4-5 EDWARD VII. SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 A. 1905 



EXPERIMENTAL FARM FOR THE MARITIME PROVINCES. 



KEPOKT OF R. ROBKRTSON, SUPERINTEXDEXf. 



ISTappan, N.S., November 30, 1904. 

 To Dr. "Wm. Sauaders, 



Director Donnuioii Experimental Farms, 

 Ottawa, 



Sir, — I liaA'c the lionour to submit herewith my annual report of operations on 

 the experimental farm for the maritime provinces at Xappan, N.S. 



The season just passed has been the most unfavourable for farm crops of any for 

 some years. Crop5 generally made a good start, but continued dry weather until the 

 latter part of July, resulted in all farm crops being below the average. Owing to the 

 unfavourable season, and also to the breaking of dykes in the fall of 1903, which 

 caused the marsh to be flooded with salt water, the crop of marsh hay was very much 

 lighter than usual. Clover sown with grain crops made a good start, but almost all 

 died out in July due to lack of moisture. Roots also suffered greatly for want of rain. 

 The red-backed cutworm did considerable damage, especially to the mangel crop, and 

 many fields in the maritime provinces were practically destroyed by this pest. Pas- 

 tures were exceptionally poor except in the very early part of the season. 



I wish to again acknowledge my indebtedness for valuable assistance rendered by 

 Mr. J. Thomas Coates, farm foreman, who has kept all records of crop experiments, . 

 and to Mr. R. Donaldson, herdsman, who has kept all records of live stock experi- 

 ments, cacii doing so in a careful and painstaking manner. 



weather. 



The temperature during December was higher than usual, but the snowfall was 

 greater than that for a number of years past. There was quite a fall of snow on the 

 1st, which, with that on the following day, amounted to about six inches, and made 

 very good sleighing. There was rain and snow on the 3rd, and about twelve inches of 

 enow on the 4th. This made the roads heavy for travel, but soon they were in good 

 condition. The weather continued fine, with occasional snowfalls until the 13th, ex- 

 cepting the 10th, when wind and rain took off some of the snow. The 13th was mild, 

 with rain, which took off much of the snow, making sleighing poor. On the iVth the 

 thermometer went to zero, and on the 18th 4° below zero was registered. The weather 

 kept cold to the 21st, when a thaw with rain took the snow all off. The 22ud was also 

 mild, after which cooler weather continued to the 27th, when the thermometer went 

 to 4° below zero, and 5° below on the 29th, and 2° below on the 30th. It snowed again 

 on the 30th, making good sleighing. 



January commenced with very bright cold weather on the 1st and 2nd, when the 

 thermometer registered 10° and 14° below zero on these dates respectively. There 

 was a heavy snow and wind storm on the 3rd and on tlie 4th, roads had to be broken 

 out in many places. This was followed by light cold weatlier to the 10th, except a 

 light snowfall on the 8th and 9th. The thermometer registered 11°, 14°, 12°, 2° and 

 5° below zero on the 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th and 8th, respectively. From the lOtii to the 

 l7th was quite moderate, with occasional falls of snow, and a light rain on the 14th. 

 On the iVth a snow and wind storm blocked the roads again. The weather was fine 

 from this date to the 23rd, when it thawed and some rain fell. The thermometer re- 

 gistered 0°, 15°, 17° and 12° below zero on the 18th, 19th, 20th and 22nd , respectively. 

 There was a sleet storm on the 25th, followed by quite fine cold weather which con- 



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