AGRICULTURAL WORK IN ONTARIO 15 



we might have in the time, but so delighted were the farmers with the 

 work accomplished that it is probable that next year a ditcher will 

 be owned co-operatively here. 



Corn has become one of the staple crops in this county and in 

 many sections over seventy-five per cent, of the farmers have silos. 

 Except where an occasional farmer selects Flint corn for seed, all of 

 the seed corn is imported. Naturally, in bad seasons such as that of 

 1910, a great many farmers have been badly disappointed in their 

 seed. This we have sought to overcome ; first, by promoting buying 

 on the cob; second, by testing samples for all localseedsmen; third, by 

 attempting to develop a strain of Dent corn adapted to this locality. 

 Buying on the cob has been followed up by the South Lanark Farm- 

 ers' Club for the past two seasons. Comparing the seed obtained 

 by the members this year with that sold in bulk, the new method 

 was worth a great many dollars to those who took advantage of it. 

 In the spring of 1909 and 1910, we tested seed corn for all local 

 seedsmen as soon as their shipments arrived, and practically all used 

 our reports as their only guarantee. More than one lot which failed 

 to come up to standard was shipped back. In our seed selection 

 work, we started with a strain of corn developed for early maturity 

 in Wisconsin. During the past two seasons, we have grown an acre 

 of this corn on the "ear to the row" plan and have selected each 

 year for early maturity. We have succeeded in maturing first- 

 class seed both years and the crop has excelled everything in its 

 neighbourhood, not only in maturity, but also in type. The demand 

 for seed exceeded the supply last year and probably will this year. 



Ever since this office was opened, we have been emphasizing 

 the value of alfalfa. This year fully one-fifth of the farmers in the 

 Perth district have a small patch of alfalfa, and while all have not 

 made a success of it, the possibility of growing it here successfully 

 has been amply demonstrated. In the spring of the year, alfalfa 

 enquiries greatly exceed all others received. Last year we for- 

 warded upwards of fifty applications for nitro culture and directed 

 the forwarding of many others. We have been experimenting with 

 the crop ourselves and have succeeded in growing it without a nurse 

 crop. 



Prince Edward The experimental work last summer as well as this 

 County summer has consisted in conducting practical experi- 



ments on various farms throughout the county. Experiments with 

 fertilizers on tomatoes, sweet corn and potatoes were conducted a 

 year ago. This work was taken up more extensively this season. 

 Seven experiments with sweet corn, five with potatoes and twelve with 

 tomatoes, were carried on in different parts of the county. Farmers 



