REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR 



SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 



young trees resulting from subsequent experiments have been planted from year to 

 year in orchards at Ottawa, Brandon and Indian Head. In 1899 thirty -six of the 

 cross-bred apples first produced and grown at Ottawa fruited, and five of them were of 

 such size and quality as to justify their being propagated for more general test. The 

 fact that so many of these fruited on the fourth year from the sowing of the seed in- 

 dicates a very early bearing habit. Since then about two hundred more of these cross- 

 bred apples have borne fruit, and the number of varieties worthy of extended cultiva- 

 tion has been considerably increased. Root grafts of some of the more promising sorts 

 were early made, and these have been tested some three or four years at each of tho 

 Xorth-westem Experimental Farms, and have shown no indications of tenderness, even 

 when planted in exposed situations. The cross-bred sorts grafted on the roots of Pyrus 

 haccata have produced trees which so far as they have been tried seem to be quite as 

 hardy as the wild form of haccata, and there is every reason to expect that they will 

 prove generally hardy throughout the North-west country. 



EXPEROIENTS WITH ' PYRUS PRUMFOLIA.' 



In 1896 a series of crosses was begun on another sort of wild crab known as Pyru* 

 pninifolia. This is regarded by some authorities as a distinct species; by others it is 

 believed to be a hybrid between P. mains, the wild crab of Europe, and P. haccatiu 

 Seeds of this form were also obtained from the Royal Botanic Gardens of St. Peters 

 burgh, Russia. The fruit of P. prunifoUa is usually larger than that of haccata, aiv\ 

 will average nearly double the size. Its hardin^s in the North-west has also been 

 established by a test covering a number of years on both of the Experimental Farms, 

 at Brandon and Indian Head. The first crosses with this species were made in 1896, 

 and since then many new sorts have been originated. 



APPLES FROM WHICH POLLEN WAS USED. 



In the first crosses made on Pyrus haccata in 1894, pollen was used from the 

 Tetofsky, Duchess and Wealthy apples, but since then pollen has been obtained from 

 many other varieties of apples and used on P. haccata, P. prunifolia, or both, including 

 Anis, Beautiful Arcade, Broad Green, Excelsior, Eameiise, Golden Russet, Haas, 

 Herren, Krimskoe, Mcintosh Red, McMahon Whit«, Osimoe, Pewaukee, Red Astra- 

 chan, Ribston Pippin, Scott's Winter, Simbirsk No. 9, Swayzie Pomme Gris, Talman'g 

 Sweet, Winter St. Lawrence and Yellow Transparent. The number and variety of 

 the crosses have thus been very much increased. 



About 800 of these cross-bred varieties have been produced, and between 200 and 

 "00 have fruited. Wliile a large number have produced fruit of inferior quality, tliere 

 have been obtained up to the present time 20 varieties in all, which from their superior 

 size and quality may be regarded as useful for domestic purposes, and deserving of 

 mc;re extended trial. 



VARIETIES PRODUCED. 



On plate I there are shown figures of Pyrus haccata (No. 1), and eight of the 

 new cross-bred sorts of natural size, all produced from this species. The relative in- 

 crease in the size of the cross-bred sorts is manifest to the eye. On weighing good 

 average samples we find that the larger of these cross-bred apples are from 12 to 14 

 times heavier than P. haccata. 



2. Alberta. Pyrus haccata with Haas. — Tree a strong grower and an abundant 

 bearer. Fruit size 1"6 inches across, 1*4 inches deep, round somewhat flattened and 

 slightly ribbed. Calyx persistent. Stem about half an inch long. Colour greenish 

 yePow with a bright red cheek. Flesh nearly white, juicy, slightly astringent (astrin- 



