400 



EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 



9-10 EDWARD VII., A. 1910 



In most cases, it is the strain, together with the care and feed, as much as the 

 breed which produces good or poor layers. 



The fowls are kept confined, each breed in a separate pen with a yard attached, 

 from January 1 to July 1. During the balance of the year they are at large. While 

 they are in pens, the hens of one pen, each breed in its turn, are at large. We think 

 tliat giving them tliieir liberty, one day in five, when they have the range o(f the fann, 

 and eat grass and insects of different kinds, will be likely to ensure a better hatch and 

 stronger chickens. 



The hens are fed mixed grain, wheat, oats, peas and barley; about one-half wheat, 

 one-quarter oats and one-quarter of peas or barley. In winter they have a cabbage- 

 head or turnip to pick, also small potatoes boiled and mashed with any chop we may 

 have. They also get any milk there is to spare. They have also fresh water, grit and 

 broken clam shells always before them. 



The pens are cleaned once a week, when fresh chaff or straw three or four inches 

 deep is put on the floors. The whole of the inside of the building is cleaned by 

 spraying several times a year with whitewash, to which is added carbolic acid. The 

 roosts are frequently washed with Cooper's Sheep Dip. The hen houses and fowls 

 are almost free of insects of any kind. The yards are frequently limed and dug over, 

 keeping them pure and clean. It is more necessary to pay particular attention to keep- 

 ing the hen houses and yards clean in this climate, as we have considerable mild, wet 

 weather. 



There has been no sickness of any sort among the fowls this year, except a few 

 cases of what appears to be rheumatism, caused, probably, by the wet weather in the 

 spring and autumn. 



We find dampness much more trying to the fowls than bright, frosty weather. 



There is a good demand for eggs for setting, and for any birds, either male or 

 female, which there are to spare. 



EXPERIMENTS WITH EALL WHEAT. 



Six varieties of fall wheat were sown in the variety test. The previous crop was 

 peas on a clover sod, and the land was in very good condition, but the winter was 

 rather unfavourable, and the plots suffered from the freezing and thawing, many 

 plants being thrown out and the yield thus reduced. The seed was treated with 

 formaldehyde and there was no smut. The seed was sown at the rate of one and a half 

 bushels per acre, and the size of the plots was one-fortieth of an acre each. 



Eall Wheat — Test of Varieties. 



