CONFERENCE ON FEUIT GROWING. 



89 



The objects aimed at in the establishment of experimental farms may 

 be described as fourfold. They were at first undoubtedly intended to 

 become bureaus of information, to which farmers might look for dis- 

 interested replies to any and all inquiries, and for reliable and practical 

 help in all their difficulties. But the mere knowledge that an ex- 

 perimental farm is available forms a strong encouragement to the 

 entire agricultural community, which is by its means relieved in a great 

 measure from the necessity of learning wisdom solely at the excellent 

 but costly school of experience. Again, the growers' efforts are largely 

 directed by the results of experiments too varied, too vast, and too long- 

 continued to have been carried on by them as individuals ; the preparation 

 of the soil, the best varieties to grow, the best methods of cultivating, 

 pruning and harvesting, all are demonstrated before their eyes, by a 

 Government which is not paternal to the extent of doing for people what 

 they might equally well do for themselves. 



To understand how these results are obtained, it will be necessary to 

 glance at the organisation and administration of three or four sorts of 

 experimental farms which are to be found in Canada, as follows : 



1. Dominion Experimental Farms under the Federal Government, 

 located at Nappan, N.S., Ottawa, Ont. (Headquarters), Indian Head, 

 N.W.T. (now in the Province of Saskatchewan), and Agassiz, B.C. These, 

 it will be seen, cover the entire country in a fairly representative way. 



2. Provincial Experimental Farms, under the local Governments, such 

 as those at Guelph, Ont., and Truro, N.S. 



(In both the above classes fruit-growing is included with all other 

 branches of farming.) 



3. Fruit Experiment Stations, established on private property, under 

 the direction of the Ontario Government, which supervises the work, and 

 publishes the annual reports of the owner, who is always a leading local 

 horticulturist. The stations are devoted to investigating and testing- 

 various sorts of fruits, one making a speciality of grapes, another of 

 plums, a third of peaches, and so on. 



4. Model Orchards, which have been planted under the direction of the 

 Governments of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, also on private property, 

 in various parts of the provinces. 



Of the last two classes a word may be said hereafter, but meanwhile I 

 shall outline the methods employed in varying degrees at all of these 

 institutions. 



First of all comes a series of intelligent experiments, continuous and 

 systematic, though varied with the changing needs of the industry, and 

 covering the whole field of a fruit-grower's work. The following in- 

 complete list of experiments now being conducted at the Central 

 Experimental Farm will no doubt be of some interest : 



1. Testing the varieties to determine hardiness, productiveness, and 

 quality of the fruit. 



2. The testing of seedling varieties sent in by fruit-growers, and also 

 seedlings raised from the best varieties which fruited at Ottawa, in order 

 to obtain better kinds. 



3. The cross-breeding of apples, especially for the purpose of obtaining 

 a late-keeping apple of good quality. 



