30 * THE DIRECTOR, EXPERIMEXTJ-L FARMS 



By Mr Clancy : 



Q. How deep do they go for that coal ? 



A. They do not have to dig down at all as in many other mines. ^ The entrance 

 to the mine is at the side of the mountain running into the seam a little above tlw 

 level. It is about 30 or 40 feet above the railway where entrance is made. The 

 mountains there seem to be literally filled with coal and evidences of coal scams are 

 very common. 



By Mr. Rohinson {Elgin) : 



Q. Is the coal at that mine anthracite or bituminous ? 



A. The coal is bituminous. The anthracite coal is found nearer to the foot-hills 

 of the mountains. It is near Banff, at Anthracite and Canmore. 



Q. This would be a softer coal then i 



A. This is a softer coal, and is said to be very nuu-li lilce the Welsh coal, which 

 is highly esteemed for the manufacture of coke for mining operations. 



FARM CROPS IN BMTISBI COLL'JIBIA. 



Passing through farther westward, I arrived at the experimental farm in Agassiz 

 early in September, and found the crops there very promising. 



When the returns were all in we found that the twelve best varieties of oats in 

 the experimental plots at Agassiz had averaged 95 bushels 17 pounds per acre. The 

 Golden Tartarian headed the list with 103 bushels 18 pounds to the acre. The gr.?at 

 difference in the climate in British Columbia as compared with the Xorth-<vest and 

 the eastern provinces results as we might anticipate in changing the relative positions 

 of some of the varieties as to productiveness. 



The six best sorts of two-rowed barley averaged 5.') bushels IT pounds per acre. 

 The best six-rowed sorts averaged 61 bushels 27 pounds per acre. The Royal stands 

 at the head of the six-rowed list, with a yield of 67 bushels 21 pounds, and the Beaver 

 is first of the two-rowed varieties, with 61 bushels 2 pounds per acre. Both of these 

 barleys are the product of cross-fertilization at the Central Farm, Ottawa, and were 

 got by crossing a six-rowed with a two-rowed sort. The twelve best sorts of wheat have 

 given an average of 49 bushels 32 pounds i^er acre", and the whole of the 71 varieties 

 under trial have averaged 42 bushels 14 pounds per acre. 



Pease have given an exeelleut yield. The best twelve sorts having averaged 58 

 bushels 51 pounds per acre. 



The crop of Indian corn, cut green for ensilage, was below the average, on account 

 of the cold moist condition of the season. Thi' crop of the best six sorts which usually 

 give from 20 to 25 tons only average this yfar 13 tons 1,150 pounds per acre. 



The turnip crop was excellent, the six heaviest croppers having given an average 

 of 47 tons 380 pounds per acre. 



Mangels were not quite so heavy, the average of the best 6 sorts was 22 tons 1040 

 pounds per acre. 



Carrots did very well, the best 6 varieties having averaged 29 tons 301 pounds 

 per acre. 



The best four sorts of sugar beets averaged 16 tons 1454 pounds per acre. In 

 these tests of roots I think the plots are not any more favourably located tlian the 

 fields would be and these averages may be taken as a fair indication of what the field 

 crops might give on land of similar quality. 



By Mr. Clancy: 



Q. The field crops seldoni come up to the experimental ploU in results, I think ? 

 A. No; not often, and I think for the reason that it is diHieult to find a field iti 



