REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR. 57 



Water from Experimental Farm, Agassiz, B. C. 



A careful and thorough chemical examination of this water affords the following 

 data in parts per million : — 



Analysis. 



Free ammonia ,. '032 



Albuminoid ammonia '024 



Nitrogen in nitrates and nitrites '046 



Chlorine 2-5 



Oxygen absorbed in 15 min. at 80° F -296 



do 4 hours do "594 



Total solids, at 105° C 83-6 



do after ignition 60*4 



Phosphates none. 



From the above figures, I judge this to be a first class water, free from all con- 

 tamination — animal and vegetable — and of excellent quality. 



Frank T. Shutt, M.A., 



Chemist, Dora. Exp. Farms. 



As soon as the arrangements were completed at Agassiz, B.C., I left for Indian 

 Head, N.W.T., where two or three days were spent in carefully inspecting the con- 

 dition of the branch farm located there, inquiring into the progress made and in 

 discussing and planning work for the future. The forest plantations had wintered 

 well, and the benefits arising from the planting of hedges and shelter belts to break 

 the force of the winds, which sometimes injure the crops have been so thoroughly 

 demonstrated, that plans were prepared for bordering nearly all the roads on the 

 farm with such windbreaks and for planting them elsewhere on the grounds 

 where needed. Arrangements were also made for extending the ai-ea planted with 

 ornamental and timber trees and shrubs, the collection of which now includes about 

 ninety species and varieties which have proven hardy there. The Austrian Brome 

 grass {Bromus inermis) which has been under test at the Indian Head farm for several 

 years, has been grown with so much success, that it was decided to sow a considerable 

 number of acres of this grass for more extended trial for hay and pasture, and a 

 sufficient quantity of seed was procured for this purpose. The cattle and horses had 

 come through the winter in excellent condition, the farm crops were nearly all up 

 and looked well and the land was very clean, giving evidence of great care in its 

 cultivation. 



On the 22nd May I arrived at the branch farm at Brandon, where several days 

 were spent in inspecting the work in hand and planning for future progress. A 

 day or two was devoted to the laying out and planting of the grounds around the 

 residence of the superintendent. Quite a large number of trees and shrubs were 

 planted, consisting altogether of varieties which have been thoroughly tested, and 

 proven hardy in that climate. A sufficient area of land has been laid out in this 

 connection to furnish space for all the additional varieties of hardy sorts obtainable. 

 The trees and shrubs which have been thoroughly tested for hardiness at Brandon, 

 include about 100 species and varieties and form a most instructive and attractive 

 group. It is expected that this number will be considerably increased during the 

 coming season. 



As the native plum had succeeded well at the experimental farm at Brandon, 

 it was thought desirable to increase the size of the plantation. For this purpose 

 I visited the Brandon Hills in company with the superintendent, where the trees are 

 found growing wild, and we succeeded in obtaining quite a number of young speci- 

 mens, some of which were planted at Brandon and some sent to the branch farm at 

 Indian Head to be tested there. (When these trees were seen during my later visit 

 to the western farms in the autumn, they were nearly all doing well). Several ad- 

 ditional hedges and windbreaks were also planted during this visit, to afford shelter 



