77 



II.— SMALL FEUITS. 



GRAPES. 



The importance of grape-growing in the Province of Ontario can hardly be over- 

 estimated. From small stations in the Niagara district there have been shipped 

 the past season, in many instances, as much as four or five hundred tons of this 

 delicious fruit. The season has been a profitable one in the older grape-growing 

 districts. In Eastern Ontario and Quebec however, the reverse has been the case, 

 many varieties failing to ripen owing to the unusually late spring, followed by the 

 cool weather of summer and autumn. 



In the Ottawa Valley it has been one of the most unfavourable seasons j'et 

 experienced, the wet and cold weather being very productiveof mildew and fungous 

 diseases. 



The vineyard of the Experimental Farm was planted in greatest part during 

 the seasons of 1887 and 1888. Annual additions have since been made till, at the 

 present time, there are on trial 165 varieties. The soil in which these are planted is a 

 light sandy loam sloping, with a southern aspect. It has received yearly dressings 

 of wood ashes till last spring, when a coat of barnyard manure was applied. Rains 

 during the blossoming period prevented the thorough fertilization of a few varieties. 

 Soon after the fruit began to develop downy mildew appeared, and would, doubtless, 

 have destroyed the greater part of the crop had not preventive measures been 

 promptl}' instituted. On its appearance the vines were sprayed with the fungicide 

 known as ammoniacal copper carbonate. This was prepared by dissolving 2 ounces 

 of copper carbonate in a quart of ammonia (20 per cent.), and diluting with water 

 to 25 gallons. By two applications of this fungicide, and care being taken to remove 

 and destroy all atfected berries, the spread of this disease was finally checked. 



In this section as well as in all portions of Quebec, Eastern and Northei-n Ontario, 

 it is necessary to \a,y down the vines and cover with earth after pruning in the fall. 

 I think it would be profitable for growers in districts where vines are not winter 

 killed, but are often weakened by exposure to the vicissitudes of winter, to at least 

 pin the canes to the ground covering with sufficient earth to hold them in this position, 

 as well as to protect the crowns from the frost. A vine, though not actually winter 

 killed, may be so enfeebled by a long and trying exposure, as to make but little 

 growth the following season and mature a lessened quantity of fruit of inferior 

 quality. This principle should always be borne in mind. 



Part of the vineyard has been planted after what is known as the " French 

 system." This is practically a renewal system, having the vines set four feet apart 

 each way^and trained to stakes. Near cities where land is valuable, and high culture 

 is given, this method can be practised with success. Results heie the past season 

 show that varieties grown in this way, were from five to eight days later in ripening, 

 than the same varieties grown eight by ten feet apart, and trained to the trellis on 

 the fan system. 



As already stated there are now on trial 165 varieties. Of these 94 fruited last 

 season ; many, however, did not ripen. The weather on the whole being so unfavour- 

 able, the season can fairly be considered as a test one, in regard to the important 

 points in grape culture — of early ripening and immunity from disease. 



The following varieties ripened in the order given, beginning 2nd September 

 and closing 29th September: Florence, Champion, Cottage, Moore's Early, Brant, 

 Green Mountain, Early Victor, Peabody, Lady, Janesviile, Delaware, Berckman's, 

 Gaertner, Norwood, El Dorado, Wilder, F. B. Hayes, Barry, Herbert, Worden, Lindley, 

 Potter, Roger s 36, Northern Muscadine, Mary, Vergennes, Dracut Amber. Marion 

 was the first to colour, but the summer heat seemed insufficient to ripen it fully. 

 This list contains the most jiromising varieties for northern growers. 



In advance of more extended trial it would not be wise to speak positively as t® 

 the merits and desirability of many of the newer sorts. 



The following did not ripen thoi-oughly, but are commended for trial in the 

 more favorable grape growing districts of Ontario : — Alma, large white, ripens with 



