Dear Sir, I am pleased to inform you that your application for plants for cooperative testing was duly received, and that the plants will be forwarded to you as soon as the weather is suitable for planting. If they cannot be planted as soon as they are received, they should be unpacked, so that the roots may be spread out, and buried in moist earth; but the sooner they can be permanently planted, the better.

The soil upon which they are to be planted should be as uniform as possible, so that all varieties may have an equal chance.

As soon as planted, each variety should be carefully labelled. Stout wooden stakes, painted white, written on plainly with a lead pencil, and driven firmly into the ground answer the purpose well. It is advisable, also, to make a record of the planting in a note book, in case a label should at any time be lost.

I trust you will follow the directions carefully, and that you will not allow poultry or trespassers to interfere with the fruit. The weight of the entire crop from each variety is one of the most important items desired in your annual report; and, in order that this may be given accurately, it will be necessary for you to carefully weigh and record each picking, so that the total yield of each variety may be reported at the end of each season. Blank forms will be mailed to you in due time each season, upon which to make such report.

The value of this experiment depends largely upon the attention given to it. I trust you will find it both interesting and profitable. From this small collection of plants you may, in time, by good management, propagate for yourself all the plants you wish. without interfering with the value of the experiment in the least.

Should you require any further information regarding the work, kindly let me know, and I shall be glad to give all the assistance possible.

Accompanying these general directions, special cultural directions are also sent for each particular kind of fruit under test. These cultural directions are here given in connection with each experiment :

THE STRAWBERRY EXPRIMENT.

1. Prepare the land deeply and thoroughly, working in, if necessary, a liberal application of barnyard manure.

2. Set the plants in rows, at least 4 ft. a part and about 18 inches apart in the row. If two or more varieties are planted in the same row, leave a space of at least 3 ft. between them to avoid mixing of the runners.

3. The best method of planting is to use a spade, thrusting it deeply into the ground, then pressing it backwards and forwards. Ito the opening thus made, spread out the roots fan-shaped, and pack the soil firmly about them with the foot.

4. Give clean. thorough cultivation throughout the season, and never allow the soil to become crusted.

5. Pinch off all blossoms the first season, that the plants may make vigorous growth and not waste their energies trying to produce fruit.

6. Confine the runners of each variety to its own row, allowing them to form matted rows about a foot and a half wide. If any of the plants should die, place the runners of the adjoining plants so that they will fill up the spaces.

7. As soon as the ground is frozen in the fall, cover the whole plantation with an inch or two of strawy stable manure. When danger of frost is over in the spring, rake the coarsest of this covering off the plants and tread it down between the rows for a mulch. If it is not thick enough to keep down weeds and retain moisture, more may be added, at any time in the spring.

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8. To continue the experiment from vear to year, a similar plantation should be set out each spring, taking a dozen new plants of each variety from the plots set out the year before. The old plots may be plowed up after the second crop is off.

9. Carefully weigh and record the weight of each picking from each variety, and report as soon as possible after the fruiting season.

The varieties of strawberries distributed last spring, were Clyde, Tennessee Prolific. Irene and Van Deman, the Irene being substituted for the Saunders, which was sent out the year before. Plants were sent to 119 experimenters, 83 of whom have reported upon the condition of the plants this fall. A few report all plants living and doing well, and quite a number report all plants dead. On the whole, the planting was not nearly so successful this year as last. It was an extremely hard season on the plants. To begin with, the plants were very slow in starting growth in the spring, and the severe drouth for over a month after planting taxed their vitality to the utmost.

In our plots at the College, particularly among the new 'varieties brought in from a distance, there were more failures than we have had during the past ten years, and it is to be hoped we will not have another spring like it in the next ten years.

Seventy experimenters report upon the plants set out the year before. Clyde easily heads the list for productiveness, but a number remark upon its light color. Tennessee Prolific stands second for productiveness, and seemed to be a favorite with many experimenters. Van Deman is reported by many of the experimenters to be the weakest grower of the lot, but it is valuable because of its earliness, and the berry is of a beautiful dark, rich color, and handsome appearance. Saunders did not do so well as the others, although it is on the whole a good standard late berry. This year the Irene was substituted for it.

Twenty-five reports were received on tho se plants sent out two years ago, all of which go to prove very conclusively that it does not, as a rule, pay to leave a strawberry plantation to fruit the second year. Our practice here, and that of most growers, is to take but one crop, and have a new plantation coming on every year.

In order to bring before the experimenters the advisability of continuing the experiment with plants of their own growing, the following circular was sent out early in the spring to all experimenters who had received strawberry plants the year before:

Dear Sir,-As you are one of our co-operative experimenters who received strawberry plants last spring, I take this opportunity of requesting that, if possible, you will continue the experiment by setting out a new plantation this spring, taking a dozen young plants of each variety from the plots set out last year.

I make this request because our experience has shown that good home-grown plants are always more satisfactory than those obtained from a distance. If, then, you can set out a new plantation with plants of your own growing, you may reasonably look for much better results than from the plants obtained from us.

If any of the varieties have not lived, or have failed to make enough plants, you will, of course, be unable to conduct the experiment in full. Nevertheless, you will find it to your advantage to set out new plots of the varieties you have.

In making a new plantation, the same general directions as given last year should be followed.

Should you require any further information regarding the work, kindly let me know, and I shall be pleased to give all the assistance possible.

THE RASPBERRY EXPERIMENT.

1. Prepare the land deeply and thoroughly, working in, if necessary, a liberal application of manure.

2. Plant in rows 5 or 6 feet apart, with plants 5 feet apart in the row.

3. Give clean, thorough cultivation until about the beginning of August, and never allow the soil to become crusted.

4. Pinch of any blossoms which may form the first year, that the plants may not waste their energies trying to produce fruit.

5. Do not allow the varieties, to become mixed by letting the suckers grow between the bushes.

6. In the fall, or early in the spring, cut out all old canes that have fruited, and leave about six of the strongest new canes to each bush. Shorten the ends of these to a uniform height, making the bushes un form and symmetrical.

7. In northern localities, where winter protection is needed, bend down the canes late in the fall, and cover the tops with earth to keep them under the snow.

8. Should any spaces have to be filled, or should the experimenter wish to increase his stock of any of the varieties, it may readily be done by taking up the young suckers which spring up about the bushes. Columbian is propagated by bending down and covering the tips of the new canes in August. They will make good plants by the next spring.

9. Carefully weigh and record the weight of each picking from each variety, and report as soon as possible after the fruiting season.

The varieties for this experiment were the same as those sent out last year, viz., Cuthbert, Golden Queen, Marlboro', and Columbian.

other varieties of barley which ripen about the same time as these. The percentage of hull on the grain is exceedingly small, being only 25.3 as the average of the past two years, while that of the Siberian was 29.3, and that of the Liberty 31.1.

Barley. In the average results of thirty-two tests with barley, the Mandscheuri comes first, with 45 bushels, the Oderbrucker second, with 40.5 bushels, and the Success third, with 27.6 bushels of grain per acre. These are all six-rowed varieties, the first two having beards, and the last being beardless. The Mandscheuri was decidedly the most popular variety among the experimenters in 1903. There is perhaps no barley in Ontario at the present time which will give as great a yield as the Mandscheuri when grown throughout a series of years. The straw of this variety is of good length, and the crop usually stands well. Its weight per measured bushel is usually a little more than 50 pounds.

Hulless Barley. Much has been said of late in reference to the growing of Hulless barley in Ontario. Some fourteen varieties have been grown in the trial grounds at Guelph. In the co-operative experiments throughout Ontario in 1903, the Black Hulless gave a yield of 24.1, and the White Hulless of 20.8 bushels of grain per acre in the average of the tests made on eighteen different farms. The Black Hulless, although slightly weaker in the straw than the White Hulless variety, was decidedly the most popular among the experimenters. There was pra ctically no rust on either variety in 1903. In the average results of these two varieties for eight years, the Black Hulless surpassed the White Hulless variety by 6.3 bushels per acre.

Spring Wheat. Three varieties of spring wheat, each representing distinct types, were distributed for co-operative experiments in 1903. The Red Fife is used principally for the production of flour, the Wild Goose for the production of macaroni, and the Emmer (improperly called Spelt) for the production of feed for farm stock. In the average of thirteen experiments in 1903, the Emmer surpassed the Wild Goose spring wheat by an average of 732 pounds, and the Red Fife by an average of 748 pounds per acre. The Emmer, which frequently goes under the name of Spelt or Speltz in this country, also surpassed the Wild Goose spring wheat in the average results of thirtynine tests in 1901 by 450 pounds per acre, and of thirty-one tests in 1902 by 724 pounds per acre. In threshing the Emmer, the heads break up into sections, and there is only a partial separation of chaff and kernel. The threshed grain, therefore, contains an average of about 23 per cent. of chaff. The amount of chaff, or hull, on the Emmer is, therefore, rather less than the hull of oats. The Emmer has given very large yields of grain in the experiments at the college. Of recent years the Wild Goose spring wheat has been grown largely for export to France and Italy for the manufacture of macaroni, and the price of this variety has been higher than formerly, when it was manufactured into flour in Ontario. The Red Fife is a grain of excellent milling quality, and is one of the best varieties of spring wheat that is grown in Ontario for the production of flour.

Buckwheat. The summary report of experiments on buckwheat is a very weak one, as there were only two good reports received this season. The Silver Hull variety gave a larger yield than the Japanese in each of the two experiments. These two varieties have been tested throughout Ontario in each of the past seven years, and this is only the second time in which the Silver Hull has given a larger yield of grain than the Japanese variety.

Field Peas. Four varieties of peas were used in the cooperative experiments for 1903. These were divided into two distinct experiments-one being with large yielding varieties which are subject to the attacks of the pea weevil (pea bug), and the other with varieties which are entirely proof against the ravages of the weevil. The two varieties of peas-Early Britain and Canadian Beauty-were distributed in those districts

of Ontario which are as yet uninfested with the pea weevil. The average results of the fourteen tests show that the Early Britain gave 6 3-5 bushels per acre more than the Canadian Beauty variety. This is the second year that these two varieties have been in competition throughout Ontario. Although the difference between the two varieties was not as marked in 1902 as in the present year, still the Early Britain produced the greatest yield of grain. The Early Britain is a brown pea, imported from England. It is a good pea for feeding, but not as sale able a variety as the Canadian Beauty, the latter named variety being a large, smooth, white pea of good quality, and generally commanding a good price.

For the experiment with peas which are proof against the pea weevil, the Egyptian and Grass varieties were used. As in 1902, the past season was unfavorable for the growth of these two varieties, the yields being as follows: Egyptian, 16.3, and the Grass 13.8 bushels per acre. In each of the past three years the Egyptian peas have given a larger yield of grain per acre than the Grass peas. The latter named variety possesses a straw of medium length and of good quality, and grain, which, when ground, makes a rich meal for feeding to farm stock. The Egyptian pea requires very rich soil. It produces a poor quality of straw, but generally a large yield of grain, which is of good quality. In some localities there appears to be a blight, which has considerably injured the Egyptian peas in each of the past two years.

Field Beans. The White Wonder variety of field beans, which has given the largest yield per acre of all the varieties grown at the college in the average of several years' experiments, also gave the largest yield per a cre of the two varieties tested throughout Ontario in 1903. In the average of the good reports received from eight farms throughout Ontario, the White Wonder gave 29.6, and the Marrowfat, 27.6 bushels per acre. The White Wonder was the most popular va riety among the experimenters. It is a small, white bean, of good quality, very prolific, and quite early in reaching maturity. The Marrowfat beans are large in size, but, as a rule, not as prolific as the White Wonder variety.

Soy Beans. The Soy beans are also known under the names of Soja, or Japanese, beans. It is a leguminous plant grown quite extensively in Japan and China, and is exceedingly rich in valuable food constituents. The plants grow upright, branch considerably, and frequently drop their leaves about the time the seed is ripe. The Soy beans are used for green fodder, silage, hay, pasture, and as a soil renovator. The grain, which is exceedingly rich, is used as a food for live stock. The beans are not generally used as a food for man when cooked by themselves, but are made into different complex forms, of which five are quite common among the Japanese people.

The Medium Green and the Early Yellow varieties of Soy beans were distributed throughout Ontario in 1903 for cooperative experiments. The Medium Green variety has been used for this purpose for five years in succession, the average yield being 20.5 bushels per acre. The Early Yellow variety has been grown in the co-operative experiments for three years in succession, producing an average yield of 17.0 bushels per acre. In 1903, however, the Early Yellow gave 2.3 bushels per acre more than the Mdeuim Green variety. The yield in each case was unusually small, owing probably to the unfavorable weather conditions of the past season in many parts of the Province. The Early Yellow is considerably earlier in maturing than the Medium Green variety. Usually, therefore, the Early Yellow is likely to give the better results for grain production, and the Medium Green' variety for the production of fodder.

Corn for Grain. In 1901 and again in 1903, the North Star Yellow Dent, Compton's Early, and King Phillip varieties of corn were distributed throughout Ontario for cooperative experiments. In each of these years the Compton's Early produced the lightest yield per acre. In 1901, the North Star Yellow Dent gave 2.1 bushels per

acre more than the King Phillip, but in 1903 the King Phillip surpassed the North Star Yellow Dent by 1.3 bushels per acre. According to the reports of the experimenters in 1903, the average height obtained by the different varieties was as follows: Compton's Early, 72 ins.; King Phillip, 73 ins.; and North Star Yellow Dent, 93 ins. On examination by the experimenters at the time when the corn was harvested, it was found that on the average the grain of the King Phillip was ripe, that of the Compton's Early was in the firm dough, and that of the North Star Yellow Dent was in the dough condition. It is evident that, while the North Star Yellow Dent is a good yielder of grain and produces a considerably larger total yield per acre than either the King Phillip or the Compton's Early varieties, it cannot be grown quite as far north as either of the latter named varieties.

Winter Wheat. Three varieties of winter wheat were distributed throughout Ontario in the autumn of 1902 for co-operative experiments. Good reports of successfullyconducted experiments were received this year from eighteen counties, extending from Essex in the south to Haliburton in the north. The Imperial Amber gave the largest yield of wheat in the co-operative experiments throughout Ontario, the average being 24.9 bushels. The Buda Pesth comes second with 32 bushels per acre less, and the Turkey Red third, with 4.2 bushels per acre less than the Imperial Amber. All three varieties are bearded. The chaff of the Imperial Amber is red, and that of the others is white. The grain of each variety is red, hard, and recommended for the production of flour of good quality. All three varieties are rather weak in the straw. In the experiments at the college, the Imperial Amber has proven to be a close rival to the Dawson's Golden Chaff in yield of grain. The results of the co-operative experiments with winter wheat were reported as soon as possible after the crop was harvested, the report being sent to many of the experimenters throughout the Province.

EXPERIMENTS WITH SWEET CORN.

It need scarcely be mentioned that farmers, as a rule, do not take the fullest advantage of growing the best varieties of sweet corn for table use. By planting an early, a medium, and a late variety of sweet corn in the garden, the family can be furnished with green corn for the table for a long sea son. In order to encourage a more general cultivation of some of the best varieties of sweet corn, three kinds were distributed throughout Ontario in 1903.

The results of the successfully conducted experiments throughout Ontario show that in 1903 the varieties were ready for table use as follows: Mammoth White Cory, 95 days; Crosby, 111 days; and Country Gentleman, 125 days; or a period of one month from the time that the earliest until the latest variety was ready for use. The Crosby produced the greatest number of ears, but this was closely followed by the White Cory variety. The Country Gentleman yielded about three-quarters the number of ears that were produced by the Crosby. In table quality, all proved good, but the Crosby appeared to be the favorite. The Country Gentleman was rather weaker in growth this year than usual. On the whole, the Crosby was the most popular variety among the experiment

ers.

EXPERIMENTS WITH POTATOES.

About 160,000 acres are devoted to the growing of potatoes in Ontario each year. The annual average yield is about 18,000,000 bushels; in market value, about $7,000,000. According to the report of the Bureau of Industries, the average yield of potatoes per acre throughout Ontario for the past twenty years has been 115 bushels. Three distinct experiments with potatoes were conducted in 1903, one with varieties, one in preparation of seed, and one in methods of cultivation.