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



EIPERlilTiL FAEII FOR TEE iRIE-WESI TmilORIES 



Experimental Farm, Indian Head, Sask., 



Novembor 30, 1905. 

 Dr. Wm. Saunders, C.M.G., 



Director Dominion Experimental Farms, 

 Ottawa. 



SiR^ — I have the honour to submit to you the eighteenth annual report of the ope- 

 rations of the Experimental Farm for the North-west Territories at Indian Head. 

 Sask., during the year 1905. 



The past season has been, without an exception, the most favourable for grain of 

 all sorts the Territories have ever experienced. In past years, over so wide an extent 

 of territory, some districtsi or large sections of country would have more or less poor 

 crops. This year, however, all rejoice in a most bountiful harvest. In many places 

 the crop was excessively heavy, causing considerable expense in securing it. 



Very little snow fell during last winter, and after Febroiiry 11 little or no severe 

 weather took place. Seeding could have been done in any part of the Territories dur- 

 ing the last half of February and all of March, and in s;ome cases grain was sown 

 within this period. 



April opened very fine, and seeding became general over the whole country the 

 first few days. During the month one or two cold spells occurred, but did not inter- 

 fere with seeding, which was completed early, and better than for many preceding 

 springs. 



Grain as a rule germinated early and evenly, and under heavy showers and warm 

 weather in May and June growth was very rapid, and in some districts very rank. 



Harvest commenced from August 20 to 25, as a rule, with som.3 districts a few 

 days earlier. Unfavourable weather, with heavy showers, retarded the cutting. No 

 delay in harvesting took place from backward growth, as the grain all rij)ened evenly 

 and fast. 



On September 4 the temi>erature was very near tlie freezing point, and no doubt, 

 from results shown by threshing, did reach that point in some places. The first frost 

 shown by instruments on the Experimental Farm was on Tuesday, September 12, when 

 one degree was recorded. 



From the excessive quantity of straw, and unfavourable weather, threshing has 

 been both tedious and expensive this fall, and at the present time considerable has yet 

 to be done. Very heavy yields are being obtained everywhere, showing the wonderful 

 fertility of the soil when conditions are favourable. 



EXPERIMENTAL FAEM CROPS. 



The crops on the Experimental Farm have never been so uniformly good as they 

 were this year. Some of the uniform test plots of wheat, through being too heavy, 

 lodged badly and rusted, and were considerably injured, especially in the sample. All 

 field crops, whether grain or ro'ots, were good both in yield and quality. Straw in 

 many cases lodged badly, but chiefly from heavy rain after fiUing, and the returns do 



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