5-6 EDWARD VII. SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 A. 1906 



REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURIST 



(J. H. Grisdale, B. Agr.) 



Dr. Wm. Saunders, 



Director Dominion Experimental Farms, 

 Ottawa. 



Sir, — I have the honour to submit herewith reports upon the horses, cattle, sheep, 

 swine and farming operations under my supervision during the past year. 



I have to report a fairly successful year in the different branches of my division 

 and in this connection I wish to acknowledge my indebtedness for assistance and in- 

 terested co-operation in their various positions of the farm foreman, Mr. John Fixter, 

 of the herdsman, Mr. C. T. Brettell, and of the dairyman, Mr. J. Meilleur. 



During the year I have attended a number of meetings in various parts of Can- 

 ada, and have conducted a number of student-judging contests, in addition to my 

 regular work of supervising and directing the experimental feeding and farming 

 operations at the Central Experimental Farm. 



From Decmber 1, 1904, to November 30, 1905, 2,090 letters were received, and 

 3,206 despatched by the agricultural division. 



, I have the honour to be, sir. 



Your obedient servant, 



J". H. GRISDALE, 



Agriculturist. 



LIVE STOCK. 



The live stock now (December 1, 1905) occupying the different stables and pens 

 nnder my charge include horses, cattle, sheep and swine. 



HORSES. 



The horses are kept for labour exclusively, although some experimental feeding 

 is usually under way to gain some information as to the most economical methods of 

 feeding draught horses, as well as experiments to determine the comparative values of 

 (different foods as forage for the same. 



The horses are usually 19 in number, made up of: — 



Thirteen heavy draught horses of Clydesdale and Percheron blood. 



Five heavy driving horses. 



One light driver. 



CATTLE. 



There are representatives of four breeds of cattle, viz.: — 



Shorthorn, Ayrshire, Guernsey and Canadian. There are besides, a number of 

 grade cattle and steers. These cattle are kept for breeding and feeding operations, 

 mostly of an experimental character. Pure bred feeding animals are usually on sale, 

 however, and a considerable number are sold in the course of the year. 



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