24 DR. WM. SAUXDERS. 



phoric acid and 34*80 lbs. of potash. "With regard to the proportion of potash, 

 however, the results of different analyses have varied. The figures I have given 

 you are the average roeults of a number of analyses which have been compiled in a 

 hand bock published by the United States department of agriculture several years 

 ago, but some European authorities claim that the proportion of potash is larger, and 

 in one case it is given as high as 52 lbs. in place of 34. Tho difference in the soil 

 where the potatoes are grown might make some difference in this respect, especially 

 if the land is well supplied with this form of plant food. 



By Mr. McGregor: 



Q. How can you account that in common land L have seen 20 and 22 crops of 

 corn running year after year and yet all were good crops. According to your 

 estimate it would not be possible for the land to do this ? 



A. Much would depend on the original store of potash in the soil, which varies 

 from five, seven or eight thousand pounds per acre, and the taking of say 100 lbs. 

 per annum would require a long time to exhaust the store, especially if the land 

 received a good dressing of barn-yard manure every four or five years, which would 

 put back into the soil a large quantity of this element. 



By Mr. Hurley : 



Q. Was the corn on which this calculation is made grown broadcast or in hills? 



A. I have taken in this estimate the production of ensilage corn 15 tons per 

 acre cut at the glazing stage. This would be sown in rows or hills it does not matter 

 which, corn sown broadcast produces such watery feed that it is of comparatively 

 little value. 



Q. Sowing corn broadcast is very hard on the land. You could hardly get the 

 second crop without manuring it, whereas if you sow it in drills and hills you can 

 get a good crop every year. 



A^ That is probably on account of the cultivation and stirring of the soil which 

 allows the sun and air to act on the crop to its advantage. 



RESULTS FROM THE CR08S-FERTILIZING OP APPLES. 



Another subject which I desire to bring before you is the results we have 

 had this year from experiments begun five years ago in the crossing of apples, with 

 the object of producing varieties hardy enough to stand the climate in Manitoba and 

 tho North-west Territories. The basis of this work rests on the extreme hardiness 

 of a species of Siberian crab, a native of northern Russia, the seed of which was 

 obtained from the Royal Botanic gardens at St. Petersburg the first year the exper- 

 imental farms were started. The trees grown from this seed have proven entirely 

 hardy at Brandon and Indian Head, where they have borne fruit quite freely. I have 

 an example here of this hardy crab known as the Berried Crab Pyrus baccata. This 

 fruit was crossed with several varieties of hardy apples including the Tetofsky, one 

 of the hardy Russian varieties, and the Wealthy, both of which kinds are grown in 

 nearly all the northern parts of Ontario and Quebec. Some interesting results have 

 been obtained among these crosses, five of which have proven worthy of being 

 named, and will bo propagated for more extensive trial. Thinking these fruits 

 would interest you, I have brought samples with me preserved in antiseptic fluids. 



An Hon. Member : 



Q. It is quite interesting. 



A. Three of these are crosses between the Russian Pyrus baccata and the 

 Tetofsky, and two of them between that and the Wealthy. I have a photograph 

 here also which shows these fruits of the exact natural size, from which you will be 

 able to judge of the advance which has been made in this instance by cross fer- 

 tilizing. 



