1916-17 DEPAKTMENT OF LANDS, FORESTS AND MINES. 147 



M.VTIIESOX DEMONSTRATION FarM. 



Immediately south aud across the T. & N. 0. from the town theCioverament 

 has reserved a lot for farm demonstration purposes. In the fall of 191G thirty- 

 rive acres were plowed and made ready for spring cropping. It was decided to seed 

 all but three acres to O.A.C. No. 3 oats, a variety especially well adapted to con- 

 ditions in the district. Eesults were most encouraging, considering the very un- 

 favourable spring season which delayed seeding from two to three wrecks as com- 

 ()ared with the three previous years. In 1914-15-16 seeding commenced on the 

 oth of May, but in 1917 it was the 31st before it was possible to commence seeding 

 operations and, although the weather following , was not very favourable, the grain 

 came along well. It ripened in approximately ninety days from date of seeding 

 and was not at all affected by the early fall frosts of Aug. 20th and Sept. 6th. There 

 was a yield of fifty-five bushels per acre of well matured, plump, bright grain. After 

 threshing the grain it was shipped to the Government farm at Monteith, where it 

 will be thoroughly cleaned and made ready for distribution to settlers at a nominal 

 price per bushel. 



The entire farm was seeded down to clover, a part of which is to be left for 

 <eed and hay growing purposes. The seeding of clover with all grain is a practice 

 the Government makes for the purpose of adding fertilizer to the soil and increasing 

 the humus content. About one-third of the farm was fall plowed for next spring's 

 crop, the balance being left in ha}^ -■■:■■. 



Three acres were planted to potatoes but results were not very satisfactory on 

 account of the bad season. Nowhere in the district did potatoes do well lasl 

 summer as compared with previous years. Lack of sunshine, cold, damp weather 

 being the cause, coupled with the fact that seeding was unusually late. 



At Matheson, as elsewhere along the Timiskaming and Northern Ontario Eail- 

 way, the Government plans to demonstrate what can be done in the production of 

 field crops by using varieties that are suitable to climatic conditions. 



Cochrane Demonstration Plot. 



In the fall of 1917 some ten acres of slashed, unstumped land were taken over 

 by the Government. The plot is a part of the agricultural grounds lying north 

 and west of the town. It is the intention of the Government to proceed with the 

 clearing and fencing of this plot of ground in the spring of 1918. Small demon- 

 stration plots of the .different kinds of staple grains and root crops will be planted 

 from year to year by way of proving the possibilities of the country- from an 

 tigricultural standpoint. 



. Soldiers- and Sailors' Training School, Monteith. 



The Land Settlement Scheme for the placing of returned soldiers and sailors 

 on the land was put in operation in the spring of 1917. The estahlishmcnt of a 

 training school on the Government Demonstration Farm, Monteith. was decided 

 upon, and, in order to provide immediate accommodation, temporary quarters ,were 

 erected in the spring. The building was made t© house thirty men. The dormi- 

 tory, arranged hospital fashion, was equi])ped witli single V)eds. matti'esscs, sheets^, 

 blankets, pillows, etc. A large living-room, adjoining the sleeping quarters, pr©^ 

 vided a place of recreation. In this was placed a billiard table, piano and gniiuo- 

 phone, for the use and pleasure of the men. Kitclien. dining-room, storehouse. 



