CHAPTER 4

Early Years in the Province, 1906 to 1920

On 4 September 1905 the settled portions of the Northwest Territories were given provincial status, and Alberta and Saskatchewan joined Confederation. The experimental farm at Indian Head was still the only one serving the new provinces, and Angus MacKay believed it would function as before.

Variety testing of cereals, peas, and other crops continued to receive attention, but perhaps the most significant development during this period was the selection of Marquis as a variety of wheat especially suited to prairie conditions. With its earlier maturity Marquis quickly replaced other varieties and became the main seed wheat in Saskatchewan.

Summerfallow operations continued to be of major concern, and Mr. MacKay stressed the importance of fallow for moisture conservation, for allowing early seeding, and for weed control. There was a tendency for the soil to drift during the spring, and in wet years excess straw production and delayed maturity could be expected, but despite these drawbacks, evidence showed that yields of wheat, oats, and barley were consistently higher from summerfallowed land than from stubble.

 

Threshing in the early days.

Sheep helped to control weeds among the trees

Despite continued efforts, tests with winter wheat were unsuccessful, and survival was restricted to sheltered areas; fall rye, however, proved to be a successful and useful crop.

The cultural experiments were still in progress and included work on stubble management, the use of green and barnyard manures as fertilizer, and seeding practices. In addition, new rotational schedules were started. Some of the schedules that began in 1912 are still in effect today at the Indian Head Experimental Farm.

By 1920 results from the fertilizer tests were beginning to show that some land in Saskatchewan was suffering from loss of productivity as loss of nitrogen occurred, but it was believed that the benefits resulting from the use of nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers would not warrant the costs.

The forage investigations now included many varieties of cereals, corn, legumes, grasses, sunflowers, and succulent crops. Bromegrass and slender wheatgrass both proved to be excellent fodder crops, and alfalfa seeded with bacterial inoculum produced greater yields than those seeded without. By 1911 inoculated soil was being shipped from Indian Head to farmers in the province for use in the establishment of stands of the legume. Gradually, other forage crops were tested and included alsike and other clovers, bentgrass, fescue, ryegrass, sainfoin, and sweetclover. Work with root crops also continued.

Smut was still a problem, and tests with bluestone and formalin to control such diseases continued. Treatment methods were improved to the extent that formalin became the fungicide of choice. Weed control was accomplished mainly by summerfallow practices and cultivation procedures. Both quack grass and Canada thistle were becoming problem weeds; cultivation appeared to control the former, whereas the latter was tediously dug out by hand. The addition of the sheep flock in 1910 provided a means of controlling weeds along the avenues and in shelterbelts. However, there was a tendency for the sheep to provide unwanted vegetation control. Insect damage was prevalent throughout this period, with the arsenic compound Paris Green being the only insecticide in use.

In the area of horticulture, the development of ornamental plants, trees, and vegetables suited to the prairies was emphasized. Although, climatic conditions were adverse and pests were a constant threat, the efforts of the experimental farm were of great value to many settlers in improving the quality of life. Indeed, by 1914 the Indian Head Experimental Farm had been transformed from bare prairie to a park of hedges, drives, lawns, flowerbeds, and shelterbelts. With horticultural transformation came the pests. The Colorado potato beetle was first noted at the farm in 1910, followed by the fall cankerworm, the larch sawfly, and others. Arsenic compounds, although not completely effective, were the only insecticides commercially available, and a powered sprayer was bought for their application. In 1918 the variety testing of vegetables was discontinued, and the emphasis was shifted to vegetable seed production. However, variety testing was resumed in 1920.

Work on trees was still continued, and several hardy varieties of crab apples were introduced. However, attempts to produce hardy varieties of standard apples were still unsuccessful. An arboretum was established; 30 specimen hedges were maintained for demonstration, and caragana, honeysuckle, lilac, spirea, and hardy roses were also given prominence.

Horticultural material continued to be in great demand, and over 1000 seedling packages were available to settlers in 1914. Potato samples were distributed with questionnaires requesting management and yield details.

From 1905 to 1920 major livestock research took place, with a greater emphasis on experimentation and extension services. Horses continued to supply most of the power on the experimental farm. In 1907, of the 13 animals, two were used as drivers and for light work, and two very old horses were used mainly for scuffling row crops. After 1914 the breeding of draught horses was undertaken, and with the founding of the Horse Breeders' Association by the federal government, the successful Clydesdale program was started. In 1920 a total of 34 horses on the farm included 17 purebred Clydesdale mares and fillies and one stallion; the remainder were work horses. These Clydesdales became a major attraction at farm field days and at agricultural shows; one mare won the Canadian Bred Championship in 1919 and another was the Reserve Grand Champion.

The Shorthorn herd was improved to develop an animal that could be used either for dairy or meat production. The herd size had increased to 72 animals by 1920 and included a pedigree bull, King Edward 91030. Feeding tests were carried out to establish the actual cost of milk production when it was noted that corn silage was probably the best general feed. Tests were conducted in which frozen wheat used as cattle feed was shown to be economical.

 

Cattle on pasture, 1910.	Cutting oats, 1910.
Gardeners field day, 1920.	Angus MacKay's correspondence regarding adequacy of flag provided by Ottawa, June 1911.

As noted, the first sheep arrived at the experimental farm in late 1910 and added a new dimension to the operations. Lambing occurred early in the year, followed by shearing and dipping for pest and disease control. The building of a sheephouse was completed in November 1911, and 100 lambs were purchased. Gradually the flock increased in size and quality, and by 1920 it consisted of over 100 animals that were crosses between Oxford and Shropshire breeds. It was also concluded that there was little profit to be made by purchasing lambs for feeding and sale, and that reasonable profits could be realized only with lambs raised on the farm.

A new piggery was completed in 1915, and the economic advantages of feeding and housing pigs were investigated. The breeds favored were Yorkshires and Berkshires.

The poultry operation continued. A new poultry building was constructed in 1916 to replace the damp old building used previously. From that time, a dramatic improvement in the success of the poultry program was observed. White Wyandotte was the only breed that remained in 1920, since it had been shown to be the most profitable source of eggs. The first Saskatchewan egg-laying contest was initiated at the farm in October 1919, to test breeders' stocks and supply poulterers with information on the sources of superior strains. This egg-laying contest became very popular and continued for 19 years.

The beekeeping activities were still unsuccessful; overwintering was difficult to achieve and poor honey production was reported.

The early part of the 20th century was marked by a rapid expansion in western farming. Between 1906 and 1920 cereal production in Saskatchewan more than doubled. The extension service program undertaken by the Indian Head Experimental Farm also increased to accommodate the agricultural expansion. After 1906, the ever-popular railway excursions to the farm were supported and organized by agricultural societies and by the provincial Department of Agriculture, which also provided free lunches. The gala field days at the experimental farm attracted numerous visitors. In 1906 over 5000 attended the 2day gathering to listen to speeches, participate in meetings, examine the various exhibits, and attend judging competitions.

With World War I imminent, an excursion was not held during 1914 nor during the war years. However, in 1920 the provincial Department of Agriculture cooperated with the experimental farm in arranging excursions by automobile and by train. Between 700 and 800 visitors aftended--a modest number compared with earlier years.

The year 1906 marked the start of the seed trains. Consisting of two or three passenger coaches provided by the federal Department of Agriculture, the Canadian National Railway, and the Canadian Pacific Railway, the train visited 97 districts. Selected speakers delivered lectures on such topics as smut control, weed control, and the necessity of sowing good-quality weed-free seed. The seed trains proved immensely popular, and despite winter snowdrifts on the track and the odd derailment, they continued to function until the outbreak of World War I.

The distribution of wheat seed increased, particularly after the introduction of the variety Marquis, so that by 1908, 40 tons (36 tonnes) of seed grain and 32 tons (29 tonnes) of wheat were shipped to Ottawa for distribution to farmers. The cleaning of this grain for distribution required many days of labor.

Throughout the period, including the war years, samples of grain, root crops, vegetables, flowers, and livestock were exhibited at local fairs. The Dominion Exhibition of 1911 was held in Regina. Angus MacKay was one of the judges as well as an exhibitor. Seed fairs were also popular during this period and provided another outlet for the extension program at the experimental farm. Although there was a diminishing demand for promotional exhibits, grain sheaves were sent to exhibitions in London, England, and to San Francisco in 1911 and 1915, respectively.

Responding to farmers' questions increased Angus MacKay's correspondence. In 1912 he noted that 16 000 letters had been received and dispatched, and that most had been answered by him in longhand.

The expansion of facilities during this era was a major accomplishment. Buildings were completed for grain storage and for the housing of bees, dairy cattle, implements, pigs, and poultry. A new horse stable was built to replace the one that had burned down when an engine exploded and destroyed much grain and equipment. The pathology building was finished in 1916 and operated as a field laboratory. The severe rust epidemic of 1916 resulted in increased emphasis on the study of diseases.

Mechanization progressed steadily with the arrival of a traction engine in 1910, which, according to Angus MacKay, was always breaking down and for which spare parts could seldom be found. Milking machines and a new threshing machine to replace the one shared with Brandon were purchased.

As the number of employees increased, more time was needed to resolve routine problems that arose. With changes taking place in the experimental farm administration in Ottawa, Angus MacKay was confronted with unwelcome suggestions.

In May 1911 Mr. MacKay wrote to J.H. Grisdale, who had just succeeded Dr. Saunders as director of the Experimental Farms Service. Mr. MacKay stated that all the men on the farm, except the foreman, the gardener, and two other men, had struck for better wages. At that time, teamsters received $1.85 a day and the other staff $1.75; the staff were demanding an increase of 15 cents a day. Mr. MacKay remarked that labor was scarce, otherwise he would fire the lot, and asked what Dr. Grisdale would advise. There is no known record of Dr. Grisdale's reply. However, in June Mr. MacKay reported that he had dismissed four of the ringleaders and increased the wages of the rest by 10 and 15 cents, but that these wages were still considerably below those being paid at the Brandon Experimental Farm. The early farms were to some degree autonomous in financial matters.

In many respects Angus MacKay was a martinet with his staff. He did, however, give full credit to good employees and considered their welfare his responsibility. In 1910 he wrote to Ottawa on behalf of George Dean, who had broken his leg while weighing horses, urging that wages and hospital bills be paid until his recovery was complete.

The early records do not indicate whether anyone was designated assistant superintendent, although W.W. Thompson held this position in 1911. Mr. Thompson was born in Carberry, Man., and was one of the first graduates of the Manitoba Agricultural College. His stay at Indian Head was brief, as was that of Robert Whiteman, another graduate from Manitoba, who was appointed assistant superintendent in early 1912. One can suspect that life for new graduates was not easy under Angus MacKay. The tenure of K. MacBean, who was born in Scotland and who had practical farming experience in eastern Canada before graduating from Macdonald College, lasted from the spring of 1913 until 1916. Major C.B. Nourse, who was born in South Africa, followed and was the only staff member referred to in the farm records by his army title. Major Nourse remained as assistant superintendent from his arrival in 1917 until his departure in 1924.

In March 1910 George Lang, the son of the first gardener of the same name, started work as office manager, a position he held for over 20 years. A keen ornithologist, his notes on bird migration were submitted to the United States Biological Survey. Also working in the office was Georgina Jackson, who started in 1914 and provided stenographic services for over 20 years.

Support staff continued to change rapidly, with W.V. Harcourt, T.J. Makepeace, and J. Waddell, successively holding the position of foreman between 1904 and 1916. Gardeners during this period included C.C. Heaven, E.A. Paget, F. Fell, TH. Tweltridge, B. Goldsmith, and W. Reader. W. Pierce and later TS. Crouch were, respectively in charge of the poultry operations from 1914 to 1917 and 1917 to 1921.

The war years severely depleted the staff, but W. Godfrey and J. Rennie survived and returned to the farm in 1919. During those war years, German-speaking settlers from southern Russia who had settled in the area worked on the farm, pulling flax fiber, hoeing, weeding, digging trenches for sewers, and doing other manual work. Their contribution during those years was incalculable.

The years 1913 to 1919 saw four superintendents. In 1913, at the age of 73, Angus Mackay retired. A grateful government retained his services in an advisory capacity by appointing him inspector of western farms, a position he held for 18 years until his death at Indian Head on 10 June 1931, when he was in his 91st year.

During his retirement he held various responsible positions, and in 1922 the University of Saskatchewan conferred upon him the degree of Doctor of Laws. He was also appointed chairman of the advisory board to the College of Agriculture.

With the retirement of Angus MacKay, T.J. Harrison was appointed superintendent during the latter part of 1913. At this time Mr. Harrison was assistant professor in the field husbandry department of the Manitoba Agricultural College, having graduated from that college 2 years previously His stay at the Indian Head Experimental Farm was short, and in 1915 he resigned to return to the Manitoba Agricultural College, where he remained as professor until 1929, when he joined the Board of Grain Commissioners.

In March 1915 W.H. Gibson was appointed superintendent. Mr. Gibson was born in Scotland and came to Canada in 1905 overseeing a consignment of Ayrshire cattle. He graduated from Macdonald College in 1913 and then joined the Lacombe Experimental Station, which was founded in 1907, as assistant director. Mr. Gibson was director until 1919, when he resigned to take up farming. He returned in 1924 and became superintendent. N.D. MacKenzie became the next superintendent of the experimental farm appointed in April 1919. Mr. MacKenzie was born in Ontario in 1887 and graduated from the Ontario Agricultural College in 1909. After working as a district representative for the Ontario Department of Agriculture, he farmed for a couple of years before enlisting in the armed services in 1915. He returned from overseas in the summer of 1917 and was appointed assistant superintendent at the Brandon Experimental Farm prior to his appointment at Indian Head.

 

TJ. Harrison, superintendent, 1913-1915.	W.H. Gibson, superintendent, 1915-1919 and 1924-1949.
George Lang, office manager, 1927.