146 REPORT OF THE No. 3 



The Establishment of New Liskkakd Demonstjution Faem. 



In the fall of 1916 the Government, under Hon. Gr. Howard Ferguson, Min- 

 ister of Lands, Forests and Mines, decided to establish a Demonstration Farm at 

 New Liskeard. The Town of New Liskeard donated 70 acres of land, 30 of which 

 is cleared. In addition, the Government bought 160 acres of wooded and slashed 

 land, making a total of 230 acres of unbroken, tillable land. All but 80 acres is 

 within the town limits and ideally located for farmers visiting the town either by 

 train or vehicle. The soil varies from sandy loam to clay and is quite character- 

 ■ istic of the average soil of the New Liskeard farming community and north to 

 Englehart. 



The farm is to be strictly a demonstration farm for the purpose of testing out 

 the different kinds of field and root crops most suitable to the district. It is also 

 the aim of those in charge to produce seed of first-class quality for sale to farmers 

 throughout the district. These lines of work, properly carried on, cannot help but 

 stimulate and benefit New Ontario agriculture, because of the fact that conditions 

 : are different to those of the older part of the Province where we have a more perm- 

 anent agriculture. Somewhat short seasons demand close attention to soil cultiva- 

 tion, seed, varieties and methods of seeding. These are things the Government plan 

 to take up on this new farm. 



It was too late ip the fall of 1916, when the farm was taken over, to' do any 

 Avork on the cleared part of the farm. Work was commenced in the spring, but it 

 was found that, on account of the land having been a commons for years, it was in- 

 fested with all kinds of weeds and would need to be summer-fallowed, at least it 

 was considered advisable to do so. 



One acre was given over to the pupils of the Continuation School for garden 

 work. This they planted to potatoes, doing all work under the direction of the 

 local office of the Department of Agriculture. 



A part of the land summer-fallowed was put in shape for fall wheat and a small 

 acreage sown to Dawson Golden Chaff the last week in August. It showed up very 

 well in the fall and should winter through all right. 



Plans of up-to-date farm buildings are being prepared, and will be erected at 

 an early date. At least twenty-five head of high-class pure-bred dairy cattle will 

 be kept and other kinds of pure-bred stock as well. ■ Good young stock will be reared 

 for sale to farmers throughout the district. Owing to the fact that time has not 

 permitted the erection of proper farm buildings, stock on hand consists only of one 

 t«ara of Clydesdales, and one pure-bred imported Yorkshire boar held for service. 



In addition to the farm buildings the Government propose to erect an up-to- 

 date Agricultural High School and already a very commodious Judging Pavilion 

 and Assembly Hall has been erected and is now in course of completion. This 

 building will be used for short course work in the judging of all kinds of live stock 

 and seed. Courses embracing every feature of farm and domestic science work will 

 l>e taught and demonstrated in the school and hall. All this bespeaks a new and 

 greater interest in New Ontario agriculture, the benefit of which will only show 

 in the years to come. 



It is the intention of the Government to put the farm, in full operation as soon 

 as possible and make it a producing institution. Considerable attention w;ill be 

 given to the best varieties of potatoes to plant and the most suitable methods of 

 planting with a view to carrying out the Government's scheme to make New Ontario 

 a seed producing country. 



Many important lines of work are to be carried out relative to helping perfect 

 Timiskaming agriculture. 



