DATE DUE Agricultural Experiment Station LIBRARY. N@... +t teeta neeemen CEREALS. AND ROOT CROPS EVIDENCE (/© gant “\ (is 9, por | OF \ , iS cee £ \ 8 DR. WILLIAM SAUNDERS BEFORE THE SELECT STANDING COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE AND COLONIZATION PRINTED BY ORDER OF PARLIAMENT TTL gy aif As advance sheets of the Committee's Final Report : OTTAWA PRINTED BY 8. E. DAWSON, PRINTER TO THE KING'S MOST EXCELLENT MAJESTY 1902 — | oo University Library ‘tii win s and root crops.Eviden CONTENTS CEREALS AND ROOT CROPS, 5-62. The crops of 1901, 5. Results from correct methods, 5. Indian Head Experi- mental Station, 6. Process in cross fertilization, 8. Seeding oats—quantity per acre, 9. Preston wheat vs. Red Fife, 9. Barley—varieties and yields, 10. Beets—varie- ties and yields, 10. Potatoes—varieties and yields, 11. Crop yields on private farms, 12. The crops of 1901 in Manitoba, 16. Distribution of seed for the season of 1902, 17. West side of Southern Alberta, its inhabitants,—The Galt irrigation canal, 20. A Mormon settlement, 20. The Crow’s Nest Pass District, 29. Farm crops in British Columbia, 30. Value of ensilage as a cattle food, 31. The growing of sugar beets for manufacture of sugar, 36. Results obtained in the course of seven years’ experience in test growing of crops at the Dominion experimental farm stations, ‘42. The fertilizing value of green clover demonstrated, 47. Tree growing in the North- west, for the protection of crops, 53. Sable Island, 58. Brome grass pasture for fat- tening stock, 60. DR. WM. SAUNDERS CEREALS AND ROOT CROPS. Hotse or Commons, CoMMITTEE Room 34, Tuespay, March 11, 1902. The Select Standing Committee on Agriculture and Colonization met this day at 11 o’clock a.m., Mr. Legris, Chairman, presiding. Dr. Winuiam Saunpers, Director of the Dominion Experimental Farms, was pre- sent by request of the Committee, and testified as follows :— Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen, it always affords me pleasure to appear before the Committee on Agriculture and Colonization, because I have thus an opportunity of presenting from year to year some particulars for your information as to the practical work going on in connection with the experimental farms of which I have charge, and your criticisms also are a benefit, which are gladly received. They are always made in a kindly spirit, and whether they reflect creditably or otherwise on my work I am always glad to have them for my guidance. THE crops or 1901. During the past season the success attending the operations of the farmer has been somewhat varied in different parts of the Dominion. In some districts the results have been highly encouraging, while in others some important crops have fallen short of the average yield, while other crops, equally important, have been above the average. As to agricultural returns as a whole, bearing in mind the prices that have been realized for produce, the Canadian farmer has not had much ground for complaint. In some districts the crops have been unusually large and profitable. Among those most highly favoured are the great plains which form what is known as the Canadian North-west, comprising Manitoba and the North-west Territories. In some parts of the Territories the crops have been exceptionally heavy; heavier than they have ever been known to be before. RESULTS FROM CORRECT METHODS. While much of this is due no doubt to favourable conditions of weather, a con- siderable portion of this increase is fairly attributable to improved methods of farm- ing, and one almost invariably finds, that the heaviest crops are produced by the best farmers. The summer fallowing of land in the North-west has greatly increased its crop-producing power. Before the establishment of the experimental farms this prac- tice was almost unknown. Our superintendent at Indian Head, Mr. A. Mackay, was one’ of the first to experiment along this line and having thoroughly satisfied himself of its advantages, has been a most persistent advocate of this practice, and has demon- strated its utility so often at the experimental farm at Indian Head, that a large pro- portion of the farmers in that portion of the country have been induced to follow his example. The method of summer fallow advocated by Mr. Mackay, superintendent at the experimental station, is described by him as follows :— 6 THE DIRECTOR, EXPERIMENTAL FARYUS ‘Plough deep (seven to eight inches) before the last of June and cultivate the surface several times during the growing season. Sufficient moisture is thus conserved for a dry year, and not too much for a wet one. There are few or no weeds, as all the seeds near the surface have germinated and been killed. For the past fourteen years the best and cleanest grain has been grown on fallow worked this way. This method is generally applicable in Eastern Assiniboia, but needs to be somewhat modi- fied in portions of Alberta and Saskatchewan, where the conditions of moisture are usually different.’ The modifications needed are given by Mr. Mackay, as he gains ex- perience from time to time in his annual report. INDIAN HEAD EXPERIMENTAL STATION, At the experimental farm at Indian Head, the crops have been heavier this year than ever before. The highest yielding wheat in the experimental plots there this sea- son was the Mason, a cross between Colorado and Gehun, which gave at the rate of sixty-seven bushels per acre. The Huron, a cross between the Red Fife and Ladoga, came next with 66 bushels and 40 pounds. There were 71 varieties of wheat in the trial plots at the experimental farms this year, and the average of the whole of them at Indian Head was 55 bushels 49 pounds per acre. Wheat.—In the field crops the Preston wheat gave the largest yield. A five acre field of this variety averaged on summer tallowed land 5+ bushels, 54 pounds per acre ‘over the whole area. a (A sample of the crop of this field was produced and handed to the Committee). A similar field of Red Fife also on summer fallow averaged 49 bushels per acre, showing an advantage in the field crops in favour of the Preston, this year, of 4 bushels d+ pounds to the aere. Oats.—In oats the Abundance heads the list, I have a sample with me of the crop which was produced on one of the plots. and which gave at the rate of 147 bushels and 2 pounds per acre, that is from the trial plots. (Sample produced and exhibited to Committee). By Mr. Davis : Q. How much per acre ? A. 147 bushels and 2 peunds. Mr. Robinson (Elgin): Q. Is the Mason a red wheat ? A. I am not quite sure of that, I have not a sample of it with me. My impression is that it is red. By Mr. Davis : Q. Is this a sample of the oats ? A. This is a sample of the oats which produced 147 bushels 2 pounds per aere. Q. Is that by measure or weight ? A. Everything is taken by weight at the experimental farms, the bushel of oats is 34 pounds. You understand this was the result on an experimental plot of one-tenth of an acre. Q. What was the result in the field crop ? A. I will give you that presently. Of course the small plots produce usually a larger yield than the field crops. These plots are comparatively small and are separat- ed from each other by a path 4 feet in width and that gives a clear space around each plot, and such margins usually result in heavier production. FARM CROPS OF CANADA IN 1901 T By Mr. Robinson (Elgin): Q. What variety of oats did you say gave that result 2° A. The Abundance, This is an oat which was imported by the experimental farm some nine or ten years ago from the firm of Vilmorin & Andricux, the celebrated seedsmen of Paris. Mr. H. Vilmorin visited the Central farm about that time, and he recommended this oat, and it has done very well at the various farms, and this year it has given the highest crop at Indian Head in the field as well as on the experimental plot. At Brandon also it has given the heaviest field crop, but does not stand at the head in the experimental plots. By Mr, Clancy : Q. What is the history of that variety in the other provinces during the ten years you have had it ? Has it been valuable as a whole. I do not wish to divert your at- tention from the matters you are dealing with now ? A. I can give you that with pleasure. The experience with the Abundance oat for six and seven years giving the average of its yield at all the experimental farms has been 70 bushels 20 pounds per acre. By Mr. Davis: Q. That is for the whole Dominion ? Q. Yes. I can give you the average also here, in this province, At Ottawa it hag given an average of 59 bushels 29 pounds per acre for the past seven years. By Mr. Clancy : Q. That is not quite up to some of the other varieties. A. No. It has not come up here to the Banner which has given an average of 65 bushels 30 pounds per acre during the same time. By Mr. Davis : Q. It seems to be a sort suitable for western Canada 2 A. It seems as if the conditions this year have just suited that oat, and it has given a somewhat higher yield than usual, although it has generally ranked with the best. The average for the best 12 sorts of oats at Indian Head was 132 bushels 27 pounds, and the average of all the varieties tried, 64 in all, was 109 bushels 8 pounds, showing that the crop of oats to have been unprecedently large, including all varieties. In field crops the Abundance has also taken the lead having given on a five acre field an average of 124 bushels 20 pounds per acre. Banner stands next, with an aver- age of 117 bushels per acre, on a field of 113 acres. I was at Indian Head just before the oats were cut, and I may say I never saw such a solid mass of heads as there were on those fields, and it was not only at the experimental farm, but all over the district it was very much the same way. By Mr. Robinson (Elgin): Q. What length would the straw be ? A. In many instances it would be five feet, five and a half feet and in some cases 6 feet high. It was a wonderful sight. Q. Did the oats lodge at all ? A. Very rarely. One sometimes saw a field in which there were spots where it lodged, but on the whole it stood up very well indeed. The Tartar King, a new variety recently imported from England of which I think I have a sample here— (Sample produced for inspection of Committee). 8 THE DIRECTOR, EXPERIMENTAL FARMS By Mr. Davis : Q. Have you a sample there of that White Banner oat of which you have just been talking ? . A. Yes; here is the sample of the Banner oats grown on the trial plot from which we obtained at the rate of 129 bushels 14 pounds to the acre. That was a larger crop than was got from the field. : Q. You said that the crop was 117 bushels on the field ? A. Yes ; that is correct, the Banner oat gave 117 bushels per acre as an average for 114 acres. A sample of the Abundance oats was also shown. The Tartar King, a sample of which I have just passed out for the inspection of the members of the Committee, is a variety which was recently produced in England by the firm of Garten Bros. The members of this firm have been working much along the lines in which we have been working in this country, in the cross fertilizing of grain, and this oat is one of the results. It has not done very well at Ottawa this past season, but at Indian Head it has given an average of 104 bushels 10 pounds per acre on 34 acres. It is a very strong strawed variety with a large kernel. PROCESS IN CROSS FERTILIZATION, By Mr. Clancy: Q. What do you mean by cross fertilizing ? A. In the process of cross fertilizing two varieties are selected for this purpose, the green head of the sort which is to serve as the female is taken just as it is coming into flower when the flower case is opened and the male organs in the flower, the stamens, taken out before the fertilizing pollen which they contain is ready to be shed. They are removed while still green, and ripe pollen is brought from the other variety chosen as the male, and applied to the pistil of the flower of the oat, and if the opera- tion is successful you get one single kernel from each flower operated on, and each kernel gives you a more or less distinct variety. From that single kernel a large quantity is gradually produced by sowing the seed obtained from year to year. Of course it takes some years before you get any large quantity of such new sorts, but it is astonishing how rapidly the stock can be increased by systematic work. By Mr. Beil: Q. How much of the Preston wheat is there available ? A. I cannot say, but I should think there would be many earloads of it now. It has been grown a good deal in the North-west recently. By Mr. Hughes (Victoria): Q. What is the weight per bushel of the oats this year on the average 2? A. In the North-west they will run from 37 to 38 pounds, and sometimes as high as 40 to 42, but that is unusually heavy. The oats we have been distributing have all of them gone several pounds over the standard ot 34 pounds, most of them four or five pounds over that standard. By Mr. McEwen: Q. Would that be just as it comes from the threshing or cleaning or would it be clipped in any shape ¢ A. We always clean the oats thoroughly and in some instances, where the varieties have a long beard, we run them through a machine that takes this of. Tt makes a better sample, they go in smaller compass, and their vitality is not injured by this pro- cess. FARM CROPS OF CANADA IN 1901 9 Q. When you spoke of these 42 pounds, would they be clipped ? A. Yes; mostly, but not always. SEEDING OATS—QUANTITY PER ACRE, By Mr. McLennan: Q. How much oats do you think it is advisable to sow in an acre ? A. We have found two bushels of oats gives on the whole the best results, there is, however, a good deal of difference in practice in different parts of the country. In the maritime provinces some farmers sow three bushels to the acre, and some as much as four bushels. From all the experience we have gained, this would seem to be a wicked waste of seed and I think that two and a half bushels in any part of this Do-, minion is enough, unless where a man is sowing oats on rough ground and broadcasts it, when it will sometimes take a little more. When oats are sown on ordinary land and by machine two bushels usually give us the best results. PRESTON WHEAT vs. RED FIFE. a By Mr, Davis: Q. What is the history of this Preston wheat ? A. The history of Preston wheat goes back to 1888. In the spring of that ycar this wheat was produced by crossing the Ladoga with the Red Fife. The Red Fife was taken as the male and Ladoga as the female—and the wheat takes somewhat after both parents, although the grain resembles the Red Fife more than the Ladoga. Q. Is it any earlier ? A. It is 3 to 4 days earlier on the average. Q. Than Red Fife ? A. Yes. Q. That is an advantage ? A. It is under some circumstances a great advantage. By Mr. Sproule Q. Why is it named Preston ? Is it after W. T. R. ? A. No; itis not. There were two wheats in this instance produced from the same kernel, twins if I may so call them, one bearded and the other beardless. One was called Stanley and the other Preston, the names being suggested in connection with one of our highly esteemed governors. : By Mr. Hughes (Victoria): Q. How do you find the quality of the flour or fall wheat compare with Red Fife and Ladoga ? A. If Col. Hughes will pardon me I will refer to the fall wheats presently. By Mr. Davis: Q. Is there a large quantity of this Preston wheat being raised in the west ? A. A considerable quantity. Q. How does it grade, do they take it the same as Fife ? ‘A, Iam not-sure it is being offered for sale to any extent. Most of it is kept for secd. I sent a sample to England last year and it was submitted to an eminent ex- pert there by the High Commissioner, and he formed a good opinion of it. Q. If they take that wheat as readily as Red Fife and it is four days earlier in maturing, it would prove a very valuable wheat for the west ? 1 10 THE DIRECTOR, EXPERIMENTAL FARMS A. I may say that it has vielded remarkably well, the average result for a seven years trial at all the experimental farms has been °3 bushels 53 pounds to the acre, a slightly higher yield than has been obtained from any other sort. By Mr. Bell: Q. On experimental plots ? A. Yes; it is from experimental plots that these averages are taken. Wellman’s Fife comes next on the list with 33 bushels 8 pounds, an advantage of 50 pounds in favour of Preston, whereas Red Fife during the same period gave 32 bushels 30 pounds per acre. By Mr. Davis: Q. The yield is better, and it takes a shorter time to mature ? A. Yes. Q. But its grading has not been established yet ? A. No. I hope to have that thoroughly investigated this year. The grain crops of which I have been speaking, produced at Indian Head were all grown on summer fallowed land. You cannot get such large crops there on land with any other preparation than summer fallowing. BARLEY—VARIETI“S AND YIELDS. The best six varietics of six-rowed barley gave an average of 64 bushels 1 pound per acre at Indian Head, Odessa heading the list with 68 bushels 36 pounds. In the two-rowed varieties the best six sorts have given an average of 60 bushels 33 pounds. A newly imported variety known as Standwell, also a product of the Garton Bros., England, heads the list with a yield of 67 bushels 44 pounds per acre. Peas.—The best twelve varieties of pease at Indian Head have averaged 57 bushels 43 pounds per acre. The Oddfellow heads the list with a yield of 66 bushels. Indian corn, which is usually a light crop at Indian Head, has given an average from the best six sorts cut green for ensilage of 25 tons 493 pounds per acre. By Mr. McEwan: Q. Have the bugs got there yet ? A. No; pease grown there are as yet free from the pea bug. The best six variet- ies of turnips returned an average product of 37 tons 954 pounds pcr acre. Root Crops.—Mangels produced 29 tons 586 pounds per acre. Carrots gave a light crop, an average for the best six varieties of 12 tons 1212 pounds per acre, while the best four varicties of sugar beets yielded at the rate of 27 tons 1440 pounds per acre. I give you these particulars to show that the high yields have run all through the more important agricultural products in that country. BEETS—VARIETIES AND YIELD. By Mr. Hughes (Victoria): Q. What is the average tonnage of beets in Ontario ? A. I think it is usually given as about 14 tons. Q. And up west it is nearly double that # A. It is so on these plots at Indian Head, but that does not necessarily mean that the yield would be the same in large tields. FARM CROPS OF CANADA IN 1901 11 By Mr. Kendall : Q. How does the saccharine matter develop in these bects ? A In Manitoba the beets analysed by the chemist of the experimental farms last year gave results which were rather disappointing in that respect. They did not show a sufficient percentage of sugar to be profitably worked. I am not aware that any were analysed from Assiniboia, but those which were tested from Alberta were very satis- factory. The beets sent from both southern and northern Alberta were very rich in sugar. Q. Can you give us an idea as to the proportion of sugar they would be likely to yield in a series of years ? A. We have not enough experience to permit the offering of an opinion on that point. I can give you the average crop at Indian Head for the past six years, but we do not know enough about this crop yet to say how the season may influence the pro- duction of sugar. At Indian Head, the average yield has been 16 tons 1432 pounds to the acre, and at the experimental farm at Brandon it has been 27 tons 152 pounds. By Mr. Clancy: Q. These are on plots ? A. Yes, By Mr. Stephens: Q. Can you give us the average percentage of saccharine matter in the beets grown in Ontario ? A. Not accurately, they run from 12 to 14 per cent, I think, but I cannot give you the exact figures. These have been published in the reports of the chemist of the Do- minion experimental farms and also by the chemist of the Ontario Agricultural College at Guelph. Our chemist, Mr. Shutt, who will appear before you shortly, will no doubt be able to give you more definite information on this point. By Mr. Davis: Q. You say the sugar beets in Alberta are better than those in Assiniboia ; how do they compare with Ontario ? A. I said the sugar beets analysed from Alberta had given a higher percentages during the past year than those from Manitoba. They are also I think higher in sugar content than those grown in Ontario. Mr. Shutt, however, will be able to give you more exact information on that point. Of course we have only had a limited number of tests, but the samples have come from several different localities and in each case they have shown a bigh percentage. Q. I suppose that more moisture or something of that kind has something to do rrith it ? A. It is very difficult to give the reasons for these things. Potatoes——Potatoes at Indian Head have given marvellous yields during the past ueason, the tubers being of excellent quality. The most productive 12 sorts have given an average crop of 620 bushels 3 pounds per acre; Carman, No. 1, heading the list with 663 bushels 28 pounds per acre. Q. That is in one place ? In another place the yield might not be the same ? A. Certainly. -By Mr. Robinson: Q. Is the Carman a white potato ? A. Yes, it is. re TEE DIRECTOR, EXPERIMENTAL FARMS From the figures given it will be seen that the crops have been very good all the way through at Indian Head except the carrots. The large crops in Eastern Assiniboia were not by any means confined to the experimental farm. By Mr. Lovell: Q. Do they have any trouble there with the potato bug # A. There is no potato bug which is any serious trouble. By Mr. Davis: Q. When you say that, what do you mean ? I never heard of a potato bug in the west ¢ A. I must give a word of explanation. There are several native beetles there which feed on the potato vines, varieties of blistering beetles which some times do a considerable amount of injury. These are commonly known as potato beetles or potato bugs. I have never seen the genuine Colorado beetle in that part of the Do- minion. Mr. Davis.—There is not anything of the kind ? By Mr, Lovell: Q. These are not considered as so destructive ? A. No; not as destructive as the Colorado beetle. CROP YILLDS ON PRIVATE FARMS. After the threshing was completed Mr. Mackay at my request visited 32 farmers residing between Grenfell and Moosejaw, covering about 120 miles of territory, and procured from them signed certificates which certificates I have with meas to the area they had under crop and their vield, and he secured in each case a two bushel bag as a sample. These samples have just been received in Ottawa a few days ago, and examples are being prepared to send to the exhibitions at Woolverhampton and Cork and some will be preserved to show at the St. Louis exhibition, and others will be pre- served for future exhibitions. I will give you some of the statements sent in by these farmers. Here is one from Mr. Johnston, of-Qu'Appelle. He had 80 acres and grew 3,600 bushels of Red Fife wheat, an average ot 45 bushels to the acre. Mr. R. Alexander, of Regina, on 49 acres, grew 2,117 bushels, an average of 43 bushels ta the acre. Mr. Stueck. of Abernethy, had only one acre of land in summer-fallow, and from this he got 62 bushels. That is the highest yield we have heard of in field culture. By Mr. Clancy : Q. It weuld appear that this wheat has been carefully screened, and that tha smaller grains. although perfect, have been taken out. : pe Se A. Yee. Tt las heen sercened since we received it. We usually take out the very small grain when preparing samples for exhibition. By Mr. Robinson (Elgin) : Q. Thege samples would all rank as No. 1 hard % A. No, I think not; some of them are a little bleached. I think the 1d py: about No. 1 Northern. y would grade FARM CROPS OF CANADA IN 1901 13 Mr, R. O, Miller, of Moosejaw, had forty acres, and raised 1,800 bushels, an aver- age of forty-five bushels.. Mr. Keil, of Lumsden, Assiniboia, had 100 acres, and got 5,000 bushels, an average of fifty bushels per acre. Hon. Mr. Perley, of Woolesley, had 7,600 bushels from 200 acres, an average of thirty-eight bushels, but in Mr. Perley’s case only a part of the land was summer- fallowed, and he did not keep the grain separate. On the summer-fallowed land he would have no doubt in the neighbourhood of forty-five bushels, and on the other land a less proportion, By Mr. Davis : Q. This Moosejaw wheat is the best grain you have here ? A. The Moosejaw crops have turned out very well. I have received a number of other samples, but these shown you are all I was able to get ready this morning. / Mr. Joseph Gibson, of Indian Head, threshed 22,000 bushels of wheat from 500 acres, part summer-fallow, part breaking and back-setting, an average of forty-four bushels an acre. ; 7 Mr. T. Livingstone, of Indian Head, had 9,000 bushels from 180 acres, an average of fifty bushels per acre. Mr, George Lang, of Indian Head, had 3,760 bushels of wheat from eighty acres, an average of forty-seven bushels per acre. ; J. Strong, of Rocanville, had 4,500 bushels from 100 acres, an average of forty- five bushels per acre. I, Kei], of Lumsden, had 5,000 bushels from 100 acres, an average of fifty bushels per acre. That sample we have here. A, Kindred, of Moffat, had 3,375 bushels from seventy-five acres, an average of forty-five bushels per acre. Mr. C. E. Cullum, of Regina, had 1,880 bushels from forty acres, an average of forty-seven bushels. R. Alexander, of Regina, had 2,117 bushels from forty-nine acres, an average of forty-three bushels per acre. H. Donett, of Moosejaw, had 600 bushels from twelve acres, an average of fifty bushels per acre. : John Ranatt, of Moosejaw, had 1,880 bushels from forty acres, an average of forty-seven bushels per acre. 'J. K. Pearce, of Regina, threshed 810 bushels from 15 acres, an average of 54 bushels per acre. : These are all wheat crops, and I think all Red Fife, grown on summer-fallowed land, and go to show the fine crops which the farmers of that district can grow with the best system of farming. . George Hyde, of Grenfell, had 705 bushels from fifteen acres, an average of forty- . seven bushels per acre. By Mr. Henderson : Q. I notice that nearly all of your reports are from the Territories. How do these averages compare with the land in Manitoba, such as the Portage plains, which have been cultivated for many years ? A. The Dominion covers a large area, and you can only take one part ata time. I was going to come to that before the committee when I got through with the Terri- tories. My object in bringing these details before the committee was. to show that the large crops were not confined to the Experimental Farm at Indian Head, but that the benefits which the farm conferred were influencing the whole country around, and in some instances the farmers have had larger crops than those grown at the Indian Head Experimental Farm. 14 THE DIRECTOR, EXPERIMENTAL FARYS Q. My only point was, I wondered whether the land was giving out or maintaining its fertility and producing as good’ results as it did when we had the virgin soil in Manitoba over thirty years ago ? *A. I think on the Portage plains, where in many instances twenty to twenty-five crops have been taken off, the yield is not so large, although the average for Manitoba is pretty nearly the same as the average which the Territorial government has given for the Territories, that is, about twenty-five bushels. But you must bear in mind that in the Territories there are probably a larger proportion of inexperienced farmers, and a good many that have sown their grain on fresh ploughed land and stubble, and have given it very little cultivation, and you have to take these small crops and put them with the larger ones, and that brings down the average to twenty-five bushels. By Hon. Mr, Fisher : ' Q. With regard to the average, I suppose that is for the actual area of wheat in any one year without reference to how much summer-fallowing there was to it ? A. Certainly, it takes in the whole area in wheat for the year. Q. I think, in Manitoba there is a larger area in summer-fallow there, alternately, or every second year, than there is in the Territories in proportion, is there not ? A. I think, perhaps, there is. There is not so much summer-fallowing of land .in Southern or Northern Alberta; the largest amount of summer-fallowing is in East- ern Assiniboia. Q. Is there as much in proportion as there is in Manitoba ? A. I think probably there is as large a proportion in that part of the Territories ag there is in Manitoba, but taking the whole wheat area in Manitoba, there is a larger proportion of summer-fallowing than there is in the whole of the wheat land in the Territories. Q. But the yield from summer-fallow will be greater ? A. Yes, much greater, By Mr. Davis : Q. The samples you have here are nearly all from Eastern Assiniboia, from the districts surrounding the farm ? A. Yes. Q. You have no means of getting samples from the other districts, from Saskatche- wan, for example. Of course, there is no experimental farm there, and you have no means, I suppose, of getting information from that district 7 A. Oh, yes, we have received a number of samples from all parts of- the North- west, as there are farmers everywhere who co-operate with usin testing the best varie- ties. It is not practicable to bring a very large number of samples with me here, and among those chosen this morning I do not appear to have brought any from that dis- trict. Q. But it is natural that the farmers in the districts surrounding the experimental farms obtain greater advantages from them than those at a distance ? A. There is no doubt that the people living near the experimental farms have a greater opportunity of benefiting from the work of the farms than those who live 200 or 800 miles away. But farmers everywhere can receive the reports of the farm containing all the results of the experiments if they apply for them, and they can then read for themselves and learn what results have been obtained, and in this way every farmer can derive profit from the work we do. They can also get samples from the farms for tests, of the most productive and best sorts of grain, which are sent free to all those who ask for them. Q. As it is now, you raise a sample of wheat like that on the experimental farm in Assiniboia in the Territories, which answers the requirements of that particular sec- tion very well, but the Territories are so large that it might not be any good in another FARM CROPS OF CANADA IN 1901 15 part. That sample of Preston wheat you gave us a description of, if you had it sown in Saskatchewan and a sample of the result returned to you, you would know whether it was good for use in that district or not. It might be a good wheat in Assiniboia, and useless in Saskatchewan or Northern or Southern Alberta ? A. We have, however, sent a good many samples of Preston and other good sorts of grain to farmers in Saskatchewan and Northern Alberta district, but there has not been very much grain as yet grown in Southern Alberta. Q. I say the officers at the experimental farms should pay a little more attention to the outlying districts and not so much to those closer around home, because they have been having the benefit of the farms in their neighbourhood for very many years? A. I shall be glad to say something as to what we have been doing in Saskatchewan and Alberta. Q. We have certainly seen very little of the officials in Saskatchewan ? A. We have had the superintendent of the experimental farm for the Terri- tories, Mr, A. Mackay, and our entomologist, Dr. J. Fletcher, held a series of meetings each summer for the past two years in different parts of Saskatchewan, and last win- ter our agriculturist, Mr. Grisdale, held a number of meetings with Mr. Mackay in Southern Alberta. I have visited parts of these districts myself five times within the past few years, but the country is so Jarge that it is not possible to get over it very often. I am sure we have given as much attention, and more, to Saskatchewan in the way of visits of our officers, than we have to many other parts of the country. By Mr. Robinson (Elgin) : Q. The people out at Saskatchewan can get their reports from the department the same as anybody else, can they not ? A. Yes, certainly, and they do get them in large numbers. I hope the member for Saskatchewan will consider it his duty if he finds that any part of his constituency is lacking in information regarding the work of the ex- perimental farms to see that the farmers there receive the reports and bulletins. Every- one who applies for copies can get them. I beg to call your attention to Senator Perley’s sample of oats. Te has grown last year on twenty-five acres, 2,250 bushels, an average of ninety bushels to the acre, Q. What variety is that ? A. The ‘Banner.’ A number of other people have also had good crops of oats. Mr. Cullum, of Regina, had 1,870 bushels from seventeen acres, an average of 110 bushels to the acre. Mr. Thos. Wilkie, of Pense, had 5,025 bushels from fifty acres, an average of a little over 100 bushels per acre. R. Alexander, of Regina, had 4,080 bushels from forty acres, an average of 102 bushels to the acre, and John Ranatt, of Moosejaw, had 1,800 bushels from eighteen acres, an average of 100 bushels per acre. By, Mr. Clancy : Q. Has not this year been an exception, rather, in respect to crops ? A. Yes, it has been so; the crops have been unusually large, but what I was try- ing to make clear was, also, that while we have had unusual crops at Indian Head, the farmers throughout this part of the country have participated in this general in- -erease wherever they have been farming after the manner our Superintendent at In- dian Head has advised them to follow. Q. Well, it is quite possible, with the best methods of farming, if the season is against them, the result may be bad? A. Yes, the season has probably more to do with the crop in the west than any- thing else, 16 THE DIRECTOR, EXPERIMENTAL FARMS THE crops oF 1901 IN MANITOBA Whcats.—The crops in Manitoba, although not quite so heavy were very fine. At the experimental farm at Brandon the best twelve varieties of spring wheat gave an average return of thirty-six bushels fifty-seven pounds to the acre, the Goose wheat heading the list with a vield of forty-two bushels. The Goose, however, is a ‘hard trans- lucent wheat, not very glutinous, and is not much in demand in Manitoba, although it sells at a very good figure in Ontario, where it is bought by exporters to send to France and Germany and other countries, where it is used very largely. By Mr. Robinson (Elgin): Q. It has more value now than formerly ? A. Yes, there is a larger demand for it now than there was a few years ago. But whether our own millers use any of it I do not know, but the demand abroad is quite large. It is an excellent wheat for the making of macaroni or pie crust, or any kind of pastry where a light porous dough is not required, and in France that wheat is regarded as one of the best wheats for bread-making. They do not care for a very light porous bread, but prefer bread which is more solid, and the Goose wheat and all that class of wheat known there as hard wheats, varieties of Triticum durum, are re- garded as of superior quality even to our Red Fife wheat in the North-west. But when you get to England there is a different standard there, and the highly glutinous wheats of the North-west are much preferred. It will thus be seen that markets can be found for all sorts of wheats. In oats, the average of the best twelve sorts at the Brandon experimental farm gave 88 bushels 10 pounds per acre, the heaviest crop being that of the Early Maine, which gave 91 bushels 26 pounds per acre. ‘ Barleys.—In six-rowed barleys, the best six sorts averaged 46 bushels 12 pounds per acre, Mensury taking the lead with 48 bushels 16 pounds. The best six sorts of two-rowed barleys yielded somewhat less, averaging 41 bushels 42 pounds per acre, the highest yielder being the Jarvis, one of the new hybrid sorts, which have been pro- duced at the experimental farms. Pease also did very well there, the twelve best sorts giving an average of 40 bushels 18 pounds per acre, the Paragon heading the list with 43 bushels to an acre. Indian corn was a good crop at Brandon last year, and cut green for ensilage, gave an average of 21 tons 1,472 pounds per acre, The best six sorts of turnips gave an average return of 28 tons 1,860 pounds per acre. The six best sorts of mangels yiclded an average of 38 tons 164 pounds per acre. The six most productive sorts of carrots averaged 19 tons 1,673 pounds per acre. and the four heaviest yielding sugar beets gave an average of 25 tons 1,420 pounds per acre, By Mr, Robinson (Elgin) : Q. How is the soil prepared for mangels and carrots 2? A. By summer-fallowing. Q. And manure ? A. Sometimes barnyard manure is used. It is not practical, however, to use this manure to any extent, as it makes the soil open and porous and produces unfavourable conditions if the season is very dry. The best twelve varieties of potatoes at Brandon yielded an average of 597 bushels and three pounds per acre. These figures indicate the excellence of the crops all through the Canadian North-west. Since the general law that like produces like has a bearing on seed grain, it was deemed important to secure our main supplies of seed grain for distribution this year FARM CROPS OF CANADA IN 1901 17 among farmers throughout the Dominion from these phenomenal western crops, and several carloads have been brought to Ottawa for this purpose. By Mr, Davis : Q. I want to ask you a question about these potatoes; what is the best, the one that is the most prolific and gives best yields; what is the name of it @ A, The same variety will not give the same results in the different parts of the Dominion. At Ottawa the Holborn Abundance has averaged the largest crop during a seven-years’ test. Q. Give us the North-west ? A. Fhe American Giant stands at the head of the list at Indian Head in a test of. six years, and the Carman No. 1 at Brandon. Q. For six years ? A. Yes. The average yield for six years of the Carman No. 1 at Brandon was 394 bushels 57 pounds, and the average of the American Giant at Indian Head for the same period was 494 bushels 50 pounds. Q. To the acre ? A. Yes, to the acre, as an average of six years’ testing. By Mr. Richardson : Q. How many bushels did the Carman No. 1 give to the acre ? A. 394 bushels 57 pounds, a very good yield, By Mr. Davis : Q. Is it a white potato ? A. Yes, it is a white potato. By Mr. Clancy : Q. Does it stand high outside of its quality of yielding largely ? A. Yes, it is a potato of the best quality and is one that we are distributing largely. At Indian Head the same variety has given an average crop for six years of 408 bushels 51 pounds, By Mr, Davis : Q. Is it an early potato or a late? A. Medium early. DISTRIBUTION OF SEED FOR THE SEASON OF 1902. By Mr. Robinson (Elgin) : Q. Have you some of these for distribution, of these Carman No, i ? A. Yes, a considerable quantity. We have not sent out any potatoes yet. This part of the distribution is taken up as soon as the danger of injury from frost is past. We have, however, already sent out considerable quantities of seed grain of the very best and most productive sorts, nearly all of which has been brought from Indian Head, where the very large crops I have referred to were grown. I can give you the distribution as it stands now. Up to last evening we have sent out in three-pound samples a total of 10,793 as follows : 3,317 to Ontario, 3,089 to Quebec, 1,035 to Nova Scotia, 1,062 to New Brunswick, 581 to Prince Edward Island, 1,033 to Manitoba, 546 to the Territories and 130 to Britsh Columbia, You see they have been fairly evently distributed considering the number of farmers in each province. 18 THE DIRECTOR, EXPERIMENTAL FARMS By Mr. Clancy : ‘Q. That is for the present season ? A. Yes. This distribution is going on at the present time at the rate of 400 to 500 samples a day, and we had sent out the number I have given you up to last night. In addition to the three pound samples, we are distributing a limited number of larger samples. These larger samples were auth-rized by the Minister of Agri- culture three years ago, and at that time we prepared a list for these from the names of farmers who had shown great interest in the work of seed testing, and select- ing a few from each agricultural constituency with the view of spreading these larger samples over the whole Dominion. FEight-pound samples of oats have been sent, and ten-pound samples of barley and wheat in each case. One of the main objects in view in this distribution was that the farmers might be able to give us the yield per acre of each variety. With the three-pound samples this was scarcely practicable, but with the larger samples, which are sufficient for one-tenth of an acre, there is no difficulty in getting this valuable information. ' By Mr. Richardson : Q. How large were these samples ? A. Eight pounds of oats, ten pounds of barley and ten pounds of wheat. That is a little more than sufficient to show one-tenth of an acre on the basis of the quantity we usually recommend. By Mr. Clancy : Q. The smaller samples are three-pound samples ? A. The smaller samples contain three pounds cach. These larger samples cannot be sent to every one because we have not grain enough. Up to last night 1,642 of these had been sent out, distributed by provinces, as follows :—600 to Ontario, 401 to Quebec, 120 to Nova Scotia, 154 to New Brunswick, 52 to Prince Edward Island, 159 to Mani- toba, 187 to the North-west Territories, and 19 to British Columbia. The work in connection with this distribution is very heavy and swells the corres- pondence to a large volume. During the month of February the total number of let- ters received by the Director was {7,154 ; the first half of February the letters aver- aged 525 daily, and during the last half 905 per day. From the first of March until to-day I have had an average of 1,108 letters per day. The largest number received was on Monday, when 1,924 letters were received. That was the largest mail ever had at the Central farm. , Wilson : Q. Ave th. farmers doing anything in that line for themselves in that North-west ecuntry ? A. Not that I know of. It is too intricate a problem for the farmer to undertake. It requires some skill to cross fertilize ‘in the first place, and then you must raise a good many seedlings in order to get even a few good ones. I hope we may have from the trees which will fruit this year something still more encouraging to bring before you next year, We are endeavouring to propagate these new and promising sorts by grafting them on the roots of the Siberian crab and by budding them on the stem. I hop» by the spring of 1903 that we shall have a considerable number of these young trees to distribute through the North-western country and northern Ontario, so as to have them thoroughly tested. We have already root-grafted a few and sent them out for test, so that there are a few of them growing now at different points in the North- west country, but it is proposed to have them thoroughly tested by sending them to many different points where they will be exposed to very varied climatic conditions. Q. These trees will have to be given away then ? A. Yes. Q. I suppose you will have to be careful who you give them to—the friends of the government ? A. We know very little about polities at the experimental farm. It is, however, an imrortant matter that we get such trees in the hands of people who will care for them, For some years past I have been accumulating a list of the names of those who take an interest in this kind of work, so that we hope to have these young trees put into good hands at many different points from beyond the limit of successful apple-growing in Ontario to the Rocky Mountains. By Mr, Ross (Victoria) : Q. 1 presume the politics of these parties who get them will not influence the growth of the trees or the result in any way 2 A. 1 think not. I hope also by that time we shall have some thousands of seed- lings fron’ the best cross-bred sorts to disseminate. I trust that the work along both these lines will be continued until the efforts are crowned with abundant success, and every settled part of the Dominion supplied with useful fruits of this class. In the meantime any seedlings which may be sent which produce inferior can be top-grafted with better sorts as soon as these are obtainable. We have also been experimenting in the making of jelly from these crabs, and ia my report this year I have given the best formula we have found. They make excellent jelly, as good as any from our eastern crabs. By Mr. Wilson : Q. How does the flavour compare 2 A. The flavour is very good. There is one here, the Charles, which compares faycurably with the Transcendant and otker eastern grown sorts. This apple will make excellent jelly ; it can also be used for pies, or making sauce, and the same may be said of some of the others. h6 THE DIRECTOR, EXPERIMENTAL FARMS TREE GROWING IN THE NORTH-WEST, FOR PROTECTION OF CROPS. There is one other subject on which, with your permission, I will say a few words, that is concerning tree-planting on the North-west plains. The subject of providing some shelter in connection with the growing of such trees as these I have just been speaking of is impurtant, We find that where there is a little shelter all sorts of trees grow and develop more rapidly than if they are exposed. Q. Tree-piantit.¢ is another branch, is it not ; Mr, Stewart is at the head of it # A. Mr. Stewart is carrying on work in Forests in connection with the {nterior Department, but that does not interfere with the work we have been doing for ibe last twelve years at the experimental farms in encouraging the farmers to plant shelter belts on their faims in the North-west. Q. And distributing trees to farmers ? A. Yes. During the last twelve years a million and a half of voung trees have been sent cut to about 70,000 farmers in packages of 100 each through the mails. * Q. That is a lot of them? A. They may not have gone to 70,000 different farmers—one man may have had more than one package—but they have gone out in 70,000 packages. They have been sent only on request, and instructions for the planting and care of the trees have been forwarded with each package. There has been also supplied on request, during the same time in bags of 1 pound each, 9 tons of tree seeds, 18,000 bags. Q. Where did you gather these ? A. Formerly these seeds were gathered in the coulees and river valleys in different parts of the North-west, now most of them are gathered on the experimental farms. Here is a picture of an Indian—a Nitchie they call them out there—gathering tree seeds on the Indian Head farm. Q. You send them out from the western farms ? A. Yes, almost entirely. The young forest trees which are distributed are also grown on the western farms. By Mr. Stephens: Q. Have you seen any of the results from the seeds you sent out ? A. One cannot visit any part of the North-west without seeing more or less of the results from this distribution. There are very few farmers who have been in the country any length of time who have not a tree plantation. They can get the seeds through the mail free by asking for them. Last year there were sent from the Indian Head farm nearly 1,000 of these packages, and a large number were also sent from Brandon. The Indian Head distribution is to farmers in the Territories, and the Brandon distribution is to farmers in Manitoba. A few are also sent out from the Central farm. By Mr. Heyd: Q. What variety are you sending, anything special ? A. The seeds we send out are sent here from the western farms, they are chiefly Manitoba maple, green ash and sometimes scrub oak, all native trees of that country. This year we have had collected about three-quarters of a ton of green ash seed and about half a ton of Manitoba maple. The Indian Head farm, when it was selected, was a piece of bare prairie, with not a stick of timber or a shrub in sight. On that farm now there are about 130 5,000 trees. Here are some views which have been taken on that farm. (Views shown to the com- mittee). This one shows the planting in the first year around the barns. You can see how wind-swept these trees leek. We had difficulty in establishing them. Here is a picture of the same place taken this last year. There is the house and the barns em- bowered in trecs vf about ten or eleven years growth, FARM CROPS OF CANADA IN 1901 : 57 By Mr. Wilson: Q. Have you a picture of the Brandon farm ? A. Yes; here is one of the first year’s growth of the avenue trees, and there is another showing the avenue as it is at present, where you will see that the trees have grown quite large. By Mr. Stephens: Q. There is no difficulty, is there, professor, in growing trees out there ? A. No, sir ; none worth speaking of, if you choose hardy trees for planting. There is a picture from the top of the barns showing the tree plantation on the Indian Head farm. We have put out into blocks of 5 acres each a shelter belt 100 feet wide on two sides of the farm and nearly two miles long. All the roads through the farm are also planted with avenues or hedges. By Mr. Wilson: Q. Who will give us the results of the cattle experiments at Brandon ? A. I shall be glad to give you information on that subject. There is a picture of a sheltered inclosure, showing the flower garden near the house at the Indian Head farm, and this is a view of some of the shelter hedges provided for the growing of small fruits and vegetables. There are some of the ornamental hedges on the farm. Q. How long have these trees been planted ? . Se A. Eleven or twelve years. We are doing work in tree planting every year, but it was begun fourteen years ago. “ Q. And some of these are 30 feet high now ? A. Yes. By Mr. Heyd: Q. What means have you of disseminating the valuable information we get here so as to reach the ordinary farmer ? A. In our annual reports on the work of the experimental farms. It is not in exactly the same form as it is given here, but most of the information is there. Q. But how does it get to the farmer who wishes to profit by it ? A. Every individual who sends an application, on which he is not required to pay postage, can get a copy of the report. We have about 50,000 names on the permanent mailing list now and others are added as fast as they come in. a By Mr. Robinson (Elgin) : Q. Members of the House have a certain number to distribute too, have they not ? A. No provision has been made to supply any special number of copies for mem- pers. This was formerly done, but it was found that in many cases members sent copies to farmers in their constituency who were already receiving them through personal application. Any members receiving requests for the reports will oblige by sending them to me and their wishes will be complied with at once. By Mr. Heyd: Q. What suggested the idea to me is the fact that I remember during this summer a large lot of very valuable reports reached me. While I was in the House here, I would have had plenty of time and an opportunity of franking them, to my constituents, but in my particular case, they came up, 50 or 60 or 70 pounds of them, in the middle of summer without being wrapped in envelopes, and the amount of labour involved in sending them out is such that I left them without sending them out and will probably put them in the fire. 58 THE DIRECTOR, EXPERIMENTAL FARUS A. That is the report of this committee, I presume ? Q. Yes. A. Not of the experimental farm ? 7 Q. No, these things should come in envelopes so that a man has nothing to do but put names on. After you get them and write to Ottawa, and get Hansard en- velopes, it is a little too much for a man who is a busy man. He might address the envelopes while he will not go through all this work. A. All our experimental farm reports are sent in envyclopes to every one on our mailing list; about 50,000 in all. Q. I got 200 odd of the committee reports at the house and I just did not know what to do with them. A. I should have been glad to get them for distribution at the experimental farm. By Mr. Cochrane :; Q. Would you explain the effect of this planting of trees on the plots adjoining ? A. I shall be glad to do go. Q. All right. A. I was up at Indian Head in the summer of 1900, after they had had a series of very bad wind-storms. I went over the crops very carefully and I was surprised at the effect the shelter belts had had on the fields adjoining. 1 found by ineasurement that for every foot of tree growth, there was a protecting influence for from 50 to 60 feet on the crop in the adjoining field. Where we had a growth 12 feet in height, about 600 feet of the grain had been preserved quite green, and a little beyond that influence the ground was so wind-swept you could not see a green blade on the ground, “It was a most convincing evidence of the value of the shelters. Q. What stage was the grain in then ? A. It was about three ‘or four inches high. Most of the unprotected parts of the fields had the grain so destroyed that it was found necessary to plough and resow the land. Some fields partly destroyed were left, and gave small crops of from 5 to 20 bushels of wheat per acre, whereas the protected area gave of wheat about 30 bushels to the acre. Q. Does the grain grow well right close up to the tree ? A. We do not sow the grain close up to the trees, but generally have a roadway between the trees and the grain fields. Q. I find in our section of the country and on our own farm that trees are very exhaustive, especially a row of maples or spruce, and I found in one instance that with a very shapely maple tree which any one of artistic taste would be glad to have about, the tree was in the corner of the fence, the field was planted in corn, and I counted thirty-four hills of corn in the shade of that tree almost useless 7 A. That is very true, but there is not much lack of space or fertility in the west, and I think a roadway between the plantation and field, is sufficient and the fields that are not protected suffer so much from wind that trees pay well for the space they occupy. We do not get such winds here, strong‘enough to blow the grain out of the ground, Several years ago we had an instance where a plot of Banner oats in the partial protection of trees gave over 100 bushels to the acre, whereas one not far off but exposed gave little over 50 bushels, These instances might be multiplied, but I have perhaps said enough on that point to prove the great utility of trees as well as their beauty. SABLE ISLAND. By Mr. Slephens : Q. Does the wind usually come from the same direction ? A. Not always, but we have the plantations so placed as to break the force of the wind as much as possible from all points. Some interesting work has been done during FARM CROPS GF CANADA IN 1901 59 the Past year in planting trees on Sable Island-in the Atlantic, This island is about 80 miles from the Nova Scotia coast and 153 miles from Halifax. It is made up largely of a series of sand-hills, formed of white sand, which are so blown about by the wind that the configuration of the land is continually changing. Furthermore, the west end of the island has been washed away with such rapidity that within the past fifteen years the lighthouse at that end has had to be removed twice to prevent it from being washed away by the sea, and the island which about 100 years ago was nearly 40 miles long is now only 21 miles long. It is in the midst of a number of sand banks and bars where wrecks are frequent. It is of the greatest importance that this island be preserved from destruction, and the Department of Marine and Fisheries, under whose management this is, requested me some time ago to take the matter into consideration and see if some method could be suggested whereby tree-planting might be introduced there, and to endeavour to find out what varieties of trees were likely to be suitable for this purpose. When I was in France in 1900 I visited a part of the coast of Normandy, which was formerly covered with drifting sands, very similar in character to these on Sable Island, where the French government have been doing a good deal in the way of tree-planting and have completely fixed these blowing sands by the planting of pines. Information was obtained and a selection of trees made, and in May last I went to the island in company with the Deputy Minister of Marine and two other helpers, and we took with us from Halifax 81,000 trees, which had been imported from France, largely of the varieties used there for similar purposes. By Mr. Wilson: Q. Do they differ much from ours ? A. The particular pine they use there mostly is called the Pinus maritima or Maritime pine. This is too tender to grow in this country, but on Sable Island, the climate, although very windy, is much milder than on the main land. Since meteoro- logical observations have been taken there for some years past, the lowest point the temperature has fallen to is four above zero. We planted about 10,000 trees during the week spent on the island and left the remainder with the superintendent and his men, and he reports that they were all planted by the latter part of June. I have had three letters from the superintendent during the season, and although the conditions there have been very trying,.winds are very difficult, to contend with, the reports appear to indicate that we are likely to be fairly successful. Q. What size were these trees ? A. From 8 or 10 inches to 2 feet high ; the last report I had was November 5. ‘The superintendent then reported a large proportion of the pines as living and promis- g. te There are no regular mail communications with the island, and it is only when the supply vessels go there that letters can be sent, It is an interesting experiment in forestry which is worthy of mention. It also serves to show that the information we have gained on this subject is found useful in many parts of the Dominion. By Mr, Richardson : Q. What is the location of Sable Island ? A. It is off the Cape Breton shore, about 80 miles from Liscomb Harbour. By Mr. Cochrane : Q. Would you recommend, from your observation of the timber belts an the ordinary farms of the North-west, belts of any considerable extent, or of any particular width for most farms f : ‘A. Circumstances differ so much that I don’t think it would be possible to lay down any rule for such work. We have planted our principal belts at Indian Head, one’ hundred feet wide, and extending the whole length of the western and northern bound- 60 THE DIRECTOR, EXPERIMENTAL FARMS aries of the farm about two miles. We have found that width to answer very well there. It has made a dense mass of wood which not only protects from the wind, but it gathers also the snow in winter and this through the influence of the trees extends some distance out into the fields which when melted in the spring gives favourable conditions of moisture. Q. How far are the belts apart ? A. They are not planted at any regular distance. Besides the 100 feet belt run- ning on the two sides of the farm, there are several large blocks of trees and some miles of avenues. Shelter hedges have been made by planting the seed of the Manitoba maple thickly, so that when it comes up the trees will make a thick hedge. Many of these hedges have been planted. Q. How far are they apart ? A. No regularity is observed as to distance in this respect. Q. Say 100 or 80 rods apart ? A. They are at different distances, some of them closer than that. By Mr. Stephens: Q. One row on the north and west sides of the farm of 640 acres would be suffi- cient, would it not ? ‘ A. The people there seem to think that they cannot get too many trees. And when you have a square mile of land to work on, 100 feet in width of trees seems to be a small matter. We have the protection of the belt I have referred to and trees or hedges along the roadways on either side, and have also introduced here and there, wherever we thought it could be done to advantage, larger plantations; we have one of five acres. By Mr. Cochrane: Q. That is rather indefinite, to my mind, for Ontario. Your roads are roads through the farm ? A. I am speaking, you understand, from a North-west standpoint where land is plentiful. In Ontario such work would be done differently. Reference has been made to the trees interfering with the crops for some distance, and farmers in Ontario would not want to devote a very large portion of good land to such purposes. We have not the same difficulties to contend with here, and hence do not need to adopt the same methods. BROME GRASS PASTURE FOR FATTENING STOCK. By Mr. Wilson: Q. You did not think of saying something about cattle in the North-west. I do not know whether you have time or not / A. I shall be glad to answer questions. Q. I was out in Brandon in August last year, but I have not with me the notes T made then on the result of an experiment with two young oxen there pastured on Brome grass. The result was marvellous. A. That experiment is reported on in the annual report now in the press. Two steers were inclosed in one acre field of Brome grass, and they were given nothing to eat but what they could get from the Brome grass, and they made remarkable eains in weight. From May 8 to August 28 each steer gained 245 pounds, a total for the two of 490 pounds, which at 34 cents per pound, equals $17.15. : By Mr. Cochrane: Q. Two animals on one acre ? A. Yes. FARM CROPS OF CANADA IN 1901 61 By Mr. Richardson: Q. What is Brome grass. Is it peculiar to the North-west 2 A. It is a European grass which has proven to be a most important and valuable grass in the North-west. During my first visit to Manitoba and the North-west Terri- tories in 1887, seeking information as to the conditions of agriculture there, I tried to impress on the farmers the importance of their keeping more stock, but the common reply was that they could not do so, as they had nothing but the native grasses on which to depend for pasture, and while they had been able to keep a limited quantity of cattle in the past, as settlement increased and the hay lands were taken up they had to go farther and farther away from home to secure hay, and in some instances they had to draw it as far as thirty to forty miles. Their plan then was to go out and cut the grass and make the hay in the summer time and draw it in in the winter. This, of course, took much time and labour, and the hay was too scarce to admit of any great increase in the quantity of stock that could be kept profitably. They said : If you can find us a grass which we can grow for hay, that will be a great help to us. We sent to Russia and got samples of many different sorts of grass that grow there, either for use as hay or fodder. Amongst those samples we got this Brome grass, about two pounds of it, and it was tested at all the farms, with very satisfactory results. As soon as we found its value larger quantities of the seed were ordered from Russia and northern Germany, and we established large fields of it at Indian Head and Brandon, where it has done remarkably well. It has succeeded almost everywhere and there are now many thousands of acres of that grass growing in the North-west, and the area devoted to it is increasing yearly. It makes excellent hay and good pasture, and is very hardy. . Q. What proportion of seed to the acre do you use ? A. About ten or twelve pounds to the acre, sometimes more, but that is usually sufficient. Q. How does it crop ? A.-In a favourable season it will usually give a crop of two or two and a half tons of hay to the acre. Sometimes it will produce more than that. By Mr. Heyd: Q. Have you to sow the seed every year ? A. No ; it is a perennial grass. By Mr. Robinson (Elgin) : Q. Is it any good in Ontario ? A. Yes, it has been tried with good results. We had on the experimental farm here a striking instance of the preference of cattle for it. We sowed Brome grass and timothy together in the same field so that it came up in patches; 20 cows were put out on it to pasture. After a time it was noticed that the pasture looked very uneven and patchy, and on examination it was found that all the Brome grass had been eaten down to the ground, while the timothy was going to seed, furnishing conclusive proof of the preference that cattle had for it. It is a very succulent grass and an analysis of it shows that it compares well with other nutritious grasses. Q. How would it do sown with clover ? A. I cannot tell you, as we haven’t tried that. By Mr. Stephens: Q. Is it an expensive seed ? A. No, we have distributed in sample bags of 1 pound each, thousands vf pounds of it through the North-west, sending it to every one.who asks for it. We grow large quantities of the seed every year on the experimental farms at Brandon and Indian 62 THE DIRECTOR, EXPERIMENTAL FARMS Head for the purpose of helping the distribution of it. We have had some of it sent down here, and I shall be glad to send a sample bag to any one who may desire to try it. The samples sent are sufficient to sow about one-twelfth of an acre. Tf the experi- mental farms had done nothing else but introduce that grass to the North-west their existence would have been justified. It would be difficult to estimate its value to that country. By Mr. Wilson: Q. How long will it grow till it runs out ? A. We find it best to take off three or four crops of hay and then pasture it for a year or two. It grows well for three or four years and by that time the rovts of the grass thicken so much that it is better then to pasture it for a year or two before ploughing it up. When ploughed under it is a valuable grass for the reason that it supplies a large amount of fibre to the soil, giving a condition like the first breaking of the prairie. By Mr. Richardson: Q. Is it a heavy grower; is it coarse ? A. It grows from 2} to 3 feet high, and more in seme cases. It is leafy, but not coarse. Q. And makes good hay ? A. It makes excellent hay for horses or cattle. Having read the foregoing transcript of my evidence of the 11th, 12th and 15th March, 1902, I find it correct. WM. SAUNDERS, Director of the Dominion Experimental Farms. Pamphlet Binder | Gaylord Bros., Inc. | Syracuse, N.Y. T.M. Reg. U.S. Pat. Off.