TO HIS HONOUR LEMUEL JOHN TWEEDIE, K:C., LL.D.,
LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR OF THE PROVINCE OF
NEW BRUNSWICK: MAYITPLEASEYOURHONOUR,
By virtue of the Commission issued under authority of Act XV.,
8 Edward VII., Statutes of New Brunswick, and an Order in Council
dated the thirtieth day of May in the year of our Lord One thousand
nine hundred and eight, appointing the undersigned thereto, your
Commissioners have investigated some of the conditions affecting
the agricultural development of the Province, and beg to submit
herewith their Report, with appendices, accompanied by a few suggestions, which if carried into effect would, in their judgment, assist
in encouraging the inbust,ry upon which the pmsperity of the
Province so largely depends.
We have the honour to be, Sir,
Your * obedient servants,
D. V. LANDRY,
GEO. E. FISHER,
W. W. HUBBARD,
co?rmi88io?aer8.
l
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REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION.
This tour was commenced as soon as the meetings could be
advertised, and the following places were visited :-
,
June 23rdLWoodstock.
“ 24th-Hartland.
“ 25th-Centreville.
“ 26th-Glassville.
“ 2’7th-Bath.
“ 28th-Andover.
“ 30th-Plaster R o c k .
July lst-New Denmark, (afternoon.)
ic
lst-Grand Falls, (evening.)
66
2nd-St. Leonards.
66
3rd-Clair.
66
6th~Canterburv Station.
46
‘it&--Harvey Station.
64
&h-Front Prince William.
c<
9th-Middle Southampton.
“ IOth-Upper Hainesville.
“ 14th-Burton ( C o u r t House)
“ 15th-Fredericton Junction.
“ IGth-Rollingdam.
” 17th---Waweig.
I“ 18th-St. S t e p h e n .
Further meetings were not held till later on account of the
haying season. The meetings were resumed as follows :Aug. 25th-Tide Head.
“ 26th-Shannonvale, ( a f t e r n o o n ) .
“ 26th-Balmoral, (evening.)
“ 27th-Jacquet River, (afternoon.)
“ 27th-Charlo, (evening.)
“ 28th-Petit Rocher.
“ 29th-Bathurst.
“ Xst-Grand A n s e .
Sept. I&-Cariaquet .
cc
2nd-Shippegan, (afternoon.)
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REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION.
7
’ Sept.
‘b
b‘
‘b
‘C
‘b
b‘
Lb
Bnd-Upper Pokemouche, (evening.)
&d-St. Isadore, (afternoon.)
3rd-Tracadie (evening.)
4th-Tabusintac.
5th-River des Caches.
‘7th-Black River Bridge.
&h-Bay Du Vin.
9th-Chelmsford.
“ lOth-Millerton (afternoon.)
“ lOth-Indiantown, ( e v e n i n g . ) “ Ilth-Rogersville.
On account of the opening of the Dominion election campign,
further meetings were not held till after the 1st November, when the
following places were visited :Nov. 9th-Round Hill.
“ IOth-Lakeville C o r n e r .
“ Ilth-Waterborough.
“ 12th-The Narrows, Cambridge.
“ 13th-Shannon.
“ 14th-Gagetown.
“ 16th-Hibernia.
“ l?th-Armstrong’s C o r n e r .
“ l&h-Hampton.
“ 19th~Highfield.
“ 20th-Brigg’s C o r n e r .
“ 23rd-Grandigue, (afternoon.)
“ 23rd-Cocagne Bridge, (evening.)
“ 24th-St. Anthony, (afternoon.)
“ 24th-Notre Dame, (evening.)
“ 25th-Ste. Anne, (afternoon.)
“ 25th-Buctouche, (evening.)
“ 26th-St. Paul, (afternoon.)
“ 26th-Ste. Marie, (evening.)
“ 2’7th-Richibucto Village, (afternoon.)
“ 2’7th-Rexton, ( e v e n i n g . )
8
REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION.
Nov. 28th-St. Charles, (afternoon.)
“ 2&h-St. Louis, (evening.)
“ 3Oth-Point Sapin, (afternoon.)
“ 30th-Kouchibouguac, (evening.)
Dec. lst-St. Ignace, (afternoon.)
C‘
lst--Acadieville, (evening.)
‘C
4th-South Branch.
‘C
&h-Ford’s Mills, (afternoon.)
‘C
5th-Harcourt, (evening.)
’
After the New Year the following list of meet)ings was advertised, and with three exceptions, due to the heavy rain and break-up
of the roads on the 5th and 6th January, the engagements were
filled.
Jan. Fith-Elgin, Albert Co., (afternoon.)
‘b
5th-Parkindale, (evening), cancelled.
b‘
Gth-Nixon, (afternoon), cancelled.
cc
6th-Hillsboro, (evening), cancelled.
“ 7th-Hopewell Cape, (afternoon.)
‘C
7th-Albert, (evening.)
‘C
8th-Alma, (afternoon.)
b‘
8th-Harvey, (evening.)
‘C
Sth-Salisbury, (afternoon.)
‘C
9th~Middle Coverdale, (evening.)
The llth and 12th were spent at the Agricultural College, Truro,
N. s.
Jan. I3th-Point De Bute, (afternoon.)
“ 13th-Middle Sackville, (evening.)
“ 14th-Baie Verte, (afternoon.)
“ 14th-Bayfield, (evening.)
“ 15th-Little Shemogue, <evening.)
“ 16th-Dupuis Corner, (afternoon.)
I \
“ 16th-Shediac, (evening.)
“ Uth-Memramcook West, (afternoon.)
“ ISth-Dorchester, (evening.)
“ 19&h-Irishtown. (afternoon.)
REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION.
Jan. 19th-Fox Creek, (evening.)
bb SOth-Petitcodiac, (afternoon.)
bb
SOth-Havelock, (evening.)
Cb
Slst-Cornhill, (afternoon.)
(4
2lst-Penobsquis, (evening.)
tC
22nd-Smith’s Creek, (afternoon.) s
bb
22nd-Sussex, (evening.)
Cb
25th-Hammondvale, (afternoon.)
Cb
26th-Berwick, (afternoon.)
Cb
26th~Norton, (evening.)
(4
27th-Belle Isle Creek, (afternoon. >
Cb
27th-Belle Isle Point, (evening.)
Cb
2&h-Downeyville, (evening.)
Cb
29th-Kingston, (evening.)
Feb. Ist-Hillsdale, (afternoon.)
(6
lst-Upham, (evening.)
bb
2nd-St. Martin’s, (evening.)
(4
3rd-St. John, (afternoon.)
bb
3rd-Westfield Beach, (evening.)
CC
4th-Pennfield, (evening.)
CC
5th-Musquash, (evening.)
bb
9th-Blackville, (evening.)
cc IOth-Doaktown, (morning.)
0
bb
IOth-Stanley, (evening.)
cc Ilth-Springhil.1, (evening.)
bb
12th-Burtt’s Corner, (afternoon.)
9
.
The Stenographer of the Department of Agriculture, Mr. J. -I?.
McPeake, attended as many of these meetings as possible, and a
report cf the proceedings is submited in Appendix “B,” summarized
under heads, so that the evidence of the different meetings upon any
one subject may be compared.
As this evidence was gathered from so many different persons,
it has been impassible to submit it for revision, and-therefore, can
only be given as an honest effort to record the views expressed. It
was reported under circumstances which made absolute accuracy extremely difficult.
10
REPORT Ol? THE AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION.
The attendance at these meetings varied from ten up to over
five hundred persons, and the Commissioners desire here to express
t!-!eir appreciation of the etiorts shown by the people generally to
make these meetings a source of valuable information. Mr. IL I’.
Zimmerman, Industrial Commissioner of the Canadian Pacific Railway, attended a number of the meetings, expressing the sympathy
and practical good-will of that great corporation towards the developStaff Captain Jenm.ent o f N e w B r u n s w i c k Agriculture.
nings of the Salvation Army visited a number of the January
and February meetings, and explained the Immigration work his
organization was doing for the Province.
Your Commissioners also visited the Agricultural Colleges at
Truro, Nova Scotia; Guelph, Ontario, and MacDonald College, Ste.
Anne De Bellevue, Quebec. While at Guelph they also visited the
Ontario Winter Fair and attended the meetings of the Experimental
Union where reports from over 4,000 experimenters in different
parts of Ontario were presented. A brief description of these Institutions will be found in Appendix V.”
“Covenhoven,” the beautiful farm and residence of Sir William
Van Horne on Minister’s Island, St. Andrews, was visited where
a combination of utility and beauty unique among Canadian country
homes was found.
Correspondence has been had with the Secretaries of Agricultural Societies in Great Britain, and many reports obtained that
convey interesting information in regard to schemes for the encouragement of agriculture.
Time has not permitted your Commissioners to make an investigation into the details of Governmental expenditure for Agriculture
in other Countries, nor to get an adequate idea of the results obtained
therefrom.
The matter of Education for Agriculture has been investigated,
and it was discussed where time permitted at the vagous local meetings. Among the suggestions offered are some in regard to this
Itlatter. It would seem to be essential for the best development of
0
REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION.
11
Agriculture that the teaching in the rural schools should be modified
to give the children more of what they need to know for successful
farm life. To fit teachers for this work will necessitate more practical demonstration in our Normal School tea’ching. Technical Agricultural teaching in advanced schools should follow. And when the
country is ready for it an Agricultura81 Colege will be desirable. In
the meantime Short Courses for
. the practical study and demonstration of the best knowledge in regard tlo live stock, dairying, crop:
growing, horticulture, etc., should be inaugurated.
The whole question of rural social conditions is so intimately
connected with Agricultural development that some of the various
conditions which contribute to the amelioration of the social as well
as business difficulties and the isolation of country life must be considered.
Of these conditions, passable highways are of the first importance, the need is for roads upon which traffic can be maintained’at all
seasons of the year. The expenditure upon New Brunswick highways has evidently not obtained adequate results in the past, and it
is to be hoped that with increased interest in the,matter, and with t’he
contemplated changes in the administration of road funds, ciur people
may get better value for their expenditure. The reckless running of
automobiles upon country roads is a serious menace to the lives, limbs
and propepty of the people, who have to drive horses th.ereon, and
upon some highways the farmer and his family are seriously inconvenienced. While it may be argued that the march of progress cannot be stopped, the rights and liberties of the people must be protected and if automobilists, by their reckless driving, continue to, be a
menace to the safety of other users of the highways, and ignore the
common courtesies of the road, it would seem to be necessary in the
interests of the public that effective repressive measures should be
taken against them.
Next, and of equal importance is Railway Accommodation. In
this regard with the exception of a large portion of the St. John Rivcr Valley the Province is for the most part as well supplied as other
Provinces. The District named, however, suffers great hardship, and
from lack of transport has lost largely of business and population,
and it cannot be expected t,o make much progress until this great
12
REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION.
need is supplied; a need that demands immediate .and earnest consideration with prompt action.
A few other Districts, notably from Tracadie to Newcastle, and
from Cape Tormentine to Shediac, are somewhat isolated, as well
also as from Buctouche to Rexton and St. Louis. to Acadieville, and
much benefit would result from the extension of railways in other
* places. In some places there are complaints as to the freight service
now given on existing railways.
Increased accommodation by the Postal Service might also do
much to enable people living under farm conditions better to do
business. Long drives that have to be taken for small matters could
bo obviated with the establishment of parcel post and rural delivery
systems. Parcel post charges might be graded, as to distance, so that
mail. order business would not be unduly diverted by it to outside
points.
Express rates for farm purposes are almost prohibitive, and a
re-arrangement might be made to assist in extending the market for
live st80ck and perishable products, and thus be of great advantage to
the remoter districts of the Province.
As 8 factor in making pleasant what is now sometimes almost
unendurable isolation, an efficient rural telephone service is of prime
importance. A visit to any of the sections, where the farm telephone
has been introduced, reveals what it will do for the safety, comfort
a’nd happiness of a community; if a telephone service is a necessity
under city conditions it is a ten times greater necessity under rural
conditions. There is perhaps no more important problem in connect,ion with rural life than the general extension of the telephone
system at a cost which can be borne by the average country family.
. A
great public utility like this must be conducted in the interests of
the whole people if our farm population is to be maintained and
in-creased. If settlement is to be encouraged in sparsely peopled districts, it may be necessary for a few years, to ignore the adequacy of
financial returns from lines in such localities.
The social life in farm communities, especially its effect upon
family life has also a good deal to do with the success of agriculture.
Tt is to the women of the country that we have largely to look for
the success of the next generation. They can make or mar the home,
l
REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION.
13
and do almost what they will with the children. In some cases the
isolation and other hardships of the farm home cause untold suffering among the women who dwell in them, and prevent that particiklation in the social and intellectual life of the country which they
have a right to enjoy. The organization and extension of the
Women’s Institute System in Ontario illustrates a splendid movement, pregnant with good results, in helping the rural women to take
t4heir proper pla.ce in the civilization of the Province, thus upbuilding the country and strengthening the nation.
President Creelman of the Ontario Agricultural College says
cf this movement in a recent ‘letter addressed to this Commission :“It is my candid opinion that no movement in Ontario to“ wards the improvement of rural conditions can at all compare
“ with the work of the Women’s Institutes. Starting as they did,
“ just a few years ago, as an auxiliary to the Farmers’ Institutes,
“ they have grown and broadened until now they are touching
“ thousands of farm homes and bringing more or less increased
“ comfort to every one of them. They are not only putting
“ women of the farms in a position to secure important and in“ creased knowledge in the art of home-making and house-keep“ ing, but they are taking the farm women out of themselves, a.s
“ it were, and are giving them something to think about, to read
“ about, and to talk about, that makes the otherwise monotonous
“ work of the fa(rm home a daily grind.”
The sooner this movement can be developed in the Province, t’he
better we believe it will be for rural life.
The beautifying of the farm homes and the rural schools with
trees, shrubs and flowers as well as good tast’e in the architecture and
r*ainting of farm buildings have an immense influence upon the life
of the people who dwell in and among them. The aesthet’ic side of
country life ma’y be ridiculed bv(r those who wprship onlv” the almighty
dollar, but even they will have to admit that the well kept homestead
with trees and flowers gives a greater money T-alue to the farm t,han
does aI collection of bleak unpainted buildings, obtruding their unsightly na#kedness to the gaze of the world.
Far and beyond the money va)lue of pleasant home surroundings
is the effect upon the lives of those who dwell in those homes. The
e
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14
REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION.
.
creation of that honest pride which the family and especially the
‘children will have in their home, and in themselves by reason of that
home, is a potent factor in engendering a love of country life, and
makes for contentment and happiness.
Our country schools could and should be beautiful; real beauty
is not the result of expense but of care. Arbor day should mean
something more to the school children than merely cleaning up. With
trees, shrubs, hardy perennial flowers and the school garden for
nature study, which it is hoped will soon be seen round every school
house, our rural schools should be educative not only in scholastic
&tainments, but also in that love of natural beauty, without which
the country dweller is poor indeed.
The matter of organization among our farmers is most important. Excellent results are found in some districts from Agricultural
Societies where they have done the work expected of them. Every
effort should be made to encourage the formation and strengthening
of Agricultura.1 Societies until every farmer in New Brunswick shall
belong to one. The work these Societies might do could be greatly
extended, and there is also an almost unlimited field for organization
and co-operation in the various activities with which the farmer is
connected. Co-operative manufacturing of dairy products has been
tried in some places with good results; where it has failed, the failure
has not been due to co-operation but generally to the lack of it.
A few years ago a Farmers’ Institute system was adopted by the
Province, and in some places this organization has done good work.
hJ most districts it has proved to be an unnecessalry name in connection with other Agricultural Societies, and, as it has been carried
out, has evidently not met with popular support or approval. One
weakness has seemed to be lack of co-operation between the Superin&endent of Institutes and the local officers. There has also been much
criticism of many of the speakers sent out; some of this criticism
has perhaps been somewhat unjust, but nevertheless tlhe feeling generally exists that the Agricultural Societies could carry on this work
Gth some assistance from the Department of Agriculture, and in this
v-ay, more economically and better than in the past, serve the needs
of the farmers in regard to special technical information.
In Appendix “E” the existing conditions of agriculture in the
REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION.
160
Province are presented with comments and suggestions. Some of’
the results of prevailing methods are noted; statistics bearing upon
Agriculture for the five eastern ProvinZ!es are compared. Mention is
made of the Farm Labor Problem, Vacant Farms, the Survey, Examination and Mapping of the Province, Immigration, Colonization,
Agricultural Credit, Agricultural Education, Farm Sanitation, the
work of tlhe Agricultural Department and State Aid to Agriculture.
Two bulletins of the Department of Agriculture and Technical
Instruction for Ireland dealing with Agricultural co-operation and
iigricuhural credit in Europe have been studied.
It is pleasant to be able to report that in individual cases and
quite generally in a few districts a most satisfactory improvement
in farm methods is noted, and it is to be regretted that we have also
to say that an adequate conception of the possibilities of stock h.usband,ry in its various branches and a realization o!f the controllable conditions, essential to successful dairying, seem to be largely lackingthroughout the Province. If the conditions in this regard could be
remedied the outlook would be much improved. The Agricultural’
history of other countries demonstrates emphatically that there can
be no long continuance of successful agriculture without live stock.
on the farms, and the great importance and necessity of a change in
methods, in those parts of the Province where little attention is given.
to stock husbandry, cannot be too strongly urged.
Sheep raising, which has been largely abandoned by reason, it is
generally stated, of the ravages of dogs, and in some cases from
destruction by bears and wild cats, would be taken up again by manyfarmers if more protection could be afforded the flocks.
That our annual fruit crop could and should be at least as valuable as that of Nova Scotia is admitted by experts, who have studied’
the conditions of both Provinces. Earnest efforts to bring about,
this result is theI plain duty before us.
Suitable education, illustration of successful methods and legish&ion to encourage improvement would all seem to be essential to\
reform.
While our agricultural condition is shown to be anything but satisfactory, there can be no doubt as to the favourable natural conditions
of the Province for agricultural development. New Brunswick is for-
16
REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION.
tlunate in many things. The regularity and sufficiency of her water
supply both from moderate rainfall and soil reservoirs is not excelled
iI1 any country ; her seasons favour the growth of almost every crop
necessary to the sustenance and best development of human and other
animal life; her climate is healthful and invigorating, fostering the
Lghest degree of menta,l and physical effort ; her soil, while variable,
compares favourably, so far as we can ascertain, with any known
a#gricultural country, and under intelligent cultivation produces
large crops of the highest quality.
With such natural surroundings, her people should be able by
intelligent use of their opportunities to live in the largest and noblest
sense of the word and to build up here a country of healthful, happy
homes, and a people who will have no superior in the world.
That this result may be achieved, those who are living, and who
are grotving up to live on the land must have larger conceptions of
the country’s capabilities and must place themselves in a position to
. wcure a fair reward for their labours. To this end it would seem
necessary that there should be:(1) A SYSTEM OF EDUCATION, which will enable farmers
best to utilize their opportunities, and which will give their children
that knowledge which will be most useful to them for the development of the district in which they live.
(2) IMPROVED MEANS OF COMMUNICATION, which
will include good highways, sufficient railway accommoda.tior+ a.n
adequate rural postal service, a cheaper express& service, and rur:1.1
tclephones in every section.
(3) EFFECTIVE CO-OPERATION among farmers for
economical production, and to enable them to meet fairly the organized interests with which they are forced to deal.
These, we conceive to be among the most important, of the immediate needs of the farmers of New Brunswick, if they are to best
do their important part in the development of the Province, and t&e
their. p,roper place in the smial, intellectual, business and polit.ica,l
life of the nation.
REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION.
.
17
THE SUGGESTIONS OFFERED.
After receiving the evidence obtained at our meetings, the replies received to our enquiries sent by mail and a survey of the
Province ourselves, your Commissioners pg to suggest :1. That Education for Agriculture is most important for the
development of the industry. To this end there should be:(I) Provision made for the suitable training of teachers
in nature study and domestic science subjects to teach practical.
nature study and school garden work in the rural schools.
(2) Provision for the technical study of agricultural subjects at County High Schools or one or more schools in each
County where young men and young women could go for at
least a winter term.
(3) Provision for short courses in stock judging, animal
husbandry, dairying, seed selection, fruit growing, and poultry
raising at one or more centres in the Province.
(4) The institution of an agricultural library in the Department of Agriculture by the collection of all bulletins,
r,eports, &c., of Agricultural Colleges and Experiment Stations
’ throughout the world,- of the standard books on the different
departments of agricultural work,-of leading agricultural
journals kept on file, of herd books of the different breeds of
.
farm stock,-of crop reports and statistics generally.
(5) More extended information gathered with the crop
reports.
(6) Timely information frequently sent to members of
Agricultural Societies, and, through the press, to the public
generally, by the Department of Agriculture.
2. (I) That the regulations of the Agricultural Societies be
so amended as to permit of the formation of Societies wherever there are twenty or more farmers ainxious to form one, so that the
benefits of these Societies may b’e brought within the reach of every
farmer. In carrying out this pla,n care of course should be taken
that a two or more Societies do not unnecessarily occupy the same
territory.
18
REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION.
(2) That new regulations for the Agricultural Societies
governing the bringing into the district of stock, seeds and fertilizers, and generally encouraging co-opera’tive efforts, should
be framed.
(3) That the So&ties be encouraged to hold meetings more
frequently than alt present to discuss matt,ers of interest to the
district and to secure desirable t,echnical information.
.
(4) That the local exhibitions held by the Societies be
under such regulations as will make them of greater educational
value.
(5) That an official of the Department of Agriculture frequently visit the various Societies, inspect their work and
accounts, and lend advice and encouragement.
(6) That the Department furnish a competent man to
assist Societies in the purchase, inspection and transportation of
stock for breeding purposes.
3. That the work of the Farmers’ and Dairymen’s Association
of New Brunswick be encouraged, land the Executive Committee of
that A4ssociation be invited to hold semi-snnual conferences with the
Commissioner of Agriculture.
4. That poultry raising be encouraged by establishing poultry
plants in connection with the proposed Normal School extension,
and on the Provincial Hospital farm, and by making arrangements
to facilitate the co-operative marketing of poultry and eggs at various centres.
5. That horse raising be encouraged by assisting the importation of desirable purebred horses, enacting a license law for stallions
and encouraging the use of purebred stallions by some arra’ngement
based upon plans which have proved successful in other countries.
6. That efforts be made to encourage fruit raising with parGcular attention to apple growing. We would recommend the
appointment of a Provincial Hortliculturist to take charge of this
vvork. Nurseries are needed. Improved varieties of apples should
be tested on their own stocks and by top-grafting, budding, ‘&c.
The illustration orchards should be increased, and with other or-,
REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION.
chards used for practical demonstration in orchard work, spraying,
&c. Further very necessary work. which the Provincial Horticul,turist should be able to undertake would be to give the best informution to prevent fungoid diseases and insect pests, to discuss (Aher
conditions necessary to the best success in crop growing, as well as
advice upon the packing and marketing of fruits and vegetables.
‘7. That to encoura’ge sheep raising, an amendment to the lavv
for the protection of sheep from dogs is essential and the re-imposition of bounties upon bears and wild cats desirable.
8. That for the improvement of cattle, legislation to prevent
-the running at large of bulls would seem desirable and in some
district,s absolutely essential. Agricultural Societies should be en,couraged to pay especial attention to the introduction of purebred
sires of all kinds.
9. That for the encouragement of dairying, a change of Departmental methods is desirable. The encouragement of economical and
,sanitary milk production in dairying sections seems the most urgent
need. Money spent on bonuses and factory inspection having largely
failed of its object, the usual expenditure in this direction should, in
our opinion, be largely directed for a few years to encourage the production of milk and to promoting the collecting of cream to but.ter
manufacturing centres. The dairy school work should be extended
for farm dairy needs and where
classes can be formed, carried to
b
local centres.
10. That the Department of Agriculture get the best expert
A,dvice upon the whole question of fertilizers, including:(a) Cost per unit of nitrogen, pl~osphori~ :u:icl and pOt”“ll
in various countries.
(b)
The various sources of supply and their availability.
(c) Present cost of freights, terminal charges, brokerages,
&kc.
(d) Systems of manufacture, distribution and sales in
other countries.
REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION.
(e) Results from the use of various quantities and kinds
of fertilizers on different crops.
(f) Comparison of values of Commercial Fertilizers with
barnyard manure.
(g) Conditions under which Commercial Fertilizers can
be used with profit.
(h) Conditions under which they cannot be profitably
used.
(i) Best methods of applying fertilizers.
(j) Annual demand and consumption of New Brunswick
under present conditions.
(k) The relative value of feeding stuffs in the production
of manure.
(1) The most economical system of saving and applying
barnyard manure, having regard to our climatic and various
soil conditions.
(m) The dissemination of such information.
And then to take such action as may be advisable to assist
in the securing for our farmers the best quality of fertilizer
at the lowest price.
II. That Illustration Farms be provided at the earliest posslble moment so tha!t our people may have a chance to see a practical
clemcnstration of the best known methods, learned from scientific
investigation, adapted to their own districts. This could probablv
L
best be done at small expense, upon tlhe plan suggested by
c Dr. James
Rcbertscn, as outlined in Appendix “E” of Io:ur report.
12. That in the colonization of cur Crown Lands the people
of our own Province should have the preference and encouragement.
V7e would suggest that only lots having at least 50 per cent. of good
agricultural land should be granted and as soon as application is
accepted, fall the lumber thereon should be reserved for the intending
settler? he to be allowed to cut for sale only within a specified quantity
ea’ch year, and upon tlhat he should pay the ordinary stumpage until
all the conditions of settlement are complied with and the Grant.
REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION.
21
issues. It would be well only to grant land lvhere arrangements
are
.
made for the extension of settlemen&.
13. That immigration should be encouraged, for the development of industrial enterprises, for the occupation of our vacant
farms, farms for sale, and for farm and domestic labour needs. That
5sts of farms available for such immigrants be made as complete as
possible, and, with reliable information regarding this province, be
placed before desirable people in other countries. That a thorough
organization to reach such people and to place them advantageously
on arrival here should be, as soon as possible, completed.
14. That the provisions of the Public Domain Act should be
carried out as rapidly as possible and a map of the province upon a
four mile scale prepared; as well also as maps of the several parishes,
showing property divisions, highways, railways, post-offices, schools
and towns or villages on a 50 chain scale.
15. That the larger general Agricultural Exhibitions be aided
only upon a definite plan, whereby they will receive once in two
years a grant ahounting to 75 per cent. of the money they actually
pay out for prizes on agricultural exhibits that year, all the.ir
accounts with vouchers having first been audited in the Department
of Agriculture. All such exhibitions to comply with regulations for
t’heir governance from time to time made by the Lieutenant-Governor-in-Council. .
16. That the following special exhibitions might also be encouraged with advantage, provided their dates, prize lists and other
arrangements are first approved of by the Department of Agriculture, viz :(1) One or more Spring Stallion Shows.
(2) Spring Seed Fairs, (about one in each county.)
(3) Three or four Winter Poultry Shows.
(4) One Winter Fruit Exhibit.
(5) One Winter Fat Stock and Dairy Show.
(6) One Provincial Horse
Show.
.
17. That prizes be given for the best fields of standing grain
upon the syste& recommended by the Canadian Seed Growers’
Association.
22
REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION.
18. That prizes be given for best farms upon the plan followed
in the Province of Quebec.
19. That as Ca‘p. VI., 5 Edward VII., relat:ing to motor vehicles
does not seem to afford adequate protection from these machines to
persons on foot or driving horses upon the highways, legislation
*should be enacted and enforced that will minimize as far as possible
damage to life, limb and property from this source.
20. That steps be taken for the extension of markets for New
Brunswick products by co-operation with the Dominion authorities
or otherwise.
Respectfully submitted,
D. V. LANDRY.
GEO. E. FISHER,
House of Assembly,
Fredericton, N. B., March, 1909.
.
REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION. ’
25
APPENDIX “A.”
Summary of Replies to Enquiries sent by mail to lhe various
School Districts throughout the Province.
Herewith are given the summaries of replies received from
correspondents in various School Districts throughout the Province
to whom enquiries were sent by mail.
From an estimated number of 1420 occupied Agricultural School
Districts, 355 replies were received. From these the totals for the
Province were estimated and we give these figures compared with
the figures of the census of 1901, which they closely approximate.
The number of farms occupied, thus estimated, is somewhat less
than in 1901, the acreage under hay and oats has increased slightly,
wheat has fallen off, barley is practically the same, buckwheat has
fallen off slightly, and potatoes and turnips increased considerablv,
the total number of cattle has fallen off, with a. slight increase in
milch cows, sheep have apparently decreased by some 25,000, swine
have increased somewhat, and horses decreased slightly.
It is to be regretted that there was not a more general response
to our enquiries, but we have to thank those gentlemen who kindly ’
took the trouble to answer, for the information which we are able
to present. Some of them, we know, took a great deal of pains to
secure accurate figures, and their efforts are especially appreciated.
We subqit a complete table of the statistics obtained showing the
total number of School Districts in each county, the number of districts heard from, and the figures from these districts totalled per
county. From these the averages per farm are calculated.
A complete copy of the questions asked was published in the
Report on ,4griculture for 1908 so they are not here reproduced.
Albert . . . . . . . . .
Charlotte . . . . . . .
------
C!ixrl&on,
. . . . . . .
Gloucc
3ster, . . . . . .
TT---I
nenr;,
-c-z- ,,, . . . . . . . . . . .
Total for Lyhole
Province, . . . . . . . .
I
21' 5,348' 1,067'
137621
63
14’
106 I 32’ 516 I 12:955' 65' 48' 7,563' 1,455'
148' 39' 860' 58,465' 1081 107' 26,476' 13,085' 1,126' 424' 2,324' 2,034
99'
25" 748' 15,405' 41' 19’ 5,266' 3,977’ 504' 25' 142'
1,494
20,291' 92' 46' 7,122' 3,818' 11,585' 135' 1,513' 1,422'
129’ ;;I , ;;y 72
961
56' 2:13' 3,502'
IA’71
F;R4l 1801 1121 24.2721 5,600'
’ ’ 275’
i
i
421 ’
I
’
i
i
i
i
i
I
I
I
I
I
I
2-3' li-7' 2 1-5' 1 2-3
I
I
I
I
I
j
I
I
I
I
I
1
I
i
I
'1,420'32,480'1,474,076'3,428'2,208'586,832'220,656'22,072'4,784'71,128'53,792
I
I
I
I
I
I
6,575'1 1,829
9,043l 2,502
1131 23,951 I 5,287
2,330 I 3,411
1771
133-l
4,796 3,688
2571 24,514 10,064
3041
705 2,506
961 3,126 2,156
431 7,897 1,404
229
334
51
1201 10,475 2,788
200
41
1711 10,4:: 6,530
2501 31,816 8,;536
371 5,530 2,898
911
1,583
2,937
1,637
1,582
6,639
1,159
1,115
814
1198
1,467
94
2,676
4,209
1,498
54,133
7-101
i
I'
I
15,940~7,620~
J
I -
Ii
6:
2
lo'
4'
3:;
348
217
246
I
1 17 3-8 6 7-10
I
I
565,804 !16,532 1 14,036
I
1
'461
W
649
176
214
425
146
149
81
56
139
IO
II
I
984
3011 16,2081
6801 39,157/
I
I
5551 14,401j
3,156/
I
I
I
I
IX1
43/al
2l
!
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
,7201156,628/1,2041 64,8321 2,220/ 57,604) 12,624/
I
I
I
!
I
191
231
381
451
471
311
141
121
481
II
411
1261
841
I
1’;
Fi
8:
I;:
4
I:
2
ii;
23
304
28
REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION.
Total for Pro&x, 1908.
With Average Per Farm and a Comparison with Census Figures,
1901.
Estimated figures, 1908.
Number of- farms, . . . . . . . . . .
32,480
Acres cleared, . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1,474,076
Vacant farms, . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
3,428
Farms for sale, . . . . . . . . . . . .
2,208
Hay, acres, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 586,832
Oats, acres, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 220,656
Wheat, acres, . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
22,072
Barley, acres, . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
4,784
Buckwheat, acres, . . . . . . . . . .
71,128
Potatoes, acres, . . . . . . . . . . . .
53,792
Turnips, acres, . . . . . . . . . . . . .
15,940
Other roots, acres, . . . . . . . . . .
7,620
Apple Trees, number . . . . . . . . 565,804
Cattle, number of head, . . . . 216,532
Cows, number of head, . . . . 114,036
Bulls, purebred, No. of head,
984\
Females, purebred, No. head
2,720 jSheep, number of head, . . . . 156,628
Sheep, purebred, No. of head
1,204
Swine, No. of head, . . . . . . . .
64,832
Swine, purebred, No. of head
2,220
Horses, No. of ‘head, . . . . . .
57,604
Brood Mares, No. of head, . .
12,624
Brood Mares, (over 1200 lbs.)
No. of head, . . . . . . . . . . .
3,084
Stallions, No. of head, . . . . . .
304
Average
per farm.
Census Figures
45 3-8 acres
1,405,615
18
acres
6 4-5 “
2-3 “
l-7 “
2 l-5 “
I 2-3 “
7-10 “
549,538
186,932
26,990
4,581
73,521
40,330
7,119
17 3-8 trees
6 7-10 head
3 l-2 “
659,632
227,196
111,084
4 3-4 head,
182,524
618
51,763
905
61,789
1,876
2
head
1 3-4 head
Note: -It is difficu It from replies received t 0 estimate accurately the
number of stallions, as in many eases the stallions travelling in the district
an-d not those act ually own.ed there were given. Very many stallions a1.e
owned and stabled in towns, thus not coming within the scope of this enquiry.
REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION.
29
,4 review of the preceding Table gives the following statement
and aver’ages for the districts heard from in each county.
ALBERT COUNTY with a total of 63 School Districts sends
replies from 14. These 14 districts contain 2’75 farms having an
average of 50 acres cleared land, 191/z acres hay, 4 acres oats, l-3
acres wheat, very little barley, 4 l-3 acres buckwheat, one acre
potatoes, 2-3 acres turnips, about 2-5 acres other roots, 24 apple
trees, 7 head cattle of which 3 were cows, 3 sheep, 2 pigs, 2 horses.
In the 14 districts there was a total of 30 pure-bred cattle, 146
breeding
30
REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION.
KENT COUNTY with a total of I29 School Districts sends
replies from 26. These 26 districts contain 663 farms having an
average of 31 acres cleared land, II acres hay, 6 acres oats, 2 2-5 acres
wheat, a little barley, 21/4 acres buckwheat, 2 l-7 acres potatoes, 3-5
acres turnips, l-5 acre other roots, 7 apple trees, 51/, head cattle, 2 2-5
of which were cows, 2 swine, 5 sheep, I l-3 horses. In the 26 districts.
there were 9 head of purebred cattle, 214 mares, 38 of them over 1200
lbs., and II stallions; also 92 vacant farms and 46 farms for sale.
KING’S COUNTY with a total of 147 School Districts, sends.
replies from 57. These 57 districts contain 1278 farms having an
average of 611/2 acres cleared land, 19 acres hay, 4 l-3 acres oats, very
little wheat, l-6 acre barley, 23/4 acres buckwheat, qh acre potatoes,
3-5 acre turnips, l-5 acre other roots, 19 apple trees, 8 head cattle, 5
.of which were cows, 31.& sheep, 2 swiney I 3-5 horses. In the 57 district,s there were 373 pure-bred cattle, 425 breding mares, 45 of them
over 1200 lbs., and 24 stallions; also 180 vacant farms and 112 farms
for sale.
MADAWASKA COUNTY with a total of 63 School Districts
sends replies frwl IO. These IO districts contain 214 farms having
an average of 80 acres cleared land, 42 acres hay, 24 acres oats, 1 acre
wheat, 3J4 acre barley, 6 acres buckwheat, 41/4 acres potatoes, 1 acre
turnips, 11/2 acres other roots, 3 apple trees, 11% head of cattle, 5
of which were cows, 3 swine, 3 horses. In the IO districts there were
2 pure-bred cattle, 146 breeding mares, 47 of them over 1200 lbs., and
4 stallions : also I vacant farm and none for sale.
NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY with a total of 118 School
Diskicts sends replies from 17. These 17 districts contain 422 farms
having an average of 20 acres cleared land, 8 acres hay, 4 l-3 acres
oats, I acre wheat, very little barley, l-3 acre buckwheat, 2l/, acres
potatoes, 1/2 acre turnips, 1/4 acre other ro’ots, 7 apple trees, 5 head.
cattle, of which 3 were cows, 5 sheep, 11/2 swine, 1 horse. In the 17
districts there were 149 breeding mares, 31 of them over 1200 Ibs.,.
and 18 stallions; also 29 vacant farms and 14 farms for sale.
QUEEN’S COUNTY with a total of 108 School Districts sends*
replies from 12. These 12 districts contain 261 farms having an
average of 52 acres cleared land, 19 acres hay, 3 3-5 acres oats, little
REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION.
31
or no wheat, no barley, 31/2 acres buckwheat, I acre potatoes, l-3
acre turnips, l-6 acre other roots, 30 apple trees, 5 head cat,tle, of
which 3 were cows, 4 sheep, 2 swine, I 2-5 horses. In the 12 districts
there were 36 pure-bred cattle, 81 breeding mares, 14 of them over
1200 lbs., and,4 stallions ; also 40 vacant farms ‘a.nd 35 farms for sale.
RESTIGOUCHE COUNTY with a total of 41 School Districts
sends replies from 4. These 4 districts contain 103 farms having an
.average of 27 acres cleared land, II acres hay, 63/b acres oats, l-3 acre
wheat, little or no barley, 7-10 acre buckwheat, 2 acres potatoes, 1/2
a’cre turnips, 2 apple trees, 3 head of cattle of which 2 were cows, 3
sheep, I swine, 3 horses. In the 4 districts. there were 56 breeding
mares, 12 of them over 1200 lbs., and 6 sta’llions ; also: 1 vacant farm
snd none for sale.
SAINT JOHN COUNTY with a total of 43 School Districm
sends replies from 3. These 3 districts contain 148 farms having an
average of 29 acres cleared land, II acres hay, 3/4 acre oats, no wheat
or barley, l-5 acre buckwheat, l-3 acre potatoes, very few other roots
and very few apple trees, 4 head cattle of which 2 were milch cows, I
sheep, I swine, 2 horses. In the 3 districts there were IO breeding
mares, I of them over 1200 lbs., a’nd 2 stallions ; also 15 vacant farms
iand 3 farms for sale.
SUNBURY COUNTY with a total of 47 School Districts sends
replies from 17. These 17 districts contain 369 farms, having an average ‘o:f 36 acres cleared land, 21 acres hay, 4 acres oats, very little
whe,a#t and barley, 2 l-3 acres buckwheat, 2 acres potatoes, 3-5 acre
turnips, l-3 acre other roots, 28 apple trees, 7 3-5 head csattle of which
4 are milch cows, 4 2-3 sheep, 2 swine, 2 horses. In the 17 dist,ricts
lthere were 139 breeding mares, 48 of- them over 1200 lbs., and 14
.stallions ; also 28 vacant farms and 23 farms for sale. ’
VICTORIA COUNTY with a total of 65 School District,s sends
replies from 20. These 20 districts contain 587 farms halving an
*average of 41 acres cleared land, 14 acres hay, IO acres oats, 11/4 acres
wheat, very little barley, 2 l-6 acres buckwheat, 2 l-5 acres potat,oes,
1-6 acre turnips a’nd other roots, 9 apple trees, 5 head cattle, 21/2
of them cows, 3 sheep, 2 swine, 2 horses. In the 20 districts there
33
REPORT
OF THE AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION.
were 217 breeding mares, 84 of them over 1200 lbs. and 23 stallions;
also 77 vacant farms and 40 farms for sale.
WESTMOR’LAND COUNTY with a total of 156 School Districts sends replies from 29. These 29 districts contain 694 farms
having an average of 60 acres cleared land, 22 acres hay, 2 2-3 acres
buckwheat, 5-6 acre wheat, l-3 acre barley, 2 3-5 acres potatoes, 1/2
acre turnips a’nd l/d acre other roots, %I5 apple trees, 9 2-3 head catble,
2 of which were milch cows, 6 sheep, 2 swine, 2 horses. In the 29
districts there were 311 breeding rnares, 41 o:f them over 1200 lbs., and
61 st’allions ; also 34 vacant farms and 27 farms for sa’le.
YORK COUNTY Gith a tlctal of 164 School Districts sends relilies from 50. These 50 districts contain 1083 farms having an average of 42 acres cleared land, l8l/z acres hay, 6 l-3 acres oats, l/h acre
whea’t, very little barley, 2 2-5 acres buckGheat, 11/2, acres potatoes,
2-3 acre turnips, IL acre other roots, 30 apple trees, 8 head cattle, 4
of which were milch cows, 5 3-5 sheep, 2 swine, 2 horses. In the 50
clistricts there were 348 breeding mares, 126 of them over 1200 lbs.,
and 42 stallions; also 104 vacant farms and 57 farms for sale.
SHEEP RAISING.
The question was asked :-Are tlhere any difficulties in the way
of keeping sheep ? The replies are as follows :TWO hundred and thirtv-three correspondents report in regard
to the dificulties in the wady of successful sheep raising. Ninetyeight of them say there are no difficulties, many stating that their
local ities a re w ell ad a]? ted to tlhe business. Seven ty-five state that
dogs ca’use loss. some of them report large n.U mbers of sheep destroyed. Twentv-three say that pasture is either scarce or unsuitable,
fifteen replirt trouble with bears and seven losses from wild cats.
One correspondent in Carleton County and one in Restigouche
County say: The cold wet springs are hard on lambs; another in
Gloucester county and one in Madawaska and one in York complain
REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION.
33
of long winters and scarcity of feed; another that the sheep get
wild. One in Kent thinks the locality not dry enough, the sheep die
without apparent reason. One in King’s says that owing to low
prices of wool and mutton, sheep have been killed off. One in
hlada,waska says ground too level. One in Victoria reports sheep
and ‘lambs dying from unknown causes. An&her in Victoria says
there is no market handy and yet another says the low price for wool
and poor market for fat sheep after they have passed their usefulness
for breeding and the fact t,hat they have to pay 75~. per lamb to get
them intfob the market, are causes. One in Restigouche says ignorance, contrariness and laziness are the only difficulties. One in
Yorkcompla.ins of discharge from the ncse, and another in York
salys the difficulties are lack of instruction as t’o methods of breeding
and care.
BAIRYING.
The question was asked:- Are there any difficulties preventing
the growth of the dairy business?
The replies received may be summarized as follows:ALBERT COUNTY reports dissatisfaction with returns from
butter factories as the chief cause -of decrease in factory dairying.
One butter factory is running which last year received 45,397 lbs. of
cream and made 11,891 lbs. butter.
CARLETON COUNTY reports no difficulties but what could
be overcome. Lack of co-operation among the farmers is complained
of. No market for butter except at the stores is another complaint.
Better alccommodation for cows in winter months is required. Fa,rmers were not satisfied with price of milk received from factories.
Scarcity of help, too much work, and a general indifference to its
importance are all given as reasons why dairying has declined.
Cheese fa.ctories are all closed but two creameries are working I: the
product of which was in 1908 29,891 lbs. of butter.
CHARLOTTE COUNTY reports conditions for dairying unfavorable as a whole. Pasturage and wimer food for cattle are.both
134
REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION.
scarce. The opinion is that more cows and less horses would be
better. No near markets and scarcity of help on the farm are comyl ained of. The butter factory at Oak Bay is closed down.
GLOUCESTER COUNTY reports that pasturage is limited;
that wages are high; that the markets are poor, <and that factories
‘are not central, and that cash sales are hard to realize. Two cheese
-frr.ctories were running and made 16,615 lbs. cheese in 1908.
KENT COIJNTY says th:a;t they have no handy market for
dairy products; that the factories only serve a limited area and want
of food for cattle all stand in the way of a larger development. One
butter factory was running in season of 1908, producing 5,833 lbs. of
“butter.
KING’S COUNTY complains of dissatisfaction in test of cream
and milk at the factories; want of co-operation in hauling cream and
cost of winter feed for cows. s Fifteen cheese factories and nine creameries and skimming. stations were running in 1908, producing
680,531 lbs. cheese and 381,904 lbs. butter. About 52,500 lbs. of plilk
went to Moncton and St. John from Sussex Station alone per week
.and about an equal amount from the other stations along the line of
I. C. R. went to St. John, totalling 100,000 lbs. per week, ‘or over 5
millions lbs. per year, making the value of the dairy products outside
of the private dairy output for the county l-vorth approximately
$242,000 for the year.
MADAWASKA COUNTY reports want of capital, poor stock
and preference for selling hay, rather than keeping stock. -Four
lcreaameries made 30,165 lbs. of butter.
NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY, with only a few pa’rishes
heard from, does not report very definitely. From general knowledge of the conditions as they now exist, it may be said that the
great want of co-operation among the farmers-and a more general
knowledge of the best conditions for the successful prosecution of
dairy interests are the principal difficulties. There is a good home
m.asket for all dairy products. No cheese nor butter factories are in
operation.
QUEEN’S COUNTY reports no serious difficulties in the way
REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION.
35,
of successful dairy farming, but there is still room for greater deve- (
lopment. Two cheese factories are working and a large cream supply
going by steamers and rail to creameries in St. John. Produce of
keese for season of 1908 was 42,359 lbs.
RESTIGOUCHE COUNTY reports one cheese factory working, making in 1908 6,052 lbs. cheese. The principal difficulty is
want of interest in dairy farming. Farmers say it does not pay.
ST. JOHN COUNTY reports plenty of food for cattle and
quite a large milk production which is sold in the cit*y at paying
prices.
SUNBURY COUNTY reports an abundance of fcaod for stock
but great difficulty in’ getting competent farm help and in tra’nsporting milk to factories. The cheese factory is closed ddwn, some cream
goes to St. John creameries both by rail and steamer.
VICTORIA COUNTY says that the distance which milk has to
be hauled prevents successful co-operation. The New Denma&
cheese factory made 60,454 lbs. chee,se, and they have one butter fact,ory making last year 12,495 lbs. butter. They complain of a poor’
market for dairy butter.
TVESTMORLAND COUNTY reports a scarcitv and high price
of help and the objection of help to assisting t,o Glk the cows on
Sundavs. Local conditions are good and food for stock plentiful.
Many *prefer to make beef. The county has three cheese factories
working and two creameries Iand skimming stations. The product of
cheese in 1908 was 156,580 lbs., of butter, 56,223 Ibs.
YORK COUNTY says that some additional factories are needed. Lack of shipping facilities, and unsatisfactory tests of milk and
cream are complained of. There is one cheese factory and one butter
factory working which produced in 1908, cheese, 22,483 lbs., butter,
16,715
lbs.
I
36
REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION.
i3ENEFlTS OF SOWING SELECTED SEED.
To the Q,uestion:- “Has there been any experience frctm the result of sowing selected seed?” the following summary cS replies is
made :ALBERT COUNTY :-No evidence.
CARLETON COUNTY :--Yes, V, ith good results, :lnd it pays
to get the best seed.
CHARLOTTE COUNTY :-Good results from selected seed.
GLOUCESTER COUNTY :- Yes, when close att’ention was
paid and personal care was given.
KENT COUNTY :-Answers not very good.
KING’S COUNTY:-Reports yes. An even crop with an increased yield.
MADL4m7ASKA COUNTY :-Nat many tests. Satisfactory
where tried.
NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY :-Good results, with grenter demand for next years sowing.
QUEEN’S COUNTY :-Gaod results.
other than good seed.
Cannot afford to use any
RESTIGOUCHE COUNTY :-Some benefited.
ST. JOHN COUNTY :-No experience.
SUNBURY COUNTY :-Yes.
well cleaned has the best crops.
The farmer who uses good seed
VICTORIA COUNTY :-Opinions conflict. Some report an
increased yield, others say that soil and v’ariety are of greater importance.
WESTMORLIQND COUNTY :-Say selected seed is an improvement~ , giving better returns.
YORK COUNTY :-Report selected seeds gave very satisfactory
L
results.
REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION.
37
WEEDS.
The question was asked:- What weeds are most troublesome,
alnd what effort is being made to eradicate them? The following is
a summary of replies:ALBERT COUNTY- says Couch Grass, Yellow Hawk Weed,
Barn Grass, Chickweed, Caraway, are the worst weeds. To eradicate them, pull Caraway before ripening; clean cultivation for barn
grass, Yellow Hawkweed and Chickweed.
CARLETON COUNTY: - C o u c h Grass, Nigger Hair, Nettles,
Thistles, Mustard, Burdock, Ragwort, Orange, Bulls’ Eyes, Barn
Grass. To destroy them, clean cultivation when land is in roct,
crops, and digging out Burdock by the roots is adopted. Some districts report no effort made to eradicate them
CHARLOTTE COUNTY :-Hawk Weed, Poverty Weed, (so
called), Couch Grass, Wild Mustard, Bclcabec Weed, (Orange Hawk
-Weed), Black Dandelion, Caraway. The majority of replies sqr :
‘iNo effort made to eradicate them.” Other replies say : Pull up
the Caraway and Mustard, but can do nothing with the Iian-k 17eed.
Some recommend ploughing under the latter.
GLOUCE23TER COUNTY :-Wild Turnips, Thistle, Hawk
Weed, OS Eye Daisy, Sow Thistle, Wild Mustard, Indian Turnips,
Devil’s Pain’t Brush, (Orange h-Tawk Weed). Remedies practised :
For Wild Turnips and Thistle, pull up. For Yellow Devil and
Eaisy, plough out when possible. If you cannot plough, cut down
before bloom. Sow Thistle, Summer Fallow and Wild Mustard, pull
up.
KINGS COUNTY-:-Wild Mustard, Thistles, Pig Weed, Hawk
Weed, Couch Grass, Chick Weed, Barn Grass, Wild Buckwheat,,
Caraway, Quack Grass, Shepherd’s Grass, Nettles, Pig Weed. Remedies recommended : For Pig Weed, Barn Grass, Wild Mustard?
Thistles, Caraway, pull them up and burn. Couch, plough, cultivate
For Hawk Weed
and harrow, gather the roots and destroy.
ploughing and thorough cultivation seems the best.
3s
REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION.
MADAWASKA COUNTY :-Wild Mustard, Nettle, Bull’s
Eye, Wild Turnips. Report no effort made to eradicate them except
by ploughing.
NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY :-Wild Buckwheat, Couch
Grass, Wild Mustard. Report no general effort made to destroy
them.
QUEEN’S COUNTY :-Devil’s Paint Brush, Barn Grass, Couch
Grass, Nigger H’air, Wild BuckwheatI. To eradicate those named,
clean cultivation is import’ant. With couch, it is more difficult but
quite possible. A free use of the cultivator and hoe helps greatl’v.
v
SUNBURY COUNTY :-Couch Grass, Smart Weed, Heartsease, Rape, Nettles, Thistles. To destroy them good cultivation for
.
land while in root crops is recommended.
VICTORIA COUNTY :-Couch Grass, Nettles, Canada Thistle,
Mustard, Nigger Hair. To destroy Mustard, Thistles, Nett’les, pull
them up. Couch grass, plough and clean out the rootlets.
WESTMORLAND COUNTY :-Canada Thistle, Bull’s Eye,
Devil’s Paint Brush, Wild Mustard, Sow Thistle, Caraway, Blind
Nettle. Remedies adopted: Pull the Caraway, Blind Nettle, Sow
Thistle, Wild Mustard and give clean cultivation to land when in
root crops.
YORK COUNTY :-Couch Grass, Pig Weed, Mustard, Nettles,
Dev4’s Paint Brush, Quack Grass, Smart1 Weed, Nigger Hair.
Remedies adopted are to pull out Pigweed, Mustard, Nettles, when
growing, and clean cultivation when in root crop. To entirely rid the.
land of couch, use the plough, cultivator and tine hone freely when
land is under hoed crop. The Devil’s Paint Brush is a comparatively
new weed with us ‘and its seeds are carried so ea’sily and so far wi&
the wind, that nothing less than a general fight all along the lines of
cult)ivation cajn hold it in check.
REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION.
39
FERTILIZERS. 1
The questions were asked :“How much fertilizer was used in your District last year 2”
What was the price per 100 lbs!”
“DO anv
u of your farmers mix Commercial Fertilizer themselves,
and what is their experience as to satisfaction and cost?”
ALBERT COUNTY :-Some five districts answer these inquiries and say that it costs them from $1.75 to $3.00 per cwt., and that
in the five school ‘districts they halve used this present year about
55,500 lbs. Cost about $865.00.
CARLETON COUNTY :-Twenty-four districts say they used
t,his present year about 681 tons of fertilizer at an average cost of
$39.00 per ton, which would mean an expenditure of $26,577.00 in
cash. None of the farmers mix their own fertilizers. They do not
st,ate the result, but some of theAm are doubtful if the business pays.
CHARLOTTE COUNTY :-Reports from twenty-nine districts,
ten of these districts are not using fertilizer, nineteen of them are
l-!sing it, and report that 66 tons 1,680 lbs. were used in the season of
1908, that the cost on an average was $35.32 per ton, or a total cost
of $2,386.00. None of Ohe farmers are rep(orted as mixing for themselves.
GLOUCESTER COUNTY :-Sends reports from twelve districts, eight of which do not use fertilizer. Four districtIs used 53
tons in the season of 1908, at an average cost of $30.00 $er ton, and
a t’ota.1 cost of $1,590. None of the farmers mix fertilizers for themselves. They express no opinion as to its advantage.
KENT COUNTY :-Sends reports from eight dist,ricts, three of
them report as using one ton, 700 lbs. during the season of 1908 at ’
about an average cost of $36.00 per tan, and ‘a: total cost of $45.00.
None of the farmers are reported as mixing chemicals themselves.
KING’S COUNTY :-Furnishes reports from twenty-three districts in a’ll. Three districts are not using fertilizer. Twenty districts report as using 93 tons, 1,200 lbs. in the season of 1908, at a
cost of $3,141.00. Nearly all t*he fa,rmers buy the chemicals and mix
40
REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION.
for themselves. Some of them claim that standard fertilizers cost
far in excess of their value as laid down in bulletins 118 and 124 of
Inland Revenue Department at Ottawa, and results a.re not equal to
outlay.
MADAWASKA COUNTY :-Twelve districts report. Seven
districts use little, if any, fertilizer. Five districts say that 28 tons,
I;000 lbs. have been used in the season of 1908, average cost per ton,
$10.00, total cost, $1,140.00. Farmers do not mix for themselves, and
they do not report as to results.
NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY :-Four dist’ricts report.
Two districts do not use fertilizer. Two districts have used II tons
200 lbs. in the season of 1908, avera)ge cost per ton. $33.00, total
amount spent for fertilizer, $333.00. The farmers dd not mix anvu
fertilizer.
QUEEN’S COUNTY :-Returns from thirteen districts. Twelve
districts report that 351/2 tons of fertilizer were used in the season
of 1908 at a#n average cost, of about $35.00 per ton, a total expenditure
of $1,233.00 was made. Buy all fertilizers ready mixed.
RESTIGOUCHE COUNTY :-Reports from three districts.
One ton of fertilizer use,d in the district of Blairathlol, cost $40.00. No
report of results.
ST. JOHN COUNTY :-One district reports. No chemical fertilizer used in the district during the year. No returns of fertilizer
ha#ving been used in the season of 1908.
SUNBURY COUNTY:-Makes returns from nine school districts. Eight districts used Ssl/, tons of fertilizer. Average cost
$42.00 per ton, total cost $3,‘731.00. None of the farmers mix their
own fertilizers.
VICTOR~IA COUNTY :-Sends returns from fifteen districts.
Thirteen districts have used 272 tons 200 lbs. during the season of
1908. Average cost $37.00 per ton, a total clost of $10,096.60.
WESTMORLAND CbUNTY :-Furnishes reports from eighteen districts. Sixteen of these districts report as having used 61
tons 200 lbs. of fertilizer in the season of 1908 at an a<verage cost of
REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION.
41
$33.00 per ton, and a total cost of $1,980.00. They report that basic
slag costs $22.00 per ton, and muriate of potash $35.00 per ton.
YORK COUNTY :-Submitted 33 replies to questions. Thirtyone districts used 2'78 tons 1,800 Ibs. of fertilizer which cost $9,765:00.
They do not mix any chemicals themselves, and do not say anything
about results.
.
Fertilizers.
Statement of Fertilizers Used in the different Counties in the
Province as szcmw~ariaed from 163 Returns received
f rorn Schoo Z Districts.
No. of
Districts. Tons.
Albert County, returns from . . . . . . . . . . 5
Carleton County, returns from . . . . . . . .24
Charlotte County, returns from . . . . . . .I9
Gloucester County, returns fro-m . . . . . . 4
Kent County, returns from . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
King’s County, returns from . . . . . . . . . .20
Madawaska County, returns from . . . . . . 5
Eorthumberland County, returns from. . 2
Queen’s County, returns from . . . . . . . . . . II
R’estigouche County, returns from, . . . . . I
St. John County, returns from . . . . . . . . I
Sunbury County, returns from . . . . . . . . 8
- Victoria County, returns from . . . . . . . .I3
Westmorland County, returns from . . . . .I6
York County, returns from . . . . . . . . . . . .31
- Total, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..I63
Value.
28
681
67
53
1
93
28
11
35
1
I
89
272
61
279
$865.00
26,577.OO
2.386.00
1,590.oo
40.00
3,141.oo
1,140.00
333.00
1,223.OO
40.00
40.00
3,731.OO
10,096.60
1,980.OO
9,765.OO
1,700
$62,065.60
42
REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION.
DRAINAGE.
The Questions were asked :-“ Is there much land requiring
draina!ge ? ” “What is the experience from the use of tiles, stone
drains, or poles in underdraining.2” The following are the replies :ALBERT COUNTY :-Says open drains are used ; stone drains
have never been tried to any extent, where tried, frost heaves them
at the outlet. Not much land requires drainage.
CA-RLETON COUNTY :-F armers say that stone drains aIre
mostly used where land requires drainage. Much of the land requires
no drainage, and open drains are often used to carry off the surface
water.
CEIARLO~TE COUNTY :-Farmers say in many of tlhe districts no drainage is required. Where necessary, stlcne drains are
mostly used and give good results.
GLOUCESTER COUNTY :-Farmers say that much of the,
land in the county requires drainage. Pole drains, stone drains and
a few tile drains are used. Tile giving the best satisfaction. Open
ditches are used to quite an extent as well.
KING’S COUNTY:-A considerable portion of the lands of the
count.y where required is under a system of drainage. Tile, wocid
and stone is used in their construction. Stone and wood is mentioned
by a JVestlfield correspondent as being most satisfactory. Open
drains are largely used to carry off surface water.
MADAWASKA COUNTY :-Reports open ditches are the cnly
ones used. No experience with under-drains.
NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY :-Reports open drains and
those made with poles are used for drainage purposes.
QUEEN’S COUNTY :-F armers say that quite a large percentage of the land is benefited by drainage. Open ditches and stone
uncler-drains are mostly used. Stone drains are f airiy serviceable
w-hen prqerly filled with small stone filled to the depth of 12 inches
and carefully covered, using cedar bark or some other substance to+
prevent the eart,h going down into the stone.
REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION.
RESTIGOUCHE COUNTY :-Farmers say that some drainage
is required. Open ditches are used.
ST. JOHN COUNTY:-When drainage is required, stone tiles
and wood are used.
SUNBURY COUNTY: -Farmers say that drainage is required
and that tile and stone are both used for the purpose. In some of
the districts open ditches are made to serve the purpose of drainage.
VICTORIA COUNTY :-Stlone drains used where required. A
goodly portion of the land does not require drainage.
WESTMOR~L~4ND COUNTY : -Farmers say
. that quite extensive drainage is required and that stone drains and open ditches are
lnostly used. Tiles always give satisfactory results when used.
YORK COUNTY :-Farmers say that quite a large percentage
of the land is benefited by drainage. Stone, tile and wood are used
for the purpose. Tile is considered best. Open drains are largely
used.
AGRICULTURAL SOCIETIES AND FARMERS' INSTITUTES.
The Questions were asked :-(I) How many farmers in your
&strict are members of Agricultural Societies? (2) What benefits
do they receive from its work? (3) Have you any suggestions to
xake as to how Societies could do better work? (4) Do your farmers
attend the Farmers Institutes and x+at is their opinion c::f their
Awe ?
The following is a3 summary of replies :ALBERT COUNTY :-The County of Albert makes reply
through 7 of its school districts and says that 50 farlners belong to
,4;ocieties in Elgin; that they have monthly meetings of the ,yocict;7?
but no Institute meetings are held. This county has 3 Agricultu 1x1
Societies with a total membership of 118.
CA4RLETON COUNTY :-24 Districts in the County of C’arleton reply and say that 100 farmers throughout their districts are
44
REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION.
members of Agricultural Societies. That they receive benefits
through the importation of pure-bred horses, cattle and other live
stock and also in seed grain. They express regret that a greater
number of farmers do not belong .to Societies and that there is a lack
of enthusiasm in attendance at meetings in both Society and Institute
work. This county has 5 Agricultural Societies with a t.ctal of 321
members.
(CHARLOTTE COUNTY :-21 Districts in the County of
Charlotte report that 19 farmers in their section are members of an
A.gricultural Society, 16 Districts say that they do not derive any
benefit from them except from the opportunity to secure good seeds.
4 Districts say that they are benefited by good stock. 16 Districts
say that they have no Institute Meetings where they can attend.
This county has 2 Societies with a membership of 387 members.
GLOUCESTER! COUNTY :-I6 Districts in this County send
reports as follows :-74 farmers residing in these districtas are members of Agricultural Societies. Some districts say that they receive
advantages as members of Agricultural Societies in being able to
secure pure-bred stock, while other Districts report no advantage derived. Where Societies do not exist there cannot be any fault found
that no benefit is derived. They suggest that demonstrations be made
to them as to the advantages to be &ned by joining Societies. They
m&e no reference to institute work except in 4 Districts. 3 of those
Districts find them useful. I does not.
This county has 5 Agricultural Societies in active operation with
a total membership of 441.
KENT COUNTY: - K e n t County gives reports from I2 Districts
in which are found 25 members belonging to Agricultural Societies ;
2 Dist.ricts enjoy benefitIs from seed grains and other things (which
are not definiteiS; stated,) 4 Districts get no benefit. They make no
suggestions and think 1nstitut)es of no value. This county has 5
Agricultural Societies with a total membership of 445.
KING’S COUNTY :-Kip-g’s County gives reports from 25
kSchool Districts in which 88 residents are members of Agricultural
Societies. These Districts are pretty evenly divided in t!heir opinion
as to benefits. Some of the advantages named are:-Fertilizers at
REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION.
reduced cost; secure a better quality of seted; services of pure-bred
st,ock, and farmers’ suppers once a year. nre almost unanimous in
the opinion that they get no benefit from Institute mee.tings as they
have been conducted. Farmers meetings in which. neighbors can
compare n&es as to yield per acre and practice followed would be a
good thing. This county” has 6 Societies with a taotal membership of
.
6@5.
MADAWASKA COUNTY:-12 School Districts report as having 19 members of Agricultural Societies among them. Do not know
of much benefit being derived from them. Suggest better encouragement for Societies. Good results from Farmers’ Institute Meetings.
The c0unt.y has 4 Agricultural Societies with a total membership of
317.
NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY :-4 Districts report 9 members of Agriculiural Societies which reside in Hardwicke. Farmers
a,re t,rying to improve their stock by using pure-bred Ayrshire bulls.
C;omplain of males running at large. Do not realize much benefit
from Institutes. The county has 6 Societies with a total membership
of 462.
QUEEN’S COUNTY: -12 Districts report 3 Societies with a
total of 130 members. Use of pure-bred hoax “King’s College,” imported byCI Government. Pure-bred cattle, sheep and pigs. Suggest
that the law might be altered so as to permit 25 persons to form a
Satiety. Not much interest in Institute Meetings.
Rl3STIGOUCHE COUNTY: - O n l y 3 Districts send reports as
follows: 23 members of Agricultural Societies. No great benefits.
Some attend the Institute Meetings but don’t consider them of much
value. The county has 3 Societies and a total membership of 1%‘.
ST. JOHN COUNTY :-4 Districts report 3 Agricultural
Societies in operation. St. John Society nxmbership, 49; Golden
Grove membership, 45 ; St. Martin’s mernbr~~ship, 32. Total, 126.
Advantages derived are use of pure-bred stock, Jersey, Ayrshire and
Holsteins. NotI much interest in Institute Meetings.
l
SUNEXJRY COUNTY :-9 Districts Report. Eight Districts
have no resident members of Agricukural Societies. Hoyt Station
46
REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION.
and Central Blissville districts have 80 members.’ The use of purebred horses (Clydesdale and Percheron,) Ayrshire Cattle and Yorlrshire and Berkshire Swine are among the advantages enjoyed.
VICTORIA COUNTY :.-I4 Districts report. ‘7 of these have
115 resident members of Agricultural Societies who say that the
benefit,s derived from them are the importation of stock and use of
same could not be had in any other way. Go(o:d seed is also an
important factor in the advantages to be derived. Increased interest
and greater enthusiasm in co-operative work along agricultural lines
is most desirable. The Institutes do good work when Speakers are
,efficient. L4s a rule are not well attended and the interest small as
compared with political1 meetings. There are 5 Sccieties in this
county with a total membership of 351.
JVESTMORLIQND COUNTY :--1Vestmorland sends ret urns
from 17 Districts. In eleven of these Districts there are 217 resident
members of Agricultural Societies. The benefits are given as educe- ,
ti onal knowledge along agricultural lines ; assistance in the purch:133
cL’ pure-bred animals for iqrovement c:f stock. The annual meeting
at Exhibitions where each may learn of the success or failure of
his neighbor in his methods of agricultural work. As to the benefits
of Institutes, opinions differ. 6 Districts report f arourably, 7 Districts unf avourably. The Ccnnty has 6 Societies with a total menlbership of 886.
YORK COUNTY :-York County sends returns from 29 School
Districts, 8 of these districts record a membership of Agricultural
Societies of 40. The total membership of Agricultural Societies in
the County is about, 361 in 4 Societies. The benefits received f rcl:m
their work are assistance to better stock by the service of pure-bred
animals; in securing good grain and seeds for seeding purposes. The
aadditional encouragement in open competition to stock breeders am1
farmers in the prc:duction of grain, rods, vegetables and fruits :tt
the Exhibitions. 20 Districts report Institute meetings. The county
has 4 Agricultural Societies with aI total membership of 411.
47’
REPORT QF THE AGRICULTURAL COMMISSIOl$
THE HOLDING.OF PUBLIC SALES AT CONVENIENT CENTRES
One hundred and fifty-eight replies make the following presentment in answer to the question :-‘6 Would the holding of public sales
at convenient centres be an advantage 2”
Yes.
ALBERT COUNTY, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
CARLETON COUNTY, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
CHARLOTTE COUNTY, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
GLOUCESTER COUNTY, . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
KENT COUNTY, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
KING’S COUNTY, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
MADAWASKA COUNTY, . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY, . . . . . . I
QUEEN’S COUNTY, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
RESTIGOUCHE COUNTY, . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
ST. JOHN COUNTY, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0
SUNBUR’Y COUNTY? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
VICTORIA COUNTY, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
WESTMORLAND COTINTY, . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
YORK COUNTY,I . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .I9
THE PROVINCE,
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .56
No. Doubtful.
1
1
2
6
7
2
3
1
2
0
II
2
7
1
2
0
6
0
1
0
I
0
2
2
0
0,
59
13
EXHIBITIONS.
The Questions were asked :-What benefits are received from.
the various exhibitions held in the Province? Have you any sug- ,
gestions to maIke as to how exhibitions might be made more useful?
The following are the replies, summarized :ALBERT COUNTY: -Reports that they make a pleasant holiday, but really no benefit and they have no suggestions to make as to
how they might be made more useful.
CARLETON COUNTY :-Opinions are conflicting. The larger *
48
REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION.
number of answers report aI beneficial effect. Stimulating compet’ition in stock breeding; in the manufacture of dairy products ; in
the production of grains and seeds of all kinds; in the competition
in manufactures of all kinds and in the opportunity afforded the
public to note the progress being made in all that pertains to the
general progress of the. country, while others say there is little, if a,ny,
practical benefit.
CHARLOTTE COUNTY :-Reports in part that they are a
great incentive to greater efforts to raise better crops, stock and
fruits. Many answers say, No benefit is apparent.
GLOUCESTER COUNTY:-The people say they do not attend Provincial Exhibitions and therefore receive no benefit. Resident*s of the county depend chiefly on the lumber and fishing int,erests.
KENT COUNTY :-Corespondents say that they receive no
benefits from the exhibitions held in the Province except the single
sdvantage of prizes. Interest would be increased by prizes for plowing. They have no suggestions to offer.
KING’S COUNTY :-Some farmers say that all who attend eshibitions are more or less benefited just in the proportion that thev
are interested in them ; others .want larger prizes for utilit,y stock:
and less for pure-breds. Others prize them highly and are in full
accord with them. Judges at exhibitions should give reasons for
their decisions and answer reasonable questions as is done now with
live stock classes at Winter Fairs. Quite a large proportion of the
answers say, ‘6No benefit.”
MADAWASKA COUNTY :-Some correspondents answer :
Benefits are in seeing what the province can produce and cheap railway fares. Some report no benefit.
’
NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY :-Farmers ‘are not -much in
favour of exhibitions and do not attend them sufficiently to appreciate their value. Want more prizes on grade cattle.
QUEEN’S COUNTY :-S ome farmers patronize the exhibitions
a,nd think them beneficial as showing the progress of the province,
they assist in the encouragement of pure-bred stock of all kinds, a’nd
REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION.
49
encourage better grown gra#in and seeds, and are an incentive to a
better system of agricultural and horticultural development.
RESTIGOUCHE COUNTY :-Says “no benefit.” The exhibitions are held so far awa,y that no one goes. If nearer they might
interest the people.
ST. JOIXN COUNTY :-Has two agricultural centres which hold
shows. They are largely attended and t,he interest in them is-well
sustained, and considered beneficial. Musquash district says “no
benefit.”
SUNBURY COUNTY :-Is of the opinion that the benefits go
very largely to the breeders of pure-bred stock and the ordinary
farmer stands no chance. Many parishes say “no benefit.”
VICTORIA COUNTY :-Says “no benefit;” as no one from
tlhe county exhibits. They seem to be held for a class of people who
are not farmers, but who grow one’bushel or so of all kinds of grain
and roots eon the prize list. When held should be made as educational
as possible.
WESTMORLAND COUNTY :-Correspondents say that they
are educational as well as enjoyable. Would like an exhibition at
Moncton. Local shows should cover two days instead of one. Their
benefits would be increased if the average farmer would patronize
them to a greater extent.
YORK COUNTY :-Here opinions greatly differ. Some want
an exhibition every year at Fredericton. Others cannot see that
much benefit is derived. Others think them highly educational and
necessary to show progress in breeding, feeding and care of live
stock, for the object lesson they afford to fruit growers and as evidence of soil production in *the province.
50
REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL COMMISSIOX.
THE TEACHING OF AGRICULTURE IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
Xu~~ma~~y of $19 Replies compikd according to Counties.
The Questions were asked:-“Should agriculture be taught in
the public sch~a~ols Z ” (2) “In the High Schools 2” (3) “At the
‘Ilmiversity ? ” (4) “Or to special local classes?” (5) “Would the
people be willing to join with other districts to establish a Consolidated School ‘1” (6) “Would the people be willing to pay higher
taxes for a Consolidated Schsol or to get teachers qualified to teach
agriculture ? ” The following are the replies :ALBERT COUNTY: -Reports from 6 districts. 4 districts!
report favourable to its being taught in Public Schools; 2 districts
report favourable to its being taught in the High Schools and in the
University; 2 districts recammend teaching special local classes; 4.
of the districts do not want to pay higher taxes for consolidated
schools.
CARLETON COUNTY :-Reports from 30 districts. To the,
que.stion should agriculture be taught in our public schools:-8 districts are favourable and 4 are opposed to it ; 8 districts are favoura.ble to have it taught in the High Schools; 8 districts are favourable
to its being taught1 in the University ; I opposed to it ; 7 districts prefer it taught in special classes, I district opposed; 3 districts would
join for Consolidated School; II districts would not ; 2 of the districts would be willing to pay higher taxes for Consolidated Schools;’
1% would oppose it.
CHARLOTTE COUNTY :-Gives reports from 26 districts. I3
clistricts are favourable to questicin I; 4 districts are opposed ; 7 distzicts are favourable to having it taught in High Schools; 3 districts
are opposed; 9 districts are fsvourable to it being taught in Univ~~rsity ; 2 districts are not favourable; 6 districts are in favor of speci:J
classes; 2 clistricts are not ; 3 districts are favourable to consolidati*!:tn ;
34 districts are not; I district willing to pay higher taxes for consolidation; 15 districts are not willing.
GLOUCESTER COUNTY :-8 districts are favourable to ques-
REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION.
51
tion I ; 3 districts are not favourable ; 3 districts are in favor oif its
being taught in High Schools; 2 districts aase opposed; 3 districts
favourable to University teaching; I district is not favourable to it ;
tG districts are in favor of special classes ; 2 districts in favor of consolidation; 5 districts will not consent ; I district would not complain
of higher taxes; 9 districts are entirely opposed to it.
KENT COUNTY:-12 districts send answers to the enquiries.
tl districts in favor of its being taught in public schools; I district
opposed to its being taught in public schools; 3 districts in favor
oi’ its being taught in High Schools ; I district not in favor of its
being taught in High Schools; 3 districts in favor of its being taught
in the University ; 2 districts in favor of its being taught in special
classes; 7 districts are opposed to consolidation of schools and 7 districts are unfavourably disposed to higher taxation for Consolidated
%hools.
KING’S COUNTY :-25 districts make reports on the questions.
I2 districts are in favour of its being taught in public schools ; 2 districts are opposed to it being t’aught in public schools; 5 districts
are in favar of High Schsol teaching ; 3 districts are not in favor ; 6
c!istricts are in favor of University for teaching agriculture ; 3 districts are not in favor of University for teaching agriculture ; 4
clistricts are in favor special classes ; 3 districts are not in favor specla1 classes ; 2 districts are in favor of consolidation of districts ; 12
districts are not in favor of consolidation of districts; I district is
in favor of higher taxation for consolidation purposes; 14 districts
are not in favor of higher taxation for consolidation purposes.
MADAWASKA COUNTY :-I2 districts make reports on
questions. II districts are fa,vourable to teaching agriculture in pub:ic schools; 1 district is opposed to the principle of teaching agriculture in public schools ; IO districts are favorable to teaching in University ; 9 districts are in favor of teaching by special classes ; 5 districts approve of Consolidated Schools; 4 districts do not approve
of Consolidated Schools; 5 districts would stand higher taxation for
ctnsolidatian purposes ; 6 districts are :opposed to increased taxation.
NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY :-4 districts make reports
03? the question. I district reports favourable to teaching in common
5%
REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION.
schools; I district is not favourable to teaching in common schools;
2 districts are fa,vaurable to teaching in High Schools ; I district is
not favourable to teaching in High Schools; 3 districts are favourable to teaching in University; 1 district in favor of special classes;
3 districts are opposed to consolidated Schools; 3 districts are not
v+lling to have their taxes increased.
QUEEN’S COUNTY :-13 districts make reports on the questi ons. 9 districts report favourable to teaching agriculture in the
common schools; 1 district is opposed to teaching agriculture in the
common schools ; 5 districts are favourable to teaching in High School ;
5 districts are favourable to teaching in University; 3 district,s are
fwourable to special class te.aching ; 1 district in favor and II districts ‘against Consolidated Schools; 1 district in favor and II dist ricts against increased taxes.
RESTIGOUCHE COUNTY :-2 districts report. I dist,rict
fa,vourable t,o teaching agriculture in public schools ; 1 district opposed to consolidation.
ST. JOHN COUNTY :-I district sends report. I district favourable to teaching agriculture in common schaol, in High School
and in special classes, but opposed t’o wnsolidation and to higher
taxes.
SUNBURY COTJNTY :-I2 districtIs send reports as follows :-4 report favourable to teaching in public schools ; 2 districts are opposed to teaching in public schools; I district is favourable to
teaching it in special classes; 1 district not in favor of I teaching in
special classes; 2 districts are favourafble to teaching agriculture in
University ; 2 districts are favourable to teaching agriculture in
High Schools; 2 districts are in favor of consolidation and 4 districts
are unfavourable; 6 districts are opposed to a higher rate of taxati.on.
VICTORIA COUNTY :-I3 districts report as follows : S dis.tricts report favourable to teaching in public schools: 3 districts art‘
not favourable to teaching in public schools ; 6 districts favor High
School teaching ; 2 districts are not in favor of High School teach.
;ng ; 4 districts commend teaching in Universit.y ; I district is not
favaurable ; 3 districts recommend special classes; 2 dist’ricts are not
REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION.
53
in favor of special classes ; 4 districts are favourable to consolidation
of schools ; 6 districts are not favourable tcl consolidation of schools ;
4 dist,ricts will agree to a higher rate of taxation for consolidated
school; 4 districts are not favourable to a higher rat’e of taxation for
consolidated school. *
WESTMORLAND COUNTY :-I6 districts in this county
send reports. ’ 12 districts are favourable to teaching in publio
schools ; 2 districts are not favlcurable to teaching in public schools ;
8 districts are favourable to teaching in High School; 2 districts are
unfavourable to teaching in High School; IO districts are in accord
with teaching at University; 6 districts favor special classes; 1 would
support consolidation elf schools ; 9 districk are not favourable to
consolidation of schools ; I district< would oppose higher taxatian
to secure them ; IO districts are not in favour of higher taxes.
YORK COUNTY :-29 districts send reports as follows :-I5
districts report favourable to teaching in public schools ; 5 districts
are not favourable to teaching in public schools ; IO districts arc
favourable to teaching agriculture in High Schools; 5 districts are
not favourable to teaching agriculture in high schools ; 8 dist,ricts are
in favor of teaching agriculture in University ; 5 districts are not
irj favor of teaching agriculture in Universit,y ; 7 districts are in
favor of special classes; 3 districts are not in favor of special classes;
I district favors consolidatian of schools:I 18 districts are notI in
favor of consolidation of schools ; 2 districts would submit to higher
taxation for consolidaticn purposes ; 19 districts are not in favor of
it for consolidatian purposes.
The total results of this enquiry show that 219 districts were
heard from.
The total number of School Districts in the agricultural sections
of the province are estimated at 1420. 219 of these districts, or I5l/2
per cent., report as follows :113 districts are favourable to teaching agriculture in public
schools.
29 districts are unfavourable to it.
REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION.
69 districts favor teaching agriculture in the high scl~ou:l.
27 districts do not favor it.
74 districts favor teaching agriculture in the University.
14 districts are not in favor.
57 districts are in favour of teaching agriculture in special classes
12 districts are not in favor of it.
24 districts would support consolidated scl~olcls.
106 districts are not in favor of consolidated schools.
22 districts would submit to higher taxation for consoliclati~m
purposes.
117 districts do not want higher taxation for consolidation purpOSeS.
yleJw
:cfa
:
:
:
:
:
IT-’
:w
REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION.
.
g
1:
55.
59
REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION.
APPENDIX “B.”
A brief summary of the evidence given at the various meetings
held throughout the Province.
The discussion at the various meetings depended largely upon
the wishes of the people in attendance alnd in the time at our disposal,
it was frequently
c impossible to cover all the branches that we would
have wished. At Wloodstock aI good deal of time was devoted to a
discussion of fruit growing and evidence from the experience of the
late Francis P. Sharp given. Further mention of this matter will be
found under the head of Fruit Growing.
At Hartland, considerable attention was given to the ciuestion
of poultry raising where Rev. J. B. Daggett gave some valuable suggestions. At other meetings in Carleton and Victoria Counties
potato raising was the main subject for discussion and much valuable
information brought out.
At Waweig, Charlotte County, agricultural education was discussed at some length.
In Northumberland and Kent Counties, the securing or dredges
to dig mussel-mud\from the various rivers was urged.
c
1
At Sackville, representations were made as to the large quantity
of marsh which could be reclaimed if a dredge could be secured that
would open up some of the main waterways and let in the tide to
places now too far away to make it possible for unaided private ent,erprise to carry out the prloject. At the Burton meeting in Sunbury
County, it was pointed out by residents of Maugerville, that a large
area of the back part of the farms in that parish could be converted
6i’
REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL COMMISSIOX.
into good land if large ditches were opened up to drain such land
into the Kver St. John. It was urged at several meetings that in the
interest of good roads the wide tire law should be enforced.
At the Memramcook meeting tlhe importance of bee-keeping was
urged by Mr. Carey Fawcett and encouragement for the formation
of a Provincial Bee-keepers Association recommended. At the same
meeting Mr. Clement Legere, M. P. P., expressed the opinion that at
least $50,000 per vear should be appropriated ts agriculture by the
Legislature and &at an illustration of pig raising should be &ven
upon a farm operated for that purpose.
At Bathurst the suggestion was made that there should be a
general Provincial dog tax and the proceeds paid into the funds of
the Agricultural Societies.
Illustration farms were asked for by resolution at two of the
Carleton County meetings. The taxing of unimproved la.nds at the
price at which it was held for sa’le, especially where situated among
ijnproved farms, was recommended by a number of people.
The Andover meeting passed a resolution asking that more agricultural labour be secured, and that there be an importation c1.f purebred heavy ma.res, and t,here, as well ct,6 s at many other meetings, the
opinion was expressed that the money given to exhibitions had much
better be devoted in other directions for the encouragement of agriculture.
Address by Commissioner of Agriculture.
In opening the first mee,ting at \Voc:ilstcck, Hon. Dr. Landry
oRered the following remarks :“The alim of the Agricultural Commission was to obtain for the
guidance of the Government a comprehensive knowledge of the
zqricultural resources and conditions of the Province, to learn the
opinions alnd wishes of the farmers and to thus ascertain and recom11% end a line of policy for the best development of our agricult,ure.
Something had been done by previous governments, a policy
c had
been inaugurated and it was tlo find out what portion of that policy
R E P O R T O F T H E A G R I C U L T U R A L COMMISSIOX.
61
had been beneficial, what better be elimina.ted and what should be
a’dded that this enquiry was being made. .
It was, he said, an unquestionable and regrettable fact that agriculture in New Brunswick had not reached the standasd to which it
should have attained. Since 1884 agriculture in Canada had made
rapid strides, but New Brunswick had not kept pace. Agriculture
t\;as equally important t.0 New Brunswick as it was to the other
Provinces and tlo develop the industry here to the greatest possible
extent, deserved the earnest attention of everyone.
Agriculture was the oldest as well as the most important occupation of man. To give its history meant to go back to the very first
light of the ages. The Old Testament recorded that the men c:f earliest mention were farmers. It was told that Jacob sent his sons to
Egypt to buy wheat, showing that grain in that country was grown
in excess of the needs of the people. The record also” told elf Job
having, in addition to large flocks and herds, no less than 500 voke
C’
of oxen for tilling the soil, which showed that he went into agriculture pretty extensively.
Then at the beginning of the Roman Empire, agriculture was
flourishing, but after their conquests the Eomans went more into
commerce and agriculture began to decline. Then, as now, agriculttire required the utmost’ attention to ensure success. In early Engli sh histc:rv la:lso agriculture flourished for we know that up to 50
years ago ‘F:ngland was able to grow all the food required by her
people.
In our own case in New Brunswick there were many reasons whv
agriculture was not as prosperous as it should be. Lumbering, f&l;ing, and other lines of work were dividing the attention cif our farmers with t,he tilling of their soils and consequently the farms were
r?!ore or less neglected. Another reason perhaps was that there was
an impression that agriculture did not require as much study and
educat)ion as oth,er avocations. This was in his opinion a great nristake. Agriculture required as much study-yes more studr and
m.ore keen observation than any ot’her scientific occupation. Gglecti:lg t,o recognize this fact, many parents if they had several boys,
vould educate the brightest ones for a profession or for mercantile
pursuits and the dullest would be set to farming with no studv
I, or
62
REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION.
ljreparation for their business. Anyone could farm, they thought,
fll7.d from this fact agriculture also was suffering.
In 1884 the Dominion Government, through Commissioners,
looked into the agricultural situation and in 1886 they started the
Elsperimental Farm system, with one central farm at Ottawa and
scattered over the Provinces. Last year they started four
more. All these farms have been making tests and the results have
been printed in bulletin form, sent out to the farmers and have
done much good.
When the present Government took office at Fredericton and
lx had been called upon to preside at the head of the Agricultural
Department, he had had but little time before the session to look
over the field and m ake recommendcaltion s, but he saw that a.gricultme was not prospering as it should. He saw that dairying was declining, that the Agricultural Sccieties were growing fewer and that
the Department did not seem to be in close touch with the farmers.
He thought that) the matter should be enquired into before a.ny new
policy was adopted. He thought ‘the people should be consulted sand
therefore he hacl asked his colleagu&s for the appointment of a Commission tlo go around and after studying the whole questlion, discussing with the farmers their ideas, to make a report to be laid before
the Legislature and from which action could be taken to assist in
the develcgment of the industry. It would be his endeavor to try
and evolve for this province a policy that would, as far as the Government legitimately could: assist) the farmers tjo place the agricnlture of New Brunswick in the very front rank compared with other
-countries.
The appointment of a Commission was not) a new idea. 0ntari.o
over 30 years ago, when her agriculture was at a low ebb, had appointed a Commission and since the advice of that Commission had
been acted upon in Ontario agriculture had made wonderful strides. Denmark also at about the same time had made
a stucly of conditions and since then, by adopting improved met hods? by diffusing agriculturla.l education a n d exthat
tclnding the principles of co-operation,
little Kingdom had risen from being the poorest country in Europe to now .
being the most prcsperous agriculWx1 country in the world, her
l ,
REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION.
63
products selling for higher prices in the open markets than those
from anywhere else. He concluded by thanking those present for
their attendance and asking tlhe fullest and freest discussion.
VACANT FARMS, FARMS FOR SALE AND LABOUR.
The matters of vacant farms, farms for sale, and the labour situation were discussed with a view to ascertaining the requirements
of the various districts and to get the information of the leading men
upon the situation.
Carleton County.
At Woodstock we were informed that several real estate agents
Trere making an effort to advertise Carleton County lands in the
Old Country, one firm having spent a good deal of money in that
way; but not much result had been obtained at the time of our
visit although a good many enquiries had come in.
Mr. Thas. Strong reported there were quite a number of farms
in Back VVakefiel~d section fior sale, and that it would be a goad,
thing if the G overnment could bring in outsiders far t’hem.
Mr. Ta)ppan Adney suggested tlhat the, information collected
referring to farms for sale be placed in the hands of the people in
the Old Country. He thought that men there with money to invest
would lock more in this direction if more information in regard to
the Province was placed before them.
Mr. Louis Young reported that School District No. II, in the
Parish of Northampton, called Milmarnock, was at one time partially set’tled and some very goad farms lo)pened up, but on account
of lack of raa)ds and school and postal facilities this place had been
vacated. Six vacant farms there had comfortable houses and the
necessary barns ; five more had barns only. The land was, he said,
exceptionally goad and the chances for pasturage alo:ng the Dead
Water ground could not be better. If this district were opened up,.
64
REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION.
according to the plan proposed by Mr. Young, there would be, he
said, a chance for from twenty-five to thirty farms on what was considered among tlhe best of farm lands, and all within ten or twelve
miles of the Town of Woodstock.
In regard to the labour supply, Mr. Lee Raymond said that this
?rear fa)rmers could get what labour they needed but had to pay
pretty high for it.
Mr. S. Peabody did not think the difficulties of getting help had
been so great this year as formerly; current wages were $1.50 ner
.I
c;lay and the man found himself, with employment running through
the entire year, hours of work from seven in the morning to six in.
the evening. Under these conditicns the farmer himself found considerable diEiculty in getting his chores properly clone and he and
his familvr/ had to work very much longer hours.
Mr. G. TV. Brittain said labour was scarce in his section a:nd
that was one of the reasans why the dairy business was not carried
on. Very few men there wanted a man the year round. They had
boys who would work through the winter.
Mr. Peabody thought the labour question would be solved if the
farmers went into dairying more generally and gave steady emplayment.
Mr. Jas. Carr said that labour conditions in Carlet)on County
were perhaps not typical of the whole Prlovince, because the farmers
here had to compete with labour demands in Aroostook County,
where high wages were paid during a certain season of the year.
Mr. William Flemming said his section was not doing nearly as
rrx~h farming ar dairying as would be possible if labour were available when wanted. He thought that farming could be carried on
successfully if labar could be pracured. He had no &jection to
paying a. man $1.50 per day if the man could give as good service
a:: the man of twenty-five years ago. We could not get such men
now. Carleton County, he thought, could produce one-third more
2 it were possible to get good honest labor. It was not high wages
so much as the quality of the labour he objected to. The only
remedy was to try and get in more people alvailable for farm work.
REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION.
65
Mr. Peabody remarked that only about two-thirds of the farmers would want a man during the summer time.
Mr. C. L. Smith, referring to foreign labour, said the trouble
he had had with foreigners was that they got homesick. Galacians he
had had could do almost anything on a farm, but by the time
they learned our ways and language they asked as high wages as
the native man, and the trouble was that under present conditions
the farmer could hardly afford to pay $1.50 per day for help.
At Hartlland, referring tlo the labour question, Mr. J. T. G.- Carr
said the great difficulty about bringing Old Country
Fveek.
Rev. Mr. Daggett said he was paying $4 per week.
At Centreville, Mr. H. T. Scholey said there were very few
- farmers who employed men the year round; it did not pay to do so.
Mr. B. F. Smith asked if it would not be profitable’to keep a
man the year round if stock raising or dairying were followed. He
thought if the farmers kept stock and manured their land they
could grow twice as much hay on the same land as tit present.
Commissioner Fisher agreed with this and said if they had more
manure in the ground they would not be troubled with winter-killing
of clover. Mr. Taylor said that h/ad been his experience-when the
ground was good he clould get a good stand of clover.
\ Mr. Cronkite said there was no sale for beef last fall and not
r!luch encouragement for a man to go into stqck raising.
REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION.
Mr. Smith said prices would vary in any line; prices came up
Iduring the winter and carload upon carload of bee-f came into the
Province continually from Ontario BP-here it was produced under
tconditions no better than ours.
Mr. G. W. White said that he had endeavoured to give his boys
.an education land the result was they would not work on a farm.
.He thought farm labour could be made more interesting and this
,would solve to a certain extent the labour question.
Mr. Wilmot Kennedv thought that the hours of work on a
,farm were too long, whi& was one reason why the boys left and
v:hy it was difficult to get hired help. He had started working his
$arm on the ten hour system and he had never got his crop in so
e,easily and nicely.
Mr. Wilbur Taylor said in his case his three boys were all de:termined to be farmers. He had tried to induce his younger son to
take a college course and learn some profession, but he wanted to be
: a farmer. His boys worked long hours and did not grumble at it.
ELe wanted his boys to get the best educ;ati& possible, to go to an
-a.gricultural college, and he didn’t agree with Mr. White that it was
,education was driving the boys off the farm.
Mr. Scholey remarked that probably Mr. Taylor had a way of
-saying “Come boys,” instead of “Go boys.” Mr. Tiaflylor said he
zever said “go.”
Regarding farm lands the following resolution was carried by
&he meeting :
That the Government offer 100 acres of land to any settler with
,the right of preemption of 100 /acres additional adjoining, and when
the settler cleans the quantity required by law and puts up a log
“house, he should become the owner.
Mr. W. J. Owens, referring to the matter of colonization said
ithe selling of the lumber off the lands, as was now the practice, was
,a- very bad thing for the bona fide settler; he condemned the course
%eing taken in regard to the Blue Bell Tract. He thought if ~a man
vent into the woods and cleared a farm ‘he was entitled to all the
compensation that could be obtained from the land, and certainly
REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION.
0
67
should have the selling of the lumber. He strongly urged that some
change should be made in the Crown Land regulations to encourage
the young men to settle in the Province. One of our young men was
worth a dozen foreigners.
Commissioner Hubbard pointed out that so far as immigrants
were concerned, it would be much better to try and place them upon
lands already partially cleared and where there were the oonveniences of civilization. When :a;11 our vacant farms and farms on the
market were occupied, it would be time enough to talk of putting
foreigners on the Crown Lands.
At Glassville a good demand for farm labour was reported,
one gentleman in the meeting saying: “If we had a couple of dozen
right here we could use them.” Another man remarked, amid laughter : “We can generally raise our own help.”
Mr. Gilmore thought there was something wrong w&h our laws
in regard to labour contracts. In England there was -a contract and
both the employer and the man were bound to respect it. There a
man could not leave you at a moment’s notice, while here he could
cause a heavy loss by leaving at a critical time. Some law was
needed to make ra man stay and finish what he had undertaken to do.
Another gentleman remarked : “We cannot expect to use labourers for a week in the haying season, discharge them, and then expect
to get them again for harvesting.” He did not know of a man on his
road that would hire a man for six months continuously.
Mr. Gilmore urged that the law should protect a man that wanted his harvesting done. When a man was hired he should be bound
*.
to abide by his contract.
Mr. Read remarked that labourers from the Old Country were
not used to our *ways and were simply in the road.
Mr. ,9rchie Scott said he came to this country from Scotland and
was considered a good man !and he could bring men from Scotland
today that could show Mr. Read how to work.
In regard to vacant farms Mr. McDonald said on the outskirts
\ A
of the Parish of Aberdeen there was lots of good land vacant that
had been settled yeairs ago. High wages and isolation had driven
the people away.
f
cs .
REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION.
Mr. Edward Wylie said that one of the difficulties about getting
people to settle on the outskirts was the lack of telephone communict; tion. Lands were unoccupied today that would be occupied if the
families had had the protection the telephone service affords. In
c:tse of sickness, fire, or any emergency, when the women were left
alone on the farm, the telephone in the house was invaluable and
oftlen saved serious loss, even life itself.
At Bath there were varying reports from different sections as
to the number of vacant farms. Mr. Keenan reported that some
of these farms had not been occupied for many years, but nearly
~11 of them had buildings on them and the soil was pretty well run
In regard to labour the opinion of this meeting was that not
many men could be employed during the- winter time, very few
farmers wanted men for even six months. There was a large demand during haying and harvesting with wages running from $1.50
.
to $2 per day. ’
Victoria County.
At Andover there was considerable discussion on the matter
o-i’ vacant farms :and farms for sale. In regard to the latter, Mr.
Donald Innes said that most every man when .asked if he wanted
to sell his farm would reply “yes,,, but when a purchaser came along
he wlould want a double price for it. This did the country and the
cclmmunity a harm. No man should be put down as having his farm
on the market unless he put a fair value on it and agreed to sell at
that price whe’n an offer was made.
Mr. Jonathan Brown said in School District No. 4 he did not
.
I<now of any farms for sale.
Mr. Chas. Williamson said in District No. 7, Perth, there were
six or seven farms for sale, some of them at a very cheap rate. He
thought it would be well to bring in some good immigrants.
District No. 5, Perth, was reported as having no farms actually
the ma.rket.
District No. 9, Perth, had a number of vacant farms with good
REPORT OF THE A-GRICULTURAL COMMISSION.
69
buildings people there would be glad to have these farms occupied.
They were abandoned largely on account of Western fever.
Mr. J. E. Porter said that from twenty-five to thirty per cent.
of all the farms in Victoria County were vacant and the farm population not as large ‘as twenty ye.ars ago. Different reasons were given
for this ‘condition. He Iagreed with those who said it was due to
rum and bad government. He had been impoverished by rum
although he never drank. A large percentage of the people of the
county wasted their means in rum. He thought the vacant land
should be taxed; it was an injustice to tax the settlers’ lands and
leave thousands of acres of land owned by large corporations not
taxed.
Mr. Edward Picket)t held that land owned by non-residents was
keeping the country back to a large extent-such land should be
taxed. Along the border he thought nearly fifty per cent of the
land was held by Americans who lived across the line.
Mr. Porter said: “The land is worth more in Maine, and if the
Government wants to do anything for the farmers, let them give us
a market.the same as they have on the other side. Give us,” he said,
‘%he Boston market and we won’t have vacant farms.” Here he
thought the farmers were hfalndicapped by their distance from the
market and high transportation. A market was needed and it was
the duty of the Government to get it.
In regard to labour, Mr. Porter thought the Government might
make an effort to wpply some. Its absence was a great dra,wback
One gentlem’an said he had to pay as high as $3 per day last fall for
harvest help.
He moved the following resolution, which was carried:
Resolved, That the Agricultural Commission be requested to
do everything possible. to secure more agricultural labor for this
countrv.
Continuing, he said that domestic labour was also needed.
Men were asking from $2 to $3 per day and he knew of farmers
in the county who would employ men the year round if they could
ho got. Labour ca*pable of handling horses and machinery is what
I
is wanted.
70
REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION.
Mr. Corey did not think it would be much help to ‘bring in
labour, because as soon as the imported men learned of the wages
a,cross the line they would go there.
Mr. Porter said that was not his experience; he was able even
to hire men at Fort Fairfield when he could not get them in Andover.
Mr. Innes (thought the f:armers should have more patience with
the men from the Old Country. Conditions here were different
and they had to learn our. ways.’ When he was in Scotland four
years ago, a first-class man would get from $25 to S30 a year, free
house, and a half acre garden, as well ‘a8 the keep of a cow. If he.
was taking charge of a farm he might get as high as &FiO per year.
Mr. Porter said that nobody wanted to cut down wages but if
a labourer demanded $2 per day and his labour was not worth that
much. the farmer could’ not afford to piy it. “We are,” he said, “not
asking the Government to bring men here to wlork for nothing or
smaller wages than are paid elsewhere. We only ask to have labourers brought here.”
Commissioner Fisher enquired if when the vacant farms were
all filled up with suitlaible men, would not the labour problem be
solved ?
Mr. Porter thought not.
Mr. Corey did not think that the importation of labour would
help very much as the offspring of these people would go to theUnited States. “Show us,” he said, “how to malw our farms pav” and
we will pay the wages.,’
l
Mr. Peate, a gentleman lately from England, in regard to immigration said : “In England we hear nothing of Eastern Canada, it
is all the West. If these Provinces were advertised more therewould be more immigrants. From what I have heard of the West
F,Dd from what I know of this district, I am fairlv well pleased I
di not go West.” He thought if the farmers .wou<d work properly
and work together they would do as well here as anywhere.
Stories
L
of big crops and big wages take the men West.
Mr. Porter salid the railways advertised the West. The Harvest.
Excursions took away our men.
REPORT ‘OF THE AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION.
71
‘A resolution passed that wild lands in the School Districts held
!bv non-residents be assessed at the same value a’s cleared land held by residents.
At Plaster Rock Chairman Flanders said labour was dca8irce
a,nd wages high ; abundance of other work made it hard fer t,he
farmers to get help. Very few farmers required a man the year
round, but a good dea3 of help was needed during haying and harvesting.
I
Referring to immigratiN0n, Mr. Donald Fraser, jr., said that
people coming fr0m other countries had to live in the Province
t.wo or three years to learn how to do the work.
,
Mr. Harris said there was an abundance of good land and if
~the G0verninent bought 50,000 acres in addition to the Blue Bell
Trlact, for settlers, it would be a good thing. Along the river the
people were deprived of four rods of t,heir front, which was an
imposition.
Mr. Frase.r, on the other hand, thought, that there was lots .of
land opened up for settlement.
Evidence was given to show that a good deal of land was held
for speculation, no improvements were put on it a,nd it was not taxed.
‘These urmccupied lands among the settlements were a great disad7 antage.
Mr. J. C. Manzer thought that if a man held a block of wild
land in the district and there were men on either side who had improved tlheir farms, the wild land should be taxed equal with the
improved. This would be the only way t)o bring these lands into
*the masket a’nd open them up for settlement.
There wa)s a difference of opinion in the meeting regarding this
question, nearly all agreed that wild land shl0uld be taxed higher
than at present but were not prepared to say it should be ta’xed as
-high as cleared land. This suggestion was criticized ialnd no motion
was passed.
At New Denmark, Chairman A. J. Jensen, referring to t,he
matter of immigrati0n, said that he wlOuld like to see a hundred
-families or more brought from Denmark to increase the settlement.
REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION.
He thought they should have the land free, for if ia young man had
the courage to go in and clear up a farm he should not be asked to
pay for it. Conditions, in his opinion, were harder for the young
man now than a hundred years ago, because no improved machinery
could be, used on the new land, and it would cost very much more
t40 cultivlalte it. Instead of charging a man $100 for an uncleared
farm, he should be given $100 to go in and make a farm of it. In
connection with this question, he said the difficulty of raising money
Ii-as $ great drawback to taking up land in New Brunswick. In
Denmark a man could borrow money on his property for say forty
ye,ars at an interest charge of four per cent., one per cent. of that
going to reduce the principal, and after a certain period the principal would thus be wiped out. He thought this was a matter worthy
\
of looking into.
Mr. J. C. Manzer said that in the section of country that Mr.
Jensen referred to there were 25,000 acres of land suitable for settlement. This would sustain 250 families ; it would be reaidily taken
up if good roads were built through it; he agreed that the land
should be free to bona fide settlers.
At Grand Falls a good deal of vacant land was reported but
there was no information to sh%w
* whether or not i.t could be purchased. Complaint was made of a great scarcity of labour at harvest
time but men were not wanted at other seasons.
Rlladawaska County.
At St. Leonards, Rlev. Father Martin explained the condition
of settlers in the Parish of Saint Andre who had settled on land
that was found to belong to the New Brunswick Land Company,
alnd strongly urged that an effort should be made by the Government to get these people a title to their holdings. There were many
good farmers among them, and it was a hardship if they could not
be confirmed in the holding of their lands.
It .was urged by Rev. Father Babineau and others that the Government should make an effort to secure land for settlement. Practically every acre of land in the county that was not held by largt:
corporations was taken up; there was no room for the young men to
REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION.
73
colonize, it was time something should be done to extend the settlement.
-
York County.
At Canterbury Station some vacant farms were reported. Mr,
Edmund Cummings said he had three farms :and would like to sell
two. He did not think immigration was necessary as there were
enough young men in the district to take up all the farms that were
for sale. Labour, however, was pretty high and hard to get and if
more was obtainable it would be a help.
Other gentlemen thought that if immigrants with a 1iiUe
capital could be brought in they would be a welcome addition to the
district.
Mr. Hugh Smith said there were more vacant farms in the
district than people were awlare of. The number that would be for
sale would depend on the price offered. Some good, some poor land.
At Harvey Station it was reported that in some sections of the
Parish of Harvey there were quite a number of vacant farms. In
District No. 2 and the one adjoining there would be eight or ten
f;r!rms vacant, more or less cleared, and with houses and barns.
There were a number of vacant farms that were cropped by people
in the neighborhood. Acton district had one farm for sale, the rest
were all taken up.
So far as labour was concerned, the report was that there was
always plenty of labour in Harvey.
At Prince William (Front) a great many farms were reported
for sale, some occupied and many vacant. The reason given for this
condition was that the young people had nearly all gone a.way and
the farms were largely in the hands of old men who were anxious to
be relieved.
Referring to the matter of labour, Mr. N. E. Hoyt said the
farmers there had not been able to get labour and had been forced
by lone means or other to decrease their work, so that now there does
not seem to be any labour required. Scarcity of labour brought
about this condition.
74
REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION.
Mr. Robert Graham remarked: “Still the bushes are growing
just the same and there is no one to cut them.”
At Middle Southampton, judging from the opini’on of the meeting, all the farms were for sale, due largely to Ia,ck of transportation, and, to some extent, by scarcity of labour. There were large
blocks of land in that parish that would be good agricultural land.
Mr. F. R. Brooks said there was no young man in the country
who would go into the woods to clear ~a piece of land as did hisf
grandfather, and he would not advise him to, for by the time he got
the land cleared he would be dead.
So .far as immigration was concerned, he said if the right kind
of labor could be brought here it would be a good thing. Wages
were high and help scarce.
Mr. H. P. Striver WI&S of thea opinion that if we calculated to
live in this country we ought not to talk as if we were living in a
desert. Talk this way before our boys and what is the result? He
would like to keep his boys with him. We have farms here, he said,
some of them quite extensive; but what are we going to do with
them? He thought the people ought not to feel too glum but take
a brighter view and there would be a railway down the St. John
Valley in a very short time.
Mr. Brooks said: “What Mr. Striver says is very true, but
we have been looking for the past thirty years for something better
and instead of better conditions we have worse. We all want to keep
our boys at home. The trouble is that there is nothing here to work
‘for; no transportation for our products. If there was a railway
down the St. John Valley I would not call the King my uncle or ask
him to stay all night, but under the present conditions the people
along the river betw)een Woodstock and. Fredericton are discouraged.”
Mr. Brown said that transportation was the key note of the situation in Southampton. Every second farm was being deserted, half
the people having gone out within the past ten years. He had had
a pair of horses :on the road ever since it was fit to travel hauling
potatoes. This team should be working on the farm. He thought
if settlers wlere brought here that would pay fair prices for fair
REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION.
75
fa.rms there would be quite a number purchasable at Southampton
Front. They were good farms, the trouble being they were remote
from. the railway.
Mr. F. R. Brooks said help was very scarce in the district, both
on the farm and in the house. Almost every family wanted domestic
help and would give $3 a week or whatever was asked.
Mr. Marsten said there were not many men who would employ
help the year round; wages were beyond the reach of the ordinary
farmer.
Mr. Brooks said there would be a demand for men with families
and t’here were empty houses for them.
Mr. Cronkite remarked : “If they had to come on foot they
would never get here.”
At Hainesville a few vacant farms were reported. There were
two or three in Maplewood and some scattered around. In many
cases they were farmed by men who lived adjacent. There were also
a few farms for Salle. .
Labour was reported as scarce; very few farmers wanted to hire
a man t,he year round. There was an abundance of work in the woods
in winter. No trouble for a willing man to get work all the time.
At Stanley not malny vacant farms were reported, but it was
the opinion of those at the meeting that there were some good sections
of hardwood land that could be profitably set aside for settlement,
and it was thought that this land should be examined and report*ed
upon. There did not seem to be many farms for sale. Lots of men
were saying they wanted to sell out, but if they ha,d offers they
would not accept,.
In regard t.o labour, wages were reported as being very high
but there was no difficulty in getting men.
At Springhill it was thought by those at the meeting that the
abandoned fa,rms had been left beca;use they were not good enough
to make a living on. There were a number in Hanwell and other
places-some very good farms for sale, quite a number of farms
along the river could also be bought.
Labor could ,be had by the year; but in the summer time when
there was a large amount of work on the river, it was difficult to
get men.
2. R. E&ey said he found it difficult to get good dairy help and ’
he had to decrease his dairy operations on that account. He found
our men did not care for that kind of work. They prefer to work
part of the year in the woods and don’t want to be tied down to anytlhing as steady as dairying.
At Burtt’s Corner a considerable number of vacant farms were
reported. This would apply to the parishes of both Douglas and
Bright. In Cardigan and Kingsley there were many abandoned
farms which were now lasgely held by speculators and lumbermen.
There was not much abandoned land along the Keswick, although
there were some very good farms for sale.
IQ regard to labour, Mr. Flewelling said there was plenty of
labour but the men would rather work at any other occupation
It l.an f a.rming. Mr. Brewer stated it was hard to get men to work
on the farm. Another gentleman remarked : “The men fade awa\’
as soon, as you produce a hoe.”
l ,
Sunbury County.
At Burton the Parishes &of Sheffield, Maugerville, Burton and
Lincoln were represented. Speaking ‘for the front of Sheffield, Mr.
Isaac Stephenson said there were no farms for sale. A few were
reported in Malugerville.
In the back districts of Burton tfhere
were a good many vacated farms, formerly supporting families in
comfort. Some of these farms that have been lately abandoned
vcould be in tolerably fair condition. Mr. Stephenson said he knew
of half a dozen fairly good farms with buildings standing unoccupied ; many of t’he farms referred to had fair buidlings. These farms
had been left because they were not close to the river, and people
had gone into other lines of work.
Mr. Geo. A. Perley said that there were quite .a number of farms
in Maugerville for sale if f alir prices could be got.
Mr. A. A. Treadwell said much land on the eastern side of the
river could be made available through a drainage scheme. The back
,
REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION.
77
parts of the farms fronting on the river were low and it would be
necessary to dig drains to the front. He thought this was a work
that the Government could well encourage, as it would bring into
cultivation and use a large area of very fertile land.
Labour was reported scarce, and farmers had cut down their
business to meet the situation so that at present not very many
men were required except in haying. If the farms were developed
as they might be a large number of men would be required.
At Fredericton Junction a good many vacant farms were reported. Mr. George E. Smith, lately from England, complained that
a.rrangements for bringing out immigrants were unsatisfactory.
They could not find anyone in authority and had to do business as
best they could. It would be a good thing if the people from the
Old Country could be sent direct to alvailable land or where they
were wanted for work.
Mr. Pride, another immigrant, thought that many people could
be brought to this Province from the Old Country if it’s advantages
were known. Over there the Westfern Provinces had men going
through England holding meetings in various districts and advertising the West.
Mr. John Murphy had a very doleful story to tell of vacant farms
and the hardships of the farmer. IIe had 1085 acres and he stayed
on the place because he did not have the means to get away. He
would not advise any young man to go into farming. “You see men
gliding along the river in gasolene yachts and along the roads in
alutomobiles, but you don’t see any farmers among them. The man
who owns the machine, however, gets his money from the farmer.”
He said he wanted to sell his 1085 acres, six barns, and two dwelling
houses.
Mr. H. H. Smith thought there were some very good farms for
sale in Blissville close to Fredericton Junction; in Diam(ond Square
there were six vacant farms, pretty good ones. The settlement of
Little Lake was vacant; at Brown Ridge no one was living.
Mr. F. C. Taylor said there was a fine chance in Gladstone
and Blissville for agricultural improvement.
,
REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL COMMISSIONe
In regard to labour several men said they would like to employ
the year round, but could not get them.
. Mr. H. II. Smith thought that by co-operation falrm labor
could be better utilized.
Mr. May, lately from England, found fault with the representati.ons that had been made him in England in regard to New Brunswick. A man was better off in England where he could clear gI a
week than here. He thoug.ht the hours were too long here.
Mr. Murphy replied to Mr. May by rema\rking that he was
“talking through his hat.” He had had men that did not get up
till’eight o’clock, loafed around and put in about ten hours, and yet
he had to put up with them and pay high wages. He thought if the
wages were lower the young men would not have so much money to
spend on bicycles and cigarettes.
At Lakeville Corner several high-priced farms were reported
for sale in Sheffeld, one near Lakeville Corner. There were a few
abandoned farms on Little River but they were out of the way and
people did not care to go to them. Many people would sell their
farms on account of being handicapped by lack of transportation for
the pr,oducts of the district; everything had to be hauled to the
St. John River and it was very discouraging.
Charlotte County.
At Rolling Dam a number of vacant farms were reported, most
03. them were used by the neighbors to cut lumber and hay. Not
much demand for new settlers was reported. Lever Settlement,
Whittaker Ridge, Pleasant Ridge, had a number of vacant farms;
in the Piscahagan Valley a large number of places had been vacated
for some time, they could be bought very cheap but were rather remote from the railway.
W. D. Clark, of Flume Ridge, said all along the Maga’guadavic
Valley there was good land held by the lumber companies and
sportsmen. He thought the present, policy of withholding Government land from men who had farms was driving a good many out
of the country. Siome men had farms with 75 acres or so fit for
REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL’ COMMISSION.
791
farming and if they wanted to get hold of adjoining. pieces of land..
it was almost impossible to do so. The lumber companies would
-overbid them when they were put up. At Flume Ridge there wasa lot of good land not settled. F/arms had been abandoned, had,
grown up, and were now held by the lumber companies.
Mr. Read said there were many small farms of 100 acres all.?
over the district that men in town were buying and holding for the
lumber to grow on; some of the old farms picked up in this way
would make good homes, some of the best farming land in the.
country was in thiat condition today.
Complaint was also made that land held in that way had not
l;aid its reasonable shares of taxes. Some of them taxed at $50 could.
not be bought for $1,000. This was most unfair to the men that
lived alongside and had to pay a high valuation on their cleared.
l a n d .
At Waweig a good many vacant farms were reported, but most
of them were not desiralble. Mr. Richardson thought St. Croix.
wa*s the “poorest farming parish in Canada.” Bayside was the best
section, where there were some old good farms, but most of the
parish was very broken land. He did not thing it would. be wise to try
and get people to settle on many of these places..
Mr. John Trundle thought that any one who would induce men.
to come and settle on vacant farms in St. Croix must have an awful
grudge against them.
Mr. Hartt, M. P. P., said there were some very good farms;
he was not prepared to say how good or how poor the lands were,.
but people had made a comfortable living off them. One of the
mistakes that farmers had been making, he thought, was that insteadof working their f/arms they had taken over adjoining farms and
were trying to work altogether too much land. He thought, in many
instances, twto farmers could live to better advantage off some farms
than one does now. He thought it would be wrong to say there was
no land available fos sale for new settlers.
Mr. Geo. J. Clarke, M.P.P., said that there was some very good.L
agricultural land in Charlotte County, and the question of abandoned.
farms was true of all parts. These farms, had not been deserted.
80
REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION.
simply because the land would not yield crops but because the
people wanted to work in the cotton mills, and in the general demand for labour the sons and daughters. of the farmer went to the
towns for the purpose of getting employment. The result was when
the old people were no longer able to work the farms, they had to
move to town and live with their children. He thought there were
quite a number of farms in Waweig and elsewhere that could be
made to produce good results with intelligent cultivation and would .
supply homes for Ia good many people that might be brought from
outside. He thought every effort should be made to extend the
market for New Brunswick products, and in that way we could induce the occupation of more land.
At Pennfield, (Charlotte County,) it was stated the farm land
in the parish was pretty well occupied. There might be quite a
number’ of farms for sale, some of them desirable properties and
within easy reach of abundance of sea shore fertilizer.
As most farmers in the district were also fishermen and did not
work their farms on a large scale, there was an abundance of labour
when it was needed.
The matter of labour at the Charlotte County meetings was not
much discussed, as the general opinion seemed to be that there was
abundant labour for all the work required.
Restigouche County.
At the Tide Head meeting evidence showed there were practically no vacant f a,rms along the Restigouche River from CampbelL
ton- to the Upsalquitch.
A great scarcity of labor was reported. Mr. Adams said it waLs
hard to get unless exorbitant prices were paid. Men thla,t would work
in a mill for $1 per day demanded $2 for farm labour. It was almost
impossible to get domestic help for indoors.
Mr. Wm. Currie, M. P. P., remarked the trguble he had was that
the farmers took.away his mill men land interfered with his operations considerably.
At Shannonvale some vacant farms were reported in the upper
.
REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION.
81
end of Dundee, partly cleared, but no buildings except in one case.
On the back part of Dundee, on the third and fourth concessions
there was Crown Land and there might be some grants in there that
Y
x ere for sale.
Labour was reported scarce at times, but it did not seem to be a
very serious question.
At Balmoral all the available land was occupied and more land
wouldsbe occupied if roads were available. Mr. D. A. Arseneau said
tlhe first and third concessions should have roads, the second concession was not adapted to farming. Lack of roads was a great
hardship. One gentleman reported that he had been in where there
were fourteen settlers and there was no road at all, they had to carry
everything in on their backs.
Balmoral had an ample lab#our supply land sent many men to
other parts of the country. .
At Jacquet River, Hon. C. H. LaBillois referred at some length
to the necessity of opening up Crown Lands in Restigouche County.
He was informed of one petition signed by one hundred and twentyfive people applying for one hundred and twenty-five lots of land
allong the line of the Internationa,l Railway that had been sent to
Fredericton. This petition was from young men anxious to build
up homes for themselves on the fertile lands of the Restigouche. He
thought there was no great,er favor could be done the county and the
Province than to open up Crown Lands, build roads and let the
people come in-in the next five or ten years five hundred families
would settle. Settlement was retarded in various parts of the county
on account of lack of roads.
Mr. Culligan said there were few farms for sale in the district ;
he did not know of any. Several others knew of no land for sale.
At Charlo, Mr. W. M. Hamilton said there might be a few
farms for sale; quite a number of people no doubt would sell if they
got their price. He could not name any vacant farms. When a wood
lot was offered for sale there were a tremendous lot of applicants.
Land was pretty well taken up for (about three miles back from the
sea shore.
82
REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION.
\ Gloucester County.
At Petit Rocher no vacant farms were reported and there was
a demand for land for settlement. Rev. Fr. Sormany and Mr.
A. J. H. Stewart both urged that the young men who wanted to
settle should be assisted in their efforts-they should hlalve good roads
and land under favourable conditions. “One of our young men,”
said Mr. Stewart, “is equal to any ten that can be imported. And
don’t allow their heads to turn gray before giving them* their
grants.”
At Bathurst no vacant farms were reported. Mr. P. J. Power,
said there were 600 acres above the North Tetagouche of uncleared:
lalnd suitable for settlement but there were no roads t;o it.
Mr. P. J. Veniot said the McManus farm, in the village, an excellent farm, was for sale, also the John E. O’Brien farm, also ex-.
.cellent. He did not think there was a vacant place in the whole.
district.
Mr. Narcisse Landry said there were no worthless or depleted:
.
farms.
*The meeting was unanimous that there was plenty of help for
farm
work.
?
Mr. Edwin Carter protested against the regulations in regard
tlo securing land under the Labour Act, whereby all the lumber could*
be cleared off (a man’s land before he got his grant. He thought if a
man went into the woods as a bon,a fide settler and took up a hundred.
acres, he ought to have a right to the lumber. No young man wanted
to go on a piece of land stripped of all its lumber. It was a,11 right
that the lumbermen should be protected but they should not be allowed to keep back settlement.
Mr. Armstrong remarked that the lumbermen were supposed to)
cut to regul,,
r+;Rn Gse, but as a matter of fact what they left was not
worth anytllr 2*xkMr. Carfer salid he had known lumbermen to sell three or four
acres to farmers with the right to clean off everything right down
to an axe handle, although they w#ere supposed tlo cut to regulation,
He knew where it had been done within five miles of the town.
REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION.
Mr. J. J. Melanson said Mr. Carter’s evidence wals known to
many and was a very serious question.
This matter was discussed at some length and the general
opinion of the meeting was that while the lumbermen deserved protection under their license, they should not be allowed to strip land
.&hat was wanted for ‘settlement.
At Stonehaven Mr. Horace Hornibrook reported no farms at all
for sale; when one came upon the market it was snapped up atI a
, good price. The people there did not want to take up new land; it
was tloo hard work to do so.
Mr. Howard Good said the land back from the shore was really
too frosty to be good agricultural land.
Mr. Hornibr(ook did not entirely agree with that. He said there
was much good agricultural land back.
Mr. N. R. Ritchie said it was no worse for frost than Paquetville, where land was thickly settled.
Labour was not plentiful for short terms, but if a man was
,T;;-anted by the year there was no trouble to get one.
At Grand Anse very few farms were reported for sale. There
.
was plenty of labour.
At Caraquet land was report,ed as all occupied and hardly any
Crown Land for settlement.
At Upper Pokemouche there were no vacant farms and a considerable demand for land. Rev. Father Wheten complained that in
the Parish of St. Rose thirty farms had been illegally taken up by
people who did not live there, and were holding the land for fire
wood and speculation. The re’sult was that the young men in St.
Rose could not get fsrms and had to lealve the country. 8
At St. Isidore, Shippegan, and Tracadie no vacant lands are
.tiT-ailable. There is a demand for more land, and there is an abun.dnnce of labour.
Northumberland County.
At Tabusintac some vacant farms were reported with consider*able cleared land and some old buildings. A fair valuation would
84
REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL COMMI$SION.
be about $200 each. No occupied farms seemed to be for sale. Crown
Land between Tabusintac and Tracadie and up to the I. C. R. was
reported to be splendid farming land, with considerable lumber and
hardwood on it.
At River des Caches very few vacant farms or farms for sale
were reported. A new settlement of between fifteen and twenty
families was taken up in -1907; there is no crop from it as yet.
Plenty of labour in the district.
At Bay du Vin few farms were for sale in the immediate vicinity
but there was lots of good land up the Bay du Vin River held by
the Crown. Towards Upper Bay du Vin a good malny farms had 4
been vacated; the land was very good and there were buildings on
some of them. They were somewhat remote but offered a good
cilance for people who would go on them, as the market was good.
Somet’imes the supply of labour was sufficient, but when the saw
mills were all running it was scarce.
Mr. T. B; Williston said he would like to get a man and his wife
the year round. There was a large demand for domestic labour, one
gentleman saying that twenty or thirty girls at from $7 to $12 per 1
\
month could be placed.
At Black River a few fa#rms were reported for sale, and between
there and Rogersville there would be 8 miles of pretty good land;
:I road had been surveyed through there and ought tlo be completed.
There was a settlement on the Bay du Vin river, referred to at t,he
Gay du Vin meeting, described as a whole settlement of splendid
land unoccupied except for two or three settlers.
Labour was scarce enough about haying time, but as a general
sufficient.
thing there
At Millerton there was very little land reported vacant that was
adapted for farming. Very few farms for sale.
Labour was scarce at high wages. Messrs. Heff erman, Betts, and
others, said that good farm labourers with small families would be
T,l-elcome.
At Indiantown, Rev. Father Murdoch told of a large number
of vacant farms-land which could be profitably farmed if settle-
REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION.
85
ments could be organized and, roads and schools built. This land was
girod land. He had a portion of it thrown on his hands on account
of some money he had advanced to two young men. They cut everything that was merchantable on the place and left. In three years
alfter these young men had left the place he took 150,000 feet of
lumber off the plaee as well ,as 2,000 bushels lof oats and 95 tons of
hay. These young men could have had the place for $200, but they
left it, and he had taken $1,700 off it. There was also a good deal
of hardwood land held by the Crown not occupied. Father Murdoch
urged that the young men of the country should be encouraged to
t!ake up land now and make homes for themselves, as in a few years,
:rith the growing scarcity of lumber and the immigration we were
likely to have, it would be much harder to get land.
At Rogersville more land was wanted for colonization purploses.
There were no farms known to be on the market and labour was
plentiful.
At Blackville a good deal of vacant land was reported, some
of it was poor, but there were splendid lots with intervales up&the
rivers. One reason why this number of farms had been vacated was
because the settlements were too small to support schools and the
people moved away to educate their children. Cain’s River was
settled to some extent; it was good land with intervales. This
would be about seven miles from the I. C. R. station. At one time
t.he school was kept up but the people lived on the lumbering and did
not take any interest in, their farms. Mr. Dunphy said he had seen .
people doing splendidly on land not nearly so good.
One gentleman stated there was a settlement between Blackville and Dungarvon that could be repeopled to aIdvantage, the land
was a little stony but good.
Mr. D. G. Schofield stated that up the Dungarvon, Renous, and
Bartholomew there was much good land unoccupied and uncleared
that was good for settlement.
Not very many farms were reported for sale except among those
at Cain’s River. It was the lopinion of one gentleman that a great
many farmers had far too much land, they had better sell part of
t#heir f a.rms.
86
‘REPORT OF THE. AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION.
There was plenty of labour if good wlages were paid. This
summer he had seen lots of men that could not get work.
At Doaktown not many vacant farms were reported. The difficulty was there was not land for settlement; land back from the
river was better than that close to it, and if two ,or three tiers of
farms could be opened up it would be of great advantage to the district. At present with a single tier and lots on either side
of the
,
river the people were too scattered to properly operate a cheese factory or butter factory or other work. The big lumbermen held all
. the land and it was difficult until lately to get a piece of land to
cut a cord of wood. One gentleman present said he had alpplied for
a lot of land last winter and had been promised it would be looked
over, but that was the last of it. He did not see any good in bringing over Scotchmen or Irishmen or anyone else if land could not be
> got for our boys.
Another ge,ntleman said that <the people there sould not get
enzugh land to bury a cat.
Mr. Gilks said he had raised a lot of boys and one of them went
clear to Montana to get land. He realized, however, it was very
hard to get our native-born people to settle Ion the back lands, ‘but
they would go to other countries and settle in the wilderness. A4
“young man from here had gone to Maine Sand wrote about the
fine farm he had there. He (Mr. Gilks) went to visit him and .
found him living in the woods. If he had worked in the same way in
New Brunswick he would be just as well off.
Another gentleman said that the young men had to leave because
they could not get back farms.
Queen’s
C,ounty. *
At Waterborough a number of vacant farms were reported for
sale at $700 or $800 each.
At The Narrows it was stated that there were a number of vac,ant Earms and that many occupied farms were for sale if the price
T/b-as right.
REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION.
8T
So far aIs labour was concerned, at The Narrows, Waterborough,
and Lakeville Corner, the supply would be fairly ample.
.
At Shannon it was reported there were but few vacant farmsor farms for sale in the Parish of Wickham.
Labour was scarce and high. Mr. Carpenter remarked if a
man was willing to pay $1.50 per day he could get all he wanted.
There were few farmers who wanted to hire a man the year round,
a.nd if they did they would not care to pay more than $200.
. At Gagetown four farms were reported for sale, and the opinion
of the meeting was there would be quite a number in addition. No*
vacant farms were reported.
In regard to immigration, Mr. Morris Scovil told of an intelligent Scotsman who had settled four years algo in the neighborhood
and had made a practical success. His farm was one that was not
considered very valuable. In response to a question as to why he
had not gone to the West he replied : “Here, I have <all the comforts
of home, good water, plenty of wood, schools, of which there are none
in the west, and churches. I know plenty of men at home, a good
many of them small farmers paying 33 per acre rent, and foremen.
on estates, who could make a success of it in this country.” Mr,
Scovil said quite a lot of land in the Gagetown district could be
bought cheap by such men, and they would make very desirable.
settlers.
In regard to labor, Mr. T. S. Peters said it was very hard to get,
If immigrants with families would come it would help the situatilon,
Also, with regard to domestic labour, which was very hard to get,.
from $8 toc$l2 *a month was paid to girls.
’
Rev. Mr. Penna thought it was a very serious matter to sell a
farm to people who had never seen it. In King’s Ciounty he knew
of some people who were very badly bitten in that way. These
farms were sold through agents in St. John to people who had never
seen the place. One fartn sold thus was very remote and the land
worth nothing. He thought the Government should guard ngainst
the putting of immigrants in the hands of agents.
At Hibernia, considerable numbers of vacant farms were reported.
REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION.
for sale. These were farms that had supported families in the past
and would be capable of* doing so now.
Labour was reported as short, although the situation was easier
than five years ago, wages not being so high and more of the boys
st,aying on the farm. There was, however, still a shortage of labour.
In regard to domestic help, the opinion of one gentleman was that
from $6 to $8 per month was about as high as the farmers would
want to pay. Mr. George Rathburn said that some would pay as
high as $20 if they could get it.
w
At Armstrong’s Corner several vacant farms were reported. One
farm in Petersville with 100 acres cleared and good buildings, a
ciuarter of a mile from the nearest post office, was vacant and for
sale.
Not much demand for labor was reported at the present scale of
w ages. If wages were cheaper more men would be hired.
At Highfield some vacant farms and quite a number of farms for
sa’le were reported. Most Iof the vacated land was situated back
and had poor buildings and was much grown up. There wa’s little
demand for labor in the district.
At Brigg’s Corner a great many vacant farms were reported and
a good many people were talking of selling their farms they now
lived on.
Kent County.
At Notre Dame, Buctlouche, St. Paul, St. Mary, and Richibucto
Village very little vacant land was reported and there was abundance
01 labour.
A Rexton a number of vacant farms were reported. One gentleman remasked : “If we get a couple more dry seasons, you will get
all the vacant farms you want.” Some good farms were reported for
sale, the people were intending to move West, or to leave them for
other reasons.
Labour was abundant.
At South Branch lots of vacant farms were reported with cleared l’and on them from ten to fifty acres and buildings not worth very
REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION.
.
89
much. They could be bought for $2 per acre. One gentleman said :
‘“In our methods we have to run over a hundred acres to get crop
enough to live on.” He thought if a better system of farming was
adopted there was room for ,a great many more farmers., All the
labour that was wanted a’t the rate of $20 per month could be had.
At Ford’s Mills there were very few abandoned farms reported,
but t>here was a good deal of land that had been burned over and was
not producing timber that would be ava’ilable. This wlculd be mostIv Crown Land. A number of fairly good farms were reportled for
side.
At Harcourt a considerable number of vacant farms were reported, most of them good land. There was also hardwo,od land in
the western part of the parish held by the Crown, which was good
farming land. A gentleman in the meeting said: “There were ten
square miles to the north-east of Harcourt, as good a block of agricultural land as was in the Province.” On Trout Brook and along the
Richibucto there was also good land. The reason that. many farms
had been abandoned was because the principal work was lumbering,
and when the lumber was gone the people moved away. There was
a lot of wild meadow land in the district. There were also three
or four t’housand acres of hardwood ridge about ten miles west of
Ilarcourt, fronting on the Salmon River. There were meadows
along the river elsewhere.
Albert County.
At Elgin it was stated there were not as many vacant farms as
twenty yearsago. Where the soil was productive they had not been
abandoned. It was stated in regard to farms for sale that many
men said they would sell but did not when they got the chance. There
tvere perhaps a half dozen farms on the market. Another gentleman
said there were nineteen farms on Golden Mountain, but he did not
recommend them very highly. They were used to some extent for
pasture, and some crops were being taken off. They wol lld furnish
excellent pasture for sheep.
Labor was generally sufficient, at certaQn seasons it was some-
REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION.
times scarce; but wages were too ‘high for the farmer to pay, and
if cheaper labour could be found it would be very acceptable.
At Hopewell Cape Mr. Christopher Ayr said the people in
the back district were forsaking their farms and going to the shore.
.Such places as New Ireland Road and Caledonia were being depleted.
Lumbermen were buying up these back places-in fact the back parts
of Hopewell and Alma were owned by two or three men. The men
who lived in the district worked in the woods most of the year. Mr.
6 Rodgers said people formerly lived on these abandoned farms very
well, but the tendency now was for the back district people to come
to the front and the people in the villages to move to the town. Mr.
Bennett said he had seen farmers make a good living on land that
wals far inferior. Mr. Rodgers thought that many of these farms
could be settled again and made to yield a comfortable living. The
present holders would be willing to sell.
At Albert a great deal of land was reported vacant that would
make good farm land. There were not enough people in the district
to farm the land cleared. About half a dozen good farms were for
sale that were not being worked at all. Mr. McKeevor said a settlement called Lumsden, thickly settled twenty-five years ago, was
now deserted. He thought the reason why many men left their
fa,rms was because they could not get paid cash every Saturday night.
At Alma a good deal of land had been settled that was now deserted and was of more value growing lumber. It was not advised
that this vacant land be resettled, alt#hough people lived on it fairly
well in the past.
At Harvey a few vacant farms were reported back from the
Iharsh. A few deserted places were reported for sale!
At Salisbury a good many vacant farms were reported and a
large quantity of land vacant belonging to the farmers situated along
the river and streams. Mr. J. E. Foster said there was a good deal
of unoccupied land to the rear of the Fredericton Road, where the
6 T. P. line would strike. Much ,of that could be well settled. A
few good farms were reported for sale.
Farm help was reported as being very scarce, but somewhat
easier. A. E. Trites said what was required most was house help.
REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION.
91
He himself was open to engage a good stockman by the year at any
Q .
time.
At Coverdale, Albert Steeves said he did not know of any farms
that were abandoned but there was a good deal \ of land that was
not farmed well.
S. S. Ryan said that close to Moncton there were not many farms
vacant, but there were some in the back places. There were men,
however, who had more land than they could well handle. There
seemed to be a general desire among the men here to leave their farms
and go to Moncton to work for the Government.
L
Not many farms were reported for sale.
There was not very much demand for farm labour.
Westmorland County.
At Point de Bute no land was reported as vacant and no farms
for sale, but Mr. L. Carter said there was a lot of marsh that might
be improved a great deal. He thought it was too big a project for
private enterprise, that the Government could easily buy it, have it
ditched, and sell it back to the people. The country could be made
valuable in that way.
Mr. Hicks, speaking for the upper part of the district, said
there were a good many abandoned farms and they were pretty good
places where Scotchmen or other good farmers could make a living.
Labour wa,s reported as very scarce and the farmers could not
afford to pay wages for the work. The trouble seemed to be the
men did not want to work alone, they did not want to be isolated.
Mr. Hicks said as there was not much inducement for labourers the
year round, there was a shortage in the busy season.
iit Middle Sackville some vacant farms were reported in the
upper district. A considerable number of farms had been bought up
by the lumber companies, and the population was smaller in the back
districts that some years ago.
Mr. F. B. Black thought the Government could not do anything
better than try and have the abandoned land taken up by good
settlers.
.
.
92
REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION.
One gentleman said he knew of no place that held out better inducements for a man with money than Sackville. Within a radius
of five miles of the hall there were twenty-five farms that could be
had reasonably. There was a great chance to keep s&k. If settlers
could be brought in in this way with families, he thought perhaps
the#se families would be available to supply the needed help.
At Baie Verte a great many vacant farms were replorted. The
reason given was that the land was too poor to grow crops without
fertilizers. One gentlema,n thought that there was a great chance
for good settlers to come in. Many of the farms vacated had good
buildings ; and there were also a number of occupied farms that would
ije sold. Not half enough labour was reported, and- there were some
farmers who would provide work for a man and fa#mily the year
round.
At Bayfield very few farms were reported unoccupied. The
opinion was expressed that there were good farms Ion which there
could be more work done if the men were there to do it.
The young men had gone to the West, to the States, anywhere
I
there seemed a chance to make easier money.
Mr. Dobson thought a number of these farms could be bought
if there was ,a. demand for them.
At Little Shemogue a considerable number of vacant farms were
-reported in the upper portion of the ‘Parish; some of this vacant
land had formerly supported families. It was the opinion of some
that there was room for a number of good, thrifty settlers. .A few
farms already occupied were for sale ; ,and, no doubt, good. properties that were not on the market could be bought.
In regard to labour, scarcely any men were employed by the
year, about two months in summer was the extent farmers wanted
labour to hire.
At Dupuis Corner no vacant farms or farms for sale were reported, but quite a lot of vacant Crown Land between there and
Sackville was reported, which would make good farming land.
There was an ample supply of labour.
At Shedi,ac very few vacant farms were reported. Some farms
were for sale. There was a good deal of vacant land in forests.
REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION.
93
Most of the labor from the district went to Moncton on railway
work, but there was no great scarcity and domestic help was pretty
well supplied.
At Memramcook West quite a number of vacant farms were
reported, the people having moved to Moncton to work on the railway or gone to the United States. Lots of farms were actually on
the market, and it w;ould certainly be desirable to have them OCCU.
pied .
Labour was hard to get.
At Dorchester very few ,abandoned farms were reported, but
there were some for sale. About all of Woodhurst would be available
f~or new settlers ; and Fairfield, in the Parish of Sackville, was for
In regard to labour, Mr. A. W. Chapman said there was so
much public work going on in the summer time that it was very
hard to get good farm help .
At Irishtown, Mr. Owen Donahoe said there were a good many
vacant farms on the McLaughlin Road. They were left for no fault
of the land. He, himself, had a farm on which he lived for forty
years, but his boys all grew up and left the place and the farm was
now vacant. There were also a large number of farms for sale, and
within a radius of five miles of the meeting there were said to be
hundreds of acres of good land unoccupied.
At Petitcodiac no vacant farms that were any good were reported ; there might be quite a number of farms for sale. Two or three
men were in looking for farms last fall and there did not seem to
be many wanting to sell.
Labour was plentiful in the winter time, but scarce in the
summer. A few farmers would like to get help the year round.
King’s Countv.
At Havelock, Mr. 0. N. Price said there were a good many
vacant farms. He did not know why the people had left them because they could make a much better living on them than working
94
REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION.
’
around the towns. There was no poverty in the district. There was
not more than fifty acres of Crown Land in the Parish. He thought
the people had cleared too much land, the country would be much
better off with more forest. A few good farms were on the market,.,
but not many.
In regard to labour it w,as stated that help wanted could be get,.
but it was very expensive. Farmers did not want a man the year’
round and that was the trouble.
At Corn Hill it was reported thlat there was some vacant land
but it was pretty hard to cultivate.. Land that the people had moved
away from had better be kept in woods. Two farms in the district
were reported for sale, the only two known of.
I
At Penobsquis a great many vacant farms were regorted. One
district eleven miles from there thirty years ago supported a school
with forty-four scholars, today there were only two families in the.
whole place. There was another settlement that used to have fifty
scholars, today there are not enough to run a school both terms. Another district was reported to have gone out of existence altogether..
Mr. Alfred Stone knew of eight abandoned farms within eight
miles, all for sale ; land good, buildings fair, they had meadows along,
the stream, and could be bought for about the price of the buildings.
In regard to labour, Mr. Stone said the saw mills took away
all the available help. When the mills were not running these men
would work on the farm.
At Smith’s Creek a good many unoccupied farms ‘and a large
amount of vacant land was reported. Back from the creek, about
Jordan Mountain and Whites Mountain the land was good, but there
was not enough people to work it. Generally speaking it was hardwood country. A considerable list of men having land for sale was
reported.
In regard to labor but little was engaged by the year. There
were times when there was a#n unsupplied demand for labour.
At Sussex, Mr. H. R. McMonagle, speaking for Sussex and adjoining parishes, said there were a great mainy farms unoccupied,.
most of them would give a good living.
REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION.
95
Mr. Geo. Manning said lots of good upland farms could be had
for $5 per acre, with fair buildings on them ; he ha&d two farms him.self, one 300 acres and one 100 acres that he would sell.
Quite a demand for labour was reported.
.
At Berwick, Mr. J. E. Fenwick said there were a good many
.abandoned farms, but he really thought most of them should be allowed to grow up. A few goojd farms were reported for sade, and a
*couple of hundred acres of hardwood land close to Roachville could
be 1taken up with good advantage.
No help was wanted by the year and farmers were generally able
to get what they wanted.
At Norton not many v.acant farms ‘we.re reported near the rail*ray; there were some in the back districts growing up to firewood.
Several farms close to Norton Station were for sale.
At Belleisle Point not many vacant farms were reported close
to the river. there were some in the back settlements. A district
:al.ong the Base Line Road, which would be about five miles from the
&eamboat landing, w.as vacant. It used to support families and the
right kind of people could live on it again. A number of farms were
reported for sale.
Men were reported as hard to get. They were wanted mostly in
the summer, as no one would hire a man the year round.
At Hammond a large number lof vacant farms were reported,
some of which were highly desirable. A number of men had farms
for sale, and the meeting was strongly of the opinion it would be
d.esirable to get farmers in to take up these lands.
At Downeyville a good many vacant f.arms were reported. Along
the river there were some fairly good farms ; much of the back land
was badly run down and a man would require some means to bring
it up.
At Kingston, Major Wetmore stated there was but little vacant
land in the parish. Very few abandoned farms.
Generally speaking, there was a shortage of help-at times it
was very hard to get.
96
REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION.
At #Round Hill quite a number of vacant farms were report’ed
on the back roads. Some of them badly out of repair, others with
fairly good buildings.
A scarcity of labour w,as reported, one man saying: “We raise
our labour, but most of the boys leave us? One gentleman said :
“The difficulty is we just want a man for a day or two and then ship
him.”
At Hampton, Mr. J. F. Frlost said that the farms had been
pretty well taken up-the people from the back districts had moved
in close to the railway to get the advlantages of schools, etc.
Speaking of the land back from the railway, Mr. E. A. Schofield
said it would be a good idea for the Government to take hold of one
of these poor farms and put into practice modern ideas aad show
what could be done.
Mr. F. M. Sproul, M. P. P., said the vacant farms were the inheritance of a bad system. The country was settled by men from
England, Ireland, and Scotland, and they had not palways selected
good agricultural land.’ Some of it wa,s better adapted to lumbering
and many places had not been farmed properly.
Mr. Andrew MacPherson thought that :a good many people
could keep sheep in the back country and thus take up the vacant
land. A stringent dog law was needed to protect them from dogs.
Mr. Geo. Raymond, speaking from Norton, said the farms along
the railway were pretty well taken up, but on the second and third
. concession there were many abandoned farms, many of them he
thought would be fairly productive if properly w#orked. Along the
river there was much land that could be drained and made into
splendid fields.
Mr. Schofield, speaking about the matter of labour and immigration, thought it was a mistake to spend money bringing men from
outside; it would be better to spend the money to encourage our
own young men to stay at home.
At Westfield it was thought that any land that had been abandoned had better be albowed to grow up.
Coun. Ballentine said there was considerable good land that had
5
REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION.
97
not been cleared, and it might be advisable to try and project some
new settlements. There was no better country than New Brunswick
under the sunshine of Heaven, if the soil was well handled.
On the occasion of tlhe second visit of the Commission to Sussex,
Mr. S. H. White pointed out that there was a great deal of land la+ying vacant in both King’s and Albert Counties which at one time
had been profitably farmed and much of which would not for a very
long time produce any lumber. He thought it could be settled to
good advantage. It would be more economical to have it farmed
than to wait for it to grow up into lumber. Mechanic Settlement,
for example, was once one of the mlost prosperous districts in the
country, but only about one-tenth of the original population remained there.
Mr. W. B. Jonah said much of this land, which could be very
cheaply brought into pasture, would be good for sheep. It was well
watered, grew white clover naturally, a,nd there were hundreds
upon hundreds of acres of it.
Mr. White said that he and others he knew, who had considera.ble of this land, would be glad to furnish a portion of’ it free of
charge for five years in order that an illustration could be made of
what could be done in sheep raising or otherwise profitably utilizing
.
the land.
Mr. White further urged that the provisions of the Public Domain Act be carried out as rapidly as possible.
He knew that there was a great deal of good land through the
southern part of the Province, on the Canaan River and elsewhere,
which was good land, growing hay naturally, and going to waste.,
IIe thought some scheme should be formulated to open up this coun-’
try for the production of beef. New Brunswick, in his opinion, produced not only vegetables of better quality than could be grown
elsewhere, but also meats of finer flavor.
The increase and improvement in the potato business, even
about Sussex, indicated what could be done in all lines Iof improvement. A few years ago his firm at Sussex had secured some of th4.
best varieties of seed potatoes, and from that seed they had this
.
REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION.
98
.gear shipped fifty carloads to Ontario. They were also expecting to
ship considerable quantities of seed potatoes to the West Indies.
St. John County.
At St. Martins, spea#king for-the parish as a whole, Mr. Michael
Kelly said thousa8nds of acres of farming land were vacant.
Mr. Cudlip Miller remarked it would be better to let most of it
grow up to forest.
Coun. Black agreed with*Mr. Miller to some extent. He stated
that some of the places would make desira’ble farms.
Mr. Jas. Rourke said that a large number of these farms had
been vacated by people who had moved out of the country. They
had made a pretty good living on them and left because they thought
they could do better elsewhere. In his opinion there was room for a
la,rge number of people who could take up these farms to advantage.
Mr. Kelly told of different fa)rms now vacant which were good
farms, some with good buildings.
Coun. Nugent said much of the land vacated would give a comfortable living; it had raised good crops at one time. Some of the
land in the northern part of the parish was level and easily worked.
Another gentleman present spoke of certain tracts that furnished as good a chance for people to settle as he hIad ever seen. There
were many farms with fairly good buildings on them.
Not many men were wanted at present prices. If they could be
had for the wages of some years ago there would be considerable
employment offered.
Mr. Kelly stated that a Norwegian gentleman had lately told
him that the country in southern New Brunswick was far ahead of
the north of Finland and Sweden for agricultural purposes, and if
the people there only knew the opportunities here, they would come
3n thousands.
l
St. John Citv.
At the meeting in the Board of Trade rooms, St. John, Ex-Gov.
McClelan, in speaking before the Commission, deplored the num-
REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION.
-
ber of vacant farms that existed throughout the Province. He
stated that villages that were depending on districts where these were
situated were feeling the effect of it, and that as the trade of these
villages became impaired it was easy to see how St. John, Monct,on,
and other towns must feel the effect. He strongly urged that efforts
be made to bring in good settlers to take up these vacant places, .
In regard to labour, Mr. James Manchester said he had great
difficulty in getting it; if labour could not be obtained the farmers
might as well shut up shop. He wanted to see something done to
keep our young men in the country and bring some of those back
that had gone away. Teaching in our schools which gives a sprinkling of science, while useful, was not of any actual benefit. What
was wanted was more practical education.
Mr. Young said it was very hard to get the right kind of help.
English immigrants that he had had were not very much good. His
firm emplloyed men the year round, though, of course, they wanted
’
more at haying and harvest. .
Samuel Creighton said he was almost afraid to put in a cro,p
for fear he could not get men to cultivate it and take it off. Anything that would help to increase the supply of farm labour would
bc a great help. He recognized that the average small farmer could
not keep a man the year rlound, and that this was one of the difficulties in ret’aining adequate supply of labour within the Province*
He agreed with Mr. W. S. Fisher that it was a good plan to supply
a3 house and small plot of ground and secure married men. The
trouble was too few of our farmers were prepared to do that. In his
experience the Irishmen had been the best labour he could get, the
Danes were pretty good men, the English had been a very poor
class.
Speaking of boys leaving the. farm, he remarked it was largely
due to the way thev were treatled. The only place a boy did not get
his monthly wages was on the farm; the farmer does not give his
son a chance the same as the merchant does. He thought the farmer’s
boy did nlot get half a chance - h e was expected to w,ork early and
late, get his clothes and board, and nothing else, from his father. I f
the same boy were working in town he would get his wages every
Saturday night.
Tloo
REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION.
Coun. J. M. Donovan said the trouble in regard to labour was
&hat we don’t give our men enough pay. $10 a month and board was
not paying a man enough. He would :ask his men to work fourteen
hours a day when necessary and thought they should be paid accord(ingly.
dMr. R. R. Patchell, speaking on this question, said he did not
know of any inducement New Brunswick had ever .offeredbthe young
New Brunswick farmer, and that was a subject well worthy of consideration. He thought it would be a good investment, instead of
,$bringing in outside people, to first try and plant some young homes
with our own young people. If a successful farm were planted in
New Brunswick it was something that would give a return to the
Province every year. He considered we had the finest Province and
the finest climate anywhere and the only thing we were shy on was
~populatilon.
Mr. W. S. Fisher, referring to the matter of abandoned farms,
said throughout New England many of such farms were being taken
up. The Government held out inducements, distributed seeds, bulletins on different subjects, etc., and a great change had come over the
spirit of the farmers. As a result they were better off and were
making money. A man near Portland that he knew of went into
potato raising as it was done in Aroostook, and got 332 bushels per
acre.
Mr. R. G. Murray agreed with Mr. Patchell that it would be
ten times better to populate our abandoned farms with our own
people than to bring immigrants. Cheap commercial fertilizers
were needed in order that a maIn might get a start on these farms.
From information he had, he believed fertilizer now costing $35
ito $40 per ton could be made and sold to the farmer for $15.
Mr. W. I. Fenton deplored the number of vacant farms, stating
that some land was deserted because it was held for specuh&,ive purposes and was not taxed. He had tried the other day to buy a piece
of land on which a tax of $1.50 was paid, yet the man refused his
offer of $1,600 fior the place. He thought the Government should
authorize the municipalities to collect a proper tax from these places ;
REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION.
101
if the owner did not pay his taxes, the propert,y should be put up
#every five years and sold.
At Musquash, while the area was somewhat restricted, it was
stated that the land might be much more largely occupied than at
- present; men were owning large tracts of land that would support
many families. The reclamation of large bodies of marsh was possible if an aboideau and lock could be placed at ‘the mouth of the
river. The district was admirably a,dapted for the growth of -all
kinds of rolots, vegetables and fodder, and, lying within easy reach
(of St. John, could be developed with great profit.
LIVE STOCK AND DAIRYING.
These subjects u’ere discussed in various ways at the different meetings and herewith is presented a condensed synopsis of
the information given.
At Elgin it was stated that 25 per cent. less stock was kept than
*!en years ago. The principal breed was Ayrshire. Some herds averIaged per cow $42.00 for the year. On account of lack of co-operation
and dissatisfaction with the mana,gement of the butter factory, it
wa’s not now running and t’he butter made at home. Not half as
many sheep were kept as formerly, dogs and wire fences being the
ca,use of decrease. It was urged that something should be done to
stop the dog nuisance. Shropshires and Leicesters were the breeds
preferred, and it was stated that there was much land admirably
adapted for sheep raising. But few good horses were raised, though
the district was fairly well supplied with stallions. It was thought
that stallions should be licensed only when up to a certain standard.
At Hopewell Cape the principal breed of cattle was the Shorthorn a,s the demand was principally for beef. Heavy stallions had
-the preference in the district. There was a good Shire available,
also a IIackney. Shropshire and Leicester were the breeds of sheep
preferred but very few were kept owing to dogs. There would be a
demand for some good rams. Not much pork was being raised and
&he stock was said to be running out.
102
REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION.
At Albert, cattle were principally kept for beef and the district)
was very well supplied with Shorthorn bulls. The cheese factory at
Xopewell Hill was closed because it was not generally patronized
and it cost too much to haul the milk. There were a number of good
heavv stallions and some good colts, more than sufficient for home
use, ‘being raised. \ There would be a1 demand for some good heavy *
mares. There were said to be only about one quart,er as many sheep
kept as formerly, due to dogs a’nd bears and lack of pasture. It was.
considered a good business, however, as lambs sold well and it was
urged that dogs should be taxed.
AtI Alma, on account of the rough nature of the land and the
abandonment of farming, but little stock of any kind was kept.
At Harvey, a good many Shorthorn cattle were kept and some
’ large stables of beef fed each year, four men turning off as many
as two hundred in a year, and others were feeding in a smaller way.
It was stated that too much mill-feed was imported and too few turnips ra)ised to secure the most profit from beef raising. The district
was fairlv well supplied with good horses and quite a number sold
ofi. Praltically no sheep were kept, dogs having killed them years:
ago. It was stated some people would hardly know what ma sheep
looked like. Only enough pork was made for home use.
At Coverdale a good deal of the stock was used to supply milk’
to Moncton, much of it was Shorthorn grade. Some dairymen reported excellent results. It was thought that more beef and milkmight be made a*nd that both Shorthorn and Ayrshires could be introduced to advantage. Practically no sheep had been kept in the
district since the Moncton bridge was built, for then the dogs came
over it and destroyed them. Some good heavy colts were raised,
mostly Clydes. Yorkshire swine were raised in considerable number.
Carleton Countv.
At Woodstock the decrease in the dairy industry was deplored
but no remedy was offered. Some farmers claimed the greatest
difficulty in regard to milk producti’on was the scarcity of labour..
Very little pure-bred dairy stock was kept and there was not much
demand for it. Bee$f cattle were amlso scarce, practically no stock
REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION.
103
being raised. More interest was taken in horses, both Percheron and
Clydesdales being used for breeding draught horses and it was suggested that the locality needed an importation of a,t least fifty good
heavv draught mares. Although the district was specially adapted
to sheep raising, sheep had declined greatly on account of the dog
nuisance. Instances of from fifty to sixty being killed in one night,
were given, one farmer losing as high as sixteen. It was the opinion
of the meeting that farmers should be allowed to shoot dogs on sight,
without liability for damages. Some advocated a dog tax.
At Hartland it was reported that not as much stock was kept
as formerly and no particulas breed largely due to scarcity of labor,
the farmers now turning their attention to hay, grain and potat*oes.
Now that the latter crop can be handled largely by machinery and
large crops obtained by the use of artificial fertilizer, it is becoming a
popular business. Quite a number of heavy horses are bred, Perch.erons being a favorite. To do away with the use of grade stallions
it was suggested that a heavy license fee be put on them. There was
auite a demand for young mares and desirable that some should
<e imported. The meeting thought the heavy horse industry should
be encouraged. Sheep raising in spite of the low price ,of wool was
considered profitable. Lambs sold at from 5c. to Y@. live weight.
There had not been much trouble from dogs.
At Centreville it was stated that dairy stock was 50 per cent.
less than ten years ago, scarcity of labor being the principal reason.
There was no demand for new stock. Considerable Shorthorn stock
had been imported by the Agricultural Society, but it was now nearly
all killed off. Not much interest was evinced in cattle raising of any
‘kind. More was being done wit,h heavy horses and the district was
fa.irly well supplied with both Clyde and Percheron Stallions,
though there was room for a few more. Sheep raising was considered one of the most profitable branches of farming. Shrop’ shires, Cotswold and Leicesters being the favorite breed. Lambs sold
as high as 6c. live weight, one farmer in August realizing for 22
lambs $101.61. The sheep of this flock average ten pounds of wool.
Not much fault1 was found in regard to dogs and there was a demand
+
-for some purebred rams.
1.04
REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL, COMMISSION.
At Glassville much more interest was evinced in dairying and
st,ock ra.ising, though but few purebred cattle were kept and the
stock was not considered as good as thirty years ago. The creamery
was doing good work the proprietor gathing the cream himself,
a’nd paying 20~. per lb. for butter monthly. He also bought all
the fresh eggs his patrons wished to sell, and gathered them when
collecting cream. The meeting thought the Government should help
to get better stock .and a motion was passed asking the Government
to grant $1,000 to bring in purebred cattle, sheep and horses for the
l?a,rish of Aberdeen. Ayrshires were the cattle preferred. The
meeting thought that the use of pure-bred stallions should be encouraged by puttin,0 restrictions on scrub stallions. A motion was
unanimously passed asking for a policy to encourage the retention
- of good brood mares in the country and free service from good
sMlions. A great decrease in the number of sheep kept owing to
the dog nuisance was reported. The market for lambs was exceptionally good, from $5 to $6 per head being realized. Some Oxford Down
grades had given especially good returns. There was a scarcity of
pure-bred rams.
At Bath very little interest in dairying was replorted.
The
skimming stations had been abandoned and the few farmers who had
cream to sell sent it to WoodstSock, but very little stock of any kind
was kept. In horses the heavy horse was preferred and there w.as a demand for some young draught mares. There was only one pure-bred
stallion in the parish, and many scrubs. It was reported tha,t the
farmers had gone out of sheep raising on account of the difficulty
of fencing and scarcity of pasture. Dogs did not give much t$rouble.
Good lambs averaged $5.00 per head. Chesters and Yorkshires were
the breeds of swine used and there was need of some new boars to improve the stock. The meeting was strongly in favor of having an
Illustration Farm established in the county and unanimously passed
the following resolution :-“Resolved, it is desirable in the interests
of agriculture in this county that there should be established as
soon as possible, in a central locality, an Illustration ,Farm that
would demonstrate to the young people the best methods of scientific farming; where the young people could go to work for a time ;
and thajt such reDresentation as will lead to the establishment of
such farm be madi to tIhe Government.”
.
REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION.
105
Charlotte Countv.
At Rolling Dam it was stated that the stock was rather poor
a?ld but little interest taken in improvement, no one wishing to buy
pure bred stock. It was thought scrub bulls should be prohibited
from running at large. The district was well suited for sheep but
very few were kept on account of dogs.
At Waweig neither beef raising nor dairying was followed to
any extent and no pure-breddstock kept. Sheep principally Shropshire and grades were more numerous than formerly. Clyde horses
were favored though no pure-bred stalliolns were available, only
grades. The pure-bred Hackney owned in St. George was getting
some fine colts. Some thought the Clyde horse too heavy for their
needs.
At Pennfield cattle were kept mostly for dairy purposes though
some Shorthorns were used for beef. Not very much demand for
pure-bred stock. Sheep had decreased greatly on account of dogs,
bears and wildcats. -It was urged that the bounty on bears and
wildcats should be reimposed a,nd it was thought thalt a man should
be allowed to shoot dogs trespassing on his property, without liability.
Gloucester County.
At Petit Rocher the Agricultural Society had been importing
pure-breds for some years and complaint was made that the bulls
=,-ere not well taken care aolf and killed too young. The cheese factory ran about three months. The last importation of Leicester
.sheep had not proved satisfactory. There would .be a dema,nd for
.some Shropshires.
At Bathurst a general improvement in stock was reported, princjpally of the dairy type, Ayrshires, Jerseys and Shorthorns being
the breeds used. All the Agricultural Society funds were spent for
:stock improvement. On account of the mismanagement of the butter factory it had not been very well patroiized. There was a de.raand for more stock and if the society had more funds it could use
them to advintage in this directi,on. It was urged that when Government importations were made some of the stock should be sold at
106
REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION.
Bathurst. It was thought that some good young heavy mares
would be purchased if opportunity offered. Some purebred stallions
now available. Some people complained of heavy losses of sheep
from dogs, others had not suffered and thought there were no difficulties in the way of successful sheep raising.
At Stonehaven complaint was made of the difficulty <and expense in securing pure-bred stock, though the society had been importing as far as it,s funds would allow. It was difficult to get men
willing to keep bulls older than three years, co&equently valuable
stock was destroyed. A humber expressed themselves as anxio& to
patronize a butter or cheese factory, and it was suggested that with
a creamery at Bathurst the whole route of the Caraquet Railway
might be served on the cream gathering plan. There was much
complaint, from dogs and a demand that they should be taxedLeicesters were the breed principally used and some good ra’ms wanted. The Agricultural So’ciety had been importing Yorkshire and
Chester swine but found them difficult to get. Not enough horses
were raised to supply the local demand and a good stallion was
wa.nted. It was thought that some heavy fillies w80uld sell though
the general demand among the farmers was for a general purpose
horse. It was urged that if any were imported and sold SOme should
be sold at Bathurst.
At Grand Anse Ayrshires were the principal breed of cattle
kept, and there would be a demand for some bulls of this breed- .
Some fairly good stallions, both Clydes and Percherons, were available, but not enough horses raised to supply the local demand. Not
many sheep kept, as pastures were restricted and wanted for cattle.
No complaint about dogs.
At both Caraquet and Shippegan but little stock of any kind
was reported. Not much care given to calttle, and dogs were destructive to sheep. There might be a demand for some good boars.
Practically no horse raising done.
At Upper Pokemouche cattle were reported as much run out,
no pure-bred bulls and too many scrubs running at large. Long
wooled sheep were preferred as the wool was manufactured at home.
Eazor-backed hogs were the prevailing type, Yorkshires the improved breed preferred.
REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION.
107
At St. Isidore and Tracadie but little good stock of any kind
was reported. .It was resolved tlo organize an Agricultural Society
at each place for stock improvement. More interest was taken in
horses and at. Tracadie a Percheron st allion was available.
Kent County.
At Notre Dame, cattle, sheep and horses were a,11 said to be much
run out, no pure-bred stock being used. Horses were said to be
very small, and not nearly as many sheep kept as flormerly on
.account of dogs.
At Buctouche it was believed thalt pure-bred stock was the best
and more pure-bred bulls, than at present in the district, could be
used. Encouragement to start a cheese factory was asked. Shropshires and Leicesters were the breeds of sheep required and there
was a demand for some good rams. Dogs were a nuisance and it
was thlought they should be taxed. The district was pretty well
supplied with good boars of Yorkshire, Berkshire and Chester
fjreeding. A medium sized horse was preferred. There was one
stillion travelling in the district but very few mares fit to raise
good colts.
At St. Paul ccmplaint was made of the scarcity of good stock.
It was principally wanted for dairying. There was no good stallion and very few colts raised. Swine was inferior. Sheep were increasing. There was some good stock in the district and not much
Lrouble from dogs.
At Ste. Marie it was stated there were no pure-bred bulls and
there would be a demand for some of the dairy breeds. The cheese
factory had run only for a short time and paid pretty well. The
Percheron was the breed of horses preferred and a few colts raised
ea.ch year. Swine were said to be good. Sheep were increasing in
,
numbers, Shropshires being the principal breed kept.
At Richibucto Village a wish was expressed for better stock,
the returns from the cows being very small. Not as many sheep
were kept as formerly principally on account of fencing. There was
no trouble from dogs. Some pure-bred rams had been imported,
REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION.
black-f aced breeds being popular. Very few horses were raised, buti
every one made more or less pork.
At Rexton it was stated that there had been a good deal of purebred stock, principally Jersey, but it was being allowed to run out,
Too many little scrub bulls were allowed to run. The cheese factory
wa’s not running on account of lack of milk and co-operation. Stock
ha’d been much reduced on account of shortage of feed. Some good
pure-bred bulls were needed. Shropshires and Leicesters were the
breeds of sheep preferred. To)o many scrubs were kept. There was
some complaint about dogs. Horses were said to be small and good
stallions scarce. It was thought the scrub stallion should be
stlopped and all stallions licensed.
At South Branch principally dairy stock was kept and there
were not enough good bulls. Very poor returns per cow were report* ed.& The cheese factory not having enough milk, was closed. Sheep
had not decreased, lalmbs weighing from 25 to 40 lbs. brought about
$2.50 each. There were enough horses raised to supply the home
demand. Some preferred heavy horses, others light. There was a
demand for a good heavy stallion. In swine the White Chester was
preferred, and some new blood was wanted.
)
At Ford Mills it seemed to be agreed that beef raising paid
better than dairying and some good bulls were wanted. Sheep were
increasing and some good rams were wanted. Lambs brought about .
$2.50 apiece and there was no trouble from dogs. More horses were
raised than formerly, the heavy colt being the best seller. Some
good young mares were wanted. A fairly good class of pigs was.
kept .
At Harcourt both dairying and beef raising was followed to:
some extent and some good cows making from 250 to 364 lbs. of
butter per year, kept. Heavy horses were preferred. There was one
good stallion but not nearly enough colts raised. Sheep were decreasing and there was much damage from dogs. Some men were improving their flocks by introducing Shropshire rams. The swine
were principally Yorkshire and some good stock raised, one man having a’ pig at seven and a half months old which dressed 3771/2 lbs*
4 REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION.
109
King’s County.
At Havelock principally dairy stock was kept. Ayrshires an&
Holsteins being the main breeds. Most of the milk sent to the factories; the cows averaging from $30 to $40 per year though some farmers ran up to $60. It was stated the stock was not as good as twenty
years ago as not enough attention had been paid to selecting dairytypes. Some herds had been much improved. Heavy horses were.
preferred but as many good mares had been sold, breeding mares’
were scarce. A good deal of pork was produced and the district was.
fairly w.ell supplied with pure-bred Yorkshire and Berkshire boars.
Not much interest was taken in sheep raising on account
of -the
.
scarcity of pasture and the difficulty of fencing. Not much trouble’
from dogs.
,Qt Cornhill mainly dairy cattle were kept, the cows averaging:
at the factory from $40 to $50 per year. Not many pure-bred bulls- *
\\sere used on account of the inferiority of some of the stock previ.ously imported. Not much attention paid to horse breeding and but few
good mares ava.ilable. It was thought as long as scrub st,allions were’
allowed to travel conditions would not improve. About half the
fa,rmers kept sheep. No pure-bred rams were used and there was
no complaint about dogs. Every farmer raised more or less pork
and Chesters were the principil breed.
At Penobsquis mostly dairy stock was kept and some of thebreeders claimed that they were handicaped by having to go so far
to buv breeding stock. It was thought that if there was some central.
place”in the Province to which stock could be brought and distributed, that it would be a great help. The majority present thought the”
heavy horse paid best to raise though some preferred raising good..
large drivers. $heep had greatly decreased as they were not considered .profitable to pasture with oows. Some loss from dogs and
wildcats was reported though one breeder who did not keep many
cows found a large flock of sheep very profitable and had no trouble
with dogs.
At Smith’s Creek, it was stated there was very little pure-bred:
stock kept,. though pure-bred sires were used, mostly of the dairy-
-110
REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION.
Lbreeds. Heavy horses were preferred but there were very few good
mares in the district fit to breed from. Both good Clydes and Percherons travelled through the district. Complaint was made of
wildcats killing off many of the sheep, though some good flocks were
kept and found profitable. Chesters and Yorkshires were the principal breeds of swine and farmers generally got the use of pure-bred
*boars.
At Sussex, dairy cattle were almost exclusively kept and that
.section may be termed the home of the Ayrshire in New Brunswick.
Some of the largest and best herds are kept here and considerable
pure-bred dairy stock distributed to other parts of the Province.
Jerseys, Guernseys and a few Ho&steins are also kept though Ayrshires would constitute nearly ninety per cent. of the stock. A large
.amount of milk was sent daily to St. John and two butter factories
‘n-ere supplied by the district. Heavy horses were reported scarce and
it was thought there would be a demand for at least twenty-five
ryoung heavy mares. Great fault was found with the prevalence. of
scrub stallions and it was urged that action should be taken to re&rict them. ’ It was thought there were far too many blemished
horses in the country. Sheep had deteriorated very much. Too
many grade rams were used although plenty of pure-breds were availa,ble at $10 apiece. Dogs had been very troublesome. It was strongly
urged t,hat steps should be taken to*‘encoura,ge sheep raising in the
*outlying sect’ions of King’s County.
At Hampt’on it was stated that dairy stock was increasing and
the district fairly well supplied with pure-bred bulls. Better stock
,generally, h,owever, was wantled. Complaint was made that while
the price of dairy products was high’to the consumer, the farmer did
.uot get as much &as years ago. All kinds of feed were very high
.as was labor and the profit in the dairy business cut down verv small.
‘The district was well supplied with stallions but not much “general
-at,tention w&s given to horse raising. Opinion was divided as to
whether the heavy horse or light
. horse was best for the farmer. Not
:a,s many sheep kept as formerly partly due to the dog nuisa,nce.
Swine not raised tog the same extent as some years ago. Instead of
feeding milk to pigs it was fed by many dairvmen
tlo their cows.
”
Xerkshires and Yorkshires were the principal breeds of swine used.
REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION.
11X
At Berwick, Ayrshires were the stock preferred and the butter
factory patronized. It was thought that Clyde and Percher’on horses
were not entirely suitable to the district as the farmers had some
distance to go to market and had to do much driving. Sheep had
decreased principally because of the difficulty of fencing. There.
was not much complaint about dogs except in Lower Millstream.
Q.uite a business in pork raising was done by some farmers, one man.
turning off 150 per year. These were raised largely on green feed.
and pasture and finished on grist mill products. There was good
demand for all the light pork that could be produced. Berkshires,
a.nd Yorkshires were the favorite breeds.
At Norton dairying was the main business, some men realizing.
from $50 to $60 per cow per year at the fact*ory and some individual
cows making as high as ninetv dollars for milk shipped to St. John..
Ayrshires would be the principal breed used. Not many horses wereb
raped as the feed was want’ed for cows. Clyde, Percheron and.
French Coach stallions were available. The dog nuisance prevented
much being done with sheep except in the back districts. It was
urged that a man should be allowed to shoot dogs trespassing on
his land. Leicesters were the breed preferred. Lambs brought from.
$4. to $5 per head. There was a general improvement in swine and:
t,he number raised increasing.
At Belle Isle Creek it was stated the district was well suppliedwith pure-bred dairy bulls. One man from grade Jersey cows, had
made last year a net profit of $34.83 per cow. These cows freshened
in the fall and were fed hay at $8.00 per ton and grain twice per day,
about a peck of turnips and stra.w once each day. About four quarts,
of grain per day was fed. Peas, oats and vetches as well as some
rape was fed green. It was stated that only small horses had been
bred, but the heavy horse was preferred and the Agricultural Societyhad invested in a pure-bred Clyde stallion. Dogs, bears and wildcats
were all destructive to sheep and some people had decreased their.
flocks, ot,hers were keeping as many as usual. There was a good demand for lambs. Swine was said to be rather scarce.
At Belle Isle Point cattle were kept mostly for milk though some
stock was raised for beef. There were very few pure-bred bulls,,
612
REPORT OF THE AGRICdTURAL COMMISSION.
Ayrshire and Jersey being the principal breeds. Not much attenition was given to horse raising. There was general complaint about
the destruction of sheep by dogs, bears and wildcats. Shropshires
were the breed’ preferred, lambs selling up to $4.00 per head.
.At Hammond mostly dairy stock was kept and of fairly good
quality. The cheese factory ha.d closed and there was dissatisfaction
*about testing cream sent to the butter factories. It was suggested
that a man testing cream should be sworn and qualified just the same
*as a lumber scaler. B1ore good stock was needed. The district was
.good for sheep but dogs, bears and wildcats were very destructive.
‘It was thought a man should be allowed to shoot dogs straying on
his property without liability. Swine were fairly good and pork
-raising found profitable but not as much raised as formerly.
At Downeyville cattle *were principally kept for dairy purposes
although some young stock was ra.ised. No records of milk were kept,
Horses were said to be somewhat
.scJme supplementary feed grown.
run out and small. Clydes were considered too large and a French
#*Coach stallion preferred. Sheep were found profitable, but dogs,
bears and wildcats all caused loss. The stock was largely half-bred
Xeicesters. Lambs three months old, counting pelt and all, had
-brought as high as $6 apiece in the St. John market. \.The swine were
of Yorkshire and Chester breeding and there was a good demand
-for pork.
At Kingston, cattle and other stock were only kept in a small
way. The ~4gricultural Society imported pure-bred stock nearly
<every year. Two Guernsey bulls, two Ayrshires, and three Avrshire
v
females being brought in last year, also some Oxford Down sheep.
At Upham principallv ” Ayrshire stock was kept. During the
cheese factory season of three months last year, the cows averaged
,Qbout $15 each for milk. Some farmers took considerable interest
in feeding and housing their cows. In regard to horses, complaint
was made of the scarcity of good stallions t)hough more colts had
been raised the last few years. *Not many sheep were kept, dogs
doing much damage. Some lambs had sold up to as high las $5 per
head. Shropshires preferred. Swine was found profitable and
good boars were available.
REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION.
113
At Round Hill about six cows was the average number kept on
&he farm. There was a scarcity of pure-bred stock and a demand for
some.’ Some good horses were kept and the district was fairly well
supplied with stallions, the preference was for a medium weight
horse with good action. It was stated that not half as many sheep
w-ere kept as formerly, due to bears and dogs. A good stiff dog tax
was favored.
At Westfield, Holsteins were the favorite breed though the herds
were somewhat mixed. Some records kept showed returns of $50
profit per cow. In this case part of the milk and cream was sold
cllrect to consumers. Not as many sheep were kept as formerly
though they were considered a profitable stock, dogs a,nd bears were
the chief difficulties.
Madawaska County.
At .St. Leonards it was reported that very little attention was
<riven
to cattle. The butter factory was now idle though it had preb
\Tiously been doing a good business and it was hoped that after the
railroad work was over that people would come back to their farms
again. Horse raising was not receiving very much attention and
there was no pure-bred stallions in the district though there would
be business for a pure-bred Clyde. Sheep raising had increased in
late years and was a profitable buginess.
At Clair the cattle were reported as very much run out and the
butter factory idle. Some interest was evinced in regard to stock
improvement. Not much attention was given to horse raising though
there was a good pure-bred Clyde a.t St. Francis which travelled
t,hrough the district. More sheep were kept than formerly though
no pure-breds were used. There was some complaint about dogs.
Northumberland County.
At Tabusintac it was stated there were no pure-bred bulls in the
district but steps were being taken to form an agricultural society
send there would be a demand for some bulls; also some rams. ‘It was
thought, th.at pure-bred stallions should have protection frlom cheap
114
REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION.
scrubs. One pure-bred Percheron available. Some fairly go&
Chester and Yorkshire swine were raised.
At River Des Caches the cattle were mostly after Avrshire stock.
imported years ago. Some fresh blood was wanted foE dairy purposes and Ayrshires preferred. Every farmer kept a few sheep..
There was not much complaint about dogs $a.nd some good rams
wanted. Some fairly go:od swine raised and the services of one
good heavy stallion were available a,nd ‘a, ‘number of men were raisingcolts.
At Bay Du Vin pure-bred Ayrshires, Shorthorns and Holsteins.
had in the past been imported a.nd there was a demand for a few
more good bulls. More or less sheep kept by everyone but they were
rather poorly bred and some pure-bred rams needed. There was no
trouble from dogs. Clyde and Percheron stallions were availableand enough horses were raised to supply the needs of the district,.
the Clyde colts being preferred.
At Black River the cattle were of Shorthorn and Ayrshirel
breeding, though no purebred bulls were kept at present and scrub
bulls were allowed to run a.t large. It was th?ought this practice*
should be stopped. Not as many sheep were kept as formerly, though
there was no trouble from dogs, the reason given being that the
young people would not wear homespun. The swine were reported’
as very good, pure-bred boars being kept by some farmers and pat-ronized by their neighbors. Whit’e Chesters were used last year.
At &Xillerton strong complaint was made
1 of the dam\age to stockcaused by scrub bulls running at large. Shorthorn, Holsteins and Ayrshires were all used and the latter breed was now preferred. The!
mixture of Shorthorn and Ayrshire cattle was recommended by some
of the farmers as the best stock for the district. There was a good
Percheron stallion available but complaint was made that his services
also kept at Blackville was throwfee was too high. A good Clvde
”
ing very fine colts. Not as many sheep kept as formerlv
v c:n account
Ches--
REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION.
115
At Indiantown good stock had been imported from time to time
;and Ayrshires were the favorite. Bulls were generally dispensed
with at three years old. Percherons and Clydesdale horses were
.being bred, also some trotting stock. The district was said to be good
I’or sheep and they had not decreased. Shropshire and Leicester
were the principal breeds used. The swine of the district were very
good, Yorkshire and Chester being the principal breeds.
At Blackville a number of pure-bred Ayrshire bulls were kept
and there was a demand for more. The cheese factorv had been
closed and sold, having gone down on account of lack of co-operation.
Eat enough horses were raised to supply the demand. Both Percherc!n and Clydesdale stallions travelled through the district and it was
.urged that something be done to prohibit the travelling of scrub
stallions. Heavy horses were preferred. Sheep were run out and
(dogs very destructive. Considerable pork was raised, most farmers
keeping a brood sow.
,
At Doaqktown cattle were kept largely to supply beef for lumbering. lC\Tot much dairying done. Shorthorn and Holstein bulls had
been used. Quite a number of horses were raised but neither heavy
3snougl~ nor fast enough. Both kinds were wanted. A good heavy
.stallion particularly needed. Sheep raising was considered profitable
*but dogs had discouraged the industry. It was thought dogs should
be taxed and also shot when straying 0 off their o-wner’s property.
Queen’s County.
At Waterborough the opinion was offered that if the cattle were
*better fed and housed they would do better. Too many scrub bulls
used. About six cows per farm kept, butter being made at home and
no factory . within reach. It was thought not to be an especially
good section for sheep and both dogs and bears were troublesome.
‘the demand for horses was for something between a draught hors@
.nnd a driver for home use. The masket demanded the heavy horse.
‘JJhere was a fairly good supply of Chester and Yorkshire swine.
At the Narrows pure-bred cattle were reported as very scarce,
the great difficulty wlas to grow sufficient feed on the highland farms.,
Xot cne quarter sheep kept as formerly due to cheap wool, dogs and
116
REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION.
wildcat,s. The horse stock was said to be much run out, the preference
wa,s for horses weighing from twelve to fourteen hundred pounds.
At Shannon it was said that too many scrub cattle were kept
and there was a demand for some pure-bred bulls. It was difficult
there to grow suffcient feed, hence not much stock was kept. Many
were going out of sheep raising on account of dogs and bears. Shropshires were the breed preferred. Not many pure-bred boars kept
though every farmer produced more or less pork. It was thought
that fairly heavy horses were needed for the heavy machinery now
used in farm work and although enough horses were raised for home
use it was thought more heavy horses could be raised to advantage.
At Gagetown beef stock seemed to be preferred and complaint
was made of the high price of bulls. A great many sheep had been
destroyed by dogs and it was urged that something should be done
to remedy the dog nuisance. A five dollar license on dogs was suggested. Shropshires were the breed of sheep preferred. The dis,
trict w&s fairly well supplied with swine.
At Hibernia not as many cattle were kept as formerly, scarcity
of feed being the chief cause. There was a preference for Ayrshires.
as dairying was principally followed. Sheep were considered the&
best stock on the farm but not as many kept as flormerly on account
of the trouble of fencing and from bears. The reimposition of bear
bounties was urged. Not much trouble from dogs. Yorkshires were
the swine generally preferred and the district was fairly well supplied. There were a number of good stallions but not enough horses
raised to supply the local demand.
At Armstrong’s Corner &tle were decreasing on account of scarcity of feed. Ayrshires, Holsteins and Jerseys were the principal
breeds as it was a dairy section. Cream shipped to St. John and
complaint made of excessive freight and express rates. Sheep had
fallen off greatly in the last ten years chiefly due to dogs which it
was thought should be taxed. There w*as quite a demand for purebred rams. There was a preference for heavy horses and the district
fairly well supplied with stallions, but there were too many scrubs
and it was thought the government should legislate against scrub
stallions.
REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION.
ll?
At Highfield t’he cattle were mostly kept for dairying and thepe
was great lack of pure-breds. There was no record of production.
kept and no beef raised. Hardly enough horses were raised for
There were generally
home use on account of scarcity of feed.
enough stallions to supply the demand. Not half as many sheep,
were kept as five years ago, largely on account of dogs which it was
thought should be heavily taxed. Quite a number of swine werekept, the market was fairly good and Yorkshires were the breed.
generally used.
At Brigg’s Corner it was stated there were no pure-bred bulls,
and great need for improvement in dairy stock. The cheese factory
closed down six years ago. A few were sending cream to Sussex. A
great many had gone out of sheep raising on acoount of dogs and
the low price of wool. Lambs had only been bringing from $2 to
$2.50 per head. A considerable number of colts were raised. Horses
from 1200 to 1300 lbs. were preferred as there was a good deal of
driving. The district was fairly well supplied with stallions.
.
Restigouche County. ’
At Tide Head cattle were chiefly mixed Ayrshires and Holsteins. No pure-breds kept and no demand for them. Heavy I horseswere preferred and there was an opening for a pure-bred stallion:
Sheep were decreasing on account of the low price of wool a’nd..
dogs. Only a few swine for home use raised.
At Shannonvale not much done either in dairying or beef raising. A-bout the same number of sheep kept as formerly. No complaint about dogs, a demand for some pure-bred rams. Two PerGherons and one Clyde stallion adequately supplied the district for”
horse raising.
At Balmoral there were some French-Canadian cows a,nd some*
Ayrshires. Not much milk ma$de owing to dry weather and cheese
factory closed the last of July. Some pure-bred Shropshire sheep.
were kept,, t’he lambs selling to drovers up to $3 each. Not much
trouble from dogs. It was strongly urged t,hat when pure-bred stock
was imported and sold that a portion of it should be sold at some
North Shore point.
118
REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION.
At Jacquet River. some good stock was wannted. Ayrshires and
Shorthorns were the breeds preferred. Both bulls and heifers would
be bought. Shropshires were the sheep preferred and there was a
dem)and for some pure-bred rams. The heavy horse was preferred
and3 the district well supplied with stallions.
At Charlo some Ayrshire and Shorthorn bulls were wanted and
it was thought bulls should not be allowed to run at large. Shropshires were the sheep preferred and some new stock wanted. Ntot
many swine were being raised and in regard to horse raising, the
mares were described as being all too small land that it was difficult
to make a purebred stallion profitable when scrub stallions were
oflering such cheap service. It was thought something should be
.
done to encourage pure-bred stallions.
St. John County.
At St. Martins it was stated that mostly dairy stock was kept
and Ayrshires preferred. There was a scarcity of good bulls. Not
many sheep kept and no good rams. More dogs kept than sheep
and it wa.s thought the farmer should be allowed to shoot stray
8
clogs on sight.
At Musqualsh it was stated that the natural conditions were
splendid for stock raising and dairying and tha,t but little interest
was taken in the business. Pure-bred bulls had been used but the
stock was considerably run out. Other stock was not raised to any
extent.
.
At Saint John City it was stated that farmers in the neighborhood were keeping cattle mostly for milk production and ma,ny of
them using the best pure-bred bulls they could get. Ayrshires, Holsteins land Jerseys were all used and appreciated. Some dairymen
had pure-bred herds and pure-bred stock for sale. Horse raising
-was not carried on to any extent, the farmers buying what t’hey required and considering it cheaper to do so than to raise them. Considerable numbe,rs of swine of good quality were kept butI sheep
vere scarcely kept at all.
*
REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION.
119
Sunburv County.
At Burton farmers from Maugerville and Sheffield as well as
Burton stated stock raising had greatly declined. There were very
few good bulls in the district, the preference in most cases was for
Shorthorns. Cream w;as being sent to St. John creameries and retu.rns were satisfactory. Very few sheep were kept, dogs and the
prevalence of barbed wire fences being the principal difficulties..
There was a fairly good supply of stallions and a demand for heavy
stock but farmers not particular enough in breeding to pure-breds,
At Fredericton Junction not much good stock was reported ,and
farmers did not care to pay the price asked for pure-bred bulls..
They were sending cream to St. John which was satisfactory except
that freight and express rates were considered excessive. Some good
hyrshires were kept and were the breed preferred. Very few sheep,
were kept on account of the dog nuisance. Not much attention was
being paid to horse breeding but it was thought that stallions with
hereditary diseases should be prohibited. In swine
Yorkshires were:
I
the breed preferred but few were kept.
At Lakeville Corner ca#ttle were said to be rather run out, scrub*
bulls only being used. An average of about five cows per farm were
being kept and butter made at home. Very few sheep kept, lambs
brought about three dolla,rs per head and dogs did much damage.
Pure-bred stock was wanted in all lines. There was ‘a fairly good
supply of heavy horses.
*
Victoria County.
At Andover, a scarcity of cattle was reported, considerable quantities of beef being brought into the country from Ontario and no export of dairy products. A resolution was passed -asking that some
good dairy cattle be imported. Ayrshires, Guernseys and FrenchCanadians being the breeds preferred. Complaint was made that
there was no market for dairy butter but others present were able
to get good prices. In regard to horses, Clydes and PercherIons were
preferred and a resolution was passed asking that a carload of
young draught mares be imported. It was stated that not half as
many sheep were kept as ten years ago, largely on account of the
120
REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION.
dog nuisance. It was admitted that not 50 per cent. of the people of
the county would favor a dog tax.
At Plaster Rock a great scarcity of cattle was reported and not
much demand for them for breeding purposes. More interest was
being taken in horse raising and there was [a demand for a few
good mares, the district being fairly well supplied with stallions. It
was stated in regard to sheep raising, that two years ago dogs killed
half the sheep on Tobique, and a resolution was passed asking that
a tax be placed on dogs.
At New Denmark those at the meeting were nearly all successful
dairymen. They were pretty well supplied with pure-breds of Jersey,
Holstein and Ayrshire blood. A cheese factory is run in the district
every summer with satisfaction to its p!atrons. A. J. Jensen reported
his herd of eleven cows averaged him cash returns from the factory
for 51/2 months of $35.00 per cow. Carl Hanson from 2 c’ows realized
$39.60 ea!ch. John Brinkman averaged $28.00 per cow for four
months. Hans Hansen from II cows made an average of $31.00 per
cow, besides some butter mjalde at home. All these men made considerable butter bef#ore the cheese season began and after it closed.
It was urged that larger grants should be given the Agricultural
Societies to assist in theimprovement of stock. In connection with
the dairy business considerable pork was made for which there was
2% ready market at Grand Falls. Not very much was being done in
horse raising. One Clyde Stallion travelled through the district.
On account of the prevalence of dogs, not very many sheep were
kept but excellent prices were obtained for lambs. Shropshires were
preferred. August lambs had weighed as high as 123 Ibs., and the
average price for lambs through the district h,a$d been from $5 to $7
.
per head.
At Grand Falls not much interest was taken in cattle raising.
There was generally one pure-bred bull in the district and t’he stock
was mixed Jersey, Holstein and Shorthorn. Heavy horses were pre-ferred and t/he district very well supplied with stallions, but there
was ,a6 scarcity of good heavy mares. There was a good market for
sheep and lambs, not much trouble with dogs, fencing being the chief
diEiculty.
The flocks were of mixed breeding.
REPORT OF THE AGRIICULTURAL COMMISSION.
12.1
i)
Westmorland County.
At Salisbury it was reported that considera’ble stock was kept
both for beef and dairy purposes. Shorthorns and Avrshires were
the breeds preferred. One man stated tlhat from two” cows out of
scrub mothers and got by Shorthorn bulls, he had sold $99.88 worth
of butter, besides what milk they used at home, in six months. Another man who haId grade Ayrshires and Shorthorns mixed had reali.zed $5.00 per month per oow from tIhe butter factory. He was
much in favor of the dairy Shorthorn for that district. There were
not many pure-bred bulls and there would be a demand for some.
Not enough horses were raised to supply tjhe district. One Percheron
stallion was available but his fee was $20. Sheep were gradually
increasing, but little atteitnon paid to improving the stock. Lambs
brought from four to five dollars per head the last two yea,rs.
At Point De Bute it was stated that Shorthorns were the principal breed of cattle kept. Complaint was made that they did not
now milk as well as formerly. Shropshire was the breed ,cf sheep
generally*used, but though no trouble was experienced from dogs the
flocks were gradually diminishing. Nearly everyone was raising a
colt, and Clyde stallions were principally used. There was a demand
for some light horses as well as heavy ones.
At Middle Sackville it was stated that near the Marsh not as
many cattle were being raised as formerly, while in the back districts
tlhere were more alnd of a better quality than some years ago. Mostly
Shorthorns were kept and beef raising the principal business, although most farmers made some butter. The principal demand
was for large horses though many stated that they could not get the
best quality of stallions. Clydes were the breed preferred. Naturally
the district’was not very gosd for sheep and dogs and wire fences
were also a draw-back.
At Bay Verte the stock generally was Shorthorn, but two dairy
bulls were being imported. A good deal of beef was raised in the
district but the cheese factory was closed down for want of milk.
The district was very well supplied with heavy horses and a Thoroughbred stallion was asked for to help tone up the driving stock. Clydes
Percherons a)nd a Hackney were now being used. Dogs and bears
122
REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION.
had worked havoc among the sheep and it was thought there shiould
be better protection. The reimposit5on of the be’ar bounty was advised. Swine were reported as very good; breeding stock being imported from Prince Edward Island.
At Bayfield
both beef and dairy stock were kept, quite a. numa.
(her of steers being raised and sold for fattening. Shorthorns, Ayrshires, Jerseys and Holsteins were the breeds used. The butter all
made at home. Not many sheep were kept as the pasture wals wanti led for cattle. The district was quite well supplied with Clydes and
-trotting stock.
At Little Shemogue, Shorthorns were the principal breed of
cattle kept, the steers being sold at three yea,rs old at from $3U to
$45 to feeders. The cheese factories not working. Some butter made
in private dairy. Draught horses were oonsidered most profitable
,and good stallions, both Clydes and Percherons available. Some
young heavy mares, if available, would be bought. Sheep had not
#decreased. No trouble from dogs or bears. Oxford Downs the
breed preferred. Some very good swine kept.
At Dupuis Corner breeds of cattle were pretty well mixed up,
and the cows kept mostly for butter making. The Society was importing Shorthorn bulls and every farmer tried to raise a pair of
steers to sell to the feeders. Good Clyde stallions were available.
considerable numbers of sheep were kept and pastured on the comrmon so that but little attention could be given to the improvement
of breeding. La#mbs brought $3 per head. Each farmer averaged
la.bout twenty sheep. Swine were being improved by the importation
I
of Yorkshire boars.
At Shediac the cattle were kept mostly for beef, although some
dairving was done. Considerable cream shipped to Sussex and
semi cows realizing as much as $50 per year. The stock was mostly
Shorthorn with a few Ayrshires. In horses Clydes were preferred.
‘The district was very well supplied with stallions, but not enough
(colts raised to supply the dema’nd. But few sheep were kept on
account c:f dogs. It was suggested that dogs be taxed $25. Yorkshires were the favourite breed of swine and every farmer kept more
or less.
REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION.
12s
At Memramcook mostly beef stock was kept, the Society importing Shorthorn bulls. It was thought by the meeting that too.
many light horses were raised and too little attention given to
breeding. There were practically no good stallions. Sheep raising
had been abandoned on account of dogs and wild-cats, a,nd it was
suggested that a man should be allowed to shoot any dog found
trespassing on his farm. It was stated that not half enough pork
was raised to supply the local demand. Mr. Leger, M. P. P., stronglv urged tlhe establishment of a farm to demonstrate pork raising on
.
8: commercial scale.
At Dorchester it was stated that the cattle were very much run
out and greatly in need of improvement. Western beef was imported and Western steers for feeding. It was thought too many light
horses had been bred, heavy colts selling best. Shire and Clyde
stlallions travelled through the district. More dogs than sheep iri
the district were reported and it was thought the law ‘should be
amended so that dogs trespassing could be shot without liability. I n
swine good pure-bred boars were -kept at the Penitentiary, and used
more or less by tlhe farmers in the neighbotibood.
At Irishtown, cattle were kept for both beef and butter. One
pure-bred Ayrshire bull in the district. Most of the horses in the
district were from Clydes aad Percherons and it was thought theuse of pure-bred stallions should be encouraged by requiring the
scrub to pay aa;license fee. On account of dogs, the low price of
. wool and barbed’ wire fences, sheep were decreasing.
At Fox Creek cattle were kept mostly for dairy purposes, some
cows producing 1'700 quarts per year. Ayrshire and Shorthorn were
the bulls mostly used. A good many colts of various breeds raised.
and the heavy horses preferred. There was a scarcity of good &allions. Practically no sheep kept on account of dogs, which it was;
tlhought should be taxed. Only enough pork- raised for home use..
Yorkshire swine preferred.
At Petiticodiac mostly dairy stock was kept. The average returns per COW per vear from the butter factory being from $40 I-Q
$50. Ayrshires and Holsteins both largely bred and some VJerscys
and Guernseys. Not, enough horses were raised to supply the local
124
REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION.
*demand. One pure-bred Percheron stallion was availa.ble. Farm
-teams from I200 to 1400 lbs. preferred. About as many sheep kept
a s formerly. A good lamb market, one lot of well bred Shropshire
and Leicesters crossed brought $92.62 for 20 lambs. Some good rams
wanted.. Yorkshire and Chester were the principal breeds of swine
but only a few pure-bred boafrs kept.
York
County.
’
At Canterbury Station it was reported that both beef and
dairy cattle were much run down. The but,ter factory was idle and
there was a sharp demand for beef., Two-year-zld cattle as a rule
were not worth more than $15.00 to kill, while good ones would
bring $35.00. Scarcity of roots for feeding was considered the principal cause. . In regard to horse raising tlhe general opinion was that
the heavy h$orse paid best though some farmers preferred rather
light teams for farm work. Good draught stallions were available.
There was no complaint about dogs injuring sheep and there was a
good demand for lambs but t,he stock was running out.
At Harvey Station but little interest was given to the breeding
or caring for ca\ttle. S&k was much mixed, the butter factory not
now running. Nor was very much interest taken in horse raising,
but it was said there wlould be a good opening for a Clyde or Percheron
stallion, the latter preferred. Not over half the number of sheep
kept now as formerly, largely due tlo dogs. No pure-breds were used
and the lamb market was only fair.
At Prince IWilliam,
quite an int,erest was taken in dairying and
.
Some pure-bred Ayrshires and Shorthorns kept though, as a rule,
cows were not very well cared for. There were some good individual
returns and the cheese factory was very sat8isfactory. It was urged
t,hat something should be done to prevent scrub bulls from running
:at large. In swine, a few pure-breds were kept and carraway and
artichoke were recommended as gocd feed for them. There was no
complaint in regard to damage to sheep from dogs, and it was considered that sheep paid better than any other farm stock. The
Clydesdale horse was preferred though no pure-bred came in on
account of the number of grade and scrub stallions used. The meeting thought that something should be done to keep the scrubs out.
REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION.
126
At Middle Southamptlo:n it was stated that some good cattle were
aleeded. The cheese factory was closed down, the Agricultural Society had. been allowed to go down but there was a strong feeling
that some good stock be brought in and the Shorthorn seemed to be
preferred. In regard tlo horses, a growing demand for heavy horses
was reported with a preference for Clydes. A number of good stallions were available. Sheep raising was considered very profitable
.as buyers came around and got the lambs, paying good prices. Shropshires seemed to be tihe breed preferred. There was not very much
\
trouble from dogs. .
At Upper Hainesville oonsiderable interest was evinced in purebred stock as the stock at present was much mixed, Jersey predominating, with some Ayrshires and Holsteins. The cheese factory was
idle. Dogs a great nuisance and hindering the extension of sheep
raising. A good ma#rket for lambs and a demand for some Leicester
ra$ms. The district is pretty well supplied with stallions, but good
Ileavy mares are needed.
At Stanley the cattle were mostly kept flor dairy purposes, very
few pure-breds and no continuous effort made to improve the stock.
‘I’he butter factory running in a small way. Not half as many sheep
kept as formerly, dogs being the principal difficulty, but complaint
was also made of the low price of wool a’nd trouble of fencing. No
pure-bred stallions a’t present in the parish and the heavy horse pref erred.
At Kingsclear, (Springhill), it was stated that not as many
cattle were kept as formerly and the quality not so good, farmers
giving more attention to growing potatoes and garden stuff. Ayrshires and a cross between Shorthorn and Ayrshire were preferred.
Sheep were very much decreased -on account of dogs. The district
was well supplied with good stalli:c:ns, great credit being given to
Mr. H. C. Jewett of Fredericton in tJhis regard. Heavy horses were
r>referred and sufficient colts were raised for local needs.
At Burtts Corner it was stated tlhat not many dairy cows were
hept. The cheese factory near there had closed down. Some farmers
had received from $30 to $35 returns per cow for twelve months.
Dogs were the principal difficulty in regard to sheep, though this
126
REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL COtiMISSION.
stock h.ad . been improved in quality in the last few years. Horse
raising was found profitable especia lly for heavy colts and some
trery promising ones were coming on. Ycorkshires and Chesters were+
the principal breeds of swine kept and plenty of boars were available,
SEEDS AND FERTILIZERS.
Experience, Opinion8 and Xuggestions gathered at the various
meetings, condensed.
Albert County.
In Albert County, at Elgin, considera,ble fertilizer was used.
The opinion was that it cost far more than it should. Its most, profitable use seemed to be along with barnyard manure ‘or for growingbuckwheat.
At Hopewell the use of ba’sic slag was said to be growing, some
people being well plealsed with it, and paying from $18 to $20 per ton
for it.
Further down the county but lit)tle fertilizer was used. There,
was an abundance of hay growing in the county, cattle could be easily
kept, and there was an abundance of swamp mud to mix with the
barnyard manure.
Carleton County.
At Woodstock the matter bof the quality of the Carleton Countygrain was discussed, letters being shown by the Commissioners from
various grain buyers to the effect thalt they found the qualit)v of‘
Carleton County oats not as good as they could get elsewhere.%
Mr. C. L. Smith, in speaking Jof this matter, said that there
was a time when oats were cut and raked with a horse rake, which
tended to the getting of quite a lot of gravel a.nd other dirt in
them; but now, that the self-binders were generally used, this defect
was to some extent overcome. He thought it would be a good idea
t)o pay more attention to the selection of seed and the cleaning of’
grain ; because there was no question but that Carleton County coulc!
raise as good oats as any palrt of the Dominion.
REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION.
127
At Centreville, the question of fertilizers came up. The Great
‘Eastern, Bowkers, and other brands were used, prices averaging
about $42 to $44 per ton. Those present at the meeting thought that
fert,ilizers were not worth the money. It was suggested tha#t the
chemicals might be got; and if it was necessary to have some filler
in which to mix them, Tobique Land Plaster could be got for $6
per ton, and would be valuable in itself to apply to the land.
Mr. Scholey, Secretary of the Agricultural Secciety said the
*year before last he had opened a list and members of the Societv ha,d
*ordered about forty-three tons. This order was duly forwarded to
$>one of the fertilizer firms. Their agent ca,me up and said t,hat the
other agents were kicking and the Agricultural Society order could
Lnot be filled. The plan of the Society had been to buy in wholesale
,<luantities and give it to the members at cost, but the agents throughout the county kicked so hard that the company dare not sell in this
way. It was estimated that about 500 tons of fertilizer were sold in
Florenceville in 1908. Mr. Scholey remarked he had not heard of
the farmers of Aroostook County mixing their fertilizers. Mr.
W. J. Owens said it had been done over there. The college at Orono,
Maine. sent out a maIn to show the farmers how to mix it. Mr.
Scholey said that in England the farmers get the raw materials and
mix them themselves to a large extent and he thought that the farm,ers in the neighborhood of Centreville would like to have some opportunity to do the same thing.
The matter of the value of land plaster was discussed, and t)he
evidence was that the farmers in that district did not find very
much benefit aof la.te years from itIs application to grain crops, etc.
v One man said that he had used it for a number of years, sometimes
mixing it wit,h ashes. When put on seed potatoes it helped them
very much a,nd he had found it good for grain and pastures as well.
Nr. Scholey said it was a wonderful absorbent around the barns,
it destroyed odours, and as such was very useful. Prof. Johnston,
tt-ho examined this Province about 1850, speaking of the value of
gypsum, statted that there was really no fertilizer in the substance
but it had the ‘ability of taking moisture from the atmosphere and
$n other ways acting upon the soil.
l
128
got
- REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION.
One gentleman said there would be m:ore of it used if it could be
cheaper. The prices quoted were $5 and $6 per ton.
Another man warmly approved of its use, saying it was a great
thing to start clover and the clover would winter much better where
it was used ,and seemed to get a better root.
In regard to sowing fertilizers by machinery, Mr. Taylor said
some of tlhem were so damp that it was hard to work them. He did
not think that plaster would be a very good mixture where potato
planters were used. If we start to maIke our own fertilizers we
must know h:ow to mix them so that they won’t clog the machine..
It was stated that the American brands that run freely were mixed
with dry fine sand.
l
At Glassville there was considerable discussion ‘on the matter
of seed selection. It was reported t&halt farmers there generally
cleaned their grain with a separator, and were careful about buying
grass and clover seed. They went away for wheat nearly every
spring. Some farmers followed up the lines of the Macdcnald
seed competition, whereby the best heads of grain were selected foi
seed for their own use for seed the next year.
Mr. Archie Scott referred to t’he three pound packages sent -out
from the Experimental Farm, and said the quantity was too small
tlo be of any value- By the time a man had raised enough seed from
it to use on his farm it had run out
Mr. J. C. McIntosh, secretary of tJhe Aberdeen Agricultural
Society, said the Society had been in the habit of gett’ing wheat and
oats, grass and clover seeds from Montreal. They sold it to their
members at cost, and he thought it had been a great benefit to tJhe
parish to have this done.
One gentleman enquired if the farmers could not as well raise
their own seeds. He thought perhaps a bonus or some encouragement’ might be given to start this work. There was over $1,690
spent in the Parish of Aberdeen for seed and he thought it might
have been raised at home. Wheat that came from the West was a
good crop the first year, iafter that not so good. Buckwheat in thedistrict was entirely run out; it looked as if it was going to be a
thing of the past, and he believed it to be the most useful crop in
REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION.
129
the country. He thought if the Society would bring some buckreheat from Northumberland it would be a good thing, for the last
few years the crop had been a total failure.
Commissioner Fisher strongly urged tha,t the farmers should
select their seeds, and believed they could get better results tha.n
bv
” importing them. He used selected seed oats at the rate of from
two to two and a half bushels per acre, wheat one and a half bushels,
put in with a disc seed drill.
It was stated by those present that four bushels was the usual
quantity of oa#ts sown per acre in Aberd. e e n .
Squire Bridges said he raised his own seed wheat by selection,
and it was better seed than he could get anywhere. If a man was
careful in selecting his own home-grown seed, in his opinion, it would
be better than he could get anywhere.
Mr. Archie Scott said in selling oats buyers demanded 34 lbs.
t’o the bushel and would not give arfy m:ore for oats that weighed 36
pounds than when they were lighter.
Speaking about the quality of Carleton County oats, one man
said he did not consider Ontario oats any better than those grown
here; he had never seen oats in Carleton County as bad as those
in the Fredericton Fire Department, imported from Ontario.
Another man said’ the threshing machine ruined a great deal
of the oats. The practice of dumping the tailings in with the rest
of the oats was very bad. He never changed his seed oats, and he
usually used about 25 bushels each year. He fed the light oat,s.
Another man said that the market did not encourage the production of good oats. One man might have good oats and another
poor and they would get the, same price for them so long as they
x*eighed t)hirty-four pounds to the bushel. He thought there should
- be some proper standard established.
In discussing the growing of clover seed, one man said the
second crop of clover would not ripen in their climate.
Commissioner Fisher strongly urged that a Seed Fair be held
every spring and farmers encouraged to produce good seeds.
130
REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION.
In regard to fertilizers, the Aberdeen Society last year had
importled twenty-five tons, about forty-five tons were sold in the
district. Fertilizers were largelv used on potatoes, some men using
fertilizers exclusively. Mr. Archie Scott thought it was best to
use some fertilizer and some manure, the former would bring the
crop along quickly. He used three hundred pounds to the acre, and
used it every year.
The evidence went to show that a good deal of land plaster had
been used in this district, sometimes with good results and sometimes
with none.
Clover seed in the district was bought from William Ewing,
and they always tried to get the best seed. Mr. Wm. Love said the ’
Dominmn Seed Inspector had been at his store in the spring looking
over the seeds and he had told him they were the best lot of seeds in
the county.
At Bath it was sta,ted that a great deal of land plaster was not
rground fine enough to be available. It was thought if the plaster
were well ground, and could be landed in Bath cheaper than at
present it would be a good thing. It costs $6 a t:on now. Commissioner Fisher thought if they had a good agricultural society they
could ha<ndle the plaster and fertilizer to good advantage.
Mr. B. F. Smith urged that hardwood ashes produced in the
county should be used, and net sold for a few pounds of soap. He
thought a bushel of good ashes was worth 25 cents. Several gentletien agreed w&h him.
Mr. Corbett said he had sold twelve carloads of commercial fer-til.izer last vear, Sal11 American brands. The American makes were
p:ref erred. “It wa,s thought by some that foul seed, as well as muskard, came in the fertilizers.
Mr. Olmstead was strongly of the opinion that more barnyard
lnanure should be used, and advocated the proper rotation of crops.
He believed that a good rotation, with the crops fed to stock, was
the surest way to get larger crops. He had found a good, deal of
trouble in getting clover to stay in the land, it killed out in t,he
winter time.
REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION.
138
It wals urged by Mr. M. Smith that by growing potatoes and
using fert)ilizer good crops could be obtained from the land, although
it was generally ‘a(dmitted that commercial fertilizer’s were only temporary in their effect.
The following resolution, moved by Mr. B. F. Smith, was carried unanimously :Resolved, that it is desirable ‘;n the interest of agriculture in
tlhis county that there shcjuld be established as soon as possible in a
central locality, an Illustration Farm, that will demonstrate to the
people the best methods of scientific farming, and where young people can go and gain practical experience, and
Further Resolved, that such representation as will lead to the
establishment of such farm be maide to the Government as soon as
possible.
Charlotte County.
At Rollingdam it was stated that a good deal of commercial fertilizer costing about $35.00 per ton was used. ,4ir slaked lime was
used on cut seed potatoes.
At Waweig Rev. Hunter Boyd asked fcr a grant flor a1 seed fair
for Charlotte County. Commercial fertilizers were said to be used
on every crop except hay and the U. S. brands found most satis;
factory. Verv little benefit noticed from Thomas phosphate powder.
Land plaster”had given good results both on grain and on potatoesW
At Pennfield some fertilizers were used and the farmers complained -of the prices they had to pay. An abundant supply of sea
weed, mud, etc., as well as fish along the sea coast enabled tlhe farmers
there to raise good crops w’ithout buying much of the commercial
article.
Gloucester County.
At Petit Rocher, Mr. B. H. Cormier said that the AgriculturaI
Society imported the best seed obtaina’ble every year.
At, Rathurst, it was report,ed that but little seed w,ae grown in
the district. Nearly all t,he seed was imported although in some sec-
132
REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION.
tions the grain was largely home-grown, clover and timothy were,
of course, imported.
.
Mr. John Power said he was in the Macdonald seed competiticn.
As a result of the continued selection df large heads, he got latrger
heads of grain and more seed per head in his whole crop. He was
still carrying out the selection to a certain extent. His opinion was
that seed would never run out if the largest and heaviest seeds were
selected for sowing.
Pralctically no commercial1 fertilizers were bought in that district. There was a good supply of herring, and this was used with
.
the barnyard manure.
At Stonehaven no commercial fertilizers were used, there being
a large supply of herring and fish spawn available alt Ja,neville. Some
way of getting down to the beach at Mr. Chamberlain’s was urgently
needed, a’s that was an excellent part of the shore to get seal weed and
spawn, but at present it was inaccessible.
Speaking in regard to seed, Mr. Horace Hornibrook said this
section of the country had the year previous had its entire grain
crop destroyed. They had applied for free transportation of seed
over the I. C. R., but did not get it. They had applied to the Government at Fredericton for aid, and got sympathy, and nothing else.
However, they went to work and bought grain, and paid for it
themselves-by good fortune.
At Gr,a,nd Anse no fertilizers were said to be used; fish was
abundant costing about twenty cents per barrel.
Mr. J. W. Foley said he used black mud, and another gefitleman
said black mud and fish together were used with excellent results.
There was a large supply of black mud in the neighbourhood.
There was a considerable discussion on potato growing. About
five Lo ten cars were shipped each yeaIr. Formerly Mr. J. W. Dumas
ran a starch fact,ory ; he said he had to close down on account of the
low price of starch and because he could not get a sufficient quantity
of potiatoes to make the business profitable at the small margin. If
he had an assurance of’ ten thousand barrels of potatoes he would
open up the factory and pay at least fifty cents per barrel. From
REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION.
133
eighty to one hundred and twenty-five barrels could be raised to the
acre. Herring cost about $2 a ton, and mixed with barnyard manure
made a first-class fertilizer for potatoes.
At Casaquet the Agricultural Societly had been importing seed
in large quantities, getting the best they could. Mr. J. IV. Foley
thought the seeds the Agricultural Society were getting could be
improved on.
He bought the best, seed possible and not from the Society and
he always got good results, and he did not get many bad weeds. He
believed in having his seed grain cleaned
After some further disession, Mr. Lanteigne admitted that the
Society bought seed that would sell, if they got the best, he said,
they could not sell it alt the price necessary.
Mr. T. Blanchard said the Society had done a lot of good and
could do more. Mr. Lanteigne went to a lot of trouble but we did
not see much for it-there was no stock in the country, the pigs had
to be hidden from view, and the country was more or less infested
with weeds.
As in other places along the shore, fertilizer was abundant in
the; shape of sea weed and fish.
At Shippegan the dog fish fertilizer factory was inspected. The
product was selling f.or $25 per ton at the factory. The material
did not seem to be very finely grou:d, and was, apparently, pretty
oily. The people had had but little experience in regard to seeds or
fertilizers. They had been depending on fish to use on the la#nd.
At Pokemouche there. was not very much evidence of interest
in regard to growing or selecting seed.
As elsewhere, there was an abundance of fertilizer from the
rivers.
Rev. Father Wheten urged that speakers be sent tlo the district
t*o encourage the farmers to grow more clover and instruct them re
improving their methods of cultivation, etc.
Mr. Walsh agreed that good seeds were wanted and more attention should be given to good flaIrming.
134
REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION.
At Tracadie and Tabusintac it was noted from the discussion
that little interest had been taken in selecting seed. The presence
of. sea weed and fish had obviated the need of buying commercial fertilizer to any extent. There was also evidence tlo show that there
wa,s abundance of black mud through the district, which cculd be
used to great advantage with fish manure.
Kent County.
Speaking generally for all the meetings in the County of Kent,
abundance of fish manure and, around the coast, sea weed, did not
make the use of commercial fertilizer a necessity. There was a
strong dema,nd from the people along’every river that assistance
should be given towards &he’ procuring c;f suitable mud diggers, so
that mussel mud could be got up in the summer time and applied
to the land. The danger of applying too much mussel mud was
pointed out by the Commissioners, and the fact shown that it wasnecessary when using mussel mud to use other fertilizers as well, in
the shape of baIrnyard manure, swa!mp mud, or the plcughing under
of clover. Evidence was given to show that the combination of
swamp mud with fish had got the land in a splendid cropping con-dition.
King’s County.
At Havelock Corner and Corn Hill but little fertilizer was used,,
and there had not been much satisfaction from the use of it.
Throughout King’s County 1Tntil the Parish of Kingston was reached, the discussion at the various me*etings was mostly on live stock
and dairy matters, and fertilizers were not much talked about. There
was a general opinion they were too high, and anything that could
bc done to ma’ke them cheaper would be aI* benefit.
At Kingston, Major 0. W. Wetmore, speaking as secretary of
the Kingston Agricultural Society, gave the following test,imony :We have been interested in fertilizers, getting the chemicals*
alnd mixing them ourselves. We give 2l/, per cent. discount for cash
or members can pay in 6 or 8 months. Last year we sold $3,SO04
worth, and out of I42 members 130 used fertilizers. My idea is we
REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION.
135
have held our Society together by handling fertilizers more than
,?n,ything else we have done. The firms that handle fertilizers won%
sell the ingredients to the individual farmers, but they will sell in
large quantities to Agricultural Societies. The same article that
.can be bought for $1.65 by us ccsts $2 retail. There are a great many
,grades of mixed fertilizers. The top-notch grades give about the
same analysis as we give our members to mix from. Members will
pay 35 cents more for the ready mixed for the grade that will give
-the same analysis of plotash, phosphoric acid and ammonia.
Hon. Dr. Lndry :
136
REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION,
Commissioner Hubbard :-We are intending to get a full statement from the Scotch, Commission. Sir John Sinclair told me 15
years ago the different agricultural societies in Scotland got together
and appointed a strong committee to look into the whole question
of manufacturing fertilizers and see what could be done towards puttling them on the market at a lower rate. They called the manufacturers together and said that if the manufacturers would place
such and such a grade on the market at such land such a pricevery’ much less than they were then chapging-the societies were
prepared to approve that price. At Woodst80ck Sir John Sinclair
examined the analysis on some bags there and asked if the people
J\eere satisfied. For grabin fertilizer the figures were three times as
large as the same analysis would cost in Scotland; for pot,ato fertilizer about twice as large.
Major Wetmore :-Sulphate of ammonia would cost less there
t)han here because most of it is imported from there. Our reason for
getting the fertilizer ingredients is that every farmer may know
just what he is getting. There is a seal on potash, ammonia, bone
black and phospheric acid and we know they are genuine.
Commissioner Hubbard :- A r e there any practical difficulties
in the way of ordinary men getting the ingredients and mixing them?
Major Wetmore :-Not at all. Nitrate of soda is a little hard
to handle and sometimes the sulphate of ammonia requires a little
att’ention. A couple of men can mix a lot in a couple of hours and
make it ready for use; bone black requires no special care at, all. It
must be mixed pretty well or it would not grow the crops ‘as evenly as
it does.
Question :-There is really no need of using fillers?
Major Wetmore :-Only to keep it from caking. If we use it
immediately after mixing it is all1 right and we don’t think of putting
in anything, if allowed to stand it gets like iron. Put it into bags
and tie loose and it will not cake, put into a barrel and it will set
almost, like cement. Lalnd plaster makes a good mixer. Ashes won’t
do at all, they will start the ammonia right off. I have used these
fertilizers on mv place for 15 years and some of the land never had
sny ba,rnyard ianure during that time. One of the best fields of
,
REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION.
137
cabbages I ‘ever had, last year, never had any barnyard manure. I
seeded it down to clover and turned it under, seeded over with a little
fertilizer next year and it could not be any bettIer, 99 out of 100
heads fit for the market. We never think of using barnyard manure
cn turnips or beets or cabbages. There is some used for squash, and
our turnips never had a pinch of barnya<rd manure. We can grow
crops year after year easily. We try to grow clover to keep up the
humus, and *that is something the Government might do-get the
people to grow more clover.. Basic slag we have experimented with
a little this year. We distributed 50 lbs. to members and asked
them t,o make a report’. None hsalve come in as yet but everyone reported ‘a good catch of clover. 50 lbs. was used on I-12 of an acre
and we have had only verbal replies, but I. am inclined to thin-k
from what I have read that it is just the thing we want. Lime is
good for clover but it spoils the land for potatoes.
Question :-If yoi follow the application of lime to the soil with
a good crop of clover, do you think the lime then liable to hurt a
succeeding crop of potatoes?
Major Wetmore :-I do not know, I would be afraid of it. When
you once’ get lime in tlhe soil it is pretty hard to get rid of scab. We
used to think it was ashes but it is lime. They used to get ashes in
woodboat loads from St. John, but I don’t think the scab was due
to* that.
A Delegate :-Don’t you think you can get better results from
using fertilizer and manure together 8
Major Wetmore :-On certain crops perhaps. We have set out
&rawberries without any barnyard manure near tlhem nor ha!d any
been applied to the land for years and have had good results. We
broadcast fertilizers for strawberries. For squash we broadcast maInure and put fertilizer in the hill; last year they would have been better without any manure.
Commissioner Fisher :-Do you know what quantity per acre
would be best for cabbages without using manure?
.
Ma.j or Wetmore :-I used 1200 lbs, in the hills. I rely on the
clover that has been turned under to furnish the necessary humus.
I never saw clover fail to put humus in the ground when a good
crop was turned under.
138
REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION.
Madawaska Countv.
At St. Leonards it wa.s stated the farmers tried to get the best
seed there was on the market. They had no Agricultural Society to
buy through; they used to have one but it had run down. Mr. Violette said they had tried to have one started but could not get members enough. It was six years since they had last tried.
Northumberland County.
At Tabusintac Wm. Beatty said tha*t some aid should be given
towards a steam mud digger. There was an abundance of fertilizer
iyi the river bed but it was slow work getting it. He thought if the
money spent on Institute meetings were devoted to this it would be
better spent. One gentleman said he got 108 loads in 12 days last
year with horseplower.
Commissioner Hubbard cautioned against the continued use of
mussel mud without manure. P. E. I. farmers had found that the
condition of their ground was worse than before they used mussel
mud, and they had to use barn yard manure before they could get
sati sfactory crops
Another gentleman said where there had been plenty of stable
manure put on the land, it would respond to the mussel mud; where
&able manure had not been applied the mud would not have a good
\
effect.
At River des Caches it was stated that seed was generally sown
as it was bought, a.lthough some people were beginning to clean it.
The Clommissioners strongly urged the formation of an agricultural society in such a large district and urged that it should take up
the matter of seed selection and stock improvement.
No chemical fertilizers were used in that district, sea weed and
fish and now the use of mussel mud was commencing. One gentleman said that marsh mud and herring made a good mixture. Another
that black mud was good on dry land, he had been using it for some
time. Another one had a diflerent opinion. He had a good deal of
mud and stopped growing wheat and hay from it; however it was
gcod to use about the barnyard to soak up the liquid manure.
REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION.
139
At Black River there was a very strong feeling that the most
(efficient aid to successful farming was an abundant supply of mussel
n.iud. This was found in abundance in the river, and there was a
unanimous demand that sorne means should be taken to get a suitable
*dredge. The evidence went to show that the mud digger which Mr.
Fowlie had had was not entirely satisfactory. The machine was now
on the bank, and he was not inclined to part with it. A number of
those present said that a more powerful dredge that Mr. Fowlie’s
was needed, so that new beds could be opened up. His was only
4 h. p., and was not ca,pable of digging into the best quality of
shell. All present certified to the excellent results obtained from
mud when it did not cost too much money.
At Derby there did not seem to be very much of a demand for
fertilizer. Mr. Hefferman, of North Esk, had used kainit with excellent results. There was some discussion upon importing the
chemical ingredients through the agricultural society, and it was
agreed that swamp mud was an excellent thing to mix with farm
*yard manure.
At the Indiantown meeting fertilizers were not discussed at any
.
.great length, as very 11 ttle was brought in. S’ome of those present
had found land plaster a splendid thing for their land, and used it
Len potatoes with good results.
In speaking of the matter of cultivation and getting a good
catch of clover and grass, Rev. Fr. Murdock stated that he had had
,good results from sowing his grass seed with some turnip seed in the
fall. The turnips grew rapidly in the fall and made a cover crop
for the young grass plant, and the next spring the young plants got
an early start, being protected by the turnips.
Queen’s County.
At Waterborough there was a divided opinion as to the value
of commercial fertilizer. The opinion lclf some was that the people
,should be educated to leave it alone and manufacture barnyard
manure. Good results had been obtained from the use of fertilizer,
mid one ,gentleman, and he used half a ton on one and a quarter
>acres of ground and get 82 barrels of potatoes from land that was so
poor’it would not grow a sod.
140
*
REPOI?,
i lF’ THE AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION.
The meeting at The Narrows declared commercial fertilizers
were too costly to use profit,ably. A good deal was brought in. And.
the question of forming an Agricultural Society and getting fertilizers in that way was f avourably considered.
At Shannon it was reported there was a good deal of commercial fertilizer used in the Parish of Wickham on potatoes, buckwheat and all kinds of crops. There was a good chance to get black
mud and lone gentleman gave strong evidence as to. its value when
mixed with manure.
The meeting determined to form an Agricultural Society to
handle the fertilizers and other such business for the benefit of its
members.
At Gagetown, not much commercial fertilizer was used. Mr.
T. S. Peters said ,at one time he bought $180 of ingredients for home
\mixing, and it didn’t work at all. It soured the clover.
Sheriff Williams had found a benefit from using it on straw- /
ukrries.
At Hibernia those present spoke for the Parish of Hampstead,
and said quite a lot of commercial fertilizer was used-some of
them thought not enough. The cost ran from $1.60 to $2.10 per cwt.
Steps were being ‘talcen to form an a8gricultural Slcciety to handle
this matter.
*Qt Armstrong’s Corner the evidence went to show that very
little commercial fertilizer was used, and not much attention was
pa,id to the use of black mud, although there was an abundance
through the district.
At Highfield but little fertilizer was used. It was determined
tlo form an a’gricultural society to take up that matter, as well as
the improvement lof stock.
Restigouche Countv.
At Shannon Vale in regard to seeds the evidence was that a
hcpood deal of the seed came from Rennie’s, of Toronto; one gentleman saying for his part he tried ty get it wherever it was cheapest.
REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION.
141
Mr. Ferguson said the Dalhousie Society used to handle seed,
but had not been getting any la,tely, so far as he knew. The stores
handled largely . Rennie’s, and it was supposed to be Government
inspected.
Mr. McKinnon said the Inspector did not always get there before
the seed was partly sold.
In regard to home-grown seed, one man said some farmers recleaned their seed and some did not. A few raised grass seed but
none raised clover. The grass seed was a good deal better t,han the
’
imported seed. One
gentleman said he always got the very be*st
clover seed he could and paid as high as 28 cents per pound, he
thouglE it cheaper than sowing poor seed.
At Balmoral there was some complaint about the quality of the
seed that was offerend. One man salid: “You go to a store and pay
high prices for seed, and get a lot of sorrel.” Commissioner Hub- ’
ba’rd said there was now Government inspection that prevented that.
He thought the Agricultural Society could do good work by buying
gmood seed and distributing it at cost.
Mr. D. A. Arseneau said the society imported a. lot of seed this
spring from Rennie-clover seed ccst 25 cents per lb. The seed imported by the society had been very satisfactory.
One gent1etia.n created semi amusement by stating that if seeds
were sown when the moon was full, there would always be a good
crop. It was not the manure, it was the moon, he had tried it.
At Jacquet River, in regard t,o fertilizers, the evidence went to
show the farm.ers were beginning to use a great deal. Some had
used Thomas’ Phosphate Powder at $27 a ton. Mr. Hayes thought
this to be too expensive, he could get just as good results with black
mud.
Mr. Patlrick Ultican thought t’he importation of poor seed should
be stopped.
Mr. Robert Hayes thought the Government should grant all t’he
sssistance they could to the Agricultural Society, for they found
the benefit from it and would like to carry it on. A bonus for a mill
in Durham or Colborne would also be a benefit.’ Wheat would grow
REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION.
141
Mr. Ferguson said the Dalhousie Society used to handle seed,
but had not been getting any lately, so far as he knew. The stores
handled largely . Rennie’s, and it was supposed to be Government
inspected.
Mr. McKinnon said the Inspector did not always get there before
the seed was partly sold.
In regard to home-grown seed, one man said some farmers recleaned their seed and some did not. A few raised grass seed but
none ra’ised clover. The grass seed was a good deal better t,han the
imported seed. One gentleman said he always got the very be.st
clover seed he could a,nd paid as high as 28 cents per pound, he
thougtrt it cheaper than sowing poor seed.
At Balmoral there was some complaint about the quality of the
seed that was 0flere.d. One man sa#id: “You go to a store and pay
high prices for seed, and get a lot of sorrel.” Commissioner Hub- ’
ba’rd said there was now Government inspection that prevented that.
He thought the Sgricultural Society could do good work by buying
good seed and distributing it at cost.
Mr. D. A. Arseneau said the society imported a. lot of seed this
spring from Rennie-clover seed ccst 25 cents per lb. The seed imported by the society had been very satisfactory.
One gent1ema.n created some amusement by stating t,hat if seeds
were sown when the moon was full, there would always be a good
crop. It was not the manure, it was the moon, he had tried it.
At Jacquet River, in regard to fertilizers, the evidence went to
show the farmers were beginning to use a great deal. Some had
used Thomas’ Phosp-hate Powder at $27 a ton. Mr. Hayes thought
this to be too expensive, he could get just as good results with black
mud.
Mr. Pat,rick Ultican thought t’he importation of poor seed should
be stopped.
Mr. Robert Hayes thought the Government should grant all t’he
assistance they could to the Agricultural Society, for they found
the benefit from it and tiould like to carry it on. A bonus for a mill
in Durham or Colborne would also be a benefit.’ Wheat would grow
REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION.
142
well in that district, and there was a lot of money went out of these
two parishes for flour.
1 an said, it would be well, if possible, to enMr. W. R. McMI1
courage the farmers to raise g,ood oats and t’o grade t’he price in some
way. He had t,ried the experience at his store of tryipg to pay more
for good oats than poor. One day an !old customer, whose account
was worth something to him, came along with a load of oats. He
told him they were poor and he could only give the lowest price for
them. This Nan knew one of his neighbaurs had got a bigger price
and urged he should have the same. The explanation that his neighbour’s oats were superior did not impress him. He took his load
elsewhere and did no& deal with him (McMillan) again. for some
years. He had never repeated the experiment.
.
At Charlo the experience with commercial fertilizer, according
to the evidence given, was somewhat experimental. A good deal of
fish was easily had and was largely used. Where barnyard manure
was used a small dressing of fish could be used to good advantage,
*but it wa’s not thought wise to use too much fish without manure.
St. John.
nt St. John, Mr. R. G. Murray spoke on the subject of aban)doned farms, saying the only way *to get them settled was to make
them fertile. To do this cheap -fertilizer of a comme.rcial kind was
necessary, for crc:ps could not be grown to supply the necessary
manure. He had figures to show that a ton of fertilizer as good as
some standard makes could be produced for $15, tand he strongly
urged that the Government should take some steps to bring about
this result.
Mr. James Manchester was very doubtful of any such possibility.
Sunbwy County.
At
ljlercial
garden
he had
Burton it was reported that there was a, good deal of comfertilizer used, particularly by the men growing market
stuff in Maugerville and Sheffield: Mr. W. H. Clark said
used eight tons that spring, chiefly on vegetables. Mr. Harri-
REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION.
143;
son used about 120 barrels of ashes and 3 tons of fertilizer. The:
price paid was from $32 to $35 if in ton lots. John Rutledge spokeof land plaster and said it was good for potatoes, especially to put.
on the seed, and alsq good about the barn. He did not think it had
any practical fertilizer value for direct application to the soil.
At Lakeville Corner a good deal of commercial fertilizer was.
used, costing from $34 to $42 per ton. It was mostly used as an adjunct to the barnyard manure. One large vegetable grower had used..
seven tons; for potatoes he did not use any manure with it.
The Lakeville district was reported as especially suited for garden vegetables and potatoes. The rotation frequently followed was
potatoes followed by oats, then buckwheat and potatoes again, making very little efficslrt to raise hay, as they could get an abundance:
of hay from the neighboring marshes.
Victoria County?
At Andover it was shown that the farmers of Victoria paid two,
years ago for fertilizers somewhere about $30,000 ; last year over
$60,000.
Mr. Manzer said one effect of the planting of potatoes and the.
using of fertilizer was that by thorough cultivation and the use of *
fertilizers the soil would yield splendid crops afterwa,rds. He believed that the extension of the potato market and the encouragement to grow more potatoes w’ould mean a great deal for the farmsof Victoria County. He thought the Government might assist in
extending the market for potatoes, and also assist in securing flav-ourable railway rates for the carrying of same. He had no fault to’
find with the C. P. R., whose rates were on the whole favourable,..
and it was to their interests as much ,ais the farmers to help increase
the production.
Mr. J. E. Porter said he had found the potato dealers in the.
West to be a tricky lot. Montreal buyers would sometimes telegraph
clown an order for a carload of potatoes at a fixed price, and if the
prices dropped while the potatlc:es were in transit t*he buyer would
drop the price accordingly. The shipper from New Bruiswick, if*
’ .the market dropped, had his potatoes on his hands upon their ar--
REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION.
Rival in Montreal, and unless he sold at the reduced price he had to
pay demurrage. There was no place in &1ontreal you could rent
to stlore pota’toes. He thought if the Government would secure a
wa,rehouse at that point, it would be a great advantage to the country. Good storage in both Montreal and Toronto would be a great
benefit to Kew Brunswick shippers.
Mr. Manzer said the extra quality of New Brunswick potatoes
was a great advantage; in some cases he had been Iable to get as
much as twenty-two cents per bag higher for New Brunswick than
the Ontario-grown variety brought. This extra price just about
paid the freight. He urged the extension of the West Indian market,
because it wlas unwise to depend on one place entirely. Two years
a,go there had been an enquiry from Njorway for thirty carloads of
potatoes at a price that would net $1 per barrel at Andover. The
Government in co-operation with the railways could do much to help
l
the potato business.
Mr. Scott said the potato business was net all profit, a ma’n had
’ to buy a lot of machinery, he had to buy commercial fertilizer, and
the price of that was very high, also Paris green. He had six cars of
potatoes t’he previous year, and after counting in all expenses and
some loss from freezing, he hlaSd just $72 for his summer’s work. He
agreed with Mr. Manzer that the Government might look after the
market, and he also thought g,dod roads should be provided \for tlhe
farmers to haul their stuff to the railways.
I
Mr. Corev agreed that the question of markets was a most important one for the Government to deal with. He thought the last
speaker’s experience was not general; he had never raised a c~wk:~I
of potatoes at a loss. Last year he had $600 over and above fertilizers, wages ‘and everything else on eight acres. There had been
last year $135,000 distributed in the county fcr potatoes. It might
be that live stock keeping was a bett,er foundation for successful agriculture, but he believed in sticking to what had made a profit) for
.
+rn . He thought that the .farmers ought to stick by the dealers. for
they were doing all they could to open up a market.
Mr. Porter told of the trouble he hIad had the year before in
getting fair treat’ment from the people to whom he had shipped
potatoes.
c
REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL CQMMISSION.
145
In regard to seeds, Mr. Donald Innes s&id he had gone into the
Macdonald Competition, his boys had attended to details, and he
had been well pleased with the results he had obtained. He had a
demand flor seed grain from Manitoba to P. E. I. His grain was
registered at Ottawa, where a record was kept, and returns had been
\-ery satisfactory. He used a quarter of an acre every year for seed
selection, from that he collected the big heads to use as seed on a
quarter of an acre the next year. He had been able to win the cup
for the best collection of seed grain in the general Maritime Prov- ’
ince competition at Amherst last year. In the Macdonald seed
competition he had found that in three years the heads by this hand
selection gave an increase of twenty-five per cent. bf grain and
thirty-five per cent. in weight.
At Plaster Rock the fertilizer question was discussed, and there
was a keen interest is to whether it was possible to buy fertilizers
cheaper than by the present method. If the ingredients could be got,
said the chairman, and mixed by the farmers themselves at a reduced
cost he t)hought it would be worth while.
Mr. Manzer said he ha,d heard-that some people had found they
could save fifty per cent. of the cost in t,hat way. He was not pre. pared to make any statement because he did not know. He thought
the meeting could ask the Commissioners tlo enquire into the matter.
There had been handled $60,000 worth of fertilizers in Victoria
County and if fifty per cent. could be saved, it would mean $30,000
to the” men who bought fertilizers. In #answer to a question, BLIr
Panzer said there was nothing-better than barnyard manure for p”:
Woes, but tls make a business of potato growing no farmer could
keep enough stock to supply that material in sufficient quantities,
b’r:t he thought the majority of the farmers did not use as much
barnyard manure a3 they might ; it seemed to be easier for them to
buy fertilizers than to have barnyard manure, although it was sometinles hard when pay day came around.
Mr. Mvles Flanders said that he had found land plaster an excellent thin”g to use. Used in the stsable it was an excellent absorbent,
it, also prevented ‘the manure from heating, especially’ horse manure ;
he thought it c&Id be generally used. The manure piles could be
greatly
helped by using it.
,
146
REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION.
Mr. H. P. Timmerman was pleased’ to hea,r the good words thaF;
had been spoken for>Tobique land pliaster. He would like to be ableb
to state to the farmers of the West that the New Brunswick farmers
were using it with good results. Farmers used to haul it fortry miles,
in wagons, so they evidently believed in its value. He noticed by
ML Manzer’s figures that the farmers got $135,000 for their potatoes
and that they paid $60,000 for fertilizers, which did not leave them
very much for their labours-it was working in a circle. The farmers were raisilig potatoes to buy fertilizers. He strongly urged that
more fertilizer be made at hjome.
At Grand Falls potato growing and the use of fertilizers was
shown to be rapidly increasing in the country around there. It was
an excellent potato country, and the people only wanted the assur-.
ante of a market.
There were some farmers there who used a’carload each vear,,
a.
mostly using about 500 lbs. to the acre along with barnyard manure.
Mr.. Wright said his practice was to use one hundred pounds of
phosphate for a barrel of seed, planting about three and a half bar-rels to the acre. This year the St. John superphosphate had been
a.11 right, last year it was not; none of the farmers were buying then
ingredients .and mixing them themselves. Mr. Wright further sa,id ,
that Tobique land plaster was not used as much as formerly. He
did not know why it had been displaced, unless it was by the use,
of phosphate. Formerly they used to apply their Paris green by
mixing with land plaster, and in a dry season he believed that the<
plentiful use of land plaster in that way would almost double the
crop of potatoes. Mr. Manzer said that if the results were as
stated it was strange it had been dropped. A gentleman said land
plaster would make the land poorer if it was not used in the right
way. Mr. Wright said that plaster was a splendid thing to use in
, the stable, it would make the floor/ last twice as long, and it helped
the manure heap very much; it would hold the ammonia wonderfully
Another man said plaster attracted the moisture, and that was one
reason why it g?ve a good crc:p in a dry season. But unless manure
was used, the continuous use of plaster would run the land out.
With regard to the selection of seed as applied to potatoes the’re
was considerable discussion. Mr. Manzer said he believed a great
REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION.
147
deal of the result of the crc:p depended upon the seed. Good strong
Aeyes were wanted. He strongly deprecated the use of too many
small potatoes, or in fact using any.
Another gentleman said he -found cutting the seed potato and
* coating with land plaster would increase the yield. Several men
said they followed that plan.
.
It was thought that plaster was much better than lime tlo put
?on seed potatoes. He had known fields where lime was used on one
part of the field and plaster on the other, and there were a great
many misses where the lime was used, but where plaster was used
there were no misses.
Mr. Panzer strongly urged that more care be taken in cultivating the soil for the potato crop. The tilth should be made fine mci
cultlivation kept up through the crop afterwards.
Westmorland County.
At Point De Bute it was reported quite a lot of commercial ferttilizeF was used, particularly an plotataes and turnips; some people
.thaught tlhey could not raise grain without it.
The fertilizer pra’blem throughout Westmoriand was not con“sidered very important, not so much as in some other places. There
was an abundance of grass and hay for stack feeding, and around
b t.he caast fish and sea weed helped supplement the manure. Some
‘basic slag was being used and seemed to give fair satisfaction.
York County. ’
At Cante#rbury Statian fertilizers were discussed and it seemed
to be thought by a number of men who had been using fertilizers
that musta.rd came in the fertilizers. Others thought this was impcssible. Both Provincial and Bowkers was used, and the result as
far as mustard was concerned was the same with each. It was pointed out by the Commissicners that possibly the mustard seed had
been layin,e in the ground far a good many years and it had been
&mulated to growth by the application of fertilizer.
Mr. Cummings said if fertilizer could be sold cheaper a great
.
I
148
REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION.
deal of land could be bro!ught under profitable cultivation. The
Maine farmers were to some extent making their own fertilizers and
getting it cheap.
At Harvey Station it was thought that six carloads of fertilizer
would de the average amount brought in each year, the price ranging
from $28.32 per tan up. The Nova Scotia brand was largelv used. 9
The Agricultural Society handled’ quite a 1c:t and the farmers get it
at cost. A goad deal of money was also paid far the purchase of seed
in the same way.
In rega’rd to seed the general idea expressed was that it was
necessary to change the grain to get best results, and the millers
claimed that wheat grown from the imported seed would make
much better flour that where the seed was home-grown. Commissioner Fisher said that he had not bought a bushel of seed wheat
for ten years, and he was getting better crops and better flour from
it than formerly.
The growing of clover was stranglv” urged by Commissioner
Fisher to help bring in poor land. Good cultivation, so as ,to get
3 goad seed bed, and some fertilizers were necessary [to get a catch
of clover. After t)here was once a good catch of clover in th.e land
it would pretty well take care of itself.
.
At Prince William (Front) it was reported tlhat there was a
good deal of co~mmercial fertilizer used. Neasly all of the Bowker
brands cost about $40 per ton. The experience from using it for
buckwheat and barley was very good and the increase of fertilizer
bought was marked from year to year.
Mr. Graham said if the Government wanted to help the farmer
it would be well to h,a,ve the fert,ilizer inspected and analyzed and
let -the fa)rmer know what he was getting.
Commissioner Hubbard pointed out that the Department of InI:-lnd R’evenue did this work now, but perhaps the information was
a. little late in being distributed.
No complaint was made of mustard seed coming in the fertilizer,
but one gent’leman said he had found it in wheat bran. It also trav‘elled from farm to farm with the threshing machine.
REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION.
149
In regard to land plaster it was stated that not much had been
used of late years, and there was a discussion as to the difference
between the action of land plaster and lime. The land plaster was
stated by Commissioner Hubbard to be an excellent absorbent
around the stable, while lime from its chemical action Ion the manure
would be the worst possible thing to use. Plaster would abso#rb
ammonia while lime would -drive it off. Perhaps for direct application to the land, especially where lime was needed, lime would
give better results than
plaster.
.
At Middle Southampton it was stated that .a considerable quan’ tlitly of fertilizer was used, although the farmers thought it was
rather expensive, costing about $40 per ton. Not much la,nd plaster
was used in that district, nor black mud. A gentleman said he had
se.nt two samples of mud from Cook’s Lake to the Experimental
Farm for analysis, and they had recommended it as equal to ba.rnyard manure.
Further *meet,ings held in Northumberland and York Counties
did not develop very many new ideas in regard to fertilizers, but
itI has been strongly urged upon the Commission by the men interested in the growing of turnips a’nd potatoes for market th!a,t it is
very necessary tlhat steps should be taken to look into the whole
matter of fertilizers, a.nd, if at all .possible, to supply them in a
wholesalle way at lowest prices; and it would be a most beneficial
field of activity for the Department of Agriculture.
FRUIT GROWING.
That large,areas of New Brunswick are well adapted to the
profitable growth of nearly all the small fruits and of many choice
va.riet,ies of apples, is attested by the evidence given at the va.rious
meetings of the Commission and confirmed by over two hundred correspondents whlo wrote in reference to this industry. -Very many
varieties of plums can also be grown in profusion and in some
district pears are a successful crop. While enough has been done
115G
REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION.
in fruit growing to demonstrIate the possibilities of this industry,
only the merest fringe of the business, so to speak, has been touched.
In Appendix “E” to this report the better fruit areas so far asa
certained, are outlined and the names of the varieties of apples successful in the different districts are mentioned.
Certain general principles must be observed if success in fruit
*growing is to be attained in any locality. The land must be well
drained, either naturally or art&ally. It must be so situated as to
ho free from late spring and early autumn frosts, reasonably fertile
.and under good cultivation. When these ccnditions are observed
and good hardy stock, from nurseries either in the Province or
where the climatic conditions are similar to New Brunswick, is carefully planted and given care and cultivation, success has almost in\.tlriably followed.
During the latter part of the last century, New Brunswick was
fortunate in having, in the perscn of Mr. Francis I?. Sharpe of
Woodstock, one of the most noted experimenters in this line in
Ilmerica, and he has clearly demonstrated that there is a great field
for original research and the breeding and c?evclcp~:-cr:t cf apples,
which, while adapted to our soil and climate may be among the finest
fruits grown. Ur&rtunately Mr. Sharpe’s death came while. he was
yet in the early stages of his great work, but he has laid a foundation and left behind him experience upon which scientific fruit1
growers may rear a structure of tremendous value to the Province.
Mr. Sharpe scored his greatest success very earlv
r/ in his career
when he originated “Sharpe’s New Brunswick.” This apple was
a chance seedling of unknown parentage but its general appearance
a.nd characteristics both of tree and fruit, would lead to the supposition that its pa’rent was doubtless of that ancient and hardy
%ntinuk” stock of which the Duchess of Oldenburg is perhaps the
most widely known representative in Canada. As Mr. Sharpe was
associated with experimenters in the United States who were importing and testing hundreds of varieties from Northern Eur:cpe, it
is quite reasonable to suppose that parents of the New Brunswick
,stock came’ from thlat country and doubtless belonged to the same
family as the Duchess. So nearly do the two varieties resemble
REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION.
151-
each other that many fruit growers class them as the same apple.
There are, however, differences in the tree and in the fruit showing:
somewhat the superiority of Sharpe’s New Brunswick and the Chief
of the Fruit Division at Ottlafwa has given as his opinion, that. these
differences are sufficient to enable the classifying of these apples as
two distinct varieties. When the New Brunswick apple is allowed to
mature on the tree it is found to be a brighter colored and sweeter
a*pple than the Duchess; picked while green, the two varieties lare
almost indistinguishable a.nd it is not from any intention to mislead.
that the fruit grower ma,y brand his Duchess *as New Brunswick or
vxe versa.
At Woodstock the New Brunswick tree is found to be hardier.
and more prolific than the Duchess. It, however, only attians to
it,s perfection under the highest cultivation and fertilization, though
it has proved a wonderful bearer of choice la.pples under very indifferent t,reatment. At the present time, at Woodstock, as a result of‘.
IMr. Sharpe’s work, there are a number of varieties produced fromk
hybridization mainly of the New Brunswick and Fameuse some of‘
which give great promise and there is a l#asge field for further work.
and experiment in this line of breeding. It is to be hoped, that eitherby private enterprise or through the Government, this work will
be
\ continued, not only with apples but with pears, plums, peaches:
and grapes, for the field is most promising.
Taking up the different cdunties in their alphabetical order, the
information received may be condensed as follows:ALBERT COUNTY. In the P(a,rish of Elgin and down the>
Petitcodiac Valley as far as Albert, a large number of the standardvarieties of apples are successfully grown and under good cultivat!ion, success is reasonably certain. At present the orchards acre
not generally cultivated or sprayed. Fameuse, Wealthy, Duchess,.
and Alexander are the leading varieties though in some places Gravenstein and winter varieties are successfully grown, Northern Spy
with some men yielding from one to four barrels per tree of beautiful
fruit. The local market affords from $1 to $3 per barrel according .
to variety and grade.
CARLETON COUNTY. Here; t-he New Brunswick is con-
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REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION.
sidered the hardiest tree and is generally grown. But few orchards
a#re cultivated and practically no spraying done. Duchess, Fameuse,
Wealthy, Alexander and Yellow Transparent are generally grown.
Golden Russet and Wolfe River are dioing well with some and Northern Spy and Greening by top graft,ing can be grown. Prices range
from 5Oc., to $2 per barrel.
Here but little attent’ion has been
CHARLOTTE COUNTY.
given to apple growing. Cultivation and spraying are not generally
done, but trees that are cared for are very satisfactory, Northern
Spy, Rhode Island Greening,. Wealthy, and Alexander are among
the varieties grown and the Illustration Orchard at Waweig is quite
‘as successful as any in the Province: Prices vary from $1.25 to $3
per barrel.
GLOUCESTER COUNTY. Not much has been done in attempting to grow apples here. The trees are not generally cultivated
nor sprayed. In the vicinity of Bathurst, New Brunswicks, Wealthy,
Duchess, Talman Sweet, and Yellow Transpa.rent have done well.
,
Prices vary from $2 to $5 per barrel.
KENT COUNTY. Here, as in Gloucester, but little attention
has been given to apple growing: The trees not generally cultivated,
nor sprayed. Duchess, Alexander, Baldwin, and Ben Davis are
a!mong the varieties grown. Preference was expressed for Provincial grown nursery stock. ‘Prices vary from $I to $2 per barrel.
KING’S COUNTY. The conditions here are from fair to good.
Many orchards are cultivated. There is some spraying, but it is not
general. Among the varieties grown are McInt,osh Red, Bishop
Pippin, Northern Spy, Blenheim Pippin, North Star, King of Tompkins, Wealthy, D UC hess, Fameuse and Princess Louise. The winter
varieties have best success by top grafting. Prices range from $1 to
$3 per barrel in the St. John market. A large business is done in
King’s County in growing stra’wberries and Iother small fruit. Many
years ago the late D. P. Wetmore of Clift’on, introduced strawberry
growing in that district, the business has assumed large proportions
giving employment and profit to very many people.
M A D A W A S K A C O U N. T Y . In this county pr&icallv no
apples are grown. But little care ‘or attention is given to youngYtrees
.
REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION.
153
and with but few exceptions these kill down to the snow line each
winter. A few trees are grown at Edmundston successfully which
would seem to indica)te that with hardy stock aud proper attention,
at least sufficient apples might be grown for home consumption.
Prices range from $1.50 to $4.00 per barrel for apples brought from
Quebec and Carleton County.
NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY. Here also fruit growing
is undeveloped. New Brunswick, Alexanders, Duchess, Yellow
Transparent,, Wealthy, and even Bishop Pippin have done well in
some sections under proper care. Prices range from $1.50 to $4.00
per barrel for imported stock.
QUEEN’S COUNTY. In most parts of this ciaunty conditions
for apple growing are very favourable and ‘all the leading varieties
grown. The best success wit,h winter varieties such as Northern Spy,
King of Tompkins, Blenheim Pippin, etc., is had from top grafting
upon hardy stock. All along the St. John R!iver, the Washademoak,
Grand Lake and in the back portion Iof H,ampstead and part of ,
Petersville, conditions seem to be especia,lly favourable for apple
growing and exhibits from this region have taken high honours in
competition with fruit from all parts of Canada. Prices usually
range from $i.OO to $3.50 per ba.rrel according to varieties and
grade.
RESTIGOUCHE COUNTY. But little attention has been
given here to apple growing though occasional orchards have done
very well. At Balmoral it was stated that Northern Spv and
Fameuse were thriving, whiih would seem to indicate that given
proper location and care, apples might be successfully grown. Prices
range frolm $4.00 to $5.00 per barrel for imported stock.
ST. JOHN COUNTY. Very little attempt! has been made to
grow apples, neither cultivation nor spraying being given. In
some sections large quantities of cranberries are grown in the dry
pasture fields. These cranberries can be sown and in four years a
good crop obtained. One gent1ema.n at St. Martins stated that he
bald t’aken over 60 barrels from ten acres.
SUNBURY COUNTY. The natural conditions here are very
similar to those of Queens and good success is obtained in growing all
‘154
REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION.
.
the standard varieties, it being found that good cultivation and
spraying <are well repaid. All the summer and late fall varieties
*-thrive and among winter sorts, the Bishop Pippin in some orchards
has been e,specially successful. Prices are from $1.25 to $3 per barrel
in the St. John and Fredericton markets.
VICTORIA COUNTY. Here, but little attention has been
given to apple growing though on high lands some orchards have
done very well. New Brunswick, Wealthy, Wolfe River, Alexander,
Fameuse, Longfield (and Milwaukee are among the varieties t’hriving.
‘The last mentioned is a new variety but the young trees are making
excellent growth and are apparently hardy. Prices range from $1.00
to $4.00 per barrel.
WESTMORLAND COUNTY. In this section there are some
$excellent commercial orchards, one :of the best being at Shediac Cape
on the coast which would seem to disprove the idea that the sea-coast
is unsuitable for apples. Some cultivation and spraying is given by
the best growers. Among the variet(ies successfully grown are
Duchess, Winter-Bough, Bishop Pippin, Wolfe River, Alexander,
G.ravenstein and Fameuse. Prices range from 9Oc., to $3.00 per
-barrel in Moncton and other local markets.
YORK COUNTY. Over much of this county apples are sue*cessfully raised and near Fredericton there are some especially good
commercial orchards. While some of the winter varieties do not
perhaps do as well as in Sunbury, Queen’s and part of King’s, such
va>rieties as Golden Russet, Bishop Pippin, McIntosh Red, Wealthy,
itnd Fa’meuse as well as all the early varieties are successfully grown.
Some cultivation and spraying are given by the best growers. Prices
in Fredericton range from $1.00 to $3.00 per ba’rrel.
So far as n)ative wild fruits are concerned, not’hing has been said,
nor have they been studied sufficiently to point out how t’hey might
be improved and increased. Blueberries, raspberries and blackberries, also cranberries of different kinds are indigenous to New
Brunswick and in some seasons the blueberry especially yields a large
revenue to certain sectkns. There is undoubtedly a. field for work
in exploiting the possibility of improving these wild fruits. _
’1
REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION.
-APPENDIX0, “C.”
157
--
Brief Description of Agricultural Colleges.
Ontario Ag~ricult~ural Co &ye, Guelph; MacDonald GoUege, Ste.
Anne de BelZevue; Nova Scotia Agricultural College, Truro;
\
and The Maritime Winter Fair.
It would be an undertaking requiring more time than is at the
disposal of this Commission to adequately describe the three Agricultural Colleges which we visited, and to discuss the work they are doing for the country at large. Their doors are open to students from
New Brunswick and elsewhere, so long as their facilities are not overt-axed, by students from the Province in which each is situated.
The first of these institutions which we visited was the Ontario
Agricultur,al College at Guelph, a college with a history and noble
traditions, doing a work appreciated by the people of Ontario, and
of enormous benefit not only to t’hem but to all Canada, in fact to the
whole American continent both north and south, for, except when
occasionally overtaxed for room, its hospitable picrtals have never
been closed to any- worthy applicant no matter what his country,
race or creed. Among some of its brightest students have been natives of the Argentine Republic who have returned tlo their own
country to inculcate and perpetuate the information gained at
.
Guelph.
Its illustrious history began in 1874; when, started in a modest
way ,it began
a growth in utility that has since made it the foremost
.
Agricultural Institution in the whole world. The objects of the Institution were ,twlo-fold :-first, to train young men in the science
and art of improved husbandry; and second, to conduct experiments
and publish the results.
158
REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION.
The presence of its gradua;tes in important educational positions
in the Argentine, in Brazil, and in many Stat>es of the IJnion
and throughout the Provinces of Canada where agriculture is
taughtI, demcnstrates its good work in teaching; a’nd the magnificent
success of scientific agriculture inB Ontario is a tribute to its work of"
research.
A few years ago at the expense of Sir William MacDonald there
was added to it a Ladies College known as the MacDonald Institute>
where the teaching of household science, domestic art and the training of teachers in these subjects is taught.
Today this enlarged 1nstitutiic:n affiliated with the Universityof Toronto can give a complete education to the student who wishes
to equip himself or herself with all that is best for country life.
At its head today is one of the youngest and ablest of cr;:llege.
presidents, a native of New Brunswick, a, thorough man of manv
. brilliant parts, under him is a staff of forty-five instructors. Spat;
would fail if we attempted to tell all that these capable, earnest, talented me6 and women are so successfully tea,ching.
For full informati,c:n we would refer all interested to the R,e-ports and Calendar 6f the College which may be had on application
to the President, Professor G. C. Creelman, Guelph, Ontario.
The College with its beautiful campus is surrounded by the Ex-pcriniental Farm which has a complete equipment of modern farm
buildings and machinery. In the stables will be found some ch50ice.
representatives of the various leading breeds of live stock, and the
da’iry department is equipped with a cheese and butter factory. The,
poultry department is extensive and the Hortlicultural Depa,rt)ment
with the orchards also occupies considerable land.
During I908 there were four students from New ‘Brunswick in’
the Agricultural College and three students in the MacDonald In&itute. The tuition fee to residents of Canada outside Ontario are
fsom $26.50 to $30.00 per yesr with a deposit of $5.00 for possible
breakage, and board at $3.00 per week. Remuneratilcn is given for
st)udent labour.
Supplementary to the experimental work
1) of the College Fa,rm.
REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION.
159
is the work of the Experimental Union, through which, last year,
experiments under the direction of Professor C. A. Zavitz, professor
FoF field husband ry, were conducted upisn 8,000 farms throughout the
Province, the most extended system of agricultural experimentation
in the world. This work brought the owners of these 8,000 farms
in direct contact with the College a,nd it is thus exert’ing a wonder-ful influence upon the improvement of farm practice.
Your Ccjmmissioners were fortunate in being able to att!end the
annual meeting of this Union and to meet a band of practical agriculturists, than ‘whom, there are none superior. The report of the
proceedings of this great meeting is published each year as a Departmental document, and may be had by addressing the Minister
*of Agriculture, Toronto.
During our visit at Guelph, the Ontarilcl Winter Fair, which
aincluded a display of beef and dairy cattle, sheep, swine, poultry,
allive and in dressed cascasses, and hundreds of bushels of selected
seed grain was held and it is without doubt the greatest educational
show in the world. In addition to the display t,here was an almost
contlinuous programme of lectures and demonstratihcns dealing with:
all departments of the live stock industry aad seed growing problems.
* On the sar-he week there was held at Guelph the annual Provin‘. cial Convention of Women’s Institutes. Between three and four
hundred lady delegates from all parts of the Province met at the
MacDonaNld Institute to discuss the various problems of Ontario
;country. life, and it was an inspiring spectacle to see these earnest
hometiakers and nation builders assembled dealing with those matters that are of such great importance to the Province. Elsewhere
, in our report we have referred to the wonderful work which this
organization is accomplishi?g, and give a quotation from the evi*dence of President Creelman thereon.
MacDonald College.
For many years the Ontario Agricultural College has held undisputed first place as a special agricultural college in the whole
REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION.
world. While in some respects it still holds its place, in otlher directions it has a magnificent friendly rival in the wonderful institution
founded, erected, equipped and endowed by Sir William C. MacDona$ld under the management of Dr. James W. Robertsbq at St,e.
Anne De Bellevue on the western gxtremity of the Island df Montreal.
Words fail in describing this great, institution. It involved the
expenditure of a kingly fortune from the hands of Ic:ne man, a philanthropist), who not only giving largely for general education and
ot.her good works, has single’d out the special needs of the dwellers
in the country for wise relief, and in doing so stands unique among
the great men of modern times. ’
MacDonald College is an incorporated college of McGill University, and the Governors of McGill have constituted its principal, certain members of his staff, and such other persons as they may see
fit to appoint, a commit’tee to govern the institution. This committee
reports to the governors of McGill once each year.
.
Fortunate indeed was the founder of the college to find a man
with whom to associate himself in this great scheme so well equipped
in mentality, by training and by experience as a teacher and leader,
and endowed with such large capacity for love of his fellows, as Dr.
*
James W. Robertson.
This college as it stands and in its work and influence reflects
the simple, earnest, uplifting life of its honored principal. Substantial, massive, almost indest’ructible, simply beautiful, yet grand. dis‘.
playing the highest sanitary art, the buildings are grouped u$on a
campus wide in extent, gently sloping to the noble Ottawa, and
arranged upon a de(finite plan so that the student goes by progression from the rudiments of science to itIs practical application in the
soil, the greenhouses or the stable.
The college is divided into three schools atid tlhe student, is enrolled in that one in which the major portion of the work is t,aken:“ (I) The school for Teachers, where is offered a. con>prc“ hensive and’thoroughly practical training in the art and science
“ of teaching.
.
REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION.’
.
161
“ (2) The School of Agriculture, which aims to provide a
“ theoretical and practical training in the several branches of
“ agriculture.
“ (3) The School of Household Science, in which young
“ women receive training which will make for the improvement
“ and greater enjoyment of home life.”
Under Dr. Robertson is a staff of thirty-nine professors and
instructors, selected not only for their abilities but also for their
wholesome personalities. The whole atmosphere of the Institution
will impress even the casual observer that he is among men and
women of high ideals devoting their energies to the development of
all that is best in the students who come to them. 1
With such a principal, such a staff and such equipment MacDonald College cannot fail to exert a powerful and constantly growing influence for good upon the people of Canada. New Brunswick
is fortunate, so long as there is room available, in ha,ving a warm
welcome from the institution extended to her young men and young
women. At the present time there are from this Province attending
the college, in the School of Agriculture, ten students, in the School
for Teachers, (Household Science), three students, and in the School
of Household Science, ,five students.
In the School for Teachers and School for Agriculture, tuition iS
free to residents of Canada. In the School for Household Science
the tuition fee is $25.00 per session. There are three sessions each
year. Board costs $3.25 per week.
Fullest information can be had in the college announcement
which will be sent on application.
“
“
“
“
“
“
“The college property comprises 561 acres, and has been
arranged into four main areas, viz :-(I) the campus, with
lawn, school garden, a’nd recreat’ion fields for boys and girls ;
(2) Experimental grounds, wit’h plots for illustration and research in grains, grasses and flowers ; (3) the small cultures
farm wit.h horticulture and poultry keeping ; and (4) the live
stock and grain farm extending to 387 acres.” I
Ample barns and fire-proof stables have been constructed and
962
kEPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION.
in them will be found one of the finest herds of Ayrshires in Canada, a herd of milking Shorthorns, and representatives of the other
leading breeds of cattle, sheep and swine. The poultry department
.and horticultural department occupy to some extent the same area
:and both are very extensive and complete.
The Nova Scotia Agricultural College.
At Truro, Nova Scotia? we found an institution, which, while
*smaller than the two colleges above mentioned, yet is admirably
adapted to Maritime conditions, and doing most useful work.
Situated about one mile from the Town of Truro upon a farm
*of over two hundred acres where the best methods of farm practice
are demonstrated, the Nova Scotia Agricultural College is splendidIv placed for its work for Nova Scotia, and convenient to the students
G-horn it invites from New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island.
It is owned and directed by the Government of Nova Scotia and
the Province is to be congratulated on the very efficient and worthy
gentleman selected as principal. In securing Professor Melville Cumming, a Nova Scotian, who had obtained the best agricultural training and experience at Guelph, in the United States and in Europe,
the Government has a gentleman well qualified in every way to build
up an institution of great value to the Agriculture of N&a Scotia,
and worthy of the appreciation and patronage of her people.
A very practical two years course of instruction is given to
,young men, and assistance is given the Normal School in demonstrating Nature Study, etc., to the student teachers.
In addition short courses are given in January of each year, to
which anyone may go and get the best information obtainable under
Maritime conditions in field and animal husbandry, horticulture,
dairying, poultry and veterinary practice. Ladies also can take domestic science, dairying and horticulture and poultry.
At the time of our visit, there were over two hundred short course
students in attendance, nineteen of whom were from New Brunswick,
while in the regular two year course are seven more New Brunswick
boys.
REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION.
163
Tuition is free to all and board in the neighborhood is quoted
at $3.00 per week.
The farm is well equipped and the stock ca’rried consists of fine
specimens of the leading breeds of horses and cattle. The poultry
department is especially strong, and facilities for teaching practical
dairy work are excellent.
The staff of instruct*ors while not large is thoroughly competent
to give agricultural ins-truction in its best form to the students in
attendance and they expressed to us their great appreciation of the
efforts taken in their behalf.
Your Commissioners beg to express their appreciation of and
gratitude for the hospit$ality extended to them by the principals of
these three colleges, and the fa.cilities afforded for a full investigation of all connected with the institution.
When it is considered that our New Brunswick students at the
present time will be admittIed to any of these colleges,
and that the
.
?Jew Brunswick Government will pay their transportation once each
year to and from any one which they may select, it will be seen that
so far as an opportunity to get tihe best agricultural education obtainable is concerned our young men and young women are as well
situated as any in the world. We would strongly urge upon them
the advisability of utilizing these opportunities so freely offered. It
may be that in the future, and perhaps before very long, these colleges
will not have sufficient accommodation to provide for their individual Provinces. When that time comes it will be essential to the success of agriculture that similar instruction should be available in
New Brunswick. For the present the immediate need is for short
courses in practical information and t,his can be managed without an
expensive college plant.
The Maritime Winter Fair.
Your Commissioners also visited this educational exhibition held
at Amherst, N. S., on the first week in December. We found it a
well managed, well patronized exhibition with .admir.able educa-
164
REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL
COMMIS,SION.
tional features well brought before the people. The only regret we
have to offer in regard to it is that so few people from New Brunswick have in the past taken advantage of it.
There were at this exhibition the following entries :- ’
Beef cattle, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .l%
61
Dairy, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Sheep, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..*..........~..........I~ .O
Swine, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..I3 4
Poultry, . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..-............................95 9
Seeds, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..% 3
Fruit, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
27
Apiarian, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
1,728
There was paid in prizes $4,318.00, of which there came to New
Brunswick $897.55, distributed as follows :BEEF BREEDS.
R. A. Snowball, Chatham, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
H. Etter, Westmorland Point, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Laurie Anderson, Sackville, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Albert Anderson, Sackville, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
T. Hicks, Sackville, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Amos Patterson, Sackville, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Walter Bulmer, Westmorland Point, . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
T. J. Etter, Westmorland Point, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Hazen Etter, Westmorland Point, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
$62.00
172.00
34.00
54.00
13.00
7.00
9.00
12.00
28.00
- - $391.00
DAIRY BREEDS. ’
McIntyre Bros., Sussex, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $145.00
SHEEP.
T. J. Etter, Westmorland Point, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . , . .$15.00
H. Etter, Westmorland Point, . . . . . . , . . . . . . . . . a . . 10.00
$25.00
165
REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION.
POULTRY.
Hartland Poultry Yards, Hartland, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $57.00
W. McMonagle, Sussex, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21.95
Seth Jones, Sussex, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .’ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25.00
J. Etter, Westmorland Point, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26.75
%2S
Laurie Anderson, Sackville, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
11.00
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
W. J. McLeod, Sussex,
Kinnear Poultry Yard, Sussex, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8.10
Walter Bulmer, Westmorland Point, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5.50
8.00
R. E. Goodwin, Baie Verte, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
0
SEEDS.
$172.55
Donald Innes, Tobique River, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $45.00
2.00
David Curry, Tobique River, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Albert Anderson, Sackville, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11.00
5.00
W. Bulmer, Westmorland Point, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
7.00
McIntyre Bros., Sussex, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
H. B.& Parlee, Sussex, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18.00
W. J. King, Sussex, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5.00
7.00
Henry Gordon, Chatham, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
FRUIT.
$100.00
J. C. Gilman, York County, N. B. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $6.00
J. Norman Hallett, York Co. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4.00
S. L. Peters, Queens Co. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6.00
C. E. Dickson, Kings Co. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6.00
A. A. Fairweather, Kings Co. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4.00
T. Hunter Boyd, Charlotte Co. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6.00
A. B. Colpitts, Albert Co. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .-. .. 6.00
J. C. Colpitts, Albert Co., . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4.00
Isaac W. Stephenson, Sunbury Co., . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6.00
R. Charters, Westmorland Co. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6.00
H. P. Steeves, Westmorland Co., . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4.00
Donald Innes, Victoria Co., . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6.00
$64.00
166
REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION.
Besides the a.bove prizes Mr. Donald Innes of Tobique won the
Silver Cup for the second time, donated by the Steele-Briggs Company, Limited, Toronto, for the most creditable showing of Seed
Grain for the whole exhibition.
As will be seen from the above statemknt, with the exception of
fruit and seeds, the exhibitors were confined to Westmorland and
Kings Counties. It would seem that if some arrangement could be
made whereby exhibitors and visitors from all parts of the Province
could be induced to go to this show, that very much more benefit
would accrue in return for the grant given by New Brunswick. Until
it is possible for us to have a similar exhibition at some centqal point,
in this Province, every effort should be made to get our people to
go to Amherst.
REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION.
1.69
APPENDIX “D.”
As it is felt by the Corinmissioners that this volume should be
condensed to the smallest possible space and in view of the advice
of the Agricultural Committee of the Legislature emphasizing
th.e importance of condensation, only brief reference is maode to the
valuable suggestions and communications kindly sent to us ‘by
various gentlemen.
We desire here to express our appreciation of the kind assistance
given us by these gentlemen and regret we cannot present their communications in full. Their suggestions have been of much value to
us in expressing our view of the general agricultural situation of the’
Province as presented in Appendix “ES’ and in framing the suggestions of the Commi’ssion.
Those who contributed their views in writing were Dr. D. W.
Hamilton, Fredericton and Mr. H. P. Dole, Sussex, upon Education;
Messrs. T. W. Butler, Newcastle, Fred. A. Hoben, Upper Gagetown,
N. F. Phillips, Pembroke; Geo. E. Baxter, Andover; Temple Lutes,
Hildegarde; . Thoma(s A. Clarke, Chartersville; J. E. Porter, Andover ; J. R. Oastler, St. Andrews; H. D. Buchanan, Sussex ; H. L.
Graham, Enniskillen; Wm. H. Featherston, Cloverdale; S. J. Shanklin, Sha.nklin; David Hargrove, Musquash ; John A. Young, M. P. P.,
Taymouth, and John Fraser, Rexton, upon live stock and other matters. Mr. Tappan Adney, Woodstock, submitted valuable manuscript embodying some of the views and experience of the late
Francis P. Sharpe, of Woodstock, upon apple growing, and Mr. S. L.
Peters, Queenstown, rkndered important service upon fruit growing
and other matters. Information from the last two named gentlemen
is embodied in the article upon fruit growing as part of Appendix
46 B. 77
The Deputy Minist,er of Agriculture has given us the following
terse summary of the work of the Ontario Agricultural Department.
This we give in full as an illustrlation of how one of the foremost
departments of agriculture in the world coaducts its work.
170
REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION.
He says::
In the Ontario Department of Agriculture the work is divided
into nine branches. Taking them up in order, they are as follows :The first division is in charge of our chief clerk and statistician,.
and includes the collection of farm statistics, municipal statistics,
preparing, printing and distribution of all our reports and bulletins.
The second division is that of the Agricultural College in charge
of the President. I need not go into details as to that work.
The third division is\ that of Agricultural and Horticultural
Societies. A superintendent looks after the yearly reports of these
societies, checks them over, tabulates them, and apportions the grants,
He also arranges for expert judges, and the sending of them out to
circuits of fairs. In connection with Horticultural Societies, he,
looks after the reports, apportions the grants and arranges for
speakers to attend special meetings.
The fourth division is that of Live Stock which is in charge
of a director who manages the Winter Fair at Guelph, the Eastern
E’air at Ottawa, the Spring Stallion Show, keeps track of all live
stock associations, apportions such gr)ants as may be allowed for
local poultry shows, local horse shows, etc.
The fifth division, Farmers’ Institutes, includes also Women’s
Institutes, and the director has the general supervision of the meetings, employment of speakers, arranging Institutes. in circuit, organizing new Institutes, etc., etc.
The sixth division, that of Dairy, is still under the direction of
the superintendent of Farmers’ Institutes, although the work is quite _
distinct. This includes the m5anagement of the Eastern Dairy
School at Kingston, and the direction of our thirty-five instructors
alnd inspectors.
The seventh division, Fruit Branch, has this year been placed
in charge of a director who is secretary of the Provincial Fruit
Growers’ Association. He assists in the organization of co-operative
fruit growers’ associations, arranges for fruit meetings, directs the
work of fumigating nursery stocks supervises the spraying experiments, inspects and reports upon applications for grants to assist in
171
REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION.
0
spraying, directs the apiary inspectors and the San Jose scale inspectors.
The eighth division, Colonization Branch, covers our office in
Great Britain, and the travelling agents whom we have there, together with the inspection of land suitable for settlement, the correspondence with farmers wanting help, the advertising of farms for
sale, and the assisting of settlers to reach their new locations.
\ The ninth division, that of the Ontario Veterinary College, is
just being established. We have taken over the Ontario Veterin{ary
(lollege, the purchase having just been made and the lease signed
this week, (August 14th, 1908.) Only today orders-in-council have
reached my desk confirming the appointments of five members of the
staff. This will bear the’ same relationship to the Department as
does the Agricultural College.
There is one new line of work which is not detailed above, which
comes under the first division, that is our new work of agricultural
education. We have now eight graduates of the Agricultural College
appointed as High School Teachers in Agriculture who are also acting as local representatives of this Department. Their salaries as
teachers are provided by the Department of Education; their office
and travelling expenses are provided by this Department. This has
not yet grown into a size to warrant a special branch, so it is included
in the first division, handled directly by myself. In June, 1907, we
a’ppointed six men. At the present time, we have eight permanently
located, with temporary assistants in six offices.
Parliament Buildings,
Toronto, Aug. 14th, 1908.
(Sgd.) C. C. JAMES,
Deputy Minister.
172
REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION.
SUGGESTIONS REGARDING AGRICULTURAL SOCIETIES.
The following sugg’estions were placed before the Commission by a
gentleman at Bathurst, who wishes his name withheld.
I. The Agricultural Societies require remodelling in some such
form as follows :(a) In each parish or in two or three parishes, as may be
thought fit, let there be one Agricultural Society for the promotion of all agricultural and dependent interests, which should
be used by the Government as the exclusive means of imparting
education and assistance to the farmers in all branches of agri.
culture.
04 In order that such a Society may have a wider and
more general influence let a sum equal ,and having a proportion,
to the Government allowance be levied by assessment on all the
farmers of the parish according to the assessment valuation of
their property.
( C > Let an annual parish meeting be held for the election
of officers and the transact’ion of the business of the Society, including the voting of an amount to be assessed for agricultural
purposes, a minimum amount, however,to be determined by the
Government to be obligatory.
(d) Let the number and duties of officers of the Society
be decided by the Department of Agriculture.
.
(e) Let the same Department supervise the rules and prize
lists of Exhibitions, and send one or more competent men to
judge all the exhibits, make a report of the work done to the
Department, and give such suggestions to the officers as they
may find useful or necessary. This would also afford the best
opportunity to give the people assembled useful information.
To prevent the usual hurry with which these shows or exhibits
are rushed through, stock only should be judged one. day and
not allowed to leave the ground before three or four o’clock,
p. m., and all other exhibits with lectures, etc., to be held on the
second day.
REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION.
173
(f) Let prizes be given as is done, I think, in the Province
‘of Quebec, for the best cultivated farm according to certain defined rules, for example, a prize for the best acre, (or two or
more acres), of clean whea.t, oats, kc., potatoes, turnips, &c., free
from weeds ; a prize for the best kept farm buildings, including
fences, gates, &c., for the planting of ornamental trees around
residences and along the road, a,nd for the reforesting of waste
land. In my opinion this system is more stimulating than that
of bringing a bushel of grain or roots to a show.
Let a bonus be given for the importing and keeping of
purebred stock available to all farmers, on payment of a smtjli
fee, or without fee, according to the amount of the bonus.
(1~) As example is better t,han precept let those farmers
who excel in any branch be encouraged by some reward to develop still more their specialty as a model for their neighbours.
(i) Instead of sending men around to deliver formal lectures, which, as a rule, are poorly attended and soon forgotten,
let practical men be sent to visit the farmers and point out to
them on the spot the improvements they could make, and the
manner of making them. Something like tlhis has been done in
Prince Edward Island with great adJ-antage, I understand, to
the farmers.
(j) Let the G overnment aid new Societies in every possible
way in the purchase of stock, pure seeds, &c.
(1~) Let useful literature be distributed gratis among the
farmers. This literature could be read and re-read, and referred
to as occasion may require, whereas spoken lectures are soon
forgotten by‘the few who hear them. The substance of this
literature should be given in the schco! readers.
These few suggestions are respectfully submitted to the members
of the Agricultural Commission by one who takes a. deep interest in
the subject of agriculture, the first and leading industry of tile
country.
.
REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION.
177
APPENDIX ‘3.”
The Present Condition of Agriculture in New Brunswick, with
comments and suggestions.
While most of our people living on New Brunswick farms are
enjoying a fair degree of independence and comfort, and there are
considerable accumulations of farmers’ savings in the Dominion
Sa*vings Banks and other monetary institutions, we regret that we
cannot report there is that prosperity or increase of wealth a’mong
our rural population that the natural agricultural resources of our
country should warrant.
We have it on the testimony of men of world-wide observation
and agricultural experience t.hat New Brunswick is well adapted
from its crop growing capacities, water supply, and climatic conditions, for stock raising in all its branches, for dairying especially, and
\
for the growth of all the hardier fruits.
The length of our stable feeding season is compensated by the
e,ase with which crops of hay and roots can be grown, and while grain
perhaps cannot be grown as cheaply as in Western Canada, good
yields of the coarse grains are possible everywhere in the Province.
Wheat is a sure crop in many localities. Corn as fodder can be grown
to advanta,ge in many parts of the Province, and in some localities
t,he earlier flint varieties give a good yield of grain.
On the farm of Sir William VanHorne, Minister’s Island, St.
Andrews, corn is regularly grown for silage purposes. It yields
from 12 to 20 tons per acre and the cost per ton is estimated at $1.75.
Early Longfellow, North Star, and Yellow Learning are the varieties
grown. A number of other farmers throughout the Province grow
corn for ensilage but the general practice is to grow turnips for
succulent food, of which a larger weight per acre can usually be
grown.
38
REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION.
High Qualitv of New Brunswick Vegetables.
For the production of roots and all vegetables of the highest
quality for culinary and market purposes, New Brunswick stands
unexcelled on the American Continent, and the reputation which our
potatoes, as well as our turnips and garden vegetables enjoy everywhere they have been sold, shows that with proper business methods
we can secure the highest prices on every market where it is possible.
4
to place them. .
Recent experiments in Ontario show that Maritime Province,
potatoes used as seed, give a much larger yield than Ontario grown
seed, and when this fact becomes generally known, there should be
a permanent demand for New Brunswick potatoes in that Province
amd perhaps elsewhere for seed purposes.
The same high reputation the potatoes of Aroostook County,
Maine, have throughout the United States, may be obtained for New
Brunswick potatoes throughout Canada. In spite of the high tariff
against them, our potatoes almost every year find a sale in the Boston
market whence they are distributed more or less for seed purposes.
New Brunswick turnips from Charlotte County and the St. John
Valley have gone forward in considerable quantities to Boston where
they grade highest in quality.
Stock Husb,andry Declining.
High prices for hay and grain in recent years, with what seems,
almost like a natural disinclination among our people to stock husbandry, have decreased to some extent our live stock, especially in.
cattle and sheep. This has also led to a decrease in our dairy output..
New Brunswick Compared with Other Provinces.
It is perhaps not necessary to an intelligent observer to quotefigures as to the small returns that farmers in New Brunswick are,
on the average, obtaining from their farms, but it may be advisable to
place on record in this connection, figures showing a comparison
between this Province and the other East,ern Provinces of Canada.
REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION.
179
Agricultural Statistics.
According to the Dominion Census of 1901, and this we regret to
.say is the latest statement that we can accept as at all accurate in
regard to the statistics of agriculture here, New Brunswick had
X7,583 persons occupying farms and lots, a farm being five acres and
over, a lot anything under five acres; the total area occupied was
4.438,937 acres or an average approximately of 118 acres to a person,
,of this there were 1,405,616 acres cleared, or about 37 acres per farm,
and 894,795 acres in crops, about 24 acres per farm.
Later figures given out by the Census Department but not taken
from actual inquiry do not at all coincide with actual conditions as
found by us from inquiry at our various meetings, and so far as crop
yields are concerned these figures do not correspond with the returns
compiled by the New Brunswick Department of Agriculture, therefore we regret that we are unable to agree with the bulletins recently
issued from the Census Department.
Our information would lead us to believe that the large increases
in crop production and in live stock stated by these latest “*census
-.3-m
Imlletins are not true.
Instead of an increase in the Province of 9,907 horses, of 38,713
?cattle, of 69,920 sheep, and of 46,848 swine kept upon New Brunswick
farms in 1907 as against those kept in 1901, your Commissioners
found evidence of a decline in cattle and sheep, no evidence of any
increase in horses and swine may be a little more than holding
-&heir own.
As far as the crop yields quoted by the Census Office statement
.are concerned, we find they differ materially from the returns given
.out by the New Brunswick Department. The potato crop of 1907 for
instance, being some 4,000,OOO bushels in excess of the statement from
Fredericton, and the oat crop for that year being nearly 2,000,OOO
Imshels in excess of the New Brunswick statement, while in the
Census year of 1901 the returns for those crops so nearly agreed with
the returns published by the New Brunswick Department that they
went to prove that both might be approximately correct. We, there-fore, for a basis of comparison, have taken the figures of eight years
REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION.
ago which give a comparison of returns from the different Provinces.
These figures are for farms of five acres and over, and do not take
into account the small places counted in the figures given above.
The .following figures give not only totals for each Province but
the average quantity of each crop, value of live stock, value of products per farm, concluding with a statement of the value of products
per acre of improved land.
Unfortunately for our pride, in products per acre, New Brunswick stands lowest on the list.
CENSUS FIGURES FOR 1901- F O R F A R M S O F F I V E A C R E S A N D O V E R .
N. B.
Number of farms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
35,051
Acres occupied. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4,438,93’7
Acres improved. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,405,615
In field .crops. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
894,795
In pasture . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
688,448
In orcha,rd. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
8,698
Number of horses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55,877
Milch cows. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
105,992
Other cattle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
114,938
Sheep. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
180,6~26
Swine. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
50,243
Average cleared land per farm. . . . . . . . . . . . .
Field crops. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Bushe,ls, wheat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Bxkihels, barley. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Bushels, oats .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Bushels, potatoes. . . .
Bushels, turnips a;nd roots
................... : : : : : : : : :
Tons of hay per farm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Horses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Milch Cowti.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..: . . . . . . . . .
Other cattle.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Sheep . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Swine.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Value o,f products per farm:
Soil . . . . . ..; . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I . . . . . . . . .
Animals. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
l
*
Value of products per acre improveId land. ..
N. S.
47,497
5,064,968
1,244,275
‘120,166 ’
1,132,051
32,814
55,174
127,945
173,757
278,549
42,0115
P. E. I.
13,149
1,193,158
724,978
447,09!4
284,229
3,102
33,3,58
55,694
56,118
125,175
47,624
Quebec.
130,158
14,424,428
7,421,264
4,694,356
3,356,487
33,035
282,781
734,434
591,970
649,461
388,001
Ontario.
185,415
21,3,05,714
13,223,313
9,197,716
5,241,479
255,495
648,236
1,018,479
1,408,288
1,042,431
1,530,674
Acres
40.01
25.52
10.72
2.82
137.28
130.93
58.81
Acres
23.67
15.12
5.23
3.79
49.32
89.90
43.33
AcreIs
55.12
34.0
56.12
8.01
346.61
377.19
298.48
Acres
57.
36.3
15.06
19.46
257.50
127.62
26.88
Acres;
7x31
49.6
153.24‘
86.75
475.14
10’4.73
340.51
14.53
1.57
3.02
3.28
5.15
1.43
13.62
1.16
2.69
3.65
5.82
.86
12.78
2.54
4.23
4.27
9.52
3.62
19.80
2.17
5.63
4.55
4.91
2.98
15.36
3.44
5.49
7.60
5.62
8.25
$231.0’0
128.00
$205.00
123.00
$362.00
201.00
$361.00
272.00
$588.00
452.00
$328.00
$12.95
$563.00
$10.28
$633.00
$11.43
$1,040.00
$14.84
$359.00
$9.13
S.ls%
REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION.
The figures of the value and returns from Live Stock in New
Brunswick and Ontario as shown by the Census of 1901, are shown
and compared with a view of placing plainly before the people of
the Province, their position in regard to their live stock industry.
The cost of feeding the Stock for a Year is based upon the following figures for each animal-Horses, $25.00 ; Milch Cows, $17.00 ;
other cattle, $10.00; Swine, $7.50; Sheep,
. $4.00.
Ontario, Census, 1901 m
cost to
Number of
Live S t,ock.
Value.
Horses. . . . . . . . . . . .
721,138 $54 $26,679
Cows.. . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,065,763
32,636,097
Other horned salttlse. . 1,422,043
24,641,545
Swine.. . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,562,696
10,575,746
sheep. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,046,456
5,518,408
Average
feed per
value
hesad for Total lc,osrt
per head. 1 yeas.
elf feeld.
$76.17 $25.00 $18,028,450
30.53
1 7 . 0 0 18,117,971
17.33
10.00
14,220.430
6.77
7 . 5 0 11,720,220
5.27
4.00
4,185,824
912;198,475
-
$66,272,895
Total cost of feeding above &xk.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . $66,272,895
6 per cent. interest on value of stock (viz., $128,198,475) 7,691,908
- - . ---$73,964,803
Value of Live Stock Products.
Huttelr and cheese.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . $34,776,330
.Live stock sold. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
35,385;376
.... ....
.Meats and products of all animals sl!aughtered on the
farm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
.
9,687,109
....
80’7,276
- 80,656.091
l
l
Wool...
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
a.
-0..
l
*..
Gai,u an live stock transaotionm.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$6,691,288
REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION.
183,
New Brunswick, Census 1901.
cost to
Number of
Live Stock.
Value.
Horses.. . . . . . . . . . . . . 61,789
$4,312,266
Milch cows.. . . . . . . . . 111,084
2,317,049
Other horned cattle. . . . 116,112
1,170,327
Swine. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51,765
401,965
Sheep. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 182,524
538,682
Average
feed pelr
value
head for Totjal cost.
per head. 1 year.
02 feted.
$69.79
$ 2 5 . 0 0 $1,544,‘725*
20.85
17.010
1,888,428.
10.08
10.00
1,161,12@
7.77
7.50
388,237
2.95
4.00
730,096*
$8,740,289
$5,712,6*06
-
Total cost of feeding above srtock. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $5,712,606
6 p. c. interest o,n capital investeld (viz., $8,740,289) . . . .
524,416
- $6,237,022:
Value of Live Stock Products.
Butter and cheese.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $2,260,537
Live stock sold.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
787,975
Meats and products of Ialll animal’s slaughtered on the
farms.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
1,160,783
... .. ..
Wool. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..-a.. . . . . 0. . .
145,0146
l
L o s s on our live lstock ltransactions.. . . . . . .
4,354,341
. . . . . $1,882,681
T%e
1 foregoing statements from the Census figures emphasize the
preceding remarks of this report in regard to the general condition of
our live stock industry and the Ontario figures show what better.
stock, better cared for, will do.
\I
This statement, so far as New Brunswick is concerned, seems
almost absurd, but it serves to emphasize the fact that our returns.
per farm and per acre under our average system of farming are soJ
far below a profitable basis as to make it certain that very large,
numbers of our farmers are depending upon sources of income outside their farms. We have, however, many farmers who make a
handsome revenue exclusively from their land, illustrating the
potential possibilities of good farming in New Brunswick.
184
REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION.
COMPARISION OF ONTARt AND NEW BRUNSWICK LIVE
STOCK.
As an example of the increase of live stock values which we
have a right to expect, the increase in Ontario in seven years makes
a striking exhibition.
In that Province there is a bureau of Statistics making careful
annual compilations, and from those figures we see the results of
increased attention to stock raising.
If we take the figures from these statistics for the three years
of 1898, 1899 and 1900 and compare them with those for 1905, 1906
and 190’7 we will note a very large expansion. They show one
reason why the Ontario farmer is realizing more money per acre _
than the farmer of any other Province.
COMPARATIVE STATEMENT OF ONTARIO LIVE STOCK VALUES.
Value of
Horses.
Year.
Cattle
Swine.
Sheep.
Creamery
Butter.
Cheese.
Total.
nm8.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$38,659,896
$47,286,254 $ 8,720,242 $ 6,499‘,695 $1,632,234 $10,252,242 $113,050,561
1899.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42713,557
52,938,500
10,180,338
7,315,729
1746,362
12,120,887
127,015,373
1900.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46,916,999
56,320,810
9,598,153
7,711,496
1,819,290
13,023,025
135,389,773
-______~_L~
.$128,290,452 $156,5415,564 $28,498,733 $21,526,920 $5,197,886 $35,396,152 $375,455,707
Total for 3 years.. . . .
-----___i_Average for 3 years. . . . $42,‘?63,484
$52,181,854
$9,499,577
$7,175,640
$1,732,628
$11,798,717
$125,151,902
1905 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$73,911,177
1906 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79,814,953
1907. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85,041,144
Total for 3 years. . . .
.
$76,764,482
80,303,276
78,485,780
$12,280,667
12,770,708
14,174,502
$
6,191,774
6,721,119
5,92$8,325
. $238,767,274 $236,553,538 $39,225,877 $18,841,218
Average for 3 years . . . . . .$79,589,091
$78,851,176
$X3,075,292
$6,280,406
$1,785,911
2,131,554
2,513,922
$12,908,118
17,417,757
18,569,207
$183,842,129
199,159,367
205,712,880
$6,431,387
$48,895,082
$588,714,376
186
REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION.
Had this rate of increase applied to New Brunswick live stock
and dairy products they would today have a valuation of upwards of
$15,000,000 instead of being the same or even less than they were in
the Census’ year, approximately $9,000,000.
The crops of the Province while comparing favourably with
most other Provinces as to yield and quality are not so large as they
#should be. The three essentials to secure good crops, viz :-Good
Seed, Thorough Cultivation and Adequate Available Fertility, are
too seldom all present. This is true to some extent of all other
countries, but individual example shows what can be accomplished
by combining the three, with due rega,rd to a suitable system of
rotation.
THEROTATlONiOFCROPS.
In this connection we beg to quote from the address of Dr. J. W.
Robertson before the New Brunswick Legislature and others in May
last, as follows:The productiveness of the soil depends upon the substances present in the soil, and still more on the condition of the substances as
to availability. That is where and how the rotation of crops comes
in, )a,$nd can be. of very great benefit to the farmer who understands
the underlying principle, or at least follows the practice. Some crops
by growing on land not merely give a good return in themselves, but
they make available in the soil the plant-food that the succeeding or
some succeeding crop needs and can get in better form through their
action.
It is admitted that the rotation of crops has been the chief
means of improving the agriculture of Great Britain and some other
parts of Europe during the last century. The practice itself consists
in growing roots (or some other cultivated green crop), and leguminous crops (such as clover, beans or Pease), or grass (or hay crops) Y
alternately with cereal crops ripened for grain. The famous fourcourse Norfolk rotation was roots, barley, clover or beans and wheat.
The chief point seems to be to make those crops follow each other
REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION.
187
which have different requirements, as to the time of the season when
they benefit most by plenty of available plant-food in the soil and
dieerent habits of growth in other respects, pa.rticularly in the
ranges of their roots. The rotation for any f alrm must have regard
tlo the soil, the climate, the markets for rotation crops, and other
local conditions. Not only the increase in the yield of crops has to
be taken into account, but also the value and uses to which the crops
can be put when grown.
Clover is a most valuable. crop as one in a short rotation. It)
increases the substances of plant food in the soil for cereals, and
makes conditions suitable for t,he activity of such germs in the soil
as prepare other substances for t$he use of subsequent crops. The use
of a clover crop, or some other plant of the same family-one of the
legumes-in a rot,ation, has been demonstrated as the best farm practice. In an experiment extending over thirty-two years at Rothamstead the records show an increased yield of wheat amounting to
114 per cent., when one crop in the rotNation included clover or beans,
as compared with the yield from wheat when cereal crops followed
t
cereal crops.
The results on the experimentla;l farms of Canada show that the
yield of grains, (wheat, oats or barley), after clover is from two to
ten bushels per acre more than the yield of grain in the same season
from grain after grain. It is not by getting commercial or other
fertilizer materials and using them on the land, but by fertilizing the
intelligence of the people through the medium of the common schools,
that the greatest improvements in the fertility of the
.:q fields are to be
made.
The great increase in crops grown in rotation over those grown
continuously seems to be because more nitrogen is available to the
former; and perhaps ,because it is available during the early period of
their growth, from the preparation of it by the preceding crop or by.
the cultivation of that crop. Other benefits from systematic rotation
of crops are: (1) the distribution of the mechanical operations of the
farm over the season ; (2) the opportunity for cleaning the land ; (3)
the compa,rative freedom from damage by insects; and (4) the production of a variety of products for feeding to live stock and for sale..
118
REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION.
Seed Selection.
A good deal of attention was given this question at our various
meetings throughout the Province, and the importance of selecting
good seed strongly urged, as well as some of the means of selection,Viz:-Hand-picking enough of the best heads in the standing
crop to sow a seed plot the following year.
Cleaning the grain thoroughly with a good fanning mill or by
hand throwing the grain against a curtain at such a distance that
only the heaviest grain would reach it, and by either of these methods
getting rid of all the weed seeds and light grains.
As a result of the selection of good heads of grain in the MacDonald Seed Grain Competition, the average increase in yield by
three years selection for all the competitors was for wheat ten bushels
per acre and for oats seventeen bushels.
At the Ontario Agricultural College over a series of years of
tests between large plump seed and shrunken seed it was found that
the plump seed gave an average result of 20.2 per cent. more yield
than the shrunken.
In six years tests with large vs. small plump seed the relative
average yields per acre were:Oats, large seed, 62 bushels; small seed, 46.6 bushels.
Barley, large plump seed, 53.8 bushels; small seed, 50.4 bushels.
Wheat, large plump seed, 21.8 bushels; small seed, 18 bushels.
An average of all the tests with all kinds of grain showed that
large plump seed gave a crop 19.1 per cent. more than the small seed
as the direct result of the first selection. The selection of seed is
equally important with the breeding of improved live stock and every
effort tlhat can reasonably be put forth to encourage it should be made.
The h&ding of seed fairs is doing good and the system of standing
crop competitions might well be adopted.
. Cultivation.
The New Brunswick farmer is not a very thorough cultivator.
His season of seeding and planting is short and he hurries through.
REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL ,COMMISSION.
189
Fall ploughing is not as general as it might be, though except on
sieep side hills it could be practised with advantage almost anywhere. There is not the same pride taken in good ploughing as
formerly. Where the plough is allowed to run at uneven depths and
spots left here and there unturned, a first-rate seed bed cannot be
had. The introduction of the Spring Tooth Harrow and the Disc
Harrow has much improved surface cultivation but too many farmers
fRiEng to realize the great importance of a good seed bed, are yet
leslving their grain fields only about half prepared when they- sow
their sekd.
There is also a great lack of thorough cultivation for potato and
root crops. Many farmers seem to think that the only object of cultivation is to kill weeds, and therefore the cleaner the crop the less
cultiva’tion it is apt to get. Potatoes, turnips and other root and
vegetable crops are greatly benefited by keeping the cultivator going
as steadily as possible, especially in dry seasons. Cultivation twice a
week or at the very least o.nce a week should be the rule from the
time the crop appears till it covers the ground. Cultivation not only
makes a better seed bed but it also makes available plant food in the
soil and prevents the evaporation of the soil moisture. Some good
fa.rmers in Ontario claim that they can grow a full crop on well
cultivated land even though there is no rain from the time t(he seed
is sown till after harvest. This implies that there is almost continual stirring of the surface soil from early spring till the crop completely shades tlhe ground.
Fertilizers.
New Brunswick farmers do not give much attention to preserving
their stable manure. A large proportion throw this fertilizer out to
the weat’her where it is leached by the rains and is allowed to ferment
unduly. A great many do not make any attempt to save the liquid
voidings which contain more plant food than the solid excrement, and
thus in some cases from 50 per cent. to 75 per cent. of the fertilizing
value of the manure is lost before it reaches the land. Some farmers
ha,ve manure cellars beneath their stables and in this way save the
liquids and solids of the manure in good condition, especially where
they have a concrete or otherwise tight floor to their cellars. The
190
REPORT OF THE. AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION.
only objection to this plan is when the cellar is not well ventilatea
the gases from the manure permeate not only the stable above but
also all the fodder and feed stored in the barns.
Some farmers use land plaster or gypsum in their stables with
good effect, they find that not only will a good sprinkling of t/his
substance keep down all gases of decomposition, especially ammonia,.
but that it will also preserve wooden floors from decay making them
almost as hard as concrete. Gypsum helps to prevent manure from
too rapid heating, and is especially valuable in horse stables.
Swamp mud and moss are too seldom used. Where t’hcse materials
are ea(sily obtained the manure supply on a farm can be doubled by
allowing this mud or moss to dry and then using it plentifully as an
a.bsorbent in the stable. An especially good way to use this materialis in pens or yards where pigs have access. Bringing this rawfertilizing material in contact with barn-yard manure not only impregnates it with urine, &c., but also introducy to it bacterial lifes
which tends to make the plant food in it available to plant growth.
It is the cold sour condition of swamp mud and the. absence of germ,
life therein which makes its direct application to the land sometimes
disappointing. The accumulation of road-side ditches, &c., make
valuable material to mix with barnyard manure, and some men make.
large compost heaps in this way.
Commercial Fertilizers.
*New Brunswick farmers in proportion to the amount of land
they till, are said to be among the largest users of commercial fertilizers on the Continent. This may or may not be good farm practice
according to the way in which these fertilizers are applied. On
soils deficient in humus, or vegetable matter, artificial fertilizers can
never be a satisfactory substitute for barnyard manure, while upon
most soils with adequate humus they give good results. There is a
very general opinion that our commercial fertilizers cost too much,.
and there is some evidence to show that this is the case.
Home Mixing of Fertilizers.
.
The Kingston Agricultural Society of Kings CountyCI has for-
REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION.
191
many years bought Bone Black, Sulphate of Ammonia, Nitrate of
Soda and Potash and sold these materials at cost to’ its members, who
mixed them in various proportions according to the crops to be grown.
‘Illhe evidence of these men shows more certain results in the crops, and
‘a saving of from 25 per cent. to 35 per cent. inCost, compared with the
‘mixed fertilizers on the market. According to evidence given us by
.the members of the Scottish Agricultural Commission last summer
fertilizers are relatively much cheaper in Scotland than here.
Investigation Desirable.
Many recommendations have been made to us that the Departhment of Agriculture should take steps to assist in the supplying of
fertilizers, and, by buying in large quantities from country of origin,
-save in freight, commission and mixing.
As your Commissioners have not in the time at their command
been able to study the question sufficiently to give def?nite advice
upon the subject, they suggest that the Department of Agriculture
‘take up the subject in detail, and before another year be in a position
&o give the fullest information to our farmers, and to act in accordance
with that information. Action would not be prudent until accurate
knowledge of all details was first obtained.
THE IMPORTANCE OF LIVE STOCK.
We have previously stated that our people, as a whole, do not
seem to be naturally inclined to stock husbandry. This is unfortunate
for history shows there can be no long continua’nce of agricultural
,prosperity in any country without due regard to an adequate supply
.of live stock.
In addition to the retention of the fertility of the land which
the feeding of live stock entails, there is the possibility of a further
profit to the farmer, for by the turning of the crude products of the
farm into hokses, beef, mutton, milk etc., the farmer becomes a manufacturer as well as a produce?. Manufacturing demanding greater
192 -
REPORT ‘OF THE AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION.
intelligence, skill and more labour than mere production makes it
possible for the land to carry more population and will give the skilful farmer a larger margin of profit.
It is of course essential that the stock .kept be capable of giving
profitable returns on the capital invested and for the food consumed: The comparison previously quoted between the returns from
Ontario and New Brunswick live stock shows the great importance
of improvement in this regard. It would seem first to be essential
that the best possible breeding stock be used and then that it receive
that care a.nd feeding which will give best results. Pure bred animals can almost invariably be depended upon to improve the ordinary stock of t,his country because of their development for generations past in the hands of skilful stockmen and their consequent prepotency or ability to transmit their desirable qualities to their offspring.
P
The Breeding of Pure Breds.
The breeding of pure bred animals in the Province is in the
hands of a, few men, and has not been attended by very satisfactory
returns so far as sales of breeding stock were concerned. Until our
farmers generally become more impressed with the necessity for
using pure bred sires and believe in the better breeding of stock, it
cannot be a very attractive business financially, and in view of its
importance to the Province, should deserve special encouragement.
Government Importations.
The policy of making Government importations from time to
time has operated against the building up of pure-bred studs? herds
and flocks, and if a stable policy were adopted by the Government
in regard to the encouragement of stock-breeding, breeders would
better know how to look ahead and prepare for business.
t The-results from Government importations in past years with a
, few exceptions have, in cattle, been almost imperceptible, and in
horses and other stock rather meagre, and it would seem that it
might be wise to encourage private enterprise with a vie\+ of breeding
up a supply of good stock in the Province.
REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION.
193
Very special efforts are made in some countries for encouraging
the improvement of farm live stock and regulations governing the
use of pure bred sires, and the selection of the best females carried
out.
The Encouragement of Worse Raising.
In this connection we must mention that we have found a strong
feeling throughbut the Province that some regulations should be
enacted dealing with the licensing of stallions. Evidence has been
given showing the great harm that is being done by the travelling of
unsound, poorly formed and badly bred stallions, both because of
the results of breeding from such horses and because their presence
in the field deprives. good horses of a living business, .discouragin&
the invest,ment of money in sound pure-bred stallions.
Among the suggestions we h’ave ventured to make is one recommending the inspection of stallions and the licensing of those that
are desirable, and giving only the owners of such stallions, as are
licensed the legal right of collecting service fees. A small monetary
inducement might be given the owners of mares who will patronize
pure-bred licensed stallions.
Protection from Scrub Bulk.
Among men who are. trying to improve their cattle we found a
strong sentiment in favor of restricting the running at large of bulls.
They have represented to us that great damage is done every vear
to their herds by scrub bulls. These bulls, free from all restriint,
break into their pastures or otherwise get in contact with their cows
and heifers, spoil their crop of calves and prevent them from getting
any benefit from the pure-bred bulls which they themselves may
keep.
Sheep and Dogs.
Almost everywhere we received evidence that sheep were profitable stock and the reason more were not kept, generally given, was
that there was no adequate protection from dogs and in some localities
from bears and wild cats.
id94
REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION.
The numbers of sheep kept, except in a few parishes, have been
:gradually diminishing, until in some districts none are to be found.
If the natural advantages which the Province possesses for. sheep
.raising are to be utilized, as they should be, a larger measure of
>protection must be given the sheep.
Dog taxes are not popular, in fact experience shows that in the
.country they cannot be collected, and it would seem that any action
must be in the direction of allowing the sheep owner to, himself, protect his flock. Were roaming dogs, unaccompanied by a person in
charge, given no protection in law, the sheep owner would be placed
in a much better position.
The replacing of bounties upon bears and wild cats would’ also
aEord -a further measure of protection.
Poultry Raising.
In the figures already quoted we have not taken into account
poultry raising as an adjunct to farm work. In this connection we
believe there is room for greater expansion than in any line of farm
work, an expansion which could be had with very little expenditure.
The market for well fatted birds and fresh eggs will take many times
#the present supply yearly. Past experience has shown that our
poultry can be profitably shipped to the British market when our
home market is supplied. The encouragement of poultry raising
both as a specialty, and as a small industry on every farm might well
.be encouraged.
THE DAIRY SITUATION.
In the early nineties, the Government of the Province took
lactive measures for the development of co-operative butter and cheese
making on the factory plan, and the people quite generally responded
$0 the encouragement given. It may have been that some of the
cleans adopted were not well thought out, and that the work of the
ml& charged with the development of the business did n_ot meet
the actual requirements of the case. At any rate the bonusing of
factories has turned out to be a very doubtful benefit. While that
system encouraged the almost indiscriminate starting of l f actories,
it; did not provide for following up that persistent instruction and
encouragement which was necessary to make the business grow in
localities where but few cows were kept on a scattered area,, andwhere the only hope of putting the factory on a sound business footing was to have the cows increased in number, improved in quality.
and better cared for.
The work of our dairy instructors should evidently have been!
more along the line of assisting in the profitable production of milk
instead of being confined solely to an oversight of the manufacturing.
It is also evident that bonuses were in some cases given to factor-.
ies much too close together to enable the business to grow to a pro&
table size.
Unfortunately for the present situation the failure of so many of’
these factories has led some’ of their one-time patrons to conclude
that the factory system is a failure and robbed these men of any
desire for a change in their present conditions as well as of ambition
to increase their dairy
operations.
.
The introduction of the hand separator has also had a considerable influence in closing up small factories, as by the centrifugal
process of skimming, farmers find they can get all the butter fat out
oE their milk at home and have their skim milk sweet, v;ar.m and in
th.e best possible condition for feeding. Then they can either make
butter at home or ship their cream considerable distances to a
creamery. The logical outcome of this condition is the gathering ofcream over extended areas and the making of butter in central
creameries which can serve a large district.
The only serious objection to the success of this system is the%
difficulty of having the separators and cream carrying %vessels properly cleansed, and the cream kept and carried under conditions which
will bring it to the factory in/ a condition to make a high quality of
butter.
REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION.
The Encouragement of Dairying.
It would seem to your Commissioners that the great work to be
done for the encoura,gement of dairying in the immediate future
must be to assist the milk producer to produce more economically,,
and then to promote plans for the care and transportation of cream
so that all farmers who desire, may have the advantage of the creamery system of butter making.
Of course there are many localities whefe the manufacture of,
cheese during the pasture season will be profitable and where that line
of work should be encouraged, but to get the best results from their
herds, these cheese factory patrons, when October comes round, must
better be prepared for home butter making and secure a market for
their product, or be in a position to send their cream forward to a
creamery.
In connection with this system crop up difficulties in the accurate sampling of cream, the accurate testing of it, and greatest of all
difficulties, the establishing in the minds of the f’armers the idea that
they are in all cases being honestly dealt with.
The Question of Profit. .
The great point with the dairymen is to get a profit from his
cows, and he will never be an enthusiastic dairyman till he does
make a living margin. This depends upon the cow, her breeding and
education, her care, her feed, the stable in which she lives, and so
many little things besides the manufacturing and market price of her
product, that we cannot go fully into all phases of the question.
It is our duty, however, to report that too few of our dairy
farmers observe the above conditions in such a way as to enable them
to get good results. We would estimate thlat not more than 10 per
cent. of our farmers are keeping good cows and giving them requisite
attention. These, with some notable exceptions, are largely those
dairymen who are making milk and cream for city consumption.
The IMilk Supply of Cities.
In connection with the city milk supply it would seem desirable,
REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION.
197
both in the interests of the producer and the consumer, that there
should be more effective inspection. At the present time for some
cities there is no inspection worthy the name. In the case of St. John
the Board of Health demands that every milk dealer once each year
show a veterinary’s certificate of inspection of all the herds from
I?’ hich he draws his supply. The dairyman sends for the veterinary
when he gets ready and pays the inspection fee. This inspection, we
a.re informed, is usually very casual, and in the opinion of most of
the farmers interested, of no value to either the producer or consumer. The producers have asked to be relieved of this tax, and to have
an inspection of some value. They have through the Milk Producers’
Association asked the Province to furnish an inspector.
The inspection of course properly belongs to the Board of Health
but before rigid inspection is put on, it would certainly be in the
interests of all concerned that desirable regulations for the feeding
and sanitary condition of cows for city milk production should be
placed in the bands of a competent man who should then visit all
milk farms, inspect in a friendly manner the conditions, and fully
explain to their owners the desirability of all producers being ready
to comply with the regulations likely in the future to be enforced by
t
Eoards of Health;
At the present time, while the larger proportion of the producers
of city milk are furnishing a healthy and clean product, the consumer
has no adequate protection against either disease or filth, a state of
affairs very inimical to infants and others who depend upon milk for
a diet. The producer also feels that he is paying for an inspection
which is of no protecti on to his customers and no benefit to himself.
Unprofitable Methods.
Among the conditions we observed on farms representing in our
opinion, about 90 per cent. of those in the Province, were cows without
dairy breeding- not provided with green feed during the summer
to keep up the milk flow when pastures failed,-without protection
from the flies-often without shade-not stabled during chilling rain
storms, nor housed early enough in the fall. The stables where the
cows were wintered were very insufficiently lighted, sometimes so cold
REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION.
198
as to absolutely prohibit a winter milk flow, and when warm sometimes ‘so badly ventilated as to be unsanitary,-never whitewashed.
nor thoroughly cleansed,-frequently without adequate litter to provide either comfort or cleanliness for the cows, and without the use
of land plaster, dry earth or other absorbent to keep down the gases
of decomposition. The winter feeding was frequently merely dry
hay and straw, and the general condition of much of the stock pitiable
in the extreme.
On the other hand we have seen stables almost as clean and free
from odour as the average family living room, and but very slight
expense coupled with care can accomplish this condition. We haves.
also been in many stables where the cows were fed intelligently and
the result was highly profitable.
We may be criticized for drawing the above most unpleasant
picture, but, if we are to be honest in describing the present condition\
of the Province we must stand by it.
Desire, the Only Incentive.
These are conditions that must be remedied before dairying can
become the industry that our natural facilities warrant. They cannot
be remedied except by the desire of the farmers themselves.
How to awaken this desire and how to point out the most practical and economical means of improvement is the first problem in the
encouragement of dairying.
l
What has been said in regard to milch cows and dairy stablesis true of other cattle. Horses in the main have reasonably good care,.
and ,while much is to be desired in the care given sheep and swine, no
class of stock is suffering to the same extent as cattle.
FRUIT GRiOWING.
In many sections of the Province fruit growing is past itsexperimental stage as a visit to numerous orchards or an inspection of
fruit exhibits at our various exhibitions will demonstrate.
REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION.
199
Nearly all the small fruits, many varieties of plums and pears,
and all but a very, few varieties of apples flourish in the Province
when care is given to their culture and growth. In the lower part
of the St. John Valley the most progress has been made and there all
the standard varieties of winter apples grown in Nova Scotia are
produced with good success. Such varieties as American Baldwin,
King of Tompkins, Northern Spy, Ribston Pippin, Bishop Pippin,
Golden Russet, especially if top grafted on native stocks, adapt
themselves to the climatic conditions. The Gravenstein also does well
top-grafted. The territory to which these remarks refer is known
to extend from Oak Point to the Oromocto River, and to stretch back
on either side of the River St. John an undetermined distance. Various places along the Belle Isle, Washademoak and Grand Lake
shores, as also parts of Albert and Westmorland Counties, grow good
winter varieties.
All these districts as well as many others, especially the St. John
River Valley from Oromocto to the Victoria County line grow the
best varieties of late autumn apples such as McIntosh Red, Wealthy,
St. Lawrence, Wolf River, Alexander and Fameuse, and this district
also has considerable winter fruit.
In parts of Victoria County, in Madawaska and on exposed
zsituations along the sea coast, apple growing has not proved sucJ;:essful, but with these exceptions all the best early fall varieties of apples
-can be grown throughout the Province. The Illustration Orchards
might well be extended and more use made of them as object lessons
in apple growing. Orchard meetings under the charge of an expert
horticulturalist have done good work in the past, and can be continued with great advantage.
Experts, competent to speak with authority, tell us that a larger
:area of first-class apple. growing country exists in New Brunswick
than is to be found in Nova Scotia. At present but little care and
skill is given to the selection and planting of varieties suitable to the
various localities, to the setting out and care of young trees or to the
:necessary care of bearing orchards. Marketing is done very badly,
- yet there are a number of orchard&s who are setting ‘an example and
proving that apple growing is a very profitable business.
2eo
,
REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION.
0
A great success of strawberry culture is being made by a number
of growers, their berri.es having the highest reputation wherever sold
from Sydney, Nova Scotia to Montreal and Boston. Mention should
also be made of the immense crops of blueberries that grow anywhere
in the Province where a fire has prepared the land for them. They
are exported to the United States in large quantities. Wild raspberries in some sections also form an export crop. Cranberries grow on
suitable bogs everywhere. At St. Martins a variety of cranberry of
high quality grows on the upland fields.
The employment of a good horticulturist who would devote his
time to the development of our fruit interests throughout the Province would be a most valuable and needed aid to the development of
what can be made a great industry.
llnsects and Funguous Diseases.
The prevalence of insect pests and diseases adso demands assistance in their prevention, and the dissemination of timely information. Preventive and repressive measures may at any time become
the duty of the Government for the avoidance of almost incalculable
damage. Take for instance, such insect pests <as the Brown Tail and
Gypsy Moth; experience in New England shows that should they
gain a foothold in this country the damage would be appalling.
We commend the precautionery measures already taken in regard
* to the Brown Tail Moth and the publishing of information on the
subject in the Agricultural Report. An active watch should be kept
every year for the presence of the winter nests, and if they make
their appearance some prompt measures should be taken for their
destruction. In Nova Scotia a small bounty is paid for each nest
collected.
Nearly all fungous diseases, such as blight, rot and scab of potatoes, black scab on apples, smut on grain and other fungoid growths
are preventable and the fullest information should be given for their
* prevention.
+ REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION.
201
BEE KEEPING.
The keeping of bees both as a specialty and as an adjunct to the
Parm has been found profitable, and we have two gentlemen in the
County of Westmorland who are making a financial success of bee
keeping. There is a considerable quantity of honey imported from
Ontario, and the climate of this Province except along the sea-shore,
is said to be almost as favourable for bees as that of Ontario. Bees
are considered very useful in fertilizing fruit and clover and other
blossoms. The encouragement of bee keeping therefore also deserves
attention. At present it is a notable exceptjon to see& hive of bees
on a New Brunswick farm.
FARM HELP.
The present condition of the Province in regard to necessary
farm labor is not favorable to agricultural development, Iand yet the
farmers themselves have largely helped to bring the situation about.
When wages began to increase some years ago most farmers did not
try to extend their operations (and make the employment of all the
year round labor profitable, but instead they curtailed their work and
tried to do with the least possible hired help, this naturally drove
away labour then available. Another point upon which most farmers
are lacking is in providing houses for men with families.
The large employment of men in lumbering and milling operations has also taken a great deal of labour away from the farms, and
when men once learn to like the social companionship and life of the
lumber camp they find it difficult to content themselves with the
comparative isolation of farm work. Farm labour can be brought to
the Province but if it is to be kept here our farmers must make
provision for housing the men and their families and give them
employment twelve months in the year. Help in the farm house is
practically a thing of the past, and can only be brought back permanently by the presence of working men with families in the neighborhood where such domestic help is wanted.
202
REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION.
MARKETS.
There is a quick demand for about all kinds of farm products
and we do not fully supply our ow’n towns and cities with anything
but roots and some vegetables. The following figures furnished by
the Secretary of the St. John Board of Trade as to the value of some
of the farm produce brought into St. John from outside the Province
for Provincial consumption will give an idea of the imperative need
of larger agricultural production in New Brunswick. Here is the
sum of nearly three millions of dollars sent away for a few items of
the food stuffs imported. No account is given of the tremendous
importation of wheat flbur, corn and cornmeal, of beef and mutton
and some other items. These figures represent the quantities handled
by brokers and do not include large imports by dealers direct.
The following is the .somewhat startling’ list :Farm produce imported into St. John during the past year from
points outside the Province of New Brunswick :-Butter, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 25,800
128,068
Canned Fruit5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
77,500
Beans, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
8,250
Potatoes, . . . . . . . . . . .' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
1,900,OOO
Oats and Mill Feeds,‘.
28,600
Eggs, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
14,432
Cheese, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
511,100
Pork products, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Apples, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10,600
40,000
Horses, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
6,000
Poultry, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
.
$2,750,350
It seems a shame, with all our idle land in this Province, to know
that such an immense sum, of which the above is but a portion, is
going out of the Province for products we might ourselves raise.
Perhaps it is the above diversion of money from the Provincial trade
that has prevented the organization of a proper market. Unlike the
farmers of Ontario, we cannot sell, at all times, according to establish-
REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION.
203
ed quotations. Here we have no established quotations and there is
no regular grading of products, everything is sold on a “catch as
catch can” principle except in the case of cheese, creamery butter,
.,:and at some points, potatoes, hay, oats and pork.
Some form of organization to secure the grading of all kinds of
-products and the establishment of daily quotations, would assist
farmers in the sale of their product8s and should be an advantage to
-produce dealers and buyers of all kinds.
The character of the market for live stock which our farmers had
somne years ago, and which to some extent remains, has, no doubt, had
.-something to do with the lack of increase in that industry. We have
never had a market for pigs on foot, nor any encouragement from
cattIle buyers to produce a choice carcass, the buyers of dressed pork
formerly recognizing no regular market quotations beat the seller
%down to the lowest notch, and the buyer of cattle instead of talking
them at so much per pound live weight made the cheapest purchase he
.could, and did not discriminate between good and poor. While of
+course the buyer has had his own troubles due to scanty supplies and
--poor quality, and does not seem to have amassed much wealth, his
-:methods of buying have been very discouraging to our live stock
“‘industry.
In regard to markets for,potatoes and turnips, hay and oats, con4itions are better, as there are enterprising buyers and exporters of
-these products who handle them on business principles and pay
cash. These buyers have also invested largely in frost-proof ware-houses alongside rail, and have exerted themselves to open up trade
connections and extend the export of these products. From Charlotte
County considerable quantities of turnips are shipped to Boston by
water and rail. During the past two or three seasons St. John River
turnips have also been placed in the Boston market, and with the
Xharlotte County crop have taken highest place for quality. During
-the present season a great many turnips are affected by a dark
% cloudy change in the flesh of the lower part of the root which unfits
- them for market purposes. A great many Irish turnips have also
reached the United States markets mostly as ballast, and have lowered
&he usual price.
204
REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION.
Since August last up to the 1st March the Canadian Pacific
X.ailway has carried 1,065,500 bushels potatoes and 75 cars of turnips
from New Brunswick stations to outside points. Half the crops for
sale is estimated as yet in farmers’ cellars.
LOCAL COUNTRY MARKETS.
The institution of local market _ days three or four times each
year at various country centres would be of assistance both to buyer
and seller in the live stock trade, as well as assist in the sale of all
farm products. If a considerable quantity of stock was gathered at
one point, buyers could reach it with least expense and ship with
least cost of gathering, while sellers should have the benefit of
competition between buyers and be able to get what the markets would
aEord for their oEerings. They would also have a chance to trade
among themselves.
AGRICULTURAL EDUCAT ON
l
The methods of agriculture generally in vogue in the Province,
the small returns per farm, the lack of live stock, and the absence of
imelligent interest which the growing’ ru.ral populatlion exhibits
towards the opportunities about them, show an urgent need for some
change in our educational system, a change which will give our boys
and girls attending country schools some small degree of information
in regard to what should be their life work. Unless we can give our
children in their early years an intelligent interest in country life
and its possibilities we will not be able to stem the tremendous citywa.rd t)ide of rural population.
President Felmley of the Illinois Normal School at Normal,
Ill., has well said in regard to the teaching
of practical nature study:
.
“The special instruction offered in this line is not merely to
“ train skilful farmers. It is quite important that farmers’ boys
’
REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION.
205
“ and girls learn to appreciate and love the country. There need
“ be here no division in ma,terial or method. The knowledge of
ic soil and atmosphere, of plant and animal life, that makes him
G an intelligent producer puts him in sympathetic touch with
c‘ these activities of nature. If the farmer as he trudges down
“ the corn rows under the June sun sees only clods and weeds
“ and corn, he leads an empty and barren life. But if he knows
“ of the work of the moisture in air and soil, of the use of air
“ to root and leaf, of the mysterious chemistry of the sunbeam, of
“ the vital forces in the growing plant, of the bacteria in the soil
” liberating its elements of fertility ; if he sees all1 the relation
“ of all these natural forces to his own work; if he can follow his
“ crop to the market, to foreign lands, to the mill, to the oven
“ and to the table, if he knows of the hundreds of commercial
“ products obtained from his corn or the animals that it fattens,
“ he t,hen realizes that he is no mere toiler; he is marshaling the
“ hosts of tlhe universe, and upon the skill of his generalship
“ depends the life of nations.”
Hon. James Wilson, Secretary of Agriculture for the United
’
States./ savs :’
‘:The voung farmer attending the district school could
readily bi taught what a plant gets from the soil and what it
gets f ram the air. The several grasses could be plant,ed, and
their office in filling the soil with humus, enabling the soil to
retain moisture, could be explained. The legume&-peas, beans,
clover and alfalfa,-could be grown in the schoolhouse yard,
and during recess or at the noon hour the teacher could int(erest
the studentIs by digging up a young pea or clover root and
and showing the nodules, whose ofFice it is to bring free nitrogen
from the atmosphere and fix it in the soil.”
The rural children of New Brunswick need tlhis instruction quite
als much as those of the United States, and they are just as much entitled to it as are the hundreds of thousands of children in rural
France, Germany, Denmark and other parts of Europe, who get. it
a*long with manual training and more or less domestic science. To
secure this education for our country children the first essential
is teachers trained to give the instruction, teachers with eyes opened
206
REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION.
$!o the ways
. of nature who can in turn open the eyes of their
rscholars. Our first need is then more ample provision in our Normal
School for the training of teachers, and we believe an agreement on
the part of the student teachers before they receive their licenses
that they will teach at least three years in this Province before renloving to other countries.
There is a serious drain upon our Norma’1 School today to educate teachers for the Western Provinces, a drain which now &at these
Provinces are organized and have Normal Schools of their own,
should be minimized to some degree.
Succeeding nature study, of a practical and homely kind in the
LCommon School, should come some provision for agricultural teach- *
ing in the High Schools, or what would be better, a special school in
every county where there would be special courses upon agricultural,
&c., subjects. If technical schools are a necessity in regard to other
lines of work, a technical school is imperative for agriculture when
-m-e should have at least three-quarters of our population pursuing
-that calling. An agricultural college cannot fill the needs of the
whole people, it will perhaps teach a’nd graduate from one to five
per cent. of the farm people, but the other 95 per cent. to 99 per cent.
will have to get their training in a less advanced form. If they have
-this training they will be better prepared to go to the College and
-to take advantage. of any other educational aids t>hat are extended.
Agricultural Colleges Now Available.
_
So far as a College of Agriculture is concerned at the present
time (thanks to the generosity of the founder of Macdonald College
and the liberality of the Ontario and Nova Scotia authorities), there
.,are three first-class agricultural colleges with doors open to New
Brunswick students, and as the Government of New Brunsw’ick pays
for the transport’atian of our students to and from these colleges,
there is nothing to prevent any youth or man, wishing to get the
-best agricultural information, from attending a College at less cost
to himself than if wk had one in the Province. Unt,il these Colleges
Tare forced, from the increase of students, to close their doors to us,
our people could not be better off so far as an Agricultural College
is concerned.
REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION.
- 20’7’
Normal School Extension.
The time is coming, however, when our boys may be crowded’
out of these Colleges, and we should begin to prepare in anticipation
\ of it. A start could be made in connection with the extension of our
Normal School, and we believe this start should be in the direction
of cemralizing the University, the Normal School and Agricultural
instruction, so that the teachers of each institution might most I
conveniently assist those of the others in giving the instruction ,
necessary in the different branches. The Professors teaching chemistry, botany and bacteriology, mathematics and English or other
languages could with some slight assistance teach students in an
Agricultural course, and give advanced work to Normal students
with much less expense to the ,Province than to have two staffs. In
our .opinion, before any site is selected for this proposed extension, themost desirable location, the available lands, the nature of their soil
and all details should be thoroughly investigated by a competent
committee.
Short Courses Desirable.
To the farmers who are beyond school age, much practical in-formation may be given by the system of short winter courses in
stock judging, stock feeding, dairying, poultry raising, fru& growing,..
seed selection, &c., now in vogue in Ontario, Nova Scotia, at MacDdnald College and in many States of the Union.
Provision should be made for holding these Short Courses
at Fredericton. A stock judging pavilion would be needed
and specimens of horses, cattle, sheep and swine secured by hiring.
or borrowing for the courses. Short courses, in perhaps a.
modified form, especially in dairying and poultry raising could with
great advantage be held at various local centres where an attendance.
was guaranteed.
A Poultry Demonstration Plant.
In addit,ion to the horticultural and seed test!ing work that might
Le done in connection with the land obtained for the Normal School
extension, there might also be with great advantage a poultry plant
208
REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION.
for the practical demonstration of the best methods of poultry raising
and marketing, and to assist in the improvement of the poultry of
the Province. Other educational work in connection with poultry
raising might be combined with the fitting of birds for market at
central points and the gathering and exporting of both poultry
and eggs for the purpose of opening up foreign markets. Poultry
raising and the keeping of pure bred dairy stock upon the Provincial
Hospital farm might also be of educational value and assist in supplying the demands for such stock. A good poultry department on
that farm would be of special value in supplying the needs of the
,
Hospit al itself.
A Provincial l-lorticulturist Needed.
In connection with the land that should be acquired for the
Normal School extension, there should be a man employed to
develop it and at first to especially promote horticultural work and
teach practical horticulture and fruit growing at the short courses
and so far as might beneeded with Normal School or College courses.
Such a man could combine with this the oversight of the encouragement of fruit growing, the Illustration Orchards, &c., and could be
of incalculable advantage to the development of apple growing arId
other fruitjnterests.
With the exception of the salary of the experts in ch:\rge, botlh
horticultural and poultry departments should be more thzln selfsustaining.
Travelling Instructors.
In connection with da.iry and live stock, and in fact all education
in new methods of agriculture, instruction based upon the Ontario
plan of county instructors who are available to visit and give such
assisttince as may be of advantage to all individuals in their district,
would no doubt be of grea,t advantage. Our farmers who are most
in need of information are those whom it is, most difficult to reach,
they do not read agricultural papers, they do not attend meetings
nor belong to Agricultural Societies, and they frequently live in
remote settlements, yet it is of the utmost importance to the
ovincr
that these men and their children should become prosperous farmers,
REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION.
209
Illustration Farms.
Practical illustration is the most impressive factor in conveying
agricultural information, and sotie people can only be reached in
this way, therefore’ illustration farms, we believe, would be most
valuable in improving agricultural conditions. They would be best
run entirely independent of Government control and influence, and
the scheme proposed by Dr. J. W. Robertson as a start for Quebec
Province would, we believe, be a most valuable departure in New
Brunswick.
Speaking upon this subject to the Commission, Dr. Robertson
said :Illustration farms will be no more remarkable in fifty years or
less than are the public schools of today. It is not so long ago since
only children who could be sent far from home could obtain a good
education. Now the opportunity is close by everybody’s door. I
think a similar development for the service of agriculture-the fundxmental occupation of the people-is coming. In the meantime
much would be accomplished by even a few illustration farms in each
province. As a ba4re outline of what might be underta.ken, I would
propose say five illustration farms, each with a specialty as well as
with goad gen&al agriculture. For an illustra,tion dairy farm I
would pick out some young farmer of intelligence and public spirit.
His place should be of ea,sy access to visiting farmers. Then if he
needed a little financial help to put his farm buildings or herd into
good shape that might be arranged. A sum of $1,000 might be lent
to him for those purposes under an advisory committee. In considera.tion he would undertake to carry on his farming according to the
counsel and plans of the committee and to let visiting farmers observe and learn. He should also furnish an annual report of progress
for publication. For such service $200 of the loan might -be written
oil’ annually. If he failed in those respects there would be no cancellation of the loan. Under such skilled advice and supervision as
would be furnished, I tlhink tha,t within five years that y o u n g
farmer would have doubled his farm revenue. If the whole $1,000
were cancelled to him in five years in return for the labor expended
210
REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION.
in initiating the better system of farming, in showing the visitors
what he was doing and in preparing reports, it would be money well
spent. If his success were seen by many and understood by even a
few it would be repeated over and over again. Thousa,nds of m e n
would want to do the same thing with their crops and their stables
and their lows and their products.
Another young farmer might be engaged to give similar illustrations with a specialty of fruit farming ; a third man with a. poultry
farm and pigs ; and a fourth with improved farm machinery and
the growing of special seed grain. Another farm might particularly illustrate the production of beef and horses. A few thousand
dollars .expended through the right men in the right places for such
illustration work would have a mighty effect upon rural conditions..
Except in work for research and for instruction of students, the
operations of agriculture can be carried on moit economically *by
ethose who follow it ‘for what they can make out of it. But these
men can be helped by expert counsel and supervision, and perha,ps
by a little money, to give fine illustrations of what may be done
when the counsel of highly trained experts, the knowledge of local
conditions, and energy with enthusiasm are united to render definite,
public service. With illustrat,ions of ,the occupation of the farm at
its best, of tlhe rural home at its best, and the rural1 school at its best
for the children, we should be in a fair way to make real progress
worthy of our heritage and of our obliga.tions.
It might be stated that at two meetings in Carlet)on County
resolutions were passed asking for the establishment of i.llustration
farms in that county.
Agricultwal Journals.
Mention should also be made of the great value of up-to-datle
agricultSural journals as a factor in agricultural education. A modern farmer cannot hope to keep abreast of the times without good
farm papers. Agricultural Societies will do well to see that all
their members get one or more of such papers, those that are now
attending’to this duty are finding good results; its adoption should
,be general. The home paper dealing with the problems of the
211
REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION.
%ovince should have the first call, to this should be added journals
.making a specislty of those lines in which the particular farmer is
,most interested. Everv Agricultural Society should also collect a
library of standard books dealing with the problems of the farm and
keep on file such journals, market circulars, &c., as will aid the
,Society to promote the interests of its members.
ANAGRICULTURALCREDITSYSTEM.
The conditions of agricultural credit in New Brunswick are not
favorable to the farmer who needs small amounts for short periods.
+Our Banking system, admirable as it may, or may not be for the
needs of commerce, has not adapted itself to the needs of agricultural
production. It seems unfortunate that there should not be some
system whereby the savings of a community should be available
for tlhe development of that community. While we have large
.accumulations of farmers’ savings dr,awing three per cent., if the
farmer wishes to borrow he has to pay from 6 per cent. to 7 per cent.
.and somet,imes IO per cent. and more. In this, connection we beg to
quote from an essay by Herbert G. Smith, M. 9., LLD., a distinguished graduate of Dublin University, now on the staff of the
) Department of Agriculture and Technical Instruction for Ireland,
and which was awarded the Cobden Club Medal and a prize of 520
in 1901. The essay deals with “The Best Methods of Organization
for Agricultural Co-operation and Credit,” and aims at giving the
dexperience of various European Countlries in this regard. We attach
this essay as Appendix ‘IF” of our report with the suggestion that
portions of it be published for general information. Mr. Smith wrote
in regard to the United Kingdom in 1901 as follows, and we believe
%
. . to be true in regard to the Province of New Brunswick today :l
“
“
“
“
“
tL4
“One of the shortest terms for which agricultural credit
is needed is six months; it is about that period that credit 5s
required for seed or subsistence during the growth and selling
of a crop. If the loan be for the purchase of stock or costly
implements, three years at least should be the term, to enable
the loan to be repaid from the profits. When the loan is for
the purchase or improvement of land, the building of a house,
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REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION.
“ &c., it is all sunk, and can be repaid only by small instalments
“ over a long period.
“It will be apparent to all that the prevailing system of
“ credit cannot satisfy these requirements of agriculturists. The
“ need, however, for a better organized credit is not keenly felt,,
“ as a rule, by the large farmer who keeps a bank account, is
“ trust,ed by his bankers, and who has no more difficulty in
“ getting credit on fair terms than the large merchant. The
“ English farmer borrows freely from his bankers for advances
“ at seed-time, &c., usually by a bill; and in Scotland a ‘cash
“ credit, may furnish what he needs. While a German small
“ farmer can obtain from 31/2 to 33/4 per cent, even for short
“ periods, from a co-operative bank, and borrow at from 4 to
“ 41/Z per cent. up to three years, a joint stock bank in t>he United
“ Kingdom will probably allow only I to 11/2 per cent,. on de“ posits (in N. B. 3 per cent.) and charge up to IO per cent. on a
“ small loa’n on a three or four months’ bill. The short period
“ of loan, the high rate of interest, the want of flexibility in
“ methods of repayment, and the low interest paid on deposits, are
“ all serious defects in the joint stock bank system in its rela.tion
“ to rural credit. It is the medium and small cultiva,tors who so
“ urgently stand in need of an improved system.”
After a thorough examination of all systems, Mr. Smitlh finds
that the R’aiffeisen system of co-operative credit has been the most
successful throughout Europe in aiding the small farmer. This
svstem started in 1848 not s through State action but through the
eif.orts and perseverance of a single man, and he a poor and delicate
burgomaster who resided in Flammersfeld, in the Westerwald, by
name Herr Raiff eisen.
In 1896 the number of these banks had grown to 2,169, and later
figures show further increases. The problems which he solved were,,
“ to supply within, confidence, courage, the spirit of thrift, of self‘< help, and of mutual help, through association, to a peasant,rv so
‘; enfeebled, suspicious, and dispirited, and to inspire without, such
“ confidence and credit that, upon the guarantee of such peasantry,
c6 external capital should be attracted in sufficient quantities to free
REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION.
1
213
“ t#he peasants from debt, and to supply them with funds for main“ tenance and production.”
Continuing, Mr. Smith says:-
i
“It is impossible to estimate the benefits which have followed
“ the unselfish exertions of Raiffeisen, or to forsee the extent to
“ which his system will in the future grow. In 1896 experts were
“ sent by the Austrian Government to investigate the system;
“ and as the result of their favourable reports these banks were
“ at once started in Austria. M. Durmand writes:-‘1 have
“ ‘ examined many systems, I have not found one which reconciles
“ ‘ so fully the demands exacted by credit; security of operation
“ ‘ and the social and moral requirements of rural populations.
“ ‘ I do not hesitate emphatically to pronounce the ‘Darlehnskas“ ‘ sen’ of Raiffeisen the finest creation, alike from a moral and
“ ‘ an economic point of view, which has ever been invented for
“ ‘ agricultural credit.’ ”
Co-operative Buying and Selling.
Some years ago the Grange Organization opened up this principle and established it at several points. The stores, we understand,
h.ave all passed into the hands of individuals or private companies.
Some Agricultural Sacieties carry out the idea in regard to seeds
and fertilizers with good results, but we have no organizations such
8,s exist in Europe for carrying on the principle of co-operation in
general buying and selling. The farmers of New Denmark in our
own Province knowing the great benefits the Danish farmers at
home derive frcm the co-operative system are agitating the formation
of a trading association for New Denmark.
IMMIGRATION.
This question is one that has not received adequate attention for
the last thirty years, and the time has arrived when it should be
1taken up seriously. We believe that this Province .offers to the rural
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REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION.
people of the British Isles and all Northern Europe as favorable
opportunities as any part of Canada, and in some respects our
conditions are more favorable. When our climate, our varied productions, our social conditions,* the pric.e of our lands and our proximity to Europe are considered, New Brunswick should attract more
attention than at present, from people coming to Canada. We would
suggest vigorous efforts to place the agricultural and other opportunities of this Province before the people who would make desirable
citizens. We commend the appointment of a Superintendent of
Immigration and his eBorts to gather full information as to farms,
opportunites for investment in industrial enterprises and labour
needs, &c., and suggest as thorough an organization as possible both,
-in emigrating countries, to secure an influx of desirable settlers and
the attraction of capital, and here, to see that they are placed to the
advantage of themselves and of this Province.
The Salvation A!rmy scheme of bringing agricultural and doxlestic labour here is also one which thoge of our farmers, who desire
Ihelp, may employ with advantage.
1
COLONIZATI;ON.
It is from our own people that we can expect best results in
opening up new farms, the European who comes to Canada is not
2s a rale adapted to pioneer conditions, involving the use of the axe
and hardships peculiar to first settlement in a forest country.
The conditions of taking up new land are not at present attracSive to the man who wants to make a comfortable home and wrest a
living from uncleared land. The fact that the merchantable lumber
can be all cleared off the 1an.d as soon as the settler applies deprives
him of rights to which he is entitled. Deception in the matter of
homesteading has no doubt been. responsible for the regulation which
allows of the removal of the lumber by the licensee of the territory
where the land is situated, but this makes it no easier for the settler
.
with honest intentions.
‘i
REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION.
2i.5
Were the regulations changed, so that the applicant would havereserved for him all the lumber on the land applied for, that he be
allowed to cut only within a specified quantity for sale each year, and
that upon this, until his grant was issued, he should pay stumpage,
to the Crown, the situation would be much improved for the bona
fide settler and the Province would be protected.
To promote desirable colonization and to preserve the forests
of the Province it is, in our opinion, desirable that the provisions of*
the Public Domain Act, regarding the survey and examination of
our Crown Lands, should be carried out with the least possible
delay. So far as immigrants are concerned we believe that, for thepresent at least, every possible effort should be made to place them in
already settled districts before dpening to them the Crown Lands
of the Province.
.
MAPS.
An urgent need for the carrying on of all agricultural, educational, immigration and colonization work is the proper mapping of the
Province. Not only is an up-to-date map of the Province needed
upon at least a four mile scale, but also maps of each Parish showing
surveys of property divisions, and locations of roads, post-offices and
school houses. Until these last mentioned maps could be prepared
the immediate needs of the situation might be met by having tracings
of each Parish prepared from the maps in the Crown Land Office,, *
and from these, blue print reproductions could be cheaply and quickly
taken whenever needed.
Printed information.
Printed information in regard to the Province is also urgentlyand immediately needed for distribution among enquirers and people
who will make desirable immigrants.
216
.
REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION.
.
-,
:
‘.,,
_
VACANT FARIVI~.
We regret to have to report a great many vacant farms through.
out the Province, many of them where large families have been raised
and just as good as far >as productive capacity is concerned as they
ever were. Others are in a run-down conditon, but manv of them
capable of resuscitation, while others, especially Ghere w e t
an.d stony or isolated, had better be allowed to produce what they
will in forest growth.
Report’s received from 355 school districts representing a!1 the
Counties and nearly all the Parishes of the Province state that there
are 851 vacant farms and 572 occupied farms for sale. If, the same
proportion obtains throughout the school districts which have not
reported we would have in the Province 3,428 vacant farms and
2,288
farms for sale..
I
These figures would seem to be borne out by the evidence taken
at our meetings. In addition to these vacancies there is considerable
land close to settlements good for agricultural purposes that inight
well be opened up. Along the St. John River and its tributaries
t’here are second and third tier lots that are but sparsely occupied
and there are many farms fronting on the river running back considerable distances which aIre of suffcient acreage to divide up and
make several farms out of one, Of course due regard should be had
to preserve a sufficiency of forest growth, for climatic reasons, as
well as for timber and fuel.
What Caused the Vacant Farms?
Many of the vacant farms have not been vacated because they
were unprofitable a.griculturally but frequently because of the desire
of their owners to follow other employments. In some sections the
farms were only occupied as a sort of home while the main attention
was given to lumber operations. When lumber became scarce in that
section or its control centered in large operators the farmer found
his employment in that occupation gone, and he moved: In other
places many of the young people left to ta.ke employment in the
factories of New England, and follow other occupations there and
217
REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION.
*
.
elsewhere, the old people died, and no one was left to occupy the
home. In others again some of the families went away and prospered,
others followed, and those that were left found themselves too few
to keep up the school, the roads went down and tha.t feeling of
discouragement which comes from seeing desertion and decay has
since driven away the least inclined to move. The same story has
been true of Nova Scotia, other parts of Canada and the New
England St’ates.
How best to cope with this situation is the problem before us. In
New England there is a very noticeable movement, from the larger
centres back to the land, and there are many of our own people in
the Eastern States today whom, we are informed, would be glad to
return to the land of 1their fathers if the way were shown to t’hem.
ICULTURAL AREA.
It is urged by some geological authorities that settlement in the
southern half of the Province should not be encouraged because the
underlying formation does not furnish soils as naturally fertile as
those upon the upper Silurian rocks of Northern New Brunswick.
With this theory we can only in part agree, for the history of Agriculture, the world over, does not show the most successful agriculture
on the richest soils, and it may almost be stated as a truism that the.
original natural fertility of the soil, while of great advantage in the
sta.rt, is about the smallest factor in the ultimate success of the farmer
who dwells thereon. Rather poor soils develop skill, industry and
those methods and habits which do most for the development of the
country. It may also be. stated broadly that there are but few
sections of the Province where the. soil is as poor as in some sections
of Europe which carry large and successful agricultural populations.
The physiographical features, such as steep hillsides, rock masses ’
and boulder strewn sections, bogs and swamps, have to be considered,
as well also as the mechanical composition of the soil, particularly
v&h reference to surface stones. Having regard to these features a,nd
218
REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION.
.to the preservation of a proper ratio of forest, we still are of the
-opinion that there are agricultural opportunities for many times the
present population in the southern hlalf of the Province, while in
the northern half only the fringe of our agricultural areas has been
developed.
.
More Population Necessary.
Having in mind also. the very low average production per farm
-and per acre, and scattered all through this territory farmers who are
.showing what can be done on compa,ratively small areas, we believe
if each average farm now carrying but one family were carrying at
least two families under modern and more intensive methods, that
not only would the individual farmer be more prosperous but the
increase in population and all that that means in the way of ro,ads ’
.and modern conveniences would make the conditions of rural life
more pleasant and attractive. The population on our present farms
,doubled, would mean almost doubling our commerce, building up
our towns and cities and adding to the profit of our transportation
systems.
FOREST FIRES.
The appalling destruction of our forests by fire, calls for passing
comment from us, and vigorous preventive measures by every citizen
of the Province. The suggestions recently made by the Hon. Surveyor General in regard to the protection of the Crown Lands cover
that branch of the service effectively, but, there is on our\ farms .and
small limits in settled districts, a forest growth that is in greater
peril and suffers more annual loss than our Crown Land areas or
large private limits. For the protection of this forest growth there
should, in our opinion, be an organization among the people who own
it. This could perhaps best be done by the municipal governments
through special fire wardens appointed in the same way as other
Parish officers, charged with the duty of investigating all signs of
fire in their jurisdiction, and vested with powers of entry upon lands
REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION.
219
and compulsion of assistance; or it might generally be carried out as
is now done under special legislation in the County o f Westmr rland,
AGRICULTURAL ADMINISTRATION.
The control and administration of the agricultural interests of
the Province was years ago in the hands of a Board of Agriculture, a
system
which is generally followed. throughout the United States, and
c
in more or less modified forms in nearly all European countries. In
Canada’the practice has been to make agricultural administration ‘a
department of the Executive Government, and except in Quebec, to
vest full control there. Both methods have their advantages and
disadva#ntages, but experience even in Canada shows that there is
great advanta*ge in the administrator of agricultural affairs being
able to consult the agriculturist. Ontario manages this by consulting
in a friendly way the various live-stock and dairy associations.
The varied needs of the farmer, and the complexity and wide
range of farm affairs make the department a difficult one to administer, and being charged with the development of the Province it
becomes perhqs the most responsible and important of any department of Government. We therefore believe it should certainly be
represented in the Executive Council and in the Legislative Assembly.
An Agricultural . Board.
We venture the opinion also that the department can only best
fulfil its duties to the Province by getting close to the men and women
who live on the land, and the plan of an agricultural board or council
which would hold annual or semi-annual conferences with the Commissioner of Agriculture and his staff has much to recommend it, from
the fact that men are thus drawn direct from their daily farm work
to advise upon matters which have been occupying their attention
every waking hour.
It is also very desirable that officials of the department be in
attendance as much as possible at Agricultural Society and all
220
REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION.
agricultural meetings, as weli as familiarize themselves with actual
farm conditions from month to month. No agricultural department
can be successfully administered by simply office officia!ls.
A Bureau of Information.
To properly fulfil its functions the Department of Agriculture
must be a bureau of information a’s well as of administrxtion, and
should be available to every farmer for information upon all quest,ions
which confront him in his farm practice. To this end the department
should be in possession of reports of all experimental and other
agricultural work throughout the world, it should have all statistics
bearing upon a.griculture in various countries; it should receive tlhe
leading agricultural journals of various countries and keep them on
file; it should acquire all standard books on the various branches of
agricultural work and research, in brief it should be kept abreast
of the times. Then there should be a medium by which the department could reach the farmer as occasion demanded. Either by special
bulletin, or a department of a weekly paper, timely informat)ion 1 especially applicable to the conditions of the season, state of the crops,
insect pests, kc., should be issued.
:,
e n t o f Agrkuitural Sock&s.
The department should give specia.1 attention to the work and
management of the agricultural societies, and a representative should
frequently visit them. Our agricultural societ.ies, with encouragement and some supervision, are capable of doing a great work for
their communities, and it is a pity to find that some societies are
c: and spending the money without adequate results.
drawing grant,,
Attemian and assistance might well be given to societies and
individua,Bs that are buying pure-bred stock for breeding purposes.
We beiiere that if this work was systematized that an 0fficia.l of the
department could, if requested, inspect all stock to be bought, and
give advice as to its suitability for the purposes int.ended, and continue to assist breeders and purchasers in regard to registration and
transfers. Another important work for the department, if large
Provincial assistance is given t6 Exhibitions, would be to supervise
REPQRT OF THE AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION.
221
to some extent the prize list, judging arrangements and educational
programme of these exhibitions. Where the provincial monies go
to the support of exhibitions all vouchers and accounts should be
inspected and audited by the department.
<
EXHIBITIONS.
We have found a great variety of opinion in regard to the value
of exhibitions, both small and large. That they are capable of doing
good work for the development of agriculture and other industries
we firmly believe, but we do not t’hink that other branches of agricultural work should be starved to provide funds for them. In fact the
grants to the larger exhibitions should not be charged altogether
a vainst agriculture, for the towns and cities where they are he.la get
a:ery large proportion of the material benefits. The average farmer
whom we have interviewed or heard from as to the benefits of exhibitions rarely admits that he or his neighbors derive any at all and,
so far as direct results are concerned, he is perhaps correct, but he
receives the general a,dvantage of the advertising of the country, of
cheap transportation, and has an opportunity for a holiday, i.nstruction and amusement if he wishes to take advantage of it. For men,
who are making a business of trying to improve their stock and their
seed, properly conducted exhibitions are of real value for they give
these men an unexcelled chance to advertise what they aIre doing and
to secure purchasers. Exhibitions are also responsible for bringing
good stock and seed into the Province, and are almost al necessity for
breeders of pure bred stock. That they might be much more useful
than hitherto we also believe, and we are suggesting some ideas in
regard tp this matter. One great wea*kness of our exhibitions, from
the visitors’ standpoint, has been the lack of information as to the
ownership of the exhibits and the localities from which they come.
Every exhibit should be plainly tagged with owner’s name- and
address and any other infqrmation that can be concisely given. To
say that this should not be done because the judge may be influenced
bY personal feelings, is to cast a grave ,reflection on the honesty of
222
REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION.
tlhe judge and also to underrate his intelligence, for in nine cases
out of ten the j,udge will not proceed very far in his work before he,
will recognize the ownership of exhibits, no matter what ,efforts are
made to conceal it. With live stock exhibits which should aIll be,
judged in the ring there can be no possible objection to having the
owner’s name and address with a description of the animal on the
Y
&all.
Education should be the aim of the exhibitions in all their
branches, otherwise the public money spent upon them is largely
wasted. With the exception of our winter fairs none of our exhibitions are equipped for the proper judging of live stock, nor is
the judging casried out according to a programme, which will enablevisitors who wish information on any particular breed or variety to
‘be on hand to see the awards given. Our exhibitions should be
organized for education and they will become important factors in
the development of the country’s resources. Special exhibitions, such
as Winter Fairs, Horse Shows, Seed Fairs, Winter Poultry Shows,.
E’ruit Exhibits, &c., which cannot be successfully held at the time
of our general fall exhibitions, all serve a useful purpose, and, perhaps largely on account of their special cha.racter, are generally
much better managed than the general exhibitions, a’nd a)re giving
much better -educational and business results to both exhibitors and
visitors. They deserve encouragement. Amusement is a legitimate,
feature of an exhibition, but the amusement features of well managed
shows will pay their way and an exhibition catering only to
amusement seekers can rarely give value to the province sufficient
to justify a provincial grant.
SANITATI;ON.
New Brunswick is naturally a healthy country, the winter climate
to people bred in warmer latitudes appeass rigorous, but for the
industrious and intelligent family there is no need of hardship or
even discomfort. Out-door exercise in the bright sunshine and
wholesome air of a New Brunswick winter day lends a glow and
-.-
REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION.
223
vigor to life unattainable in warmer climates. Warm houses and
barns are required, and for seven months in the year more or less
artificial heating of the houses is needed. This means attention and
,close. attention to the sanitation of the house, and it is the presence
or absence of this intelligent attention which ‘has much to do with
the welfare of tlhe people, both present and prospective. Tuberculosis,
that scourge of people who live in heated houses is far too prevalent
and lack of ventilation has much to do with our liability to all sorts
af diseases and disorders. Dietary management, or mismanagement,
has also a most important bearing upon the health or ill-health of
the people, and much improvement in this rega,rd, both from an
economical and sanitary standpoint, is desirable throughout the
country. The disposal of waste and excremental matter is another
feature which needs attention.
The importance of a pure and abundant water supply is a matter
of vital concern. Naturally we have an almost unexcelled water
supply, but in far too many farm homes this supply is badly vitiated
by drainage contact, and often the source of supply is so inconvenient
that it is a veritable hardship to keep a supply in the house sufficient
to meet the ordinary needs of a civilized people. A plentiful supply
of pure water led into t’he house is an important factor in making ‘a
happv” and healthy home.
There is also a great absence of the knowledge of how to treat
,simple health troubles and how to meet emergencies from accidental
or other causes. All these mattIers have much to do with the comforts
and attractions of country life, and as such demand consideration in
dealing with the agricultural situation. Here again, as in a.gricultural practice, will come 4 the benefits of organization and
*education, this time among the home makers of our country.
Any agency which will help our country women t o m e e t
this situation and to give them a desire for education for their girls
in domestic science will be of untold advantage to this Province.
Ontario is helping to solve the problem with her Women’s Institute
System. The State of Maine is doing something through the Grange.
Other countries are moving, and it is up to us to take some steps to
give our home makers throughout the country that interest in their
work and a chance to get that information which -will enable them
224
REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION.
best to maintain and build for us a healthy self-reliant country
population, a people properly fitted to improve all their splendid
oDport8unitlies for health, wealth and happiness.
STATE AID TO AGW ICULTURE.
We are unable to make any accurate comparison of what the
various countries of the world are yearly appropriating to Agriculture, the time for an investigation of this matter has not been at
our disposal. From what we can learn, New Brunswick in proportion
to rural population appears to give among the very least. The
amount given in this province to agriculture is very inadequate for
the needs of the situation. While our revenue is a limited one, vet,
if we are to progress as a province the maintenance and increase of
the numbers of the producing population of the country is a problem that must be solved, no matter what the cost. An increase of
the sum given in past years is, in our opinion, imperative.
.
.
Had your Commissioners time and opportunity for grea.ter
research there is much more that might be said in regard to conditions
necessary for the best agricultural development. Only those matters,
in our opinion, most# vital, have been touched upon, and they a.re
wspectfully submkted for’ consideration.
INDEX
A
Appendix “A"
................................................
Appendix “D”
.....................................................
25
. l ::::: 59
Appendix ‘2” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Appendix “C” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
157
167
Appendix “E” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117
Address, Hon. Dr. Landry, M. D., Commissioner for Agriculture, . . . . . . 60
Agricultural Societies, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
44
44
suggestions regarding, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
44
44
encouragement of . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Agricultural Education, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Agricultural Journals, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Agricultural Credit System, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Agricultural Area? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
w
Agricultural Administration, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
43
172
220
264
210
211
217
219
B
Bee keeping, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Board of Agriculture, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Bureau of Information, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
201
220
220
Census figures,
181
181
183
196
184
213
214
13
188
......................................................
of Ontario, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
of New Brunswick, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Cities, milk supply of, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Comparison of Ontario and New Brunswick live stock, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Co-operative buying and selling, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Colonization, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Creelman, President 0. A. C., letter from, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.. . . . . . . . . . . .
cultivation, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
44
44
44
44
D
Dairying,
............................................................
Dairying, Albert County, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
44
44
44
44
44
33
101
. Carleton County, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102
Charlotte County, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
105
Gloucester County, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
105
Kent County, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
107
King’s County, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109
INDEX.
ii,
Dairying, Madawaska County, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
44
Northumberland County, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
66
Queen’s . County, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Restigouche County, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
44
St. John County, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Sunbury County, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
46
Victoria County, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
44
Westmorland County, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
44
York County, . . . . . . . . . . . ..-..........................:i. . . . .
44
64
113
113
,115
117
118
119
119
121
124
Dairy Situation, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
196
milk supply of cities, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
unprofitable methods, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Drainage, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
196
197
42
196
Dairying, encouragement of, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
44
question of profit, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 196
44
64
i
E
Exhibitions, benefits of . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Exhibitions, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..C . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
.
I
47
221
F
Farm help, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Farmers’ Institutes, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
201
43
Farms for sale, Carleton County, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
44
68
Victoria County, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
72
Madawaska County, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . .
73
York County, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
44
77
Sunbury Cbunty, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
* 44
Charlotte County, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78
80
Restigouche County, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
44
82
Gloucester County, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
44
44
83
Northumberland County, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . .
86
Queen’s County, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
88
Kent County, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
..
64
89
Albert County, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . .
91
Westmorland County, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
..
44
93
King’s County, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
44 .
44
98
St. John County, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
44
98
St. John City, ; . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
39
Fertilizers, statistics, etc., . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Fertilizers, experiences, opinions and suggestions gathered at the various
meetings, condensed:- . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126
126
Albert County, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
126
Carleton County, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
44
....
44
44
....
44
....
44
44
..
INDEX.
Fertilizers, Charlotte County, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Gloucester County, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Kent County, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
King’s County, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Madawaska County, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Northumberland County, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
.
Queen’s County, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Restigouche County, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
.......
St. John County, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . LA
Sunbury County, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Victoria County, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Westmorland County, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
York County, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Fertilizers, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Fertilizers, commercial, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Forest Fires, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Fruit Growing, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Fruit Growing, Albert County, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Carleton County, . . . ; . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . .
Charlotte County, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Gloucester County, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Kent County, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
King’s County, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Madawaska County, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Northumberland County, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Queen’s County, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Restigouche County, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
St. John County, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Sunbury County, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Victoria County, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Westmorland County, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
York County, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Fungus Diseases, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
..
..
..
..
..
..
64
64
44
44
..
64
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
64
‘44
....
....
....
c
I
...
111.
131
131
134
134
138
138
139
140
142
142
143
147
147
189
190
278
198
151
151
152
152
152
152
153
153
;53
153
153
153
154
154
154
200
G
Government importations (of stock)
Government Aid to Agriculture, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
x92
224
.
.
H
Horse Raising, encouragement of . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Horticulturist, Provincial, (needed), . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
192
208
INDEX.
iv.
I
Insects and Fungus Diseases, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Illustration Farms, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Immigration, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
200
209
213
J
James. C. r( . (letter from on work of Ontario Department of Agriculture,) 170
”
.
L
I ,abor , (Farm) , in Carleton County,’ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Victoria County, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Madawaska County, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
cc
York County, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Sunbury County, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Charlotte County, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Restigouche County, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Gloucester County, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ; . . . . . . . . .
Northumberland County, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
8
cc
Queen’s County, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Kent County, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Albert County, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Westmorland County, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
King’s County, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
St. John County, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
St. John City, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Letter of transmission, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Local country markets, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..a . . . .
Live Stock, Albert County, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
cc
6s
Carleton County, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
..
46
Charlotte County, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ? ..
..
cc
Gloucester County, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
.
64
cc
Kent County, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
cc
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
..
King’s County,
.
Madawaska County, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
cc
cc
Northumberland County, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Queen’s County, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
cc
Restigouche County, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
cc
St. John County, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. cc
Sunbury County, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
.
cc
Victoria County, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
..........
Westmorland County,
cc
cc
York County, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Live stock, importance of, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
44
44
44
44
44
44
64
64
44
46
44
46
64
64
44
44
44
46
CC
44
66
44
44
44
44
46
64
44
46
44
46
44
44
46
46
46
63
68
72
73
76
78
80
82
83
86
88
‘89
91
93
98
98
5
204
101
102
105
105
107
109
113
113
115
117
118
119
119
121
124
191
P
Poultry Raising, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Poultry Demonstration Plant, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Population, more necessary, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Printed information, (of Province), . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Purebreds, breeding of . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
194
207
218
215
192
R
Rotation of Crops, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 186
S
Sanitation, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Scrub Bulls, protection from, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...
Seed ‘selection, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Seed selection, benefits from . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Seeds, experiences, oljinions and suggestions gathered at various meetings
in:Albert County, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Carleton County, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Charlotte County, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Gloucester County, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Kent County, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
King’s County, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Madawaska County,
Northumberland County, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Queen’s County, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Restigouche County, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
St. John County . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
..
44
44
44
44
cc
cc
cc
............................................
44
46
cc
44
222
192
188
36
126
126
131
131
134
134
138
138
139
140
142
,
V
w
4
Vacant Farms, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 216
Vacant Farms in Carleton County, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...& . . . . . . . 63
68
Victoria County . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
72
Madawaska County, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
73
York County, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
76
Sunbury County, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
7E4
Charlotte County, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
80
Restigouche County, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
66
82
Gloucester County, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
83
Northumberland County, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Queen’s County, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86
88
Kent County, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
89
Albert County, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
91
Westmorland County, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
93
King’s County, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
98
St. ,Jdhn County, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
St. John City, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
98.
Vegetables, high quality of New Brunswick, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 198
44
66
44
44
44
44
ri
41
44
44
44
46
..
....
44
44
44
44.
R
44
44
44
44
44
44
44
44
44
44
W
Weeds, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..*.......d********...
Women’s Institutes,
37
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13