22 



EXPERIMENTAL FARMS. 



SUMMARY OF CROPS GROWN ON THE CENTRAL EXPERIMENTAL 



FARM DURING THE YEAR 1894. 



Hay 



Clover, cut green and put into silo.. 



Indian Corn, cut for ensilage - . 



Indian Corn and Horse Beans grown together and cut for ensilage. 



Horse Beans grown separately and cut for ensilage 



Sunflower heads, used in ensilage 



Mixed crop, cut green and cured as hay 



Mixed crop, cut ripe 



Turnips 



Carrots , 



Mangels 



Sugar Beets. 



Total. 



Wheat . . 



Rye 



Oats 



Barley . 



Pease 



Potatoes 



Total 



Tons. 



2,487 



Lbs. 



35 



In the estimate of grain, the products of the small test plots are not included. 



TESTS OF THE VITALITY OF GRAIN AND OTHER SEEDS. 



During the season of 1894 the number of samples of seed grain and agricultural 

 seeds tested and reported on was 2,157. The average vitality of the more important 

 cereals has been higher than last year : wheat showing a percentage of growth of 90'5 

 for 1894, as against 81*8 in 1893. Oats also stand well, showing the very high average 

 of 95*5 in 1894, as against 93 in 1893. Barley 89, as against 84*9 in 1893 ; and pease 

 79-5, as against 65-7. Showing that the harvest weather throughout the Dominion 

 was more generally favourable in 1894. 



The fact that some of the samples of oats showed under 1 1 per cent of germinating 

 power, wheat under 12 and barley under 24 per cent, shows that the conditions have 

 not been universally favourable, and indicates also the necessity for such yearly tests, 

 so that farmers who suffer from bad harvest weather may receive the information they 

 need to guide them in selecting suitable grain for seed. Where the vitality of the 

 samples received is low, the farmers sending them are advised to feed such cereals and 

 buy grain for seed with a much higher percentage of vitality. This timely information 

 prevents many from sowing poor seed, which would be certain to give poor returns. 

 Every farmer who desires to have samples tested should forward them in good season, 

 sending not less than one ounce in each case. These can be sent to the Central 

 Experimental Farm at Ottawa free through the mail, and the tests of vitality can 

 usually be completed and reported on within a fortnight after they are received. 



