6 TEE DIRECTOR, EXPERIMEXTAL FARMS 



'Plough deep (seven to eight inches) before the last of June and cultivate the 

 surface several times during the growing season. Sufficient moisture is thus conserved 

 for a dry year, and not too much for a wet one. There are few or no weeds, as all 

 the seeds near the surface have germinated and been killed. For the past fourteen 

 years the best and cleanest grain has been grown on fallow worked this way. This 

 method is generally applicable in Eastern Assiniboia, but needs to be somewhat modi- 

 fied in portions of Alberta and Saskatchewan, where the conditions of moisture are 

 usually different.' The modifications needed are given by Mr. Mackay, as he gains ex- 

 perience from time to time in his annual report. 



INDU>f HEAD EXPERIMENT.VL STATION". 



At the experimental farm at Indian Head, the crops have been heavier this year 

 than ever before. The higliest yielding wheat in the experimental plots there this sea- 

 son was the Mason, a cross between Colorado and Gehun, which gave at the rate of 

 sixty-seven bushels per acre. The Huron, a cross between the Eed Fife and Ladoga, 

 came next with 66 bushels and iO pounds. There were 71 varieties of wheat in the 

 trial plots at the experimental farms this year, and the average of the whole of them 

 at Indian Head was 55 bushels 49 pounds per acre. 



Wheat. — In the field crops the Preston wheat gave the largest yield. A five acre 

 field of this variety averaged on summer fallowed land of bushels, 54 pounds per acr^;' 

 over the whole area. 



(A sample of the crop of this field was produced and handed to the Committee ) . 



A similar field of Eed Fife also on summer fallow averaged 49 bushels per ai-rc, 

 showing an advantage in the field crops in favour of the Preston, this year, of 4 bushels 

 54 pounds to the acre. 



Oats. — In oats the Abundance heads the list, I have a sample with me of the crop 

 which was produced on one of the plots, and which gave at the rate of 147 bushels and 

 2 pounds per acre, that is from the trial plots. 



(Sample produced and exhibited to Committee). 



By Mr. Davis : 



Q. How much per acre ? 



A. 147 bushels and 2 psunds. 



Mr. Rohinson (Elgin) : 



Q. Is the Mason a red wheat ? 



A. I am not quite sure of that, I have not a sample of it with me. My impression 

 is that it is red. 



By Mr. Davis : 



Q. Is this a sample of the oats ? 



A. This is a sample of the oats which produced 147 bushels 2 pounds per acre. 



Q. Is that by measure or weight ? 



A. Everything is taken by weight at the experimental farms, the bushel of oats 

 is 34 pounds. You understand this was the result on an experimental plot of one- tenth 

 of an acre. 



Q. What was the result in the field crop ? 



A. I will give you that presently. Of course the small plots produce usually a 

 larger yield than the field crops. These plots are comparatively small and are separat- 

 ed from each other by a path 4 feet in width and that gives a clear space around each 

 plot, and such margins usually result in heavier production. 



