mn'oirr of i//.' s. a. iinnrohD 397 



SESSIONAL PAPER Nc. 1G 



Tin: WEALTHY apple. 



In previous reports mention has been made of the hardiness of an apple received 

 from Mr. A. P. Stevenson, of Nelson, as the Wealthy. Although this tree has fruite<l 

 for one or two years past, the fruit has been st-olen before it approached maturity, con- 

 sequently we could not verify the correctness of the name. 



From specimens grown this season it is evident that it has been mis-named, as the 

 fruit is much too small for Wealthy, and lacks all other characteristics of that variety- 

 It is probably one of the larger crab apples. 



DUCHESS OF OLDEXBUUGII. 



Some fcions of this variety were received from H. L. Patmorc, a local nurseryman, 

 in 1902, and were top grafted on Pyrus baccata. A portion of these were used in the 

 Pyrus orchard soutli of the barn, and the balance were put on to a single specimen of 

 Pyrus haccafa growing on the hillside. The spring following, all in the south orchard 

 were entirely killed, while those on the hillside were perfectly sound. The latter has 

 continued hardy, and a few flowers were produced last spring, though not in sufficient 

 quantity to ensure a set. Should this hardiness prove permanent a valuable addition 

 will be made to our list of apples. 



CROSS NO. 179. 



In the hillside cross-bred orchard under the above number there fruited the past 

 season the largest apple yet grown on the experimental farm Thuugh the tree is 

 quite small it bore 15 fruits nearly as large as the Wealthy apple, of good colour and 

 flavour, and which ripened early. The tree in question is planted in a very exposed 

 position, and appears to be reasonably hardy. The identity of the cross has not yet 

 been established. 



CROSS-BRED SEEDLINGS, 1904. 



A large number of cross-bred seedlings fruited for the first time this season, many 



of which were very promising. All of these show a very marked improvement over 



Pyrus baccata, the pistillaje parent, and would be gladly welcomed by the farmers of 



Manitoba and the North-west. The most promising of these crosses yet fruited ai-e : — 



Pyrus baccata x Wealthy. Pyrus baccata x Beautiful Arcade. 



" X Tetofsky. " x Krimskoe. 



The Beautiful Arcade cross, though one of the smallest in size, is entirely free 

 from astringency and has a fine aromatic flavour.' 



SEEDLING OF TRANSCENDENT. 



One of the seedlings of the Transcendent fruited during the past season for the 

 first time. The fruit was handsome in appearance, and considerably larger tlian the 

 parent variety, and much was expected from it. A test of its flavour when ripe, how* 

 ever, speedily dissipated our hopes, as it proved to be excessively astringent, and with 

 hollow core. 



SEEDLINGS OF MARTHA CRAB. 



These seedlings, which have been referred to in previous reports, are likely to 

 prove one of the most satisfactory additions to the collection of apples. A number 

 of them came into bearing for the first time this year, and, in some a marked im- 

 provement was shown over those which have fruited in the past. Two of them were 

 superior to the 'Transcendent' crab, both in size and flavour. The best of them 

 have been named and will be propagated so as to admit of a more general test. 



SEEDLINGS OF THE SNYDER CRAB. 



Two seedlings of the Snyder crab fruited the past season, both of considerable 

 merit. The fruit though somewhat small in size, was of excellent flavour and made 

 a capital preserve. ^Fost of the seedlings of Snyder have proved tender, but these 

 are promising for hardiiiess. 



