358 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 



4-5 EDWARD VII., A. 1905 



Phlox decussata. — Hybrid perennial phlox. Height 1^ to 3 feet. In bloom dur- 

 ing August and September. The many varieties of this beautiful plant show some 

 superb markings in many shades and colours. 



Rudhechia laciniata. — Golden Glow. Height, 5 to 6 feet. Flowers large; bright 

 yellow, double. This is a profuse bloomer during August, and is one of the most 

 desirable tall-growing perennials. 



Rudhechia maxima. — Great cone flower. Height 5 to 6 feet. In bloom during 

 August. Flowers yellow, with a long cone-shaped centre. 



Pyrethrum uliginosium. — Great Ox-eye. Height 3^ feet. Flowers white with 

 yellow centre. In bloom after the last of August. 



Spircea fiUpendula. — Dropwort. Height 2 feet. In bloom from the first to after 

 the middle of July. A profuse bloomer; flowers white, borne in loose panicles. 



Spircea ulmaria. — Meadow sweet. Height 3^ feet. In bloom after the middle 

 of July. Flower heads present a feathery appearance, having numerous cream-col- 

 oured flowers borne in large compound heads. 



Spiraea fiUpendula, flore pleno. — Double-flowered Dropwort. Similar to the first- 

 named spirtea, with double pure white fiowers. Much admired. 



Spircea palmata elegans. — Japanese spiraea. Height 2 feet. In bloom during 

 July. Flowers white, with crimson anthers, borne in panicles. A very desirable per- 

 ennial. 



Spirwa venusta. — Queen of the Prairie. Height 2i feet. In bloom during the 

 last of July and early August. Flowers pink, small, profusely borne in large panicles. 

 A much desired pink spiraea. 



Thalictrum aquilegifoUum. — Columbine rue. Height 3J to 4 feet. In bloom the 

 middle of July. Flowers small, white, numerous, borne in loose panicles. A desir- 

 able sort. 



COVER CROPS. 



Cover crops of different kinds have been grown in the orchard here for a num- 

 ber of years. The primary object in growing such a crop in the orchard is to form a 

 cover of vegetation that will serve as a protection to the roots of the trees during 

 winter. Such a crop, however, is also of value from the fact that plant food not re- 

 quired by the fruit tree during the fall, and which is liable to be leached a^vay by 

 late fall or early spring rains, is taken up and held in a convenient form to turn under 

 the following spring; adding, also, humus to the soil by which it is so greatly im- 

 proved. 



In growing cover crops, the aim is to get a fairly thick mat of vegetation, and 

 also a mat that can conveniently be turned imder the following spring. It is also 

 advisable to grow one of those crops known as legumes, which enrich the soil by the 

 addition of nitrogen assimilated from the air by means of bacteria on their roots. 

 Common and generally available among these for cover crop purpose.s are the pea, 

 vetch and clover. 



It is very important that an orchard should be worked as soon in the spring as 

 the ground is fit and kept in a good loose condition by frequent cultivation until the 

 middle of July. This practice not only stimulates early active vegetation, but also 

 conserves moisture. Moisture is generally abundantly supplied by frequent rains 

 after this date and the ground can safely be put into a cover crop any time between 

 the middle of July and August. Cover crops should not be sown later than the first 

 of August to get a good mat of growth for winter protection. In 1903 the cover 

 crops were sown July 29, and this season they were sown July 26. The following 

 table gives notes taken upon their growth in 1903, and concerning the ease with 

 which thev were turned under iu the spring : — 



