98 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 



7-8 EDWARD VII., A. 1908 



The effect of the unusual winter of 1905-6 was very marked on vegetation, especi- 

 ally on herbaceous plants. Practically all strawberry plants in the vicinity of Ottawa 

 and at the Experimental Farm were destroyed, even where well mulched with straw. 

 Where snow lay heavily along the fences they were better protected and came through 

 the winter in fair condition. Other herbaceous perennials suiTered badly although at 

 the Experimental Farm, where the snow lies heavily on the border they were com- 

 paratively little injured. In some gardens in Ottawa the growers lost practically all 

 the perennials they had. The plants which suffered most were, as a rule, those with 

 fleshy roots. In a border containing over 2,000 species and varieties at the Experi- 

 mental Farm, 277 were killed. Deciduous trees and shrubs, including fruit trees and 

 bushes, suffered considerably more than usual, biit not as much as might have been 

 expected. 



Evergreens suffered most, the different varieties of the American Arbor Vitse 

 being badly affected. Some were killed outright, while others had branches destroyed. 

 The varieties which suffered legist were Thuya occidentalis ivareana and Thuya occi- 

 dentalis glohosa, the former not being injured in the least. In exposed places the 

 native American Arbor Vita3 were badly injured. By April 16, the frost was out of the 

 ground in most places and the first ploughing was done in the orchard on that day and 

 also the first digging with the spade. Even by April 21 there was still some frost in 

 the ground and up to that time there had been little growth. The highest temperature 

 in April was on the 19th, when the temperature was 71-6° F. above zero. The lowest 

 was 17° F. on the 7th. May was rather cool on the whole with changeable weather 

 although there were a few warm days. The highest temperature was 89-8° F. on 

 the 18th, and the lowest 28-8° F. on the 11th. The last spring frost recorded 

 by the thermometer was on Ivlay 21, when the temperature was 29-8° F. 

 June was a warm month, although no very high temperatur.cs were recorded, 

 the highest being 89° F. on the 15th and 21st. The temperature was over 

 80° F. thirteen times in June. There were a number of showers during 

 the month which with the heat caused vegetation to recover remarkably from the in- 

 jurious effects of the winter. July was a very warm, dry month, the temperature being 

 80° F. and above no less than twenty-two times during the month. The highest 

 temperatures wore 93° F. on the 15th, and 93-6° F. on the 22nd. 



From July 12 to August 12 the temperature was 80° F. and above every day ex- 

 cept one. The highest temperature in August and the hottest days of summer were 

 on August IS and 19, when the temperature rose to 96° F. and 96-6° F., respectively. 



On September 11 and 12 the following notes were m-ode: 'Rain is very badly 

 needed, the grass is brown except in spots and trees and shrubs have a parched look 

 and are showing the want of moisture very much. Mnny leaves of elms have turned 

 yellow and are falling. Fruit trees have not suffered much except young plum trees, 

 which are suffering. The soil is very dry.' There were some very high temperatures 

 in September, the two highest being on the 9th and 12th, when the thermometer re 

 corded 91° F. and 92° F., respectively. There was a good rain on September 29, and 

 again on October 6. The weather in October was fine and warm for the season of 

 the year. The highest temperature was 75-8° F. on the 4th. The first autumn frost 

 recorded was on October 1, when the temperature was 30° F. 



The first severe frost of the season was on October 12, when the grape leaves were 

 killed, the lowest previous temperature having been on October 8, when 29-1° F. were 

 recorded. 



There was a fall of snow on November 9, but this disappeared again the next day. 

 On the 14th the ground froze hard, the temperature dropping to 7° F. above zero on 

 the 15th, but thawed out again. Winter set in on November 26 with a heavy snow- 

 fall and the ground unfrozen. The lowest temperature in November was 7-4° F. 

 on the 15th. December, January, and February were all cold months, although the 

 temperatures were not as low as in some winters. There was a thaw during the first 

 week of January. The amount of cloudy weather. was very marked during the winter, 



