68 



IV. The cows, which formerly ha8 been tui ned out into a hirge yard every day for 

 water, were watered from troughs in front of their stalls. 



y. When a pregnant cow showed any symptoms of approaching abortion, — and 

 these are, slight relaxation of the muscles surrounding the vulva, restlessness and a 

 continuous slight elevation of the tail, — she was at once put into a box-stall, wheie she 

 was free from disturbance or causes of excitement. One-ounce doses of tincture of 

 opium were given in the feed — even three times a day for one or two days — until a 

 quiet and slightly sluggish condition prevailed. Drenching with medicine was 

 avoided. 



The result is — and it is mentioned with hesitation and fear, lest the -dread abor- 

 tions should occur again — that since the system of treatment has been adopted, 13 

 cows have given safe delivery to calves at the natural time, and only one case of 

 abortion has occurred, and that could be accounted foi- satisfactorily. That covers a 

 period of three aud-a-half months. During the preceding ten months there were 13 

 births at the natural time, and 14 prematurely, at from four and-a-half to eight 

 months. 



NEW BUILDINGS, 



A sheep building is needed for the accommodation of that class of stock. After 

 it is erected, the three important departments of live stock for experimental farm 

 work — cattle, swine and sheep — will be in full operation, without the hindering 

 limitations which are entailed on investigations by the erection of buildings and 

 preliminary work. 



Permit me to refer farmers and others who may be seeking information on 

 grain-growing tests and other agricultural work to your own report, as my connec- 

 tion with the Central Experimental Farm, with the exception ot live stock manage- 

 ment, has been as yet to a large extent advisory rather than executive. 



I have the honour to be, 



Your obedient servant, 



JAS, W. EOBERTSON, 



Agjiculturist. 



