264 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 



2-3 EDWARD VII., A. 1903 



The apple crop in Nova Scotia is this season much below the average, both as to 

 yield and quality. Taking the whole province the yield is estimated at less than 

 one-half of an average crop. The weather being cool and damp at the time of blossom- 

 ing no doubt largely accounts for this light crop. The influence of such conditions 

 has been much more marked in some sections than in others, and consequently the dis- 

 tribution of fruit is irregular. The almost continuous wet cool weather during spraying 

 time is accountable for more a,pple scab fungus than usual, and the light crop of fruit 

 instead of being of a higher grade, as one would naturally expect, is much below the 

 average. 



Fruit trees generally have made good growth this year. The apple crop at Nappan 

 was exceptionally good, especially did the fall varieties do well. The plum crop was only 

 fair. The cherry crop was a complete failure here. The frost of the 19th and 21st of 

 May killed the blossoms which were about out. In neighbouring districts where this 

 frost did not strike so heavily, and where trees came into bloom later a fair crop of 

 cherries was obtained. 



The strawberry crop was good, due very largely to seasonable showers at the time 

 of ripening. The raspberry, and gooseberry crops were only fair. Black currants were 

 a poor crop, and red and white currants a good crop. 



The shrubs which are year by year becoming more interesting and attractive made 

 splendid advanci^ment this season. 



The collection of annual flowering plants, and perennials, made the best show this 

 year that we have ever had. The show of sweet peas and dahlias was especially good. 



Experiments were again carried on with vegetables of various kinds, a summary of 

 some of these experiments is given in this report. 



Information is also submitted on the work done in testing different varieties of 

 cherries, and a descriptive list is given of those which have so far done the best. 



Space has also been given to some of those varieties of apples, and plums that pro- 

 mise to be useful for more general culture. 



I beg to acknowledge the following donations : — N. E. Jack, Esq., Chateauguay 

 Basin, P.Q. Fameuse, and Mcintosh Red, scions ; A. H. Johnson, Esq., Wolfville, N.S. 

 Pryor's Red apple, and ' October ' plum^scions. 



APPLE ORCHARD. 



The apple orchard has made splendid growth this season, and a fair amount of good 

 fruit was obtained. The many Russian sorts which are proving of little value in orchard 

 No. 1. are being top grafted with new varieties. Orchard No. 2. which has the advant- 

 age of protection from heavy winds by a belt of spruce trees, and has also a lighter soil, 

 is making splendid progress, and gave some good fruit this year. The following descrip- 

 tive list embraces those apples which up to the present time are the most vigorous and 

 productive and which are likely to be of commercial value for many sections of the 

 maritime provinces. 



MclNTOsn Red. 



Three trees of this variety were planted in the spring of 1890. They have 

 made only fair growth. The soil in which they are growing is a heavy clay loam, with 

 a very heavy clay subsoil running to within eight or ten inches of the surface. This soil 

 does not seem to be adapted to apples of the Fameuse group, and as this apple is one of 

 that class the results obtained here do not give a fair ideji of its general value in the 

 maritime provinces. Excellent specimens of Mcintosh Red have been grown in the 

 St. John river valley, and in other parts of this province on naturally dr'ained sandy 

 soils. This fruit may probably succeed well on the lighter soils on farms in central 

 New Brunswick. 



The fruit of this variety grown here has not matured perfectly, due, no doubt, to 

 the heavy cold soil. The fruit is liable to scab if not sprayed, but it is not so bad in 



