14 DR. WM. SAUNDERS. 



increased crops would probably be nearly double what it now is. This is a very 

 large item in the economy of farm management in Canada which should be carefully 

 considered by every practical farmer. It is a subject which is attracting at the 

 present time the attention of the leading agriculturists in many parts of the United 

 States as well as in this country. Last August I had the honour of bringing this 

 subject prominently before the Society for the Promotion of Scientific Agriculture 

 which met in Columbus, Ohio, at the meeting of the A.A.A.S. The results obtained 

 from the experiments conducted at the Central Farm were presented on that occasion 

 in a paper dealing with all the more important facts. A large number of the leading 

 agriculturists of the United States were present. The number which took part in 

 the subsequent discussion on this subject showed the keen interest awakened in the 

 question. 



During the past two weeks an animated discussion has been conducted by 

 prominent writers in the New York Tribune and the Commercial Gazette of Cincin- 

 nati ; in each case the letters have called attention to the great value of the 

 work carried on in this line at the Ottawa Experimental Farm and quotations have 

 made from our reports in support of some of the arguments advanced. One of the 

 writers remarked that ' the article in the Eeport of the Experimental Farms for 

 1894 is admirable.' That was the year when we called atteution first to the great 

 loss of weight in the rotting of barnyard manure. 



Another prominent man writing personally to me says : ' Your station has 

 given this very important subject careful study. I think you deserve high credit 

 for the work you have done.' It is gratifying to see these leading authorities in the 

 United States acknowledging so freely the usefulness and the thoroughness of the 

 work done in Canada. 



By Mr. McGregor : 



Q. Taking all these results, I would say that farmers that can put their cattle 

 into large loose boxes with floors that will not allow the liquid manure to escape 

 can keep the manure in the best condition. 



A. The tramping of manure by cattle is, I believe, attended with good results. 

 We have not had many opportunities for experiment in that direction, but I am 

 satisfied from the results which have been optained in Germany and elsewhere that 

 manure loses much less of its valuable constituents when prepared by the tramping 

 of cattle than in anj 1 - other way. 



Q. It absorbs the liquid, which makes it more valuable ? 



A. Yes. 



By Mr. Sproule : 



Q. You would want a cement floor so that it would retain the liquids, or a floor 

 made impervious to soakage by being covered with clay ? 



By the Chairman : 



Q. We have large box stalls with cement floors ? 



A. Such an arrangement is an excellent one. There are times when you can- 

 not get the fresh manure on the land, and I believe there is no better way than this 

 of preserving it. 



By Mr. Rogers : 



Q. Is it not better to have the straw cut when you want to have the manure 

 fresh ? 



A. Yes. 



Q. Long manure is very hard to work into the soil ? 



A. Yes, it is. 



