34 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 



"9-10 EDWARD VII., A. 1910 



in connection with dry -farming (non-irrigated), the other on irrigated land. The 

 soil had been well prepared and the crops gave promise of an abundant harvest. Later 

 the ten varieties of winter wheat grown on non-irrigated land gave an average of 40 

 bushels 20 pounds per acre, while spring wheat under the same conditions gave 29 

 bushels 32 pounds per acre. 



ISTo winter wheat was grown on irrigated land, but the plots of spring wheat under 

 irrigation gave an average yield of 37 bushels 20 pounds jier acre. Nearly all the 

 crops experimented with gave good returns. The alfalfa fields had become well estab- 

 lished and presented a promising appearance. All the fields and plots both on non- 

 irrigated and irrigated land had been well prepared, and the results were highly satis- 

 factory. 



EXPERIMENTAL FARM, LACOMBE, ALBEilT.'^. 



The Experimental Farm at Lacombe was reached on August 22, when the trial 

 plots of grain were looking remarkably fine. The season here also had been much more 

 favourable than that of 1907. Seeding had taken place fully three weeks earlier, and 

 had been followed by favourable conditions and a very rapid growth. Cool weather 

 in August delayed the maturing of the grain, which ripened, however, before frost. 

 The land on this farm also had been well prepared and got into a good condition of 

 tilth. The fertility of the soil was manifested by the strong and rapid growth of the 

 crops. The fourteen varieties, of spring wheat under trial gave an average of 33 

 bushels 34 pounds per acre. Oats ranged from 110 to 51 bushels per acre and barley 

 from 65 to 40 bushels per acre. 



The forest, ornamental and fruit trees had all suffered more or less from the 

 severe winter. Many interesting ones, however, had survived and were making promis- 

 ing growth. 



EXPERIMENTAL FARM, AGASSIZ, B.C. 



Agassiz also was twice visited, first on August 30 and 31, and again on September 

 7 to 10. 



The season of 1908 opened earlier than that of 1907, and grain was sown about 

 ten days earlier than in the latter year. The weather later in the season had also been 

 favourable to the ripening of the grain and it matured early. The average crop of 

 the fourteen varieties of spring wheat grown on the trial plots was 22 bushels 4 pounds 

 per acre, the average of the twenty-four plots of oats was 75 bushels 6 pounds per 

 acre, and the thirteen varieties of barley averaged 41 bushels 30 pounds per acre. 

 The general crop of apples was below medium ; the weather in the spring was cold 

 and showery and the fruit did not set freely. Plums gave a better average yield and 

 the fruit which ripened was of fine quality, owing to favourable weather. The com- 

 mercial orchards recently planted are doing well and many of the trees in the nut 

 orchard had very fair crops. In the various branches of live stock the animals were 

 all found in satisfactory condition. 



EXPERIMENTAL FARM, NAPPAN, NOVA SCOTIA. 



Owing to a lengthened absence in the Northwest, followed by a journey to Albu- 

 querque in New Mexico, where I went to represent Canada at an important ' Dry 

 Farming ' congress, it was near the middle of October before I returned to Ottawa, 

 when it was too late to see any of the crops on the Maritime Province Farm. For 

 these reasons the work at Nappan was not inspected this year. From the reports of 

 the superintendent, I learn that, notwithstanding a cold and wet sprinpj-vwhcat gave a 

 considerably higher average than in 1907, and that barley also gave a slightly higher 

 yield. Indian com gave excellent croi>s; with oats also, the average was very good. 



