524 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 



• 5 GEORGE v., A. 1915 

 KELATION OF THE OLD WORK TO THE NEW. 



In order to make as clear as possible the present status of the work in ornamental 

 {gardening and the reason for its inheritance of certain lines of work, the following- 

 brio t' notes are given: 



The Arboretum and Botanic Garden, which occupies about 65 acres of land, was 

 in charge of the botanist, the late Dr. Fletcher, until 1895. In that year it passed 

 into the charge of Mr. W. T. Macoun, and from that date until the year 1910 it was 

 included in the Horticultural Division. Most of the foregoing articles were from 

 notes taken from plants growing in that place. In 1910, the Arboretum was taken 

 over by the Division of Botany. 



The ornamental grounds and part of the nurseries were for many years under the 

 supervision of the late Director, Dr. Wm. Saunders. 



Forestry work, as carried on in the forest belt surrounding the Experimental 

 Farm, has been looked after by the Horticultural Division for many years. In these 

 belts there are some twenty thousand trees of some sixty different varieties. 



These statements indicate, therefore, that the work in ornamental gardening as 

 at present organized inherits some of its interests directly from the Horticultural 

 Division, of which it forms a part, and some from other Divisions of the Centi'al 

 Experimental Farm. '" 



AREA DEVOTED TO ORxVAMENTAL GARDENING AND FORESTRY. 



1. The ornamental grounds and the main road. 



2. The ornamental hedges. 



3. The rose garden and test garden for perennial and annual flowers, etc. 



4. The nurseries for ornamental trees and shrubs. 



5. The forest belt. 



The area occupied by the ornamental grounds and nurseries is about 32 acres, 

 and that occupied by the forest belt about 21 acres. 



EXTENSION WORK WITH ORNAMENTAL PLANTS. 



A brief note seems also advisable here to place on record the extensive nature of 

 the work with ornamental plants. The work has extended to all parts of Canada, 

 through these branch Farms, public institutions, etc., to which quantities of material 

 have been sent to be tested for hardiness and general suitability for local conditions. 



The bulletin on " Trees and Shrubs tested in Manitoba, Saskatchewan and 

 Alberta," bears evidence of this. This extension work is of great value in many 

 instances and particularly in two ways: first, it has been the means of supplying the 

 Central Farm with knowledge which is needed in order to supply information, procur- 

 able perhaps in no other way, to a constantly increasing number of persons! seeking 

 such information; and second', it has acted as an incentive both to public bodies and 

 the individual to beautify both the city and the home surroundings. This has been 

 particularly true of homes in the prairie province?. 



In this regard the Central Experimental Farm system may be looked upon as the 

 pioneer in the work relating to ornamental trees, shrubs and flowers, and the appear- 

 ance of such plants in many parts of Canada badly in need of the ameliorating 

 influence of attractive forms of plant life. The function of the Farms is to test the 

 suitability and hardiness of varieties of ornamental plants. No provision of funds is 

 available enabling a distribution of plants to the private individual, but on the branch 

 farms, as well as at Ottawa, it is the aim to grow such plants as suit best the local 

 conditions and needs. The residents of such districts knowing what will thrive, are 



Ottawa. 



