17 



Ottawa, July 6. The Commission met in Ottawa on Wednesday evening 

 and made arrangements to visit the Dominion Experimental Farm on the follow- 

 ing morning. 



Ottawa, July 7. The Commissioners drove to the Experimental Farm, 

 where they were met by Prof. Jas. W. Robertson, Dominion Dairy Commissioner, 

 and escorted over the premises. Fourteen steers that had been dehorned in the 

 spring and last fall were seen, after which a meeting was held in the farm office 

 and the evidence of Prof. Robertson and Robert W. Elliott, herdsman, was re- 

 ceived. 



In the afternoon a meeting was held in the Russell House, Ottawa, when evi- 

 dence was given by W. C. Edwards, Esq., M.P.,and Senator Read, of Bellevi lie. On 

 the following day several of the Commissioners visited Mr, Edward's farm at 

 Rockland and inspected his system of feeding dehorned steers loose in large 

 stables, with a view to saving manure in the best possible condition. 



In deference to the wishes of Mr. Hutchinson and Mr. Benjamin Cook, the 

 Commission decided to hold a meeting at lngersoll on Thursday, July 20, and to 

 formally summon a number of farmers known to have spoken against the prac- 

 tice, but who were unwilling to testify voluntarily. 



lngersoll, July 20. The Commission held a meeting in the Town Hall and re- 

 ceived evidence from the following : 



William Stirton, Dereham township. 

 John Mitchell, Dereham township. 

 Murray Smith, North Dorchester. 

 Foster Wilson, Dereham township. 

 Adam Gordon, North Oxford. 

 James Ruddick, North Oxford. 

 Joseph Cawthorp, Thamesford. 

 Thomas Hogg, North Oxford. 

 Wm. W. Sutherland, East Nissouri. 

 Edwin Cass well, lngersoll. 



With the exception of Mr. Sutherland, all were opposed to the practice. 



THE EVIDENCE. 



Evidence was received from representatives of all the interests affected by 

 the practice, including general farmers, dairymen, drovers, exporters, wholesale 

 and retail butchers, cattle market attendants, tanners, hide merchants, veterinary 

 surgeons, medical practitioners and members of Humane Societies, — ninety-eight 

 in all. 



' Of the farmers examined, nearly 70 in number, all who had either performed 

 or seen the operation performed, with three or four exceptions, were strongly in 

 2 (D.O.) 



