DOMINION EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 157 



cold and wet at blossoming time, and lack of sunshine prevents 

 good colouring of the fruit. The results obtained from the 

 orchards on the mountain slopes have been much more favour- 

 able than from those on the bottom land, due partly to better 

 drainage and, perhaps, to the higher altitude as well. 



Experimental work with fruits for British Columbia will 

 in future be carried on in connection with Stations in more 

 favoured localities. One of these, about 52 acres in extent, 

 is situated at Invermere, B.C., and is now being put into shape 

 for this line of work. 



The results at Agassiz with forest and nut trees have been 

 fairly successful. A considerable area is devoted to the growing 

 of shrubs, hedges and flowers, and on the lawns almost every 

 variety that will grow in this climate may be found. In the 

 flower garden, roses, bulbs, perennials and from eighty to one 

 hundred varieties of annuals give bloom from the latter part 

 of March to Nov. 15th and, in some seasons, later. 



Most sorts of vegetables have been grown each year, 

 generally with good returns. As yet, no greenhouse has been 

 erected for starting the earlier and more tender varieties, hot 

 beds being used for this purpose. 



Cattle. 



During the period from the establishment of the Farm 

 until 1911, some work was done with a few of the dairy breeds 

 of cattle and, in later years, considerable attention was paid to 

 the development of a herd of milking Shorthorns. 



It has recently been decided to go more extensively into 

 the da;irying feature of experimental work, and the Shorthorn 

 herd above referred to was replaced, in December, 1911, by 

 one of grade Holstein-Friesians from Eastern Ontario. The 

 herd brought here consisted of 28 head of females of different 

 ages and grades, and were headed by a pure-bred bull of strong 

 milking strain. An effort is being made to form a herd of 

 high-producing dairy cattle from grade stock and to demon- 

 strate what can be done in turning out first-class dairy products 

 at a profit. Feeding experiments wi 1 also be made with these 

 cattle. 



This change has necessitated the erection of several build- 

 ings. A new dairy barn has been built, in which an attempt 

 has been made to combine cheapness and utility with sanitary 

 conditions, light and air. The stable is made to hold forty 

 cows and has concrete floors and iron fittings throughout. It 

 is 86 feet by 39 feet, with 9 foot ceiling, and has a feed and 

 mixing room 22 feet by 25 feet, to which the two silos are 

 joined. The latter are of wood, eighteen and fifteen feet in 



