106 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS. 



orchardists of the Dominion, and that the recommendations will be carried into practice 

 with the opening of spring operations on the farm. 



From correspondents I am pleased to find frequent corroboration of the benefits to 

 be derived from spraying. As an instance, Mr. W. W. Dunlop, of Outremont, Que., a 

 large grower of English gooseberries, successfully prevented mildew on " Whitesmith '"' 

 gooseberries this year, by making two applications of Bordeaux mixture. He now pre- 

 fers this material to Potassium Sulphide, which was the first preventive remedy recom- 

 mended, and which also gave good results. Market gardeners are also learning that 

 the "rust" (A nthracnose) of beans, and the "rust" of celery may be prevented by using 

 the Copper Salt remedies. 



" Anthracnose of the Bean" is described on page 164, Experimental Farms Re- 

 port for 1892, and I am glad to state that the unsolicited experience of growers con- 

 firms the efficacy of the remedies outlined in that article. I may also say that recent 

 experiments made by spraying the plants with Bordeaux mixture instead of soaking 

 the seed in bluestone, have given equally satisfactory results. 



" Blight of the Pear and Apple " has again wrought considerable injury to orchards 

 in Eastern Ontario and Quebec. Orchardists are, however, recognizing the dangerous 

 character of this disease, and are exercising more care in cutting out and destroying by 

 fire affected branches or trees, as was recommended last year. 



Fruit growers in British Columbia are experiencing considerable loss in their apple 

 orchards, from a disease of the bark, the cause of which thus far is not clearly under- 

 stood. Probably part of the bark injury attributed to this disease is due to what is 

 known as " sunscald," a physiological effect of severe and sudden cold weather following 

 a period of warm weather. The freezing of the sap causes expansion, accompanied by 

 a rupture of the bark. Planting on northern and western slopes and growing low- 

 headed trees will obviate this to a certain extent. Alkaline washes are also to be 

 recommended and are valuable aids in keeping the bark in a healthy condition. 



MEETINGS ATTENDED. 



During the year I attended and gave addresses at the following meetings of a pro- 

 vincial character : — 



In February, at Abbotsford, Que., the first meeting of the " Pomological Society 

 and Fruit Growers' Association of the Province of Quebec," was held. I had the pri- 

 vilege of assisting in the organization of this body, which has since been generously 

 recognized by the Provincial Legislature, and which bids fair to be of great value in 

 furthering the fruit interests of the province. 



The same society, at their annual meeting in the city of Quebec, December 10-11-12. 



Meeting of the Ontario Fruit Growers' Association, at Orillia, December 4-5-6. 



Agricultural Convention, at Charlottetown, P.E.I., Aug. 9, by invitation of the 

 Dairy Commissioner for the Dominion, Professor J. W. Robertson. 



Agricultural Convention for New Brunswick, held at Fredericton, August 16th, by 

 invitation of the Dairy Commissioner for the Dominion. 



Closing exercises of the Nova Scotia School of Horticulture, Wolfville, June 4th. 



Farmer's institutes were also addressed as follows : — Coaticooke, Que. ; Bell's Cor- 

 ners, Ont. ; Metcalfe, Ont. ; Richmond, Ont. ; Manotick, Ont. ; Cornwall, Ont. ; 

 Grimsby, Ont. 



At all of these a lively and growing interest was shown, pointing to substantial 

 horticultural advancement. 



ACKNOWLEDGMENTS. 



I beg gratefully to thank the secretaries and officers of the various Provincial So- 

 cieties devoted to the fruit growing interests of the Dominion for valuable assistance 

 and kindly encouragement received during the year. To Dr. B. D. Halsted, of New 



