65 

 SUB-EXCUESION NO. 7, 14th JULY. 



A VISIT TO THE GOVERNMENT EXPERIMENTAL FARM. 



Undoubtedly one of the rao.st successful sub-excui-.sion.s which has 

 ever been held under the auspices of the Ottawa Field i!^aturalists' Club 

 took place on Saturday afternoon, when, through the kindness of Prof. 

 Wm. Saunders, director, the Central Experimental Farm, in connection 

 with the Department of Agriculture, was visited and examined. A large 

 gathering of members of the club and their friends met at the city Post- 

 office, and taking the busses provided by the excursion committee, soon 

 reached the place of interest which was to form the rendezvous for the 

 afternoon. On their arrival the naturalists were cordially greeted by 

 the genial professor, who, on invitation by the president of the club, 

 Mr. R. B. Whyte, addressed the members, and in a clear manner 

 sketclied a general outline of the work performed, and gave interesting 

 details regarding the distribution of the crops, etc., on the farm. Pro- 

 fessor Saunders, in company with Mr. Fletcher, the Entomologist 

 and Botanist, and ]Mr. Hilborn, the Horticulturist, then most 

 courteously piloted the party through the more interesting parts of 

 the farm, pointing out some of the manifold species of plants of 

 especial interest which are being grown and tested. With eagerness 

 and pleasure the various groups of naturalists listened to every word 

 which ftll from the lips of these gentlemen. Seed crops from various 

 countries were seen growing in great abundance, aiui boreal species 

 were particularly noted, as such forms are likely to be best adapted for 

 cultivation in the more northerly regions of Canada. The different 

 varieties of beans, potatoes (seedlings and otherwise), wheat, barley, 

 -oats, peas and many other agricultural products, were pointed out and 

 noted, as were also the various kinds of apple, cherry and plum trees. 

 The "shade" or "covering" for pine and other coniferous seedlings was 

 also examined, and the tiny "monarchs of the forest" seen growing in 

 great profusion and doing splendidly. In the garden proper many varieties 

 of small fruits and flowers were seen, as well as many kinds of shrubs 

 and trees. With the kind permission of the director and horticulturist, 

 the excursionists had an opportunity of testing some of the new varieties 



