REPORT OF ME. THOS. A. SHARPE 029 



SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 



In the experimental orchard, a number of the trees died, owing, I think, to the 

 very wet condition of the land in the previous winter, when the ground froze. The 

 trees that lived blossomed, but nearly all the bloom fell off. Many of the trees that 

 lived were in an enfeebled condition and made but little growth. 



PEACHES AND APEICOTS. 



The few trees left of these bore no fruit, although a few of the peach trees blos- 

 somed. 



MEDLARS. 



No vicissitude of climate affects the trees of this fruit and they bore a full crop 

 as usual. 



ORCHARD No. 4. 



No additions have been made to this orchard this year. One tree died and two 

 others had to be cut back on account of the tops dying, but these have recovered and 

 all have made strong growth. Some varieties promise to produce fruit this coming 

 summer. 



As nearly all of these varieties were planted in the first orchard in the spring of 

 1890, when the land had just been cleared, it may be that some of them will do better 

 on old land and may be considered worthy of a trial in the commercial orchard. 



CHERRIES. 



The sweet cherries bore no fruit this year, and the crop of sour cherries was very 

 small. Several of the trees have died since leaiing-out in spring. 



MULBERRIES. 



The mulberry trees bore a small crop of fruit, which the birds appreciated. 



MOUNTAIN ORCHARDS. 



Owing to scarcity of labour, very little attention has been given these orchards for 

 a number of years. A forest fire ran over the highest one last spring and a large num- 

 ber of the trees were destroyed. Those left, as well as those in the orchards lower down 

 the mountain, fruited again this year, but as in former years, the fruit was eaten by 

 bears. * 



The soil on the benches is a very fine loam, suitable for, fruit trees, and, owing to 

 free circulation of air, the fruit grown on these hillsides is finer than that of the same 

 varieties in the bottom lands. 



SMALL ERUITS. 



CURRANTS. 



The currant crop was very light and the quality poor, as the berries were small. 

 The frosts in spring, when the bushes were coming out in blossom and leaf, were 

 severe, and the fruit did not set well or grow freely. Many of the bushes lost their 

 foliage in summer. 



BLACKBERRIES. 



The only blackberry bushes which survived the severe winter of 1908-9, were the 

 Eldorado, Snyder, Stone's Hardy and Maxwell. These bore a fair crop of firm berries 

 and look promising for the coming summer. 



16—34 



