26 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 



6-7 EDWARD VII., A. 1907 



Exhibition in 1886 had demonstrated the possibility of carrying tender fruit success- 

 fully in cold storage across the Atlantic, but further experimental work was necessary. 

 The field for experimental work in different methods of culture for orchards, small 

 fruit plantations, and vegetables, was large. There were many other lines of investi- 

 gation in horticulture which seemed to demand attention at an experimental station. 

 The dissemination of definite information to the public regarding fruit growing 

 by reports and bulletins was a necessary outcome of the establishment of an experi- 

 mental station and experimental work in horticulture 



THE HORTICULTUKAL DIVISION. 



The work of the Horticultural Division has been supervised by three different 

 officers since 1887, viz.: By Mr. W. W. Hilborn, horticulturist from 1886 bo 1889 ; 

 Mr. John Craig, horticulturist from 1890 to 1897; and by the writer from 1898 to the 

 present time. 



The original area of land in the Horticultural Division was 40 acres, which has 

 been devoted to experiments with fruits and ves-etables. In 1898 the forest belts, com- 

 prising about 21 acres, were added to the horticultural department, and in the same 

 year, the writer being appointed Curator of the Arboretum and Botanic Garden, as well 

 as Horticulturist, the Arboretum and Botanic Garden comprising 65 acres of land, was 

 included in the Horticultural Division, making the total area of land over which the 

 horticulturist has had charge since 1898 about 126 acres. At the present time this 

 area is occupied as follows : — 



Orchard Enclosure and Vineyard. — Apples, 23^ acres; plums, 2J acres; Cherries, 

 1 1-7 acres; grapes, 2 acres; raspberries, 1 acre; blackberries, J acre; currants, ^ acre; 

 gooseberries, 1-7 acre; strawberries, \ acre; vegetables, 5 ecres; miscellaneous, 3§ 

 Ecres ; total, 40 acres. 



Arhoretum and Botanic Garden, 65 acres. 



Forest Belts, 21 acres. 



Total, 126 acres. 



EXPERIMENTS WITH LARGE FRIHTS, 1887-1906. 



APPLES. 



Varieties. — One of the most important lines of experimental work of the Horticul- 

 tural Division during the past nineteen years has been the testing of varieties. The 

 variety is at the basis of successful horticulture, for without the most suitable varie- 

 ties the grower cannot compete favourably with his fellow fruit growers. Varieties 

 Avere sought for in many quarters, and when the first plantation was made in the 

 autumn of 1887 and spring of 1888, there had been gathered together 297 named sorts. 

 This number gradually increased, and the named varieties which have been tested up 

 to the present time number 569, as near as has been estimated, and 40 varieties of crab 

 apples. 



Among these have been many Russian apples, which it was thought might be hardier 

 than those of American origin. 



ConcJiLsions Regarding Named Varieties. — After nineteen years' experiments in 

 testing the named varieties on the market the following conclusions have been reached: 



1. The summer and autumn apples have proven to be the hardiest. These include 

 most of the Russian varieties. 



2. No winter variety which is equal to such commercial sorts as Greening, King, 

 Baldwin and Northern Spy, has as yet been found hardy enough at Ottawa. Some 

 good winter sorts will, however, live and bear fruit for several years, but most of them 

 will eventually be killed by a severe winter. 



