156 



EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 



2-3 EDWARD VII., A. 1903 



Though all the samples are excellent and could be used as absorbents in the stable 

 or as composting materials, No. 1 is the most valuable, by reason of its better mechan- 

 ical condition and larger percentage of nitrogen. 



LIMESTONE. 



The value of an occasional dressing of lime for soils deficient in this element is 

 fairly well known, but unfortunately owing to the high price or scarcity of this element 

 in many districts the practice of liming is practically impossible. It is from such dis- 

 tricts that we frequently receive samples of limestone or of rocks supposed to be such, 

 -with a request for information as to their value for lime manufacture. Thus, in our 

 report for 1901 will be found data obtained on specimens sent from certain localities in 

 Quebec and Ontario. This year we present a report on samples forwarded from Heath- 

 "erton, Nova Scotia, as follows : — 



No. 3. — Omitted from the above table is gypsum or sulphate of lime, a very pure 

 sample. It does not, of course, form lime on burning, but has a value as a fertilizer for 

 certain crops. 



The best sample of lime is, naturally, that with the largest percentage of carbonate 

 of lime. This is No. 5. We then have Nos. 1 , 6 and 2 in order named. It is doubt- 

 ful if it would pay to burn this latter, as the burnt rock would only contain 25 per cent 

 lime. 



No. 4 cannot be regarded as a limestone, and certainly would be valueless for the 

 production of lime. 



MISCELLANEOUS INVESTIGATIONS. 



SUGAR BEETS. 



The establishment during the past year of no less than four beet sugar factories in 

 Western and North-western Ontario has been instrumental in ajjain awakeninEr a keen- 

 interest in sugar beet culture in Canada. Inquii'ies have been received from farmers 

 in every province in the Dominion with regard to the suitability of the climate and soil of 

 the districts written from, varieties of beets to be sown, culture, etc., and frequently these 

 questions have been accompanied by beets for analysis. These samples, in most instances 

 could scarcely be considered as representative, the results of their examination (though 

 forwarded to the senders) therefore, will not be included here. The analyses of sugar 

 beets grown on the Experimental Farms at Nappan, N.S., Ottawa, Ont. and Indian 

 Head, N.W.T., will, however, furnish useful informafion and are, therefore, recorded in 

 this report. In addition, we have tabulated the data from samples forwarded from 

 Prince Edward Island ; from the Department of Agriculture of Manitoba, and from 

 Strathcona, N.W.T., collected by Mr. N. D. Mills, of that town. 



