FARM CROPS OF CA^'ADA IN 1901 7 



By Mr. Eolinson (Elgin) : 



Q. What variety of oats did you say gave that result V 



A. The Abundance. This is an oat which was imported by the experimental 

 farm some nine or ten years ago from the firm of Vilmorin & Andrieux, the celebrated 

 seedsmen of Paris. Mr. H. Vilmorin visited the Central farm about that time, and he 

 recommended this oat, and it has done very well at the various farms, and this year 

 it has given the highest crop at Indian Head in the field as well as on the experimental 

 plot. At Brandon also it has given the heaviest field crop, but does not stand at the 

 head in the experimental plots. 



By Mr. Clancy ; 



Q. What is the history of that variety in the other provinces during the ten years 

 you have had it ? Has it been valuable as a whole. I do not wish to divert your at- 

 tention from the matters you are dealing with now ? 



A. I can give you that with pleasure. The experience with the Abundance oat 

 for six and seven years giving the average of its yield at all the experimental farms 

 has been 70 bushels 20 pounds per acre. 



By Mr. Davis: 



Q. That is for the whole Dominion ? 



Q. Yes. I can give you the average also here, in this province. At Ottawa it has 

 given an average of 59 bushels 29 pounds per acre for the past seven years. 



By Mr. Clancy : 



Q. That is not quite up to some of the other varieties. 



A. No. It has not come up here to the Banner which has given an average of 

 65 bushels 30 pounds per acre during the same time. 



By Mr. Davis : 



Q. It seems to be a sort suitable for western Canada ? 



A. It seems as if the conditions this year have just suited that oat, and it has 

 given a somewhat higher yield than usual, although it has generally ranked with the 

 best. The average for the best 12 sorts of oats at Indian Head was 132 bushels 27 

 pounds, and the average of all the varieties tried, 64 in all, was 109 bushels 8 pounds, 

 showing that the crop of oats to have been unprecedently large, including all varieties. 



In field crops the Abundance has also taken the lead having given on a five acre 

 field an average of 124 bushels 20 pounds per acre. Banner stands next, with an aver- 

 age of 117 bushels per acre, on a field of Hi acres. I was at Indian Head just before 

 the oats were cut, and I may say I never saw such a solid mass of heads as there 

 were on those fields, and it was not only at the experimental farm, but all over the 

 district it was very much the same way. 



By Mr. Robinson (Elgin): 



Q. What length would the straw be ? 



A. In many instances it would be five feet, five and a half feet and in some cases 

 6 feet high. It was a wonderful sight. 



Q. Did the oats lodge at all ? 



A. Very rarely. One sometimes saw a field in which there were spots where it 

 lodged, but on the whole it stood up very well indeed. 



The Tartar King, a new variety recently imported from England of which I think 

 I have a sample here — 



(Sample produced for inspection of Committee). 



