306 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 



2-3 EDWARD VI K, A. 1903 

 CURRANTS. 



Tlie following table shows the comparative yields of the varieties which fruited : — 



Variety. 



Yield 

 per Bush. 



Victoria . .. 



Kaby Castle 



Red Cherry 



White Dutch. .. 



Charter 



North Star.. 



La Versailles. . . . 

 Fertile D'Angers 



Pomona 



Victoria 



White Grape. .. . 

 Fay's Prolific 



Currant. — Crandall or Missouri Tree Currant. This vai-iety is a strong growing 

 and large fruited sort, which has proven very desirable for INIanitoba. The bush is 

 thoroughly hardy producing in profusion large black berries (about twice the size of the 

 ordinary black currant) of good flavour, which make an excellent preserve. Owing to the 

 shyness in fruiting of some of the black varieties here, and to the fact that they are 

 somewhat tender, we would recommend this variety for more general trial in Manitoba, 

 It has the disadvantage of ripening unevenly. 



GOOSEBERRIES. 



The Gooseberry crop was not a large one the past season. The Native Sand Hill 

 Gooseberry gave a fair crop of small berries, and the following varieties produced a 

 small quantity of fruit, viz : — Houghton, Columbus and Red Jacket. 



SAND CHERRIES (Pr^inus piimilo). 



This crop was a total failure the past season. All the fruit being destroyed by the 

 fungus known as ' pocket.' 



TREES AND SHRUBS IN ARBORETUM. 



Very few additions were made to the Arboretum during the past season on account 

 of the pressure of other work at planting time. During the past few years the growth 

 of trees and shrubs has been so luxuriant that it was again found necessary to remove 

 some hundreds of the trees to prevent overcrowding. In doing this work care was 

 taken to leave the most valuable species. We regret that the Russian Poplar hitherto 

 one of our fastest growing, and most satisfactory trees is now showing signs of degene- 

 ration. The limbs are affected with canker, which, first appearing as an excrescence, 

 gradually i-ots through the limb, which then breaks off with the first heavy wind storm. 

 Nearly all the specimens in the Arboretum are more or less affected. 



Owing to the absence of spring frosts, the flowering shrubs made a magnificent 

 display, the Lilacs especially calling forth the admiration of visitors. 



Following will be found some brief notes on a few of the best varieties of flowering 

 shrubs not already noticed in former reports. 



