53 



lu tlie estimates for the experimental farms for 188S-S'.) no provision was made 

 for the purchase of stock, and the work which it was desird to accomplish could not 

 be carried on without some expenditure in that direction. Notwithstanding that 

 the purchases were limited as far as was practicable, the sum required for this pur- 

 pose was $7,972.70. In consequence of the very large demand for bulletins and 

 reports the printing account amounted to more than the sum provide 1. and the 

 correspondence having increased moi'e than three-fold, some additional office help 

 was necessary. The outlay needed to meet these exigencies was $1,175.66, making in 

 all $9,148.36 which was covered by a Grovernor-General's Warrant at the close of the 

 year. 



While the sum of $44,801.95 stands charged against the Central Experimental 

 Farm as its cost for the year ending 30th June, 1890 for the reason that the money 

 has been spent there, it should not be forgotten that a large portion of this sum is 

 expended on items relating to the work in general or the lequircments of the four 

 branch farms. In the matter of salaries, there arc six of the officers of the Central 

 Farm whose work is of a general character and whose time is devoted about as much 

 to the branch farms and to the interests of the farmers in the Provinces where those 

 farms are located as it is to the work of the Central. Their salaries amount in all 

 to $8,800, one-half of which would be fairly chargeable to the branch farms. The expen- 

 ditures on each of the following accounts might very properly be divided between 

 the Central and the other farms, for the reason that the benefits arising from the 

 outlay incurred on work and material are shared by all. The purchases of seed 

 grain, trees, shrubs and seeds are for the advantage of the whole Dominion. The 

 distribution of samples of grain for test, of young forest trees, tree seeds and fiuits 

 as well as much of the regular horticultural work on the Central Farm, is of this same 

 general character. So also are the outlays connected with the chemical laboratory, 

 the special experiments on grasses and grain, the testing the vitality of agricultural 

 seeds, the sum charged for stationery, which includes supplies for all the farms, the 

 printing of reports and bulletins and their distribution and the office help needed 

 for the large correspondence kept up with the formers of the Dominion. The sum 

 expended for stock, which is included in the amount referred to, properly belongs to 

 capital account and has been purchased with the view of laying the foundation for 

 good and useful strains of animals, the increase of which will be available for stock- 

 ing the branch farms. By deducting the amount paid for stock and one-half of the 

 sums charged to the Central Experimental Farm for the items enumerated, the 

 expenditures on this farm would be reduced to a little more than half of the sum 

 which is now placed against it. 



ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. 



I gladly avail myself of this opportunity to acknowledge my obligations to all 

 the officers of the Central and Branch Experimental Farms for the devotion they 

 have manifested in their work and the efficiency they have shown in the dischai-ge 

 of their respective duties. To their faithfulness in this respect the reports sub- 

 mitted bear ample testimony. To the foremen and employees my thanks are also 

 due for the interest they have taken in those branches of the work devolving upon 

 them. To the farm foreman, Mr. John Fixter, and to Mr. W. T. Macoun, who have 

 both assisted me in the experimental work, I take pleasure in again acknowledging 

 my indebtedness. Their constant vigilance and reliability in recording observations 

 has relieved me from the necessity of close at^^ention to many details which in less 

 careful hands would have required more frequent inspection, and entailed an addi- 

 tional tax on time already fully occupied. To Mr. Wm. Ellis, who has had charge 

 of the seed-testing department, my thanks are also due for the trustworthy manner 

 in which he has carried on the work of determining the vitality and germinating 

 power of a large number of samples of grain which have been received from all 

 parts of the Dominion. 



Wm. SAUNDEES, 



Director, Experimental Farms. 



