75 



Many varieties of grain have been brought to Canada for test from nearly 

 all the grain-growing i-ountries in the world. This has been done with the hope 

 of finding varieties ecinal in ((uality and prodnrtivoness to the best of those 

 now in cultivation and earlier in rii)ening. Some wheats have been brought 

 from northern Russia and other northern parts of Europe ; some from high 

 altitudes in India ; 'others from England. Frame. Germany. Hungary, the United 

 States. Australia, and Japan. The wheats from northern Europe and from 

 India have usually ripened in a shorter time than the Red Fife, which is one 

 of the best sorts in general cultivation in Canada. l)Ut most of them have been 

 inferior in quality and productiveness. 



During the progress of these experiments many cross-bred wheats have been 

 oi'iginated with the object of combining the good qualities of two or more 

 \arieties. In most of these crosses Red Fife has been used as one of the parents 

 on account of its high quality and productive character. 



One of the early introduced sorts from Russia was the Ladoga, which was, on 

 an average, a week earlier than the lied Fife. This was unacceptable on account 

 of the yellow color of the tioiu- made from it. but ic was crossed with the Red 

 Fife and a number of new sorts produceil. One of these, known as Preston, 

 has exceedetl the Red Fife in yield during a test of eight years by If bushels 

 per acre, and has ripened on an average about four days earlier. 



Another variety, known as Early Riga, was obtained by crossing one of 

 the East Indian varieties procured from an elevation of 11,000 feet in the 

 Himalayas with a Russian wheat brought from near Archangel, one of the most 

 iiortherly wheat-growing districts in Russia. These were both early ripening 

 sorts and were of good quality, but were not sufficiently productive. The Early 

 Riga ripens about ten days earlier than the Red Fife or the P>lue Stem, and is 

 fully equal if not better in quality, but the yield, although good, is not quite so 

 heavy. 



These gains in earliness are of great importance in Canada, in view of the 

 immense territory we have lying north of the i>resent wheat fields. Such 

 varieties will no doubt serve to materially extend the area of successful wheat 

 growing. About 1,000 new varieties of wheat have been produced at the Cana- 

 dian experimental farms in the manner indicated, and an)ong these there are 

 many promising sorts. 



Experiments have been conducted for a series of years to ascertain the quan- 

 tity of seed grain most profitable to sow per acre, the depth in the soil at which 

 the seed should be placed in the different climates in the Dominion, and the 

 relative advantages of sowing with different sorts of drills as compared with 

 broadcast seeding. 



The object lessons which have been given in the raising of fodder crops and 

 the making of silage, thus providing cheap and succulent food for cattle 

 during the winter, have greatly stimulated the dairy industry, especially the 

 manufacture of butter in winter. The experiments carried on with reference 

 to the care of milk and the economical production of butter of high quality have 

 received nuich attention from those engaged in dairying. The experience gained 

 in the economical feeding of cattle, swine, and sheep, and in testing those breeds 

 best adapted to produce the highest quality of beef, pork, and mutton, has stimu- 

 lated and aided the stock industries. The busine,ss in eggs and dressed fowls 

 for the table lias also been advanced by the publication of the results of experi- 

 ments in the poultry branch. 



The instructive tests which have been made with large and small fruits have 

 served to show where these can be grown to the greatest advantage, and have 

 l>een helpful in promoting fruit growing over those large areas in Canada where 

 the climate is so well adapted to the growth of fruits of high quality. 



Special efforts have been made to meet the ditficulties which arise in the more 

 northern districts where the better classes of existing fruits prove too tender. 

 For such localities new sorts have been i)roduced by the cross fertilizing of very 

 hardy wild Siberian forms with some of the hardiest of our cultivated apj)les. 

 It has been shown that such cross-bred fruits are hardy enough to endure the 

 climate in all the settled parts of the Canadian northwest. 



The information which has been given on the growing of vegetables and the 

 varieties best suited to the different climates of the country has proved very 

 helpful. .Many practical experiments have been conducted in the growing of 

 forest trees to furnish shelter for exposed situations. Large quantities of young 

 trees and tree seeds have been distributed among farmers in those districts 

 where trees are scarce. Some limited distribution has also been made of 



