REPORT OF THE HORTICULTURIST 



119 



SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 



Spinach. — Victoria, Thickleaved. 



Squash. — Early: White Bush Scalloped, Summer Crook Neck. Late: Delicious, 

 Hubbard. 



Tomatoes. — Early: Sparks' Earliana, Chalk's Early Jewel, Dominion Day. Main 

 crop: Brinton's Best, Trophy, Matchless (scarlet), Burpee's Climax, Autocrat, Living- 

 ston's Globe (purplish pink). 



There are many .varieties of tomatoes vyhich are almost equal in excellence and 

 productiveness. 



Turnips. — Early; Extra Early Milan, Red Top Strap Leaf. 



Swedes. — Champion Purple Top, Skirving's Luproved. 



POTATOES. 



The year 1908 marked the third season in succession which- has been unfavourable 

 to the potato crop. There was never enough moisture for the potatoes from the middle 

 of June until the vines died, notwithstanding thorough cultivation. A severe attack 

 of thrips, which it seemed impossible to control satisfactorily, also checked the growth 

 of the vines. The vitality of the seed, which must have been considerably lowered by 

 the previous dry seasons and premature ripening, doubtless also had an unfavourable 

 effect on the crop. While the yields were not large, the tubers which formed were 

 clean, and most of them of good marketable size. 



The potatoes in the uniform test plots were planted on May 21 in sandy loam soil 

 which had been manured the year previously for corn. The ground was thoroughly 

 prepared by ploughing and harrowing, after which the drills were opened 30 inches 

 apart with the double mould board plough. Sixty-six sets of each variety, having at 

 least three good eyes, made by cutting the potatoes, were dropped one foot apart 

 in the rows. These sets were covered with the hoe. The land was harrowed just as 

 the potatoes began to come up, to kill weeds. Thorough cultivation was given at 

 intervals until the vines of most varieties covered the ground, practically level cultiva- 

 tion being adopted, there being but a little soil drawn towards the plants. The vines 

 were sprayed with Bordeaux mixture six times and Paris green was used to destroy the 

 potato beetles. The potatoes were dug on October 5. There was very little scab or rot. 

 A much larger number of varieties than usual were tested in the imiform plots this 

 year, 154 sorts being grown. Tables follow of the twelve varieties which have 

 averaged highest in yield for the last five seasons, and the thirty most productive sorts 

 in 1908. 



Twelve Most Productive Varieties of Potatoes ; Average of Five Years, 1904-8. 



