REPORT OF TEE DIRECTOR 59 



SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 



Tlie second Bulletin on ' Clover as a Fertilizer, ' prepared jointly by the Director 

 and Mr. F. T. Shutt, Chemist to the Experimental Farms, presents in a condensed and 

 convenient form much information on the value of clover as a fertilizer when this crop 

 is ploughed under. The enrichment of the soil by the addition of nitrogen obtained 

 chiefly from the atmosphere, the increase in the store of available mineral plant food 

 brouglit to the surface by the deep roots of the clover plant and the usefulness of the 

 clover as a catch crop during the summer months, and in adding humus to the soil from 

 the decay of the tops and roots, are all dwelt on. Particulars are also given of the 

 results obtained in increased crops at the Central Experimental Farm from the ploughing 

 under of clover during the past six years. 



A very complete index has also been published of the 15 Annual Reports and 39 

 Bulletins which have appeared in connection with the experimental farm Avork during 

 the past sixt^^^en years. This has been compiled by the Rev. Dr. Bethune, of London, 

 OntariOk It is a most useful and time saving document, and is so complete and well 

 arranged that there is no difficulty in referring promptly to any subject treated of in 

 the Reports or Bulletins and all the references are easily found. The officers of the 

 farms who necessarily use these publications so much in connection with their work iind 

 this index invaluable. 



ACKNOWLEDGMENTS. 



I acknowledge gratefully my obligations to those who have rendered me special service 

 during the past year. To the United States Department of Agriculture for much prac- 

 tical help, including samples of seed of cereals, fodder crops and vegetables for test from 

 foreign countries. To the Director of the Royal Gardens, Kew, England, for seeds of 

 many sorts of trees, shrubs and plants from different countries. To the Director of the 

 Arnold Ai'boretum, Jamaica Plains, Mass., for seeds of many varieties of interesting 

 and rare shrubs. I am also indebted to Prof. John Macoun, Naturalist of the Geological 

 and Natural History Survey of Canada for samples of grain and seeds of trees and shrubs 

 from the Yukon Territory, and to Mr. J. M. Macoun for seeds of rare Canadian plants. 



I also tender my sincere thanks to the officers at the Central and Branch Experi- 

 mental Farms for faithful services willingly rendered, and for their earnest co-operation 

 in carrying out the work which has been planned. 



Acknowledgments are also due to Dr. James Fletcher, who on several occasions 

 during the year when official engagements necessitated my absence from home for con- 

 siderable periods has assumed my duties and faithfully directed the work here, also to 

 those members of the staff who have rendered me help in those branches of work of 

 which I have had personal charge ; to Mr. W. T. Macoun, who has supervised the 

 labour given to the trees, shrubs and lawns on the experimental grounds ; to Mr. John 

 Fixter, the farm foreman, who has carefully watched the diiferent branches of experi- 

 mental work, has taken special charge of the tests made with fertilizers and taken notes 

 thei'eon, who has also helped me much by practical suggestions ; to Mr. George Fixter, 

 who has managed the work in connection with the experimental plots of cereals, fodder 

 crops and field roots, has taken records of the growth and yield of these, thus furnishing 

 me with many of the particulars used in the preparation of this report, to him I am also 

 indebted for careful management of the work connected with the distribution of samples 

 of seed grain, and to Mr. Wm. Ellis, who has done much careful work in testing the 

 vitality of seeds, in the management of the plants in the greenhouse and in the propa- 

 gation of many useful species for out-door decoration. Mr. Ellis has also rendered 

 useful service in the taking of the meteorological records. 



I have also pleasure in bearing testimony to the faithful services of my secretary, 

 Mr. Malcolm O'Hanley. The employees also of all the farms have my thanks for the 

 commendable care with wliich they have discharged their respective duties. 



WM. SAUNDERS, 



Director of Uxperim'"ntal Farms. 



