10 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 



4-5 EDWARD VII., A. 1905 

 SUITABLE. STOCKS FOR GRAFTIXQ. 



To ensure iiardiness in a fruit tree not only must the part exposed to the air be 

 capable of enduring the cold weather of winter, but the root oii which the variety is 

 grafted must be equally hardy, otherwise the tree will often perish at the root while 

 the wood above ground is plump and free from injuiy. Fortunately we have in this 

 instance in the roots of the wild form of Pyrus haccaia a safe basis on which to work, 

 and all of the young trees of the cross-bred apples which have been sent out for test 

 from the Central Experimental Farm have been grafted or budded on this species. 

 Some partial failures have occurred in grafting on this stock which have interfered 

 with -rapid distribution, and experience has shown that budding is to be preferred as a 

 method of propagation in this instance. Having at the outset only one small tree to 

 woirk with the number of grafts available must necessarily be limited, while probably 

 three times the number of buds may be got from the same amount of wood. Not only 

 does budding form a better union with the stock, but it also admits of the trees being 

 multiplied more rapidly. 



METHODS OF DISTRIBUTION OF THESE CROSS-BRED FRUITS FOR FURTHER TEST. 



Supplies of all these different sorts are sent first to the Experimental Farms at 

 Brandon and Indian Head, where orchards of considerable size are being established. 

 These fruits are also being tested at many different points in Manitoba and the North- 

 west Territories, and at a few places in northern Ontario. To determine their hardi- 

 ness on the North-west plains it is essential that they be tried in many localities from 

 the eastern boundaries of the plains, where the altitude is comparatively low, to the 

 foothills of the Rocky Mountains, where the elevation above sea-level ia much greater. 

 The question of altitude has a most important bearing on the hardiness of fruit trees. 



For several years a list has been in course of preparation, on which have been 

 entered from time to time the names of settlers who take a special interest in the grow- 

 ing of trees and shrubs. From this list a number of names were chosen, distributed 

 over a wide area, seldom taking more than one or two in eac!a district. In this way 

 about 200 locations were selected, the extreme points of variation in elevation ranging 

 from 740 to 4,200 feet. Having corresponded with these parties and received assur- 

 ance that any young trees sent them would be carefully looked after, the first distribu- 

 tion was made in 1902, when four one-year old trees (one tree each of four different 

 sorts) were sent to each person. In the spring of 1903 a second package was sent to the 

 same individuals containing two additional varieties of cross-bred apples, so that at 

 each of these points six of these young trees have been received. Reports have come 

 in from all those whe have received the trees, and in almost every instance they are 

 reported as entirely hardy, having stood the winters to which they have been exposed 

 without injury, and as a rule made rapid growth. It is scarcely probable that any of 

 these young trees will fruit in 1905, but in the following year it is likely that many of 

 them will bear apples, when the interest in this work will be very much increased. 



OTHER LINES OF WORK UNDERTAKEN. 



Another line of work in producing new apples was begun two years ago in cross- 

 ing Pyrus malus, the wild apple of Europe, with some of our best apples. This fruit is 

 about an inch in diameter to start with and of fair quality. A hardy form of this tree 

 hae been secured, which has stood several winters at Brandon and Indian Head without 

 injury; and with this during the past two seasons a number of crosses have been made. 



Many of the best of the crosses produced on P. haccata and P. prunifolia have 

 been recrossed, thus introducing a second quota of the blood of the larger apple., with 



