64 VICTORIA SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 A. 190t 



EXPERIMENTAL FARM FOR THE NORTH-WEST TERRITORIES. 



EEPORT OF ANGUS MACKAY, SUPERINTENDENT. 



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



November 30, 1900. 

 To Dr. Wm. Saunders, 



Director Dominion Experimental Farms, 



Ottawa. 



Sir, — I have the honour to submit herewith the thirteenth annual report of the 

 operations on the Experimental Farm for the North-west Territories, at Indian 

 Head, Assiniboia, during the year 1900. 



The past season has been one of the most exceptional on record and, also, one 

 of the most unsatisfactory to the settlers depending on grain. The winter of 1899 

 and 1900 wss everything that could be desired, and from the time spring opened till 

 seeding was completed the weather could not have been .finer. On May S, however, 

 dry, windy weather set in and continued till July 4. Daring this time winds were 

 almost continuous and the heat was excessive. On June 21, 22 and 23 the thermometer 

 registered 101 "5, 106 and 103 degrees Fahr., respectively, and in Assiniboia immense 

 injury was sustained by the crops already weakened by protracted drouglit. During 

 June a few local showers fell, but on account of the heated condition of the ground 

 and atmosphere, were of little value, except in some instances where they kept the 

 crops from drying up entirely'. On July 4, 5 and 6 heavy rains set in and somewhat 

 revived the grain-growing on fallow-land, but the crops on stubble were past saving. 



lu Saskatchewan and Alberta, June rains were abundant and crops of all kinds 

 made excellent progress, giving promise of an exceptionally large yield. In the majority 

 of cases this promise was fulfilled, but on account of heavy rain and snow-storms 

 during harvest, the securing of the crop was an expensive and laborious task. 



In Assiniboia, the harvest commenced during the first week of August, the earliest 

 on record, but it was accompanied by heavy rains which caused delay in cutting and 

 in consequence many fields were over-ripe before they could be reached by the binder. 

 The rains continued during, August and the early part of September and many cases 

 of grain-growing in the stocks were reported. 



Stock, in every part of the Territories, has never done better than during the 

 past season, and although the prices for export beef have fallen considerably, ranchers 

 and farmers are well satisfied with the year's work. This industry is growing very 

 rapidly in Alberta and Saskatchewan and a few parts of Assiniboia. During the 

 summer a representative meeting of stockmen was held at Calgary, Alberta and the 

 * North-west Cattle-breeders Association' and the 'North-west Horse-breeders Associa- 

 tion ' were organized. 



EXPERIMENTAL FARM CROPS. 



On the experimental farm the crops suffered very severely from winds and dry- 

 weather, and I regret having a very unsatisfactory report to offer of the result of the 

 season's operations. 



391 



