33 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 



4 GEORGE V., A'. 19,14 



The peach crop in Ontario was a medium to good one, but the prices obtained 

 were not as high as usual. In the Okanagan district of British Columbia, where 

 most of the peaches of that province are produced, the crop of fruit was good, but 

 the prices obtained were low. 



The grape, which is one of the most reliable fruits, gave a good average crop in 

 I \ i tario, where it is mainly grown. 



Owing to the cool season almost everywhere in Canada, the tenderer kinds of 

 vegetables, such as tomatoes, melons, squash, etc., did not ripen as well as usual, but 

 those vegetables, the foliage, roots or tubers of which are used, did well. 



The potato crop was a particularly good one, nearly everywhere in Canada where 

 it is grown; but, unfortunately, as is often the case when the yield is large, the price 

 obtained was small. 



At the Central Experimental Farm the crop of apples was medium to good and 

 very free from scab and Codling Moth. There were a few European plums and a 

 good crop of the American varieties. The cherry crop was almost a total failure, as 

 usual, the flower buds being nearly always injured by winter. 



The grape crop was below medium, and the fruit did not ripen as thoroughly as 

 in some years. 



The crop of currants, gooseberries, and raspberries was light to medium, and the 

 crop of strawberries good. 



The potato crop was very good; tomatoes, below medium and melons light. Most 

 of the other vegetables did well. 



DIVISION AND UTILIZATION OF LAND. 



The area of land in the Horticultural Division at the Central Experimental Farm 

 is 99 acres, divided as follows: — 



Fruits and vegetables 46 acres. 



Forest belts 21 " 



Ornamental grounds 30 " 



Nursery and rose garden 2 " 



Total 99 acres. 



On this area of land are grown a very large number of plants of tree fruits, small 

 fruits, vegetables, forest trees, and ornamental trees, shrubs and herbaceous plants 

 in more or less permanent plantations, and in nursery rows. The lawns are extensive, 

 and require much care to keep them in good condition. Owing to the large number 

 of experiments in progress, the work involved in giving the necessary attention to 

 them on this ninety-nine acres is very heavy, compared with what it would be on the 

 same area under commercial crops, wbere the labour could be reduced to a minimum. 



The Horticultural Division may at present be divided into five parts, or heads, 

 under which most of the work falls. These are as follows: — 



1. Pomology. 



2. Vegetable Gardening. 



3. Ornamental Gardening. 



4. Plant Breeding. 



5. Correspondence and Office Work. 



In addition to tl :..~:.e, or rather included in them, is the work in connection with 

 the branch Farms; the forest belts planted both for ornamental purposes and to test 

 the rate of tree growth; meetings attended, publications and visits to other horticul- 

 tural districts for the purpose of studying conditions in different parts of Canada. 



