52 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 



4 GEORGE V., A. 1914 



Of the samples of bluestone submitted, two were found to contain notable per- 

 centages of sulphate of iron ; they were, in fact, ' agricultural bluestone ' being sold 

 lor bluestone, which is sulphate of copper. 



Agricultural bluestone is the name given to a crystalline mixture of sulphate of 

 (•upper and sulphate of iron. For the treatment of wheat it is distinctly inferior in 

 fungicidal properties to bluestone proper and for the preparation of Bordeaux mix- 

 ture it is useless. Readers are cautioned against buying it. 



Carbolized wheat protector is a preparation found to consist essentially of sul- 

 phate of iron and crude carbolic acid. Its efficiency for the prevention of smut in 

 grain is extremely doubtful. 



Apterite is a compound described as a ' soil fumigant and fertilizer.' It is essen- 

 tially a mixture of sulphides of lime (probably gas lime) with naphthalene. Experience 

 in Canada with similar preparations is as yet limited, but such as there is has not 

 been very favourable. 



Five brands of lime-sulphur sold in Canada have been analyzed, the sulphide 

 sulphur ranging from 21-87 per cent to 25-09 per cent, amounts that may be con- 

 sidered satisfactory. The larger number of lime-sulphur washes put on the market 

 by reputable firms have been found of good quality. 



Potassium cyanide, when obtained in sealed original containers, has proved of 

 guaranteed strength. The chemical rapidly deteriorates on exposure, so that samples 

 taken from open bottles are frequently of inferior quality. 



Very considerable differences in lead arsenate content have been found to exist 

 amoung the various brands of this insecticide upon the market, and results obtained 

 here point to the desirability of compelling the manufacturer to give a guarantee on 

 the label of the package, stating the percentage of arsenate of lead present. 



THE FERTILIZING VALUE OF RAIN AND SNOW. 



The total precipitation, as recorded at the Central Experimental Farm, Ottawa, 

 for the year ending February 29, 1913, was 39-36 inches, 9-62 inches falling in the 

 form of snow. Analysis showed that this furnished 6-141 pounds of nitrogen, per 

 acre, in forms readily available for crop use. Records taken here indicate that the 

 proportions of this amount furnished respectively by the rain and the snow, have not 

 appreciably varied for the past four years, about eight-tenths of the nitrogen com- 

 pounds being found in the rain. 



THE WATER-SUPPLY OF FARM HOMESTEADS. 



Of the 386 waters sent in during the year from various parts- of the Dominion, 

 1 v; 8 have been submitted to complete sanitary analysis. Of these, 89 were pronounced 

 as pure and wholesome, 43 as suspicious and probably dangerous, 41 as severely con- 

 taminated and 15 as too saline to be used as a potable supply. 



The worst waters were from shallow wells dug in barnyards, or in the neighbour- 

 hood of similar sources of pollution. These merely draw upon the ground water in 

 their immediate vicinity and must become, by reason of their location, contaminated. 

 The abandonment of such wells is strongly advocated. The bored, or driven well, 

 obtaining its supply from a deep-seated source, and below one or more strata of 

 impervious rock, has, h'a rule, yielded good water. Both as to quantity and quality. 

 the bored well is more satisfactory than the 'hole in the ground' so commonly found 

 in the country. It is gratifying to note that such wells are now replacing the old 

 form of supply on many Canadian farms. 



