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



EXPERIMENTAL FARM FOR SOUTHERN 



SASKATCHEWAN 



REPORT OF ANGUS MACKAY, SUPERINTENDENT. 



Indian Head, Sask., March 31, 1911. 

 Dr. Wm. Saunders, C.M.G., 



Director, Dominion Experimental Farms, 

 Ottawa, Ont. 



Sir, — I have the honour to submit to you my twenty-third annual report ef the 

 work done, and the results obtained, on the Experimental Farm for Southern Saskat- 

 chewan, at Indian Head, for the year ending March 31, 1911. 



The crops in all districts in the southern portion of the province varied in yield 

 and quality in 1910. Dry weather extended over the greater portion of the country 

 during the growing season, and only where cultivation had been properly done, were 

 good crops found. 



From the 1st of April to the last of August, only 7-12 inches of rain fell; this 

 included a snow storm in June which was of great benefit. Yet, notwithstanding this 

 small amount of moisture, on the Experimental Farm, and district of Indian Head, 

 only once in the past twenty-three years has a more bountiful or a more satisfactory 

 grain crop been grown. 



The clover and grass hay crops were rather below the average, on account of tho 

 drought. 



Field roots, corn and potatoes obtained benefit from the heavy rains in August, 

 and were all good. 



Vegetables were not equal in quantity to the crop of 1909, but were superior in 

 quality. 



Fruits were a complete failure, from spring frosts killing the blossoms as they 

 successively came out. 



Spring opened from the 10th to the 15th of March, with a good many, in some 

 districts, sowing wheat from the 15th to the 18th. The soil never was in better con- 

 dition for seeding, but fear of late spring frosts kept many from starting until April. 



Seeding commenced on the Experimental Farm on the 6th of April, and was 

 general over the whole province at that date. 



Harvest started on the 6th of August, and was completed on the 20th of the same 

 month. 



Threshing commenced on the 25th of August, and finished on the 22nd of Sep- 

 tember, with several delays due to rain, and to the securing of the corn crop. 



EXPERIMENTS WITH SPRING WHEAT. 



Wheat experiments, both in field and plot lots were very satisfactory; none of 

 the grain lodged, it ripened evenly, and was easily harvested and threshed. 



The land was prepared by ploughing six or eight inches deep before the 1st of 

 July of the previous year. It was harrowed and cultivated as each crop of weeds 

 appeared, then the seed was sown and harrowed afterwards. 



