9-10 EDWARD VII. SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 A. 1910 



REPORT OF THE CEREALIST. 



Charles E. Saunders, B.A., Ph.D. 



Ottawa, March 31, 1909. 

 Dr. Wm. Saunders, C.M.G., 



Director Dominion Experimental Farms, 

 Ottawa. 



Sir, — I have the honour to submit herewith the sixth annual report of the Cereal 

 Division. 



While the season of 1908 was not favourable at Ottawa for cereals, good progress 

 was made in the work of selecting and fixing the best types from among the thousands 

 of new cross-bred sorts which are gTown on the Central Experimental Farm every year. 

 The propagation of those new varieties which had shown themselves of fixed character 

 in the year 1907 did not progress as rapidly as could have been wished last summer, 

 but some increase was obtained in all cases, and not infrequently a very good yield. 



During the months of August and September I visited all the western branch 

 Experimental Farms for the piirpose of inspecting the crops of grain grown tmder 

 various climatic conditions and becoming at the same time more familiar with the 

 special needs of each district. The time spent in this way was found to be very pro. It- 

 able, valuable information heing gathered in regard to some of the problems connected 

 with the growing of cereals. 



In the winter months much of my time was occupied in the selection of the most 

 desirable individuals from the large number of cross-bred plants gathered during the 

 harvest. Milling and baking tests also formed an important part of the winter's work, 

 special attention being given this year to problems in connection with the storage of 

 wheat and flour, and the effect of dampness on wheat. While a very considerable 

 amount of work will yet be required before some even of the simplest problems in 

 these directions will be solved, the work which has been done in the cereal and chemical 

 laboratories on this Farm has already brought to light many facts of interest and 

 value. Altogether these investigations promise to be of quite unusual importance 

 from a commercial point of view. 



It is with pleasure that I record my indebtedness to Mr. Geo. J. Fixter, the fore- 

 man in charge of the field work of this Division, for the careful and capable manner 

 in which he has discharged his duties during the year. 



Some of the chief results of the experiments and tests carried on from April 1, 

 1908, to March 31, 1909, are presented in the following pages. 



I have the honour to be, sir. 



Your obedient servant, 



CHARLES E. SAUNDERS, 



Cerealisi. 



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