ANNUAL REPORT 



ON THE 



EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 



EEPOET OP THE DIEECTOE. 

 (WM. SAUNDERS, F.R.S.C., F.L.S., F.C.S.) 



The season of 1893 has been very varied, both in its character and results, in 

 different parts of the Dominion. Almost everywhere the spring season has been back- 

 ward, and cold and wet weather delayed seeding. In the western and central parts 

 of Ontario, a moist spring with an abundant hay crop was followed by a period of 

 severe drought, which, while it did not materially affect the yield of winter wheat, 

 had a marked influence on the different varieties of spring grain, making the average 

 crop light. Summer dairying was also affected by the drying up of the pasture lands: 

 later, timely rains, however, helped the root crops, which turned out fairly satisfactory. 

 In the eastern portions of the province spring growth was also tardy and backward, 

 but under favourable conditions as to moisture an excellent hay crop was gathered. 

 The latter part of the summer was unusually wet, especially just preceding and 

 during the grain harvest, and rust prevailed to such an extent that the weight and 

 quality of spring grain was reduced far below the average, and the returns were in 

 some respects disappointing. The wet weather, however, kept the pasture lands 

 in good condition, and was favourable to the growth of roots for stock, and many 

 varieties have given a generous yield. Fodder corn has also in most localities 

 turned out fairly well. 



In most parts of Quebec the season has been favourable, the yield of hay has 

 been good and the subsequent luxuriance of pasture growth most advantageous for 

 dairy farming, in which this province has of late made most gratifying progress. 

 The returns of other crops have also been fairly satisfactory. 



In the Maritime Provinces the early part of the season was dry and the hay 

 crop below the average, but later on timely rains occurred in many localities, which 

 were followed by fairly good yields in the harvest season. The later crops of roots 

 were very fine. 



In Manitoba and the eastern portions of the North-west Territories, the early 

 part of the summer gave promise of an abundant crop which seemed almost assured, 

 when on the 5th August, within two or three weeks from the usual time of harvest, 

 there began a most unusual heated term. The thermometer ranged during six consecu- 

 tive days in the neighbourhood of and above 90° P. ; and on the 7th rose to 104° — 107° 

 P. in the shade. The high temperature on this particular day was accompanied by 

 a parching hot wind, which blew up from the arid and desert regions south in the 

 United States, and which almost scorched the leaves of the growing grain and 

 brought about premature ripening with a considerable loss of bulk. This untoward 

 circumstance reduced the promise of a generally abundant crop with a probable 

 average of about 25 bushels per acre to one of about 14 bushels, the reduction being 

 brought about partly by a diminished size of kernel and partly by the drying up of the 

 later kernels which in a favourable season form towards its close in the upper part 

 of the spikelets which compose the head of wheat. In some sections of the eastern 

 part of Assiniboia the influence of the heated term was less felt and the yield of 

 wheat has been excellent, many large farms having given a return of from thirty to 



