84 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 



4 GEORGE V., A. 1914 



TESTS OF VARIETIES. 



This year, fourteen varieties of wheat, ten of peas, six of two-row barley, seven of 

 six-row barley, eleven of oats, five of oats and barley, five. of carrots, eight of mangels, 

 three of sugar beets, ten of swede turnips, and three of Indian corn were tested. 



A uniform piece of land was chosen for the test plots, and a three-year rotation 

 will be used. It will be divided into equal parts, one for roots and corn, one for 

 cereals, and one to note how clover grows when seeded down with different cereals, 

 with different varieties of the same cereal, and with the same cereal sown in different 

 quantities. 



HORTICULTURE. 



Fruit. — A certain number of apple and plum trees, also of currant, gooseberry 

 and raspberry bushes were added to the variety tests. About half an acre was planted 

 to grapes, and an area of over seven acres of land was transferred from the agri- 

 cultural to the horticultural division, to extend the apple orchard. 



Vegetables.— There were 215 different varieties tested, and it was interesting 

 to note that some of them only yielded from thirty to forty per cent of others of the 

 same kind sown alongside. A couple of acres were used to grow vegetables for the 

 market, and a part of the crop wa.s packed in ' Home Hampers.' which are slatted 

 crates containing six four-quart baskets. It is the intention to continue doing educa- 

 tional work in this line, as the price which the grower receives for his goods when 

 marketed in the ordinary way is generally quite small compared with what the con- 

 sumer has to pay for them. 



Flowers. — Over 300 different kinds of annual and perennial herbaceous plants, 

 shrubs, and bulbs were tested. A good deal of work was done on the ornamental 

 grounds, which will be very attractive when completed. 



STATION IMPROVEMENTS. 



Granary. — A three-story granary, 40 x 50, was built during the year. A part of 

 this will be used as an exhibition room, in which different varieties of cereals, weeds, 

 etc., will be displayed; it will also be employed to hand-pick grain in during the winter. 

 The upper or third story will be for the cereal division, and will serve as a storage 

 room for all grain from the test plots, and that which is grown to be sold or distri- 

 buted for seed. All the rest of the building will be for feed for live stock. The 

 grist and the fanning mills will be installed on the ground floor underneath large 

 hoppers made to hold one thousand bushels each. 



Workshop. — A two-story workshop, 42 x 25, was also built during the year. It 

 is on a concrete foundation and floor, and contains a good forge, wood and ironwork- 

 ing benches, anvil, vise, drills, etc. The upper story is used to store paint, glass, 

 hardware and pieces for implements. Downstairs are places for small tools. All 

 vehicles and machines will be looked over yearly, during the winter, repaired, and 

 painted. Loose pieces, such as neck-yokes and whiffle trees are marked with a number, 

 which is the same as that on the machine, so that there may be no mixing or exchang- 

 ing of parts. 



Painting Buildings. — All the Station buildings were painted, except the Super- 

 intendent's and the Foreman's houses. 



Clearing Land. — About seven acres of land were stumped and ploughed. This 

 is part of a tongue of brush, situated between two fields. Its removal will be quite 

 an improvement to the looks of the property, whilst giving much-needed ground for 

 crops. 



Drainage. — Nearly 8,000 feet of tiles were put in during 1912, and excavations 

 made ready for 3,000 feet more which will be laid early in 1913. 



