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



EXPERIMENTAL FARM FOR BRITISH 



COLUMBIA 



KEPORT OF THOS. A. SHARPE, SUPERINTENDENT. 



Agassiz, B.C.. March 31, 1911. 



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



Director. Dominion Experimental Farms, 

 Ottawa, Ont. 



Sir, — I have the honour to present herewith my report for the year ending March 

 31, 1911. 



The winter of 1910-11 was mild with no very severe storms, heavy snowfalls or 

 drops in temperature, but the cold winds continued till late in the spring, with less 

 than the usual rainfall for that season. The prevailing winds in April, May, and well 

 on into June were north, north-east and north-west, with occasional light frosts dur- 

 ing May and June. This was unfavourable for fruit trees blooming during that time, 

 and, in consequence, the crops of apples, plums and pears were very light on the trees 

 here. In this country, a few miles, sometimes, makes considerable difference in 

 climatic condition and this year we suffered from unfavourable weather in spring to a 

 greater degree than places only a short distance away. The cold spring weather did 

 nob appear to affect the hay crop, which has been an average one, and the weather 

 during haying was fairly favourable, the crop being saved in good condition. The 

 grain crops were, as a rule, above the average, but showery weather during harvest 

 delayed the work, and the colour of the oats, which is the principal grain crop in 

 tli is district, was not as bright as usual. 



The dry, cool weather in spring prevented the germination of the mangel, carrot 

 and turnip seed and the stand was not an even one, but good growing weather with 

 sufficient rainfall later in the season, filled the roots out and the result has been * 

 fair yield. Owing to the very low prices for potatoes last spring, many lots remaining 

 unsold, fewer were planted and, although the yield has been a fairly good one, the 

 price has beon high since the crop was harvested. 



Corn as usual, did not make much growth in spring and early summer and was. 

 in consequence, very late and immature when cut. 



November and December were wet and cool with no severe drops in temperature. 

 In January, however, the weather turned colder, with a northeast gale and snow- 

 storm; the temperature on the night of the 13th dropped to four degrees below zero, 

 with a gale from the north and snow which drifted into roads and sheltered spots. 

 forming banks in some places ten feet deep. February was cool and the snow did not 

 go off. although the weather was bright. 



EXPERIMENTS WITH SPRING WHEAT. 



Nine varieties of spring wheat were sown in the test plots, on April 22, at the 

 rate of one and one-half bush'oi.- per acre. The land on which these plots were sown 

 had given a crop of roots in L909; these in turn had been grown on a clover sod. 



