REPORT OF MR. JAMES MURRAY 293 



SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 



that litters were usually small and weak. The plan was then adopted of allowing 

 them to run all winter in a large yard, shelter being provided by building a frame- 

 work of poles and threshing a stack of straw over it. The sows were brought inside a 

 week or two before due to farrow. The change in management resulted in the litters 

 being larger and the young pigs strong and vigorous from birth. 



In the winter of 1906-7 the sows, four in number, were confined during the 

 winter, as before. During April three sows farrowed, giving twenty-two pigs, all of 

 which died within an hoxir of birth. The other sow was then turned out and, not 

 farrowing until several weeks later, produced nine pigs, six of which lived and did well. 



During the winter of 1907-8 the same sows were again given the run of a large 

 yard with shelter imder a straw-stack and fed a limited grain ration, largely composed 

 of bran, and a liberal supply of mangels. Each sow farrowed a healthy litter of pigs 

 and raised an average of eight. During the past winter they have been accorded the 

 same treatment and have again given birth to strong vigorous pigs, the four raising 

 thirty-five pigs. 



BEES. 



There was an unusually heavy i)ercentage of loss with the bees in the winter, 

 only five of the fifteen hives put into winter quarters coming out alive. They were 

 put on their summer stands April 16, when the temperature was about 60°. All of 

 these made strong colonies, throwing six new swarms, all of which did well through 

 the summer. The season was a good one for honey, and the colonies averaged 76 

 pounds, spring count. As we had considerable clover this year, much of the honey 

 was from that source and was of excellent quality, being of a lighter colour and a 

 milder flavour than that usually gathered in this province from wild flowers. The 

 clover bloom is available earlier than most of the wild flowers, and the season of 

 profitable gathering was, therefore, extended considerably. The first honey was 

 extracted July 16, which is about two weeks earlier than usual here. Eleven hives 

 were put into winter quarters on November 17. 



APPLE OKCHARDS. 



It is much to be regretted that a continuation of blight has played havoc with our 

 apple orchards, and, although the usual method of cutting out affected wood has been 

 constantly followed, it has proved of no avail, as trees only slightly attacked last year 

 succumbed this year. A better method would seem to be, the rooting up of all trees 

 showing signs of infection. This is a most unfortunate set-back to apple culture on 

 this farm, as so many of our most promising trees are either killed outright or badly 

 infected. It would seem that trees in both sheltered and exposed positions are equally 

 liable to infection. As an immediate result of blight the crop of fruit was small. 

 Carleton is the only cross-bred variety which has so far showed no indication of 

 being infected. 



Amongst the heaviest croppers were: Martha crab, Tonka and a Beautiful Arkad 

 seedling. No. 179 fruited heavily but the fruit, which promised to be of good size 

 and quality, was unfortunately stolen before it was ripe. Hibernal and Repka Kislaga 

 both fruited lightly, producing ripe fruit, possessing size and quality. Transcendent 

 and Hyslop also fruited lightly, while the following varieties ripened fruit of medium 

 size and fair quality: Eastman, Alberta, Derby. Tony, Dean, Pioneer, Ruby, No. 

 171, No. 132, Elsa. Carleton seedling fruited heavily with fruit of fair quality and 

 medium size. Seedlings of Progress, Auroraj and Prairie Gem fruited lightly, but 

 the fruit was of poor quality. 



