102 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS. 



64 VICTORIA, A. 1901 



the Russian varieties are planted, the Tetofsky was badly blighted, the fruit spurs, 

 which are very prooainent on this variety, being nearly all destroyed. Of twenty- 

 feeven trees none escaped. The Wealthy also suffered considerably, though none of the 

 trees were badly injured. The berried or Siberian crab (Pyrus haccata), was affected 

 worse than any of the named varieties, some trees being completely killed. JSTo pre- 

 ventive or any other satisfactory remedy has been found for this disease. The usual 

 practice is to cut off the branch about a foot below the affected part as soon as the 

 blight is noticed. 



The work of top grafting the tenderer varieties of apples was continued this 

 year. Unfortunately, a large proportion of the grafts set this year were destroyed 

 by blight during the summer. Most of the trees grafted in 1898 and 1899, however, 

 are doing well. None of them have yet been killed back by winter. 



Apple growing as far north as Ottawa, and in a similar climate, is attended with 

 many vissicitudes, and there is much yet to be learned regarding this important 

 industry before one may be fairly certain of having trees live to be a good age. 



PEARS. 



Little success has attended the efforts made to grow pears at the Central 

 Experimental Farm. It is true that a few of the Russian varieties live to be eight or 

 ten years old, but blight comes suddenly and destroys them. These pears are also 

 very inferior in quality and are really not worth growing where better pears can be 

 bought cheaply on the market. 



Up to this year, the young pear trees in the orchard had grown well since 1896, 

 having not been affected by blight in 1897, 1898 and 1899, and it was thought that 

 perhaps it would not appear again for some time, but this year the trees were affected 

 again and by the time the summer was over many were dead, while others were killed 

 back more or less badly. A tree of Flemish Beauty, planted in 1890, has been bearing 

 lightly since 1897, and appears quite hardy. It was not affected by blight this year 

 to any extent. Scions have been taken from this tree and grafted, and it will be inter- 

 esting to learn whether the young trees will prove hardy and free from blight or not. 

 This work will be continued, different stocks used, and other methods of grafting 

 adopted, in the hope that a hardy strain of this fine pear will be obtained. The Long- 

 worth pear, which was originated in Iowa, is a very hardy variety and has proved free 

 from blight here. A fair crop of fruit was produced this year, but it is of inferior 

 quality. Season, September. 



PLUMS. 



The trees in the plum orchard continue to do well. There was a good crop of 

 American plums, and fifty-eight varieties bore fruit this year. A few of the European 

 plums fruited also. 



The European and Japanese plums are so uncertain in clirtiates as severe as that 

 at Ottawa that they should not be planted for commercial purposes, unless the orchard 

 has good protection, and even in that case there are but few that would give satis- 

 faction. 



It is necessary, therefore, to fall back on the American plums, and as these are 

 being improved very rapidly by selection and by cross-breeding, and are perfectly 

 hardy, they offer a strong inducement to plant plums for profit where the European 

 or Japanese varieties will not produce paying crops. Men who have been growing 

 these plums for some years in the vicinity of Ottawa are obtaining good prices for the 

 these plums may be had froon the last week of August, until the last week of Sep- 

 tember. 



Although there are several species of American plums, only two of them furnish 

 most of the varieties that are profitable to grow in Ontario and Quebec. 



