REPORT OF MR. JAMES MURRAY 



391 



SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 



Seed of several varieties saved in 1909 were planted for. comparison. Without 

 exception they produced good crops. Several varieties were grown in close proximity 

 in 1909 and they had cross fertilized to a considerable extent, as the specimens grown 

 this year were not true to type. 



CITRON. 



Three varieties of citron produced an excellent crop, 

 hills about June 1. 



The seed was planted in 



MELONS. 



Several varieties of both watermelons and musk melons were grown outside and 

 ripened fruit of fair size and excellent quality. 



TOMATOES. 



The past season proved quite favourable to the tomato crop and a large proportion 

 of the fruit ripened. The plants were somewhat injured in June by the extremely 

 high winds and this undoubtedly made the crop somewhat later than it would other- 

 wise have been. 



Three strains of Earliana were grown; one to commercial seed, another a selected 

 strain from the Central Experimental Farm and a third was from seed produced here 

 of the Central Experimental Farm's strain. The difference in these strains was very 

 marked. The strain of home grown seed ripened fruit a full week ahead of the com- 

 mercial strain and five days earlier than the C. E. F strain. In saving tomato seed 

 the aim should be to get it from early maturing specimens of good conformation. 



Such excellent results have followed the practice of growing and staking the 

 tomato plants that this method of growing was again followed. The plants are 

 pruned from one main stalk, very few of the laterals being allowed to grow. Stakes 

 two inches square and four feet long are required for staking. 



