26 



EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 



4 GEORGE V., A. 1914 



FRUIT TREES. 



Early in November, consignments of fruit trees were sent from the Experimental 

 Farm at Ottawa and from the nursery at Grand Forks, B.C. They are heeled in over 

 winter, so as to be ready for planting early next spring. 



LAND FOR PLANTING. 



About 14 acres on the north side of the farm are ready and in fine shape for next 

 season's planting. It was part in summer-fallow, potato ground and late summer and 

 early fall cultivated stubble land. It is full of moisture, mellow and friable from 

 repeated cultivations with disc and smoothing harrows. 



EXPERIMENTAL STATION, SIDNEY, B.C. 



Clearing operations were commenced on October 1, 1912. The farm, some 125 

 acres in extent, was covered with heavy timber, along with some second growth and 

 thick brush, with the exception of a very small portion, which was ready for cultiva- 

 tion. 



During the autumn and early winter months, clearing operations were greatly 

 retarded by wet weather, although advantage was taken of every opportunity to push 

 on the work. 



SOME COMPARISONS OF METHODS OF CLEARING. 



On twenty acres, before attacking the standing timber, the windfalls, trees left 

 by loggers, and brush, were cleared away. This method of clearing proved an expen- 

 sive one, it being carried on under provincial conditions under which only British 

 subjects (white) were employed, and the wages paid were from 344 cents to 50 centa 

 per hour, eight hours per day. Teamsters were paid $70 per month and hired teams 

 $6 per day. Twenty acres were cleared ready for the plough at an average cost of 

 $506 per acre. 



This cost may be itemized as follows: — 



Slashing, cutting and clearing windfalls, logs, pulling and blowing old stumps 

 and piling and burning same 



Felling, cutting, splitting and piling standing timber, burning same and clear- 

 ing up read}' for plough 



Powder, fuse and caps 



Teaming 



Tools and repairs ... 



Per Acre, 



$215 



50G 



Per Cent 

 of Cost. 



42f 



100 



CLEARING BY CONTRACT. 



During February and March, 1913, fifty-four acres were cleared under contracts, 

 the following comparisons being made: — 



(1) Twenty acres of swampy ground were cleared with a 40 h.p. donkey engine. 

 The contract price per acre was $350, including engine rental, but the extra burning 

 required cost $20 per acre, and transportation of engine $40. The total cost averaged 

 $398 per acre. 



(2) Twenty acres, timbered similarly to the above but with no swamp, were 

 cleared by a practical man with a good crew and teams, at a cost of $338 per acre. 



