DOMINION EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 107 



EXPERIMENTAL STATION 



FOR 



CENTRAL SASKATCHEWAN 



ROSTHERN, SASK. 



The land now forming the Experimental Station at Rosthern 

 had been owned by the Hudson's Bay Co. until 1898, and was 

 held by private owners until 1908, when it was purchased by the 

 Dominion Government. For the previous ten years, it had been 

 continuously cropped to grain, the injurious effects of which are 

 seen in the trouble since encountered with dust storms and 

 weeds. The equipment of horses and implements was purchased 

 in the spring of 1909 and, in April of the same year, the present 

 Superintendent was appointed and took charge. 



In 1909, the whole Farm was summer-fallowed and the 

 Superintendent's house and the implement shed were built. 



Experimental work was attempted in 1910, but the season 

 was dry, the winds high and frequent and late frosts in May 

 injured the crops. This combination of adverse conditions 

 acting upon a soil not yet recovered from the constant crop 

 production of the previous decade, resulted in very little being 

 accomplished. Experimental work was really begun in 1911. 



The Station comprises nearly all of the N.W. i. Sec. 26, Tp. 

 42, R. 3, west of the Third Meridian. Nearly six acres are cut 

 off by the Canadian Northern Railway and a slough infringes 

 on the south, leaving one hundred and fifty-one and one-quarter 

 acres in the farm. 



It is situated on the east of and adjoining the Canadian 

 Northern Railway, one half mile south of the town of Rosthern, 

 and, being slightly elevated above the surrounding country, 

 commands an extensive view. Being but half a mile from the 

 depot, post office and the centre of the town, it is easy of access 

 to visitors, whether walking or driving. 



The soil is a deep black loam, somewhat sandy, overlying 

 about a foot of almost impervious clay, below which is sand 

 almost coarse enough for building purposes, but as a greater 

 depth is reached, the sand becomes finer and finer until at twenty 

 feet no further digging can be done, as quicksand is encountered. 

 The land is very level and the soil seems to be very uniform and 

 well adapted for experimental purposes. 



