AGRICULTURE 



105 



AGRICULTURE 



developing larger and better fruits; reforesta- 

 tion ; insecticides and fungicides ; silos, and the 

 like. 



That there may be conservation of energy 

 and a medium of regular interchange of re- 

 ports, there has been organized by the experi- 

 ment stations and the agricultural colleges the 

 Association of American Agricultural Colleges 

 and Experiment Stations. Annual meetings are 

 held. 



Help Brought to the Farm. The progressive 

 farmer has a vital interest in the energetic 



what has been stated above relative to agricul- 

 tural experiment stations in the United States 

 applies with equal force to like activities in 

 the Dominion. In Canada these institutions 

 are called experiment farms and stations. The 

 Central Experiment Station is at Ottawa, 

 where are located the general officials entrusted 

 with the agricultural interests of the country. 

 Branch farms or stations to the number of 

 eighteen (in 1915) are located as follows, the 

 record including the date of establishment and 

 acreage: 



In addition to the above there are small sub-stations at Kamloops and Sain on Arm. British 

 Columbia; Fort Vermilion, Alberta; and at Fort Smith, Fort Resolution. Fort Providence and 

 Athabasca. 



work of the experiment station in his state. It 

 works for him. If he cannot find the proper 

 fertilizer for his soil, he can send some soil to 

 the station for analysis. He will be told what 

 it lacks and receive suggestions upon which he 

 may act. He may inquire into irrigation ques- 

 tions; he can get instruction which will in- 

 crease his success with poultry. The station 

 (in some states) will send an expert, at cost, 

 to consult with him on matters which may not 

 have been standardized. He may write for and 

 receive, without cost, bulletins on any farm sub- 

 ject which may be published by his station. 

 Canadian Experiment Farms. In 



Range of Investigation. The work of the 

 farms and stations covers the whole agricul- 

 tural field, and each organization is a bureau 

 of information for the agriculturist, horticul- 

 turist or stock raiser who needs solutions for 

 his difficulties. The strictly scientific, or ex- 

 perimental phase of the work is carried on at 

 the Central station at Ottawa, which is organ- 

 ized in the following nine divisions: field hus- 

 bandry, animjil husbandry, horticulture, cereals, 

 chemistry, forage plants, botany, poultry, to- 

 bacco. See subheading, Agricultural Educa- 

 tion, a part of this general article, beginning on 

 page 100. EJ>.F. 



Department of Agriculture 



In the United 'States. The agricultural in- 

 terest* of the United States were first officially 

 recognised by the government in 1835, when 

 the Commissioner of Patents IM-K.-UI in a -mall 

 way to supply farmers with seeds. Th 

 pose of seed distribution was commendabl* . for 

 new and valuable plants were needed in many 

 districts, and there were no local experiment 

 stations to encourage their development. By 



1862 the necessity for more definite and sys- 

 tematiied assistance was seen, and in that year 

 the Bureau of Agriculture was established ; the 

 work was transferred from the Patent Office 

 and became a branch of the Department of the 

 Interior, with the Commissioner of Agriculture 

 in charge. 



K89 this Bureau was raised to the rank 

 of an executive department, styled the Depart- 



