REl'ORT OF THE DIRECTOR 25 



SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 



DIVISION OF CHEMISTRY. 



The work carried ou by the Division of Chemistry has been similar in character 

 to that of past years, though in several of its braucRes there has been a widening 

 of its scope and a very considerable increase in the amount accomplished. This 

 has been rendered possible by additional chemical a^-sistance and the better accommo- 

 dation and facilities offered by the recent extension of the chemical building. 



Research work upon the solution of problems affecting Canadian agriculture 

 has first attention, but no less important is the educational and advisory work for the 

 individual farmer. This latter has increased very considerably, both as to correspon- 

 dence and the number of samples received for examination. It has from the first 

 been the policy to encourage this phase of the work, and it is therefore gratifyiig 

 to note that farmers throughout the Dominion are more and more realizing that the 

 Division of Chemistry can be of real assistance to them in the difficulties that present 

 themselves in their everyday work. As a bureau of information on subjects relating 

 to the chemistry of agriculture, this Division is doing an important and valuable 

 work, one which is appreciated and one which must make for the improvement of 

 farming throughout the length and breadth of the land. This consulting work 

 necessarily consumes a large amount of time, both in the office and in the laboratory, 

 •but it is believed to be time well spent in the country's interests. 



SOILS. 



The work on soils, in so far as complete chemical and physical examination is 

 concerned, is chiefly confined to representative samples of the uucropped, unmanured 

 soils from newly-settled districts in the Dominion and, naturally, the larger nufi.ber 

 of these have been sent in by the north-western provinces and British Columbia. The 

 results have furnished sufficient data for a report ou their general character and 

 suitability for various croj)s, to indicate their deficiencies, if such have been noted, 

 and the methods of culture, etc., whereby fertility may be maintained or increased. 



In the case of cultivated soils sent in by farmers, complete analysis is not as a 

 rule made, the character and extent of the examination being determined by the 

 nature of the inqliiry in the light of the information furnished respecting the past 

 cropping and treatment of the soil. 



Difficulties having arisen, it is alleged, in the successful cultivation of certain 

 of the lands in the western section of the Canadian Pacific Railway Irrigation trac!", 

 east of Calgary, through rise of alkali and other causes, a number of soils carefully 

 collected in this district have been under critical examination. This investigation 

 is still in progress and will continue probably throughout the whole of next year. 

 The results, it is hoped, will be of value in determining the suitability of these 

 lands for cultivation under irrigation, and in outlining the means to be taken against 

 injury from alkali, where such are deemed necessarj'. 



The experiments in connection with the investigation on the conservation of soil 

 moisture as influenced by cultural methods and cropping have been continued. The 

 field operations are being conducted on several of the branch Farms and Stations 

 in the northwestern provinces. This work was commenced three years ago and may 

 be continued for another three years or more before a final report is made, but the 

 results have already emphasized the value of early and deei) ploughing berfo-re the 

 rains are over, and of the preservation of an earth mulch and the destruction of 

 ■weeds by harrowing as means for this conservatioai of moisture. The benefit of sub- 

 soil packing for this purpose has not been marked in all cases, though on the lighter 

 soils it is undoubtedly of value. It is expected that this work will eventually 

 permit of the outlining of systems of soil management suitable for lands in districts 

 of sparse and irregular rainfall. 



