DOMINION EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 11 



his control. From here the work of the branch Farms is guided 

 and supervised, although the Superintendents of the latter are 

 allowed a free hand to work out the problems peculiar to their 

 districts. 



Lines of Work. 



The scientific study of agricultural questions along the lines 

 indicated in the Act of 1886 has also been carried on here by- 

 officers having charge of the various branches of such work. 

 Their names, and a brief account of the present scope of 

 the work of each, will be found on other pages. 



Publications. 



The publication and dissemination of the results obtained 

 from the experimental work conducted at all the farms has 

 naturally been one of the most important features. These have 

 been given each year in the annual Report of the Experimental 

 Farms, the first issue appearing in 1887. In addition, whenever 

 the collection of reliable data on a subject of interest to the 

 farmer has warranted it, a bulletin has been issued. Both reports 

 and bulletins are mailed free to applicants. 



Correspondence and Meetings. 



A yearly-increasing volume of correspondence relating to 

 all branches of agriculture has been carried on both from the 

 Central and the branch Farms. The officers of the former and 

 the Superintendents of the latter have also given out much 

 information by addressing farmers' meetings and lecturing at 

 Short Courses in connection with some of our Agricultural Col- 

 leges and Societies. 



VALUE AND PURPOSE OF BRANCH FARMS. 



During the quarter of a century since their establishment, 

 a period which has seen such rapid settlement and development 

 in this country, especially in the western provinces, the Experi- 

 mental Farms have increased in number and have enlarged the 

 sphere of the work carried on. 



One great cause of this expansion, other than the need of 

 newly-settled districts for some such institution within easy reach, 

 has been the fact that each section of the country opened to the 

 settler has presented new problems, possible of solution only by 

 experimental work carried on in that locality. The increased 



