117 



Mr. "W. H. Phillips, Staunton, Ind. — One dozen Phillips' No. 1 strawberry. 



Mr. A. M. Smith, St, Catharines, Ont. — Smith's G-iant Raspberry. 



Mr. W. W. Hilborn, Leamington, Ont.— Greenfield Red Currant. 



Rev. Robt. Hamilton, Grenville, Que. — Apple scions. 



Fitz-james Pear Co., Himrods, N.Y. — Two Fitz-james pear trees. 



Mr. R. B. White, Ottawa. — Seedling plums. 



Mr. J. P. Cockburn, Gravenhurst, Ont. — Seeds and roots of Witch-hazel and 

 Muskoka June berries. 



Chase Bros. & Co., Rochester, N.Y. — Two trees of North Star apple. 



Prof. J. L. Budd, Ames, la.— Scions of Russian apples and pears. 



Linus Woolverton, Esq., M.A., Grimsby, Ont. — Small fruit plants, and much 

 valuable assistance in various lines. 



I have also to acknowledge with thanks valuable assistance from Mr. Wm. Ciaig, 

 jun., and Mr. J. M. Fisk, of Abbotsford, Que., in conducting experiments for the 

 treatment of " apple scab." 



MEETINGS ATTENDED. ' 



During the winter I had the opportunity of meeting farmers at institute 

 work in various places throughout the Province of Ontario, and was pleased to note 

 the growing interest in fruit culture, manifested by their efforts to gain all informa- 

 tion possible in regard to newer varieties and improved methods of cultivation. 



By courtesy of the Hon. Minister of Agriculture I had the privilege of attend- 

 ing the twenty-third biennial session of the American Pomological Society, held in 

 Washington last December. The work of revising fruit lists for the whole union, 

 and passing on the continuous stream of new varieties being pressed upon the public, 

 are among the functions of this society. 



Three days were spent very profitably in session with the Ontario Fruit 

 Growers' Association, at their winter meeting in Hamilton in December. The 

 important part this society is taking in furthering the fruit interests of the Dominion, 

 as well as the Province of Ontario, is very meritorious, and should receive the 

 hearty co-operation of all interested in fruit-growing, wherever located. 



I have the honour to be. Sir, 



Your obedient servant, 



JOHN CRAIG, 



Horticulturist. 



I.— LARGE FRUITS. 



APPLES. 



^he winter of 1890-91, though not remarkably severe on the whole, was yet 

 unusually trying on trees and plants having terminal wood not well ripened, par- 

 ticularly young nursery stock. The sudden fall of temperature in the latter half of 

 December, 1890, to 15° below zero, and this at a time when there was no protecting 

 blanket of enow, caused root-killing to a considerable extent in the case of one and 

 two-year-old nursery stock, especially in light soils. In many instances, with root 

 grafts, the lower root section was entirely killed ; the young tree when not killed, 

 being supported by the upper and hardier roots emitted from the scion. This state 

 of affairs was particularly noticeable with many of the Russian varieties in nursery 

 here. As a consequence, quite a percentage of one-year-olds was killed. Nursery 

 stock on heavier soil did not suffer to the same extent. 



Planting Season. — With practically no rainfall during the month of May and up 

 to the last half of June, the spring season, with its drought and cold winds, was 

 extremely unfavourable to planting and transplanting of all kinds, as well as to the 

 best returns from small fruit plantations. The heavy rains of July and August 



