REPORT OF THE HORTICUTURIST 41 



SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 



blanched by these special methods, the most economical method under most circum- 

 stances is growing the celery in rows. The keeping properties of the different varieties 

 have boon tested, also the quality of the same. 



Corn. — The date when ready for use, size of ear, quality, and productiveness have 

 been the principal notes taken. 



Cucumbers. — Notes have been taken on dates when ready for use, length of time 

 the cucumbers will remain green, yield, and general appearance. 



Lettuce. — Different varieties have been tried for forcing in hotbeds, but special 

 attention has been paid to field culture and notes taken on the time when ready for 

 use, length of time which the different varieties remained in use, tenderness, and 

 general characteristics of the variety. 



Melons. — Experiments have been tried both in growing melons by planting seed in 

 the open ground and not using glass; by growing the plants in hotbeds and trans- 

 planting to the open field, after which no glass was used; by using small frames with 

 glass, and by using ordinary hotbed sash. While some seasons melons will ripen at 

 Ottawa if grown in the open air without glass, it is so late that they are not in great 

 demand. Other years they will not ripen at all. The most satisfactory method is to 

 sow the seed or plant young plants in the open in hills with hot manure beneath and 

 keep the plants under glass until July. 



Pease. — Notes have been made on the time of being ready for use of the different 

 varieties, the height of the plants, the length of pods, quality of the peas, and pro- 

 ductiveness of the different varieties. 



Potatoes. — Experiments with potatoes have been numerous, and the results of 

 these were summed up in Bulletin No. 49 on Potato Culture, by the writer, published 

 in 1905. 



Radishes. — The time of being ready for use, length of time remaining in use, 

 quality r.nd general appearance of the different kinds have been recorded. 



Tomatoes.— The tomato has received much attention owing to its importance and 

 popularity. Notes on the time of maturing, appearance and productiveness have been 

 made. Experiments have been tried in pruning, and it has been found that the most 

 satisfactory method of pruning yet found is pinching out the terminal buds when 

 tlie young plants have about six leaves, giving the plants more room so that the axil- 

 lary shoots will develop, and pinching again about a month after setting in the field. 



All the other common vegetables have been tested and notes taken on the charac- 

 teristics of the different varieties. 



EXPERIMENTS IN GROWING VEGETABLES IN A CHEESECLOTH ENCLOSURE. 



For four seasons experiments have been tried to learn with what success vegetables 

 could be grown in an inclosure made of cheesecloth, the top, sides and ends of the 

 framework being completely covered with cheesecloth. It has been found that lettuce, 

 radish, beans and cauliflower succeed best inside the enclosure and are earlier and 

 more tender than outside. 



The enclosure prevents cauliflowers and radishes from being injured by the root 

 maggot. The cheesecloth enclosure should be of use in cities and towns where it 

 is difficult to have a garden owing to the injury done by cats, dogs and even young 

 children. Vegetables are tenderer, as a rule, than those grown outside. Where the 

 root maggot is bad the enclosure may be used profitably for growing early cauliflowers. 



