»06 EXPERIMENTAL EARMS 



1-2 EDWARD VII., A. 1902 



noxious weeds and of the excellent work which had been done by Mr. T. N. Willing, 

 the Territorial Weed Inspector. Specimens of Stink Weed, Canada Thistle, Ball 

 Mustard, Wild Mustard, and Bird Rape (or Smooth Mustard) were exhibited. 



During the evening a visit was paid to Mr. Howell's beautiful garden, where 

 everything was growing in the greatest luxuriance. 



On the morning of July 26, we drove out to see Col. Gregory's farm, and particu- 

 larly a good patch of Alsike clover. Here we found many things of interest — a fine 

 patch of Brome Grass, grown from a small sample of seed sent from Ottawa three 

 years previously ; a field of spelt wheat, very fine turnips and a nice grove of native 

 trees, spruce, aspen and birch, which have grown remarkably well in the seven years 

 since they were planted, also two kinds of native currants (Ribes H udsonianum, 

 Rich., and Ribes floridum, L'Her.). 



Leaving Lacombe at noon, we reached Calgary at 7 p.m., and I left the same night 

 for British Columbia to examine some of the districts which were last year devastated 

 by the Variegated Cutworm, and to hold meetings with Mr. J. R. Anderson at several 

 places where Farmers' Institutes had been formed. 



British Columbia. 



I reached Revelstoke at 2.30 p.m., July 27, and Nelson at 7.30 on 28th idem. A 

 night and part of the following day were spent at this picturesquely situated little 

 town on the shore of Kootenay Lake, and at 4 o'clock in the afternoon I took the 

 steamer Kokanee for Kaslo, which place I reached in the evening. I was met there 

 by Mr. J. W. Cockle, an enthusiastic naturalist, who has been of great assistance to 

 me by collecting insects and plants and by sending information concerning injurious 

 insects. Before dark, I was able to call and see Mr. George Alexander, a great lover 

 of flowers, and to go over his most beautiful flower garden. I had heard previously 

 of Mr. Alexander's success in floriculture, but was little prepared for the blaze of col- 

 our and the large number of choice plants which were to be seen in his grounds. 

 After passing the night with Mr. Cockle, and examining his extensive collection of 

 insects, he kindly took me to visit several gardens in the upper town, where heavy 

 crops of all kinds of fruit were seen. While at Kaslo, I had the pleasure of meeting 

 Miss Ethel Blackman, a botanist, who has contributed many rare and highly valued 

 specimens of plants to the herbarium of the Division. I left Kaslo at 10 o'clock, July 

 30, and took the train to Sandon. The scenery up this railway to Sandon and down 

 again to Nakusp on the Arrow Lakes, is extremely grand. After a delightful trip by 

 boat up the Arrow Lakes to Arrowhead, the train was again taken and the night 

 passed at Revelstoke. Vancouver was reached during the night of July 31, and I pro- 

 ceeded the next day to Nanaimo. 



A series of meetings of Farmers' Institutes was held during the month of August 

 at various places on Vancouver Island, in the Fraser valley, the Nicola valley, and 

 in the Okanagan valley. These meetings were arranged and all were attended by 

 Mr. J. R. Anderson, the active Deputy Minister of Agriculture" for British Columbia, 

 who also ably fills the difficult post of Superintendent of Farmers' Institutes for the 

 whole province. The Farmers' Institute is a much newer development in British 

 Columbia than in the older provinces, and many districts have not yet organized 

 themselves into institutes. Where, however, organization has been effected, the mem- 

 bers appreciate very fully the advantages to be derived from the system. Farmers 

 come to the meetings knowing what they want, and are prepared to put their views 

 plainly before the meeting and get the opinion of others upon subjects of general 

 interest. The province has a most useful and painstaking officer in the Deputy Min- 

 ister, who makes a point of attending officially all meetings whenever possible, and the 

 farmers in that way have frequent opportunities of bringing their wishes directly be- 

 fore an executive officer of the Government. The Central Farmers' Institute is firmly 

 established, and the annual meeting is well attended by delegates from all parts of the 



