REPORT OF MR. W. S. BLAIR 855 



SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 



The fruit and ornamental trees and shrubs have made a fair growth of wood 

 during the season which seems to have ripened up well. The perennial flowering plants 

 did well, and some additional Japanese Irises were planted. In this report a list of 

 some of the best perennials tested during the past four years, is given. There is also 

 given in this report the results of some experiments conducted to find out the moi-sture 

 coTitents of soil treated in different ways. Tests, as usual, have been carried on with 

 different varieties of vegetables, some of which are given herewith. Some experiments 

 were also tried, conducted with materials recommended for the destruction of root 

 maggots and cutworms. The results also of some experiments with cover crops grown 

 in the orchard here are included. 



I beg to acknowledge the following donations : — From Prof. Sears, Director School 

 of Horticulture, Wolfville, N.S., scions of ' Eed Russet' apple. From Mr. Whitman 

 Ruggle?, Nictiiux, N.S., scions of ' Red Russet' apple. From Mr. A. C. Starr, Starr's 

 Point, N.S., scions of ' Bo'sc ' pear and ' Winterstein' apple. From Mr. Wm. Bus- 

 tin, Belleisle, Granville, Annapolis Co.,- N.S., scions of ' Ribston Pippin ' apple. 

 From Mr. James Bonneyman, Xew Annan, N.S., scions of 'Rhymer Pippin 

 apple. From Mr. John Robertson, ' Inkerman Farm,' New Perth, P.E.I., seedlin.^ 

 apple stocks for root grafting. From Mr. Henry Piers, North-west Arm, N.S., seeds of 



* Asparagus ' pole beans. From D. J. Stewart, Lower Montague, P.E.I., plants of 



* Cyclone,' ' Hunn ' and ' Excelsior ' strawberries. 



I also addressed several agricultural meetings in each of the three maritime pro- 

 vinces during the year. 



PERENNIALS. 



Many different kinds of herbaceous perennials have been tested in the perennial 

 border during the past four years. The following is a list of some of those which 

 have done the best : — 



Anemone narcissiflora. — Wind flower. Height 8 to 10 inches. Pretty white flowers. 

 1 to IJ inches across. In b^oom from the last of May to the last of July. 



Arahis alpina. — Wliite Alysssum. Height 6 inches. An abundance of small white 

 flowers borne profusely over the whole plant. In bloom the 10th of May. 



Aster Novce Anglioe roseus. — Pink-flowered New England aster. Height 3 feet. 

 In bloom the last of August. A showy perennial flowering profusely in clusters of 

 bright pink. 



Aconitum napellus. — Common monk's hood or helmet flower. Height 4 J feet. 

 Comes into bloom soon after the middle of July. The flowers are blue, borne on large 

 terminal spikes. 



Aconitum napellus album. — Similar to the above, except that the flowers are near- 

 ly white. These two plants are very desirable for rear border planting. 



Achillea ptarmica flore pleno. — Double sneezewort. Height 2 feet. Flowers small, 

 white, round, compact, borne in loose clusters. In bloom from the middle of June to 

 the last of August. One of the finest white flowering perennials for cutting. 



Aqxdlcgia chrysantha. — Golden spurred columbine. Height 2i feet. Large, 

 bright yellow flowers. In bloom the first of July. 



Aquilegia oxyscpalo. --Russi^.n colombine. Height 1 foot. In bloom the last of 

 May. Flowers large purplish-blue. A very desirable early flowering perennial. 



Boltonia lalisquama. — Height 5 feet. White flowers, somewhat resembling the 

 wild as'ter, borne profusely in large panicles. In bloom the middle of August. One 

 of the best tall late flowering perennials. 



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