92 DOMINION EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 



traverse the Farm. From some low spots, that had no natural 

 outlet, open ditches or covered drains have been put in. 



Avenues and shelter belts of trees were planted shortly after 

 the Farm was started; these have grown well and now afford 

 great protection from the winds. Together with the natural 

 beauty of the location overlooking the Assiniboine River and 

 the City of Brandon, the trees, shrubs and flowers make the Farm 

 a place of beauty well worth a visit on that account alone. 



The experiments under way cover a wide range. In the 

 first place, there are the tests of varieties. These tests, carried 

 on continuously since the Farm started, are made to compare 

 the productiveness, earliness and general suitability of varieties 

 of all kinds of grain crops, grasses, clovers, including alfalfa, 

 Indian corn, roots, potatoes, all kinds of vegetables, fruits, 

 ornamental shrubs and garden flowers. Both standard and new 

 varieties of all these are tested and compared. 



Of equal importance is the work of determining the best 

 agricultural methods. Part of this work is done by the rotation 

 experiments. Blocks of land, which in the aggregate take up 

 the major portion of the arable part of the Farm, are set apart 

 to be cultivated under nine different rotations, the cost of pro- 

 duction and the revenue from each being carefully kept. In 

 addition, a large number of small plots are set apart for cultural 

 experiments, on which different methods of conducting farm 

 operations are tried and compared. (See Cultural Work and 

 plans of Farm.) 



The demonstrating of the value of new crops has always 

 been given special attention. In the earlier days, grasses were 

 introduced and the practicability of growing trees for ornamenta- 

 tion and as wind breaks was shown. At the present time, our 

 crops demonstrate year after year the possibilities of clovers, 

 alfalfa and Indian corn and show that these crops deserve more 

 general adoption by Manitoban farmers. 



Experiments with live stock include testing of feeds for 

 fattening steers, pigs and sheep, and also for milk production, 

 the former including the comparison of outside feeding versus 

 stabling for the winter fattening of steers and sheep. 



Horticulture. 



Strawberries are grown on the Farm with great success, 

 the area devoted to them being located in the horticultural 

 grounds in front of the barns. Experiments are inade both in 

 methods of cultivation and in winter protection. 



Bush fruits do well and yield abundantly. A new planta- 

 tion of these is now set out, including all the newest and best 

 varieties, some of the older and less successful kinds having been 

 dropped. 



