APPENDIX A XLIIT 
with similar enthusiasm, and special bulletins on many important sub- 
jects have been published and widely distributed. 
The backward condition of agriculture in Canada, which was s0 pro- 
nounced twenty years ago, has given place to one of constant progress 
and advancement, and, instead of a lack of skill and knowledge among 
the farmers of this country, I think it may now be safely said that 
Canadian farmers, on an average, are as well informed and more gener- 
ally progressive than those of any other country in the world. 
The Experimental Farms have been one of the important factors in 
the educative work of this country and the Government is now wisely 
adding to the opportunity of Canadian farmers to gain knowledge by 
increasing the number of these institutions. Two experimental stations 
have recently been established in Alberta, one in the southern part of the 
province at Lethbridge, to study the various problems connected with 
irrigation and dry farming, and one further north at Lacombe to carry 
on experiments in general farming suitable for that district. Experi- 
ments are also in progress under Government direction in the Peace 
River country and the Yukon. It is expected that other sub-stations 
will shortly be established on Prince Edward Island, Vancouver Island 
and in northern Saskatchewan. These will no doubt be followed by 
others so that eventually these experimental institutions will be suffi- 
ciently numerous to meet the needs of our various climates. 
The reputation of Canada as an advanced agricultural country 
stands high, and other nations are earnestly interesting themselves in 
the fine agricultural products for which Canada is now noted. When 
the National Miller’s Association of Great Britain began their efforts 
to improve the quality of the wheat grown in the Mother Country, appli- 
cation was made for the best wheats obtainable here and although 
varieties were obtained by them from many other countries, none have 
yet been found superior to the best of those sent from Canada. Many 
other lands have also sought for samples of the agricultural products 
of this country for trial. Among the British Colonies many different 
sorts have been sent to Australia, South Africa and Newfoundland. 
India has applied for some of the best products for test in that country 
especially in the higher altitudes in the mountain districts. Requests 
have recently come from Thibet for food materials likely to be grown 
with success in the high plains of that country at altitudes ranging from 
12,000 to 16,000 feet. In response to requests from the Russian Depart- 
ment of Agriculture many varieties of wheat, barley and maize have heen 
supplied which are being tested in different parts of that Empire. Even 
from Egypt the great granary of early times requests for Canadian grain 
have been received and the varieties sent are now being tested at Khar- 
