27

H.—29b

British Columbia appointed a Commission on Agriculture in 1912, and its recommendations in regard to agricultural education may be summarized as follows: — (1.) Beginning with the rural schools, nature-study and the fundamental principles of agriculture should be taught, aided by the use of school or home plots, with the object of giving boys who do not continue their education beyond the primary schools some knowledge of botany, soils, and kindred subjects, and where possible some manual training; and providing for girls a useful course in domestic science. (2.) Training for teachers for the particular work. (3.) In rural schools the teaching of some simple form of farm book-keeping. (4.) In the curriculum of high schools a place for such special work as would prepare a boy for entrance to an agricultural college, or better fit him for the business of farming, without further theoretical education. (5.) The replacing of all educational bulletins by a monthly magazine to be issued by the Department. (6.) The appointment of district instructors who should inspect, and report on all farms and orchards,'each of which should be numbered and visited once a year at least for advice and instruction and the detection of pests. (7.) Provision for the analyses of soils for members of farmers' institutes. (8.) The preparation of agricultural charts to make plain to prospective settlers what grains, vegetables, fruits, &c, are best adapted to every locality, and the respective advantages and disadvantages of each district. In particular the Commission advocated the establishment of Government training-farms for everyday work on the farm, from clearing land to milking cows, with the use of a library of agricultural text-books and a course of lectures taking up an hour or two a day. The Smith-Lever Act of the United States corresponds in many ways with the Agricultural Instruction Act of Canada, but differs from it in specifying that no appropriations under it shall be used for the purchase, erection, or repair of buildings, or the purchase or rental of land, or in college course teaching, promoting agricultural trains, or- other purposes not specified in the Act, and in specifying also that not more than 5 per cent, of each annual appropriation shall be applied to the printing anil distribution of publications. Canadian Seed Work. The Canadian Department of Agriculture has a Seetl Commissioner, who conducts a sjiecial branch of seed-growing, seed-testing, and seed-inspection. Under " seed-growing " is included educational and other work directed toward encouraging the production, and use of better seed. Financial and other assistance towards conducting field crop competitions, seed-fairs, and provincial seed exhibitions is given every year, and nearly £10,000 is available annually for the provinces in the way of subsidies. The growing of field, root, and garden vegetable-seeds in suitable localities is encouraged by subsidies. In addition to their regular work the officers co-operate with local agricultural organizations in conducting seed-judging classes and other educational work. Seed-testing involves the analysis of samples which are sent to the laboratories at Ottawa and Calgary by seed-merchants and farmers, as well as many other tests. The system of inspection for the enforcement of the law governing the sale of seed in Canada consists in visiting the seed-merchants and farmers who have seed for sale. It has been the policy to enlist the co-operation of seed-merchants in the attempt to rid the trade of badly contaminated seed, and the response has been very encouraging. The Canadian Seed-growers' Association, which is a very active body, also encourages the production and use of pure seed of high quality and of known origin. This object is attained by enlisting as members farmers who desire to make a specialty of growing high-class seed underexpert direction. When stock seed of approved quality has been secured its natural increase up to and including the third generation is eligible for registration as registered seed providing it complies with the standards. The final judgment, as to the eligibility of seed is pronounced by laboratory tests of samples taken front the threshed product, and the tests include determinations both of percentage, vitality, and the degree of purity as regards freedom from weed-seeds and seeds of other cultivated varieties. Sale of Seed regulated, by Law. —The sale of clover, lucerne, grass, field, root, vegetable, pasture, and fodder-crop seeds, as well as grain, when sold for seeding purposes in Canada is regulated by law r . Timothy, red clover, alsike, and lucerne seed must be marked according to its quality with one of the four following grades: Extra No. I, No. 1, No. 2, and No. 3. Seed below grade No. 3 is prohibited from sale except for recleaning or export. Farmers may sell clover and timothy seed to seed-merchants for recleaning before having it graded. They may sell seed which is grown and delivered on their own premises without the grade being marked, provided that it is not below the standard for No. 3. If a farmer ships seed to any other farmer, sells it to retailers as being in good condition for seeding, or offers it for sale in a public place, it must, be marked with the grade. All other seed, including grass, millet, and seed grain, must be free from the seed of noxious weeds or be labelled to show the kinds contained. All kinds of seed must germinate in. the proportion of at least two-thirds of the standard for good seed of the kind, or be labelled to show the actual percentage germination. Any seed-dealers or farmers violating the provisions of the Seed Control Act are liable to prosecution. A staff of thirty-five Seed Inspectors is employed to enforce the Act, but any farmer or purchasers of seed may put it into effect.