REPORT OF. TEE DIRECTOR 51 



SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 



VISITS TO THE BRANCH FARMS AND STATIONS. 



The regular visits were paid during the year to all the branch Farms and Stations. 

 At Charlottetown, P.E.I., where the Station was just being started, a stay was made 

 of nine days, and during this time a great change was made in the appearance of the 

 place. The work of the season was planned, new orchards of apples, pears, plums and 

 cherries, an arboretum, forest belts and hedges planted, and alterations to the Super- 

 intendent's house and a new implement shed arranged for. Collections of ornamental 

 trees and shrubs were set out and beds of perennial and annual flowering plants pro- 

 vided for. 



On May 9th to 11th, a visit was made to Nappan, N.S., where the work in pro- 

 gress was gone over and that for the coming season planned. As the season was late 

 in opening, it was not possible to do much work on the land at this early period. 



VISITS TO THE WESTERN EXPERIMENTAL FARMS AND STATIONS. 



On May 24, I left Ottawa for the west, going straight through to Rosthern, 

 Sask., where much planning and planting was done by the 30th. Shelter belts were 

 set out and new orchards planted which, however, owing to the unfavourable season, 

 subsequently made a poor record. On leaving Rosthern, a visit was paid to Scott, 

 Sask., where the site of the new Station was examined and the location of the build- 

 ings was decided on. The 2nd and 3rd of June were spent at Lacombe, Alta., where 

 a good deal of planting was done and the appearance of the Station much improved. 

 Lethbridge, Alta., was visited on the 4th and 5th, Indian Head, Sask., on the 7th and 

 8th, and Brandon, Man., on the 8th and 9th. The work on these latter Farms was 

 all well advanced and everything was in good order and working satisfactorily. I 

 arrive:! in Ottawa on June 12. 



SECOND VISIT TO THE WESTERN FARMS AND STATIONS. 



On July 22nd, I left Ottawa for a second visit to the branch Farms and Stations 

 in the west. The 25th and 26th were spent at Brandon, Man., where the crops were 

 well advanced and gave promise of a good yield. Arriving at Indian Head, Sask., on 

 the 26th, three days were spent on the Experimental Farm there. On the 27th and 

 28th, large picnics were held, when several thousand farmers had the opportunity of 

 seeing the magnificent crops of grain which were then well in head, and of inspecting 

 the barns and fields, also the plantations of forest and ornamental trees, the fruits, 

 vegetables and flowers. All the visitors appeared to enjoy their outing immensely and 

 were delighted with the opportunity of seeing so many new objects of interest. The 

 weather was very enjoyable. 



Two days were spent at Rosthern, Sask., where the unfavourable weather had 

 produced discouraging results and i*ain was greatly needed. Lethbridge, Alta., was 

 visited on the 8th and 9th of August, where everything was suffering very much from 

 drought. Short visits were made to Salmon Arm, B.C., and Kamloops, and Agassiz, 

 B.C., was reached on the 15th where the crops were looking well. After two days 

 spent here, a continuous journey was made to Ottawa, arriving there on the 21st 

 of August. 



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