2 GEORGE V. SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 A. 1912 



REPORT OF 



THE DOMINION AGRICULTURIST 



J. H. GRISDALE, B. AGR. 



Ottawa, March 31, 1911. 

 Dr. William Saunders, C.M.G., 



Director, Dominion Experimental Farms, 

 Ottawa. 



Sir, — I have the honour to submit herewith reports upon the horses, cattle, sheep, 

 swine and farming operations under my supervision on the Central Experimental Farm 

 during the past year. 



I have to report a very successful year in the different lines of work in my 

 Division. 



Weather conditions in 1910 were probably quite up to the average as favouring 

 crop production in this part of Canada. The reports of the different fields show the 

 beneficial effects of such weather by increased crop returns as compared with such 

 dry years as were 1906, 1907 and 1908. 



The enlargement of my position from Agriculturist at the Central Experimental 

 Farm to Dominion Agriculturist in charge of Agriculture and Live Stock work on all 

 the branch Experimental Farms and Stations as well as on the Central Experimental 

 Farm has necessarily meant more frequent and more prolonged absences from this 

 Farm. One result has been a somewhat smaller amount of experimental v/ork with 

 live stock during the past year. As readjustment gradually takes place, it is hoped, 

 however, that more, rather than less, investigational work, not only at Ottawa but 

 on all the Branch Farms and Stations, may be got under way, and consequently the 

 usefulness of this Division relatively increased. 



The added work consequent upon the extension of my supervisory duties made the 

 appointment of an assistant to the Dominion Agriculturist most necessary. Mr. 0. C. 

 White was named to this position in June, 1910, and has proven most capable and 

 painstaking in every way. 1 am deeply indebted to him for much assistance in both 

 office and outside work. 



Mr. D. D. Gray, Farm Foreman, during the past year has had almost complete 

 charge of the field work. My frequent long absences have made it more and more neces- 

 sary to put all note-taking and reporting on results into his hands. I am glad to be 

 able to say that the added work has been done exceedingly well and most cheerfully. 

 Mr. Gi-ay has, in addition, had charge of the pigs during the past two years with most 

 gratifying results as witness the brief financial statement in the text of the attached 

 report. 



In the preparation of this report, Mr. White, my Assistant, and Mr. Gray, Farm 

 Foreman, have done practically all the work, as my other duties have been such as to 

 effect ully prevent my doing anything more than exercise a more or less close super- 

 vision and offer suggestions as to methods of presenting results. 



To Mr. Giguere, my Secretary, I am especially indebted for most intelligent co- 

 operation in working out plans for experimental work on Branch Farms and Stations, 



