842 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 



5 GEORGE v., A. 1915 



A packet of dry seeds was sent to the Eoyal Botanic Gardens, Kew, London, 

 England. The seeds which had been kept dry for twenty-five days germinated 42 

 per cent, which result was 20 per cent better than the test of the seeds sent wet. 



In all cases the seeds from western Ontario gave the best results. They are much 

 larger seeds than those gathered near Ottawa. But it is important to point out that 

 the latter seeds were at a great disadvantage from the beginning, as after being 

 gathered they were spread out in the hot sun and left there unprotected for a whole 

 day. This is not at all necessary if ordinary precautions are taken. The seeds should 

 not be gathered just after a rain when the whole plant is naturally wet, nor should 

 they he put into a wet boat. Only the mature seeds drop off readily from the stalk so 

 that in gathering there is very little chance of getting young and " milky " seeds. If, 

 however, there is any danger of fermentation, the seeds may be spread out for a few 

 hours in a dry atmosphere but protected from the sun. They should be turned over 

 two or three times to let the air thoroughly through tliem. On no account should they 

 ever be exposed to intense heat. 



QUEBEC WILD lilCE. 



The seeds of the Quebec wild rice are only half the size of those from western 

 Ontario. The plants are also very much smaller. As is well known, there are two 

 species of wild rice growing in Canada, i.e., Zizania palustris and Z. aquatica. We are 

 not yet in a position to state whether the Quebec wild rice is Z. q,quatica growing under 

 adverse circumstances due to tidal conditions, or whether it is a variety of the same. 

 It was found growing in abundance both on the north and south shores of the St. 

 Lawrence river. At Beauport, there is a large stretch of low land on the Beauport 

 flats which the inhabitants call " La Canarderie " where the wild rice is most abundant, 

 and where the wild ducks flock to eat it. Wild rice was also found at Cap Eouge, 

 Montmorency, and Ste. Anne station. On the south shore, it was growing at St. 

 Joseph de Levis, just below the grr.ving dock, at Levis above the Grand Trunk 

 station, at Hadlow, and along the shore up to New Liverpool. No doubt it also grows 

 on both sides of the St. Lawrence for a considerable distance below Quebec, as it was 

 found in abundance at L'Islet, 50 miles from Quebec. There was, however, no sign 

 of it at Eiviere-du-Loup, owing to the salinity of the water. 



IV.— MISCELLANEOUS. 



INTEnNATIONAL PIIYTOPATHOLOGICAL CONFERENCE. 



The Dominion Botanist was appointed by an Order in Council to represent the 

 Dominion of Canada at the above conference held in Eome from February 24 to 

 March 4", 1914. The conference, which was held at and under the auspices of the 

 International Institute of Agriculture for the purpose of securing international 

 co-opera.tion in the control of plant diseases, was summoned by the Government of 

 France in conjunction with the Italian Goverment. His Majesty the King of Italy, 

 in person opened the conference. TJiirty-one countries were represented by sixty- 

 three delegates. 



A series of meetings was held at which the delegates expressed the general desire 

 of their respective Governments to abide by previous decisions of the General Assem- 

 blies of the International Institute of Agriculture, and to continue the measures 

 already agreed upon at previous agricultural congresses. The conference, with- 

 out in any way interfering with the measures adopted under existing international 

 agreements, drew up a draft convention, dated March the 4th, 1914, to be submitted 



Ottawa. 



