REPORT OF THE HORTICULTURIST. 121 



The following varieties of Russian apples were used in making up the packages 

 of fruits, in addition to plants of the leading varieties of currants: — ~ 



Antonovka, Karabovka, 



Aport, 252, Ledenetz, 



Arkad, Yor., Orel, No. 6, 



Anisovka, Orel, 27, 



Borov'nka, , Rosy Voronesh, 



Blushed Calville, . Repka Aport, 



Cross, Yor., Red Streak,' 



Cinnamon, Yor., Simbirsk, No. 1, 



Cinnamon Pine, Simbirsk, No. 2, 



Gipsy Girl, Simbirsk, No. 3, 



Golden Reinette, Simbirsk, No. 5, 



Knievskoe, Yargul. 

 Kruder, 



EXPERIMENTS WITH TOBACCO. 



Some preliminary experiments were undertaken in the cultivation of tobacco, 

 with a view of obtaining information with regard to the varieties best suited to the 

 climate of Eastern Ontario and the province of Quebec ; and the most approved 

 methods of handling the j'oung plants previous to setting out. 



Seed of thirty-one varieties was sown in a mild hotbed on April 24th, 1893, in 

 rows six inches apart. Germination took place very uniformly in ten days. On 

 May 30th, half the number of plants of each variety were transplanted, pricking 

 them out in a cold frame in rows eight inches apart and three inches apart in the 

 row. On June 6th they were transplanted to the field, which was a thoroughly 

 tilled piece of gravelly loam, that was cropped with beans the previous season, 

 ploughed in the autumn and dressed in the spring with barn-yard manure at the rate 

 of 50 tons per acre. 



The ground was cultivated sufficiently with a Planet Jr. horse cultivator to keep 

 down all weeds, and as long as the cultivator could pass between the rows without 

 injuring the plants, which were set three and a half feet apart each way. This 

 distance was found to be sufficient for the smaller and more upright varieties such as 

 " Canadian " and " Cannelle," but did not afford enough space for large leaved 

 vigorous kinds like "Conqueror" and "Pennsylvania Seed Leaf." 



A striking difference was noted in the relative rapidity of growth of plants, 

 which had been transplanted in hotbed, and those of the same variety set out from 

 the original seed bed. Those transplanted in hotbed were much stockier and 

 stronger, as might reasonably be expected, did not flag after setting in the field, and 

 lost no time in becoming established. 



As the following tabular statement shows, very few plants had to be replaced of 

 those which were transplanted in hotbed. On the other hand, those which had not 

 been transplanted in the hotbed were much slower in taking root and many more of 

 these had to be replaced, as indicated in the table. 



The difference in the two sets was quite plainly visible for the greater part of 

 the summer, in fact till "topping " had taken place. 



It should be stated also that in pricking out, the plants were taken in such a 

 manner as to thin regularly those remaining, in order to allow of even development 

 and prevent a spindling and weakly growth. 



Harvesting after the " single leaf method " described in general notes which 

 follow on the cultivation of tobacco took place Sept. 15th. 



The leaves were separated into two grades, according to soundness and size, and 

 the figures in the weight columns represent how much the leaves of each variety 

 weighed green, immediately after picking. The second column of weights represent 

 the amount which the same leaves weighed after drying previous to sorting and 

 tying in " hands." The estimated returns per acre show that tobacco, as far as 

 quantity is concerned, can be successfully grown in this and other localities having 

 like climates. 



