EXPERIMENTAL FARM FOR THE NORTH-WEST TERRITORIES. 



REPORT OF A. MACK AY, SUPERINTENDENT. 



Indian Head, N.-W. T.,3l8t December, 1891. 



"Wm. Saunders, Esq., 



Diiector Dominion Experimental Fai'ms, 

 Ottawa. 



Sir, — I have the honour to submit to you herewith my fourth annual report of 

 the work done on the North-West experimental farm, being for the year 1891. The 

 year just passed, like all its predecessoi-s, has been exceptional. While some yearn 

 have been dry, others dry and warm, this has been wet, cold and backward. The 

 growth of straw over the whole counti-y has been enormous; grain also has yielded 

 veiy largely, and although a portion was partially injured by frost on the 12th Septem- 

 ber the quantity secui-ed by every settler has never before been appioached in the 

 history of the North-West. Forty to fifty bushels of wheat and eighty to one hundred 

 bushels of oats per acre are common leturns, while in many instances these figures 

 are exceeded. 



Rains in June and July caused an immense growth of straw. The cool weather 

 in August retarded the ripening process and the harvest consequently was later 

 than usual. The crop was a vei-y tediousone to take off, and the threshing is proving 

 very ex])en8ive fi-om the great amount of work to do. On the experimental farm, 

 the result in grain-growing has not been as satisfactory as could be desired; heavy 

 winds and a severe frost in the first week in May, after most of the' early-sown grain 

 was up, entirely destroyed a' good many varieties of bailey and oats and greatly 

 injured many of the wheats, by thinning them to such an extent that ripening was 

 delayed until frost came in September. Grain on summer fallow also was very late 

 in ripening, on account of the large amount of moisture and cool weather during the 

 growing season, and though all varieties not entirely destroyed returned good yields, 

 except the Indian wheats, yet with man}'- the sample is very poor. 



For roots and vegetables the season has been favoua'able, though hardly long 

 enough to secure a full crop of all kinds. 



For tree culture last winter and sjDring were anything but favourable, but since 

 May no season has ever caused such a good, healthy growth in young trees as the 

 past one. While the large growth is often injuiious and apt to cause their des- 

 truction by our winter cold or spring thaws and winds, it is hoped on account of 

 many of the varieties ripening their wood well, the loss this winter will be less than 

 usual. The winter of 1890-91 was especially fatal to almost everything in the tree 

 line ; even many of our native sorts, such as maple, ash, elm,&c., were badly cut back 

 in seedlings and two-year-old trees, while foreign varieties, if not entirely killed, 

 were cut back to the ground wholesale. 



Special attention was given to fodder and grass cultivation during the past 

 season, and although many failures ensued some successes have been obtained. Winds 

 in many instances destioyed varieties of grass and a few mixtures sown for fodder, 

 but many pulled through and gave gratifying returns. 



In growing mixtures of grain for hay four important points require to be 

 observed : 1st. To sow sufficiently thick to ensui-e the stalks not being too coarse. 

 2nd. To sow vai-ieties together that head out or ripen at about the same time. 

 3rd. To cut eaily ; and 4th. To allow plenty of time after being cut to properly cure. 

 Two good mixtures are rye and 6-rowed barley, and 2-rowed barley and oats. 



