94 REPORT OF THE SCOTTISH COMMISSION 



subject of investigation, and some remarkably striking results of 

 the good effect of this treatment on clover and lucerne were seen at 

 Lacombe, one of the branch experimental farms. Concurrently 

 with these investigations into the enrichment of the soil an enquiry 

 has been conducted into the effect of various methods of cultivation 

 on the conservation of soil moisture. The experiments in the 

 North-West have demonstrated the value of summer fallowing in 

 conserving moisture for the succeeding crop, while those conducted 

 in Ontario and the eastern provinces have given data of particular 

 value in the management of orchard soils. 



Other work that might be mentioned is investigation from the 

 feeding standpoint into the relative value of grasses and forage 

 crops grown in Canada ; the composition of cereals in conjunction 

 with the baking tests of the cereal division ; problems relating to 

 dairy products ; causes of soft pork ; fruit-growing, and also the 

 composition of well waters from farm homesteads, creameries, and 

 cheese factories. The analysis of water may be of little scientific 

 value, but the work is of the very greatest practical importance and 

 benefit to Canadian settlers at the present time. The samples are 

 analysed free of charge and the necessity of a good supply of whole- 

 some water is annually urged upon the farming community, with 

 the result that much greater care and attention is being given to 

 the rural water supply. The use of water from backdoor and 

 barnyard wells, which is often attended with disastrous results, is 

 being abandoned for more distant and purer sources. 



Division of Entomology and Botany 



The work of this division consists of making collections of plants 

 and insects particularly of an injurious character, investigating 

 their life histories, and helping farmers to combat them. A great 

 deal of useful and original investigation which cannot be noticed 

 here has been carried on. One novel feature more or less connected 

 with this department is worthy of notice. It had its origin in the 

 unsatisfactory condition of the crop of 1905 when it came under in- 

 spection in Winnipeg on its way to the lake front for shipment. It 

 was known that smut was causing considerable loss among the grain 

 crops of the prairie provinces. In 1903 the percentage of dockage 

 and rejection was only 3 per cent. ; in 1904 this had run up to 5| per 

 cent. ; but in the crop of 1905 a far worse state of affairs was mani- 

 fested. It seemed probable that upwards of 20 per cent, of the 

 enormous crop for the year, of nearly 90 million bushels of wheat, 

 would be graded as " rejected " by the official inspectors. It was 

 thought that something should be done at once to improve this state 

 of affairs. The railway companies and the Dominion Department 

 of Agriculture consulted together with the result that a special 

 train manned by experts set out on a campaign, the aim of which 

 was to remind farmers before the spring work began that more care 

 was necesssary than had evidently been shown in preparing their 

 seed grain and caring for the resulting crop. The campaign which 

 was organized largely by the seed branch of the Department of 



