1913] The Work of the Dominion Experimental Farms. 17 



method for the control of soil moisture, the up-keep of fertility and 

 winter protection of the trees. In a large part of this work the Chemical 

 Division has co-operated, so that the information gained might be as 

 complete as possible. 



We were, I believe, the first in Canada to advocate the spraying 

 of orchards, and experimental work in connection with this practical 

 and effective means of controlling insect and fungus pests has always 

 been a prominent feature of our horticultural programme. Much ad- 

 vance has been made in the last twenty years in this matter, and the 

 data obtained in the orchards of the Central Farm with Bordeaux 

 mixture, various arsenites and arsenates, lime sulphides, etc., etc., have 

 enabled us to advise our fruit growers respecting the value and use of 

 the various manufactured and home-made fungicides and insecticides. 

 In this inquiry chemical work as to the composition and preparation of 

 sprays and spraying materials has gone hand in hand with the practical 

 trials in the orchard and thus made the results more valuable. 



Animal Husbandry. 



Experiments in the breeding, feeding and care of live stock have 

 been carried on at the Central and most of the branch farms. Many 

 lines of work have been conducted with horses, cattle, sheep and swine. 

 One or two examples may suffice to bring before you the character of 

 this work and the value of the results. 



Experiments in beef production have conclusively shown that as 

 the animals more nearly approach a typically beef type, the greater 

 the profit that may be expected. Scrub animals make poor use of their 

 food. 



The economy in feeding a liberal allowance of succulent roughage, 

 e.g., corn ensilage and roots, has been demonstrated, and that among 

 the coarse, dry fodders, clover and alfalfa hays have proved more nu- 

 tritious than the more commonly used timothy hay. 



All the more important concentrates, milling by-products, etc., 

 have been tried in various proportions and well-balanced rations there- 

 from compounded. 



The influence of age on the cost of making gains has been well 

 worked out ; the older the animal the more expensive the increase in live 

 weight. 



More profit is attached to the practice of feeding steers so that 

 they may be ready for the block at an age of two years or less than 

 to the plan of taking three or four years to bring them to a condition 

 fit to kill. 



