REPORT OF TUB DIRECTOR 55 



SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 



Hybrids '. These papers served tx) show that much useful and important work in plant 

 breeding and hj'bridizing had been done in Canada. 



This meeting created a widespread interest in the subject and much good will 

 undoubtedly res\dt therefrom. The papers presented are being published and will ba 

 widely circulated. 



DISPLAY OF CANADIAN AGRICULTURAL AND HORTICULTURAL PRO- 

 DUCTS AT THE EXHIBITIONS IN ENGLAND AND IRELAND. 



A fine collection of Canadian cereals and fruits was prepared at the experimental 

 farms and shown at the exhibitions held during 1902 at Wolverhampton and Cork. 

 Assortments of the best of the cereals were shown in the straw put up in bunches of 

 various sizes. Samples of some of the best of the grasses grown in this country for 

 hay and pasture were also exhibited. Tliese were largely used to decorate the Cana- 

 dian courts. Many different varieties of agricultural products were also shown in glass 

 jars of varying sizes, arranged on suitable stands. A good assortment of the more 

 perishable summer fruits was prepared by the horticulturist at the central farm and 

 preserved in suitable fluids. There was also a fine display of honey from the experi- 

 mental farm apiary. These products were much admired for their beauty and high 

 quality and were the subject of much favourable comment. 



HEDGES. 



On plate 2 in this report a very good representation is given of a portion of the 

 sample hedges now growing at the Central Experimental Farm. Of these hedges there 

 are now 103 varieties under trial, and most of the trees and shrubs tested have been 

 foun_d suitable for the purpose. These hedges are all fifty feet in length and ten feet 

 apart and have been planted on a uniform method. Young trees or shrubs from one to 

 two feet high have been selected, and these have been put in a single row fifteen inches 

 apart, and after planting they have all been cut back to a uniform height of ten to 

 twelve inches. When they are thus pruned when planted, they need no further 

 clipping the first season, but after that, most deciduous trees and shrubs require clipping 

 twice a year, the first time in the latter part of June, the second in August. These 

 hedges are much admired. Among the deciduous trees and shrubs most satisfactory for 

 hedge purposes the following deserve special mention : The Siberian Pea-tree {Caragana 

 arborescens), Alder Buckthorn {Rhamnus frangula), Josika's Lilac {Syringa Josikoea), 

 Guelder Rose ( Vihurmim opulus), Wayfaring Tree ( Viburnum Lantana), Thunberg's Bar- 

 berry [Berberis Thunbergii), Amur Privet (Ligustrum amurense), Sharp-leaved Cotone- 

 aster (Cotoneaster acutifolia), and American Larch (Larix pendula). Among the ever- 

 greens the following are recommended : American Arbor-vitae {Thuya occidentalis), 

 Douglas Golden Arbor-vitae (7'huya occideyitalis aurea Douglasii), Rocky Mountain Blue 

 Spruce (Picea pvingens glauca). White Pine {Finns sti-obus), Norway Spruce {Picea 

 excelsa) and the "UTiite Spruce {Picea alba). 



EXPERIMENTS IN TREE PLANTING ON SABLE ISLAND. 



In the report of the director for 1901 an account was given of some experiments 

 undertaken in May of that year in the planting of trees and shrubs on Sable Island, off 

 the coast of Nova Scotia. There were included in this test 68,75.5 evergreens of 25 

 varieties and 12,590 deciduous sorts of 79 varieties, a total of 81,3-15. A list of these 

 is given in the Annual Report of the Experimental Farms for 1901. 



In that report some extracts were published from letters received from the superinten- 

 dent of the island showing that the planting, which was begun on May 18, was finished 

 on June 17. In subsequent letters received in July and November, he speaks of the 

 difficulties the trees had to contend with owing to an unfavourable season, and of their 

 condition at its close. 



