44 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS. 



were represented. The exhibit of Ontario (which included an excellent selection 

 of samples from the Agricultural College at Guelph), was especially fine; Quebec 

 came next in importance, followed by the North-west Territories, British Columbia, 

 Nova Scotia and Piince Edward Island, all the displays being excellent both in the 

 quality and variety of the articles shown. 



The large central trophy was covered entirely with the products of the several 

 Experimental Farms, from which sources were also obtained the materials for the 

 exterior decoration of the court. Since Manitoba was not represented as a province, 

 the front of the trophy was covered with the products of the Branch Farm for 

 Manitoba ; the samples from the Central Farm were placed on the side contiguous 

 to the exhibits of Ontario and Quebec; the other sides of the exterior and interior 

 of the trophy being devoted to a display of the productions of the branch farms for 

 the North-west Territories, British Columbia and the Maritime Provinces. The 

 samples of grain and agricultural seeds were relieved by the introduction of a very 

 complete collection of native and cultivated grasses arranged by Mr. James Fletcher, 

 Botanist and Entomologist of the Farms, also by a large number of photographs of 

 different portions of the Experimental Farms, including harvest scenes, cattle, &c,, 

 the whole making a grand display, illustrating the manifold character of the work 

 in progress in connection with the Dominion system of Experimental Farms. 



Adjacent to the trophy, there was displayed in a prominent position, a collection 

 of Canadian insects, prepared and arranged by Mr. James Fletcher, who devoted 

 much labour to this work. In addition to many beautiful examples of insects of 

 brilliant colour and attractive form, this collection included manj'- species which 

 injure agricultural and horticultural products. 



The dairy exhibits which brought into such prominence the high quality of 

 Canadian cheese and butter, were to a large extent the result of the untiring efforts 

 of the Dairy Commissioner, Mr. J. W. Hobertson, who, assisted by competent experts 

 from the Dairy Associations and members of his own staff, and aided by practical 

 dairymen all over the Dominion, achieved a success for Canada of which the people 

 everywhere have reason to feel proud. 



During my stay in Chicago, I was also able to render assistance to the Dominion 

 Superintendent in charge of the Canadian horticultural products, Mr. L. Woolverton, 

 in planning the arrangements for the display of fruits and vegetables, to which the 

 Experimental Farms were large contributors. Mr. John Craig, horticulturist at 

 the Central Farm, devoted himself assiduously to the collecting and preparing of 

 fruits for this purpose during the summer of 1892, and there was put up in pre- 

 serving fluids under his supervision an excellent collection representing the progress 

 which has been made in that division of the work which he superintends. The col- 

 lection embraced an extensive and varied assortment of small fruits, also a number 

 of varieties of cherries, plums and some apples, ail grown at the Central Experi- 

 mental Farm. Subsequently during the period of the exhibition Mr. Craig rendered 

 further assistance by sending forward supplies of fresh vegetables and fruits, among 

 the latter a display of grapes, consisting of 122 different varieties, all ripened in the 

 open air at Ottawa. These attracted much attention, and excited the surprise of 

 visiting fruit growers who reside further south, who did not anticipate that so 

 many sorts of grapes could be ripened so well in the open air so far north as Ottawa. 



The branch Experimental Farms also did excellent service, and in addition to 

 their large contributions to the grain exhibits they provided material for the horti- 

 cultural display. Mr. Wm. M. Blair, the Superintendent of the Experimental Farm 

 for the Maritime Provinces, forwarded from Nappan, Nova Scotia, a large quantity 

 of very excellent roots and other vegetables, partly the growth of the Experimental 

 Farm, and partly contributed by the farmers of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. Mr. 

 Blair also sent samples of the small fruits grown on the Nappan Experimental Farm. 

 Mr. S. A. Bedford contributed from the JBrandon, Manitoba Experimental Farm, 

 a quantity of preserved vegetables, also a number of varieties of small fruits both 

 cultivated and wild. An excellent assortment of a similar character was sent by 

 Mr. A. Mackay from the Experimental Farm at Indian Head, N. W. T., and both 

 these western farms sent frequent contributions of fresh vegetables during the sum- 

 mer season. Mr. Thos. A. Sharpe, Superintendent of the Experimental Farm at 



