REl'ORT OF MR. 6'. A. BEDFORD. 



377 



SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 



allowiiio- ihcm to stay in the greenhouse for a few days until established, when they 

 are reuioved to cold frames outside and remain there uiiiil the time arrives for plant- 

 ing them in a permanent location. The advantage of the greenhouse is obvious — serv- 

 ing as a proicction to tender seedlings during the most trying period, that is during 

 germination, and a short time subsequent. It is then that the fungous disease, known 

 as * damping off,' is so prevalent and often causes much damage. At this time bad 

 weather occasionally occurs, perhaps a fall of snow, making it impossible to even open 

 a hotbed, and consequently such disease may pursue its ravages unchecked when only 

 hotbeds are used. The greenhouse, with its ready means of egress and ingress, permits 

 of proper attention being given to young plants at this critical i)eriod. 



The cold frames are made in a similar manner to the hotbeds, with the exception 

 that no care is taken to separate the straw from the manure, and only about half the 

 depth of manure is used. They are made in sufficient time to allow the first sharp 

 heat to escape by the time the plants are ready to be transferred to them. A few 

 inches of soil is then put on the surface of the manure and the frame retains sufficient 

 heat to keep out frost, without making any forced growth — and strong plants are the 

 invariable result. 



The first sowing was made on March 29, and concluded on April 20. The excep- 

 tionally dry and bright weather was specially favourable for this branch of the work, 

 and a splendid lot of plants were ready for transplanting on May 30. 



Owing to the unfavourable season, onions usually such an excellent crop, produced 

 no bulbs whatever, while carrots, parsnips, beets and turnips germinated much too 

 hate to attain maturity, consequently the yield was small. Corn, cucumbers, squash, 

 pumpkins, tomatoes and lettuce gave an average crop, and were looking as well as 

 usual, until injured by hail in August from which they never recovered. Cabbage 

 headed out well, but cauliflowers were late, very few heads being obtained before 

 severe frost, while both peppers and egg plants ripened outside, a somewhat rare 

 occurrence here. 



Asparagus, 1900. 



The above varieties have now been under test for a number of years, and have 

 succeeded well. Every farmer should have a bed of this useful vegetable. It needs 

 only once planting, and its earliness and delicacy makes it specially acceptable at a 

 period when vegetables are scarce. Barr's Mammoth is the most prolific, though 

 Columbia Mammoth White is considered by many to be of superior quality. 



ARTICHOKES. 



The Jerusalem artichoke (HeliantJnis tuberosa) has been tested at this farm for 

 three years, and found to be wholly unsuitable for this country, not maturing before 

 severe frost. This year a small quantity of the seed of the French artichoke was 

 procured and sown in hotbed on April 5. The seed germinated well, plants were put 

 into boxes on x\pril 30, and planted in vegetable garden in June. The plants grew 

 vigorously, and were in good condition before winter set in, and should they prove 

 hardy, may be a valuable addition to the list of available vegetables here. 



