14 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 



4 GEORGE V., A. 19.14 



the 9th and 10th some grain was sown, and vegetable seeds, such as White Flat Strap- 

 leaf turnip, swedes, Half-long 'Chantenay and French Horn carrots, Early Blood- 

 red and Egyptian-Red beets, and Red Wethersfield onions; Alaska, Cleveland's First 

 and B»st, McLean's Advancer and Gregory's Surprise peas; also, cabbage, radishes and 

 lettuce. 



On May 11, Banner and Siberian oats were sown, and also different varieties of 

 wheat, rye and barley. 



On the 17th there was a light snow fall, followed by a frost (26 degrees). This 

 was followed by a drought, lasting throughout June, which did a great deal of injury. 

 In July, hail fell, and this was followed by a frost. In August, there was frost again, 

 which was especially injurious to the potato crop. 



In brief, this has been the second consecutive year quite unfavourable for crops. 

 It is thought, however, that better results will be obtained as more clearing is done. 

 The nearness of the woods retains the moisture, so that, at the least fall in tempera- 

 ture, there is a frost. Every year, near the woods, there is frost, while in the clear 

 space near the river, there is none. The land in the latter locality is not good, 

 however, being very sandy and will only produce a crop when well manured. 



In the garden near the house, in a sandy soil, turnips were grown weighing up to 

 8 pounds each; carrots did well, many weighing 1| pounds each; beets up to 3 pounds, 

 but a large proportion had too many roots. Onions did not do well, fev/ germinated 

 and these were very small. Peas did very well, though much later than the preceding 

 year, not being ready for use until the end of July. They did not commence to ripen 

 until the beginning of September. The Caractacus variety of pea seems still the best 

 for this country, being earlier and more hardy. After these come Gregory's Surprise 

 and Alaska, McLean's Advancer and Cleveland. First and Best is productive, but 

 later. In another garden, some distance away, English Wonder and American 

 Wonder peas were sown, but both sorts were frosted, owing to lli?ir nearness to the 

 woods. The same happened to the tomatoes and beans. Squash produced a few 

 flowers, but nothing afterwards. 



Oats did well in spite of the unfavourable season. They were five feet high, and 

 the three varieties tried yielded about the same. The potatoes, in the same field as 

 the oats, were all frozen. The oats, sown on May 11, 'were not harvested until 

 September 26. 



Barley did not succeed, it being attacked with rust, and frozen. 



FORT RESOLUTION. 



At Fort Resolution, the results, as a whole, were good;. The condition and 

 variety of the field and garden crops were a surprise to travellers from the more 

 settled districts. 



The early part of June was dry, but there was a light rainfall on the 10th, and a 

 heavy one on the 30th. July was cold. Rain during the latter part of August was of 

 great benefit to the potato crop. 



On Sep'ember 17 there was a heavy storm from the north, the tempera f ure fell 

 rapidly and the weather thereafter remained cold. 



Owing to the grain sown not being covered deeply enough, much of it was eaten 

 by snowbirds, which are present in myriads each spring in that region. 



Germination was slow, caused by the drought in spring, but by the middle of 

 July, grain and vegetable crops had an excellent appearance. Considerable damage 

 was done by a band of dogs getting into the garden enclosure at the Mission. 



The yields of grain are not given, as the threshing was not well done, much of 

 the grain being left in the straw. (It is a very difficult matter to secure trustworthy 

 labourers from among the Indians at the Missions, and they will generally work for 

 only a few days at a time.) 



