Land Clearing Team, 1912. Over 100 men were employed to clear
the heavy forest at the “astonishing rate of $506 an acre”.
Cattle barn built in 1916. Converted to a
Machine Shop in 1946 and still in operation.
Signed letter from
William Macoun,
1913.
istorically farming has been Canada’s most important industry.
The depression of the 1870’s led to the Experimental Farm
Stations Act in 1886. The farms were created to conduct
research and demonstrate innovative farming methods.
Farm worker with prize cow. The first Jersey
was purchased from Mrs. Redding of Bazan Bay.
In 1912 a beautiful, temperate 120 acre site was purchased. William T. Macoun,
Dominion Horticulturist, outlined a master plan for the entire site, specializing in
ornamentals, nursery plants, floriculture, fruit and nut trees, vegetable crops and
animal husbandry. These were the main commercial interests of local farmers.
In 1913 a park and arboretum were created to display the collection of exotic
plant species ordered from around the world. Today Dominion
Brook Park is open to the public with many of the original
plantings intact.
Office at
Experimental
Farm, 1919
Original invoice,
1914, from Barbier Nursery,
France.
Unloading cut sugar
beets from a binder.
Over the years, the focus of experimentation and testing has been re-directed
to include the needs of the rapidly changing agricultural community. In 1996
the Station was re-named the Centre for Plant Health.
Bert Sansbury recording daily
product. Princess Victoria became
the 1st 300 egg-a-year hen in
Experimental Farm service.
Mixed field crops with the
1892 Veitch family barn in
the background.
One of the first bulb planting
machines on Vancouver Island.
It could cover 19 acres in
35 hours.
Strawberry pickers with
the new “Victoria”
strain introduced by the
Experimental Farm.
E.M. Straight,
Farm Superintendent,
1921-1941, inspecting a tomato
crop experiment.
The Ravine in the Park, 1930,
noted for its Rhododendrons;
it is currently being restored.
Staff picnic, c1925.
The Park was a popular
destination for gatherings.
Grounds and building map, 1960.
Visit the Museum and Archives at the corner of Beacon Avenue and Fourth Street.
Images courtesy of the Centre for Plant Health,
8801 East Saannich Road,
North Saanich, BC.
We gratefully acknowledge the financial support of the Province of British Columbia
through BC150, a Ministry of Tourism, Culture and the Arts initiative and the
Hertitage Legacy Fund of British Columbia.