DIVISION OF CEREALS 417 



SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 



which were on hand. Unfortunately a large number of barley plots had to be omitted 

 on account of the shortage of land. 



In view of the great amount of material which is being studied, it should be 

 explained that the object in view is to test a multitude of varieties and finally to 

 reject almost all of them, retaining, however, everything which has shown outstand- 

 ing merit. To the public there will be introduced only a few of the very best sorts'. 

 The great disadvantage of introducing too many varieties for the use of the farming 

 community is fully recognized, and any such error is being carefully guarded against. 

 Very short lists of varieties recommended for cultivation in the different provinces 

 are published from time to time, for the guidance of farmers. 



CROSS-BREEDING AND SELECTING CEREALS AT OTTAWA. 



Cross-breeding and selection have been continued as in other years. An interest- 

 ing new beardless barley, called ' Arlington Awnless,' which has recently been intro- 

 duced by the Department of Agriculture at Washington, furnished an opportunity of 

 making some promising new crosses for the production of still better beardless sorts. 

 Crosses were also made last summer between Marquis and Prelude wheats, for the 

 purpose of combining as far as possible the splendid qualities of these two varieties. 

 Other crosses, in wheat and oats, were effected. 



The amount of material now on hand is very great, but it is felt that some new 

 crosses should be made from time to time; so that Canada may not lose the high 

 position she now holds by the remarkably successful efforts which have been made 

 here for the improvement of cereals. 



During the past year some changes in the staff of the Cereal .Division have 

 occurred. My assistant, Mr. H. Sirett, B.S.A., resigned his position towards the 

 close of the summer, and took up other work which offered much better remunera- 

 tion. A long delay occurred before the vacancy was filled, and the work of the 

 Division suffered considerably. This month, however, Mr. R. Newton, B.S.A., was 

 appointed assistant, and an effort is being made to overtake as much of the work as 

 possible before seeding time puts an end to the winter's operations. 



My thanks are due to all the members of my staff who have co-operated with me 

 in endeavouring to push forward the work of the Division. The past season was in 

 some respects particularly difficult, but fair progress was made nevertheless. I wish 

 to thank my stenographer, Miss Gertrude Ker, for her good work throughout the 

 year, and my foreman, Mr. Geo. J. Eixter, for his care in the management of the 

 field work and the distribution of seeds, and Mr. Wm. Ellis for his reports on the 

 germination tests of the various grains he has examined for me. 



In the following pages will be found tables giving particulars in regard to the 

 annual distribution of free samples of seed grain, vitality tests, and the plot tests 

 of varieties at Ottawa. Short lists of recommended sorts of grain are also given, as 

 well as other information bearing on the cultivation of cereals. 



Following my own report will be found the reports on cereal work written by 

 the Superintendents of the various branch Earms and Stations, throughout the 



Dominion. 



I have the honour to be, sir. 



Your obedient servant, 



CHARLES E. SAUNDERS. 



Dominion Cerealist. 



16—27 



