2-3 EDWARD VII. 



SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 



A. 1903 



EiPEEiiiiiAi m\\ m m iEiiiiEsi ummiii 



REPORT OF ANGUS MACKAY, SUPERINTENDENT. 



Experimental Farm, Indian Head, N.W.T., 



November 30, 1902. 

 Dr. Wm. Saunders, 



Director Dominion Experimental Farms, 

 Ottawa, Ont. 



Sir, — I have tlie honour to submit herewith the fifteenth annual report of the 

 operations on the Experimental Farm for the North-west Territories, at Indian Head, 

 Assiniboia, during the year 1902. 



The past season, like 1901, has been a most sxiccessful one throughout the Terri- 

 tories, and although in some districts the yield of the present year was surpassed by that 

 of 1901, the ease and dispatch, rendered possible by the magnificent weather, with which 

 the crop was handled, has compensated in a large degree for any decrease that may 

 have occurred in the yield. The weather for harvesting, threshing, teaming and all 

 out-door work could not have been excelled. 



The winter of 1901-2 was unusually mild and fine, and the snow-fall was below the 

 average. Several cold dips occurred but they were of short duration, and no bad storms 

 were experienced during the winter. Spring however was backward, and although in 

 some districts grain was sown about the middle of April, on account of snow and rain, 

 and the consequent wet condition of the soil, very little was done until about May 15. 

 Heavy rains fell during May and with the already soaked condition of the land, seeding 

 was a difficult matter and all growth was extremely backward. June was wet and the 

 temperature was below the average ; but the crops made rapid progress. Rains ceased 

 early in July and from that time to the present no rain of any consequence has fallen. 



From the time harvest commenced, about August 20, practically no time was lost 

 through rain until all grain was cut, stacked and threshed. Frost overtook some of the 

 late sown grain before it came to maturity, but in proportion to the bountiful crop of 

 good wheat the loss from this cause is very small. The cold, backward s; ring caused 

 late seeding and consequent late ripening. 



Rust, which has hitherto been almost unheard of in the territories, did a small 

 amount of damage this year. 



The year throughout has been most favourable for stock and excellent reports are 

 being received from the ranching districts. 



EXPERIMENTAL FARM CROPS. 



The crops on the Experimental Farm, while satisfactory in the majority of cases, 

 averaged much below those of 1901. A large decrease will be noticed in the yields of 

 potatoes and field-roots, with the exception of carrots. The long drouth following a 

 wet spring caused the ground to bake, and small roots were the result. 



The seed on a nunil)er of plots of oats and barley rotted and the plots had to be 

 resown, resulting in somewhat later and smaller crops than would otherwise have been 

 the case. 



Hay gave good returns and was well secured. The fruit crop was abundant ; 

 currants and raspberries being particularly good. Plums, although a heavy crop, were 



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