406 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 



4 GEORGE V., A. 19H 



EXPERIMENTAL SUB-STATION, GROUARD, LESSER 

 SLAVE LAKE, ALTA. (Lat. 55° 31'.) 



The Fathers of the Mission were the first to practise farming at this point, on a 

 large scale. Having begun agricultural operations in the district some eighteen 

 years ago, they are now fairly in a position to give an exact report on the possibility 

 of growing cereals, such as wheat, barley and oats, as well as roots and vegetables 

 near Lesser Slave lake. 



The village of Grouard is situated at the northwest end of Lesser Slave lake, 

 and is bounded by the forest on the east side, with very little open ground between 

 that and the lake. The arable land here is limited in area, but here and there one 

 finds clear spaces for cultivation. The land bordering on the lake is very sandy. 

 To extend the cultivated area it was necessary to clear the forest and, accordingly, 

 about ten acres of new land was made. This work was commenced in 1894. The; 

 forest land is generally good, with four or live inches of humus on the surface. The 

 subsoil is of friable clay. Grain does well on this land, but it has been little grown, 

 potatoes and vegetables being sown in preference. 



The success obtained in growing cereals and | s has been decided enough 



in spite of some temporary set-backs from drought and frost (the latter rarely, twice 

 in eighteen years) to encourage the breaking of new land in order to practise rota- 

 tions as far as required. These rotations allowed the sowing of some eighty acres 

 in grain for several years without growing the same crop on the name land oftener 

 than once in three years. 



Currants fruited freely in 1912"and a tree of Pyrus baccata produced fruit which 

 was harvested September 11. 



FLOWER GARDEN. 



Sown in hotbed April 3; transplanted in garden June 12. All flowered freely 

 until frost came October 1: Alyssum, ageratum, antirrhinum, 2 varieties; asters, 3 

 varieties; balsam, phlox Drummondii, stocks, 4 varieties; godetias, 4 varieties; 

 clarkias, 4 varieties; chrysanthemums, 2 varieties; marigold. 



In addition to the above, many varieties were sown in the autumn, on October 

 21', 1911, including godetia, clarkia, pansies, sweet peas, phlox, poppies, and lark- 

 spur. All these varieties commenced to flower the first week in July. 



PKREXXIALS. 



Achillea, columbine, campanula, calycanthus, Delphinium Belladonna, Delphinium 

 form-osa hybrida. 



All these flowered well throughout the season. 



Note on sowing flower seeds in Autumn. 



Any land, preferably a little dry, will do. The plants are more vigorous than 

 those sown in the spring. Some varieties are as far advanced as if sown in the hot- 

 beds in spring. The seed should be sown only at the approach of severe frost. They 

 may be sown in their permanent places or in the nursery for replanting in the spring. 

 They do better in early spring if trenches are made around the beds to carry off the 

 streams of water when the snow melts. 



