ON AGRICULTURE TO CANADA 55 



carried in the best possible condition to market. To ensure this, 

 inspectors travel with iced cars, inspectors watch the discharge of 

 the cargo at the different ports of shipment, and see it put on board 

 ocean-bound steamers, and inspectors are present at the unloading 

 on the other side. These inspectors keep in touch with head- 

 quarters, and a marked improvement in the handling and transit 

 of perishable goods is thus effected. The other duty of the Ex- 

 tension of Markets Division is to get into touch with firms in 

 European countries, with the view of establishing trade relations 

 in farm products. Undoubtedly, such an organisation is much 

 better able to do this than isolated individuals scattered through- 

 out the provinces, and the justification is found in the fact that 

 Canada is a new country with infant industries, which require to be 

 assisted until they find their feet. 



II. SEED COMMISSIONER'S BRANCH 



The Seed Branch was, as already mentioned, till 1905 included 

 as a division of the branch of the Commissioner of Agriculture 

 and Dairying, but in that year it was raised to the rank of 

 an independent branch, and Mr George H. Clark, one of the 

 ablest officials in the service of the Government, was appointed 

 Commissioner. Such a branch is of the utmost importance in 

 Canada; for the importation of grain for seed purposes, in the early 

 days made more necessary than it would otherwise have been 

 by deterioration due to continuous cropping, introduced many 

 weeds, which, unlike the cereals, have adapted themselves to 

 the soil and the climate, and taken possession of many a farm. 

 Besides eradicating the weeds, and thus tackling the subject from 

 what may be called the negative side, it was necessary to attack it 

 from the positive side, and produce pure cereals which were suited 

 to the particular and varying climates of Canada. Such is the work 

 which the Seed Commissioner's Branch has undertaken. This it 

 is doing by various agencies. While it has no direct connection 

 with the Seed Growers' Association, it works in conjunction with the 

 Association and subsidises it to the extent of 3000 dollars every year. 

 Investigation work is carried on at the Seed Laboratory, Ottawa, 

 where there is an expert and ten assistants, six of whom do purely 

 test work, three germination work, and one clerical work. In 1907 

 a Seed Laboratory of a similar kind was established at Calgary to 

 serve the western provinces. The Federal and the Provincial 

 Governments have for some years promoted Seed Fairs, which are 

 largely educational. There are competitions, and prizes are awarded 

 for the best exhibits. But the fairs are also of some commercial 

 importance. Farmers who have seed to buy and sell meet for the 

 purpose of doing business. These fairs are organised by the 

 officers of the Seed Branch, who also act as judges at the com- 

 petitions. Lecture courses at various centres throughout the 

 provinces are organised. Field competitions of standing grain are 

 held, and prizes awarded according to the value of the grain for 

 seed purposes. The district officers of the Seed Branch also act 



