48 DOMINION EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 



Investigations relative to Horticulture. 



In this field the work has been exceedingly varied. Thus, 

 we have fully studied the chemistry of the apple, the strawberry 

 and some other fruits, with a view of learning their particular 

 needs and the rate at which they may exhaust the soil of plant 

 food. Again, much time has been given to the matter of 

 fungicides and insecticides — their preparation and safe appli- 

 cation. Finally, in the management of orchard soils, much 

 information of value has resulted from experiments with cover 

 crops as to enrichment of the soil and the conservation or 

 dissipation of its moisture. 



Investigations relative to Dairying. 



Work under this head has comprised the examination of 

 apparatus used in the testing of milk, cream and butter, the 

 study of processes which have appeared from time to time for 

 the manufacture of butter, the analysis of various dairying 

 products and the determination of the principal factors in their 

 manufacture which control the composition of butter and 

 cheese. 



The Farmer's Water Supply. 



The examination of well waters from farm homesteads, 

 cheese factories and creameries, has been continued uninter- 

 ruptedly from the establishment of the Experimental Farms. 

 As a result of this useful work, more than 2,000 samples from 

 rural supplies have been analyzed. A large proportion of these 

 waters have been pronounced polluted and unfit for domestic 

 purposes, a state of affairs which may be said to be entirely 

 due to the common habit of placing the well (generally a shal- 

 low one) in the barn yard or in close proximity to some similar 

 source of contamination. The danger to health of polluted water 

 has been emphasized and the importance of an ample supply 

 of pure, wholesome water, both for the use of the family and 

 the stock, constantly urged upon the farming community. 

 Water samples from farm homesteads are analyzed free of 

 charge, but certain directions (obtainable on application) must 

 be followed in their collection and shipment and express charges 

 prepaid. 



In concluding this summary, some mention must be made 

 of that phase of the work b}^ which direct assistance is given 

 to the individual farmer. This has been accomplished chiefly 

 through correspondence, though also to a certain degree by 

 agricultural travels which allowed a discussion of soil problems 

 with the farmer ''on the ground"; by addresses at meetings 

 of farmers and by the reporting on samples of an agricultural 

 nature sent in for examination. 



