REPORT OF TEE DIRECTOR 67 



SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 



The trial field on the Central Experimental Farm, which measures about one acre, 

 is now used almost exclusively for the production of seed, a distribution of which is 

 made every spring by the Tobacco Division. At times, rather large numbers of 

 varieties are grown on this field, including not only the sorts grown for the produc- 

 tion of seed, but also some new ones, or others recently introduced into Canada, that 

 are being tested. There were thirteen varieties in 1912. 



The season was not altogether favourable to the production of tobacco. It was 

 wet and cold, and fears were entertained at one time that the seed would not ripen 

 before the frosts. It was not injured, however, although harvested very late, Septem- 

 ber 7 and 8. 



The curing was done with difficulty on account of the wet weather which pre- 

 vailed during the month of September. 



STATION OF ST. JACQUES i/aCHIGAN, P.Q. 



A three-year rotation is followed on this Station, viz., tobacco, cereal and clover. 

 The first cycle of this rotation was completed in 1911. The tobacco crop of 1912 

 included the following varieties: Comstock, Aurora and Cuban. 



Beds. — The beds were good, generally speaking. For the first time since this 

 Station was established, no hotbeds were used (beds with fresh manure). The seed- 

 ing was done on April 12, swollen seed being used, and the seedlings were ready to 

 be set out about June 2. 



The Crop. — The setting-out was delayed by persistent rains, which interfered 

 with the preparation of the land and made it necessary to hold the seedlings. 



It was only on June 15 that transplanting was really started. The seedlings were 

 slow in taking root, owing to the extreme cold weather, and a great amount of dam- 

 age was done by insects (as much as 30 per cent of the crop had to be replaced). 



The crop was harvested from September 6 to 8, on account of threatening frosts. 

 Most of the seed plants had to be abandoned, owing to the incomplete ripening of 

 the heads. 



The curing, somewhat delayed at the beginning by the cold weather during which 

 the crop had been harvested, was carried out without mishaps. Artificial heat was 

 employed for reducing the ribs of the leaves, small fires of charcoal being built for 

 the purpose on the floor of the curing house. 



In spite of the poor season, the yields were satisfactory. They were as follow? : 

 Comstock, 1,242 pounds per arpent; Cuban, 792 pounds; and Aurora, 1,364 pounds. 

 The last-named variety proved a particular attraction at the annual fair at St. 

 Jacques l'Achigan in January, 1913. 



FARNHAM STATION. 



This farm was almost abandoned when the Tobacco Division took possession of 

 it. When put into good shape, it will prove a splendid demonstration of what may be 

 acr-nmplished by good management, as it had to be almost completely reorganized. 



Soils. — A physico-chemical analysis gave satisfactory data. The land possesses 

 average fertility, although considerable variations were observed in the various soil- 

 snmples, especially in the quantity of nitrogen contained. It cannot be said to be 

 an exhausted soil, but rather a neglected farm. 



Preparation. — Many difficulties were met with in the preparation of the soil. 

 The land was taken over at a late date, the fall ploughing had been done too late, and 

 too shallow, and had to be supplemented by a lot of work with the disc harrow. The 



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