36 EXPETdMENTAL FARMS 



6 GEORGE V, A. 1916 



cent are cocl^erels, the best of wliicli are retained for selling as breeders to tiie farmers. 

 Of the 300 pullete, 200 are selected for the laying pens. 



From one to four varieties are bred at the branch Fanns, though it is not the 

 intention to keep too many varieties but rather to eliminate those which are the least 

 satisfactory and confine attention to the one or two which prove most practical for 

 the locality. 



MEETIKGS. 



The demand for speakers has been, if anything, greater than usual. Mr. Fortier has 

 been absent 111 days during the year, has lectured at sixty-one different places and 

 judged at eighteen shows throughout Quebec and Ontario, and the reason that he did 

 not get to more meetings was because oi his inability to leave the oifice. Mr. Robertson 

 has attended a few but has been unable to be absent from the plant for any length of 

 time, though numerous requests have come for him, especially to judge. Mr. Elford 

 attended a number of meetings, but his work here and in connection with the branch 

 Farms has made it impossible for him to attend very many. He made two visits to 

 the branch Farms and Stations inspecting the poultry work, and a number of " Patriot- 

 ism and Production " meetings were attended by him during the " campaign." 



CORRESPONDENCE. 



The correspondence of the Division is very heavy. Information in circular form 

 assists considerably, but the number of questions that have to be answered individually 

 seems to be growing. 



THE tOBAOCO DIVISION. 



The scope of the Tobacco Division was enlarged at the beginning of the season 

 of 1914-15, by the appointment of two crop inspectors, one for the province of Quebec, 

 the other for Ontario. 



The season of 1914, though not altogether favourable for tobacco growing, allowed 

 of the harvesting of an average crop, although slightly later than in a normal year; 

 in Quebec, the establishment of the plantations was considerably retarded by a pro- 

 longed drought. In general, however, the crop ripened sufficieiitly early, except in 

 those plantations harvested in September, the early part of the month being marked 

 by continued rain. 



CENTRAL EXPERIMENTAL FARM. 



Plantation. — Among the varieties lately tested is a large number of types of the 

 small-leaved Canadian tobaccos and also some large-leaved pipe tobaccos such as " Gold 

 Leaf " and " Maryland," etc. In spite of a somewhat cool season, all these tobaccos 

 were harvested well before the first frost. 



An abundant supply of tobacco seed was obtained, whieh was distributed in part 

 during the winter of 1914-15. 



The drying process was carried out without difficulty or delay. 



Fermentation. — The tobaccos of the 1914 crop were tested at Farnham but, during 

 the summer, an experiment in betuning with part of the 1913 crop, was carried on at 

 Ottawa. The results were interesting, especially with a view to the preservation of 

 tobacco from injury by mould. 



STATION AT ST. JACQUES^ QUE. 



The seed treated witli lornialin grew well. The establishment of llie plantation, 

 however, was liindercd by drought, and the ca-op harvested was a little below the aver- 

 age. 



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