TREES. SHRUBS AND PLANTS AT THE DOM 

 INION EXPERIMENTAL FARMS. 



BV DR. \VM. SAUNDERS, DIRECTOR. 



Fig. 1471. — Approach to Dr. Saunders' House. 



LEVEN years have now passed 

 since the Experimental Farms 

 of the Dominion of Canada 

 were established. True to 

 the purpose for which these useful institu- 

 tions were specially designed, the offi- 

 cers who have been entrusted with the 

 work have devoted their chief attention 

 during this period to the task of demon- 

 strating by practical experiments, how 

 agriculture in Canada may best be ad- 

 vanced and the occupation of farming 

 made more profitable. At the same 

 time some attention has been given, not 

 only at the Central Farm at Ottawa but 

 also at each of the branch farms, to the 

 testing of the hardiness and usefulness 

 of different sorts of trees for the produc- 



45 



tion of timber and the providing of 

 shelter. The ornamental aspect of this 

 subject has also been promoted by 

 bringing together many different sorts of 

 trees, shrubs and plants specially useful 

 for decorative purposes. 



In arranging the ornamental planting 

 on the farms, a careful study has been 

 made of the characteristics of the many 

 species used, with the view of forming 

 harmonious combinations and pleasing 

 contrasts. The habit of growth, char- 

 acter of the foliage, its colour at differ- 

 ent periods of the year, the appearance 

 of the flowers and the form and colour 

 of the fruit, have all been considered in 

 the aim to form natural and effective 

 combinations. 



