24 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 



5-6 EDWARD VII., A. 1906 



the second year sufficient seed for a considerable area, and after that hare all they 

 require for their own use, and some surplus to sell to their neighbours. 



It is remarkable how rapidly a supply of grain may be built up from a single 

 four or five-pound sample. Take for instance, a sample of oats. The four pounds 

 received will, if well cared for, usually produce from three to four bushels. This sovv^n 

 on two acres of land will at a very moderate estimate give one hundred bushels, and 

 some times much more, but taking the lower figure as the basis for this calculation, the 

 crop at the end of the second year would be sufficient to sow fifty acres, which at the 

 same moderate computation would furnish 2,500 bushels, available for seed or sale at 

 the end of the third year. 



The critical point in these tests is the threshing of the grain at the end of the 

 first season, and it is here that some farmers fail to get the full advantage of the ex- 

 periment. The product of the one-twentieth acre plot is sometimes threshed in a large 

 machine, which it is difficult to thoroughly clean, and in this way the grain becomes 

 mixed with other varieties and practically ruined. At the Central Experimental Farm 

 we thresh the produce of many of the small plots of grain by cutting off the heads, 

 placing them in sacks and beating them with a stick, and winnowing until most of the 

 chaff is got rid of, and the grain made clean enough for sowing. 



Where the farmer is to use this seed for his own sowing it is not necessary that 

 the sample be entirely free from chaff. It is, however, most essential if he is to get the 

 full benefit of his experiment, that the grain be quite free from all admixtvire with 

 other sorts. Farmers are expected to harvest the product of their exp^imental plot 

 separately, and store it away carefully, threshing it by hand either with a flail or in 

 such other manner as they may prefer. The results to be gained will abundantly repay 

 the careful handling of the grain in this way. 



Occasional complaints are made that the samples are too small and that not less 

 than two bushels of grain should be sent to each applicant. If such quantities were 

 sent the distribution must necessarily be limited to comparatively few individuals, 

 which would be very unfair. The experimental farm officers have also been criticised 

 for not arranging to sell any surplus seed grain to farmers in quantities of two bushels 

 and upwards. As a matter of fact this has been the practice at the western farms for 

 many years past. Every season after the regular distribution of smaller samples has 

 been provided for the surplus grain not needed for seed has been sold to farmers in 

 quantities of two to ten bushels or more each. 



At the Indian Head Experimental Farm the following number of farmers have 

 been supplied in this way: 



In 1904— 

 24 farmers purchased from 2 to 5 bushels each of seed wheat. 

 7 two to five bushels of seed oats. 

 9 two to five bushels of seed barley. 



40 in aU. 



In 1905— 



107 farmers bought from 2 to 10 bushels each of seed wheat. 

 74 two to ten bushels or more of seed oats, and 

 24 bought 2 to 10 bushels or more of seed barley. 



205 in all. 



At the Brandon experimental farm in 1904 — 



10 farmers bought from 2 to 10 bushels each of seed wheat, 

 112 two to ten bushels or more of seed oats, and 



21 from 2 to 10 bushels, or more of seed barley. 



143 in aU. 



