REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR 41 



SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 



Birch Hills to Kinistino, 20 miles. The country has much the same wooded 

 diaracter as that travelled over from Prince Albert here, but before reaching Kinis- 

 tino the country becomes more ope« and better settled with larger areas under crop and 

 much less affected by sloughs. 



Kinistino to Melfort, 10 miles. The Carrot river is crossed soon after leaving 

 Kinistino and the land here from some miles west of Kinistino to Melfort seems to 

 be of very good quality. This part of the district is more open and is well settled and 

 there is much more crop to be seen, especially wheat. 



At Melfort a stop was made and a drive taken over the country which afforded 

 opportunity for examining several farms. The soil for the most part was excellent — 

 a rich sandy loam with plenty of humus in it and more or less mixed with clay. The 

 soil was about 15 inches deep with a friable clay subsoil. Th'? different farms ex- 

 amined were almost uniformly good as to soil and the whole district has an excellent 

 reputation for productiveness. 



VISITS TO THE BEANCH EXPERIMENTAL FARMS. 



Visits were paid to the branch experimental farms in the west during August 

 ■ and September^ and the farm for the maritime provinces was visited in October. 



EXPERUIENTAL FARM, BRANDON, ]SrAN. 



In Manitoba the season was very favourable both for seeding and subsequent 

 grovrth^ germination was even and growth rapid and there was no injury from late 

 spring frosts. There was a promise of very heavy crops when rust appeared and re- 

 duced the yield somewhat. Subsequently as the wheat was about maturing a few days 

 of excessive heat with a south wind ripened it up rapidly and thus the exj>ected average 

 yield was further reduced. Harvest began about August 15; the weather was good 

 and the grain secured in excellent condition. The harvest on the whole was fully a 

 week earlier than usual. 



The field crops of spring wheat varied from 28 to 44 bushels per acre, the experi- 

 mental plots from 21 to 35 bushels. Oats varied from 70 to 116 bushels per acre; 

 b-rley from 44 to 66 bushels, and pease from 38 to 58 bushels per acre. 



Indian corn ranged in crop from 14 to 31 tons of green fodder as cut for the silo, 

 this crop was good and well matured. Turnips yielded from 18 to 26 tons ; mangels 

 24 to 38 tons, and potatoes from 256 to 495 bushels per acre. The crop of fruits of 

 most sorts was below the average. 



The general condition of the farm and stock, also that of the implements, tools, 

 &C., was creditable to the superintendent. 



EXPERIMENTAL FARM, INDIAN HEAD, SASK. 



The season of 1906 was generally favourable to crops both in Saskatchewan and 

 Alberta. Spring wheat, oats and barley all gave good returns. The spring opened 

 early in April and continued favourable until seeding was completed. Abundant 

 moisture caused rapid and satisfactory growth. In July hot weather checked excessive 

 growth in straw, and a second hot period in August hastened ripening and brought 

 on an early harvest. 



The harvest weather was good and the grain was gathered promptly. Threshing 

 started without delay on completion of the harvest and was finished early. A hail 

 storm, the first ever experienced at Indian Head, occurred on July 24. This injured 

 all the crops more or less, but the injury was not very severe. The fields of spring 

 wheat varied in yield from 25 to 38 bushels per acre; the experimental plots gave 

 from 35 to 48 bushels. Oats in field crop gave from 60 to 87 bushels; in plots the 

 return was from 78 to 128 bushels per acre. 



