257 



SEED DISTRIBUTION. 



The distribution of seed grain in one and two-bushol lots has increased very 

 much during the past year, and quantities are now sent from the farm to nearly 

 every part of the province. Eeasonable prices are charged, and farmers are 

 thankful for the opportunity of buying pure seed grain near home. 



Reports regarding the success of the diffeient varieties of seed distributed are 

 now coming in. Nearly all report success with White and Eed Connell wheats, and 

 Prize Cluster and Black Tartarian oats, and Duck-bill barley. Unusually large re- 

 turns are reported from ihe White Connell wheat, Black Tartarian oats, and two- 

 rowed Duck-bill barley ; and all are pleased with the earliness of the Prize Cluster 

 outs. 



FODDER CORN. 



I have great pleasui-e in reporting continued success with fodder corn, althougb 

 the yield during the past season was not nearly equal to that of 1890. ]t was a very 

 even and profitable crop, and proves conclusively that we need not depend solely on 

 oui- wild meadows for fodder. With a yield of between 15 and 20 tons of excellent 

 gieen fodder per aci-e, mixed farming is practicable even in our high-rolling prairie 

 land, for corn is peculiarly suited to that class of soil. 



A trial was made of cutting and binding corn with the common grain binder, 

 and with corn from six to seven tieet high it worked quite satisfactorily, and I have 

 no doubt that with an open-backed machine similar to the one introduced this year 

 by the Harris Co., even much taller corn might be cut and bound. 



Among the varieties tested this year the most promising for this province, on 

 account of their combining earliness with a fair yield, are North Dakota, White 

 Flint, Eed Blazed and Mitchell's Extra Early, the last named being an improved 

 Squaw corn. « 



All were planted on backsetting 28th May in rows three feet apart and thinned 

 out to six inches in the row. The crop was kept clean during the season of growth 

 with a horse scuffler. All were cut on 29th August, previous to which a frost had 

 injured the upper two feet of the plants, reducing the 3neld somewhat. 



A large proportion of the corn was made into ensilage; the balance was made 

 into stooks by lying the heads together and left in the field to be used dry during 

 the winter. It is readily eaten both as ensilage and in the dry state. 



FODDER CORN. 



Variety. 



Golden Dent 



Thoroughbred White Flint 



Blnnt's Prolific 



Golden Beauty 



Chester County Mammoth. 



North Dakota 



Long Yellow Flint .. .-m . . 



Stowell's Evergreen 



King Philip 



Egyptian 



Asylum Sweet 



Red Cob Ensilage 



Canada Yellow 



7p— 17 



> 



Stage of Growth 

 when Cut. 



Feet. 



to 64 ! Not in tassel. . . . 

 " Gi'Just coming into 



tassel 



" 7 Not in tassel.. . 



"6^ do 



" 5| do 



" 6^ Silk, dry . . . . . . 



7 Coming into silk. 



In tassel 



6h In sUk 



6 In tassel 



6 Silk just appear- 

 ing 



Tassel just ap- 

 pearing 



In silk 



Condition of 

 Ears. 



None. 



do 



do 



do 



do 



Early milk. . . 

 Nearly formed. 



None 



Just formed . . . 

 None 



Just forming . 



N one 



Nearly formed . . 



Leafiness. 



Fairly leafy . . 



Very leafy . . . 

 Fairly leafy . . 

 Not very leafy 

 Fairly leafy . . 

 Very leafy .... 



do 



do 

 Fairly leafy . . 

 do 



Very leafy 



Not very leafy 

 Very leafy .... 



Yield per 

 Acre. 



Tons. 

 20 



18 

 18 

 17 

 17 

 17 

 17 

 16 

 16 

 15 



15 



15 

 15 



lbs. 

 1,250 



960 

 300 

 870 

 650 

 540 

 210 



1,010 

 230 



1,900 



1,680 



1,680 

 1,350 



