X THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 



he produced fruits which can be grown in the open prairie and as far 

 north as Fort VermiHon, where the winter temperatures may fall as 

 low as 60 "F. His work in cereals, however, has proved to be of the 

 greatest value to Canada. His object was to produce an early ripening 

 wheat of great quality that might be grown in more northerly districts 

 where the standard varieties, such as Red File, were injured in some 

 seasons by early autumnal frosts. As a result of many years of patient 

 crossing involving the production of hundreds of hybrids which were 

 tested for prolificness, earliness and bread-making qualities, a number 

 of wheats have been produced which are now widely cultivated. These 

 experiments led the way to the production of the now famous Marquis 

 wheat, which ripens from five to ten days earlier than Red Fife and 

 which is now replacing the older maturing wheats, including Red 

 Fife, on the western prairies. By this work alone he has extended 

 the northern range of wheat cultivation in Canada enormously, and 

 has thus increased the possible acreage by millions of acres, an achieve- 

 ment which in significance is the greatest in Canadian agriculture, nor 

 will the resulting benefit be confined to the Dominion. 



The records of our Society give ample evidence of the high regard 

 in which Dr. Saunders was held and the constancy of his interest in 

 our progress. As before mentioned he was a charter member of the 

 Society and was elected to the Presidency in 1906. The Transactions 

 show a large number of contributions from his pen. The titles of 

 some of the more important may be given. "The Introduction and 

 Dissemination of Noxious Insects," "The Importance of Economizing 

 and Preserving our Forests," "The Influence of Sex in the Hybridizing 

 of Fruits," "Early Ripening Cereals," "Progress of Experiments in 

 Cross-fertilizing at the Experimental Farms," "Results of Tree Plant- 

 ing on he North Western Plains," "Increased Production of Farm 

 Crops by Early Sowing." 



All who came in contact with him were impressed by his kindly 

 character and desire to be of the slightest service, which traits secured 

 for him a wide circle of friends in all countries. To those who had 

 the privilege of working with him the most notable characteristics 

 were his tireless energy, his constant thoughtfulness and his love for 

 detail. With a thorough knowledge of the kind of information re- 

 quired by the agriculturist he combined a full appreciation of scientific 

 and practical research as a fundamental necessity and the success of 

 the Experimental Farms system is due largely to that fact. The 

 value of his work not only to Canada but to all parts of the empire 

 drawing food supplies from the Dominion cannot be estimated, but 

 we are able, nevertheless, to appreciate its significance. 



