Arboretum and Central Experimental Farm
Canada is the only country to have a working farm in the heart of its capital: the Central Experimental Farm, established in 1886 as the central research station for the federal Department of Agriculture. The fields, laboratories, barns, greenhouses, gardens, scientific collections and research records of the Central Experimental Farm document the history of Canadian science in general, and agricultural science in particular. Canada's agricultural heritage is featured at the Canada Agriculture Museum, where you can explore the sights and sounds of typical farm life.
Adjacent to the farm is the Arboretum. This collection of trees and shrubs covers about 35 hectares (86 acres) of rolling land. More than 2,000 varieties have been adapted to the region, some dating back to the first plantings in 1889. The northeast corner of the Arboretum has its own microclimate. Here, you will see magnolias, rhododendrons, a wisteria and others. The lookout on the south-east side offers a panoramic view of the Rideau Canal and Carleton University, while the north-east overlooks Dow’s Lake and the surrounding city.
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