42 



THE DIRECTOR, EXPERIMENT iL FARMS 



THE RESULTS OBTAINED IN COUKSE OF SEVEN YEARS' EXPERIENXE IN" TESTS GROWING OF CROPS 

 AT THE DOMINION EXPERIMENTAL FARM STATIONS. 



I would like to occupy a few moments in completing my evidence in reference to 

 the results liad from tlie trial plots of the more important farm crops at the experimen- 

 tal farms. Tlies(! have now been continued for six and seven years. 



I may say with regard to the results of the seven years' tests of varieties of oats, 

 that the Banner still stands at the head of the list, with an average, taking the results 

 had at all the experimental farms, of T6 bushels 14 pounds per acre. 



With regard to barley, the Mensury leads in the six-rowed barley, having given an 

 average for six years of 51 bushels '29 pounds per acre, showing that these two varieties, 

 the Banner oat and the Mensury barley, seem to be in point of productiveness above all 

 their competitors. 



The twelve varieties of spring wheat which have been under trial during the same 

 period have given an average crop of '^-2 bushels 30 pounds per acre. The cross-bred 

 wheat, Preston, stands at the head in this list, with an average yield of 03 bushels 58 

 pounds per acre, so that it still maintains the high relative position it has held in this 

 respect for some years past. 



By Mr. Boyd : 



Q. Do you say that the Preston is at the head of the list for the whole of the ex- 

 perimental farms in regard to the tests of spring wheat ? 



A. Yes, that is taking the average results had at each of the experimental farms 

 throughout the Dominion. 



Q. Is that the wheat known by us as the Ked Fife ? 



A. No, the Preston is a cross of the Red Fife and the Ladoga, which was produced 

 at the experimental farm at Ottawa in 18SS. This cross-bred wheat has produced 

 heavier crops on the average than we have had from Eed Fife growing alongside it. 



Q. But it will not be as hard a wheat ? 



A. Practically it seems to be as hard, but the question was already asked whether 

 we had had it tested thoroughly to decide as to hmv it will grade, but we have not vet 

 been able to do this. One difficulty in the way of testing these new varieties is to get 

 them in quantities sufficient for that purpose, but I hope and expect to have such tests 

 made before another year. In producing these new cross-bred sorts we have always to 

 begin with a single kernel and from that to build up stock. Of course it takes a '"-ood 

 while to get a car-load under such conditions. 



Q. I may say from my own experience of twenty-two yc;irs up there, that I believe 

 it will not be in the interests of agriculture and oi the wheat-growers of Manitoba to 

 try and supersede the Eed Fife wheat. I don't believe tiiere is anything known that 

 will take its place, or put Manitoba and the Xorth-west in the position tliat Eed Fife 

 wheat has put it at the present time. 



A. I quite agree with you, and I may say we have never made any efforts to super- 

 sede Eed Fife. On the contrary, we have tried our best to increase the area of Eel 

 Fife grown, and to maintain its purity and high quality. With this in view we devote 

 a large part of our land at the North-west farms every year to the growing of pure Eed 

 Fife wheat, and we distribute the crops among the farmers in ifanitoba and the North- 

 west so as to prevent deterioration of this excellent wheat. A, long as we can produce 

 in the North-west Eed Fife wheat of the high standard that we now have, we want to 

 maintain and increase the area devoted to its cultivation, but it must be borne in mind 

 that there are other parts of the Dominion be,-,ide Manitoba and the North-west and 

 we have to consider these also, and in tlie testing of varieties to ascertain their relative 

 quality and crop-producing power. We have found that it is a great advantao-e t 



