334 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS. 



3rd. The 2 penned Black Minorcas made a gain for the first two weeks over those 

 running at large, but for the whole 59 days the birds running loose gained the most by 

 1 pound 4 ounces. 



4th. Both turkeys and chickens made the largest increase during the first three 

 weeks. 



5th. After 6 weeks of close confinement chickens are probably kept at a loss. 



6th. White Plymouth Rock chickens are better adapted for feeding in small pens 

 than Black Minorcas. 



7th. The White Plymouth Rocks were a better colour and more attractive when 

 dressed than the Black Minorcas. 



8th. Penned turkeys shrunk 5 per cent less in dressing than those running at 

 large. 



9th. Chickens whether penned or running at large lost practically the same in 

 dressing, viz., 34 percent. 



Our climate is suitable, feed is abundant and there is no reason why this 

 province should not be a large exporter rather than an importer of dressed fowl. 



EXPERIMENTS WITH BEES. 



WINTERING. 



As mentioned in last year's annual report five hives of Italian Bees were placed in 

 the cellar of one of the dwellings on the farm on 10th October, 1896, the room contain- 

 ing bees was the one usually devoted to vegetables and was separated by a wooden par- 

 tition from the furnace, ventilation was given by means of a chimney opening in the 

 cellai', the temperature during the winter as ascertained by a self registering thermo- 

 meter remained steady between 40 and 50 degrees Fah. 



The hives were placed six inches from the floor and protected with a piece of old 

 woollen carpet placed under the wooden cover ; when placed in the cellar each colony 

 had 30 pounds honey which proved more than sufficient for the winter and all the hives 

 wintered successfully. 



They were placed on the summer stands on 30th April and commenced to work at 

 once on native willows. 



One hive was forwarded to the Indian Head Experimental Farm and the other 

 four were worked through the season for extracted honey. 



TO PREVENT EXCESSIVE SWARMING. 



As some difficulty was experienced in 1896 with persistent swarming and a result- 

 ing weakness of the colonies, special efibrts were made to prevent this by giving plenty 

 of room ; on 6th July most of the brood frames were filled with bees and a very large 

 upper story 14 x 20 and 15 inches deep filled with wired foundations and without a 

 queen excluder was added, and the frames extracted as required, this gave an abund- 

 ance of room and no swarming whatever occurred and all the colonies became very 

 strong before fall. 



An average of forty-five pounds of extracted honey was taken from each hive which 

 was readily sold at 10c. per pound wholesale. 



