REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR 81 



SESSIONAL PAPER Nc. 16 



obtained last season of either cereals or routs. It is liox-)ed, however, to demonstrate: as 

 time goes on, how judicious treatment of the soil will materially affect its productivity. 



Among the horticultural experiments, the most important, in point of view of local 

 needs, are those dealing with potatoes, the attempt being to determine one or two 

 kinds which can be confidently recommended to settlers in the district. Thirty-seven 

 varieties were tested both in 1913 and 1914, and the results were singularly uniform. 

 Another year's tests will produce more definite data, but meanwhile, taking into con- 

 sideration both quality and quantity of yield, the Wee McGregor, Sir Walter Raleigh, 

 and Late Puritan seem to be among the best. Six early varieties were also tested. 

 Planted on April 13, they all gave good yields when harvested Jidy 16. 



The bush fruits have made satisfactory growth, and the trees in the apple orchard, 

 which made a good start, continue to do well. It is too early yet to make any state- 

 ment as to the suitability of this district for apple culture, the experiments not being yet 

 sufficiently advanced. ■ ; ! 



Avenues of Norway maples have been planted along the road bordering the south 

 fence of the Station, and also along the north drive, and are doing well. 



LIVE STOCK. 



There are at present, on the Station, one heavy team for the regular work of the 

 farm-, one general-purpose horse, two milch cows, which give a sufficient supply of milk 

 for all employed on the Station, and two steers which have been recently purchased to 

 conduct feeding experiments with roots produced last season. 



POULTRY AND BEES. 



There are now four pens of i^oultry, one each of Barred Rock and Light Suseejc, 

 and two pens of White Leghorn. The birds have come through the winter well, and 

 have-given fair returns in eggs. 



The incubators are now 'running, and the birds have been removed from their 

 winter location, near the stables, to the large runs on the land to the v/est of the farm 

 proper, on the slope of Tobey Creek. The three colonies of bees suiwived the winter. 

 One v/as placed in the cellar and the others remained outside. They have now been 

 removed to the new poultry runs. 



BUILDINGS AND niPROVEME^NTS. 



A convenient implement and tool house, 24 feet by 36 feet, has been erected on the 

 Station, and a roothouse and storeroom, which also provides accommodation for the 

 incubators and for testing eggs, has been built on the poviltry grounds. An addition 

 of two new poultry-houses has also been made. 



The roads on the Station have been changed, in order to -use the land to better 

 advantage, and the mairf driveway now entei-s the Station grounds from the south, and 

 a road runs east and west from the stables, across the northern part of the farm. 



On September 7, the Dominion Cerealist visited the Station, and chose a tract of 

 land in the soi'thwesteni part of the Station inclosure where a number of cereal tests 

 will be commenced this season. 



During the season the Superintendent has visited a large number of the farmers of 

 the district v/ho were anxious to obtain advice on some problem connected with the 

 management of their farms. He also visited the Cranbrook Farmers' Institute meeting 

 in January, and took part in the discussion there of " ifarketing Problems " and " The 

 Rotation of Crops." Xow that the railway service has been extended through Inver- 

 mere he expects to be able to do more alciig these lines. 



Addition has been made to the stock of implements at the Station, by the purchase 

 of a pulverizer, a hay carrier, and a reaping attachment for a mower. 



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