DITI8I0N OF HORTICULTURE 661 



SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 



DISTRIBUTION OF SAMPLES OF POTATOES. 



A free distribution of 269 samples of seed potatoes, 3 pounds per sample, was 

 made to applicants in the province of Manitoba. 



ARP.OHETUM. 



No additions have been made to the arboretum this season, but the usual notes 

 regarding wintering, season's growth, etc., have been made. No serious injuries have 

 been noted except some depredations from leaf-destroying insects. The Spruce Bud 

 Worm (Tortrix fumiferana) has done considerable dam^age to both the white and blue 

 spruce trees. The Manitoba maple, ash, elm have also suffered, but in a lesser degree, 

 from insects peculiar to them. The growth this season has, on the whole, been very 

 good, and no losses have been recorded. 



Owing to the hot dry weather that prevailed during the early part of June, the 

 flowering period of the flowering shrubs was somewhat shortened. Nevertheless, there 

 being a variety of each of the kinds of shrubs, a continued bloom was maintained 

 throusrhout the flowering season. 



FLOWERING SHRUBS. 



Quite a num'ber of varities of Lilac (Si/ringa) are under test; Common lilac 

 (Syringa vulgaris) bloomed from May 31 to June 12. Syringa Josilcaea or Josika's 

 lilac bloomed from June 9 to June 25, Syringa villosa, a Chinese lilac, from June 14 

 to June 26, and Syringa amurensis from June 21 to June 30. With their beautiful 

 foliage the lilacs make splendid specimen shrubs all the growing season. 



"lonicera tatarica" (tartari.'VK honeysuckle). 



The different types of this variety of bush honeysuckle have proven quite hardy, 

 and ^ve a wealth of fragrant bloom; the flowering season for these is from June 2 

 to 17. 



C.^BAGANA. 



The different forms of Caragana gave an abundance of bloom, but only for a 

 short season. This year the bloom was from May 29 to June 7 for Caragana arhor- 

 escens or Siberian pea tree. This is the largest of the Caraganas. 



Caragana grandiflora and Caragana frutescens are smaller in size; they bloom 

 about the same time as Caragana arhorescens. Caragana pygmcea is much smaller 

 than the preceding type and blooms June 5 to 20. It is grown principally for its flne 

 foliage. 



JS'INEBARK (PHYSOCARPUS) . 



£ 



This shrub kills back badly during the winter but usually produces a fair amount 

 bloom. Both Fhysooarpus (Neillia) opiiUfoUm and opxdifolius aureus bloomed 

 from June 16 to 28. 



VIBURNUMS. 



Snowball (Viburnum Opulus sterile) was the most prolific bloomer of all the 

 flowering shrubs. It was a mass of snowy white flowers, for a considerable period — 



Brandox. 



