105 



cannot keep or feed at a profit large herds of cattle unless tbe}^ have large farms. 

 In most instances the estimate is that six full-grown cattle, and an equal number of 

 young growing stock, are as many as can be fed conveniently on the fodder and 

 coarse grain crop of a farm of representative size, of say 55 acres of cleared land. 

 As a matter of fact, the average number of horned cattle kept per farm is about four 

 head of full grown animals, and an equal number of growing young stock. It 

 appears to me that the numbers of cattle might be doubled, with increasing profit to 

 the farmers, and decided gain to the fertility of the fields. A further extension and 

 improvement in mixed farming, which will cause more cattle to be fed on fewer 

 acres, is capable of great service to the whole agricultural interest of the Dominion. 

 This experiment has been in progress for only six months of the year. The full 

 report can be made with satisfaction only at the close of each twelve months. The 

 following report of progress will show the areas of land under different crops, and 

 the yields of each which were obtained. In a general way, it may be said that the 

 yield of crops did not reach my anticipations. The corn crop was the lightest per 

 acre which has been gathered for three years, and a disastrous hail storm on 13th 

 August beat down the grain crops and battered the leaves of the corn to a very seri- 

 ous extent. The recurrence of an injury from that cause is unlikely in coming 

 years, as it has been infrequent in past years. Continued i-ains during the harvest 

 season caused further losses in the grain crops. Notwithstanding these drawbacks, 

 the experience of the year points to the probability that 25 milch cows will be fed, 

 wholly or nearly so, on the product of the 40-acre lot for eleven months. On 2nd 

 July 25 cows were put in one herd, to be fed from its crops. The milk from 

 them furnishes a supply for experimental dairy work ; and feeding experiments are 

 being conducted with them, on different rations, as described in Parts I and III of 

 this report : — 



Total Yield op Crops f^om 40-acre Lot. 

 Ripened Crops. 



Lb. of Straw. Lb. of Grain. 



8 acres, mixed crop, as in Table I. 26,454 13.245 



C Golden Vine Pease 905 



o J Goose Wheat 1,003 437 



"^ ^^^^M Beardless Barley 3,102 1,373 



[BannerOats 2,790 2,060 



3 acres, in 5 plots of mixed crop, similar to 



plots 1 to 5 in Table i 10,442 4,345 



14 Totals 4:^,791 22,365 



Root Crops. 



Lb. 



1 acre. Carrots 26,785 



., ,, 1 jm • (Mangels , 8,110 



1 acre, Mangels and Turnips j ,j^^^^.-jpg ;^;^55 



1 acre, Turnips 29,584 



^ Total 74,134 



iacre. Cabbage and Kohl Eabi •• 15,296 



