283 



farmers' institutes. 



A lai"ge number of invitations to attend meetings have been received by me 

 from institutes throughout the province. It was found impossible, owing to press 

 of work, to accept all of them, but the following meetings were attended and papers 

 read: Wawanesa Institute, 6th February, "Some of the expeiiments undertaken by 

 the Expei-imental Farms"; Wawanesa Institute, 20ih February, " Varieties of Grain 

 and manner of sowing them"; Brandon Institute, 23id February, "Smut"; Brad- 

 wardine Institute, "Varieties of Wheats suitable for Manitoba"; Birtle Institute, 

 "Some of the varieties of Grain tested on the Experimental Farms"; Alexander 

 Institute, "Seed Gram and manner of sowing it"; Rapid City Institute, "Wheats 

 for Manitoba"; Brandon Institute, "Fodder Plants for Manitoba"; Crystal City 

 Institute, 30th June, " Grasses and Fodder Plants"; Brandon Institute. "SeedGrain." 

 In many cases samples of grain, both threshed and in the straw, were shown at the 

 ^peetings, which assisted materially in illustrating the work of the farm. 



VISITORS TO THE FARM. 



Judging by the largely increased number of visitors, the interest taken by the 

 farmers of the province in the work of the experimental farm is in nowise abating. 

 During the summer months of 1889 only 560 visited the farm; in 1890 the number 

 reached 1,510, and in the same months this year 3,520; this is exclusive of the large 

 number of Brandon citizens, many of whom visit it several times a week. 



During the past year a number of the farmers' institutes organized excursions 

 for the special purpose of examining the work on the farm, and over one hundred 

 farmers from Portage la Prairie alone visited it at one time. 



Every effort is made by the farm staff to explain the work being undertaken 

 and to make all visitors welcome, and perhaps a better idea of the usefulness of the 

 farm can be given by this means than by any other which could bo devised. 



The North-West Centi-al Railway is now in operation from this place, and 

 farmers living in*the fine farming disti'ict to the north-west will have an opportunity 

 of visiting the farm another year. 



CORRESPONDENCE. 



Not only has the number of visitors to the farm increased surprisingly, but the 

 correspondence has also grown rapidly; from 467 letters received in 1889, and 842 

 in 1890, the number increased to 1,423 in the past year, and 1,468 letters wei e sent 

 from the farm. 



The building and equipping of an office on the farm has greatly assisted the 

 carrying on of this department of the work. 



I have the honour to be. Sir, 



Your obedient servant, 



S. A. BEDFORD, 



Superintendent. 

 Brandon, Man., 26th January, 1892. 



