Canadian Agriculture. 
441 
and plants, from countries under climatic conditions similar to 
those of Canada ; the establishment of an experimental farm, and 
of a central bureau of agriculture, with a section devoted spe- 
cially to statistics, recording the acreage under crop, movements 
and prices of produce, rates of transportation, and conditions of 
foreign markets, with the publication of such information by the 
frequent issue of bulletins and abstracts, and the dissemination 
of instruction on the various branches of agriculture through 
the medium of handbooks and reports; the ravages of birds 
and insects, and the appointment of an entomologist. 
An examination of the replies sustains the view that more 
thorough agricultural knowledge, particularly of the kinds of 
crops most suitable to the various soils, and of the most econo- 
mical and efficient methods of production, is the want that is 
most keenly felt. Notwithstanding the great progress made in 
recent years, there is still a large amount of defective farming. 
In the cultivation of cereals, roots, and grasses the chief draw- 
backs are want of periodical change of seed and its right 
selection, the absence of judicious rotations of crops, and a lack 
of thorough tillage and of knowledge of the value and suitability 
of manures. Much fertilising power is lost through negligent 
exposure of farmyard-manure and the waste of the liquid manure. 
In stock-raising there is a deficiency of pure-bred males, and a 
want of knowledge of the adaptability of breeds to particular 
conditions, while better pastures and more tree-shelter are 
needed. In fruit-culture, there is experienced a want of hardier 
varieties, and of varieties with improved keeping qualities. 
There is wide-spread and deplorable ignorance regarding the 
insects and diseases to whose attacks fruit-trees are so liable. 
As to the defects in the dairy industry, I have dwelt upon 
these in another section of this paper. 
The following Table is interesting, as showing the prevalent 
feeling amongst Canadian farmers with reference to the subjects 
mentioned. It shows the numbers of those who approved and 
of those who disapproved each of the propositions named : — 
For. 
Agaiust 
Establisliment nf Expeiiraentil Farm 
278 
G4 
Appointment of Entomologist 
198 
117 
Establishment of Central Bureau 
25G 
62 
Section devoted to Statistics 
211 
Handbooks, Reports, and issue of Bulletins 
235 
48 
i 
Thus there was a majority in favour in every case all over the 
Dominion, and there was, moreover, a majority, in every case, in 
each Province. 
VOL. XXI. — S. S. 2 G 
