314 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS. 



64 VICTORIA, A. 1901 



Cherries were a fair crop, pears medium, and strawberries, raspberries and black- 

 berries rather above the average. The condition of the weather during strawberry 

 ripening time favoured this crop. 



The crop of small fruits, plums and apples at this farm were above the average. 



Pears have as yet fruited little, and cherries were a medium crop. 



The usual collection of annual flowers were this year grown. Many new varieties 

 of dahlias, and sweet pease, were added, making a very fine display. 



A large collection of perennial flowering plants was sent from the Central Farm 

 at Ottawa. They were set in rows 3 feet apart each way. The collection of these 

 plants now numbers over 300 varieties. 



The ornamental trees and shrubs have, with few exceptions, made splendid growth. 

 The list is gradually inci-easing with new ones added each year. The plum aphis has 

 not been so bad this season as formerly. The apple aphis was noticed on some apple 

 trees, but soon disappeared. Tobacco water and whale-oil soap was used and proved 

 quite effective. 



Experiments were this year conducted with a whitewash mixture to determine its 

 value for removing the oyster-shell bark-lice from apple trees. It has been found 

 difllcult to completely rid some trees of this pest, and those infested were sprayed. 

 Some were sprayed only twice and others as many as six times. Two sprayings are 

 necissary to completely whiten the tree, and as soon as this was washed off the trees 

 were again sprayed. The wash was completely effective on some trees and on others 

 a few lice still remained and young were hatched this spring. It would appear from 

 notes taken that the spray was much more effective when applied as -snon as made. 

 This work, while not entirely effective, was quite satisfactory. 



I beg to acknowledge the receipt of the following donations : 1 Aylmer spray 

 pump, from the Aylmer Iron Works, Aylmer, Ontario. Plants of the Jessie strawberry, 

 from Mr. Everett Crosby, Brazil Lake, JST.S. Plants of the Saunders strawberry, from 

 Mr. J. C. Craig, Amherst, N.S., and apple scions, from Mr. A. C. Starr, Starr's Point, 

 N.S. 



APPLE OECHAEDS. 



One hundred and sixty-two varieties of apples are now under test on the Nappan 

 farm. The trees in orchard No. 1 where no protection is given are, generallj^ speaking, 

 not so thrifty and vigorous as those in orchard No. 2 where the trees are protected by 

 a shelter belt of spruce on all sides. 



Orchard No. 1. — This orchard has made splendid growth during the past season. 

 The soil is a clay loam, on a heavy red clay subsoil, which has been under-drained. 

 The trce^ were all manured in the fall of 1899 with stable manure, and this was worked 

 in the following spring. 



Thorough cultivation was given throughout the season by using the horse culti- 

 vator at intervals of a week or ten days until the middle of August. A strip of land 

 6 feet at each side of the trees was kept clean by this method, and the ground between 

 was given up to grass, grain and hoed crops. 



The trees are sprayed every season with Bordeaux mixture four times. The fruit 

 has thus far been practically free from the apple scab fungus. The crop of fruit was 

 fairly good the past season. The late varieties, however, did not mature very well. 

 Th(> early sons had good colour and quality. The abundant fruitage of some varieties, 

 with slow early spring growth, combined to make the crop somewhat inferior in size 

 and quality. 



Paris green is used in all the applications of Bordeaux mixture after the first 

 early one. There is practically no damage from the codling moth or apple worm. 

 Other insect pests have so far given little trouble, with the exception of the oyster-shell 

 bark-louse, which is now, with the use of the lime spray, pretty well eradicated. 



