REPORT OF TUE UOlillVL LTLlilUT 121 



SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 



BUSH FRUITS. 



The raspberry, currant and gooseberry crops were all good this year. The Ilcr- 

 bert raspberry continues to be the best main crop red variety tested here. The Brigh- 

 ton and Count are two hardy and very productive seedlings of Dr. Wm. Saunders, but 

 arc not equal to the Herbert in size or quality. The Sarah, another of Dr. Saunders' 

 seedlings, is the finest in quality, but the colour is rather dark and it is not productive 

 enough. Heebner and Clarke, resembling each other very much, are two desirable 

 varieties for home use, being hardy, productive and of good quality. Cuthbert is too 

 tender for this district. 



The blackberry crop was a failure here this year. 



STEAWBERRIES. 



The strawberry crop was somewhat lighter than usual this year, not owing to un- 

 favourable weather this season, but on account of the protracted drought in 1D03, which 

 delayed planting until June 15. Being planted so late, fewer runners were formed 

 than usual, hence the crop was less. The plants came through the winter well, being 

 practically uninjured. 



For general purposes, the following varieties have proven among the most satis- 

 factory, after a number of years' tests : Sample, P., Buster, P., Bisel, P., Glen ^lary, 

 B., Greenville, P., Beder Wood, B., Marie, P., Warfield, P., Enhance, B., Howard's 41, 

 P., Barton's Eclipse, P., Thompson's Late, P. In addition to these are William's B., 

 for shipping long distances and Bubach, P., for near market or home use. Lovett, B., 

 is also a good, perfect berry for general purposes and for home use. Daisy is very 

 handsome and productive, but soft. Afton, Steven's Early and Daniel Boone all re- 

 semble Warfield so much that they cannot be distinguished from it. Among the newer 

 varieties which fruited this year for the first time, the following are considered pro- 

 mising : — 



Pocomoke, B. — This was the most productive varietj' in the plantation this year, 

 size large to very large; fonn obtusely conical; colour, bright glossy red but inclined 

 to have white tip; very firm; flesh juicy, briskly subacid; quality above medium. Sea- 

 son medium to late. Plant a vigorous grower with good foliage. Quite promising 

 as a productive berry for long shipment. 



Lyon, P. — Size medium to above medium ; fonu long, pointed or wedge-conical ; 

 colour deep red; moderately firm; flesh juicy, briskly subacid, pleasant flavour; quality 

 good. Season early to medium. Plant a vigorous grower, with good foliage. A pro- 

 ductive variety which this year ripened a good deal of fruit early. 



Early Beauty, P. — Size medium to above medium; form roundish; colour deep 

 glossy red; moderately firm; flesh juicy, briskly subacid; quality above medium. Sea- 

 son very early. Plant a vigorous gi-ower, with healthy and abundant foliage. One of 

 the most promising early varieties. 



Splendid. — This variety was grown for a number of years and then discarded, but 

 is being given a further test with a new strain. It is a very productive variety but 

 is soft and not attractive in colour. 



In the following table will be found a list of fifty varieties of strawberries arranged 

 m their order of merit or rank, from the average of two to four years' test. Most of 

 these have been tested for four years, namely, 1900, 1901, 1902, 1904. The crop was 

 practically a failure in 1903. Their rank for the year 1904 is also given in the table, as 

 well as other information. In addition to the list of fifty varieties, a short list of twelve 

 follows, representing the best yielding varieties fruiting for one year only. There 

 were 196 named varieties under test this year, and 53 unnamed seedlings. In the 

 tables B. stands for bi-sexual or perfect, while P. stands for pistillate or imperfect : — 



