REPORT OF MR. WM. M. BLAIR. 225 



9 feet deep, and in another an 8-inch main drain was laid for several rods 8 feet 

 deep, while in other places the drains are from 4 to 5 feet deep. 

 Tiles landed on the farm cost, including freight : 



2 inch, S13.00 per M. 



3 " 18.00 " 



4 " 24.00 " 

 6 " 45.00 '' 



The advantages of draining are very many, about 10 days earlier seeding, 

 consequently earlier ripening, when the weather is more suitable for harvesting. 



The land is more easily worked and this insures better cultivation than is 

 possible on wet land. 



During heavy rains all surplus water is carried away rapidly, the land retaining 

 a sufficient quantity for nourishment; and thus by making the water level lower, 

 the plants are enabled to feed at a greater depth, making more plant food available, 

 thereby providing food and nourishment for crops during severe drought. 



The following statement shows cost of draining Sy^^ acres of land, fertilizers 

 used ; also yield of turnips grown on the same. 



Cost of draining per acre $ 54 28 



Cost of draining S-jP^ acres $ 195 41 



Fertilizers used — 



9030-bu8h. cart loads manure @ 80c $ 72 00 



2,160 lbs. bone meal @ 2c. per pound 43 20 



700 lbs. guano @ 3c. per pound 21 60 



136 80 



Total cost S 332 26 



Yield of turnips per 3^% acres, 3,600 bushels ; 3,600 bushels @ 10c. per bushel, 

 $360.00, showing a balance of $27.79 on 3^^^ acres, or a balance ot $7.72 per acre 

 towards cost of labour. 



Grasses. 



Of the 30 varieties of grasses tried on the farm 11 varieties appear to be suitable 

 to the climate, and from their appearance I think some of them would be valuable 

 if added to our pasture grasses. I have carefully saved the seed from these plots 

 and am now trying them on a field which is being prepared for permanent pasture. 



The following are the most suitable varieties : Western Eye Grass, Orchard 

 Grass, Italian Eye Grass, Late or Fowl Meadow, Fringed Brome, Eeed Canary, 

 Western Brome, Austrian Brome Grass, Tall Fescue, Meadow Fescue and Eed Top. 



Strawberries. 



The following varieties of strawberries fruited this year : Crescent, Capt. Jack, 

 New Dominion, Manchester, May King and Maggie. 



The following varieties were sent here from the Central Farm in May last, and 

 have made good growth, viz. : Sharpless, Warfield and Bubach. There was also a 

 large variety of plants sent from the Central Farm in August last, some of which are 

 living, but many failed to root, and from the experience gained here it appears that 

 May is the best time to transplant strawberries, in this climate. 



Easpberries. 



Easpberries and blackberries always make good growth. The new wood this 

 year overshadowed the fruit before it was ripe. In some cases the canes were seven 

 feet high ; — this rapid growth appeared to injure the fruit, 

 be— 15 



