5-6 EDWARD VII. SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 A- 1906 



REPORT OF THE HORTICULTURIST 



(W. T. Macoun.) 



December 1, 1905. 



Dr. Wm. Saunders, C.M.G., 



Director, Dominion Experimental Farms, 

 Ottawa. 



Sir, — I liave the honour to submit herewith the nineteenth annual report of this 

 division. The results of some of the most important experiments conducted during 

 the year and information regarding other work of the horticultural division will be 

 fo'und in this report. 



CHARACTER OF SEASON. 



The winter of 1904-5 while not a very severe one, was marked by long spells of 

 cold weather, but as there was a good depth of snow no special injury was done. Winter 

 set in on November 24, 1904, with snow and frost. The snow gradually increased in 

 depth, but was reduced a little on December 31, when the temi)erature rose to 35 -T^F. 

 This, however, was the only day in December when the temperature rose above freezing, 

 it being a cold month. The coldest day of the month and the coldest of the winter 

 was Christmas day, when the temperature went down to 20 •6°F. below zero. January 

 was a moderately cold month. While the temperature rose above freezing it was only 

 for a few hours, and there was no real thaw during the month. The lowest tempera- 

 ture was 20°F. below zero on January 14. The heaviest snowstorm in many years 

 occurred on January 6 and 7, the high wind causing the snow to drift badly. This 

 Tvas followed by another heavy storm on the 10th. By the middle of the month there 

 were about three feet on the level, affording excellent protection for the roots of trees 

 and for low growing plants. February was a cold month, the temperature not once 

 rising above freezing. The lowest temperature was IS'T'^F. below zero on the 16lh. 

 The weather continued cold up to March 18, the temperature falling to 16°F. below 

 .lero on the 14th, a low temperature for March. On the 18th there was heavy rain and 

 the snow may be said to have begun to go on that date. There were about three feet 

 on the level when it began to melt, but there was an almost continuous thaw until 

 April, and by April 1, while there were still patches of snow on the ground, about half 

 the surface of the soil was bare. Owing to the snow coming in November and re- 

 maining, there was very little frost in the ground during the winter, hence the soil 

 could be worked soon after the snow disappeared. The first ploughing was done in 

 the orchard on April 15, but spades were used on the 13th. There was very little 

 rain in April and owing to the comparatively cool weather through most of the month 

 it was very favoiirable for planting. The highest temx)erature was on the 28th, when 

 i*L rose to 75°F. The last spring frost recorded was on May 2, when the temperature 

 was 29 ^"F., although light local frosts were noticed in this locality later in the month. 

 The weather in May was alternately warm and cool. The highest temperature during 

 the month was 78-8°F. on the 25th. At the end of May the vegetation was from a 

 week to ten days later than the average. Vegetation was showing the need of rain 

 badly at the beginning of June, but on the 2nd there was a fine rain. There was a 

 light frost in low places on June 3. On June 10 the season was considered still ten 



91 



