522 EXPEElMEyiAL FARMS 



5 GEORGE v., A. 19lS 



ORNAMENTAL GARDENING. 

 CF. E. Buck, B..S.A., As»istant-in-Gharge.) * 



In a rapidly-developing country it is only natural that a large number of the 

 inhabitants should have a keen interest in the making of homes with home-like and 

 attractive surroundings. The Dominion Experimental Farm system, from its incep- 

 tion, has encouraged the making of such homes. This is due to the fact that at the- 

 Central Farm at Ottawa, as well as at several of the branch Farms in the East and 

 the West, investigational work was carried on in connection with trees, shrubs, and 

 flowers. Such work consisted mainly in finding out the most suitable and hardy 

 varieties of these plants for the varied and wide areas of the Dominion. At the 

 present time, an ever-increasing number of Canadians seek information on these 

 subjects, and the work which is carried on at the Central Farm at Ottawa, in order 

 to supply such information, is now described by the term " Ornamental Gardening." 



As this is the first occasion when such work has been dealt with in the annual 

 report of the Farms, as a unit or at any length, it may be wise to refer to it in two 

 aspects. In the first aspect, much of it is, as suggested, a continuation of lines of 

 work started soon after the Farms system came into existence. In the second aspect, 

 many of the phases of the work in ornamental gardening may be regarded as compara- 

 tively new. As originally developed, the work aimed to meet more particularly, 

 general requirements, or those arising from the general spread of population. 



Whenever houses were built or towns came into existence, information was sought 

 with regard to such general subjects as lawns, flowers, shrubs, trees, windbreaks, etc., 

 and the suitability of Such things for various climatic conditions. To-day, however, 

 there is, in addition to this desire for information along broad general lines, a con- 

 stantly increasing desire for more specific information. This desire manifests it-sclf 

 in requests from Canadians of various types. There is, for instance, the private 

 individual seeking information on special subjects, and the commercial man also 

 seeking information on specific subjects. 



It may be assumed, therefore, from the fact that a desire for specific information 

 is increasing, that many more Canadians are able, more so now than formerly, to take 

 an interest in the amenities of life which are fundamentally associated with beautiful 

 homes and a pleasant, prosperous country. Changes in the character of large tracts 

 of country are brought about chiefly by the efforts of the individual. The changes 

 made by the inhabitants of prairie districts who have transformed- such districts, by 

 the judicious planting of trees and shrubs, are remarkable, but no less remarkable 

 are the changes which are to-day taking place in many towns and cities. . Such changes 

 are also largely the result of the efforts of the individual, working either alone or 

 uniting his efforts with other members of societies organized for home and city 

 improvement. Work, however, of this character is always undertaken with greater 

 confidence and keenness when those interested in it can obtain, without undue trouble, 

 necessary information and advice. 



The Horticultural Division of the Dominion Experimental Farms has supplied 

 information to many thousands of correspondents in all parts of the Dominion on 

 many varied questions connected with the foregoing subjects. In addition to supplying 

 information by direct correspondence, the Division also aims to convey that informa- 

 tion by means of the printed report and bulletins, and following is a list of articles 

 and bulletins which have been issued so far on these subjects: — 



" Catalogue of the Trees and Shrubs in the Arboretum and Botanic Garden at 

 the Central Experimental Farm, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada," by Dr. Wm. Saunders 

 and W. T. Macoun, Bulletin No. 2, Second Series, 1897. 



Ottawa. 



