REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURIST. 



(Jas. W. Eobertson.) 



To Wm. Saunders, Esq., 



Director, Dominion Experimental Farms, 

 Ottawa. 



SiE, — I have the honour to present reports on, (1) experiments in the fattening 

 of cattle, (2) experiments in the feeding of swine, and (3) the Eobertson mixture 

 for ensilage. 



The brevity of this report is due to two causes. 



(1) The discovery that the disease of tuberculosis was widespread in our herd 

 of cattle, led to the stoppage, for a time, of experiments in the feeding of milking 

 cows, also to a postponement of the investigations in the Experimental Dairy. The 

 presence of the disease of tuberculosis in a few of the cattle, had been suspected for 

 some time; but until recently the disease was not known to be of an actively conta- 

 gious nature. After it had been established that, by means of tests made by 

 the injection of a small quantity of Koch's lymph or tuberculin, the presence of the 

 disease in even its incipient stages could be detected, several of the animals were 

 tested. By the steps which were taken to stamp out the disease from the herd, it 

 became impraticable to continue the feeding of a number of cows on the crops of the 

 40-acre lot, which were reported on last year. A complete record of the crops of the 

 40-acre lot for 1893 has been taken; and it is intended that the feeding of as many 

 cattle as can be kept on the product of it, will be resumed in 1894. For the reason 

 mentioned, I do not consider the information available in regard to it, for the season 

 of 1893, to be of sufficient importance to be published in its incomplete state. 



(2) As in former years my duties and opportunities as Dairy Commissioner 

 have absorbed the greater part of my time. Executive work which has arisen from 

 the establishment and management of the Branch Experimental Dairy Stations 

 — (there have been 19 different dairy stations under my control during the year) — 

 has absorbed a large share of my time ; the management of the exhibition of 

 Canadian dairy products at the World's Fair claimed no few hours and days ; meet- 

 ings of farmers, correspondence, &c., &c., had to go sparingly served by what could 

 be taken of it; and the planning and supervising of investigations into the feeding 

 and management of cattle and swine and the other branches of work undertaken by 

 me, at the Central Experimental Farm, in my capacity as Agriculturist, occupied 

 the remainder of it. The supervision of the grain and root crops was taken by 

 yourself, as heretofore. 



For the faithful and painstaking discharge of their duties, I desire to mention 

 with special commendation, Mr. John Fixter, farm foreman, and Mr. Robert R. 

 Elliott, herdsman. 



I have the honour to be, sir, 



Your obedient servant, 



JAS. W. EOBERTSON, 



Agriculturist. 



