REVORT OF THE HORTICULTURllST 109 



SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 



clearly uiarked on the trunk in most cases. The vacancies caused by the death of the 

 trees were most of them tilled by varieties not hitherto tested, and by those which had 

 proven hardy and were desired in larger numbers. 



APPLE CHOP. 



Notwithstanding the severe winter, the apple crop was good at the farm this year 

 and the fruit was clean, being without spot and exceptionally free from Codling !Moth. 



SEEDLING AND CROSS-Bl'.KD Al'l'I.ES. 



This year 192 seedlings of good varieties were added to those planted during the 

 past four years, making the total number of apple seedlings of good varieties 1,788. 

 Some work in cross-breeding apples was also accomplished, and the seeds obtained 

 were sown this autumn. Some of the trees of the crosses between Mcintosh Red and 

 l.awver are approaching fruiting age and some good varieties are hoped for from 

 these, as well as from the seedlings. This year 17 diti'erent crosses between Mcilahon 

 WTiite and Scott's Winter fruited, but although most of these resembled either or both 

 parents in some respects, it is doubtful if any of them will be superior. There are throe 

 resembling Scott's Winter, but larger, which possibly may be useful. 



EFFECTS OF WINTER KILLING ON TOP GRAFTED TREES. 



During the past six years, 90 varieties of apples have been top grafted on hardy 

 stocks with the object of determining whether varieties which would not succeed when 

 grown in the ordinary way would prove satisfactory when top grafted on stocks having 

 hardy trunks. The experiment was proving very interesting and some varieties were 

 apparently going to succeed when tested in this way, but last winter came and killed 

 practically all those which had proven tender when tried as standard trees. Anyone 

 who thinks that hardy stocks will make the graft noticeably hardier will have abundant 

 proof that such is not the case from the following table. The dividing line between 

 graft and stock was very marked in all cases examined. A Northern Spy, which had 

 been top grafted on Duchess for 13 years, was killed completely back to the stock, 

 which was as healthy as ever; and many other instances might be quoted. Two varie- 

 ties of apples were top grafted on Wealthy in 1891. One of these, the Milwaukee, a 

 hardy variety, and another, the Martha. Each variety occupied about half the top of 

 the tree. The Martha was all killed, while the Milwaukee remained alive and bore 

 a good crop of fruit. Top grafting will bring a t»'ee into bearing sooner and will per- 

 mit of growing varieties which suniscald on the trunk or are weak in the trunk in other 

 respects, but the grafts if made any hardier are not sufficiently so to stand very severe 

 winters. 



In the following table will be found the names of the varieties of apples, 161 in 

 nximber, which were killed last winter with the earliest dates of planting or top grafting 

 the trees killed. Other varieties had been killed previous to last winter which are not 

 recorde<l in this table, the Ben Davis being one of thesjc. There were a few varieties 

 of which one or more trees were killed, but others left uninjured, which are not in- 

 cluded in the table, as they had proven so hardy up to last winter in this district. 

 Among these may be mentioned American Golden Russet, Pewaukce, Baxter, and 

 Canada Red, which are hardy enough to be given a further trial : — • 



