REPORT OF MR. THOMAS A. SHARPS. 



SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 



Louise Vilmorin. — Tree a strong grower, and an early bearer. Fruit of medium 

 «ize, obtuse, pyriform; skin yellow with considerable russet and many russet dots, and 

 a dull red cheek. Flesh white, fine grained, juicy, melting and sweet; quality good. 

 Season, November. 



Beurre d'Aremhcrg. — Tree a moderate grower. Fruit of medium size, obovate; 

 skin pale greenish-yellow, with tracings and spots of russet. Flesh white, buttery, 

 juicy, with a rich vinous flavour. Season, November. 



Beurre Ranee. — Tree a medium gi'ower. Fruit of medium size, obtuse, pyriform; 

 skin dull green, dotted withl many russet dots. Flesh greenish-white, melting, juicy 

 and rich; quality good. Season, December. 



P. Barry. — Tree a strong grower. Fruit large, long pyriform, slightly obtuse ; skin 

 deep yellow, nearly covered with golden russet. Flesh whitish, fine-grained, juicy, 

 melting, sweet and of fine quality. Season, December. 



Marie Benoist. — Tree a moderate grower. Fruit large, obtuse, pyriform; skin 

 •dull yellow, nearly covered with russet. Season, December. 



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Bergamot d'Esperen. — Tree a vigorous grower. Fruit of medium size, oblate, globu- 

 lar ; skin greenish-yellow, with patches of russet and many russet dots. Flesh greenish- 

 yellow, juicy, buttery, sweet ; quality, very good. Season, December. 



Dana's Hovey. — Tree a vigorous grower. Fruit small, obovate, obtuse, pyriform ; 

 skin pale yellow, with small patches of russet and many russet dots. Flesh yellowish, 

 juicy, fine grained, with a rich sweet flavour. Season, December. 



Prevost. — Tree a vigorous grower. Fruit of medium size, obovate, pyriform ; skin 

 pale yellow, with a faint blush in the sun and sprinkled with small brown dots. Flesh 

 white, juicy, a little coarse, but sweet and of a pleasant flavour. Season, winter. 



PLUMS. 



The plum trees commenced to blossom early in March this year, and those that 

 were in bloom very early were caught by the frosts that occurred occasionally, from 

 the first up to the end of that month. The Japan plums are the greatest sufferers, as 

 they bloom very early, and even if there is no frost, the weather which is frequently 

 wet and cold, appears to prevent the fertilization of the blossoms. Very seldom 

 has there been more than ai very light crop of these varieties, while the trees make 

 a healthy growth, and are very profuse bloomers. The few plums they do bear are 

 as a rule very irregular in size, ranging from very small up to very large. 



The plum rot was very generally prevalent, and the orchard at Agassiz suffered 

 rather severely, only a few varieties being entirely or nearly exempt from the disease. 

 The following are some of the most promising of the rot-resisting class, these being 

 either entirely free or very nearly free from it. Belgian Purple, Diamond, Goliath, 

 Sultan, Mallard, Lincoln, Cochet, Clyman, Grand Duke and Monarch. 



The following varieties fruited this year for the first time : — 



Diapree Violette ( — Cheston). — Tree a vigorous grower. Fruit small, oblong; skin 

 dark purple with a bluish bloom. Flesh yellow, firm, sweet, and of good flavour ; free- 

 stone. Season, early August. 



Tatge. — Tree a strong grower, and free bearer. Fruit of medium size, oval, a 

 little flattened at each end ; skin purple red, with a thin whitish bloom. Flesh 

 j^ellow, juicy, with a pleasant flavour, moderately sweet. Season, early August. 



