38 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 



6-7 EDWARD VII., A. 1907 

 LAYING DOWN RASPBERRIES FOR WINTER PROTECTION. 



An experiment was tried in 1894, 1895 and 1896 to determine if it were profitable 

 to bend down the canes of raspberries and cover the tips with soil for better protection 

 in winter. This experiment showed that the canes bent down were less injured by- 

 winter and that it paid to protect the canes in this way, at Ottawa, the protected plants 

 out yielding the unprotected in almost every case. 



SUMMER PRUNING. 



An experiment was tried in 1894, 1895 and 1896 to determine if better results 

 would be obtained by pinching off the tips of the raspberry canes in summer when 

 15 to 20 inches in height than by leaving them grow to their full height. Other plants 

 were left unpruned. The unpruned plants yielded best. 



BLACKBEKRIES. 



Most of the varieties of blackberries which are offered for sale have been tested at 

 Ottawa, but few of them are sufficiently hardy to produce much fruit. The two hardi- 

 est varieties tested are Agawam and Snyder. Eldorado is abo a fairly hardy variety. 

 Eor south-western Ontario the Kittatinny is one of the best sorts to plant. 



CURRANTS. 



Erom experience with 110 varieties of currants at the experimental farm, the fol- 

 lowing are recommended for general planting : — 



Black. — Saunders, Victoria. 



Bed. — Wilder, Pomona, Victoria, Cherry, Eay. 



White. — White Grape. 



The Wilder, Cherry and Eay, although the largest currants, are rather tender in 

 fruit bud, but the Wilder is the hardiest. 



SEEDLING VARIETIES. 



When Dr. Wm. Saunders removed to Ottawa from London, Ont., in 18S7 he 

 brought to the experimental farm about 150 promising seedling currants, most of 

 which were black varieties. These have been gradually reduced in number, the best 

 29 now remaining. Of these the most promising black varieties are : Saunders, which 

 is now sold by the nurserymen; Ogden, Kerry, Ontario, Eclipse, Magnus, Ethel, 

 Climax, Success, Clipper, Winona and Topsy. Descriptions of these were published 

 in the annual report for 1905. 



GOOSEBERRIES. 



Gooseberries have been given a thorough test, and 97 named varieties have been 

 tested, including many of the English sorts. It has been found that the latter are 

 quite unsuitable for general culture, owing to their being so badly affected by mildew, 

 which has not yet been satisfactorily controlled by spraying. Those which have 

 proved freest from mildew are Riccardo, Alcock's King, Yellow Criterion, Glenton 

 Green, Triumph, Snowball, Antagonist and Queen of Trumps. In some parts of 

 Canada Wliitesmith and Industry have proved comparatively free of mildew, but these 

 have not been among the least affected at Ottawa. The best success with English 

 gooseberries is obtained in gardens and in clay soil. 



