DIVISION OF BOTANY 845 



SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 



v.— EEPORT OF ST. CATHARINE'S FIELD LABORATORY FOR 1913. 



The work of this laboratory has been carried on under much better conditions 

 than in 1912, owing to improved laboratory accommodation and to the ad<litional 

 equipment which was installed during- the year. According- to the plan which has 

 been followed since the Station has been in existence, the work has proceeded along 

 three lines. Of these, research work in plant diseases is considered of primary import- 

 ance and has received the most attention. A second branch of the work has in view 

 a general oversight of the Niagara peninsula, so as to obtain as accurate a knowledge 

 as possible of the prevalence and spread of diseases now present, and of the introduc- 

 tion of new diseases. The third phase concerns the identification of plant diseases 

 and the giving of advice regarding their control. Since during recent years there has 

 been a considerable influx into the fruit-growing- industry of men from other occupa- 

 tions many of whom have had little or no experience, this advisory work has been and 

 will continue to be of special benefit to these new-comers. 



During the year, the collection of disease specimens has been considerably aug- 

 mented, and numerous photographs of these have been taken from time to time. From 

 these photographs seventy-five lantern slides have been prepared for use in illustrat- 

 ing- addresses. 



An exhibit of about thirty diseases of local occurrence was prepared for the St. 

 Catharines Fruit and Flower Show and because of the interest manifested in it, it is 

 proposed to make a similar exhibit next year, but on a larger scale. All the meetings 

 of the local Fruit Growers' Associations were attended as far as possible, and short 

 addresses given on topics relating to diseases. The results of the experimental work 

 carried on will be published in the form of a bulletin. A bulletin on fruit diseases 

 and their control as far as they have been investigated in the district up to the 

 pi'esent has been prepared, and will be published shortly. 



CiENKUAF. COXOITIO.NS IX 191-3^ 



The spring of 1913 began early and a gpod deal of spraying was begun by March 

 20. A succession of late frosts occurred during the blossoming seaison, however, and 

 some damage was done to the cherry crop, but the fertilization of the peaches had 

 already taken place, and the young fruit was sufficiently advanced to be unhurt by 

 these frosts. Among the shade trees which were putting forth foliage at this time, 

 there was a good deal of frost injury to the leaves. During July and August the 

 weather was very hot and dry and the strawberry and raspberry crops suffered con- 

 siderably from drought during the end of their season. Tin's period of dry weather 

 was relieved by rains which came in ample time to ensure the growth of tree fruits. 

 The fall and early winter were characterized by exceptionally warm weather and 

 there was no frost in the ground until January 15, 1914. Thereafter a sudden lower- 

 ing- of temperature tonk place, and a cold period, in conjunction with a similar but 

 more extended one in February, destroyed a very large proportion of the fruit buds 

 of the peach, besides giving rise to nunun'ous cases of winter injury of other sorts. 



l5ii>oi{TA\T Diseases in 191.3. 

 APPLJ':. 



Scab (Vrninria iiitrquaiis Aderh.) is the worst fungous disease met with on 

 this fruit. During the early part of the season conditions were not very favourable 

 for its development, and where trees were well cared for and properly sprayed, the 

 fruit was clean. Later on in the season, however, a few orchards developed scab in the 



16—55 Ottawa. 



