104 ~ EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 



9-10 EDWARD VII., A. 1910 



porarily, but by August 1 rain was again badly needed. August was very dry. The 

 highest temperature was on the 31st, when it was 90° F. By the middle of Sep- 

 tember the drought was so severe that ornamental trees lost some of their foliage and 

 apples were dropping badly. The atmosphere was very smoky from extensive bush 

 fires. The dropping of leaves and fruit became worse towards the end of the month. 

 The first frost to kill tender plants was on September 30, although the thermometer 

 at the Farm recorded only 34° F. The highest temperature in September was 

 95-8° F. on the 1st. The drought was broken by heavy rains on October 24. 

 The highest temperature in October was 80-6° F. on the 17th, and the lowest, 

 27° F. on the lOtli. The autumn was warm and dry, and there being no very 

 severe frosts even throughout October, the season was very favourable for the ripening 

 of grapes. Apples, however, matured prematurely aiid were not as good as usual. 

 Snow fell on November 14, and was increased to about nine inches in depth by the 

 20th, but this was gone by the 27th, and there was no frost in the ground at that date. 

 November was an open month and the weather and soil good for late ploughing. The 

 weather became cold on December 1, and winter may be said to have set in on that 

 date. By the 4th there was sleighing again. There were no very cold days during 

 the winter, the lowest temperature being on January 13, when it was 18° F. , 

 below zero. The weather was very changeable, with frequent snowfalls. There were 

 six thaws during the months of December, January and February. There was a good 

 covering of snow all winter, notwithstanding the mild spells and little or no frost in 

 the ground. On January 23 there was heavy rain, freezing as it fell, and trees and 

 shrubs became thickly coated with ice. Many branches of ornamental and forest trees 

 were broken, but few fruit ti'ees were injured. The weather in March was very change- 

 able, both rain and snow falling during the month. On the 31st there was still about 

 a foot of snow on the ground. 



FRUIT AKD VEGETABLE CROPS. 



The crop of apples was less than a medium one in Ontario and Quebec in 1908, 

 and the premature ripening of the fruit, owing to the warm, dry weather, injured the 

 keeping quality of it. The crop of pears was light except in southern Ontario, where 

 it was a little above medium. The crop of early peaches was a medium one on the 

 whole, and the quality good. Late peaches were a light crop. Plums were a light crop 

 on the whole. The crop of cherries was medium to good in quantity, but the size 

 below medium on account of the dry weather. There was an abundant and well 

 ripened crop of grapes, very free of disease. Bush fruits were a good crop in south- 

 western Ontario, but in eastern Ontario and Quebec the crops were below medium on 

 account of drought. 



Strawberries were also plentiful in soixthwestern Ontario, but the crop was much 

 reduced in eastern Ontario and Quebec by the drought. 



At Ottawa there was a' medium crop of apples, practically free of spot, but with 

 more codling moth than usual, though the percentage of fruit affected was not largo. 

 The fruit ripened prematurely owing to the drought and heat. There was a medium 

 crop of Americana and Nigra plums, and a few varieties of the European plums were 

 well loaded. A few varieties of cherries bore medium crops, but on the whole the crop 

 was light. The season was very favourable for the ripening of grapes, and while there 

 have been larger crops in previous years there was in 1908 a medium crop of well 

 matured fruit. Although the raspberries wintered well the crop was much reduced by 

 the dry weather, making the yield below medium. Gooseberries and currants were a 

 medium crop. Strawberries wintered well and promised a good crop, but the dry 

 weather caused the yield of this fruit to be below medium also. 



In the eastern part of Ontario, including the Central Experimental Farm. 

 Ottawa, and in the province of Quebec, vegetables suffered somewhat from the severe 

 drought of 1908. Potatoes, especially, were very light, and almost a total failure in 

 some sections. Tomatoes ripened well in 1908 and the crop on the whole was good. 



