DITISIOX OF HORTICULTURE 281 



SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 



of horticultural plants is, in brief, the field of work which is covered in plant breeding 

 in the Horticultural Division. Up to comparatively recent years, Canada has had 

 to depend almost entirely on other countries for her new varieties of fruits, vegetables, 

 and ornamental plants, and while many of these succeed admirably in this country, 

 it is felt that, if originated in a climate more, nearly like where they are to be grown 

 than has been the case in many instances in the past, those that show especial merit 

 are likely to prove more useful than those introduced from climates very dissimilar. 

 During the past twenty-five years, much attention has been paid to the breeding of 

 horticultural plants at the Central Experimental Farm. Many varieties 

 of hardy hybrid apples, crosses between the Siberian crab (Pyrus baccata) 

 and the apple originated by Dr. Wm. Saunders, have already been intro- 

 duced into the prairie provinces and have proven hardier than any previously 

 tested there. Second crosses made by Dr. Saunders with more blood of the larger 

 apples and having fruit of good marketable size were propagated in 1912 for intro- 

 duction. Many varieties of apples of handsome appearance and good quality have 

 originated in the Horticultural Division and the best of these have been sent out 

 for test to different parts of Canada to compare with those already in the market. 

 More than two hundred of these new sorts have been propagated, and eighty-two of 

 the best, named. 



A large number of seedling strawberries has been raised in the Horticultural 

 Division, and some of the best are being propagated for introduction. Special atten- 

 tion is being paid to the development of early strains of vegetables which will be of 

 great value in the colder districts of Canada as well as in the more temperate parts. 

 Good progress was made in this work in 1912, and provision has been made for greater 

 efforts in plant breeding in the future. 



New varieties of black currants and raspberries of much merit, which were also 

 originated by Dr. Saunders, have been introduced. 



CORRESPONDENCE AND OFFICE WQRK. 



The correspondence and other office work of the Horticultural Division grows 

 each year, and in 1912 the number of letters received and despatched was greater than 

 ever before, the number of letters received being 5,820 and the number despatched 

 6,330. Of these, a large proportion required technical information, and it is believed 

 that, through correspondence, much aid is being rendered to those interested in horti- 

 culture in Canada. People who ask for information by letter are those who are most 

 likely to put into practice the advice given. As this correspondence comes from all 

 parts of Canada it is necessary to become familiar with the conditions from north to 

 south and from east to west throughout the Dominion. 



The card index system installed last year in the Horticultural Division for the 

 purpose of filing the records of the Central Farm and branch Farms and Stations' 

 has also entailed a large amount of work, but is proving a very satisfactory means of 

 getting at the records, as it enables one rapidly to find what is desired. The books 

 were sent from the branch Farms to Ottawa at the close of the growing season of 1912 

 and the records which it was desired to put on the cards were transferred. 



BRANCH FARMS. 



The work of the Horticultural Division in relation to the branch Farms and 

 Stations has grown rapidly. It is its aim to aid the Superintendents in as many ways 

 as possible and to help them develop the horticultural work on the Farms of which 

 they have charge, and also to help to so systematize the work that the results will bo 

 made of the greatest value to the people of Canada. During the past year much has 



