67 



second growth poplar ami bircli, whicli liave Leen cleared. The second. 

 growth trees have been pulled up bodily with chains, and dynamite 

 used for removing the stumps, and the land thus cleared is now yield- 

 ing grain, ploughing having been done early in the season. Last 

 season's work might be styled the period of foundation, and it is hoj^ed 

 rapid improvements will follow. The newly cleared land r3ferred to 

 will afford excellent opportunities of experimenting with fertilizers. 

 In the use and application of fertilizers many errors have been made, 

 In this virgin soil the Professor hoped to elucidate this important 

 question, eliminating as much as possible the errors which have crept 

 in on account of applying the fertilizers to partially or wholly 

 exhausted lands, or to lands already highly manured. We shall be able, 

 he added, to test the different fertilizers and combinations of fertilizers, 

 by continuous experiment year after year on the same soil and with the 

 same crops until some definite conclusions are reached regarding their 

 relative merits in brinoinc' about an increased vield. Fertilizers will 

 necessarily be much more used in the future than in th3 past, especially 

 on the more or less exhausted lands in the older Provinces where the 

 three important elements required, viz., phosphoric acid, nitrogen and 

 potash are becoming rapidly exhausted. Those portions of Canada 

 whicli had been under cultivation for a long period needed fertilizers 

 most, while such lands as those of Manitoba and the gi-eat North- West 

 had little need of fertilizers at present. Professor Saunders then briefly 

 referred to the able work performed by Mr. Fletcher, the Entomologist 

 and Botanist, and by Mr. Hilborn, the Horticulturist to the farm. 

 These gentlemen would speak each on his particular brancli. He con_ 

 tinned, and said that if they succeeded in introducing from time to time 

 such new varieties of wheat, barley and oats as would be useful to the 

 countrv, the good resulting from this alone would be found of inestimable 

 value. Much had been done in procuring trees, shrubs and fruittrees from 

 various parts of the world. Directors of botanical gardens in various 

 countries had given handsome donations and had promised to send more. 

 Perhaps the most interesting received were those which came from the 

 Agricultural College in Jaj^an, where they grow many varieties of 

 grain, shrubs, trees and vines peculiar to that country. He had 

 received a letter from Jajtan this week in which the Canadian Experi- 



