376 EXPEL'IMEXTAL FABMS. 



64 VICTORIA, A. 1901 



Additions to Arboretum during 1900. 



Populus halsamifera intermedia. Thuya occidentalis variegata (Variegateil Arbr.r 

 Scotch Yellow Rose. vitae). 



Populus nigra (Black poplar). Rhamnus cathartica (Common buckthorn). 



Juniperus sabina erccta (Erect savin). Spirwa sorbifolia (Sorbus-leaved spiiase). 



Picea excelsa (Norway spruce). Ribcs alpiiium sterile (Sterile alpiue currant). 

 Lonicera tatarica yrandijiora (Tartarian honey- Betula alba fastigiata (White birch). 



suckle). Gymnocladas canadensis (Kentucky coffee tree). 



Amber currant. Photinia variabilis. 



Rosa acicularis (Siberian prickly rose). Coloncastcr acutifoUa. 



Carpinus caroliniana (Blue Beech). Bcrbcris vulgaris foliis purpureis (Purple bar- 

 Fraxinus nigra (Black ash). berry). 



Japanese Oak. Acer saccliarinnm No. 1, from Minnesota seed 

 Rosa alpina (Alpine rose). (Sugar maple). 



Rhus aromatica (Aromatic sumach). Acer sacchariiiinn No. 2, from Minnesota seed 

 Rosa spinosissima (Burnet-leaved rose). (Sugar maple). 



Thuya occidentalis Eiwangeriana (Elwanger's Cytisiis nigricans. 



Arbor vitae). Celastriis articulatus (Japanese Bittersweet). 



Ribes aureum tcnuiflorum. Rhus glabra (Glabrous sumach). 



Rhamnus davurica. iSalix Candida femina (White willow). 

 Rosa cinnamomea sibirica (Siberian cinnamon 



rose). 



THE VEGETABLE GARDEN. 



The past season was without doubt one of the most discouraging experienced 

 during the history of the farm, the Horticultural Department suffering equally with 

 the other branches of the farm work. 



Spring opened with bright sunny weather, seeding commenced early and every- 

 thing seemed to be full of promise, and to point to a very successful year. The snow- 

 fall of the preceding winter being light, the soil did not contain its usual quantity 

 of moisture and speedily dried out under the continuous bright weather, which was 

 not perceptibly broken until June 26, when the first rain of the season fell. 



Owing to the long drought the germination of seed was uneven, a large portion 

 of it lying dormant in the soil until the end of June, while here and there in moist 

 patches, germination had previously taken place, rendering a uniform test practically 

 impossible ; a sharp frost on the evening of June 8 when the thermometer registered 

 25^, still further complicating matters in this respect. 



Although abundance of rain occurred during the balance of the season, a number 

 of early sown varieties of vegetables, such as onions, carrots, parsnips, &c., failed 

 to attain maturity, showing that an early growing season is absolutely nectssary to 

 maiure such pioducts in this province, no amount of fine weather afterwards, com- 

 pensating for this deficiency. 



On the evening of August 17, by which time the crops had considerably improved, 

 a severe hail storm occurred (the first recorded on the Experimental Farm), which 

 caused great havoc in the vegetable garden, cutting down much of the green stuff, and 

 making serious indentations in pumpkins, squash, tomatoes, &c., and doing much 

 injury generally. 



HOTBEDS. 



During ihe fall of 1899 a small greenhouse was erected which has proved very 

 useful for plant-raising. An excavation was made and the sash used were those 

 belonging (o the hotbeds. The heating was accomplished by means of a brick flue 

 running from end to end of the building and terminating in a chimney outside. At 

 l>resent it is only used from the end of March until fall, and for this period very little 

 fuel is needed. Such a building would be of much value to market gardeners, enabling 

 them to put such produce as lettuce, radishes, &c., on the market at a time when they 

 command good prices, besides giving them greater control over young seedlings, 

 than can be obtained by the sole use of hotbeds. 



The plan adi pted at the Brandon farm is to sow in boxes in the greenhouse during 

 March and April and transplant into other boxes as soon as the plants can be handled. 



