REPORT OF MR. S. A. BEDFORD 403 



SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 



ONION (sets) 1904. 



The following: varieties of onion sets were tested during the past season : — 



Yellow Dutch sets, Shallots sets 



English Multiplier .sets, Top of Button sets, 



White Muhiplier sots, Garlie sets. 



1 l:o?c were planted in the open on April 28, and all produced a good crop. Yel- 

 low Dutch .sets are by far the most useful, as they usually give heavy returns and 

 ripen very early. The Shallot is an excellent keeper, though small in size, and is 

 much in demand here. The White Multiplier would be satisfactory for pickling pur- 

 poses, but does not equal the seed onions for this purpose, and is a poor cropper. 



SQUASH AND PUMPKIN. 



Thirty-seven varieties of squash and pumpkin were sown in the open on !May 23, 

 1904, and nearly all germinated well. As usual, a heavy crop was harvested, many of 

 the varieties ripening. A number of comijlaints are received from growers through- 

 out the province in regard to their inability to grow this vegetable satisfactorily, and 

 we have deemed it advisable to mention one very important factor in the successful 

 cultivation of this class of vegetables. 



Squash and pumpkins produce the male and female flowers separately on the 

 same plant, and in order to ensure the setting of the fruit, it is necessary that the 

 pollen from the male flower should be brought into contact with the female flower. 

 When there are bees in the immediate vicinity, this operation is accomplished most 

 thoroughly by their agency, but in the absence of these insects hand pollination is 

 sometimes necessary. The process is extremely simple and consists in removing the 

 male or staminate flower as soon as it is fully open, and transferring it to the female 

 or pistillate flower, which latter is readily distinguished by the immature fruit at its 

 base. When the vines iiave attained a moderate length, the ends of the runners sh.ould 

 be nipped off. This brings several flowers of both sexes into bloom simultaneously, 

 allowing fertilization to be accomplished. If this measure is adopted, growers are 

 likely to have much better success. The following varieties proved most suitable 

 for Manitoba : — 



PUMPKINS. 



1. Sweet or Sugar. — A small variety of excellent flavour and texture, ripening 

 early, and excellent for pie purposes. 



2. Japanese Pie. — Somewhat similar to the foregoing. 



p. Winter Luxury. — A medium sized variety, light yellow in colour, densely 

 netted and resembling a large musk melon. Fairly early and of fine texture. 



4. Connecticut Field. — A large yellow variety generally grown for feed purposes, 

 but also makes a good pie, early and very productive. 



Mammoth Tours. — This was the largest variety grown this season, and would 

 be useful for feed purposes. 



SQUASH. 



English Vegetahle Marrow.^ A standard variety. Productive and early and one 

 of the best for use as a vegetable. 



Long White Bush Marrow. — A bush form of vegetable marrow. Early and pro- 

 ductive and resembling the English vegetable marrow in texture and flavour. 



Extra Earhj Orange Marrow. — This variety still holds its position as the best 

 variety for Manitoba. It is quite equal to a pumpkin for pie purposes, very early 

 and productive and a spleni'iid keeper. 



The results of this test were as follows : — 



16— 26J 



