RETORT OF THE DIRECTOR C3 



SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 



GEXERAL WORK. 



Throus'h the winter months hot-bed frames were made, saslies painted and prlazed, 

 stakes hibclled for orcliavds and vegetabtes, and all other preparatory work eoniploted. 



Ten acres for cultural orchard, 8 acres for variety orchard, vineyard and other 

 ^inall fruits which will be planted this spring, were set asida 



EXHIBITIONS. 



There was shown from this Station, in conjunction witli the Central Experimental 

 Farm exhibit at Canada's Great Eastern Exhibition held at Sherbrooke in September 

 last, a small exhibit, consisting of vegetables of different varieties, field corn, flowers, 

 grasses, and grains. 



MEETINGS. 



During- the months of February and March, the Superintendent attended thirty- 

 four meetings in the diti'erent counties comprising the Eastern Townships m comiection 

 with the Patriotism and Production campaign. Much assistance was given in these 

 meetings by the staff of the Central Experimental Farm, Dominion Department of 

 Agriculture, and the Commission, of Conservation, Ottawa. These meetings gave the 

 Superintendent, a good opportunity of studying the conditions in the different sections 

 and of getting in touch with the farmers, who appeared to be very anxious to gain any 

 information possible along agricultural lines. 



MISCELLANEOUS. 



Visitors. — Although this farm has been in existence only since April 1, 1914, 

 many visitors from the different sections of the Eastern Townships have taken the 

 opportunity of visiting it. 



EXPERIMENTAL FARM, BRANDON, MAN. 



The season of 1914 at Brandon began rather favourably, and until July 1, crop 

 conditions were good. However, a period of extreme heat with drought and high 

 winds set in during June and continued throughout Ji'.ly and into the month of August. 

 This brought on extremely early maturity of crops and consequent shrinkage of yield. 

 Harvesting was completed by August 1-3 on this Farm, or about the time that it usually 

 begins. Grain crops were about two-thirds to three-quarters of a normal yield, and all 

 other crops suffered proportionately. 



TESTS OF CEREALS. 



The usual tests of varieties of cereal grain crops were conducted on uniform dupli- 

 cate plots. Marquis wheat, as usual, excelled all other varieties. Its advantage over 

 Rod Fife was greater than usual this year as the Red Fife, being later, suffered much 

 more severely in the hot winds. The five-year averages for these two varieties are: 

 l^Uarquis, 42 bushels, 36 pounds per acre; Red Fife, 37 bushels 23 pounds per acre. In 

 oats, some of the earliest varieties gave best results this year on account of the dry 

 weather, but the Banner variety makes the best showing on the five-year average. 

 Tho varieties of barley that are giving best results are: Manchurian, Garten's No. 6S, 

 and O. A. C. No. 21. Of nine varieties of peas grown, Arthur is considered the most 

 desirable on account of its earliness. Three varieties of flax obtained from the North 

 Dakota Agricultural College have done very well; N. D. R. 52 has given tho best two- 

 year average. 



