REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR 41 



SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 



stock wliioh is being kepit at these Farms is enough for one man to look after. At 

 some of the Farms only one breed is kept but never more than three. It is not the 

 intention to i-ecommeind to the farmer the keej^ing of several varieties, but rather tlie 

 proper choice of a suitable variety followed by judicious selection, year 'after year. 



At all of the plants it is the intention to have both portable and permanent 

 houses; tlie portable house is small enough to be moved easily from place to place, tlie 

 pei-manent house large enough to hold about 100 hens, which is the size of the flock 

 recommended for the 'average farmer. At several of the Stations, notably Cap 

 Rouge and Lacombe, turkeys, geese and ducks arc being experimented with, and at 

 Invermere, B.C., a specialty is being made of turkeys. 



One of the main experiments which are being conducted is the production of a 

 laying strain in several of the utility varie;ties. Just as soon as such a strain is 

 established at the Central Experimental Farm, cockerels from this strain will be sup- 

 plied to the Branch Farms for breeding purposes. The cockerels from subsequent 

 matings will be available to the farmers and for those wishing breeding stock from 

 the branch Farms. Practically no stock or eggs will be sold from the Central plant, 

 as the surplus stock will be distributed to the outlying Farms and the eggs used for 

 incubntion and experimental work. 



As the male is recognized as exerting more influence than the female on the 

 high i)rnduction of eggs, this system of supplj'ing cockerels from high egg-pvo- 

 ducers should result, in time, in good lajnng strains on the branch Farms and they 

 in turn, will distribute the cockerels raised to the farmers. The final results in the 

 farmer's flock oan mean only a higher average egg production. 



Experiments in cotton front houses ar>e being continued, and among the new 

 experiments are: Breeding, to determine how far the male and the female are respon- 

 sible for stamina, vitality, fertility, production of egg and meat, colour of plumage, 

 type, sex, etc.; incubator and fertility tests that cover numerous phases of the sub- 

 jects; brooding to discover cause and remedy of mortality among chicks; confined 

 runs versus free range to determine eifect on breeding stock and reproduction; feed- 

 ing screenings from Port Arthur elevators to detennine their value for poultry; the 

 shipping of eggs by parcel post versus express; the practicability pi shipping breed- 

 ing eggs that are partially hatched, and from which J;he infertile eggs have been 

 removed; ducks, Indian Rnimers for egg production and Pekins for market pur- 

 poses; geese as a farm crop, best method of management, feeding and rearing 

 turkeys; artificial versus natural methods; study oi Blackhead, etc. 



TOBACCO DIVISION. 



The experimental work of this Division, as distinguished from the supplying of 

 information to the public through the medium of reports, bulletins, correspondence 

 and samples, is conducted at the Central Farm, Ottawa, and at the Tobacco Stations 

 at St. Jacques I'Achigan and Farnham, in Quebec, and Harrow in Ontario. 



Results in 1913. 

 central farm. 



Fermentation. — The fermentation of the 1912 tobacco crop was finished by the 

 end of May, 1913, on which date the packing was commenced. At the present time, 

 the tobaccos are finishing the ripening process in the boxes. 



Crop. — The seed sown germinated well and furnished an abundance of good 

 material for transplanting early in June. The plantation specially devoted to the 

 growing of tobacco for seed gave an abundant .yield. 



Am-ong the new varieties trietl, certain Italian hybrids gave results w'hich 

 encourage the hope that they may be used in the production of the yellow tobaccos 

 in southern Ontario. 



