REPORT OF TEE DIRECTOR 61 



SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 



a serious couteuder against these two. Of the seveutoeii varieties of oats tested 

 this year, Banner was found to be the most satisfactory for general use. Ten varie- 

 ties of six-row barley and seven of two-row were tested. The six-row varieties are 

 the better for Manitoba, and of these Manchurian and O.A.C. No. 21 are recom- 

 mended. Of ten varieties of field peas, Mackay is thfi heaviest yielder, and Arthur 

 the earliest. 



CULTLTRAL WORK. 



The extensive system of cultural experiments inaugurated in 1911 has been 

 continued according to the detailed plan decided upon. A great mass of figures 

 giving yields obtained under different treatments is being gathered. It is rather 

 early as yet for definite results from this work, but in the course of a few years 

 more, some valuable information should be available on the different questions which 

 are being investigated. 



The experiments with rotations made rather poor progress on account of the 

 overflowing of the Assiniboine river. Most of the land that is used for the rotatione 

 is on the lower portions of the Farm. The flood made such unusual conditions on 

 these fields that the season's results are not of much value. 



FORAGE CROPS. 



Experiments with different varieties of grasses, clovers, alfalfa and mixtures 

 of the same, gave interesting results. Alfalfa shows itself to be decidedly the most 

 productive hay crop, no matter whether alone or in mixtures. Western Rye grass 

 also gave very good results. Notes taken on plots of grass and clover mixtures 

 showed that alfalfa and Western Rye grass were dominant and gradually increased 

 their proportion of the crop. 



Field crops of hay were heavy on the flooded land, but rather below average 

 on the higher part of the Farm. 



Thirteen varieties of fodder corn, twenty-two varieties of turnips, eleven 

 varieties of mangels, three varieties of sugar beets and nine varieties of carrots 

 were included in the tests of field roots. The dry weather affected the crop of roots 

 and it was hardly up ta average. 



HORTICULTURE. 



Twenty-eight varieties of potatoes were tested in uniform test rows, and were 

 also subjected to a cooking test. A test of fertilizers applied to potatoes was also 

 made. The usual tests of varieties of all the kinds of garden vegetables were made. 

 Notes were taken on the appearance and table quality of these vegetables as well as 

 on the yield and date of being ready for use. 



The usual display of flowers was made, and was greatly admired by many 

 visitors. Tulips planted in the previous fall made an especially fine showing in 

 the spring of 1913. 



Numerous sorts of trees and shrubs continue to thrive on the grounds around 

 the Superintendent's house. Notes were taken on the growth and comparative 

 hardiness of each. 



A large crop of plums was harvested from the native Manitoba plum trees, 

 some of which produced fruit of voi-y good quality. Smaller quantities of. Cheney, 

 Aitkoii and other named varieties were also produced. 



The 3,000 young seedlings of standard apples which were set out the previous 

 year have done very well. Nearly all have wintered well and are alive to the tip. 



