8

Wawanosh E., Huron: A number of acres of flax are grown in this section, and this year the crop turned out fairly well. The price for the raw material at the mill is considered poor, and that is one reason why it is not grown. There is more pasture and more feeding of cattle year by year, and less raising of cereals Biddulph, Middlesex: There is a flax mill at Lucan, and consequently a considerable acreage of flax is grown. It is generally grown upon old rough pastures, the first crop after being plowed up, and is consider ed profitable-more so than anything else on that kind of land.

Blanshard, Perth: A considerable amount of flax is sown in this township and seems to be a paying crop. The men who run the mill rent a field and supply seed and hands to pull the crop when ripe. The farmers do the rest of the work and hauling to mill, and are paid about $12 to $15 per ton,

HOPS.

This crop is confined to a few sections, and, while having suffered from the drouth, appears to be freer than usual from the attacks of the aphis.

FROM THE AUGUST RETURNS.

Wawanosh E., Huron: A few hops are raised, and are in good condition, although it has been too dry and hot.

lice.

Brant, Bruce: Hops are not generally grown. There is only one yard near here.

Eramosa, Wellington; My hop yard is looking very well. The frost has not done any damage so far. Hamilton, Northumberland: Hops are almost a failure on account of drouth.

Brighton, Northumberland: The crop will be a poor one, as it has been affected by both drouth and

Ameliasburg, Prince Edward: Hops will be a middling crop. After the early rains the ground became very dry.

Denbigh, Lennox and Addington: Hops are in good condition. Only small quantities are raised for local consumption.

Augusta, Grenville: Hop are promising well. The vine is heavy, and there is no aphis as yet or

mildew.

Edwardsburg, Grenville: Hops make a good show at present.

Algona S., Renfrew: Hops are in good condition. Just enough for home use are raised.

west.

FARM SUPPLIES IN THE SPRING.

"There appears to

In summing up the reports just received the May bulletin said; be a surplus of hay in nearly every section of the Province, but more especially in the Much of the crop is not of good quality, although, of course, there is a fair amount of first-class hay yet to be had. Owing to the large quantity available for sale prices were low all winter. Reports regarding oats vary, for while many claim that there is a scarcity, others hold that there is still a good supply left. Oats were fed more freely than usual during the winter, and during the last few months a large quantity was marketed, consequently there was hardly as much as usual in the hands of farmers at the beginning of May. Dollar wheat' created an active market, and during the last month an immense quantity has changed hands. It looks as if nearly all the crop has been dis. posed of in some quarters, although farmers are occasionally spoken of as having from fifty to a few hundred bushels of wheat ready for a further rise in price. Store cattle are said to be scarcer than usual, but in some places equal to the demand.' Complaints are made of the low price for beef, especially when offered for fat animals, and many of this class of cattle are being kept for better figure in some of the western counties, and consequently there are rather more in the hands of farmers than are desired; but in the eastern counties fat cattle are scarce."

FALL PLOWING.

"The progress made in fall plowing up to the first week of November" said the bulletin issued in that month, "has been highly satisfactory and in advance of most seasons, The soil in most places during the earlier part of the fall was too dry to be favorable for plowing, but the late heavy rains have brought it into splendid condition, and where farmers have not been too busy with harvesting or other departments of farm work requiring immediate attention they have taken advantage of the opportunity, and in many quarters the fall plowing is already finished or nearly so. In some parts, more particularly in the eastern section, the work has been considerably retarded by the rainfall which has rendered low-lying lands unworkable. The indications are that the area plowed will be greater than usual."

THRESHING AND MARKETING.

The November bulletin said: " Threshing was undertaken earlier than usual this season, and in most cases is already finished, very little remaining to be done. Marketing has been slow in most sections, as, on account of low prices for wheat there is a disposition among farmers to hold for a rise-few selling except when compelled to do so. The great bulk of the coarse grains is fed to stock, the growers as a rule finding it more profitable to dispose of them in this form, but the surplus of oats, peas and barley are finding a ready sale at good prices. The figures offered by buyers in some localities are stimulating sales.”

FARM IMPROVEMENTS.

The

November reports were to the following effect: "Good progress has been made in underdraining, especially in the western sections of the Province. There is an adequate supply in nearly all localities, excepting in some of the eastern counties where open draining is the rule and few complain as to the scarcity of skilled labor. Tile draining machines are very little in use, and the general opinion is against them on the ground that they cannot be operated successfully except where the soil is free from stones. past season has witnessed substantial advancement in fencing and the quality of farm buildings, the most noteworthy features being the substitution of wire or straight rails for the old style snake fences, and the adoption of stone basements with cement floors for barns. There is a general disposition to discontinue the use of barbed wire in favor of woven wire fencing."

FROM THE NOVEMBER RETURNS.

Colchester, Essex: Great improvement is being made in fencing, chiefly in the different kinds of wire fence. The improvement in farm buildings is increasing yearly.

Mersea, Essex Great improvements are being made in farm buildings and fencing. The new fences are nearly all being made of wire.

Orford, Kent: There is a wire fence boom on just now. Everybody who can afford it, and some whe cannot, are putting up more or less of this kind of fencing, and it looks nice, too. Buildings are being improved constantly.

Yarmouth, Elgin: A great quantity of wire fence has been put up, and also a number of basement barns and stables.

Walpole, Haldimand: Straight fences, some rail and some wire, are taking the place of the old worm A number of barns have been put up lately, most of them with basements.

fence.

Thorold, Welland: Fencing is now nearly all of wire, which is cheap, and can be put up in a more permanent form. Cement is being used in the erection of some farm buildings

Dawn, Lambton: Wire is used very extensively on the older farms, and in a few years there will be ne rail feuces. There is great pr gres in farm buildings-so much that a man having traveled through here ten years ago would scarcely believe the change.

Ashfield, Huron: A great many are raising their barns and putting stone foundations under them. Hullett, Huron: "onsiderable fencing and building have been done. A few pig pens have also been built of gravel and cement.

Stephen, Usborne: Great improvements are being made in buildings. Every man who has not a bank barn is building one. The same may be said about good fences. A smooth wire fence and wooden straps is most used.

Brant, Bruce: The old snake fence is being replaced by wire, straight and other patent fences. Fine barns and other out buildings are being put up in this locality, and also some good houses.

Glenelg, Grey: A number of first class farm buildings have been erected this summer, and most farms are being steadily improved in fencing and otherwise.

Sullivan, Grey: Frame barns and stone and brick houses are taking the place of the old log buildings. Sydenham, Grey: More building was done last summer than I ever remember in one year before. Some houses were put up, but the work was chiefly confined to barns and outhouses.

Oro, Simcoe: About the usual amount of fencing and building has been done. Our farm buildings are improving in character.

Caradoc, Middlesex: There has been much improvement both in fencing and building. Many fine bank barns with brick foundations have gone up this year.

London, Middlesex: Many new barns have been built, and many old ones raised and placed on stone and concrete walls.

Westminster, Middlesex: Wire fences are taking the place of rails. badly injured by field mice where the snow drifted behind rail fences. they are very necessary where dairying is practised and roots fed.

Many of the locust hedges were Bank barns are all the rage, and

Blandford, Oxford: Many barns have been enlarged and improved, and a good deal of wire has taken the place of the old snake fence. But barbed wire is, I think, happily going out.

Norwich N., Oxford: Many barns are being put on walls, and the basement floored with cement. They are all right, being the best floor ever made here.

Zorra E., Oxford: Considerable wire fencing has been done and a great deal of building-more than for some years past.

Oakland, Brant: More plain wire fences of excellent style are now built; very little, if any, barbed wire fencing is now put up.

Elma, Perth: Not much fencing has been done, but a great many new brick houses have been put up, many of them with slate roofs.

Guelph, Wellington: Fences are being removed and fields enlarged. There is a great improvement in the general appearance of the country. Many farın buildings have been overhauled and renovated.

Minto, Wellington: More straight rail fences are being built, saving both rails and land. A number of large frame barng have been erected, and a few houses.

Waterloo, Waterloo: Not much building has been done this year, excepting that a few barns have been rebuilt and others changed inside. Straight fences are fast taking the place of the old worm fences. Some are using the old rails, while others prefer wire.

Garafraxa E., Dufferin : The old snake fence is rapidly disappearing. Barns are being put up in the best style, with modern improvements-with bank barns.

Glanford, Wentworth Remodelling and enlarging frame barns, with the addition of basement stables, is steadily progressing. Hedges and wire fencing are gradually supplanting the old worm fence.

Esquesing, Halton: Quite an improvement has taken place in the matter of fencing. Wire fences have been largely put up, and quite a number of new barns have been erected with stone walls under them. Chinguacousy, Peel: A lot of wire fencing has been done this year, and a number of new bank barns have been erected.

Gwillimbury N., York: Many farmers are putting up straight rail and wire fences. A number of large barns have been built, with commodious stone stables underneath. In fact there has been a regular barn building boom.

Markham. York: Some of the most noticeable buildings which have been erecte lately are pig stys, of which several have been built.

Vaughan, York: A good deal of fencing has been done, and a goodly number of barns have been raised on stone basements.

Pickering, Ontario: There is a marked improvement in fencing and farm buildings, especially in barns. Many have pulled down their old ones, and have put up the latest improved bank barns.

Hamilton, Northumberland: Perhaps never before has there been such a number of barns repaired and built upon stone foundations within late years as is the record this year.

Seymour, Northumberland: A good deal of building has been done during the last year.

Athol, Prince Edward: Considerable improvement has been made on farms by substituting straight fences for crooked ones. Barn buildings are improving every year. Some fine new ones have been erected, and several old ones repaired.

Denbigh, Lennox and Addington: Some of our crooked worm or snake fences are giving way to straight rail and wire fences. There have been considerable improvements made lately to farmers' houses and out buildings.

Pittsburg, Frontenac : There has been a good deal of improvement in fencing and farm buildings in this township.

Augusta, Grenville: Fences are being removed in many cases. The township is over-fenced now with a poor class of stone walls and rail fences. Some new wire fences are going up, but very little is being done in new farm buildings.

Mountain, Dundas: Considerable improvement has been made in the way of wire fences. Farm buildings have also been improved, and cement floors have been put in some of our stables.

Lancaster, Glengarry: Old rail fences are disappearing, being replaced by wire fences. Not many new buildings have been put up.

Hawkesbury, Prescott: Great improvements are being made in farm buildings. There are larger barns and better houses for cattle.

Osgoode, Carleton: Fencing with wire is almost universal here. A large number of new barns on an improved principle have been built this season.

Bathurst, Lanark : Some nice fences and some first-class farm houses have been built this year.

Eldon, Victoria: Quite a number of farm buildings went up this year, and a few farmers are putting up wire fences.

Mariposa, Victoria: Wire fences are beginning to take the place of the old rail affair-woven fences are the favorites. Some new barns have been built, and some old ones widened and remodelled.

Harvey, Peterborough: There has not been much improvement in fencing, but some in farm buildings, both in houses and barns.

Thurlow, Hastings: A good deal of wire fencing has been built this year of different kinds, except the old barbed wire, which has gone out.

Morrison, Muskoka: Improvements in fencing and buildings are about as usual. Fencing consists more of wire, as rail timber is getting scarce.

Ferris, Nipissing: There is great improvement in fencing and building.

Assiginack, Manitoulin : Considerable improvements have been made in fencing and buildings, and altogether farmers appear more encouraged.

Cockburn Island, Manitoulin: Very little improvement has been made in buildings, but I expect to see some in the near future, a saw mill having just been started-the first steam engine and circular saw the island has ever known.

Tarbutt, Algoma: There was quite an improvement in farm buildings. Some very fine barns and other buildings have been built this summer.

REMARKS OF CORRESPONDENTS.

RAPE.

Yarmouth, Elgin: There is a large increase in the quantity of rape sown. It has been found to be a good food for hogs as well as for lambs.

Kincardine, Bruce: I sowed about ten acres of rape this year. It was a heavy crop, the most of it being about three feet high. I feed and finish off lambs on it. It also enriches the land, as the sheep droppings are as good almost as a coat of manure.

Garafraxa W., Wellington: Rape is generally grown for fall feed and does well in our neighborhood. It puts the stock in fine trim for the winter, and gives feeders a good start. Sheep also do well on rape.

Minto, Wellington: I have found sowing two pounds of rape seed per acre broadcast among the spring grain when it was nicely up, and then rolling, gave a nice fall feed besides enriching the land, especially when pastured by sheep. When sown with grain it is apt to get too far ahead, but sown later the grain holds its own place.

Binbrook, Wentworth We sowed ten acres of rape this year in oats, sown after the oats were up about one month, harrowed in with the sulky horse-rake; it is making us a fine lot of sheep pasture.

Nassagaweya, Halton: Rape is grown pretty generally in this locality, principally for fattening lambs, which has become a very profitable industry in late years.

Saltfleet, Wentworth Some Essex rape was sown in this locality as a catch crop among vineyards and orchards. I sowed about twenty acres the first week in August, and have a splendid crop of green stuff to plow under next spring.

Markham, York: Rape is grown to a large extent for fall pasturage for sheep and lambs. Much more is grown than formerly.

Mara, Ontario: Rape is extensively grown in this township, being used for fattening lambs, sheep and cattle for the early market, and it is also sometimes plowed down for manure. Millet is also grown as a substitute for hay.

LUCERNE.

Seneca, Haldimand: Lucerne is gaining in our confidence, and considerable has been sown of late on heavy land with satisfactory results.

Brant, Bruce: I have grown lucerne for a number of years, and think it a highly nutritious crop for cattle or pigs if cut in the proper stage. I can get a crop no matter how dry.

Clinton, Lincoln: I have three and a half acres of lucerne mowed for seven years, and it is still good for hay. It seldom gives seed, as the midge destroys the seed.

Augusta, Grenville: Lucerne has been sown more or less by almost every farmer during the last three or four years, but it does not gain in favor. It winters poorly the first year, and many farmers do not realize the necessity of cutting the crop in June before the stalk gets woody. Very few, if any, have sown any the second time.

Horton, Renfrew: Last year I sowed an acre and a half of lucerne. The first season it did not do well, but this year I have cut it three times for soiling my cows and working horses, and it has done well. İ think it would do welt for a hog pasture.

VALUE OF GOVERNMENT REPORTS.

FROM THE MAY RETURNS.

Orford, Kent: The practices taught by the Agricultural College in all farm operations are being taken up by farmers so far as they are getting acquainted with them, especially in stock feeding.

Stamford, Welland: The Ontario Agricultural College, Farmers' Institutes and di-tribution of agricultural reports have done much to assist farmers to a better understanding of their calling, and to show us that the man who follows the leading of science is the man who is going to succeed in agriculture- other things being equal.

Plympton, Lambton: The bulletins issued by your Department and circulated among the farmers of our Province are doing a good work. In talking with farmers I notice that they make frequent reference to what such and such a bulletin said on that point. The farmer is becoming better educated and is becoming a man of thought and observation. From a trip last summer to the Government Farm at Guelph, I am satisfied that no better means could be used to introduce better methods on farms, or to remove the prejudices that still linger in some minds that science in farming is only "humbug.”

Hamilton, Northumberland: Lectures at Farmers' Institutes have done much in enabling farmers to adopt improved methods of agriculture. The soiling system is now being largely adopted to supply stock with succulent food in time of drouth.

Carnarvon, Manitoulin: Butter has been wonderfully improved, first, on account of the visit of the Travelling Dairy, and second, owing to a general supply of good water, most farmers having bored welis through the rock, which 18 come to at various depths; and also to having better house accommodation.

FROM THE NOVEMBER RETURNS.

Yarmouth, Elgin: Your forthcoming weed bulletin suggests the remark from me that more botany should be taught in our public schools. One of my children has passed the primary, another the leaving and another the entrance examination, and none of them can tell me the weeds as named. This is not as it should be in a farming country.

Thorold, Welland: We have a large home market for that commodity, and I have noticed that a marked improvement has taker place in the quality of the butter since the travelling dairy visited this place.

Keppel, Grey: The Government Farm at Guelph, the bulletins of your Department and the Farmers' Institutes are giving a great impulse to the farming industry.

London, Middlesex: The distribution of bulletins, etc., by our Governments is commendable. Without doubt a great many avail themselves of the same. Where read these bulletins and reports will certainly be productive of results that are good.

Williams E., Middlesex: I appreciate the reports and bulletins of your Department very highly. Trafalgar, Halton: Bulletin 109, on Farmyard Manure, is a good one.

Brock, Ontario: Every farmer should join the Farmers' Institute and attend all the meetings held in his locality.

Pickering, Ontario: Those farmers who attend to their business, and pay strict attention to the experiments now being carried on at the Government Experimental Farms, and imitating them to a certain extent, are prospering. The farming industry has taken quite a turn for the better.

Huntingdon, Hastings: Much good being done by the holding of Farmers' Institutes. Strange to say, those who need instruction most are those who seldom or ever attend the Institutes or read agricultural journals. The greatest need of our farmers is education in methods of feeding and caring of stock. If every farmer could be got to read the bulletin recently issued by the Agricultural College on Farmyard Manure, it would make a great difference in the products of this locality.

Campbell and Carnarvon, Algoma: In order to make farming a success "Agriculture " should be compulsory in the rural public schools as the principal science taught.