EXPERIMENTAL FARM FOR BRITISH COLUMBIA 



REPORT OF THOMAS A. SHARPE, SUPERINTENDENT. 



Agassiz, B.C., 30th November, 1897. 



To De. Wm. Saunders, 



Director, Dominion Experimental Farms, 

 Ottawa. 



Sir, — I have the honour to submit herewith my ninth annual report of the work 

 done on the Experimental Farm at Agassiz. 



A cold wave struck the province in November, 1896, doing some damage to fruit 

 trees which were yet growing, and catching some unharvested root crops, but the 

 weather during the winter was mild. The lowest temperature recorded at this station 

 being nine degrees above zero, on the 27th of November. 



The spring opened fairly early, and the weather during seeding was favourable, 

 followed by fine growing weather, with sufficient rainfall, and crops of all kinds 

 throughout the province have been good. 



Nearly nine acres of land have been cleared, and part of it cropped since my last 

 report. 



HEDGES. 



The hedges have made a fine growth this year. Two of willows and one of beech 

 were added last spring. 



FOREST TREE PLANTATION. 



The forest tree belt continues to make vigorous growth, and several of the Spanish 

 chestnut trees planted in the belt bore fruit this year, producing nuts of large size. 



ORNAMENTAL TREES AND SHRUBS. 



The ornamental trees and shrubs on the lawn, and the bulb and flower beds have 

 produced a profusion of bloom, from the last of March up to about the 15th of this 

 month. 



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