Science in Public Affairs 



of 1884 was the establishment by the Dominion 

 Government of a series of experimental farms ; one 

 was established at Ottawa, a second at Brandon 

 for Manitoba, and a third at Indian Head for the 

 North- West Territories. 



"The system as now developed enables any 

 farmer to make inquiry, without even the cost of 

 postage, about any matter relating to his business, 

 and enables him also to receive gratuitously small 

 supplies of selected trees, &c. He can also for a 

 small payment procure from the experimental 

 farms, under certain conditions, pure bred stock. 

 Connected with these methods of encouraging 

 agriculture is the system by means of which, for a 

 uniform payment for carriage of $5 (about i) 

 per head, a farmer in the North-West may have 

 delivered to him at any part of Manitoba or the 

 Territories pure bred stock from Ontario. 



" For nearly twenty years extensive experiments 

 in the selection and ' breeding' of varieties of 

 cereals, in the crossing of fruit-trees, and in finding 

 the best conditions for growth, have been carried 

 on at all the experimental stations. Experiments 

 are also undertaken under the auspices of the farm 

 authorities at many places throughout Manitoba 

 and the Territories. 



"It is impossible to overrate the enthusiasm 

 and ability with which this remarkable work has 

 been carried on, at an extremely small cost, when 

 considered in relation to the benefits which have 

 accrued. It is not too much to say, that any one 

 who is ignorant of the farming conditions or of 



146 



