92 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 



5-6 EDWARD VII., A. 1906 



days later than the average. From June 12 until July 19, the weather was almost 

 constantly warm. For ten days in June and for sixteen days in July the temperature 

 was 80°F. and above. The highest recorded in June being 86 -S"?. on the 20th, and 

 the highest in July 91 •4:°F. on the 18th. While the weather became a little cooler on 

 July 20, it continued warm until August 12. As there was plenty of rain during this 

 long spell of warm weather growth was rapid. The latter part of August was mod- 

 erately warm an<f bright. The highest temperature was 86-6°F. on the 10th, Sep- 

 tember was moderately warm and with occasional showers up to the 23rd, when it 

 tecame cool and remained so to near the end of the month. The highest temperature 

 was 80-2°F. on the 10th, and the nearest approach to frost recorded was on September 

 26, when it fell to 32 •2°F. There was, however, a light frost on September 13th, not 

 lecorded by the thermometer, which killed cucumbers and melons and in places 

 touched tobacco, although the injury to the latter was not great. On September 26, 

 tomatoes and other tender things were killed. October was a fine month. The first 

 ten days were moderately warm, the temperature rising to 76 ''F. on the 1st, and the 

 test of the month varied from cool to moderately warm. The night temperatures 

 were rather low, both in September and October, though no frost was recorded until 

 October 7, when the temperature fell to 29 •5°F. The first severe frost was on the 22nd, 

 when the temperature was 22 •8°F,, and after that date there were several frosts, the 

 lowest occurring on the 30th, when it was 16 •5°F. November was cool and frosty. 

 On the 6th there was a fall of 21 inches of snow, and on the 8th, 2 inches more. This 

 melted slowly, and was practically gone on November 13, when the temperature 

 dropped to 16 •8°F., and to 10°F. on the 14th, stopping ploughing. The ground re- 

 Tiiained frozen, preventing ploughing, until November 24, when there was little frost 

 left in the ground. There was heavy rain on November 26, and on the 27th the ground 

 froze again and winter may be said to have set in on that date. 



FRUIT Ai^D VEGETABLE CROPS. 



There was a good supply of fruit and vegetables in the provinces of Ontario and 

 Quebec this year, although the apple crop was below the average in most sections of 

 Ontario, and hence there was not as much fruit exported as last year. The light crop 

 of apples tliis year was no doubt in a measure due to the severe winter of 1903-4, 

 nhich weakened many trees. This was followed by a bountiful harvest in 1904, which 

 probably further weakened the trees, which were not able to support another good crop 

 this year. In the Ottawa Valley, where the crop was very good, bearing trees were for 

 the most part of hardy varieties, which were uninjured by the winter of 1903-4, the 

 tenderer kinds having been killed outright. Summer and autumn varieties sold at 

 low prices, but winter fruit, for which there was a strong demand, brought very re- 

 munerative returns. 



The peach, pear, plum, and cherry crops were all good. The cherry rot and ripe 

 lot on the plums, however, caused considerable loss. The grape crop was good and the 

 black rot not nearly so bad as last year. The crops of all bush and small fruits were 

 good. Tomatoes were not so plentiful as last year, owing to the cool spring, but prices 

 were better. Other vegetables were abundant, with the exception of potatoes, which 

 were much injured by blight and rot in most sections, except where sprayed with 

 Bordeaux mixture. 



At the Central Experimental Farm the apple crop was good and the fruit prac- 

 tically uninjured by either codling moth or black spot. There was a light crop of 

 "Russian pears and cherries, but the crop of Americana and Nigra plums was good; 

 some of the Domestica varieties also fruited this year. The grape crop was very good, 

 but owing to the comparatively cool autumn the fruit did not ripen as thoroughly as 

 jn some years, altliough 90 varieties matured sufficiently to be called ripe. The crops 

 cf raspberries, currants and gooseberries were all good. Strawberries bore a medium 



