116 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 



9-10 EDWARD VII., A. 1910 

 PLUMS. 



Owing to the failure of the European, and Japanese plums to produce fruit except 

 in favourable seasons over a large part of Ontario and the province of Quebec, more 

 attention is now being paid to the improved varieties of native and Americana plums, 

 but not nearly as much interest is being shown in them yet as they deserve. The 

 native wild plum, Prunus nigra, is represented by such varieties as Aitkin, Cheney, 

 and Odegard, although these were originated in the United States. While not as high 

 in flavour as some of the varieties of Prunus americana, the trees of the native varie- 

 ties are much tougher than the Americanas, and do not break down as easily, the 

 breaking of the trees in winter being a great weakness in some of the best varieties 

 of the Americana plums. The thick, tough skin of most of the Americana varieties 

 is the chief drawback to their more general use as canned fruit, but by removing the 

 skin by steaming before canning this objection may be overcome. The varieties of 

 Nigra plums have thinner skin than the Americana and are better for caiming on 

 this account. The native plums in eastern Ontario are, however, usually badly 

 affected with the spot or blight of the native plum — Cladosporium carpophilum — but 

 by thorough spraying with Bordeaux mixture this can be controlled. 



Among the varieties on the market the following, in order of ripening, are among 

 the best: — 



Americana and Nigra Plums. — Aitkin, Bixby, Mank-ato, Cheney, Wolf, Admiral 

 Schley, Brackett, Hawkeye, Stoddard. The Omaha, a plum of hybrid origin, is very 

 promising. 



GRAPES. 



The season of 1908 was one of the most favourable for grapes that has been 

 experienced during the past twenty-one years, and during the dry, warm autumn the 

 grapes ripened well, 118 varieties having matured. The crop was, however, not so 

 heavy as in 1907, although there was a fair amount of fruit. 



One seedling of unknown parentage, but of decided merit, fruited this year. It 

 has been called MacTavish. 



MacTavish. — Ripe Sei^tember 23, 1908. Bunch below medium to small, broad, 

 very compact, rarely slightly shouldered. Eruit medium size, roundish, pale green, 

 slightly tinged with purple when exposed to sun; skin thick, tough; pulp tender but 

 does not separate readily from seeds, which are rather large and usually three to a 

 fruit; juicy, sweet, good flavour, slightly foxy. Quality good to very good. Produc- 

 tive. Owing to its earliness and good quality this should prove a useful grape in the 

 north. 



BUSH FRUITS. 



Although the raspberries wintered well during 1907-8 and gave promise of a good 

 crop of fruit, it was reduced below medium by the extreme drought of July. The 

 gooseberry crop was also below medium. The mildew did not affect the English varie- 

 ties as much as usual. The crop of currants was but a medium one. The older plan- 

 tation set out in 1899 was rooted up in 1908 after the fruiting season was over. As 

 the bulletin on bush fruits was so recently published no details are given in regard to 

 varieties in this report. 



STRAWBERRIES. 



There is no fruit of which there are so many new kinds offered for sale each year 

 as the strawberry, and as it takes several seasons to determine whether a variety is a 

 valuable addition or not there is always a large number of sorts under test at the 

 Experimental Farm. In 1908 there were 207 kinds in the experimental plots. 



