4 COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION 



6. Dairy Branch; 



7. Fruit Branch; 



8. Colonization Branch; 



9. Statistics and Publications Branch. 



In addition to the above, there is work of various kinds which 

 is still in the formative and growing condition, but in time it will, no 

 doubt, be organized into separate branches with an official in charge 

 of each. Farm forestry and district or departmental representative 

 work may be particularly mentioned. As showing the expansion of 

 the work, it may here be mentioned that in 1890 the total expendi- 

 ture under agriculture and immigration was $177,014.00, and in 

 1910 it had increased to $748,349.00. These do not include ex- 

 penditures on capital account. Deducting revenue, the net ex- 

 penditures were $156,136 in 1890 and $634,892 in 1910. 



The work of a provincial Department of Agricul- 

 Education 0f ^ ure ^ educational. The foregoing list of branches 

 shows a great variety in the energies and expendi- 

 tures. An acquaintance with the geological and geographical 

 conditions of Ontario and a knowledge of the composite nature of 

 the people of the province will show how varied are the agricultural 

 lines of work and why it has been found necessary to develop a 

 department with many branches. There are lines of work not 

 suggested by the division above given but which are included. 

 Thus under the Horticultural Branch, city and town improvement 

 societies and vegetable growing are taken care of, and apiculture and 

 entomology are a part of the Fruit Branch. Poultry work comes in 

 under Live Stock. We have in Ontario soils and climates in great 

 variety, and we also have a farming community of a complex nature. 

 The original settlers were of varied origin. England, Scotland, and 

 Ireland contributed extensively. French-Canadian settlements are 

 to be found in the east, southwest and in the newer districts of the 

 north. German settlers are to be found in large numbers in a half 

 dozen counties of the middle west. Further, it is to be noted that 

 Ontario, through favourable natural conditions, has become a great 

 manufacturing province. Agriculture, as a consequence, is an in- 

 teresting problem. 



A stationary ^ ne rura l population of Ontario, in 1909, stood 

 Rural exactly at the same figure that it did in 1872, viz., 



Population 1,050,000. In the latter year, however, the total 

 town and city population was just about what Toronto holds to-day, 

 375,000. The urban population is now over one and a quarter 

 million. During these years, in addition to this urban increase of 

 nearly 900,000 people, we have had the trek to the great West, now 



