48 



AGASSIZ. 



Quite a change had taken place in the appearance of the Experimental Farm at 

 Agassiz within the year. About 50 acres of land had been cleared and brought under 

 pultivation, and about as much more underbrushed. A vast amount of labour has been 

 expended in removing immense trees and stumps. The clearing of land here and 

 getting it into condition for crop is a very laborious undertaking, but under the ener- 

 geiic management of the Superintendent, Mr. Thos. A. Sharpe, I'apid progress has 

 been made. Several orchards have been planted and a number of blocks of small 

 fruits set out. Fruit and foi-est trees have also been planted on the bench land and 

 on the slopes of the mountain. The usefulness of large experimental orchards in a 

 country so eminently adapted for fi-uit culture can scarcely be over estimated, as these 

 will furnish in a short time reliable sources of information to the settler concerning 



the most suitable and profitable sorts for him to plant, 

 b: ought together there may be summarized as follows: — 



Applies No. of trees 



Crab apples do 



Pears do 



Plums do 



Cherries do 



Peaches do 



Nectarines do 



Apricots do 



Quinces do 



Figs do . .. . 



Grapes No. of vines 



Gooseberries No. of Bushes 



Currants, red and white do . . . . 



Black currants do . . . . 



Blackberries do . . . . 



Raspberries do 



Strawberries No. of Plants 



The varieties already 



No. 



338 



16 



212 



152 



140 



204 



25 



42 



16 



4 



207 



107 



235 



112 



1,007 



879 



8,520 



of VarieUes. 

 118 



6 

 55 

 51 

 42 

 86 

 12 

 18 



7 



2 

 79 



9 



8 

 15 

 21 

 26 

 47 



Summing these all together we have over 600 varieties of fruit, to which must 

 be added 414 different sorts of ornamental trees and shrubs, inculding 16 kinds of 

 edible nuts. Such a collection will shoi-tly make this farm one of the most 

 attractive places on the continent. Experiments with different varieties of grain, 

 Indian corn, field roots and potatoes have also been conducted during the past 

 season, the details of which will be found in Mr, Sharpe's report. 



DRAINING, GRADING, &C. 



Further progress has been made in these important departmentsof work during 

 the past season, 1^ miles of tile drains have been laid, making 17 miles in all since the 

 farm was purchased. Much heavy grading has been required around the new dairy 

 building and piggery, and in bringing to a proper grade some portions of the ground 

 adjacent to the dwellings. 



BUILDINGS. 



A building for carrying on experimental work in dairying has been erected, and is 

 now being fitted with the necessary appliances. A piggery has also been built, 100 by 

 20, and stocked, and under the superintendence of Prof. J. W. Eobertson, Agriculturist 

 and Dairy Commissioner, experimental work is now in progress to determine some 

 important points in pig feeding, further particulars on these subjects will be found 

 in his repoi-t. An engine house has been erected and the engine placed in connection 

 with shafting which runs the whole length of the barn by which means power for 

 the various machines required for carrying on the farm work can be conveniently 

 supplied. An extension to the poultry building has been planned and the work 

 begun. This it is hoped will be completed early in the spring. A suitable struc- 

 ture will also be required for carrying on experimental work with sheep. 



