EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 



1-2 EDWARD VII., A. 1902 



The experimental farms were among the first agencies provided for the special 

 purpose of aiding Canadian farmers in the solution of the many difficulties which 

 surround their calling in the various climates of the Dominion, and the progress which 

 has been made in all branches of this national industry owes, no doubt, much to the 

 more general adoption of the sound principles governing good farming, which have 

 been persistently advocated on every occasion by the officers of these institutions. The 

 many problems associated with the thorough preparation of the soil, and the best me- 

 thods to adopt to maintain its fertility, have been carefully investigated and reported 

 on. The great importance of selecting the most productive sorts of seed has been 

 repeatedly urged and tangible proofs offered of the success attending such practice. 

 To encourage and assist farmers in their endeavours along this line, varieties of wheat, 

 oats, barley, and pease of established value have been grown in considerable quantities 

 on the experimental farms for the past 12 or 13 years, and distributed in sample bags, 

 free, by mail, to all farmers who apply for them. The demand for these samples has 

 been so great that it has been found necessary to limit the number sent, to one only to 

 each applicant. For the past six years more than thirty thousand farmers have par- 

 ticipated annually in these co-operative experiments, which have involved the free dis- 

 tribution, through the mail, of over sixty tons of seed each season. The liberal pro- 

 vision thus made for Canadian farmers by the Dominion government has been of very 

 great benefit, and there are now, as a result of this work, many of these high class 

 productive sorts of grain under cultivation in almost every settled locality throughout 

 the Dominion. In addition to the actual gain resulting from the general introduction 

 of more profitable sorts of grain, this work has had a wide educational influence. 

 Farmers have learned to observe the characteristic variations in varieties and their 

 powers of observation and comparison, thus awakened, have been brought to bear on 

 other problems in their calling, to their individual advantage and profit. The culti- 

 vation of these good sorts by the more enterprising farmers has interested their neigh- 

 bours, who have benefited in turn, and hence the good influences attending this useful 

 work are extending through all sections of the farming community. 



Some other branches of special work which have been under my personal charge 

 have also made considerable progress. The experiments conducted in the cross-breed- 

 ing of commercial apples and hardy Siberian crabs, with the object of producing very 

 hardy apple trees, such as are likely to be adapted to the climates of our north-west 

 country (where ordinary sorts do not grow), have been successfully continued. Sev- 

 eral new varieties have fruited during the past year, which promise to be of value. 

 Some very interesting new crosses in wheat have also been produced. A large number 

 of samples of grain has been tested for vitality, received from farmers in different 

 parts of the country. Some particulars relating to these tests, and the number of 

 them, will be found at a subsequent page in the report from Mr. W. T. Ellis, who has 

 charge of this branch of the work. 



Many desirable additions have been made to the collection of ornamental trees 

 and shrubs on the grounds surrounding the buildings on the Central Experimental 

 Farm, which have thus been made additionally attractive and instructive to visitors. 



The accompanying report will be found to contain a large amount of practical 

 information, such as is likely to be helpful to all those who are engaged in Canada's 

 great national industry, agriculture. 



