2-3 EDWARD VII. 



SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 



A. 1903 



REPORT OF THE HORTICULTURIST. 



(W. S. Blair.) 



To Dr. "Wm. Saunders, 



Director Dominion Experimental Farms, 

 Ottawa. 



Nappan, N.S., December 1, 1902. 



Sir, — I have the honour to submit herewith a report of some of the work done in 

 the horticultural department of the Experimental Farm for the maritime provinces for 

 the year 1902. 



April was a fine open month giving indications of an early spring. This, however, 

 Avas offset by a cool May with several heavy frosts. The last, and most severe, was on 

 the 19th of 8°, and 21st of G°. Generally speaking May was cool and dry, and June 

 cool and wet. The spring being backward made early growth with both fruits and vege- 

 tables slow, and the continued cool weather made the season unfavourable for those 

 vegetables that require a good amount of heat. The daily average highest and lowest 

 temperatures for the months of IVIay, June, July, August and September, 1902, as com- 

 pared with those of 1901 and 1900, were as follows : — 



Way 



June 



July 



August . . . . 

 September , 



1900. 



36-3° 

 46 r 

 54.* 



52 •4° 

 41-4'' 



It will be seen from the foregoing that particularly the months of July, August 

 and June were much cooler than usual. The average daily lowest temperature for May 

 was 40-9° in 1901 and 37 -6° in 1902, with a daily highest temperature of 57-7° in 1902 

 and 55 "3° in 1901. Therefore, it will be seen that on the average ]\Iay was about 

 equal with other years in respect to temperature. The average highest daily tempera- 

 ture, for the months of June, July and August were G9-9^ in 1902; 73-9° in 1901, and 

 71 "6 in 1900. The average lowest daily temperatures for these three months were 52' 6" 

 in 1902 ; 49-8° in 1901 and 50-8° in 1900. It will, therefore be seen that the past 

 season had for these three months a daily highest average of 4° less heat than 1901, and 

 a daily average lowest temperature of 3° less than 1901. This indicates a continuance 

 of cooler weather than usual, which was particularly noticeable in its effect on certain 

 crops. The first frost was on Sept. 26, when 29° F. was registered. The next was on 

 Oct. 5 of 29°. 



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