ANNUAL REPORT 



ON THE 



EXPERIMENTAL FARMS. 



EEPOET OF THE DIEEOTOR 



The importance of continued experimental work in agriculture is recognized by- 

 thoughtful men in every civilized country, and State and Government aid to carry 

 on the work is now liberally given, for it is generally admitted that from oft- 

 repeated experiment the largest part of our most useful and accurate knowledge of 

 agricultural subjects has been derived. It is also undeniable that many of the best 

 agricultural products now in cultivation are the result of skilful experiments in the 

 line of selection or of cross-fertilization, or both combined, and equally true that the 

 products, thus somewhat artificially raised by unusual care to a position of high 

 estimation have, when relegated to the hands of the average farmer, gradually 

 deteriorated. There are but few varieties of grain, roots or other farm produc- 

 tions that were in general cultivation fifty years ago which still hold their place in 

 the farmers' estimation: most of them have enjoyed but a short-lived popularity, and 

 given place to varietic-^ having greater vigour, greater productiveness or better 

 quality. A large propo tion of agricultui-al products appear to have a life period, 

 some short, some long, after which their vigour or vitality becomes gradually 

 impaired until their cultivation can no longer be continued with profit. "While 

 these varietal changes are constantly going on, the specific forms remain for the 

 most part unaltered. 



The six-rowed barley of to-day {Hordeum hexastichuni) has the same general 

 characteristics as when cultivated by the ancient Egyptians thousands of years ago, 

 but the particular varieties of this plant now most in esteem are of recent introduc- 

 tion. The two-rowed barley (Mordeum distichum) has also been long in cultivation, 

 and was largely used as food by mankind from an early period in human history, 

 but this variety of grain did not attain the position it now holds as one of the most 

 profitable of crops until, by careful experiment and selection, the plum]), heavy and 

 prolific varieties of modern times were originated. The potato is the same species 

 as when introduced into Europe from America more than thi-ee centuries ago, but 

 the varietal forms which have since been produced are past numbering, and so 

 rapidly do these run their course and become enfeebled as to vigour and fertility 

 that very few survive a period of twenty or thirty years. The}' " run out" and give 

 place to their betters. 



Cereals bob! au}^ improvement which may be imparted to them with much 

 greater tenacity than many other cultivated products. Possibly this may arise from 

 their being invariably self-fertilized, which may result in a greater sensitiveness to 

 external conditions, and lead to greater permanence in the changes which altered 

 conditions sometimes bring about. When we consider how vastl}'- important cereals 



