REPORT OF THE CEREALIST 85 



SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 



and larger plots are scarcely practicable at the Central Experimental Farm. Tlie num- 

 ber of varieties tested in these plots since the commencement of the work has boon 

 very large, and has included all the important commercial sorts obtainable as well as 

 a great number of cross-bred varieties and selected strains produced at this farm. 

 Most of the kinds which have proved distinctly inferior to the others have been re- 

 jectctl after a few years' trial so that the work might be kept within reasonable 

 bounds. These systematic tests have not only given valuable information in regard to 

 the varieties in general .cultivation, but have also made it possible for us to .select for 

 distribution among farmers the very best from among the newly produced sorts. 



In order to present to the farmers in as useful a form as possible some of the most 

 important conclusions drawn from these comparative tests of cereals, short lists of the 

 varieties recommended for general cultivation (and sometimes those required for 

 special purposes also) are published each year in the annual report. 



EARLY SOWING OF CEREALS. 



An extensive series of tests, completed several years ago, showed that in the 

 climate of Ottawa it is of the utmost importance to sow all cereals early, in most cases 

 about as soon as the land can be brought into proper condition to receive the seed. 

 Quite a noticeable reduction in yield occurs if the seeding is delayed a week, and there 

 is usually a very serious loss if the delay is of two weeks' duration. 



The best time for sowing cereals on this farm is from about April 20th to 26th in 

 an ordinary season. 



QUANTITY OF SEED TO USE PER ACRE. 



Experiments are in progress to determine the best quantity of seed to sow per acre 

 in the case of wheat, oats and barley. The tests are being made both on heavy and 

 on light soil. The results vary somewhat from season to season, so that the tests may 

 have to be continued for some years yet before entirely satisfactory conclusions can 

 be reached. 



BREEDING NEW VARIETIES OF GRAIN. 



The crossing of different varieties of wheat, oats, barley and peas 'for the produc- 

 tion of new sorts specially adapted to Canadian conditions was undertaken as soon as 

 possible after the establishment of the Experimental Farms. It was recognized that 

 cross-breeding was' the only method of work likely to produce varieties combining 

 those qualities necessary for the greatest success. 



Among the first crosses made were some between Red Fife wheat and Ladoga and 

 between White Fife and Ladoga. In both of these experiments the object in view was 

 to combine the high quality of the Fife wheat with the earliness of the Ladoga. Sever- 

 al new varieties were produced from these crosses, and the best sorts have been dis- 

 tributed under the names Preston, Stanley, Huron and Percy. All of these are 

 vigorous varieties, ripening as a rule about a week before Red Fife. As the distribu- 

 tion of these varieties was begun before they were fully fixed in type they are not 

 altogether of uniform character as now found in commerce. Recently, however, they 

 were all carefully re-selected, and fixed strains of d'stinct character and improved 

 quality are now being grown at the Central Experimental Farm. The best of these 

 will be distributed to farmers as soon as possible. 



Many other crosses were made, during the first few years of the existence of the 

 Experimental Farms, in wheat, oats, barley and peas, some of which have proved very 



