406 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS. 



DISTRIBUTION OF SEED GRAINS AND POTATOES. 



A considerable number of 3-pound bags of seed grain and potatoes have been 

 distributed, and reports returned show that owing to the varying climatic conditions 

 existing in British Columbia, grains or potatoes which do well in one locality, may not 

 do so well in another. 



A number of sample packages of small fruit plants were distributed, and so far as 

 heard from, these have done well. Packages of tree seeds were also sent out, quite a 

 number of maple and other forest trees having borne seed this year. 



BEES. 



The two swarms of bees wintered last winter, each threw off a swarm this season, 

 both of which were hived, but one swarm abandoned its hive the next day. 



AUSTRALIAN SALT BUSH. 



The Australian salt bush mentioned in my last report, was entirely killed by the 

 frost in November. 



ACKNOWLEDGMENTS. 



The following gentlemen, or firms, have kindly sent trees or scions of new fruits for 

 testing : 



Prof. Shinn, of Berkeley, California — Scions of apple and pear. 



Prof. J. A. Balmer, of Pullman, Washington — Scions of apple and pear. 



Mr. Alfred Woodroffe, of Auckland, N.Z. — Scions of apples. 



Messrs. W. W. Walker, Salem, Oregon — Cherry and apple trees. 



Oregon Wholesale Nursery Co., Salem, Oregon — Apple and cherry trees. 



Mr. Hoskins, of Springbrook, Oregon — Scions of cherry. 



Mr. H. Kipp, Chilliwhack, B.C. — Scions of seedling pear. 



Mr. J. C. Mollet, Salt Spring Island — Scions of cherry. 



Pears, 31 ; apples, 122=153. 



A number of these are seedlings of merit not yet introduced, and a fair measure of 

 success has attended the budding and grafting of all of them. 



FALL WHEAT. 



Twenty-eight varieties of fall wheat were sown early last October, and an even 

 promising growth was made up to the November frost, which killed out most varieties 

 entirely, and in none were more than a few plants left. 



The ground was harrowed in the spring, and a mixed crop for green feed was sown. 



EXPERIMENTS WITH SPRING WHEAT. 



Thirty-eight varieties of spring wheat were tested this year. The land was loamy 

 and fairly even throughout, and in a very fair condition as to fertility. The size of the 

 plots was one-twentieth acre each, and all were sown on the 14th and 17th of April. 

 There was very little smut, and no rust to injure the crop, and the quality of the grain 

 is very good. 



