The heavy growth of straw in this crop during the past season is shown by the returns of from 2 to 3 tons to the acre returned by some irrigators as their fodder crop.

OATS.

This grain, like both wheat and barley, is largely grown for fodder purposes, but last season much of the crop was allowed to ripen and yielded an average return of 45 bushels to the acre. The grain was a splendid sample, inuch of it weighing forty pounds and over to the bushel, and owing to the keen market which there has been for oats for the British Columbia market, good prices have been realized.

The grain cut green for fodder purposes yielded an average return of something over three tons of hay per acre, some irrigators having secured as much as five tons per acre from particular areas.

Oats are a certain crop every year under irrigation, and in the future irrigators will no doubt find that it will pay better to allow their crop to ripen, and to depend on the fodder crops proper mentioned below, rather than to cut their oats green for feed.

TIMOTHY.

Timothy seems to be specially adapted for growth under irrigation, as it will stand any amount of water, and does not suffer like most crops from over irrigation. The yield from meadows last fall shows a return of a little over 2 tons to the acre, and as the area embraced in this estimate includes many new meadows, the return is very satisfactory.

Attention is directed to the experiment mentioned in the returns from Mr. Wm. Edgar of sowing timothy on the native sod, after it has been roughly cultivated with a disc harrow. Mr. Edgar has certainly obtained very satisfactory results by this method, particularly when the small amount of seed sown (4 lbs. to the acre) is noted. The extraordinary crop (2 tons to the acre) obtained by Mr. J. W. Ockley from timothy planted on June 10th and cut on August 31st, is worthy of mention. crop was watered twice.

This

BROMUS INERMIS.

This grass, more commonly known under the short name, Bromus, will from present indications, become the fodder crop of our arid region, its suitability for this climate and growth under irrigation having now been satisfactorily proved. During the past season Mr. W. R. Hull obtained a return of nearly four tons to the acre from the third season's crop of this grass, the growth averaging nearly six feet in height, and other returns of 3 tons per acre have been secured from the second year's crop. The grass makes most excellent hay and meadows properly cared for will return large yields for many years. Bromus should be planted on well pulverized and clean land, being sown with oats or some other grain. Information as to quantity of seed to be sown is given below. Care must be exercised in irrigating this crop, as it will not, like timothy, stand too much water.

PEAS AND RYE.

Small areas of both the above were grown under irrigation during the past season, and returned satisfactory yields. Peas do exceptionally well in this district under irrigation, and promise a sure and bountiful crop which should, in conjunction with the raising of hogs, give a good return.

NATIVE GRASSES.

The yield of hay from the large majority of irrigated areas of native grasses was of an unsatisfactory character. The native grasses, particularly on uplands, are the pro13-2***

duct of existing arid conditions, and while the growth can be forced by the artificial application of water, it will in the end pay irrigators to break up the land and plant some other fodder grass from which a bountiful yield under irrigation is assured.

VEGETABLES.

Irrigated gardens at all points in the arid regions produced excellent crops, and many cases are noted where repeated failures to grow vegetables under ordinary conditions have been followed by splendid returns when irrigation has been resorted to. Exceptionally large yields of potatoes are noted in several cases, and all ordinary vegetables, including peas, beans, asparagus, cabbages, cauliflowers, beets, carrots, turnips, lettuce and celery, have been very successful. The lettuce, cauliflower, celery and asparagus grown in this district will compare favourably with any grown in Canada. In the Maple Creek district good crops of corn, tomatoes, pumpkins and melons were obtained.

NUMBER OF IRRIGATIONS.

The number of irrigations for any particular crop, must, of course, be more or less dependent upon the character of the season, but the experience so far obtained, indicates that if the ground is properly cultivated, two irrigations are sufficient for grain crops, the first of which should not be applied until the grain has attained a strong and vigorous growth. Irrigation to bring the grain up should not be resorted to unless absolutely necessary. Timothy will stand, and in fact seems to thrive under frequent irrigations, and bromus also requires several waterings.

Meadow lands seem to give the best results from fall irrigation and if cultivated land is very dry, the application of sufficient water late in the fall to give seed a good start in the spring, is advisable. Gardens should be watered as the appearance of the vegetables warrants, but water should not be applied after vegetables approach full growth.

PLANTING FODDER CROPS.

Timothy should be sown on well cultivated ground with grain crop in the spring, about ten pounds (10 lbs.) of seed to the acre being sufficient. Plant with oats or some other grain crop, and if good stand is obtained, irrigate after grain is cut. The results obtained by Mr. Wm. Edgar, referred to above, would seem to justify the experiment of planting timothy on sod in some instances.

Bromus should be sown with grain crop in the spring, on well cultivated land, the usual quantity of seed being about ten pounds (10 lbs.) to an acre. It is planted with oats, barley or some other grain crop, and as a rule does not make a very good showing the first year. If ground is moist do not irrigate in fall.

Timothy and bromus seed may be obtained from any wholesale seed dealer in Eastern Canada, the average price being: Timothy, four to six cents per pound; bromus, 15 cents per pound, these prices being for considerable quantities. A limited quantity of bromus seed can, it is understood, be obtained from the Experimental Farm at Indian Head, Assiniboia.

STATEMENT of Acreage under Crop, and Yields from same, during Season 1896, as shown by accompanying Returns.

NOTE.-The total area irrigable from constructed ditches which supplied water for above mentioned lands, is about 85,000 acres. Of this area only some 7,500 acres was irrigated last year, including the 6,164 acres given above, and several small areas for which no returns were received.

There has been an active market for all the above, in fact the demand has exceeded the local supply.

STATEMENT of Temperature and Rainfall at certain points in Southern Alberta and Western Assiniboia, during the months of May to September, inclusive, during 1895 and 1896.

INFORMATION FROM IRRIGATORS.

G. ANDERSON, Junr., Tp. 21, Rge. 3, W. 5th, 70 acres irrigated. Two irrigations, 1st June and 1st September.

Crop:-Oats, 2 acres cut green, 5 tons. Native grasses 68 acres, 50 tons. Soil, light and sandy loam, part of meadow was not cut owing to snowstorm. Crop was not heavy.

G. ANDERSON, Senr., Tp. 21, Rge. 3, W. 5th, 15 acres irrigated. Two irrigations, 1st June and 15tb August.

Crop:-Native grasses 15 acres, yield 15 tons. Soil, light sandy loam. Crop good but laid by snow.
ALEX. AIRD, Tp. 20, Rge. 4, W. 5th, 40 acres irrigated. Two irrigations, 1st May and 15th July.
Crop-Native grasses 40 acres, 50 tons. Soil, black sandy loam. Harvest, 1st August.
GEORGE BELL, Tp. 21, Rge. 3, W. 5th, 40 acres irrigated. Irrigated 9th June.

Crop Hay, 60 acres, yield 50 tons. Soil, sandy on gravel. No hay could be grown without irrigation. Thinks meadows should be irrigated in early spring.

Mrs. JANIE BRODERICK, Tp. 18, Rge. 28, W. 4th, 30 acres irrigated. One irrigation end of July. Hay irrigated last fall.

Crop:--Oats, 15 acres, 600 bushels. Potatoes, 2 tons to the acre. Harvest, grain, September. First time for five years I have had a garden. Potatoes under irrigation yielded four times former crop. Owing to scarcity of lumber was late getting water on land. The irrigated oats stood nearly five feet high and those not irrigated did not grow at all.

BLAKE and MILES, Tp. 9, Rge. 1, W. 5th, 21 acres irrigated. First irrigation 15th May, last irrigation 20th July.

Crop:-Oats, 12 acres cut green, 16 loads. Timothy, 9 acres, poor, 7 tons. Vegetables medium. Harvest: Grain, 6th to 8th September; Hay, 20th July; Vegetables, 5th October. Ditches not completed therefore crop not so good as might be. Timothy running out.

S. BROUARD, Tp. 8, Rge. 25, W. 4th, 30 acres irrigated. Two irrigations, early in June, and late in July.

Crop:-Wheat, 24 acres 50 bushels. Oats, 20 acres 700 bushels. Native Grasses, 74 acres 7 tons. Harvest: Grain end of September, Hay end of August. Wheat an uneven crop. Part of oats cut for green feed. Owing to location of ditch result is not so satisfactory as it would be if ditch was more satisfactorily located.

D. BRANIFF, Tp. 11, Range 23, W. 3rd. 230 acres irrigated. Two irrigations, 12th April and October. Crop:-Wheat, 4 acres, 40 bushels; Oats, 20 acres, 600 bushels; Native Grasses, 160 acres, 100 tons; Vegetables, 4 acres, 500 bushels. Harvest: Grain, August and September; Hay, July to October; Vegetables, 20th October. Creek low when water was most wanted. Good plan to irrigate in spring and fall where water is scarce in summer. Irrigation banishes gophers.

H. F. COOK, Tp. 1, Range 20, W. 4th. 35 acres irrigated. No irrigations.

Crop:--Oats, 35 acres cut for hay. Too cold for grain or vegetables to ripen. Sufficient rain this season so did not irrigate.

COCHRANE RANCHE, Tp. 5, Range 26, W. 4th. 170 acres irrigated. Irrigations: Grass, 2; grain, 1. Grass, 1st June and 12th July; grain, 15th June.

Crop:-Oats, 32 acres, 90 tons, cut green; Native Grasses, 137 acres, 70 tons; Vegetables, 1 acre 550 bushels. Soil, light sandy loam. Harvest: Grain, 8th August; Hay, 27th July; Vegetables, 1st October. Early part of season cold and unfavourable. Large part of meadows watered not good enough to cut. H. D. CRITCHLEY. 20 acres irrigated. Five irrigations, from 20th June to 20th August. Crop:-Oats, 20 acres, 50 loads cut green. Harvest, 1st September. Vegetables, very fair crop. Irrigate in fall and before spring sowing if possible. It is not advisable to irrigate very young grain. Irrigate on dull days or at night.

Yield doubled by irrigation.

CARDSTON COLONY, Tp. 3, Range 25, W. 4th. Two irrigations. Crop --No record of yield kept. Supplies drawn all summer. Variety of garden crops. Works not completed for irrigating grain lands. Verdict in favour of irrigation. CALGARY IRRIGATION CO., Tp. 24, Range 3, W. 5th. 140 acres irrigated. Irrigated 11th to 30th May. Crop-Native Grasses, 140 acres, 173 tons. Harvest in August. Lands unfenced, consequently best results not obtained, as hay was destroyed by cattle. Acreage is estimated. Harvest greatly interrupted by broken weather.

CANADIAN LAND AND RANCHE Co., Tp. 12, Range 22, W. 3rd. 150 acres irrigated. Irrigated from 1st May to 15th June.

Crop-Native Grasses, 225 tons. Soil, sandy Harvest, August and September.

CANADIAN LAND AND RANCHE Co., Tp. 13, Rge. 19, W. 3rd. 80 acres irrigated. Irrigated from 1st May to 15th June.

Crop-Native Grasses, 100 tons. Soil, sandy. Harvest, August and September.

O. A. CRITCHLEY, Tp. 24, Rge. 2, W. 5th. 75 acres irrigated. Irrigated 31st May.

Crop:-Wheat, 25 acres, 70 tons; Oats, 40 acres, 100 tons; Oats, 10 acres, 300 bushels. Harvest, 5th September. Small portion of crop not reached by water was completely burnt up and yielded nothing. JEAN CLAUSTRE, Tp. 10, Rge. 24, W. 3rd. 20 acres irrigated. No irrigations. Crop-Native Grasses, 20 acres, 40 tons. Found water too cold last year. Intend to make a reservoir to hold water so that sun may warm it next season. A. E. BANNISTER, Tp. 22, Rge. 28, W. 4th. middle of July.

50 acres irrigated. Three irrigations from 1st June till

Crop-Native Grasses, 50 tons; Vegetables, all kinds, good crop. Harvest, Hay, July. After cutting, pasture proved good feed for fattening steers off at end of September.

DIXON BROS., Tp. 11, Rge. 26, W. 3rd. 3 acres irrigated. Irrigated at intervals, 3rd year.
Crop:--Oats, about 240 bushels. Harvest, September. Cut on green side and will not be threshed.

If allowed to ripen would yield about 80 bushels to the acre.

Mrs. ANNIE DOWLING, Tp. 22, Rge. 3, W. 5th. Two irrigations in June and August.
Crop:--Oats, 9 acres, 45 loads cut for hay. Harvest, 6th September. First year of irrigation. Ditch

not complete in time to get water on where most needed.

W. B. ELLIOTT, Tp. 26, Rge. 4, W. 5th. 50 acres irrigated. Irrigated from 25th May till 27th June. Crop:-Wheat, 2 acres, 42 bushels; Barley, 4 acres, 132 bushels; Oats, 14 acres, 610 bushels; Rye, 6 acres, cut green; Native Grasses, 20 acres, 5 tons; Potatoes, 1 acre, 45 bushels. Harvest: Grain, August and September; Vegetables, October 6th. Small vegetables first sown failed on account of frost and worm. Potatoes crippled by frost, 23rd June and 24th July.

WILLIAM EDGAR, Tp. 22, Rge. 3, W. 5th, 125 acres irrigated. Four irrigations. First in Fall of 1895, last end of July, 1896.

Crop:-Oats, 1 acre, 80 bushels. Oats, 14 acres, 40 loads, cut green. Timothy, 30 acres, 45 tons. Native Grasses, 80 acres, 100 loads. Soil, deep loam. Harvest: Grain, 14th September; Hay, 30th August; Timothy sown on grass in 1894 (4 lbs.) crop now in first class condition. Recommends that Timothy be sown in this way.

C. W. S. ELTON, Tp. 8, Rge. 1, W. 5th, 28 acres irrigated. Irrigated 1st July to 4th August. Crop:-Oats, 14 acres, 561 bushels. Oats, 14 acres, 28 tons, cut green. Harvest: Grain, 18th September; Hay, 26th August. 14 acres oats threshed yielded 40 bushels to the acre, weighing over 40 lbs. to the bushel. Green feed was three to five feet high. Season so excessively dry that much of the grain did not germinate until after irrigation. Would have irrigated sooner, but ditch was not completed in time.

H. H. FAUQUIER, Tp. 10, Rge. 25, W. 3rd, 25 acres irrigated. Irrigated about 12th July. Crop:-Wheat, 2 acres, 3 large loads. Barley, 1 acre, 1 large load. Oats, 20 acres, 27 loads. Potatoes, 1 acre, 260 bushels. Harvest, middle of August. Wheat and barley not yet threshed. All vegetables were very good. Rain fell in spring and latter part of summer which made one irrigation sufficient.

JOSEPH FISHER, Tp. 21, Rge. 3, W. 5th, 80 acres irrigated. Two irrigations from beginning of June to latter part of July.

Crop-Native Grasses, 80 acres, 100 tons. Soil, loam with gravel subsoil. Water supply insufficient. 100 acres lying low, moistened by water produced best hay.

JOHN FURMAN, Tp. 1, Rge. 26, W. 4th, 31 acres irrigated. Irrigated from 15th April to middle of June.

Crop:-Oats, 9 acres, not threshed. Timothy, 22 acres, 24 tons per acre. Soil, black loam. Harvest: Hay, 1st August; Grain, 15th September. Country no use without irrigation. Oats too heavy, Timothy 2 to 25 tons to the acre.

W. M. GUNN, Tp. 9, Rge, 2, W. 5th, 28 acres irrigated. One irrigation 10th June.

Crop:-Oats, 10 acres, 407 bushels. Oats, 18 acres, 35 tons. Vegetables, acre, 3 tons. Harvest; Grain, 25th September; Hay, 29th September; Vegetables, 1st to 10th October. Grain grew 6 ft. 6 in. high, a little too rank for threshing but fine for feed.

CAPT. M. GARDNER, Tp. 24, Rge. 4, W. 5th Irrigated in patches. Irrigations: Timothy, 22nd May and 1st June. Oats, 18th July and 6th August.

Crop:-Oats, 27 acres 54 tons; Timothy, 2 acres 3 tons. Harvest Oat-hay commenced 31st August. Would have only had half a crop without irrigation, and no Timothy. Crop is hardly a fair estimate, as was delayed in cutting irrigated hay until after first snow and frost came.

COLIN GENGE, Tp. 9, Rge. 25, W. 4th. Six acres irrigated. Three irrigations, two weeks apart. Had 35 acres under cultivation. Cut it green for hay. Had more from the 6 acres which were irrigated than from the 29 acres not irrigated, though did not get water on the land until late in June. HIGH RIVER HORSE RANCHE Co., Tp. 13, Rge. 29, W. 4th. 20 acres irrigated. One irrigation, 1st July.

Crop:-Wheat, 20 acres, 20 tons, cut green. Harvest, 15th August. First time water has been applied. System of laterals not completed. Result satisfactory.

W. R. HULL, Tp. 22, Rge 1, W. 5th. 325 acres irrigated. Two irrigations. From beginning of June to latter end of July.

Crop: --Wheat, 7 acres, 255 bushels; Barley, 8 acres, 370 bushels; Oats, white, 14 acres, 667 bushels ; Oats, black, 3 acres, 185 bushels; Timothy and Bromus, mixed, 100 acres, 535 tons; Bromus, 33 acres, 128 tons; Native Grasses, 25 acres, 40 tons; Vegetables, no estimate of quantity, but all first-class crop. Soil, sandy and black loam. Harvest: Grain about 25th August; Hay about 15th August. Also had about 100 acres under grain, principally oats and wheat, which was cut for green feed and which yielded 375 tons of feed.

FRASER AND MCKINNON, Tp. 21, Rge. 2, W. 5th. 300 acres irrigated. Irrigated twice, 1st June and 25th July.

Crop-Native Grasses, 300 acres, 200 tons. Harvest, August and September. Water should have been turned on a month earlier, but feared the weather was too cold. Have come to the conclusion that land with gravel subsoil cannot be hurt by early watering.

F. A. JACKSON, Tp. 21, Rge. 3, W. 5th. 50 acres irrigated. Irrigated whenever sufficient water in creek.

Crop:-Native Grasses, 12 tons hay. Soil, clay loam. Had hay elsewhere, so only cut a small portion of irrigated meadow. Harvest in September.

JONES & SMART, Tp. 19, Rge. 15, W. 3rd. 150 acres irrigated. Irrigated March, April, June and July.

Crop:-Oats, 10 acres, 10 tons. Native grasses, 140 acres, 20 tons. Vegetables, acre, 75 bushels Potatoes. Harvest: Hay and Oats, July; Vegetables, October. Have not a sufficient supply of water to expect good results on grass land for a number of years.

GLENGARRY RANCHE, Tp. 12, Rge. 29, W. 4th. 135 acres irrigated. Three irrigations, 1st June to 20th July.

Crop:-Wheat, 5 acres, cut green. Oats, 70 acres, cut green. Rye, 10 acres, cut green. Timothy, 35 acres. 70 tons, Vegetables, 3 acres, grand crop. Harvest: Grain, September; Hay, August; Vegetables, October. Grain was sown on breaking about end of May. Promised to be heavy crop, but severe snow storm early in September flattened it so that it did not recover.

H. S. LOTT, Tp. 24, Rge. 2, W. 5th. Irrigations frequent from 15th May to 1st August. Crop:-Oats, 10 acres, 679 bushels. Oat-hay, to the acre, 5 tons. Timothy, 24 acres, 6 tons. Native grasses, 100 tons. Vegetables, good. Grain crop irrigated. Warm weather in February drew frost from the ground. Did not require more than 5 tons oat-hay. Soil, black loam. Harvest: Grain first week in September; Hay, end of July.