REPORT OF THE HORTICULTURIST 117 



SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 



There was a very severe drought during the strawberry season of 1908, and the 

 crop from this cause. was much reduced both in size of fruit and in total yield. The 

 effect of the drought was much more apparent on some varieties than on others. A 

 record was made of those which showed the greatest resistance to drought by holding 

 fruit of good size longest. As the early varieties had matured a large part of their 

 fruit before the drought affected the plants very much, the following kinds which were 

 most resistant when the drought was greatest are for the most part medium and 

 late : — 



Armstrong, Barton's Eclipse, Beidler, Big Bobs, Buster, Commonwealth, Clyde, 

 Daniel Boone, Dora, E. H. Ekey, Gandy, Giant, Gibson, Glen Mary, Governor Kollins, 

 Great Ruby, Greenville, Hatch Experiment Station, Hood Biver, Hero, Joe, Luxury, 

 Miller, Mrs. Cleveland, Mrs. Fisher, Mrs. Miller, Murray, Nettie, New Dominion, 

 New Globe, Parson's Beauty, Pennell, Pocomoke, Ridgeway, Robbie, Ruby, Scarlet 

 Ball, Seedling from C. H. Smith, Yarmouth, N.S., Stevens' Late Champion, Sumiy- 

 side, Tennessee Prolific, Uncle Jim and Williams. 



Of these varieties the most productive are Barton's Eclipse, Big Bobs, Buster, 

 Daniel Boone, Dora, Glen Mary, Greenville, Pocomoke, Tennessee Prolific and 

 Williams. 



There were few promising new named sorts fruited in 1908, none of them being 

 promising enough to make it likely that they will take the place of the varieties which 

 have been recommended for the past few years. 



Some very promising seedlings of the Bubach and Wm. Belt strawberries origin- 

 ated at the Central Experimental Farm are being thoroughly tested and compared 

 with the varieties above mentioned. 



VEGETABLES. 



The tests with vegetables continue to be an important part of the work of the 

 Horticultural Division. Varieties have been very thoroughly tested, and each year 

 the new kinds are compared with those which have been found to be the best of the 

 older ones. Several lines of work are in progress with a view to finding out the value 

 of selection in raising home-grown vegetable seeds. The results of selecting the 

 tomato are given in this report. The potato is such an important crop that each year 

 considerable space is devoted to that vegetable in this report. 



It has been found that the ' List of best vegetables for farmers,' published from 

 time to time in the annual report is much appreciated. It was published last in the 

 report for 1906, and is reprinted again with the few changes deemed necessary. 



farmers' list of best vegetables. 



The results of variety tests of vegetables for the past eighteen years are sum- 

 marized in the following table, where a list is given of the varieties of each kind of 

 'vegetable which are considered the best to plant. 



Asparagus. — Conover's Colossal is the best all round variety, but this is more 

 subject to rust than Palmetto or Argenteuil. 



Beans. — Round Pod Kidney Wax, Keeney's Rustless Golden Wax or Wardwell's 

 Kidney Wax, for early crop; Early Refugee for medium; and Refugee or 1,000 to 1, 

 for late crop, are the most satisfactory dwarf varieties. Asparagus, Lazy Wife and Old 

 Homestead are three of the best pole varieties. 



Beets. — Egyptian Turnip, Meteor and Eclipse are three of the best. 



Borecole or Kale. — Dwarf Green Curled Scotch is the best. 



Broccoli. — White Cape. 



