REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR 13 



SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 



DIVISION OF CHEMISTRY. 



The work of the officers of the Chemioal Division has covered a large field. In- 

 vestigations have been conducted to determine the nutritious constituents in many- 

 fodder plants, which have been analysed at dilfereut stages in their growth to ascertain 

 the period when these plants may be cut with the greatest advantage. The relative 

 value from the feeding standpoint of the larger number of the native and introduced 

 grasses has also been ascertained. 



Many analyses have been made of Canadian grown cereals to ascertain their 

 quality and nutritive value. These have included many sorts of wheat, also oats, barley, 

 emmcr, spelt and rye. Analyses have been made of the straw of many of the more 

 important cereals to ascertain their relative value for feeding purposes. 



Many investigations have been made as to the proportion of sugar in sugar beets 

 grown in different parts of the Dominion, and of the proportion of nutritive matter 

 contained in other sorts of field roots. Analyses have been made of soils received from 

 different parts of the Dominion, especially such as were representative of large areas. 

 The nature and amounts of fertilizing ingredients in manures have also been studied. 

 Many experiments have been conducted to throw light on the important subject of soil 

 moisture and means suggested whereby desired conditions of moisture may to a great 

 extent be obtained and controlled. Fuller particulars on many such subjects will be 

 found in the report of the chemist. 



POULTRY DIA'ISION. 



In the Poultry Division much useful work has also been done. The relative value 

 of the different breeds of fowls has been tested and the superiority shown for farmers' 

 use of the best of the utility breeds. The best methods to adopt in connection with 

 the raising of poultry have been demonstrated, and the best rations for the promotion 

 of egg-laying, also for the fattening of chickens made known. Recent experiments 

 with trap nests have shown great variations in the number of eggs laid by individual 

 fowls of the same age and breed, and it is hoped that by raising chickens from the 

 eggs of the best layers superior laying strains may be established. For fuller parti- 

 culars the reader is referred to the report of the poultry manager. There is no doubt 

 that the business in eggs and in dressed fowls for the table has been m^.terially adv:nc:d 

 by the publication of the results obtained from experiments conducted in the poultry 

 division. 



BEANCH EXPERIMENTAL FARMS. 



Important series of experiments have also bean conducted at each of the branch 

 experimental farms, varying in their nature and character as required by dif- 

 ferences in climate, &c. All the best varieties of the more important farm crops have 

 been tested each year side by side at all the experimental farms during the past twelve 

 years. Uniform trial plots have been conducted at each farm for the purpose of 

 gaining information as to the most productive and earliest ripening sorts, of grain, 

 fodder corn, field roots and potatoes. In arranging fur these plots the same varieties 

 have been grown at each of the farms, the seed being supplied at the outset from a com- 

 mon stock. In each case the seed has been sown enrly, and as a rule all the different 

 sorts of the same crop have been sown on the same day or within two days and on soil 

 as uniform in quality as could be found, so as to give to all an even start. A crop 

 bulletin is published at the close of each season giving the results of the test of all 

 these varieties at each of the experimental farms. The particulars published in this 



16—2 



