310 ~ EXPERIMENTAL FARMS. 



POULTRY. 



Very great success cannot be reported in the poultry department for the past 

 year. Although better than that of 1892, it was far from being satisfactory. 



The Plymouth Rocks brought up the largest flock of young birds; White Leg- 

 horns second. 



The Andalusians laid the finest eggs, but the Plj^mouth Eocks were first in 

 number. 



Thirteen settings were sent out to settlers in April and May last. 



A better roof has been placed on the poultry building, and an addition made to 

 its size, and the yards also have been enlarged. Though not very extensive, the 

 building is now warm and comfortable. 



STALLION. 



The Clyde stallion Barlocco, sent by the Haras National Company from 

 Montreal, reached the farm on 28th April last, and remained for three months, 

 serving 52 mares during that time. 



Barlocco captured the ninth prize for Clydesdales at the "World's Columbian 

 Exposition. 



PREPARING LAND FOR CROP. 



Three methods were followed in pi-eparing land in the season of 1892 for the 

 crop of the past year. 1st. To plough deep with a single plough soon after seeding 

 and cultivate the surface afterwards with a spring-toothed harrow. 2nd. To gang 

 plough 3 inches deep first, then cultivate the surface to keep down weeds, and after 

 harvest plough deep. 3rd. To gang plough first and last 3 inches deep with surface 

 cultivation between the ploughings. 



Wheat, barley and oats were all sown on the three differently prepared soils, 

 and at no time could any difterence be observed in the crops. The early part of the 

 gi'owing season being so favourable, the crop of straw was equally heavy on all, and 

 the hot winds did no more damage on the shallow prepared ground than on the 

 deep. 



It mtist, however, be understood that prior to 1892 the land had all been 

 fallowed from 6 to 8 inches deep, and with a season like the past good crops could 

 reasonably be expected on all the fallows. 



The past season the Innd for next year's crop has been prepared in the same 

 three ways, and should the growing season be difterent, as no doubt it will, a diff^er- 

 ent result will in all probability follow. 



MANURING. 



The manure from stock during the winter of 1891 and the summer of 1892 was 

 first drawn into one large pile, where it thoroughly rotted. It was then, after the 

 other work on the farm was stopped by frost, drawn ont and put on stubble land 

 intended for fallow the past season. The same course will be adopted with manure 

 made last winter and this summer. 



DISTRIBUTION OP GRAIN, FOREST TREES, FRUIT BUSHES, TREE SEEDS AND POTATOES. 



A distribution of grain, trees, fruit bushes, tree seeds and potatoes was 

 made during March, April and May last. 



Four hundred and thirty-one bags of grain, consisting of samples of wheat, 

 barley, oats, pease, flax and spring rye were sent out by mail. 



Two thousand five hundred trees, principally Manitoba Maple, or Box Elder, 

 were distributed by mail. Elm. Ash, Poplar, Willow, Cottonwood, Caragana and 

 Lilac were sent out in small lots. 



