40 ' EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 



I 5 GEORG'^ v., A. 1915 



Boot breeding. — From several of the varieties of mangels, carrots and turnips 

 that have averaged highest in dry matter per acre for the past ten years, 200 seed 

 roots were selected in the fall of 1913. These roots have been carefully stored and 

 will be planted in the spring of 3914, thus making a start in systematic root breedincr. 



HERBARIUM. 



The collection of Canadian grasses and sedges started in 1912 has been increased 

 during the past year to the extent of several hundred species. 



Arrangements have also been -comjileted with the Botaniq Garden, Lund, 

 Sweden, to exchange collections of Canadian flora for grasses and sedges from 

 Sweden, Norway, Finland and Denmark. In accordance with this arrangement a 

 duplicate collection iof 1,000 sheets has been exchanged for an equally large collec- 

 tion of grasses and sedges from northern Europe. 



BROOM CORN. 



The experiments iwith broom corn have so far shown that an early seeding h 

 essential in the vicinity of Ottawa. In 1913, a small quantitv of marketable b:ush 

 was produced, but whether the crop will prove profitable caimot, as yet, be deter- 

 mined from the results at the Central Experimental Farm. 



POULTKY DIVISION. 



The work of this Division is to investigate all poultry problems that are of 

 interest ito farmers land poultrymen. This experimental work includes breeding, 

 incubation, brooding, rearing, feeding, housing, the production of fleth and ( ggs, 

 diseases, etc., and to carry out this work turkeys, geese, ducks, guineas and ordinmv 

 fowl are utilized. 



The major portion of the experimental work is conducted at the Central p'aut 

 at Ottawa, where special oqui)unent and assistance are maintained. The Exj eri- 

 mental Farms and Stations at which poultry plants are being installed are used more 

 in the nature of demonstrations, though experiments having a local value are also 

 conducted there. 



The plant at the '.Central Farm, Ottawa, consists of about 5 acres, upon which 

 jhe main buildings are erected, and 12 to 14 acres of park and water at a short 

 distance away, where the experiments in turkeys and waterfowl are being conducted. 

 This latter portion has been but lately added to the plant, and the buildings as yet 

 are not complete. 



During the past year several new buildings have been added to the plant on the 

 Central Experimental Farm; these consist of a feed and storehouse; an experimental 

 breeding house, and a cockerel house, which is also used as a brooder house. 



As a rule, about 300 laying hens are kept on the Central plant, including the 

 most i>opular utility breeds and varieties. This year two breeds of turkeys, five orf 

 ducks, three of geese, and one of guinea fowl are being introduced. 



The incubators are one Mammoth of 1,200-egg capacity and eight or ten small 

 lamp machines of the recognized standard varieties. The brooders cpnsist of indi- 

 vidual electric hovers placed in one wing of the cockerel house, one room brooder st,ov6 

 and a number of individual hovers, portable and otherwise. 



PjOultry work has not as yet started at all of the branch Farms and Experimental 

 Stations. This year, however, work was started at Agaesiz, B.C., Invormei'e, B.C., 

 Lethbridge, Alta., Laoom'be, Alta., Indian Head, Sask., Brandion, Man., Cap RJouge, 

 Que., Nappan, N.S., Kentville, N.S., Fredericton, N.B., and Charlo|ttetown, P.E.I. 

 A start on the other Farms will in all probability be made next year. This work is 

 more in the nature of ' farm poultry ' than ' poultry farms.' The extent of the 



