EXPERIMENTAL FARM FOR THE NORTH-WEST TERRFfORlES. 



REPORT OF ANGUS MACKAY, SUPERINTENDENT. 



Experimental Farm, Indian Head, N.W.T., 



31st October, 1897. 



To Dr. Wm. Saunders, 



Director, Dominion Experimental Farms, 

 Ottawa. 



Sir, — I have the honour to submit herewith to you the tenth annual report of the 

 operations on the Experimental Farm for the North-west Territories at Indian Head, 

 Assiniboia, during the year 1897. 



The past season has, on the whole, been favourable over the greater portion of the 

 Territories. In many districts the harvest has been very gratifying ; in other portions 

 the yield of grain has not been large but it is of excellent quality, and in no part has 

 there been a complete failure. In addition to the fair crop, the good price commanded 

 by almost everything grown or raised in the Territories has placed the farmers in a 

 better position than has heretofore been attained. 



Perhaps no previous year has shown the results of good farming to better advantage 

 than the past season. 



Spring opened about the 15th April, after one of the finest winters ever experi- 

 enced in the North-west Territories. Snow fell early in November and lay till April, 

 during which time sleighing was good, and at no time was the cold excessive. For 

 weeks together almost perfect winter weather was experienced. 



Seeding commenced on the experimental farm on the 16th April and continued 

 without intermission till completed. High and continuous winds were prevalent during 

 the last week of April, the whole of May, and 'from 1st to 15th June, when a heavy 

 rain put an end to the winds and drouth which were threatening destruction of the 

 crops in many portions of the Territories. 



The rainstorm which passed over the experimental farm and district of Indian Head 

 from 15th to 18th June inclusive was almost a deluge. On the 15th rain fell from 

 9.30 to 19 o'clock to a depth of 6-6 inches ; on the 16th from 22 to 24 o'clock to a depth 

 of 0-9 inch, and on the 18th from 13 to 19 o'clock to a depth of 2-5 inches — a total of 

 10 inches in four days. While the greater portion of this rain flowed over the land to 

 the coulees, thence to the Qu'Appelle River, it ensured to the experimental farm and 

 district an abundant crop of grain. Unfortunately the heavy rains extended over a 

 small area, and in several districts the rain fall was below the average. Nevertheless 

 good farming in these districts caused a fair crop where in former years total failure 

 would have been the result. 



Smut caused little or no loss the past season. Where any took place, neglect in 

 using bluestone as a preventive, or carelessness in the treatment of the seed was the 

 sole cause. 



Weeds, on the other hand, were very prevalent ; and the dangerous ones, such as 

 Stink-weed and Hare's Ear Mustard, are fast spreading in many — if not in every — 

 district in the Territories. 



The harvest was the earliest on record in the North-west, and with the usual 

 hai'vest weather in August and September, the grain was quicklv secured. Threshing 



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