CtVe''/8?of7uitab'le'HioveB"to "Hoparatethe HmVll'lTernels from the plump and well matured irrain and uho the latter only for Heed. . , , ,^ • , tv.- c n.««^i.« The Red Fife wheat is Baid to have orglnated wllh David I< do of 0ught into notice bv trrato Jns^Vick, soedraan of Rochester, N.Y., also of the Monsury barley wh.cK wa8 introduced from China, From the start these yaneties were productive to an Lusual degree and it was this fact which led to their rapid introductmn and bey hSvecarnfd this impress of productiveness and vigour with thorn wherever they have be«n sent and have averaged bountiful crops on every favourable season In the four years' experience in the growing of oats wo find that the highest yielderB have averaged, at all the Experimental Farms, as follows:— Bunh. Llw. 71 17 Banner - * L. .g American Beauty '^ ^^ Columbns L ,- Golden Beauty °^ ^^ Bavarian f,„ ,r, Holstein Prolific ^^ ;° White Schonen ^^ ^^ Early Golden Prolific «^ ^J Wallis g. 9 Abundance • -. ,q Golden Giant J* t^ White Russian °* g Improved Ligowo An average for the first twelve varieties of 67 bushels 4 lbs. per acre, as the rABnU nf four vears' test at all the Experimental Farms. In Bulletins;. 32, published in jSecember, 1898, a summary s given on page 47 showing some of the results of the year's work in this connection. I take tBe "^^^hVpSlafiy^sTti^^^ this bulletin b^ow the importance of choosing ^^^^^ most oroliSc and vigorous growing varieties for seed. T^hey also afford further Toof tha the teudlnV to great prSiuctivencss in certain sorts is to a large oxtent Sxed and Vermanent. As an example, 12 varieties of oats, which are listed in this buSSttn as^^havhig giVen the largest average crops at all the Experimental Farms for thepit four yia^^^^ 10 ?f those gfven last year as the best for three yearB. FurFh^r in comparing these two lists of the best V^ sorts of oats for each Experi- mental i'lnS^w? find this year at Ottawa 10 out of the former 12, at Nappan 10 of Se 12 at Tindon 11 of the 12, at Indian Head 10 of the 12, and at Agassiz 9 of the 12? A careful scrutiny of the lists of the other sorts of grain will afford further '"'^JrL'vrrlaui^ itiween the largest and smallest crops in the uniform test plots on the Central Experimental Farm, while not quite so marked m 1898 a they were ?n 1897, are atill vwy large. In the oats the crops range from 89 bushels 14 lbs. to 42 f io DR. WM. SAUNDERS. thill of tho careful seleo 18 of much importance. seleotion of the moBt prom.s.ng '"""'»' "«™;.*rj °;„pX ,hep««t four years among the twelve whieh haje givren '•'e he»t »veiaKe "»P' '°J y^ ,t„ ,e«ion i« may fe eewD with the eonBdeot '^V«'f'SP'J:^^^,S-^l^^toT eeed would 8ELB0TI0N 0» PLUMP AND WBXL-RIPENED SEED. The )%Bt point bearing on suoceBBful farming, ri"ssteS\;;|if;n:5:5S^^^ aud thia germ t. embeidod !° • «»™^f ,»°«^fl;r,b:'Ud supply is bouutiful, ffi'^.trt^Ssfn-otisMe^ id L^^^^^^ a«°t^^'.srrd:'.ayTitTpSUghynt'rsf^^^^ demonstrated." SELECTIOW OF SEED FEOM LAKOEB HEADS. Among the earliest experiments, conducted ^t the 5«J^°>;»;^87a';5nS* i\Z formed the subject of a paper presented at the meeting of the ' Society toi the SSraltlfeefeoerfrZter^^^^^^^ aSf Se gSo so SKled that the material waa quit, uufit for any ftrther eipen- ments in this direction. I I RESULTS FROM TEST GROWING OF CROPS. u ihelp 10 in the bushels \ to the ich are ir years eason is d would Id some Ilia;' \x\ seleo (ortance. ig their fht and ilumpest, Co show 7 annual ithin tho ity of its manifest ridnality, lulate the wnntiful, is impei'- ,hu8 often hey ripen ill known aration of y of their id seeds of h a course arm was a \ oonsider- )d average ary strong I might be irnels sown :ond year's I weight as per cent. 1889 ; they sty for the ing of 1889 wn, but the an unusual a so small Lher experi- J Three years ago this line of work was started afresh. The largest kernels obtainable Were selected and sown, but that season was not favourable and the Zu ts were unsatisfactory. Last year this branch of work 7^« °P' ^^^ °P' ^."* during the past winter the. largest kernels obtainable were selected from 188 vane- ?ifl« 65 of wheat 55 of barley and 68 of oats. These have all been sown. 30 kernelK in each c^e in wo rows, each one foot apart, with two feet of space between each plot? Those plints are no^ well up, and if the season proves favourable w.U I triiHC wive us some interesting results. . M'rSii?^N -It is important to solect seed, but it is just as important «on, .Hmosto^et new seeds It might be as well for me to read what Prof. Loyd, KreTin Ki.fg's Co'leg:. London, fays in his book " The Science of Agriculture ", •^"^ %^:ZfT:.X ffin^nV&te^Lmer has employed good germinating seed and clfan seed his crops for some time will be all that can be desired and each year wUl sujply hi°» with seed for the next. In the course of three or four years WeVer itSfubefound that the crop-and this applies specially to wheat and other SeaUrops-is deteriorating. It will now be necessary to seek some new Seed ThU is termed the change of seed. In seeking for new aeed not so much the Trietyw 11 be considered as the conditions under which the new seed has been Trown and it wUl be desirable to select seed which has previously been grown Sndir coSditionT less advantageous than those it will now be subject to. Thus seed should^e^sdected n-om^^^^^^^^^^ brought our seed from the north whenj^ purc^a^sed^seed— ^^^ ^^^^ ^ ^^ ^^ ^ ^^^^^^^ ^^^^.^^^^^ If therefore it is required to bring seed from a superior to an inferior climate, such as from Australia to the south of England, it can only be done in two stages; first by taking the seed to a colder and less favourable climate and soil even taan the south of England— fay to Scotland-and then subsequently transferring it to the south ot England. It would here regain to a great oxtent the vigour and properties it had *''''^Thafi8^ife''Son of one of the most scientific men in England in regard to the change of seed. My experience after 50 years in Canada-perhaps I have not observed as Kfenly as some people bu. 1 have observed this closely-that much of our JSccess as farmers we owe to change of seed. We find seed will improve for a while but it will go back and it is always necessary to change. One variety will give a greater yield than another, showing that there is a good deal in variety. Mr. Calvert.— In changing seed, would you recommend the change from sandy ^** ''^Mr.' McMillan.— I would, most certainly, change to a sandy coil if I could from heavy soil, or from poor to rich. I find that holds good with stock and with seed , I would always take stock or seed from a poorer farm than they were to go on. Mr. SEMPLB.-The facts that Dr. Saunders has brought to notice ofthe committee, to-day, about drainage, and that as far asmanure is concerned, the only manures to be depended upon are ploughing down the clover and barnyard manure are y^^^^^^^ estinff It will not do for the farmer to purchase artificial fertilizers ; tuat may do fo market gardeners. Then in .egard to%eed the^est of our formers are very care, ful in selecting their seed. Now, in my county I have handled a good deal of oats and in that county they sow the Banner oat. and after all whether ^t is a good or a poor year it depends on climatic conditions. Farmers ars sensible enough to p.o- ?ide the best varieties, but beyond that they cannot control the cbmate The evidence brought forward to-day and the facts stated will commend themselves to the b^st farmers^^^^ ^ ^^^^ ^^^^^ ^^^^ ^ ^^^^^ ^.^j^^ ^^^ ^^ experience bears it out. We should circulate among the farmers the evidence given to-day. ifil 4 18 DR. WM. SAUNDERS. By Mr. McMillan Q You Bpoke, Dr. Saunders, of fertilizers having given a certain inoreaBe ; would the increase be sufficient to pay for the cost of purchasing and handling the flll*tiiliZBIT ? A I suppose you refer to my statement that we substituted Thomas' phosphate last year on some of the fertilized plots for mineral phosphate finely ground, which we had found after ten years of experience to be of no value as a fertilizer. Q. It wao the Thomas' phosphate ? , j ^ A I found last year there was some increase m the corn and root crops fertilized by the Thomas' phosphate, but! do not think the increase m this case was sufficient to cover the cost of the fertilizer. By Mr. Stenson : Q I would like to have it explained in regard to green manure that in most cases the effects are better than when it is employed rotted ; will the Professor give as particulars as to how it is spread and at what seasons on the Farm. It would be precious information for the i^armers. We use it in email heaps all winter, while some wait for the spring, some wait for root crops and plough it under, and others do it in the drills ? , . , , . * * j ,.<> ™ki«K A The explanation as to the way these special plots are treated, of which I have been speaking is this : These are plots of j^^th of an acre each, and on the first plot rotted manure is used in the proportion of 15 tons to the acre, while on the same size plot and adjoining we used fresh manure, the same crops being con- tinuously grown in each plot. Please bear in mind this is not a plan I would advise farmers to follow, but is adopted by us for the purpose of getting information. By Mr. McMillan : Q. At what season do you apply the manure? ^ ., .u A. The manure is applied just before sowing when it la spread ovently over the ground and turned ander a few inches. By Mr. McGregor : Q Do you use a disc harrow or a common harrow ? A We use a common harrow in this case and harrow lightly, otherwise we would be likely to drag some of the manure to the surface. The object is to bury the manure in the soil not more than three or four inches deep so that it may be more readily available to the crop. In these experiments the manure is com- nosed of equal weights of cow manure and horse manure, the green manure is used within two or three days of the time it is made. The liquids and solids both saved and mixed together, and put on the plots, the same weight being used in both cases. applied in the spring just before seeding, spread By Mr. Stenson : Q. All over the snow ? A. No ; in both oases it is evenly and then ploughed in. By Mr. McMillan: Q And in what condition ib tht* rotted manura kept during the winter ? -^ A. It is rotted for three months before using pnd consists of equal parte of cow and horee manure, made [into a pile in the usual way and turned over as often as is necessary to bring about rapid decay. The point I wish to make clear is that in using this 15 tons of manure to the acre, the results had in crops from the fresh manure have averged quite as good as those from the same weight of rotted manure. In leaving green manure to rot, it looses fully 40 per cent of Us weight " 'K. •*;. M,.^^. '■*■ RESULTS FROM TEST GROWING OF CROPS. a a increase ; andling the i' phoaphato >und, which er. root crops in this case hat in most rofessor give It would be rinter, while , and others 3d, of which , and on the while on the J being con- would advise i-mation. itly over the atherwise we It is to bury [lat it may be lure is com- anare is used Is both saved in both cases. iding, spread inter ? parts of cow as often as is lear is that in om the fresh ght of rotted of its weight if left for three months, and 50 to 60 per cent of its weight when it is left for five or six months. In our experience we find the use of of green manure more econo- mical than rotted. The plan we adopt for the winter is to distribute the green manure as made in small piles over the ground; the object of putting it in small piles being to prevent heating. These small piles freeze up quickly and thaw out again in the spring, when the manure is in much the same condition as if it had been freshly put out. It is then ploughed under. Where this course is practicable it is the most economical way to use barnyard manure. By Mr. Stenson : Q. It would not be practicable on a hill ? A. It would not be wise to place manure on a hillside in winter where the soluble fertilizers in it would be liable to be washed away in the spring. While there is some loss in allowing it to rot in a pile, there might be greater loss from leaching if the manure was placed on a hillside. In all such cases the farmer must use his own good judgment, and he will thus be able to utilize the information given him to the best advantage. By Mr. McMillan : Q. In turning that manure during those three months do you use anything to prevent the ammonia escaping? A. Not in these experiments for the reason that it is not the practice for farmers to follow that method, and our aim has been to get our results under similar conditions to those which surround the average farmer. We used gypsum for this purpose in other cases and have found it to be a very good thing. By Mr. Erb : Q. In the comparison of the yield of crops sown late and early you refer to the remarkable difference in 'the yield of wheat sown late and early, but you made no reference in regard to pease, does the same difference hold good in regard to that A. Not so decidedly with regard to pease. Wo have tried similar experiments with pease along the same line but they have not been continued for so long a time. Pease have been tested for four years and the results we have had show that this crop can be sown late with less loss than either wheat, barley or oats, indeed the difference in crop between the second, third and fourth week in sowing pease is not very creat Pease sown the second week gave 33 bushels 30 lbs., those sown the third week 32 bushels, 26 lbs., the fourth week 30 bushels 23 lbs., the fifth week 26 bushels 42 lbs., and the sixth week 24 bushels 41 lbs., as the average of the four years test. The first week has not given as good results as the second week, the crop averaging 29 bushels 26 lbs., the reason is probably this that the date on which the first sowing is made, which is just as early as the land can be worked is rather earlier than pease should be sown. It also often happens that we have about that time strong wind storms which gather up sand from the high spots with light soil and this sand is blown against the young blades and cuts the young plants to such an extent as to injure them. The estimates I have submitted of losses from delayed seeding have been based on the end of the first week after the land is ready as the best time to get the seed in the ground. I have shown that by delaying a week after that time there is a considerable loss which is further increased in proportion to the length of delay. t is j -^ x Having read the preceding transcript of my evidence I find it correct. WM. SAUNDBRS. 4'i l WW"' -I 14 DR. WM. SAUNDERS. CoMMiTTBE Room, No. 46 HoosE OF Commons, Thursday, Ist June. 1899. The Select Standing Committee on Agriculture and Colonization met this day at 10'46 a.m., Mr. Bain, the Chairman, presiding. Dr. Saundehs, having been cited by the Committee, gave the following evidence : — Mr. Chaieman and Gentlemen.— In my remarks to you at the last meeting, I submitted evidence in regard to some important principles which underlie buccess- ful farming in Canada. As an illustration of the result of the adoption and the carrying out of these principles, I wish to bring to your notice the results we have had at the Experimental Farm in Ottawa. We have made considerable progress in the way of increased crops. As you are aware the Experimental Farm work was inaugu- rated in 1887. It required about two years to do the fencing, the clearing and the draining at the Central Experimental Farm, bo as to get the land into fajr order. Taking the three years following that period which would be the years 1889.1890 and 1891 and comparing the average of these three years with the average of the past three years, 1896, 1897 and 1898, 1 think we get a fair idea as to the results w lich have been obtained by the carrying out of these principles by the practical methods which I brought under the notice of the Committee at the last meeting. In the first three years on the Central Fxperiraental Farm the average crop of oats taking all the varieties under cultivation was 32 bushels 17 lbs. to the acre. During the last three years the average crop for the whole period has been 56 bushels, 6 lbs. per acre an incteaae of 2« bushels and 13 lbs., a gain of more than 50 per cent. , , „, . . , j /. lu In barley the average crops of the early three years was 31 bushels and b lbs., and of the later three years 43 bushels 13 lbs., being an average gain of 12 bushels and 7 lbs. per acre. „ „ ^. ... ^ku u i In wheat the average for the early three years of all thevaneties was 15 bushels and 19 lbs. in the later three years 20 bushels and 9 lbs,, showing a gain in the last period of 4 bushels and 50 lbs., nearly five bushels per acre over that of the early ^^ Thus in the wheat the gain has been nearly 33 per cent and that of the barley, nearly 40 per cent. ,... ^,i, ju- These results have been brought about by the draining of the land and bringing it into a good condition of tilth, by the moderate use of barnyard manure, the plough- in"- under of green crops of clover, the thorough working of the land, early sowing the selection of the most productive varieties of seed and by carefully cleaning the grain and sowing only plump and vigorous seed. It is sometimes urged that thegrowing of grain on small plots is no guide as to the crops yon get from larger areas, and that is an objection of much force in some cases As an indication as to how the crops from the plots compare with those of the fields I submit to you the results obtained at the Central Farm during the past year From the experimental plots of oats we have an average over the whole series of 66 bushels and 11 lbs. per acre. In the field plots amounting in all to 54J acres of oats there was an average of 60 bushels and 14 lbs., a difference of nearly 6 bushels in favour of plots. But when you consider that the plots are sown on better average soil than the fields on land selected on account of the more uniform charaoter of its soil, I think the field crops show up very well. \ ''•^r'V-ai'- ^''^'^^^mim^^^m^'^W X RESULTS FROM TEST ROWING OF CROPS. 18 . 1899. et this day following I meeting, I •lie buocess- on and the ve have had ^resB in the was inauga- ing and the fair order. 1889. 1890 rage of the ) the resalts he practical neeting. ■age crop of to the acre, las been 56 more than and 6 lbs., f 12 bushels ,3 15 bushels a in the last of the early the barley, nd bringing the plough- arly sowing sleaniug the guide as to >rce in some 'ith those of ng the past whole series all to 54^ le of nearly re sown on tore uniform k 5y lAr. Feathertton : Q. In the plots is there not a greater distance between the varieties than in the A There is a pathway of three feet left between the plots, this, us I have pointed out on several occasions, affords the plots an advantage by giving them more margin than can be had in a field, and grain will u&uaily be found more vigor- ous along the margin than elsewhere. To lessen the force of this objection we arrange our plots so ks to have them as nearly square as possible. Q. On a field where there is a space you often see three or four rows better at the outside than the grain farther in. A. Yes, that point is very well taken. In the experimental plots of barley tho two-rowed varieties have given an aver- age yield of 39 bushels and 46 lbs. per acre while the field crops of four and a hllf acres in all have given 32 bushels and 6 lbs. In the 6 rowed barley while the average on the experimental plots was 44 bush. 28 lbs. the average of the field crops flO aires in all) was 42 bushels and 2 lbs. In the spring wheat while the avenige of uniform test plots was 23 bushels and 39 lbs. the average of the field crops (9 acres in ain was 27 bunhols and 13 lbs. In this later case the field crops have given an average of nearly four bushels per acre more than the plots. In pease the average Srop on the uniform test plots was 34 bushels and 30 lbs. while the field crops averaged 31 bushels and 35 pounds. ,j ^ i 4u In Indian corn where the objection that has just been cited would not apply the crops from plots and fields come out very even. The average of the experimental ploFs cut green for ensilage was 18 tons and 1,216 lbs., and of the held crops (9 acres """"Thl^aveTage yield during the past year from the best six varieties of turnips grown on the uniform test plots at the Central Bzperimontal Farm was 29 tons 162 L per acre, whereas the best six sorts at all the Experimental Farms averaged 33 tons and 1 102 lbs. per acre. This shows that the root crops throughout the Dominion hkve been unusually good during the past year. The best 8ix varieties of mangels at the Central Experimental Farm gave an average crop of 32 tons 20 lbs. per acre whereas the best six at all the farms averaged 33 tons and 898 lbs pel- acre. Of carrots the best six varieties at the Central Farm gave an aver- age of 23 tons 1,472 pounds per acre while the best six at all the farms gave 25 tons aid 232 lbs. per acri. Of potatoes the best 12 sorts at the Central Fann gave an average oi^p of 341 bushels 11 lbs. per acre while the best 12 sorts at all the farms have given an average crop of 453 bushels 3 lbs. per acre. . ^ . ^. ^ u ^u Mv chief object in bringing these figures before you is to show that by the application of the principles which I explained so fully at the last meeting of the Committee to all these Experimental Farms, the average crops have been increased and are much larger than those had by farmers in general. The largo crops referred to are not obtained by the use of special methods of fertilizing the land nor are they the result of special skill in the operations. Everything done has been explained and nothing tas been undertaken in the growing of crops at the Bxpenraental Farms which could not be fairly well imitated by the average farmer farming m ^*°*I will now call your attention to a few of the experiments which have been car- Tied on with other crops. Horse beans were again tried at the Central J arm on eight different plots and have given an average yield, when cut green for ensil- K of 3 tons 817 lb., per acrl. This is an unusually light yield for horse beans, but wf llave found them very subject to blight, and they suffered much from this disease last year. Two field plots of horse beans were also sown and gave an average of 3 twis 522 lbs. per acre. As the crop was not sufllcient to permit further tests to be carried on in the feeding of cattle with ensilage made from the mixture of corn beans and sunflowers, known as the Bobertson mixture, no further feeding tests have been made with %.\ \ [ w'/ ^ i«v RESULTS FROM TEST GROWING OF CROPS. 11 A We have not yet ti-ied it for ensilage. Wo have fed the beans cut green to cattle/and the cattle will eac them readily. The quantuy \%have sown hjiB not been sufficient to put into the silo fo make a layer thick enough for a feeding test. By Mr. McMillan : Q Would it not help to prevent the formation of woody fibre to cut it earlier ? A. Yes, no doubt, but then for ensilage we would not have the corn ready. By Mr. Calvert : Q. Do you cut it with the binder or the mower ? A. You can cut it with the binder without trouble. By Mr. McMillan : Q Have you sent any seed to the other provinces ? We tried the common horse bean several times, brought them out from the old country, and they didn t do ai^ ^^ ^wi^ ^^ns^ Soja beans to be tried at the branch Experimental Farms also. By Mr. McGregor : Q. We tried horse beans some years ago from the Experimental Farm, and they ^*' V^Horse beans will, as a rule, do well in the moist climate in parts of the mari- time provinces; they will do fairly well in Quebec and sometimes at Ottawa but more often the crop is poor here; and as you get further west they are of little value ; not profitable enough to induce people to sow them. By Mr. Stenson : Have vou tried to sow the Soja beans with corn ? ^ A No we have not. The tests we have made formerly m sowing horse beans and climbing beans with corn have fully satisfied me that this is not a good plan. The crop w^ exceedingly small and varied, so much that you could not get a definite quantity of beans from any given area. One plot may give a fair crop, while others 2ive verv little. So we always like to sow those beans by themselves and take a definite weight of each so that we have the materials we are using mixed in proper oroDortion. I may say that the evidence I have submitted as to the growth of crops Sn the Experimental Farm could be supplemented by similar evidence regarding the crops at the branch farms; they have also been increased by the adoption of the principles I have explained to you. DISTRIBUTION OF TBIAL SAMPLKS. 1 desire now to call your attention to the distribution of samples t-hat has been carried on during the present year, a distribution which was closed only a few days ago Much useful work has been done by the distribution of these samples dunng the 'last nine or ten years. We have sont out only the best and most productive varieties and they have given, as a rule, very satisfactory returns in all parts of the Dominion. The results of the work this year, just completed on the 24th of May, show that we have sent out to 33,726 of the farmers of this Dominion samp es Amounting in all to about 64 tons. Every pound of this material has been carefully Ked, flilected, and all small grain rejected by the ««« ^^ ^.^^ f«"°>?g "*" «°^ sieves, ind only the plump and well matured seeds have been disseminated. I have brought for the inspection of the Committee samples of some of the varieties of 3 which have been sent out which will corroborate what I have said about the SrJful cleaning of the grain at the Experimental Farm While the usual distr.bu. tion in three-pound samples has been carried on as heretofore, and 29 405 three- pound samples have been distributed, a new departure has been made this season 2 5fta;»'eH«s«ag»»wg8-a m'^ 18 DR. WM. SAUNDERS. under which each farmer has received a euffloient quantity of seed to bow a one- tenth acre plot. In the distribution of tl .^ three-pound samples no effort has been made to prSscribeany particular sizeof pi a on which those samples should bo sown, So Hamplos being email, it was scatcely practicable to do so. Some farmers have sown on a plot of one size and otho.« on a plot double the size, hence a fa.r Comparison of the results of the experiment one with the other owing to the dittoi^ ence in the area covered could not be accnrately made. It was thought that by making a select list of farmers, taking a few from every county in every province of The Dominion, and choosing twelve or fourteen varieties of the best grain we had grown, and such as our reports from year to year had shown to produce the best fesults and selecting the ien to make this test from among those farmers who had made reportB tx) us Lm year to year on sam pies they had received we would in that way get into the hands of a large number of good men. in all the different climates in the Dominion, the same quantity ot .-^rain to be grown on the «ame sized nlot In this way we expect to get a more acourate and complete description ot the results obtained from these samples and reach more correct conclusions regard- ing the actual service which those particularly productive sorts are able to render to the farmers of this country. By the Chairman: Q. About what is the average of the returns you receive from those to whom vou sent out samples ? , , ^ p t • A The average returns this year are much bettor than heretofore. In previous vears we averaged about 23 per cent of returns where wo sent out samples in iosDonse to applications from individual farmers, but where wo have filled applica- tionp -.n lists which have boon received from agricultural sociotios and mombers we have not usually received more than throe or four per cent of returns, and tor that reason the Minister decided some two years ago that we should send only to those who applied individually, and it is gratifying to know that this limitation has not matorihlly lessened the number of applicants. Farmers have applied for samples for themselves, and when doing bo they have felt under a greiiter obligation to make the returns desired. The returns are not fully made up, but i think we must have received from 30 to 35 per cent this season. A De^cided^y^inlhlu particular. In order to make the special distribution of erain for one-tenth acre plots as effective as possible, it was thought best to give rarmers their choice of varieties. One might have land more suitable for oats and others for wheat or barley, 80 this circular was prepared and sent out in the early winter It was addressed to a select list of farmers, which was prepared by going over all the returns that had been received and ohoosing those who appeared to take the deepest interest in the work. The following circular was prepared earlv in the winter and a copy addressed to each of the farmers whose names had been placed on this special list : — •' Dominion of Canada. " Dbpaetmbnt of AaaicuLTCRB, "CENxaAL Experimental Farm, "Ottawa, , 189... " Dear Sir —The reports received from you concerning the tosits of samples sent vou from the Experimental Farm show that you are interested in the important work of seed testing. By instruction of the Honourable Minister of Agriculture a new feature has been added to the grain distribution this season, namely, that of off«rinff afew of the very best sorts in sufficient quantity to sow a plot of one-tenth of an acre These samples will be sent to a select list of farmers chosen from each ooantv and you are invited to co-operate in this work. A^ it is proposed to publish the results obtained in each county this test will, in a isense, be a competitive one. The samples will be sent tree through the mails, one sample only to each farmer. » ■ A j»> I w a one- has been bo Bown, farmers ice a fair he diffor- t that by ovince of 1 wo had I the best who had would in different ame sized ription of 18 regard- to render I to whom » previous ttmploB in d applica- mbers, we d for that Y to those m has not r samples >n to make must have ribution of ist to give r oats and 1 the early by going [•ed to take irly in the I placed on ,189... implessent important riculture a ly. that of r one-tenth from each [ to publish lOtitive one. 1 farmer. RESULTS FROM TEST GUOWIXO OF CROPS. 19 ^ ■ • J "The size of the plots on which these samples should be sown is 33 x 132 feet or 66 x66 feet and the quantity of grain to be sent of the different sorts will be at follows :— OatH 8 lbs., spring wheat 10 lbs. and barley 10 lbs. " The following vurieties have been chosen for this Bpooial distribution: Uats— Abundance, Banner, Improved Ligowo, Ainoiican Beauty, Bavarian and Golden "OfSpringwheat the Preston, Percy, Stanley and Advance. "Two-rowed barley, the Beaver iind Sidney, and of the Hix-rowod barlojH the Royal and Trooper. • . ■ i ^ ." If you desire that one of those samples be sent you for trial please let me know which of the sorts named you would prefer, and name also your second choice in case the stock of your first choice should be exhausted. An early i-eply is requested. An addressed envelope is inclosed. All letters forwarded to the Central Experimental Farm, Ottawa, may be sent free of postage. " Yours very truly. "WILLIAM SAUNDERS, " Director Experimental Farm. " There was a very prompt reply to this circular and in a few days we had returns from more than three-fourths of all those who had been addressed and there was subsequently sent to this chosen list of farmers distributed all oyer the Dominion 4,320 samples. As these applications came in they were classified by counties— and where we found that any county was short in the number of samples applied for. efforts were made to supplement that number so as to bring it up to its proper proportions. In this way the grain has been fairly distributed over every section of the country. In some counties, especially in New Brunswick where there has been a very great interest taken in this branch of experimental work, wo had so many returns, to choose from, that it was very difficult to reduce the number so as to make them even with other counties and to some a larger share was sent (or the reason that the farmers in those counties have taken more interest in this work and given more satisfactory returns. . „ ^. When sending out the varieties of grain chosen, some information was given on a printed slip attached to the circular giving some particulars as to how the special variety sent had suooeedod on the Experimental Farms. It was thought that these particulars would tend to interest the farmer more fully in the variety of grain he had chosen. , , . ^. .. i. /■ n Information was thus given with the several varieties sent out as lollowa : THE BANNKB OAT. The Banner oat was first grown at the Experimental Farms in 1890, and has been sown each year since with very satisfactory results. From the outset it has shown great vigour and has been very prodiiotive. It is a white oat with a branching head Ind a stiff straw In the unifor test plots at the Central Experimental Farm it has given an average yield during the past four years of 70 bushels 21 pounds per acre The Banner oat has been similarly tested at all the Experimental Farms throughout the Dominion and has given, as the result of four years' trial an average crop of 71 bushels 17 pounds per acre, which is the largest yield given by any variety The heaviest crop yet obtained from this oat at any of the Experimental Farms was at Brandon, Man., in 1898, when it gave 106 bushels 6 pounds per acre In 1895 at Indian Head, N.W.T., an 18-aore field of this oat gave an average of 106 bushels per acre. GOLDEN GIANT. The Golden Giant oat was first grown on the Experimental Farms in 1893, and has been tested each year since with very satisfactory results. It is a yellow oat with a sided head and a fairly stiff straw, which has proved vigorous and very pro- 2i ] 90 />//. WM. SAUXDERS. rlno.ivfl In the uniform test plots at tho Central Experimental Farm this oat has i?ven tn average yieiaTurin/the p-ist four year, of 65 bushels 7 pounds per acre SrfSden GuTnt oat has been similarly tested at all the Experimental Farms ^hrouSut the Somfnion, and has given, as tho result of four years' tnal, an average crJp o 'eTbishels 19 pounds per a^re. The la>ge»t crop y«^ "'^^•^•"^'l^f^"-;^^ i at any of the Experimental Farms was at Indian Head, N.W.T., in 1H95, wben it produced 104 bushels 4 pounds per aero. BAVARIAN. . The Bavarian oat was first grown on the Experimental Farms i\.\89*. and haa hfi«n tested each voar since with very sutisfactory results. It is a white out with a bJanchlnK hTd a^^^^ stiff straw, which has shown much vigour and been very pro- SuoJive^In the uniform test plots at the Central ^*Pf rimental Farm this oat has iken an avoi-age yield during the past four years of 62 bushels 13 pounds per acre. Ihe fiflr an ?atlas been similarfy tested at all the Experimental F«'-«« through- out the Dominion and has given, as tho result of four years' trial, an averagecropof ?S bisLKprnds peracrf. Th^ largest crop vet obtained from this variety at anv o^he E%eSnta7parm8 was at Brandon. A^n., in 1898 when it gave 109 bushefs 14 pounds per acre. AMBBIOAN BEAUTY. The American Beauty oat was first grown ou the Experimental Farms in 1891 and has been tested each year since and given very satisfactory returns. This is a Sale yellow oat with a branching head ani fairly stiff straw a vigorous grower and ?J y producUve. In the uniform tests plots at the Central Experimental Farm it has Jven an average yield during the past four years of 62 bushels 32 pounds per Sere Tbe^"^*"^'^" Beauty oat has been similarly tested at all the Exper.meutal Farms throughout the Dominion, and has given, as a result of four years trial an aveSeo crop of 71 bushels 16 pounds per acre, which is only one pound per acre fis Sn SS Banner, which sUnds at the head of the list for productiveness Dur- fir the season of 1898 a five-aore field of American Beauty gave at the Central Farm an^verage crop of 82 bushels 11 pounds per acre. The largest c~p y«t g'veji by fbis variety was had at Brandon, fean., in 1898, when it produced 113 bushel. 18 pounds per acre. IMPROVED liiaowo. The improved Ligowo oat was imported from France by the Experimental Farm in 1891. and has been grown each year since with very satisfactory results. Tt is a white oat large and plump, with a branching head and stiff straw, a vigorous gUwer and v?^ prSuctive!^ In ?he uniform test plots at the Central Experimental fSm it has given an average yield during the past four years of f bushes 30 pounds per awe. The improved Ligowo oat has been similarly tested at all the LBeriraental Farms throughout the Dominion, and has given, as the result of four veaW trial an average crop of 64 bushels 6 pounds per acre. The largest crop yet given by thiB variety was at Indian Head, l^W.T., in 1896, when it produced 92 bushels 32 pounds per acre. ABUNDANCE. The Abundance oat was imported from France by the Experimental Farms in 1891 and has been grown each year since with very satisfactory results. It is a white oat with branching head and a fairly stiff straw a vigorous grower and very productive. In the uniform test plots at the Central Experimental Farm it has Jiven an average yield during the past four year- cf 66 bushels 37 pounds tier acre. The Abundance oat has bfen similarly tested at all the Experimental Farms throughout the Dominion, and has given, as the result of four years trial an average crop of 66 bushels 9 pounds per acre. The largest crop yet given by this k. i .i.i i .'ii«wwa ' ii,'.i ii iM -mm » hia ont has U per acre, ital Parma an average om thiH oat ib, when it 194, and has 8 oat with a )n very pro- ihiH oat has da per acre. OQB through- jrage crop of riety at any 109 buBhela rms in 1891, a. This is a I grower and ntal Farm it i pounds per Ixperi mental tara' trial, an und per acre renesa. Dur- 3entral Farm yet given by 13 buaheU 18 Experimental story results, iw, a vigorona Bxperi mental 65 bushela 30 lied at all the result of four rgeat crop yet , produced 92 ntal Farms in Bults. It is a )wer and very 1 Farm it has tunda per acre, mental Farma eara' trial, an given by this I RESULTS FROM TEST GROWIXd OF CHOPS. H variety at any of the Experimental Farms was had at Indian Head, N.W.T., in 1895, when it produced 108 bushels 28 pounds per ucre. THK PRESTON WHIAT. The Prcaton wheat ia a cross-bred sort pro.luced at the Central Bxpori mental Farm, Ottawa, in 1888, by fertilizing the Ladoga wheat with the Red JMfe It is a bearded variety which has shown great vigour and productivonoHH. It has a stiff straw and ripens on an average about four days earlier than lied bite. At iho Central Experimental Farm it has been tested alongside of a large number of other sorts under similar conditions, for four years, and has given an average yield tor this period of 26 bushela 4 pounds, which ia 2 buahels 4 pounds per acre more than that ibtainod from any other sort at Ottawa. The Preston wheal has been "l"" »rly tested at all the Experimental Farms throughout the Dominion ""^ has givei as the result of four years* trial at all these farms, an average of 32 bushels 17 pounds per acre, being 1 bushel 17 pounds more than that obtained from any other variety tested The largest crop yet given by the Preston at any of the Experimental Farm; was at Brandon, Man., in 1895, when it gave 48 bushels 20 pounds per acre. ADVANCX. The Advance wheat is a cross-bred sort, which was pro*^:^.f ^ a'^" p<'"%*^ Experimental Farm in 1888 by fertilizing the Ladoga wheat with the White Fife^ It is a bearded variety with a stiff straw, which has shown much J'f »' .a"f P-J^ dnotivencsH, and ripens on an average about three days earlier than the Red *ite In the uniform test plots at the Central Experimental Farm it has g>ven an average V eld during the past four years of 21 bushels 20 pounds per acre. The Advance wheat has ^een similarlv tested at all the Experimental Farma throughout the Dominion, and has given; as the result of four years' trial, an average crop of 29 bushels 8 pounds per acre. The largest crop yet obtained from this wheat at any of the ExpoHmental Farms was at Brandon, Man., in 1895, when it gave 46 bushels 20 pounds per acre. PEBCT. The Percy wheat ia a cross-bred sort, produced at ^^e Central Experimental Farm. Ottawa, in 1888, by fertilizing the Ladoga wheat with the White *ife. It la a be^rdleaa variety with a stiff straw, which has aho^vn much vigour and produc- dvenesa and ripeSa on an average about four daya earlier than the Rod Fife. In the unrform'teat plota at the Central Experimental Farm it haa given an average yield 3mW the past four yeara of 21 buaUla 7 pounda per acre. The Percy wheat has bSen fimila?ly tested at all the Experimental Farma throughout the Dominion, and has givZ as the result of four yeara' trial, an average of 30 bushela 24 pounda per aJw Thi largeat cron yet obtained from this variety at any of the Experimental Fams was at^Indian^iad, N.W.T , in 1898, when it gave 45 bushels 20 pounds per acre. / 8TANLET. The Stanley wheat ia a cross-bred aort, a sport which occurred in the variety known as pJeafon, a cross between Ladoga and Red Fife. Thia is a beardleaa sort wHh a Btiff straw which haa ahown much vigour and produotivenesH and r^^^^^^^ Tbout four days earlier than Red Fife. In the uniform test plots at the Central Ex- Sental Farm it has given an average yield during the past four years of 22 KZla 41 poundH per ac?e. The Stanley wheat has been Bi°»'«'y tested at all the Experimental Farms throughout the Dominion, and haa given, as the reault of foui veara' trial at all theae farma, an average of 29 buaheTs 3 pounds per acre. The faigestcrSp yet obtained from this variety at any of the Experimental Farma was i I* I 'I i DR. WM. SAUNDERS. il! I at Nappan N.S., in 1996, when it gave 49 boHhelH per acre; the second largeat crop was ai Brandon, Man., in 1896, when it gave 43 bushels 30 poundH per acre. THB TBOOriR BARtlT. The Trooper six-rowed barley ia a hybrid which was produced at the Central Experimental Farm in 1889 by crossing the Swodiwh two-rowed barley with the Baxter a six-rowed sort. It haa been tOHted each year since with satisfactory results.' This barley has a Htiff straw, is vigorous in growth and productive. In the uniform test plots at the Central Exnorimental Farm it has given an average yield during the past four years of 48 bushels 17 pounds per acre. The Trooper barley has been similarly tested at all the Experimental Farms throughout the Dominion, and has given, as the result of four years' trial, an average crop of 46 bushels 29 pounds per acre. The largest crop yet given by this variety at any of the Bxporimental Farms was at Indian Uead, N.W.T., in 1896, when 't produced 67 bushels 14 pounds per acre. ROTAIi. The Royal six-rowetl barley is a hybrid which was p-^ luced at the Central Experimentrtl Farm in 1889 by crossing the Swedish tv . i ,ed barley with the Baxter, a six-rowed sort. It has been tested each year ainoe with satisfactory results. This barley has a stiff straw, is vigorous in growth and productive. In the uniform test plots at the Central Experimental Farm it has given an average yield during the past four years of ft3 bushels 26 pounds per acre. The Royal barley has been similarly tested at all the Experimental Farms throughout the Dominion, and has given, as the result of lour years' trial an average crop of 46 bushels 4 pounds per acre. The largest crop yet given by this variety at any of the Experimental Farms was at Bi-andon, Man., in 1896, when it produced 65 bushels 30 pounds per acre. SIDNEY. The variety of two-rowed barley known as Sidney is a hybrid produced b^ crossing the Swedish two-rowed barley with the Baxter, a six rowed sort. This cross was effected at the Central Experimental Faim in 1889, and this barley has been tested each year since with satisfactory results. It has a stiff straw, is a vigorous grower and productive. In the uniform test plots at the Central Experi- mental Farm it has given an average yield during the past four years of 39 bushels 38 pounds per acre. The Sidney barley has been similarly tested at all the Experi- mental Farms throughout the Dominion, and has given, as the result of four years' trial, an average croj, of 39 bushels per acre. The largest crop yet obtained from this variety at any of the Experimental Farms was at Indian Head, N.W.T., in 1896, when it produced 61 bushels 42 pounds per acre. • "1* '7 c.B. The variety of two-rowed bar' i '- 1 ... s Beaver '• u hybrid produced b^ crossing the Swedish two-rowed «wub the Baxter, a six-rowed sort. This cross was effected at the Central Experimental Farm in 1889, and it has been tested each year since with satisfactory resnlts. It has a stiff straw, is a vigorous grower and productive. In the uniforn test plots at the Central Experimental Farm it has given an average yield during the past four years of 42 bushels 9 pounds per aero, which is the highest yield obtained from any of the varieties tried at Ottawa. The Beaver barley has been similarly tested at all the Experimental Farms through- out the Dominion, and has given, as the result of four years' trial, an average crop of 41 bushels 12 poundsper acre. The largest crop yet given by this variety was had at Indian Head, N.W.T., in 1896, when it produced 66 bushels 32 pounds per acre. L S^^SS^SSSB^^^^ -mm. r j.wi i Ui>M.tj JB sgys? I rgest crop he Oentrftl with the itlsfiiotory lotive. In n average le Trooper ghout the rop of 46 r at any of , I ) rod need be Central with the atisfaotorj ictive. In n average rhe Royal ughout the crop of 46 any of the 65 buHbels rod need b^ sort. This barley has straw, 18 a ral ExperU 39 bushels the Bxperi- four years' ained from N.W.T., in reduced b^ sort. This been tested ous grower B'arm it has 1b per aoro, at Ottawa, msthrough- vernge crop variety was pounds per P RKSUl.TS FROM TEST U HOW I SO OF CROPS. U The»o few particulars placed before the farmer .'ome of the best results obtained at the exporimeiitul farms with the variety ho had chosen. By Mr. McMillan: Q. This Preston wheat did fairly well in Ontario? , ,. .. , A. Yes, it has done very well in Ontario. The average of the three pound aamules jrave a result of Homewhero about fifty, about fifty-two, pounds I think. The result of between two and three hundred tests in Ontario and Quebec were very satis- factory. By Mr. Calvert : Q. This PreMton is a spring wheat, la it not? A Yes q! Do you know if any of it was tried down in the western part of Ontario where I live near London? , j^„„ A I am not sure. There is very little spring wheat grown there, iome samples were sent out this year. I know, in that district The Preston has been much sought after this year by those asking for samples of wheat. By Mr. McMillan : Q Have you any evidence upon tests on the flour of the Preston wheat ? a! Not yet. We have not had a large enough quantit) of Preston to test its value for flour. The millers hero require a car load for this purpose and it has not been possible to obtain that quantity. About a month ago a sample of Preston was ■ont to the High Commissioner for Canada in England ar> i he was asked to submit It to the befrt experts in England and to have the report of any test they might make sent to me, bui I have not yet received any report on this wheat. I hope, however, before very long to get some information on that subject. The koJ ««! "» a little lonjrer but it seems to be as hard and as transparent as that ol the Kea icat«oii as rollows: Ontario 7,192. Quebec 7,7^2, Nova Scotia 4,062 New B'^""^'^^ W Prince Edward Island 2.110, Manitoba 2.086, North-west Territories 1,187, British Columbia 302, making a total of 29,405. The special distribution for one- tenth aoie plots has beeA made to the different provinces as follows: (Most of these were sent iut between the 1st and 20th of March so there should be no complaint fs to anv of these samples being received late.) Ontario received 1.305, Quebec 1.399, ^ova Scotia 423, New Brunswick 620, Prince Edward Island 181 Manitoba 228 Noith- west Territories 149, British Columbia 85, making ^ all 4,320, all of which were sent bv mail. The throe-pound samples this year have included a considerable number of the new cross-bred sorts produced at theexperimental farm sent out with the object of more thoroughly testing them, some of these continue to give much promise. :-.MS^ 24 DR. WM. SAUNDERS. .^-L-p.n^-^'sfr r^SXiir.s.i::?..':'^^^^^ Howinff of the cxporiSLwfth .o^rofTu ™rr;;iT.k grain dUlnbated some "" ThtrSS,>h«.tio„istat bringing into more general u,e the be.t and most pi-oducUvo sorts in raany parts of the Dominion, SBBD TESTING. The tesUne for farmers of the germiniitiug power of Hamples of seed grain has also been continued with much advantage in many cases. The total "«™5«': «/ ^f J« tinrJA th?s °3ar has been 2 400. Many instances of samples being very dehciont m SJalUv hVvfbeermet wFth and by tL timely information sent, many farmers have bi^Iaved frZ The d aipointient which would unavoidably result from the Lw^nrof bad seed I may sly that in some instances the vitality of oats, especially SJm sol w 8 of Manito%^ and the North west where the gr.in was much injured bvranuSba vest and had sprouted considerably, the germinating power was rJdS D 10 fnd 15 per cent.whilo in those places in the North-west whore the harvest Wher was good the percentage of vitality ran up to 90 and 97 per cent. The informa- «on given to farmers in these fpecial cases was of great value to them and was much appreciated. AVEKAGE CROPS FEOM MOST PUODUOTIVE VARIETIES FOR FOUR TEARS. In the evidence given before this Committee last year T gave you P8'-t;cuj"s of the average crops Of the previous three years, given by ^be twelve best varieties fiTOwn at the diJJvent experimental farms, x now submit to you the resuUs obtained S)m foui yeais trTal with oats, barley and spring wheat, which w>ll show the VarTetSs wTiich have done best'ineach part of the ^^^^^^ .^^fg^.^VXut These particulars emphasize the importance of growing tue most piolific yaiiet es. and at the same time aiford further proof of the greU inherent powers f. P^olic i- veness in varieties and also that the stamp of productiveness is so fixed m yanety Ind so permanent a. to permit of these varieties being taken from one part of the Dominion to another, carrying this characteristic of productiveness with them. FOUR YEARS' EXPERIENCE WITH VARIETIES OF OATS. The twelve varieties of oats which have averaged the heaviest crops at the several experimental farms during the past four years, are the following :- CENTRAL EXPERIMENTAL FARM, OTTAWA, ONTARIO. Per acre. Bush. Lbs. 1. Banner 70 2. Golden Beauty "^ 3. American Triumph ^l 4. Columbus. , ^' 6. Ab-.mdance ™ 6. Improved Ligowo "^ An average crop of 66 bushels per acre 21 7 19 15 37 30 Per aci-e. Bush. Lbs. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. Golden Giant White Schonen White Russian .Toanette Early Golden Prolific . American Beauty 64 64 64 63 62 7 15 2 1 23 32 NAPPAN EXPERIMENTAL FARM, NOVA SCOTIA. 1. White Russian * 2. Wallis «o 3. Columbus • ^; 4. Banner. Per acre. Bush. Lbs. 21 2 19 19 13 17 63 Per acre. Bush. Lbs. „. Oderbnich 63 6. Earlv Blossom "■' An average crop of 62 bushels 31 lbs. per acre California Prolific Black 62 Abyssinia "" Wliite Sohonen *;1 American Beauty ''1 Golden Beauty w 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. Lincoln, 60 12 4 26 16 25 26 * ». n I liESULTS FROM TEST GKOWISO OF CROPS. 2B 0.0 7 C4 15 64 2 C4 1 03 23 62 32 Per acre. Bu»h. Lbs 62 12 02 4 01 ?6 SI 16 60 25 00 25 • • M *. fl INDIAN HEAD EXT-KRIMENTAL PARM, NORTH-WEST TERRITORIES. 1. Columbua 2. American Beauty 3. Holatein Prolitie 4. Abundance 5. e. 40 32 I 5. Sidney 40 15 i 6. Newton Per acre. Bush. Lbs. . 40 15 . 39 38 . 39 27 96 DR. WM. SAUNDERS. NAPPAN BXPEBIMENTAli FARM, NOVA SCOTIA. 1. French Chovalier.. 2. Danish Chevalier . 3. Newton ■ . • Per acre. Bush. Lbs. , 36 12 35 25 . 34 18 4. Beaver ."). Bolton 6. Prize Prolific. Per acre. Bush. LbH. , 34 3 , 33 51 . 33 16 An average crop of 34 bushels 29 lbs. per acre. 1 BBANDON EXPERIMENTAL PAB51, MANITOBA. Per acre. Bush. Lbs. 1. French Ch.valier 51 9 2. Sidney ^ 3. Thanet •*4 28 4. Newton 5. Beaver 0. Prize Prolific. Per acre. Bush. Lbs. . 43 36 . 42 46 . 39 47 An average crop of 45 bashels 4 lbs. per acre. INDIAN HEAD EXPERIMENTAL FARM, NOBTH-WBST TEBBIT0BIE8. Per acre. Bush. Lbs. 1. French Chevalier 58 31 2. Danish Chevalier 56 a 3. Canadian Thoriie • M 2» 4. Prize Prolific. 6. Newton 6. Beaver. Per acre. Bush. Lbs. . 63 34 . 52 . 52 4 An average crop of 64 buohels 29 Ibe. per acre. AQA88IZ EXPERIMENTAL FARM, BRITISH COLUMBIA, Per acre. Bush. Lbs, 37 39 36 46 Danish Chevalier 36 2 An average crop of 35 bushels 24 lbs. per acre 1. French Chevalier, 2. Kinver Chevaliar 3, 4. Beaver 5. Canadian Thorpe. 6. Prize Prolific Per acre. Bush. Lbs. . 36 12 . 34 10 . 32 39 The Six varieties of two-rowed barley which have produced the largest cro^s for the past four years, taking the average of the results obtained on all the experi- mental farms, are :— Per acre. Bush. Lbs. 1. French Chevalier 36 26 2. Danish Chevalier •« \° 3. Beaver • • • *» 17 4. Canadian Thorpe 34 5. Newton ^ r>. Prize Prolific ^^ Per acre. Bush. Lbs, 10 26 14 An average crop of 34 bushels 10 lbs. per acre. SIX P.OWED BARLEY, The six vorieties of six-rowed barley which h?vo averaged the heaviest crops at the several experimental farms for the past four years are the foUowmg :— OENTBAL EXPERIMENTAL FARM, OTTAWA, ONTARIO. Per acre. Bush. Lbs, 1. Odessa W 12 2. Mensury 65 42 3. Royal 53 26 Per acre. B\i8h. Lbs. 4. Pioneer 51 39 5. Stella 48 19 6. Trooper 48 17 An average crop of 52 bushels 26 lbs. per acre. HESULTS FROM TEST (IROWINQ OF CROPS. 27 Per acre. Bush. Lbs. 35 12 34 10 32 39 Per acre. Bus)). Lbs. 34 10 33 26 32 14 Per acre. Bush. Lbs. , 51 .39 . 48 19 . 48 17 NAPPAN BXPEBIMBNTAL FARM, NOVA SCOTIA. 1. Mensury • • • j| 2. Troopr ~ 3. Oderbruch " Per acre. Bush. Lbs. 45 I 44 Per acre. Bush, Lbs. 4. Surprise « 42 5. Pioneer 41 AS ti. Vanguard w "" An average crop of 43 bushelB 8 lbs. per acre. BRANDON EXPERIMENTAL FARM, MANITOBA. Per acre, Bush. Lbs. Common ^ Trooper J~ Mens'iry "^ An average crop of 62 basbeU 42 Ibe. per acre 7 2 Nugent . Surprise. Stella Per acre. Bush. Lbs. . 51 32 . i50 15 . 49 23 INDIAN HEAD EXPEBIMENTAL FARM, NORTH-WEST TERRITORIES. Rennie's Improved . , Odessa , Common ...,.....••, Per acre. Bush. Lbs. . 60 . 69 . 57 30 28 28 4. Menaury. 5. Baxtt-r... 6. TroopfT., .*••••*- Per acre. Bush. Lbs. . 57 24 . 55 40 . 55 30 An average crop of 67 bushels 38 lbs. per acre. AGA88IZ EXPERIMENTAL FARM, EBITISH COLUMBIA. Per acre. Bush. Lbs. Oderbruch ^ ^ Mensury ^ 1 Odessa *" ■" Per acre. Bush. Lbs. Common , Royal . 32 32 Trooper "^ An average crop of 32 bushels 27 lbs. per acre. 21 12 1 The six varieties of six-rowed barley which have produced the largest crops for the past four years, taking the average of the results obtained on all the experimental farms are : — Per acre. Bush, Lbs, Mensury ^2 S Odessa f 20 Trooijer 46 29 Per acre. Bush. Lbs. Common . , , Royal Oderbruch,, 45 45 44 24 2 44 An average crop of 46 bushels 27 lbs. per acre. FOUR YEARS' EXPERIENCE WITH VARIETIES OF SPRING WHEAT. The twelve varieties of spring wheat which have averaged the heaviest crops, at the several experimental farms during the past four years, are the following:— CENTRAL EXPERIMENTAL FARM, OTTAWA, ONTARIO. Per acre. Bush. Lbs, Preston , , 26 3 Sfo^o-,:,-.V p 59 Goose 2.3 51 Wellman's Fife ^ 40 Rio Grande *» °' Monarch ■" ^ 7. Stanley 8. Pringle's Champlain. 9. Huron IC. Progress 11. Vernon 12. Advance Per »cre. Bush. Lbs 22 41 22 33 22 27 21 41 21 41 21 20 An average ci'op of 23 bushels 6 Iha. per acre. 88 DH. WM. SAUXDEIiS. NAPPAN EXPERIMENTAL FARM, NOVA SCOTIA. Wollinan'8 Fife -^f Stanley 31 White ConnoU 30 Preston yH RedFern £ Huron 30 Per acre. • Buah. Lbs.' 44 5 65 45 36 10 8. !t. 10. 11. V>. (ioose 29 Wliite RuHBian 20 Rio (irande 29 Old Red River 28 Advance 2s A f 4. Pre-ston ™ '»i 5. Monarch 3^ ^ C. Crown 35 27 Per acre. Bush. Lbs White Connell 34 Pringle'g Cliani plain 34 Rio Grande 34 OldRedRiyer 33 White Russian 33 Wellinan's Fife 32 7 43 28 35 2 25 An average crop of 35 bushels 29 Ibe. par acre. INDIAN HEAD EXPERIMENTAL FARM, NORTH-WEST TBftEITORIES. Per acre. Bush. Lbs, RedFife 42 Einporiinu ^" Beaudry |1 Preston jl Huron ^\ WhiteFife « I 3 48 25 22 2 8. ii. '.0. n. 12. Per aore. Biish. Lbs Percy, 40 57 Crown.... 40 .52 Wellinan's Fife 40 50 RedFern 40 10 Stanley 39 10 White Connell 39 2 An average crop of 40 bushels 53 lbs. per acre. AOASSIZ EXPERIMENTAL FARM, BRITISH COLUMBIA, Per acre. Bush. Lbs. WhiteFife 26 Preston • • • 26 White Connell 26 RedFife 26 Herisson Bearded 26 Rio Grande 25 31 30 20 11 2 60 7. OldRed River 25 8. Wellinan's Fife 25 9. Alpha 25 10. Monarch 24 11. Campbell'B White Cha«f 24 12. Admiral 24 Per acre. Bush. LbH 25 15 1 45 45 35 An average crop of 25 bushels 35 lbs. per acre. The twelve varieties of spring wheat which have produced the largest crops, taking the average of the results obtained on all the experimental farms for the past four years, are : — Per acre. Bush. Lbs. Preston 32 17 Wtllnion's Fife 31 .. Monarch 30 58 Percy 30 24 RedTife 30 23 WhiteT^fe-- 30 20 White Connell 30 Rio Grande 30 Goose 29 RedFern 29 OldRcdRiver 29 Advance "9 Per acre. Bush. Lbs. 19 1 58 17 17 8 An average crop of 30 bushels 17 lbs. per acre. The cross-bred vasiety Stanley came within 5 lbs. of Advance, having averaged 29 bushels 3 lbs. for the four years. ( -^mamm 50 00 35 20 ^B * RESULTS FROM TEST GROWING OF CROPS. 29 THREE YEARS' EXPERIENCE WITH VARIETIES OF PEASE. Tho twelve varieties of pease which have averaged the heaviest crops at the several expeiimental farms for the past three years, are the following:— CENTRAL EXPERIMENTAL FARM, OTTAWA, ONTARIO. Buhh. •V*'^"'- ••• SO Mftcoun ;" K«-nt :]J. it) AgneH Mackay * Black-eyt-cl Marrowfat •>" ,ite. Lbs. To 23 20 15 12 Per acre. BuhIi. Lbs. Canadian Beauty 35 30 Bedford 35 27 Creeper 35 22 Duke 35 17 11. Crown . 35 lo 12. Parivgon 34 47 8. '.I. 10. An average crop of 36 bushels 32 lbs. per acre. 43 28 35 2 25 NAPPAN EXPERIMENTAL FARM, NOVA SCOTIA. Per acre. Bush. Lbs. 1. Crown *l 2. Centennial ^> 3. Pride ;» 4. Black-eyed Marrowfat ;«> 5. New Potter '^ Oti 6. Creeper An average crop of 34 bushels 50 lbs. per acre Per acre. Bush. Lbs. 7. Large White Marrowfat 33 50 8. Carleton 33 10 i). Bedford 32 10 10. Prince 32 10 11. Prince Albert 31 :« 12. Paragon 30 50 52 50 10 10 2 BRANDON EXPERIMENTAL FARM, MANITOBA. 25 15 25 1 24 45 24 45 24 35 1. Pride .„ 2. Mummy I^ 3. New Potter « 4. Carleton ^b 5. Kent f 6. Mackay '*'* Per acre. Bush. Lbs. 52 35 .32 30 33 40 53 Per acre. Bush. Lbs. 7. Crown 44 32 8. Black-eyed Marrowfat 44 9. Trilby 43 40 10. Prince 41 20 11. Agnes 40 63 12. Prince A'bert 40 13 An average crop of 45 bushels 8 lbs. per acre. INDIAN HEAD EXPERIMENTAL FARM, NORTH-WEST TERRITORIES. 1. Paragon ^% 2. Trilby « 3. Carleton *X 4. Crown 5. Duke 6. Prince Per acre. Bush. Lbs. 43 23 39 38 38 63 30 26 36 3 Per acre. Bush. Lbs. 7. Golden Vine 37 22 8. Centennial 37 20 9. New Potter 36 20 10. Pride 30 11. Mackay 35 33 12. Creeper 34 46 An average crop of 38 bushels 12 lbs. per acre. Per acre. Bush. Lbs . 30 19 . .30 1 . 29 58 . 29 17 . 29 17 . 29 8 ( AGA88IZ EXPERIMENTAL FARM, BRITISH COLUMBIA. 1. Arthur 2. Creeijer ^» 3. Prince Albert ^ 4. Carleton ^* 5. Macoun . ■ ~* 6. Multiplier Per acre. \ Bush. Lbs. 1 .28 53 I 23 53 46 50 46 55 Per acre. Bush. Lbs. 7. New Potter 23 32 8. Centennial 22 45 9. Kent 22 13 to. Paragon 22 7 11. Crown 21 51 12. Golden Vine 21 27 An average crop of 23 bushels 59 lbs. per acre. -i p 80 DR. WM. SAUNDERS. •a. Tho twelve varietieB of pease which have produced the largest crops, taking the average of the results obtained on all tho experimental farms, for the past throe years, are : — 1. Crown -^^ Carloton ^k Pride f New Potter • ^7 Prince Albert • • *] Arthur ^^ Per acre. Bush. Lbs, 36 4!) 1(J .57 49 47 7. Centennial 33 8. Paragon 33 !). Cree[jer. ... 33 10. Trilby 33 11. Duke 33 12 Kent 33 Per acre. Bush. Lbs. 47 40 26 16 14 11 An average crop of 34 bushels 19 lbs. per acre. By Mr. Clancy: You might say what varieties of oats wore first, second and third ? A In oats Banner stands at the head of the list at the Central Farm, dolden Beauty soconJ, and American Triumph third. At Nappan, White Russian stands first Wallis stands second, and Columbus third, wiih Banner fourth. I might say that the White Eussian is a variety which has usually succeeded well in tho mari- time provinces and to some extent over tho whole Dominion. By Mr. Rogers : Q. Do you judge oats by weight or by measure? A. By weight. By Mr. Calvert : Q Are those the samples of those kinds which you have here ? A. Not all of thorn, we have the Banner here. These are samples brought to show the kind of grain wo have been sending out for sowing on the one-tenth of an acre plots 14 sorts in all; these are also intended to show how we clean the grain before sending it out for sowing. You will observe that tho grain is mostly large and plump and quite clean. By Mr. Semple : Q. How does White Russian do at the Experimental Farm? A. White Russian does very well, it stands ninth here on the list of the best twelve 'In Manitoba the American Beauty oat stands at the head of the list, although at Ottawa it stands twelfth. It should be borne in mind that in arranging these plots at Ottawa there is no variety favoured, no effort made to put this or that sort on the best spot. Our land here is nOt very uniform in quality, and sometimes a variety which has done well one voar drops out of the list of the best sorts the next year for the reason that it has be'on sown on a poorer piece of ground. Sometimes the best varieties suffer from being sown in very exposed positions. This was the case with the Banner oat at Indian Head in 1897. The plot on which it was sown was veiy much exposed to strong winds which blew out a portion of the seed and exposed the roots of the plants so that they wore much injured. That plot produced only 52 bushels 2 lbs. per acre, whereas another plot near by on the same land but sheltered from wind by a belt of trees gave from the same seed 101 bushels 16 lbs. per acre. There are thus many factors which influence the results, and it is not to bo expected that the same varieties will be found in the same position on the list every joar. All the varieties are exposed to like conditions and the results obtained, whether favourable or unfavourable, are honestly and fully stated. By Mr. Clancy : Q. Would that not rather suggest that the tests made there are not altogether reliable, for tho reason that it depends on the character of the soil rather than on ( I i hesults from test anowiya of chops. 31 40 26 1(J 14 11 i the grain iteolf ? For instance, you have spokou of the inequalities of the land at thj mrm and you are not able to make true tests ? A. 1 do not admit that we cannot make true tests, but we must admit that differences iu soil and climate materially affect the crops. Now, notwithstanding that the Banner dropped out of the list of the best 12 sorts in 1897 at Indian Head, it did so well over the whole Dominion that it stands at the head ot the list at all the farms after four years' trial. We should not lay too much stress on the results of any one year but take the average for several years, the longer the time the more reliable are the results. The average results of four years shows that 11 of the 12 varieties which were best in 1897 over the whole Dominion were included in the best 12 for 1898, showing that there is inherent productiveness in varieties, and that this productiveness is to a largeextent a fixed and poimanant characteristic. Q. What I am endeavouring to find out is this, that while it s'ood low you tried to account for it by conditions that prevailed, the character of the soil or the ect'ou of the wind, which prevented it attaining to the position it should ? A. Yes, that is quite true, the unfavourable conditions referred to were clearly the cause of the small crop in that case, but the large crop produced from the same seed near by showed clearly that the Banner oat was not lacking in productiveness. But there are other conditions, especially when the grain is flowering, which sometimes injure the crop which are not so easily.traced. When wheat is in flower, and the pistil and stamen are soft and glutinous if the weather is unusually hot and the sun shines strongly it may strike throueh the two layers of chaff which covers the seed with BO much heat as to wither the organs and destroy or injure the immature grain. What we want to get at in all these cases is the truth, not to recommend any special varieties, but to give the results of the crops in bushels per acre and let farmers judge for themselves as to the varieties most likely to give them satisfaction. The strongest recommendation 1 have given to any variety will be fouiid in the paragraph in bulletin 32 dealing with the 12 varieties of oats which have produced the largest average crops for the past four j'oars on all the experimental farms. I said that "for the reason they have produced these largo crops they may perhaps bo regarded as worthy of being placed at the head of the list for general cultivation." That is not a strong statement, the reason for the opinion is given in bushels per acre the farmer is left to exercise his own judgment. In all cases much more depondance can be placed on the results of four or five years experience than on the crops of any one year. By Mr. McMillan : Q. In grain cut for seed is great care taken to cut them all at the same stage of ripeness? , , . mL A. Groat care is taken in reaching conclusions on that question, Ifae farm foreman watches every day for the exact time when the cutting should take place. And if the crop is not cut that day, the date when it is ripe for cutting is entered and this is given as its time of ripening. The farm foreman at the Ceniral Farm is a good practical farmer who has had a long experience, and I would rather trust in his judgment on this point than in my own. It is the same on the branch farms. The superintendents there have had long experience and are very reliable men, and their judgment is taken as regarding the time of ripening of all the different varieties. By Mr. Stenson : Q. What is the consequence if grain is not cut at the nroper time ? A. In some instances when crops are not cut promptly they shell badly and if left for several days after the grain is ready for harvesting much waste would occur and part of the crop would be on the ground. Q. But as regards its usefulness for seed ? A. That would not be affected if the grain is fully ripened. Q. But if it's not perfectly ripe will its reproductive properties be destroyed ? I 32 DR. WM. SAUNDERS. A Tf cut verv irreen there iBlittledoubt that its germinating power is injure.! but if it it'out with^nVfow duye of riponinK and allowed to Btund for a time on s ook it ifitisoutwinuiaiew J. however, plump and well ripened gram will pro- T'.rih« b^ ^resSlt^ When gmin. rout oo mv\y it is not as valuable commercially. Wo had a sTngular ^^^^^ at the Indian Hei*d farm in 1891 when there was 1 ?and 3 frosTed^^^T^^^^^^ was 8o%oof in quality and shrivelled that it was Indthe^oor shrivelled irain yiolde'd 30 bushels 10 lbs. per acre. I do not think SSjrs.;Traict'Kit:„^re^^^ ?«k« ir« nouri«hment from the soil. In the shrivelled seed there was enough food to take f« "^.y^^""^"' that plenty of food was found in the soil to give it give the plants a stai t ana auer lua p y ^^^ ^^^^ ^^^^^ veour and produce rapid giowth. laoni ^^'"^ ?'' " , Thfi«fl results show So "iloJySrbei S..., .§1 ..d olhe,. factor. in«uecc» plant growth so largely. By Mr, Calvert : Q. How do you harvest these plots ? A. We cut them by hand. 0. Do you keei) them separate ? A Yes They are kept separate and threshed separately. i ^ThteTs^SsmTl machineforthreshingthe crops from these plots which is easily opened so that every kernel can be cleanea out. Careful arrangement Tie made ?o prevent any mixing of the seeds of the different vanet.es. O Tp there no dancer of a mixture in the threshing machine ? l' No XerytiTe a threshing is completed the machine is taken apart and thoroughly cleaned before the next variety is put in. O Do vou thresh the grain as soon as it is brought in I . ..« , ^,„.„ A AsLonasweoan but as we usually have 500 or more of different plots ever^ytar rcanTot aVays thresh as fLt as the grain is ready, but we do it as ''P' Q^ It muTuke a lot of room to store the different crops until you can thresh ^^^"a. That is so; and we endeavour to thresh as large a number as we can, as they come in from the field. By Mr. Clancy ; Q. What space do you leave between each plot? A There is three feet of space allowed between each plot, o' Would that have any tendency to affect the variety ( p„..f!i:,^ A No not the sliKhtest. The flowers of wheat, barlev and oats are fertilized u .iT'. o^n «nn«n The flower case is so tightly closed that there is no ohanoo fertilizing, from being grown near together. I RESULTS FROM tHST GROWINO OF CROPS. 88 By Mr, Featherston Q. It IB diflferent with corn ? A. Yea, it is a very .different thing with corn where the fertilizing is effented openly. The corn pollen which in formed on the taesel drops on the silk and sends a little fibre out which penetrates the thread of silk and descends to the ovary and there fertilizes the seed, but in the case of wheat, barley and oats, there is no danger of that, as every kernel is fertilized by its own pollen and that in and in breeding is probably one of the chief reasonn why Rome varieties so soon die out. A few years ago I examined a large number of Hamples of different varieties of wheat which had been exhibited at the Centennial Kxhibition, and I was surprised to find that of all the varieties then exhibited very few are now known. Bed Fife is a remarkable example of the power of some varieties to maintain their vigour and productiveness for a long period ; this originated in 1842 and it is still one of our most vigorous and productive sorts especially in the North- west. So one cannot lay down any law in regard to the length of life of any of these varieties. It may bo that the change of the seed of Red Fife from one part of the Dominion to the other that is from Ontario to Manitoba— has exorcised a very great influence upon this variety. I think it is the duty of the Agricultural Department of every government to look ahead in this matter of varieties so that new and vigorous sorts may be avail- able to replace any that may run out and cease to be profitable. By Mr. Parmelee : Q. You would recommend the frequent change of seed ? A. Yes, I think it is an advantage, although as 1 said at the last meeting it is one of those things the advantage of which it is difficult to furnish actual proof. This practice is however held to be beneficial by most intelligent farmers, over the wnole world, and this general consensus of opinion based on experience may safely be regarded as well founded. By Mr. Calvert : Q. Would you consider that good proof? A. Fairly good, but not as good as can be furnished in support of many other questions bearing on profitable forming. A man may believe that all the advantage he gets in crop is duo to this one cause whereaa one-half or two-thirds of it may be dependent on other circumstances. I believe in the desirability of change of seed from one place to another and from time to time from one soil to another and have practised this more or less for many years in connection with the work of the experi- mental farms. By Mr. Pettet : Q. Do you sow your own seed ? . , . .^ ^ , ^ A We do very often and we often send seed gram to the branch farms and they in return send seed here for a change. We sent this year to Nappan seed from Ottawa of all the varieties of wheat they required. Their wheat this year was shriveled on account of rust. The superintendents of the branch farms at Brandon and Indian Head and Agassiz exchange seed whenever they think it is desirable and I have always instructed them to carry out whatever they think best in this matter but we have not pursued any special line of investigation with the object of ascertaining the effect on crops of such changes of seed. I have regarded this practice as one which was everywhere recognized as beneficial. Q. You cannot toll how long you have sown any particular kind of seed ? A. Yes we have tJie number of years all on record ou our books. The b-anch farms have received all their seeds at the staitfrom Ottawa, soall had the samestrain 3 34 VB. WM. SAUXDEHS. life of any good variety of seed. By Mr. Semple : 2- ?e'r'K S.V :"JrrtC° -.^5:''.'.^ "r'£.\oe„ ^ro-.. A. Yes, trom aimosi eyerj^ iui » . ''. j j^ j^ j^ ntroduced and Eir Ch\:"» io^ K ".na ke'pTth... on\od h.va foancl the naaber intonor. we nave »«>«" ° weed ins out we have done there are still a fery C n?mrof;.rr.tie/»tokT&re,, .re over ,00 ploU .hi. year .t Ih, central farm to take records of. By Mr Clancy : O Did vou say that the varietioB you sent out are hybrids ? . ^, ^ ^^. . A The four va^riAties of wheat sent out for the specia^ tost m one-tenth acre plots w«ll til crossed 'or 8. They are all crosses between Rod or White Fife and the iga, TeEaSoga blo(Ki beinj introduced to try and produce earhness m conneo- A I have afreadyXen examples?" One of these, the Preston wheat, has pro- duced-as the avenge of^our years^rial on all the experimental farms, one bushel ^"^ U Kt'^maTb: rsiKdt^'rlo^rhWinstcad of keeping the same seed continually it is well to change occasionnally ? A. Thtit, I think, is the indication. By Mr. Featkerston : Q By the continuous growing of many samples of many seeds upon the farm '° T XVe^SceTs^^^^^^^^ that. We find a difference in yield in different seasons and in different climates but have notobserved any regular decrease in productiveness in any of these varieties. By Mr. McMillan : In the varieties that you have brought over from other countries, have you fftnnd them to imorove after two or three years here? ^ . ., i- • found them to imp o ^^^^^ ^^^^ .^^ ^ ^^^ »t'^.^«"y.^*'^ In ihf^arieties referred to. Take for example the Indian varieties of seod gram which i^e gorfJiri h ^h auTtude; in the Himalayas', through instructions f^O'n Lord Dufferm Tevfn or eight years ago, some of them coming from an altitude of 11,000 feet. The TJhcZ oflffriculture practised in India are so poor that the crops are veiy small, Te 5 Wt rS beingSm 8 to 10 bushels to the acre. Where a variety has been Irown for^^^^^ years under such conditions, und is then brought to a new Sntrv where the soil contains an abundance of plant food there is bound to be an TncreS Thtse varieties did produce larger crops but not large enough to compare fS?oumbly with the varieties in common cultivation here, and after trying them for I ies are in r of seed form test me in Ibe growing laced and a, Japan, ntries. A $ause they jwasespe- n Sicilian. 5 were all monifestly e number ill a very rear at Ihe 1 acre plots fe and the 1 in connoo- se hybrids ? it, has pro- one bushel ) same seed on the farm ) in yield in liar decrease 08, have you » strictly fair grain which ord Dufferin feet. The ) very small, lety has been ght to a new and to be an li to compare ing them for > HESULT8 FROM TEST ilROWINO OF CROPS. IS Mveral years most of Ihem were discontinued bat we have "««<} *5«'°j;> J2"';So *! »u „/Ji«.5«« wUh because they are so much ourher. In the ca§e of the Ladoga ^'^^Lt doTot think thlthM^^^^ us, during the last three or foar years, as large wheat, I fo "°* 3'' Jfu did ^ the flrnt two or three years after It wasu.tro. rcrd\"uUnVoreKiitHl3e» todovery well. A g-tW-c^^^^^^^^^ mo that north of Kdmonton he had seen, last year, one of ^»»« *"««' <^«'^'*^ V!! jfi! ?v«r«^w the Ladoga was the variety he spoke of; it stood, he said, a. high as h . r H^i nroduoed a Tolendid cop. I have also had report, from Indian agents ft?™ ? LTrerJes inThe fl nc^-th praising this variety, showing that oUmate hM a great deal to do wilh the usefulness of some of these sorts. By Mr. Parmalee : J {tp^rodresX^^ofgood^qS^^^^ bread is made from it but the fl„„ V hai n^^a veTowUh colfar this in an objection to it, and we do not want toenoour- lie tbeTrowingo7an7 variety which d likely to lessen .he reputation of our ^*°"^l*o"nS';erie8 of tables give the six best varieties of six-rowed and two-rowed The next series oiiauog ^^^ ^^^ ^^^1^^ ^^^^ barley, at •a«^f""^'. ;"J. '^,! "^^^^ way Permit me to poii.t oat how the Preston T'l':ta'nl^Iu1.e drtJereVt plLeT uWd a™ he heod^at Ottawa, last year, with ''^''^Ta 0^26 bushehTi^unds per acre, the next variety giving 23 bushels 59 pounds. * ^A^itLtl in favour V Preston of 2 bushels and 4 pounds per acre. At Indian w^ Sroi stSforth on the list witha yield of 41 bushel.. 26 pounds, a Nappan pad. Preston sU)Odtorino 45"'poands, at Brandon it was fourth on the • r^'5,n« brhl 4^1 po^^^^^ may say that the three or four varieties at the w'^ • il H^t con?e very close to oJch other in yield, so that a little waste in har- *'^*;^ ""i ^?it cause some to change places. In"^ British Columbia, Preston stood ""'" n"f wTth26busheiraTd30poun,^^^ ^n this instance you have a variety tested rverlhl whole Dominion in mLy climates, ranking not lower anywhere than fourth in the lists of the twelve best varieties. By Mr. Rogers: ' ?• W^^e^e^^iSfaKa^'h'Vhat has not yet been tested, we have sent samples . T^'In FnZnd to the Sigh Commissioner for Canada to get the opinions of to I^n'io"' J°8»*nf' ^y°« ^K. ^^ ^ ^ J t heard the rcsufts. Our experts on the '«-.»'^ Jf!!7Vear8 The OreepJr which is a veiy sma*ll pea a. the average y'«>ld .f/^^^J rarSting but go"« ff ^^"""f "feaV gSTto the Arthur of 3 bushels to 26 bushels 63 .PO^^^"' J,\'% ^ third wifh 26 bushels 46 poande. Next in the the acre. Prince -^'^^^. «Jf°^" J^' Oariiton and Maooun. Multiplier stands list are ^w^ other crMS-bredsorteOarl^^^^ next, tfiese are two sixth with 23 b?8helB 66 pounds Wew^o^^^ and Golden V.ne, roTatd w^'uHi^^^^^^^^^^ -^5SL did be-t on all the Expe. i- mental Farms. 3i l>l(. WM. SAUNDERS. By Mr. SeinpU : Q. How did tho variety Arthur do at the Central Farm ? ...... ... A Tho vttriety Arthur at tho Central Farm HtandH ut the head with 41 busheU 22 poundH. Wo have nent out a good many «araploH of this pea to farmors and two voarH ago a bunhel was nent to .evornl of tho loading Canadian neodBmon who are liow growing thJH variety for oale and they are all plouaed with the oiopH Ihoy have had from it. By Mr. Calvert : You -aid that the uverugo of oat« on the furn during 1889-90-91 was slightly over 32 buHheU to tho aero, and in 18P6.»7 98 it was 56 bushels, or a difference betr ween tho two periods of 23 busheU 56 pounds; how do you account for that / A By our having practised what we have been teaching, by improving tho land, adding to its fertility by yearly applications of barnyard manure and the ploughing under of groen clover, by thoroughly preparing tho soil for the seed and attending to underdraining, which is very important. By selecting the best varieties of seed and thoroughly cleaning them so to sow only plump and well r.penod grain, and the seed is sown at the proper time, that is as early as possible. We think it pays us, if we arc rushed with work, to hire extra teamn in order to get the seed in as early as possible. As already stated a delay of a week beyond tho proper time will cause a Us often or fifteen per cent, and a delay of two weeks will often cause a loss of iwentv-fivo to thirty per cent. It is by putting into praotioo what we have been teaching along all those different lines that we have brought about these increased crops on the Central Farm. By Mr. McMillan : Q You mentioned a while ago that you were sending out 8 lb. samples of oata for A aero plots, that is 2 buehels 12 lbs. to the acre; is that not rather much? A After careful consideration of this matter it was thought best to send out that Quantity of oats Seven lbs. would have been sufficient on the basis of two bushels per acre the extra lb. was sent to provide against any littlo accidental waste in seeding which might occur. Tho same was done with the wheat and barley, and 10 lbs. was '^° Q I think if you put 2 bushels and 12 lbs. of oats where 2 bushels would with care h'ave boon been sufficient, on good land it is too much You supply 8 lbs. for 1 of an acre, whicn is 80 lbs. to the acre. 2 bushels are 68 lbs. and you have 12 lbs. A I admit that this is a larger amount of seed than we sow in Ottawa, but in the maritime provinces farmers frequently sow 2J ana 3 bushels to the acre. Had we sent the exact quantity it would to gome farmers appeared very niggardly. By Mr. Clancy : Q. You said you had sent the Preston wheat to some of the seedsmen ? A Yes. Q Have you ever found that some seedsmen are not so cautious as those of the heads of the farms about new varieties ; they are sometimes disposed to boom such things under new names ? . ♦^ „ A I know that is sometimes the case but we have only sent this grain to a few of our most reliable seedsmen. If we withheld these new sorts and did not take any steps to make them available to the public we might bo blamed for this These seedsmen have sent the samples to special farmers to grow and as soon as a sufficient quantity is available tho seed will be sold to those who want to buy them. Q We have known seed to bo greatly boomed that is worthless ? A Wo find every year that some seedsmen bring out old varieties and give them new names and we have to undertake the work of growing those alongside of other ■ ■ iiJk J-iiu if'r'-^'fttHwil'riw I MUULTS FHOSf TEST OltOWlSO OF CnOPS. m i% variotl.- with which they .re identical in order »" prov« ^^eir idontlty I d^^^^^ thinic however that there in the^ Hlightent dungor of unythn.K hut h .a.ghtfo.wuid dealing by the eeed flrmH In whoso handn the»o Heeds have l.oen place*!. TUB riKUlNQ or BTBKRS AND 8WIME. Early in the winter of 1898-99 a seriea of cxperimentH w«ro undertultou In connection with the fattening of HtoorH. 38 animaln ^vere ,>ro«,irenoe haSded over to him and the rcnult of those te-tH w.l no douht be given in hi Svidonco. Some oxporiment. were made ^'^^ "^Xo" tLTZ comnletod before Mr. (JriHdale's appointment thoHo will now l.« referred to. The pig8 ?n?hi caVo con^«ted . f five lotn oVfour each. No milk wuh g.vo.. m any cane tx, any of he«o .wine they wero fed entirely on mixtures of whole and gmand gral The mixture conHiHted of equal partH of oatn. barley and peano, with half a part oi buj-, and thiH wa^ fod either whole or ground dry or Hoaked. FED ON A MIXOTUl Of WHOLE GBAIt* DRY. Lot No 24 wa« fed on a mixture of whole grain dry, and m much was given to the Hwino an thoy would eat up clean. Water waH Huppliod freely .n a Hoparate trough The pig; in this pon consisted of two Poland China niro w.th Tamwor.h dam^onoTam^w*'orth sire aW Chester white datn and one P«'""J ^htna s.ro and Yorkshire dam. The four pigs at the outset weighed an average of b7i lbs. ead.. ThoHO wore rather smaller thSn those we usually select for such oxpenments. Wo ieneTallv have them to weigh from 70 to 80 lbs. The feeding tost began on the 20lh of Julvatid was continued fbr 14 weeks until the 26th of October. At the conclusion fffcplrent^ weighed 175^ lbs. each, and 408 lbs. of gram was con- sumed for each lb. of increase in live weight. « By Mr. Semple ? O What was the daily increase in livG weight? ^ . • u* he othera of the fat. £y Mr. Featherston : Q. Was the pork of all this lot go^J ? , ^^.^^ ^^.^^^ .long ihe back. Tbo puio T'mwf, "'»««<' l>"l» f?'"' ""t "^ Jad not boen Ihougbt By Mr. Featherston : i ?r./z^^rcirJJ.b^r;.oXSi»^^^^^^^^^^^^ result when soaked. By Mr. Rogers : Q. Had you an opportunity of f^^^^^S^Y^V^^^^^yjE^ ^^^^ all oases where two or th^^^'of^l^lS:^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ -- - ^--- t wefght and thriftiness of growth have been very satisfactory. Having ing read over the preceding transoript of my evidenoe. I find it correot. WM. SAUNDERS, Director, Dminion Experimental Farm. ids of meal ain. This » made by rain. Waa I •MltiaMHMiMI*>— 40 DR. WM. SAUNDERS. Committee Eoom 46, House op Commons, 13th June, 1899. The Select Standing Committee on Agriculture and Colonization met this day at 10.45 a.m., Mr. Bain, chairman, presiding. The Chaibman. — We have present with us to-day Dr. Saunders, who desires to speak on the work of the outside Experimental Farms that are scattered over the various provinces in the Dominion, THE STOCK ON THE CENTRAL FAEl.' Da. Saunders. — Mb. Chairman and Gentlemen. — Before beginning what I have to say on the work of the branch Experimental Farms I wish to refer to one matter on which I wanted to speak in connection with our Central Farm work, that is obr entire freedom now from tuberculosis. The cattle at the Central Experimental Farms were all tested with tuberculin in October last, and no case was found where there was any auspicious reaction. The cattle were tested also at the branch experimental farms, and at Nappan, N.S , Brandon, Man., and Agassiz, B.C., no cases were found, but at Indian Head two animals out of fifty-two tested gave a reaction. These were killed and found to be slightly affected. It is gratifying to know that we ai-e now practically free from that disease. By Mr. McMillan : Q. Did you ihink there was any particular reason why your cattle should be affected ? A. The only reason I can assign for it is this, that we bought cattle from at least two different points from herds which wo afterwards found were affected. These animals were examined before purchase by veterinary experts and pro- nounced sound. This is a very insidious disease and spreads rapidly, especially where cattle are kept in close quarters. I am cf opinion that where cattle are watered from a common trough the disease may be spread in this manner. The sputa often contains the germs of this disease and these may be taken in by another animal drinking from the same receptacle. This plan of watering the cattle was used at the Central Farm, but as soon as we realized the possibility of danger from this source the troughs were abolished. It is also probable that the experiments conducted for four years in trying to feed thirty cows on forty acres of land, had a tendency to spread the disease as these cattle were housed together for the greater part of this time. By Dr. 8proule : Q. Were these common troughs for water used in the barn ? A. Yes. By Mr. McMillan : ^Pfc^ Q. It is a trough running from one to the other ? A. Yes. These troughs were emptied and brushed out once a, day, but still there was a obanoo of the disease germs passing from one animal to another in this waj ik RESULTS FROM TEST GROWINO OF CROPS. a had a ik By Mr. Wilson : Q. How do you do it now ? A. We water them separately. Wo expect shortly to intiodnce a device which our agriculturist Mr. Grisoale is working out by which each animal can be watered separately without carrying water to each. Q. That is a little more trouble ? A. Yes. We water with pails now and shall continue to do so until wo get the watering device referred to completed. By Mr, Moore : Q. 1 think the farmers do not understand this tuberculin matter, where it is to be got and how administered. It might be well to give a little explanation which would go out in your evidence ? A. I shall be glad to do that. The tuberculin is obtained by making cultures of the bacillus which causes the diseaso. These give off a peculiar secretion during their growth, which is retained in the tuberculin, and when this is injected into aDimalB affected with the disease it causes a rise in the temperature of from two to five or six degrees above normal in a few hours, and it is by that rise in tempera- ture that the presence of the disease is detected. In connection with the tests made at the several Experimental Farms, wehave killed a considerable number of animals and there is only one instance which I can recall where this reaction occurred where the disease was not found. That was a young bull whose sire and dam were both diseased, and on this account as the bull was of no value the examination made was done with less care than in other cases, and that is the only case I can recollect where we did not find the disease clearly marked. By Mr. McMillan : Q. Is it possible for an animal to show reaction that has not the.disease ? A. It has been said so, but it can scarcely be proven that such animals have not the disease unless evi ry part of their organism is examined and this it is very difficult to do. There is a very strong belief among veterinarians all over the world that this is a reliable means of diagnosing the disease. The tubercu- lin when prepared is injected under the skin of the animal and the thermometer is placed in the anas or mouth and the variations in temperature watched and recorded every two hours. If a rise in temperature takes place to the extent mentioned, it is held to be proof that the animal is diseased. By an Hon. ^lember : Q. Within what length of time does this change take place ? A. Usually in eight or ten hours. In Bulletin No. 20 of the Experimental Farm series, a very full account is given of all the tests conducted at the Central Farm. These show that the conditions vary in different animals. Usually the tem- perature rises within eight or ten hours and remains up for six or eight hours. By Mr. McMillan : Q. You will have to take the normal temperature before making the tests? A. Certainly ; the natural temperature is usually taken before the test is made for three times at intervals of two or three hours each and the average of these is used as a basis for comparison. By Mr. Cargill: Q. Do you consider this a reliable test under all cases ? A, I do, sir. As I have already stated, we have killed many animals at the experimental farms here which have reacted, and have found the disease in every 48 DR. WM. SAUNDERS. caBO except that one which I have referred to, and wo might, in all probabihty, have found it in that if wo had searched more thoroughly. .t „^ „„n Ar Q I have been told by parties who import cattle that in testing them one or two will nrobably react and then on a subsequent tost those ono or two which irct^d wSurstand the Bubsequont test without reacting and probably one or two others which stood the former tost will react. .^. . i „„ii„ A It is a well known fact that where repeated tests are made with tuberculin if you 'do not allow the lapse of sufficient time, you do not got the reaction again, as a rule That has been shown in the bulletin I huvo rolerrod to. VVe tested animals a second time after two weeks, and these, although budly diseased, did not show any reaction from the second injection. By Mr. Cochrane : Q I understand that Mr. Cargill says that with some animals in the same herd a couple of them would react, and then after a while ho tested those that had not been tested, and they would show reaction. By Mr. Cargill : Q. No, no ; the same lot. A. Atwhatlapseof time, sir? Q. It wouldn't be more than a week or ton days, A. I have never known of any instance of that kind. By Mr. McMillan : Is there any case, in your knowledge, of a healthy animal, after having beon • tested'three or iour times with tuberculin, sufforing from the disease ? A I have never known any instance of the health of the animal suffering. We had cases of an animal one year giving no reaction and the following year showing J'gns of the dTsease. The tL animal! I referred to as affected at ^"dian Head, wore tefted two years ago and showed no reaction, but this year they I'^aoted and qn kTlUng them the dTsease was detected. Those, probably, had the germs of the d.s- ease in them at the time first tested, but not far enough advanced to bring about the reaction under the tuberculin test. By Mr. Matz : Q. What do you do with the animals which are diseased? A. We bury them. BXPKEIMENTAL FARM, NAPPAN, NOtA SCOTIA. At this as well as at all the other branch farms experiments have been carried on during the yast year with grain, fodder crops and root* similar to those I have spoken of at the Central Farm. ., , ,, , -xu n ..«♦=«<•«,.;« ^ Last season the crops at Nappan were lighter than usual with all sorts of grain^ Eust prevailed to a large extent and at the Experimentel Farm we ««ff«'-«d f 'om this disease as elsewherl, and the crops were reduced. The average crop for all the varieties of oata grown was thirty-seven bushels per acre, the average of the best twelve sorts was forty-six bushels thirty-one pounds, and tho largest crop was fifty bushels per acre. In barley the average of a(l the two-rowed 7"eties was twenty- nine bushels twenty-three pounds the average of the best twelve sorts tli'^ty-four bushels twentyeight pounds; and the largest crop was fo"-*?, b°«^«/.» »°/,.^?J^^^ pounds per acre. The six-rowed barley gave an average from all varieties of thirty- six bushels twenty-one pounds, the average of the best twelve sorts was forty-four bushels fifteen pounds, and the lai-gest crop was fifty bushels per acre. In spring wheat the av.-^rago of all VErieties was eighteen bushels forty pounds, the average of $1 y, have ono or which or two leroulin gain, as initnalft ow any no hord had not ing beon ng. Wo showing )ad, wore I, and Qti the d is- ^boutthe in carried ise I have 3 of grain, ared from for all the r the best ► was fifty- is twonty- .hirty-four and forty I of thirty- forty-four In spring average of $ RESULTS FROM TEST U ROWING OF CROPS. tt thebeet twelve sorts, twenty-two bushels twenty4hree pounds, while the lai-g^^^^ crop was twenty-five bushels twenty pounds per acre. 1 give vou these figures to TowThat the falling off has been qite considerable as compare^ w,th f«"ner years and this has been due largely to tie prevalence of rust. Indian Corn did well at the Nammn Farm ; the aferage of all L varieties was fifteen tons 1,696 pounds per acre thTaJeiage of the best L sorts nineteen tons 1,967 pounds and the largest 7op was twentf -three tons 1,860 pounds per acre. Turnips have done fairly wel-- roots generally succeed well in the maritime provinces-the average of all the iar et^s of turnips grown was twen.y-six tons 551 pounds, the '^''^^^S^ ^J^^^f^^^l six sorts thirty tons «25 pounds, and the largest crop thirty tons 1,916 pounds per aa-e In man^gols the average of all varieties was twenty-three tons 841 pounds, fir^ve age oMhe best six^orts thirty tons 1,627 pounds, and the largest crop th?rty-e gi tons 125 pounds per acre. Carn>tsgave an average yield on all varieties of t Jelvf tons 768 pounds, the average of the best six "''^I'^ll^^^^JJ'^^^^'^^ 1,320 pounds, and the largest crop was seventeen tons, seventy-five pounds per acre. By Mr. Brodtr : With turnips do you test different times of sowing, earlier and later ? A. Yes, sir, we had at all the experimental farms two series of plots, one sown two weeks late,' than the other. At the Central Experiment Farm we oarry that point further and sowed last year four series of plots at intervals of from eight to twenty days each, but at the branch farms there are but two sowings. By Mr. Macdonald (Kings) : Q. Have you got the names of the kinds of wheat that gave the results mentwned.^ Wellman's Fife gave the largest crop of wheat at the Nappan farm, and the varieties that stood next were Pringle's Ohamplain Beauty, Progress^ Alpha and Admiral, Hungarian. White Oonnell Emporium and Huron. Thew are the^ varieties which averaged twenty-two bushels, twenty-three PO«°ds per acre, the Wellman's Fife having given the largest yield, namely, twenty-five bushels and twenty pounds per acre. By Mr. fiemple: Q. What was the result of the early and lato sowing of turnips ? A. The average of the crcp of the first sowing at Nappan was f t^P* M«^ pounds per acre while the second sowing gave an average of 23 tons 1,918 pounas pel acre; a difference of 4 tons 1,267 pounds per acre in favourjf e*";^ «7J°f! Ee quality of the turnips has generally been a little more woody fom the first sowing than the second, 'but I do not think that is a matter of much moment, as the cattle seem to eat them just as freely as those later sown. By Mr. Burnett : Q. What was the time of the first sowing? p « „ . fk^ „o«nnrl on A. The first turnips were sown at Nappan on the 25th of May ; t^e second on the 7th of June. The'first sowing at the Central f ^^'-^/f ^ /S^J^f^XX on^^^^ April, the .econd on the 6th of May, the third on the 21st of ^^y.^**® «»°^.J^^^ *»J ^ 11th of June. The average yield per acre from the first sowing was 26 tons ^298 pounds that was perhaps unduly early as it did not yield as well as the second sow- FnT The „extl'wrg,'that on^6th lay, gave 26 ^onB ^W POU"ds^^ ^^^^^^^^ yield from the third sowing was 33 tons 330 pounds, and that trom the last sowing was 24 tons 1,413 pounds. By Mr. Broder : 0. The last sowing was in June? , , . » r *i.- „o..i» A Early in June The differences were not so largely in favour of the early sowing last year as they usually are, much depends on the season. m S ^ DH. WM. SAUNDERS. By Mr. Bell (Pictou) : 2- Ttht S: tt SnTrL'Jgave th, lurg«t o,-op, tba. of iKe 6th of M.y. 1 tZ«TZ Tcm^oSf Ih. vTielic th. yield wae 26 ton. 905 pouad. per .or. Th* uf)(0« cop w<» give by th, Ea.t Lothian, which vra. 30 ton. 710 pounds per acre. By Mr. Broder : Q. The Kangaroo turnip has been recommended by some. Can you tell us any- thin^alwut th^t^^ _^ ^ ^^^_^^^ ^^_^^ ^^^ ^^^ ^^^ ^^.^^ ^^^^ j^ ^^^^^^ J j^^^g jjjj^ heard of this sort before, Q. They are raising it in the Eastern provinces. „„,j:„„r«. A There are many iastanoeH occurrini? of local seedsmen giving extraorainary names* to old varieties. Possibly this may bo a case of that sort, as I have not met with this name in any of the seed catalogues. .u„-- Q It is a very long turnip, not unlike a Swedish turnip. The people there have been calling it a Government turnip, that is what made me ask the question. A. It did not come from the Experimental Farm under that name. Potatoes have given very good results at Nappan during the Pa^t year, ^^e average of the best twelve varieties was 378 bushels and 28 pounds, and the largest oroD. 448 bushels 48 pounds per acre. „ .. n, .„.„i ^Horse beans have been tested during the past season at all the Experimentaj Farms by growing them in rows of different widths, and they have succeeded veiy well at ifappan, the largest crop there being 13 tons 400 lbs. per acre. Horse beans have done pooriy on all the other farms. In all cases these experiments have shown that growing them in rows two instead of three feet apart has produced the best results. On inquiry I find that it ia a common practice in Great Britain to grow Horse beans in rows two feet apart. ...,•. <•„„♦ „„„,.* Sola beans have given the largest crops at Nappan in drills two we* »?*'»' namely 5 tons 600 lbs. per acre. The Soja beans have not done as well at Nappan as the Horse beans, whereas at the other farms they have done a great deal better In these experiments the best results have been had when the seed has been sown in drills from 21 to 24 inches apart. . . .l r ♦ ™i.;/.k In Millets there is a new variety, the Japanese xMillot, coming to the f'on*. ^hicb promisee to be very valuable as a fodder plant. It gave a yield !a«2«a.7^^f;PPJ" of 16 tons l,9ti0 lbs. per acre when grown at a diswnce of 16 inches between tbe rowe. WATER 8UPPI.T. For some years pa^t the water supply at the Nappan farm has been very defective. Last year some springs were fSund on the farm m the woods on high ground, about three-quarteiiT of a mile from the buildings. A »««er:°;^^^*A,f;P; ftructed near the source of the springs and the water has been brought from this m galvanized iron pipes and introduced into all the buildings. This water has been tnalTsed by the themist of the Experimental Farms who says : ' It is exceeding y good water, exceptionally pure, and one eminently suited to drinking and household purposes." The supply is ample for drinking and household purposes and is of excellent quality. BXPEBlMBNTS WITH MILCH COWS. During the last year a comprehensive test has been conducted with the whole herd of milch cows, 27 in all, showing the cost of feed and receipt from sales of milk, setting the manure against the labour. The results show an average profit of »14 per cow. The different animals vary veiy much ; the best one gave a piotit ot . 1 i> 1 u RESULTS FROM TEST GROW I NO OF CROPS. tf $28.64 ; the poorost one 21 cents, showing that it is very important for farmei-a to know what sort of animals they are feeding and to watch the reBults they get bo that they may find out whether each cow is giving a profit or whether thoy are keeping some animals for the pleasure of their company. A comparison was made by Mr. Robertson of two groups of cows about equal in quality which showed that more profit was made from cows which calved in the fall than from those which calved in the spring. By Mr. Wilson : Q. Does he give any reason why ? A. No ; but he shows that they gave more milk and consumed more ot the rough products of the farm. By Mr. Calvert : Q. What did he do with the milk ? A. He sold it to the experimental dairy at Nappan, which is conducted by the Dairy Commissioner. The milk was delivered there and sold for the making of buttter. By Mr. McMillan ; Q. That was a very low average of profit, 814 ? A. That was the average. If the poorer oows had been eliminated, the results would have been better. I may say that it is not the most successful experiments that give us always the most useful information. If we take the average results and can explain the conditions under which they are obtained, and point out how these may be improved, these are sometimes more valuable and impressive than if we could show a large gain from each animal. By Mr. McDonald : Q. Does the profit from cows calving in the full arise from the advanced price of the butter or the better quality of the milk ? „ , » A. In his report the superintendent says : " One striking fact is that cows of equal quality (as near as can be judged) which were fresh in the fall gave more profit than their equals fresh in the spring, besides consuming more of the rough products of the farm. For instance, Nos. 21, 24 and 26 were fresh in the spring, and consumed $117.62 worth of feed, paid for it and left a balance of $ii3.13 to their credit While Nos. 6, 17, 22 and 25 that were fresh in the fall consumed $154.51, paid for it and left a balance of $106.11, being $10.75 per cow in favour of the fall- calved cow." By Mr. McLaren : Q Would that not be on account of getting better profits in the winter ? A That might inuuence the result to some extent, but I could not say how much We get an advance on the milk sent to the dairy of 50 cents per hundred pounds which is paid at the end of each month for all the milk delivered, then at the end of the year, after the cost of the butter has been deducted the balance of pro- fit is divided pro rata among the patrons who have supplied the milk. By Mr. Calvert : Q. Yon don't remember wb the average would be ? A. I do not, and the particulars are not given to us m such a way as would enable us to give that information. DR. WM. SAUNDERS. I By Mr. McMillan : Q. The cows are pastured in Bummer ? q! Cowb fully fed lying in the stable in the winter will give more milk tha . oowB in pasture ? By Mr. Cargill : Q AlihouKh the winter feeding costs more money the product in milk will be 80 much Kreator that the difference will be in favour of the w.nter-fed cow ? 80 m»«'M{^™"^ .^ ^ difference of $10.75 per cow in favour of those which calved in the fall after taking the cost of the feeding in each case. Q. The difference in profit is m favour of the winter cow / By Mr. Martin : Q Is the milk in both cases used for the manufacture of butter ? A. I believe so— I do not think there has been any cheese made at this factory during the past two or three years. ... . .,, . i *„ ♦!,„«....« 9 Q Is tCe milk sold absolutely, or is the skimmed milk returned to the farm ? A The skim milk is returned to the farm. , , .. - , o 5' In making up the profits do you take into account the feeding of calves ? a' Yes The value of the skim milk is duly estimated. . . ^ . An additional area of land has been cleared on this farm during the year and some of it brought into cultivation. Improvements have also been made in the ^'"'''iDfhe horticultural branch many additional varieties of large aud small fruits have been planted and the orchards have made satisfactory growth, that which is Bhiltered byaStofwood has done exceptionally well. Comparative tests have also blen made of many varieties of small fruits, also with many different sorts of ffarden vecetables, such as pease, tomatoes and corn. . ^ . aa \ *^ Thlsuperint^ndent of the farm and the Horticulturist have devoted a good deal of time during the past year to attending meetings of farmers and delivering addresses in different part/ot the maritime provinces on agricultural and hortioul- """"salSctory progress has been made in all branches of the work, and quite a number of varieties have been added to the collection of ornamental trees, shrubs In?pLt8 now being tested atNappan as to their hardiness and general usefulness for the maritime provinces. The Branch Bxpkbimkntal Fabm at Bbandoh. At the Brandon farm experiments of a similar nature to those I have described in connection with Nappan have been conducted, but with better results in some rl^sDirtililar^ in reference to the oat crop. The Brandon farm this year tZs theCd of all thS Experimental Farms in the number of bushels per acre obt^tn^ of thS cereal. The average crop of all the varieties tested was ninety busheTand eight pounds per acre. The best twelve sort* gave an average of 107 SelB Snd laVunds. wh'ile the heaviest yielding variety a newly introduced oat, the White Giant gave a yield of 114 bushels -1 pounds to the acre. , . , . MeyhJS alio done remarkably well there, the two-rowed varieties of the best six sorts gave an average of fifty-nine bushels and twenty-eight pounds pc'- acre, ;ke averaleTall varieties was W'One bushels and thirty-five pounds, and the laiest yielder, the Kirby, a newly Introduced hybrid sort gave sixty-five bushels "''^ThrLCwed rarl"eyr*which were tested have also done well. The average vield of all the varieties has been fifty-five bushels and seventeen pounds, the best six Jorte have averaged sixty-three bosheU and forty-six pounds per acre and the largest i \ RESULTS FROM TEST GROWING OF CROPS. 47 ilk tha will be salved in B fuctory farm ? Ives ? year and ie in the mil fruits which is OBts have t sorts of good deal ietivering I hortical- id quite a es, shrubs usefulness desoribed 8 in some this year 1 per acre 'an ninety age of 107 duoed oat, of the best j per acre, ,s, and the ive bushels be average ^he best six the largest i crop has been given by the Stella, which is also one of the new hybrids, and gave sixtv-eichl bushola and sixteen pounds pcrncre. .^.u^^^ The yields of npring wheat at the Brandon farm have notcomequite up to those of the Experimental Farm at Indian Head this year, but they show well with an average Xp of all varieties of thirty bu.hols to the acre, while the general average for thf province of Manitoba has been about eighteen bushels These larger crons show the advantages we have derived from a thorough preparation of the land, early BOwTng using only plump and well matured grain for seed and Holect.ng the most productive and vigorous varieties lor sowing. By an hon. Member : How many bushels to the acre have you sown ? A InTowin/sDring wheat we use u bushel and a-half to the acre, of barley wo usuau; ow two bushels to the acre, and oats will vary from a bushel and three pecks to twrbushels; where short plump oats are usei a bushel and three pecks .s gnffloicnt. By Mr. Oalvert : Q. Would the average figures you have given bo taken from the small plots or '""i'T&f^gt'^have quoted are the results which have been obtained from the sm'all plotc ; I have, however, some figures regarding the field crops which I shalUe glad to' give you. They show that the field crops compare very well with thosa obtained from the smaller plots. those oDUune ^^^^^ ^^ ^^^^^^^ ^^ ^^^ ^^^^ ^ j^^ general average of thoprovinco at Eighteen bushels, would that thirty bushels be from the small ^^°^l That would be from nmall plots. You will find however by referring to the field crops, that the returns have been much the same. I will give you the fiffures of some of the field crops at Brandon. „ . • ^ i -^u ^ I n^ay say that the area occupied by field crops at Brandon is not large with any one variety as we have so many different sorts to grow. VABIETT. 8IZ= 0^ FIBLD. YIELD PBH ACRE. ACRBa. BUSHELS. POUNDS. Wellman's Fife IJ f ■'• . EedFife 2 89 M P'^^^t^" I 81 30 Percy -^ |i .q Rod Fife H JX 8 White Connell H |J °g Crown J _, .o White Russian \ °l tl ^-^^^''^ } • 38 30 Vernon *■ In the whole list of field crops of wheat comprising over thirty acres, the average yield has Jn about thirty-two'^bushels per acre, which is a larger average than that obtained from the smaller plots. By an Honourable Member : a T« the seed sown in drills or broadcast ? . , . , i. A Always in drUls at the experimental farms. Wo have tried broadcast sow- ing fo; stS years at Brandon, Snd the results have shown that it is n ich more economical to sow with the drills. H DR. WM. SAUNDERS. The practice Ib to mo more seed when sowing broadcast than in the drills, and the crop nas not been bo good. By Mr. McNeil: Q. In speaking of these varieties you have just referred to, have you found in many yoars much difference in variotioH? , . A Ye*^ sir we ha'-e found in a four years' te»t that some varieties will average much inorethan others. And these demonstrations in bushels per aero, cannot be set aside. Where we sow for four or five years running a number of varieties and find certain sorts coming to the lop of the list every year with a large average yield that, to my mind, is quite snfflciont to justify the recoramonding of those varieties for general cultivation, and when tried they usually give very satisfactory In Manitoba tho pea crop is attracting more attention than formerly. The varietieb tested have nearly all done well and have averaged 41 bushels 8 pounds per acre, the best 12 sorts giving 51 buHhels 7 pounds per acre. The highest yielder was Harrison's Glory, which gave 69 bushels per acre. ThiB is a variety which was introduced some years ago at the Agricultural College at Guelph Ont. It came, I think from England, and has done unusually well at Brandon. lnd«a« Corn has also given good crops, the best six sorts having given an average yield ot 23 tons 1,450 pounds per aero. Tho yield of roots have been remarkable during the past year— the best six varieties of turnips averaging 49 tons 1,088 pounds per acre, and the best six varieties of mangels averaging d'i tons 872 pounds per acre. Q. In the experimental plots ? ... A Yes sir but tho experimental plots are sown in precisely tl j same wy aa the field plots, in rows 2\ feet apart, and tho yields per acre are calculated from the weight of roots obtained from 2 rows, each 66 feet long. Q. Do you find the experimental plots and the field cultivation yield about the same on an average? A. Much the same whore the land is of fair average quality. Carrots have given much lighter yields, the average from the best six varieties was twelve tons 567 pounds. Tho crop of potatoes has been unusually large, the average returns from the whole number of varieties tested, which was 104 in all, were 394 bushels 18 pounds per acre. The best twelve sorte have averaged 600 bushels 7 pounds per acre. The largest yielder was a seedling which was originated at the Central Farm, this gave 682 bushels 8 pounds per acre. TREATMKNT OP OATS FOE SMUT. Bxperimenta have also been continued with reference to smut in grain and especially with tho smut which affects oats. This variety of smut has been increasing very much in Manitoba of late years, so much so, that in some localities it baa reduced tho weight of the crop considerably. We have been trying experiments with a new antiseptic. Formalin or Formaldehyde. This is a liquid known in commerce under both those names, and in both instances it consists of a 40 per cent solution of Formaldehyde in water. It is a very strong antiseptic, and wo find that by taking 4^ ounces of formalin, which costs about 6 cents an ounce, and mixing it with 10 gallons of water and steeping the grain in that mixture we get a complete remedy for this trouble. Wo have tried soaking the grain for two houre and for one hour, and we have tried it at Brandon for ten minutes and have found tho result satisfactory in all cases. The grain grown on plots where the seed was so treated was completely free from smut. We are carrying on the same line of experiments this year, as this is one of the roost hopeful things for smut in oats and barley we ha^e over tested. Smut in wheat wo can control well with blue stone, that has now been tried for many years and found to be an effectual remedy. \ I a very which RESUr.TS FROM TEST a HOW I Nil OF CltOI'fl. 10 By Mr. Bell (Pictau) : Q What was the shortest time of soakins": you found efFeotaal? A The shortest time triod wbh 10 minutos. In the past most of tho lomodios used for smut in oats have involved soaking for twenty-four hours, but we began with tho formalin by soaking for two hours. Then at Brandon it was tried by Mr. Bedford for a shorter time, half-«n-hour and subsequently for tittoen and ten minutes, and ho found good results from it all through. This year it is being tested on all the experimental farms for the shorter periods. By Mr. McMilUm: Q What did you say waa the price of the formalin? j *,. , » i „ A We have paid here, buying it at wholesale, 50 oent^ a pound, that Is lesH than 4 cenie an ounce. 1 skid i cents an ounce. I have seen it '^verUsed .n the North-west newspapers at tB cents a pound, that is a little less than 5 cents per ounce. By Mr. Bell (Pictou) : Q. Will it be necessary to saturate the grain or will it do to sprinkle the ■^'"Tl am not yet able to answer that question. One of the expoiiments being tried this year is to sprinkle the grain and nee if that will have the desired effect. By an Honourable Member : Q I suppose you soak one lot of grain and put another in tho same fluid after it? A. Yes, as long as the liquid lasts. By Mr. Bell (Pictou) : la this remedy for sale all over Canada? . . „ . , . „„„ A I think you will have no difiBculty in procuring it f'«™ drug stores in any town or city. The Superintendents of our iforth-west farms have both spoken of Slusefu?;! of this re'medy at meetings in the Nort^-teTha\'?tcaiVe^^oT^^^^^ of more vital importance than it is hero and they inform ™« 1;^;^ ''o^" ^^ Eas biSn now almost everywhere in that part of the country, and I understand it has been used by many farmers for this purpose during the past season. By Mr. McMillan : Q. It dissolves entirely like water ? A. It mixes readily with water in all proportions. By an Honourable Member : Q After you have soaked the oats in this solution do you dry it them then? A. We spread them out for an hour or so before sowing. By Mr. Moore : Q. Were wheat, barley and oats all treated in this way ? effective with amuft m wheat. ig l)H. WM. SA UNliKHS. By the Chairman : Q. ThiH Formalin is tho Ramo artiolo that in u^e^J lor domentic purponoH ft.r doHtroyin^ mo_^ an antiaeptic and ia used al«o in lv)8pitttl« as a gorm destroyer. By Mr. McLaren: Q. Tho ciieeso supply mon all over tho country keep this in stock in larga quantities? 0. In the faotorieH? ^ . ,^ i Q. Those who furnish dairy supplies in the difforont towns in Canada, By Mr. Bell {Pic tou): 0. What Htrongth of bluestone do you use ? . , u i A Ono pound m a pail and a half of water and that is sprinkled on ten l.imhels of oats'. That quantity of tho solution i« ..nough to moiston every kernel ol the ten bu««hel« of wh«at when Htirred well with a shovel. By Mr. McNeill : Q How much of the formalin would bo required to do say ton bushels? A 1 could not nay last what quantity of the fluid would bo required for ton I.UKhels of Krain-Wo recommend 4^ OJi. of the formalin to be mixed with ton Imperial gallons of water. About twenty cento would cover the cost of thi-' quantity. Q How much grain would that sufllioo for. , . * • xl A We have not yet determined that point, our plan has been to immerse the crain in very coarse open sacking in the liquid and leave it there for ten or fifteen minutes then lift it out, allow the liquid to drain and empty the grain out todry. I do not know how many small sackn could be soaked in tliis way in ten Imperial gallons. That would be about a quarter of a barrel. The mixture would cost about eighty cents a barrel. By Mr. McMillan : Q You have never tried just dipping it and taking it out when it is mereljr wet. A. No sir, we should prefer leaving it in for ten minutes. It is well to give It time enough so that every part of tho graia may be well welted. Q. If dipping wou' ' 'o, it could be done so much quicker. A. We are trying t^, year not only soaking for short periods, but also the effect of sprinkling. FLAX, BOJA BIANS, JA PANES* MILLET, &0. Experiments have also been conducted at Brandon with Flax, Soja Beans, Japanese Millot and a number of different varieties of grains and clovers, from which much useful information has been obtained. Experiments have also been carried on to show the usefulness of straw as a fodder for steers. The results of theso tests have shown that the animals do very well with straw if the farmer has not hay, provided he uses with it turnips and ground barley. By an hon. member: Q. Would you cut the straw. A. Yes, by all means. HUULTH FROM TK8T onnWINO OF CHOPS. a HOH for or. D larga hiiHhels 1 of the ? for toil with ton i of thi-^ tierse the or tiftoen odry. r Imperial lOst about irely wet. » give it the effect ■ VATTBNINO «>!•' CHIOKENS. ExDorimcntH havo been oondiiole.1 .it Uru.ulo.. for the punt two vear* in the fattening Zhickenn an.l turlcoyH an.i muoh uneful i''f™^l«? ^-/^^flfX Thone olperimenlH have boon triod by penn.n« one gr-'M'-t b ^ ^ ^^ /^';7' e^.„oa other to ran at lariro. The groups wero c.nml in number and m IHJT tlve pennou Sev8 rained in 24 da vh 11 IbH more th.u. tho tivo running at lur^e and throe mentahavo been carri.d on without crumminK the birdH. They were tod all thoy wo^ld eat. Wo find thut from three to four woekn in :« long an it >« P'"rimb . tj> nuton birds in continemont, and that after thut time it takoB " g,7\^f,«" .^ '"^f i^', evorv round of flcHb added. PJxporimentH this laHt your, 18! 8, with tour 1 lymoutu Roof EkonH ineaohcaHOHhoicd that thoy gained 6-0« lbs. more .n tour wooka when penned than the same numbor of birds allowed to run a. large. By Mr. Calvert : Q. What did the coHt of feeding the birds come to f Pf "'\"5/?i"a^.r,rvl deal A Mr. Bedford entinrntoH it at 3 cents a poun.l, which I notice is a good deal less than the Dairy Commissioner reports us the cost of feeding here. Q I thfnk it fs 6 or 6^ cents per lb., and Mr. Bedford gives us 3 cents per IL I don't know whether the climate has anything to do with it or would make that di (Terence. Q. I cannot say as to that. By Mr. McNeill : 1 The gl: w'.rc,K°tna moUtened, he .aye, for the -.norninB .ne.l .nd fed whole for the evening meal. Q. What was it moistened with ? A. With water. Q. Not with milk? MV^Bed"ltwsTh^^^^^ feed consumed was 7^ lbs. wheat, 3f lbs. oats and 3| lbs bar'ey fbr he 6^6 pounds of gain, and l.o valued the grain at one cent per pound which So 15 cents in all ; so the cost of food per pound of ga.n was about 3 cents lome interesting .xper'iments in fattening chickens were » f « ** ^ Central Farm last year which will be given ^'^^^y Jlr^ ^''^,''^*^„*,5;/rJ''tJ manaffer in his evidence. These experiments seem to show that pou try can bo 3eto iicirseli weight very rapidly when penned and given ah they can oat wUhoit the use'orthe cimminj ma'chin'^B, provided the best breeds are selected tor this purpose. >ja Beans, ■om which carried on bhesc tests not hay, TEUIT AND FOREST TRRKS. Wnrther exDoriments have also made at Brandon with large and small fruits. It is «rtifyinK fo k"ow that the cross-bred varieties of apples, crosses between the thr/o tLes the sSo of the average of the crabs on the tree from which these crosses we'^pi-oducod! tLVc are photographs ot the blossoms, showing the flowers of the HI DR. WM. SAUNDERS. two parents and those of the progeny. The photograph «bo^«/J« ^^^^"/J..*;;! crosi of nearly double the size of those produced on the parent trees. Mr. Shutt kindly made these photographs for me. By Mr. McNeill : 0. The male used in this cross was the Wealthy? . ^ ^. 4u„t A Yes we have need the Wild Siberian crab for the female, for the reason that we have found in other experiments that it is usually the female wh»«h gives con- stitution and hardiness to the progeny. I think that the outlook >« Jf^^^oP*^"^^ for getting some varieties of fruits from this source which will be »;ea"y-y»]"a^l«Jj^ the Nmth-weat country. We shall be able to judge better as to this after we jiave seen the fruits whioh\re now growing, mature. They are growing rapidly and '"^""S/l^Senis have been made on the Brandon farm with forest and ornamental trees, also with ornamental shrubs and flowers The P«opj« "j/f»* part of the Dominion, especially, regard with the greatest pleasure a^^ de'ight^the accession of additional fruits, blooming plants and ornamental shrubs, and th»8 depart, ment of the work of this branch farm is, I think, one of the most useful lines which can be followed. It makes the settlers more contented with their homes when they find that they can grow so many beautiful things about them, and thus make their surroundings attractive. These little things all count in the 'iTf»5„**>« rt„*;fJl I think that the more contented the settlers are the better it will be for the countrr. Much experience is being gained each year as to the hardiness of the different varieties of forest and ornamental trees, shrubs and flowers, and tiie number ot species and varieties found useful in this part of the Dominion is steadily increasing. Many comprehensive experiments have also been carried on at the experimental farm at Brandon by Mr. Bedford, in the testing of vegetables to determine those most suitable to the climate of Manitoba. * I BEANOH BXPEBIMENTAL FAEM AT INDIAN HEAD. At Indian Head, the oat crop in the test plots has averaged less than in Brandon, the whole of the varieties tested having given an average of 61 bush. 30 lbs. to the acre and the best 12 varieties an average of 74 bush. 15 lbs. In field crops they have done better. Buckbee's Illinois has headed the list of the uniform test plots with a crop of 79 bush. 14 lbs. per acre but in the field crops 15 acres of Banner have given an average of 85 bushels while 10 acres of Abundance gave an average of 82 bushels to the acre. By Mr. Moore : Q. You reckon 34 pounds to the bushel, I presume ? A. Yes ; 34 pounds to the bushel. Of the two-rowed barleys the crop has been good ; the six best sorts gave an average crop of 54 bush. 16 lbs. and the largest crop which was given by the Danish Chevalier was 57 bush. 44 lbs. per acre. The average of ail the varieties of two- rowed barley was 45 bush. 37 lbs. The six-rowed barleys have also averaged very well and have been a little more productive than the two-rowed sorts, the best six varieties having given an average of 53 bushels and 6 lbs. per acre, the largent crop being 56 bushels 32 lbs. In Spring Wheat the Indian Head farm has given the largest crops obtained from any of the farms, the average of all the varieties tried having been 36 bushels 10 lbs per acre, an average of 6 bushels 10 lbs higher than that at the Brandon farm, which stands next in the list. The best twelve sorts of spring wheat at the Indian »i ■? f I RESULTS FROM TEST GROWING OF CROPS. , of this r. Shutt Head farm during the past year gave an average of 43 bushels per acre and these varieties have run very even in crop and range as follows :— son that 768 con- leful for able for ve have idly and rest and in that ight the s depart- 38 which aen they \ke their )ple, and country, different imber of creasing, iri mental ine those Brandon, bs. to the they have ts with a lave given S2 bushels 3 gave an he Danish es of two- ittle more n average B obtained 36 bushels idon farm, the Indian * I Vl 1 < J Bush Lb». No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. 45 30 45 20 44 20 43 20 43 10 43 10 42 30 42 30 42 20 *2 10 41 20 40 20 iWhiteFife 2 Percy 3 RedFifu •• 4 Monarch 5 Stanley 6 Wellman'tjFife 7 Captor 8 White Connell 9 White Russian 10 Preston ....« No. 11 Crown • No. 12 Progrebb Looking over the list it will be seen that the first ten come within very close range of eao^ other ; the greatest difference is 3 bush the one at the top prodjxc.ng Sfnd the tenth 42! showing that the averages of the productive sorts have been uniformly high at that farm. By Mr. McNeill: Q How many of these are crosB-bredscrtB? „-.u;„ in A Four out of the ten are cross-breda, and one. the Peroy. stands within 10 lbs. per acre of the highest yielder, which was the White Fife. Q. How abou; the ripening of these hybrids? A They ripen about four davB earlier on the average than the White oi Koa Fife tiklne a series of years. In some seasons the difference is greater and in other SSo^s esl butThat i about the average. This earlier r Pening bab.t has been inherited from the early variety used as one of the parents in this cioss. Ihe Red Fife aS White Fife wheats have been used as one of the parents in these crosBW. ^^^ ^^^^ ^^^^ ^^^^ ^^^ ^ ^^^^ ^^y^ earlier than the Red Fife? Ninlvwitiee of fall wheat were tested la8t J*" ** I'***^ ^ead inBide o^^^^^^^ the hXe enclosures. They wintered well and made very Btrong growth, but rust lu^Kem eady and badly and they gave a very poor yield, the crops averaging from nine to fifteen bushels per acre. £y Mr. McMillan : Q What sort of a hedge was used about this enclosure ? q" I k^oVfaTmer: who^ad rust and Barberry hedges and when the hedges "%'"ThS U iilSb^ Bo! oT^ii^'^tleJtnd we have had Barberry hedg«,. at the Oentfal FaJm and I have nUr been able to detect any difiference in the rusting be- tween the wheatVrown near the hedges and that growing distant from them. There we so many rndft rswhich influenS^crops that is not always safe to d 'aw positive S^noTusTons from such results. I have mentioned this fall wheat expenment\)ecau8e rhaTtried t?g?ow It many time, and have failed. When it does ripen at Indian ntfd It usially matures later than spring wheat and gives a l^hter crop. Pease have Bhown up well at the Indian Head farm, the average of the 47 varic^rLS wasTrt/seven bushels fifty-nine pounds. Jhobes twelve sorts lave an average of forty-soven bushels twenty-seven pounds while the i«rg«8t f felderthlpSf agon gave fifty-seven bushels and fifty pounds. Indian Corn has also rnrfairhr weluTUfan Heid but the crop* were very late. The average of all vStii wreleven tons 1.399 pounds, and^he best six eorte gave an average of i g^ Dti. WM. SAUNDERS. 15 tons 1271 pounds. Tbo crops of tuinipp, of which very few are grown m that Hoction of country, were very fair, the best six varieties tested giving an average of 26 on" 1,658 pounds per ac.-e. The six be.t varieties of mango s gave an average of 28 tons 1 853 Jounds. This is an usually large crop for Indian Head, the season being short there root crops are usually s.nall. Carrots have always given a small yield there, and last year they fell much .hort of turnips and "^angels. In the potato crop Indian Head stands this year above all the other Experi- mental Farms. The 104 varieties which wore tested have given the unprecedented Average of 503 bushels 16 pounds per .cro. Jhe 12 best varieties averaged 652 bushels per acre, and the largest cropper the Polaris, stand, at tho h«ad w''^ ]f^ bushels and 12 pounds per acre. Mr. McKay tells me they have never seen such a crop of potatoes in the North-west Territories as that of last year. The experiments in grasses, which aro so important, have been continued and attract much in^rest. but owing to the very dry spring the crops of hay ^ero ''S^^ th*ere being no rain till June. Fields from which only one crop of Brome gr^^f Jad been taken averaged 1,700 pounds per acre, while a newly sown field last year, notw.th- standing the dry weather, gavo 2 tons 500 pounds per acre. Experiments were begun il the spring of 1898, both at Brandon and Indian Head, with the view of gafning information as to the best plants to sow for plowing "ndf.j/^ «Y'f, ^^^ foil. We have found that looking to the maintenance of the fertility ol the land attempts to grow clover with grain as a nurse crop have a ways been a failure. We find that the grain takes all thS moisture out of the land and that there u not enough moisture left in tho soil after harvest to give the young plants a fair start, and we have never had any results worth ploughing under from such experiments. But by sowing clover on fallow land without a nurse crop we have had a good growth, and wo hope that instead of having a bare fallow p^wy/hn-J year, to sow clover for ploughing down and in this way add to tho fertility of the «oil and thus help future Eropi of grain. On tho plots devoted to this test last year we had dilferent varieties ofclovert we also sowed buckwheat and rape and ploughed these under, for the reason that some farmers advocate the growth of these plant* for that purpose. Those plots vrsre all ploughed under when in the best condition m the autumn and sown with Red Fife wheat in the spring. The yie ds of the different plots w.l be ascertained when the harvest comes on, und we shall then be able to see the results The ests undertaken this year have been in reference to a more permanent rota- tion of crops. We have laid out a series of half-acre plots, leaving some for cheot plots, and these were sown with mammoth rod clover, common red clover, Alsiko clover pease, tares, lucerne, buckwheat, rape and Brome grass, and those 20 half-acre plots have been arranged for a three years' test. The first series of these plots have been sown with clover which will be followed next year with wheat, and then some of them in the third year with wheat and others with oats, following the practice ot some of the farmei-s in the district in regard to this rotation. The next series of plots are occupied this year with grain, and will have clover next year, and the followinc year will be sown with grain. The third series will be in grain for the next two years then following with clovers. It is proposed to carry on this work for a number of years-the pTo's being so arranged as to show every year both the legu- minous crops and the grain crops, I hope that in a few years wo shall thus gain much light on that subject, which is so important m the North-west and be able to demonstrate that the fertility of the land may thus bo maintained for a long period. By Mr. McNeill : Q. Is the land liable to become clover sick ? , .* A We really know very little about clover sickness in this country, unless it be true that there are lands of that character in Prince Edward Island. That is the only part of the country where I have heard any complaint of this peculiar condition. In several instances where farmers have complained of failure in grow- ing clover in Prince Edwai-d Island I^bavo found that the quantity of seed sown was very small about four pounds to the acre. In such case if the seed chanced to be RESULTS FROM TEST a ROWING OF CROPS. 66 .r ■* m^ M) of poor qcality, not ranch success could be expected. Possibly this may be the true explanation of some of the failures reported. Experiments have also been carried on at Indian Head with Horse beans, 8oj» beanf Japanese millet, rape, flax, tares, and Canary grass, and much useful informa- tion iJas been gathered regarding these crops. A large list of vegetables have also been tried to gain further information as to the sorts which are best suited to the climate of the North-west, F0BB8T TRBKS, PBUIT8, ETC., AT INDIAN HEAD. Experiments with forest trees have been continued, especially in the direction of discovering the most economical methods of raising trees from seed such as are floitable for tiat country and of planting and caring for them Many new varieties have also been introdnced there for test. The question was then asked What does it cost to plant and keep up an aero of these trees ? " The total cost per acre for four years under different method * of planting and care has varied from $12 to $15 per acre This includes the cost of planting and keeping the grocnd clean for the wholeofthisperiod.by which time the trees will be large enough to shade the ground and hence require no farther care. That does not however include the cost of growing the young trees for planting. By Mr. Calvert : Q. About how many did you plant to the acre. A We h-'ve been gaining information every year on this subject and have tried them at different distances, but we find that five feet apart each way gives the best resnlta as far as our experience has gone. The great point is to get as early as possible enough foliage to shade the ground and thus prevent the growth of weeds, then the farmer has no trouble with his tree plantation. Our latest experiment has been to plant forest trees and sand cherries in alternate rows about 2J feet apart The sand cherries make very quick growth and spread rapidly over the ground and it is expected that in two years enough shade will be had from the sand cherries so that there will be no farther need for cultivation. The sand cherries would probably die out when the other trees grow large enough to shade the ground thoroughly. In this particular plantation the trees have been arranged so as to permit of cutting out those of least value, leaving permanently those of the most valuable sorts. In this case the ash and the elm are intended eventually to occupy the ground entirely, thev will probably be large enough to serve this purpose in ten years. More than 300 varieties of forest and ornamental trees and shrubs have now been tested at Indian Head during the past ten years and much information gained 08 to their relative hardiness. Sufficient experience has now been gained ^ justify the publicetion of a list of the most hardy and useful species, ^^ich will probably be iMued before the close of the present year. Many sorts of email fruits have been saccflssfallv crcn; currants, gooseberries and raspberries have done well. Stiaw- TrrS h"ve?;tuone so well l^cause the spring frosts so often destroy the blossoms. With^he large fruits we have ae yet had no success. We have tested more than 200 of the hfrdiest varieties of apples from Russia and other parts of northern Europe and almost evei-y yoar they Lave been kille!^?<}^*>»^^\7« J. . „ A The difference at the experimental farm at Agassiz. British Columbia, is 3 hiiKhelH 19 Dounds per acre on the average in favour ot the six-rowed sorts. The beSttwev^e varieties of spring wheat gave 29 bushels 4 pounds per acre ; peas JhavealBO done fairly well, the best twelve sorts having given an average crop °''Vh".:ttoUretrbyTny means phenomenal, and there are. no doubt, some farmers in BrftisS Columbia wL have ilcher land and raise larger crops The land on Darts of the Experimental Farm at Agassiz is vary variable. Much of it was forSy occupied by very large trees, and where these large Douglas firs htv.been removed an eScavaSon Jf about 20 to 30 feet in diameter or more has been uvade in ea"h CRs; to get out the stump. The underlying grave has thus been turned on the ?op, and thesf gravelly patches are very poor in fertility and cannot be expected to produce heavy crops for some years. By Mr. McMillan : Q How has the two-rowed and the six-rowed barley turned out this year ? A On the whole, there was not very much difference; the average of all the varieties on all the farms of the two-rowed sorts was 42 bushels 29 pounds per acre, Xle the rvSrage of all the six-rowed sorts was 43 bushels 11 poun(fs per acre. The selson was very favourable at Agassiz for Indian Corn, and the best six va J^es, cuTgreTfor e^nsilage. have given an average of 31 tons 298 pounds per acre. By an Hon. Member Q That is the corn for fodder, you mean ? , . , . , ... A Yes • cut in the green state. The yield of roots has been much heavier than any we have ever had there before. The best six varietiesof turnips have ave. ged JS tons 262 pounds to the acre, and the best six mangel* gave an average yield of 40 S 572 pounds, while the best six varieties of field carrots gave an average of 36 tons 965 pounds'per acre. The yield of carrots has been in a Vance of any crops of this root we have ever had before. By Mr. Moore : Q. Have you made any experiments with sugar beets ? A Yes but we have found that sugar beets do not usually yield as well as turnip; or mangels. At Agassiz, the beet yield given by any of the sugar beets was RESULTS FliOM TEST d«l«'. fine when fed graen to cattle, and it was preferred both by horses and cattle to any other lood. By Mr. McGregor : O Can you depend upon the growth of these beans in this climate? A. We have tried them here for two years, and they have succeeded very well thus far. Q. Have you tried them further west ? , . .u v^ .v, ^n^f A. Yes; we have tried them in Manitoba and at Indian Head, m the North-west Territories, with fairly good succesB. By Mr. McNeill : O. What kind of a bean are they? t.^„„ A The early Soja bean is a small bean which is cultivated largely in Japan The Japanese grow many varieties of thene beans, and this is one of the earliest maturing sorts. Q. Does it grow like other beans? *• n „.^„„ ;* A. It is much more branching than the horse bonn, and when full grown it stands alout 3 feet 6 in. high, and sometimeH as high as 4 feet We have had the best crops where we have grown them in rows from 15 to 20 inches apart. By Mr. McGregor: Q. They will do well for the silo, will they? A. I think they would do very well for ensilage, but we ha.e not had enough ot them growing at the Experimental Farms to enable us lo test them thoroughly tor this purpose, but we have tried feeding them to cattle, and the cattle eat them readily. They have been analysed by tho Chemist of the Experimental Farms, and they show quite as large a proportion of nitrogen as the horse bean, and will probably bo a useful introduction for feeding purposes. By an hon. meviber : Q. Do the beans ripen at all here ? ^ r^.» ™„ w« A Our season is not usually long enough to ripen them well at Ottawa. Wo cut them just about tho time we cut the corn and the beans are then m a green state; we did get some seed last year, about half a bushel, which we have «own and which has germinated very well, but they don't usually ripen at Ottawa. I have no doubt that they would ripen in western Ontario. By Mr. Clancy ; Q. But for ensilage you have to cut them green anyway? . .,i A. Yes. certainly. I think the difficulty with reference to obtaining seed will probably be removed shortly and that seed will be grown in this country if not in Canada, in some of the warmer climates of the States, and that the seed will then be obtainable at a cheaper rate. ■ .u 4*1 k„«r. onH Some experiments have also been conducted at Agassiz with cattle, sheep and swine. FBUIT QEOWINO AT AGASSIZ. The fruit 'o'-chards at Agassiz now contain probably the largest number of varieties to bo found in any one locality in the world. The large fruits alone include over 2 000 vai ieties. The object in view in bringing together this large number is f « r- < I. V I ( JIHSULTS FROM TEST UROWINd OF CROPS. 69 boans, tho crop 1 fodder, B to any ory well n'th-west in Japan. 3 earliest grown it i the best enough of jghly for n readily, and they •obably bo awa. We in a green sown and %. 1 have ; seed will f if not in rill then be tiheop and number of )ne include number is / « f < M ( I to cain experience with all varietien. Wo dnd people heltlini,' here from d.irtu-etit countries in Europe, enquiring about tho particular varieties ol fruit tl.oy hnvo bocn accustomed to grow in their own country, and information on such points is nuicli appreciated. Further, we are testing varieties from all parts, m. that wo may tiivl mil which will succeed best in this country. Our Superinlendent, Mr. Shaipo leportca hwt year on !)2 varieties of apples which had fruited with him for tho hrst timo, and he had a great deal of success with them ; ho has also reported on a conHiderablo number of now varieties of pears, plums, and cherries and a largo number ot ditferant sorts of small fruits. Some now varieties of plums introduced by us trom France four or five years ago have been found to bo eminently adapted to the climate of British Columbia, and have produced largo crops. Tho same may be said of some varieties of pears. By Mr. McMillan: Q. Have you any experience in growing fruit trees in British Columbia on tho sidesof tho mountains, high up from the valleys? , . ,_, ,-„ ^ , n^n e * A Yos we have orchards of fruit trees at different heights, loO feet, »00 icet, 800 feet, and 1,100 feet above tho valley, and in going over these ast auiumn I had an opportunity of testing the fruit grown at these different heights 1 found that the higher up the fruits wore grown tho healthier were tho trees, iho foliage also was freer from fungus growths. 1 found that gooseberries g.ovvn on theno higher locations were quite free from mildew while those grown in the valley were badly affected. The work in the culture of largo fruits here, covers all the varieties of apples, pear., plums, cherries, peaches, apricots, &c., including in all over 2^00 varieties. Of small fruits there must ho in addition at least 1,000 varieties. Tho work in the testing of forest and ornamental trees and shrubs has also been con- tinued, and much information and experience gained as to tho usefulness of some ot our eastern timber trees in that climate. This closes what I have to say regarding the work in progress at tho branch experimental farms. INFOHMATION ISSUED PROM THE FARMS. Before I conclude I wish to mention one thing in connection with tho work of tho central and branch experimental farms, which the general public seem s^low to recognize, that is the very largo amount of work done by the officers of these farms in imparting information to tho public gene. ally and this work is constantly increasing. Last year the correspondence received at the central experimental farm reached a total of 57,204 letters. 25,147 of the^e were answered, the other 32,000 were such communications as could be replied to by circulars pa. tly 'f ."^I^olly F'nt«d. More than 150,000 of printed circulars were sent out. At Nappan 1,573 letteis weio fece?vei!and answers^ero sent to 1,384; at Brandon 4.670 letters were received and 3.584 answered; at Indian Head 4,702 letters were received^ and 5.075 letters sent out; while at Agassiz 1,520 letters were received, and 1,400 answered This represents a sum total of nearly 70,000 letters received at the experimental Jams last year of which 36,590 had written replies sect to them. In addi ion 215 000 bulSs and reports were sent out. There is thus a constant flow of mfor^iation gS ng out from Sll the experimental farms to the public from day to day all through the year, which has already produced eminently good results and which must in time confer still greater benefits on the agricultural interests ot Canada. By Mr. McGregor: Q. In planting an orchard in tho west would you rather plant in the spring or ^''^ A^.'"Our experience here is altogether in favour of spring planting. I under- stand that you are speaking of Western Ontario ? DR. WM. SAUNDERS, ! A Whilo your conditions in Woefern Ontario oro very ditfcient from ours, and in'nomo soa.onH it would be quite .afo to plant troos in the fall, yet «« yo« "e never sure of the kind of winter you are going to have, I think it is much eatoi to plant in the spring. Having rood over the preceding transcript of my evidence i find it correct. WM. SAUNDERS, Director Dominion Experimental Farms. y ■§ !. %. f I it .im i t > l iii <»i>i i u i mmi'mmmmmmn I immpi^Tf