56 



debt of gratitude ; but for his guidance and thorough knowledge of the country, 

 we should have missed many an important fact and had a much less enjoyable time. 



AQASSIZ. 



This most westerly of the experimental farms is improving rapidly. More 

 than one hundred acres are now under cultivation, several large orchards have been 

 planted, and many fruit trees and vines have been put out on the bench land, about 

 the base of the mountains. Many additions have been made to the list of fruit trees, 

 vines, forest and ornamental trees and shrubs — the collection now includes nearly 

 all the varieties at present obtainable, which pi'omise to be useful to the country. The 

 value of this farm as a testing ground for that part of the province lying within the 

 coast climate will be very great, and the information which will soon be available 

 will be highly prized both by old residents and incoming settlers. 



A commodious and conveniently-situated dwelling has been erected for the 

 superintendent, and a barn and stable contracted for which, it is expected, will be 

 completed in July next. 



SUMMARY OF EEPORTS OF OFFICERS. 



REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURIST. 



The important topics discussed in the report of the Agriculturist are presented 

 in five divisions, each of which contains much valuable information. In the first 

 division, headed " cattle," the value of different sorts of food for the economic feed- 

 ing of cows and the fattening of steers is treated of, and the relative cost of the 

 different rations. The results of experiments in varying the quantity of meal in the 

 rations are also given. The information gained points clearly to the great value of 

 corn ensilage as a cheap and nutritious food, of that succulent character most desir- 

 able for winter feeding. 



Part 2 contains valuable data in reference to the fattening of swine, with 

 such particulars as to the cost of producing pork, from certain kinds and mixtures of 

 food, as will make this section of the report very serviceable to farmers in all parts 

 of the Dominion. The great stimulus which has been given to the production of 

 pork during the past year will make this information most timely and useful. 



The results of the experimental dairy work embodied in Part 3 point to the 

 most economical methods of treating milk for the manufacture of butter. The vary- 

 ing conditions brought about by different sorts and combinations of food, by advance- 

 ment in the period of lactation, and the variations in the quantity and quality of these 

 products arising from treatment by different methods, from peculiarities of consti- 

 tution in the cow or from other factors not yet fully understood, make this chapter 

 most interesting and useful to all those who are engaged in the dairy industry. 



The setting aside of forty acres of land for a special line of work, with the view 

 of showing how many cows can be maintained, with the crops which that acreage 

 will pi'oduce, forms the subject of Part 4. Judging from the experience thus far 

 gained, it would appear that on most farms a larger number of cattle than are now 

 kept might be maintained, bringing increased gain to the farmer. 



In the 5th division, which treats of fodder corn and the silos, the results of the 

 many tests which have been made during the past year are given. There will also 

 be found the yields of the different varieties under different methods of cultivation, 

 experiments in making ensilage, with particulars as to the character of the products 

 obtained, with much other useful information on this very important subject. 



REPORT OF THE HORTICULTURIST. 



The report prepared by Mr. John Craig, the Horticulturist of the Central Experi- 

 mental Farm, contains a large fund of useful information related to the growing of 



