DOMINION EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 15 



THE AGRICULTURIST'S DIVISION. 



The work at the Central Experimental Farm under the direc- 

 tion of the Dominion Agriculturist includes field, live stock and 

 dairy husbandry. While the chief object of the work is to obtain 

 by repeated experiments useful data on the seeding, cultivation 

 and harvesting of farm crops, on the breeding, feeding and housing 

 of various classes of live stock and on the conversion of milk into 

 other marketable products, the management of the whole is, as 

 far as possible, conducted for profit, all operations being carried 

 on after the most approved practical methods, and a record of 

 cost in each case, kept. 



The live stock consists of four classes of animals, namely, 

 horses, cattle, sheep and swine. 



In order to be representative of the many different interests 

 of the agricultural communities served by the Farm, it is necessary 

 in some cases to keep several breeds of each class of stock. This 

 is not conducive to greatest profit, but the functions of an experi- 

 mental institution such as this make it necessary to supply the 

 demands of numerous divergent claims. 



Horses. 



These usually number about twenty, and they are kept pri- 

 marily for work purposes in connection with the various Divisions 

 of the Farm. 



No breeding work has as yet been undertaken, but many 

 feeding experiments are from time to time conducted with 

 a view to lowering the cost of the ration, at the same time 

 preserving its efficiency for horses under the strain of hard work. 

 The economy of feeding bran in conjunction with oats has been 

 clearly demonstrated, and clean, well-cured clover hay as a part 

 of the roughage has proved itself worthy of more general use 

 among farmers. 



The proper amounts and the best times to feed and water 

 horses have been subjects of considerable investigation. 



Much information has been obtained regarding the most 

 desirable methods of feeding roughages and concentrates. 



Many of the stock foods so widely advertised throughout 

 the country have been placed under test, usually with unfavour- 

 able results. 



In addition to the above and other feeding experiments of a 

 similar nature, attention has been given to the problem of horse 

 barn construction and ventilation. 



The results of the investigations made are embodied in the 

 building where the animals are now housed. 



