14 • BZPERIilENTAL FIRMS 



4-5 EDWARD Vll„ A. 1905 



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



No. of 



Sample Bags. 



Spring wheat 420 



Oats 542 



Barley 367 



Pease 176 



Flajc, Rye and Emuier 153 



Potatoes 818 



Total 2,476 



Experimental Farm, Agassiz, B.C. 



No. of 

 Sample Bags. 



Spring wheat 86 



Oats 153 



Barley 74 



Pease 120 



Potatoes 16* 



Total 537 



By adding the number of samples distributed by the branch farms to those sent 

 out by the central farm, we have a total of 37,174. It is gratifying to find among the 

 farmers of Canada so large a number of volunteers ready to co-operate in this experi- 

 mental work. 



For ten years the volume of this work has been large, and the average number of 

 experimenters to whom samples have been sent has been 36,406 each year. 



In distributing this large quantity of seed grain great care is taken to have it clean 

 and as far as possible true to name. Most of it is grown at the Experimental Farms 

 at Indian Head and Brandon, where the crops average larger yields than they do at 

 Ottawa. It is believed that better results can be got from samples of oats from a crop 

 which has given 100 bushels per acre than from one giving 50 or 60 bushels. There 

 is much individuality stamped on every variety, and it is doubtless an advantage to 

 ^avc seed grain from productive strains. 



To provide the large quantity of seed required for this distribution, arrangementa 

 are. made for growing it the previous year. While maturing in the fields most of the 

 gVain from which the samples for distribution are to be supplied is gone carefully over, 

 and any plants found of other varieties pulled up. After the grain is threshed it is 

 put through suitable cleaning machinery, and then thoroughly examined, and if any 

 foreign admixture which the separators will not remove is 1'ound Ihe grain is hand 

 I iciced before it is sent out. There is no doubt that the high, quality and productive- 

 ness of tSie cereals grown throughout the Dominion has been favourably influenced 

 hji'?. very largely so by the placing of these comparativ;?ly small quantities of cereals 

 of high quality in the hands of so many good men. From the samples received hun- 

 dreds of farmers have within three seasons produced sufficient seed for tlu'ir own 

 sowing and a considerable surplus to sell to their neighbours. 



COERESPONDENOE. 



The correspondence carried on during 1904 between the farmers of Canada and 

 the officers of the Experimental Farms has been very large. 



CENTRAL EXPERIMEXTAL FARM. 



The following is a summary of the letters received and sent out at the Central 

 Experimental Farm from December 1, 1903, to November 30, 1904; also the number of 

 reports, bulletins and circulars forwarded by mail during the same period : — 



Letters Letters 



received. sent. 



Director 43,791 18,539 



Agriculturist 2,067 2,967 



Horticulturist 1,479 1,417 



Chemist 1,284 1,251 



Entomologist and Botanist 3,231 2,909 



Experimentalist 349 281 



Poultry Manager 2,298 2,006 



Accountant 867 873 



55,366 30,243 



