REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR 9 



SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 



position of Dominion Animal Husbandman on the Central Experimental Farm, 

 Ottawa. 



Dr. M. O. Malte, Dominion Agrostologist, was born in Southern Sweden in 1880. 

 After attending Preparatory School and Collegiate Institute, he passed examinations 

 for entrance into the University of Lund, in Southern Sweden, in 1898. 



After having been graduated a Bachelor of Science and, later, Licentiate of 

 Science (corresponding to Master of Arts), he defended successfully before the Faculty 

 of the University of Lund a thesis in botany for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy, 

 in 1910. 



While studying at the university, he was, during a number of years, engaged as 

 assistant at the Botanical Gardens connected with the university. During three con- 

 secutive summers, 1904-7, he was engaged as assistant at the Plant Breeding Station 

 of Svalof, Sweden, working with grasses and clovers. 



During the two years immediately preceding his coming to Canada he was 

 engaged as a teacher in Natural Science at the Collegiate Institute of Kristianstad, 

 in Southern Sweden. 



Since October, 1910, he has been connected with the Dominion Department of 

 Agriculture, Ottawa, at first with the Seed Branch of this department and later, 

 since May, 1912, with the Central Experimental Farm. 



He has published the following scientific bulletins and pamphlets: First, Physio- 

 logical investigation on the cell-en closures in the orchidaceous plants (German) ; 

 second, Epilobium hirsutum x Montanum, a new hybrid (Swedish) ; third, Alchemilla 

 pratensis, in Sweden (Swedish) ; fourth, the Construction of the Nucleus in the 

 family of Euphorbiacce (Swedish); fifth, Embryological and Cytological Investiga- 

 tions on Hercurialis annua (Swedish) ; sixth, Seed Types in Forage Plants (Washing- 

 ton). 



During the time he was connected with the Seed Branch he was engaged in 

 writing in co-operation with Mr. Geo. H. Clark, Seed Commissioner, a book on 

 ' Fodder and Pasture Plants ', which is now being printed. 



During the winter just passed, the former Poultry Manager, Mr. A. G. Gilbert, 

 found that his health would no longer permit him to take that active part in poultry 

 work incident to the position which he had held, as officer in charge of the Poultry 

 Division, since the organization of the Dominion Experimental Farms, in 1886. 



While surrendering his onerous duties as chief to his successor, Mr. F. E. Elford, 

 he has consented to remain on the staff of the Poultry Division, acting in an advisory 

 and consultative capacity, a position in which his wide experience will prove of the 

 greatest value. 



Mr. Gilbert may justly lay claim to being a pioneer in the poultry business, as 

 that term is now understood. Previous to his appointment as Poultry Manager, in 

 1886, he conducted a profitable poultry farm near Ottawa, and it was, no doubt, owing 

 to his marked success therein, that he first received that position in the Government 

 service he has since so ably held. 



In addition to carrying on experimental work along many lines, Mr. Gilbert's 

 services have yearly been in great demand as a lecturer on poultry topics, and there 

 is, perhaps, no speaker on that subject more widely or more favourably known through- 

 out Eastern Canada. 



Mr. F. C. Elford, lately appointed Dominion Poultry Husbandman, was born in 

 Waterloo county, Ont., in 1871. Two years later, he accompanied his parents to 

 Holmesville, Huron county, living with tbem on the farm. From 1877 to 1887, he 

 went to the public school there, and from the latter date, until 1891, attended! the 

 Clinton High School. 



During the years 1893-4 and 1896-7, he attended the Ontario Agricultural Col- 

 lege at Guelph, specializing in poultry work, and afterwards taking special work 

 with Professor L. G. Jarvis. 



