ao Transactions of the Canadian Institute. [vol. x 



William Saunders, of London, Ontario, as Director of the system, this 

 gentleman having already by special request examined into and reported 

 upon agricultural experimental work in Europe and the United States. 

 This choice proved a most fortunate one, for it is to the initiative, enthu- 

 siasm and the untiring energy of Dr. Saunders, who held the Director- 

 ship of the Experimental Farms from their establishment in 1886 till 

 April, 1911, when he retired owing to ill health and advancing years, 

 that the signal success of the system has been in a very large measure 

 due. He had at the time of his appointment won recognition of a high 

 order in the sciences of Chemistry and Botany and Entomology, and 

 further, he brought to bear upon his work a very considerable experience 

 in experimental agriculture and horticulture and in the art of landscape 

 gardening. In the subsequent years he received many honours and dis- 

 tinctions from learned societies and universities at home and abroad, and 

 for his invaluable work in promoting the interests of Canadian agricul- 

 ture was in 1905 created by His Majesty, the late King Edward VII, a 

 Companion of the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint 

 George. Canada certainly owes a great debt of gratitude to Dr. Saunders 

 for the splendid work he did for this country during the twenty-five years 

 of his directorship of the Dominion Experimental Farms. 



The five farms, the establishment of which was authorised in the Act 

 of 1886, were all located and fairly well under way before the close of 

 1888. The sites for these were carefully chosen, not merely having in 

 view readiness of access, as on a through line of railway, and, if pos- 

 sible, proximity to a large centre, but also the securing of land of a char- 

 acter representative of the district to be served. 



The Central Farm, intended for the provinces of Ontario and Quebec, 

 and to be the headquarters of the chief administrative officers and 

 scientific staff of the system, was located at Ottawa. Here are the 

 Chemical, Botanical and Entomological and other laboratories, fully 

 equipped and with a force of trained men necessary to cope with the 

 many problems requiring scientific investigation. The Farm, which is on 

 the confines of the city, comprises in all some 465 acres. Of these about 

 100 acres are devoted to experimental work under the care of the Horti- 

 culturist, comprising 46 acres in fruits and vegetables, 21 acres in forest 

 belt and tree plantations, and 33 acres in ornamental grounds and 

 nurseries. From 25 to 30 acres are under the control of the Cerealist, 

 for test plots and other investigatory work with the various grains. An 

 Arboretum or Botanic Garden, under the care of the Botanist, occupies 

 about 60 acres. The remainder, about 275 acres, furnishes the land neces- 

 sary for carrying on the experiments in field and animal husbandry. 



The four original branch farms were located as follows: Nappan,Nova 



