DIVISION OF HORTICULTURE 301 



SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 



Radishes. — EarJy: Scarlet White-tipped Turnip, Rosy Gem, French Breakfast, 

 Red Rocket (red), Icicle (white). Late: White Strasburg, Long White Vienna. 

 Winter : Long Black Spanish, Chinese Rose-coloured, New White Chinese or Celestial. 



Rhubarb. — Linnaeus, Victoria. 



Salsify. — Long White, Sandwich Islands. 



Spinach. — Victoria, Thickleaved. 



Squash. — White Bush Scalloped, Long White Bush,, Summer Crook Neck. Late : 

 Delicious, Hubbard. 



Tomatoes. — Early : Sparks' Earliana, Chalk's Early Jewel, Bonny Best, Dominion 

 Day (scarlet). Medium: Matchless, Trophy (scarlet), Livingston's Globe, Plentiful 

 (purplish pink). 



Turnips. — Early: Extra Early Milan, Red Top Strap Leaf. 



Swedes. — Champion Purple Top, Skirting's Improved. 



TOMATOES UNDER GLASS. 



In the annual report for 1912, the results of a variety test of tomatoes in a small 



greenhouse at the Central Experimental Farm were recorded. During the past 



year, eighteen varieties and strains were again tested in the same house. This house 



is used for ornamental plants as well, and only part of the space was available for 



the tomato plants. The plants were set fifteen inches apart in a single row on the 



benches on each side of a central walk, sufficiently far back so that a row of begonias 



could be grown in front of them. As they grew, the plants were tied to wires and 



kept pruned to single stems. Eour plants of each variety were used, two plants of 



each variety being on each side of the walk opposite each other. The seed was sown 



on June 12, 1912, germinated on June 18, the young plants were pricked out in a 



cold frame on June 24 and planted in the greenhouse on July 24. The plants made 



rapid growth and the first ripe fruit was picked on September 16 from Sparks 



Earliana No. 10 strain. Early in the season, the plants produced large clusters of 



flowers, the fruit set well and there were prospects of a good crop, but, during the 



months of August and September, there was much rain and dull weather, there being 



99-9 hours less sunshine than the average during August, and 108-0 hours less than 



the average during September. As a result there was a poor setting of fruit during 



September. By the end of that month, the plants had reached the top of the house 



and, as there was practically no fruit on them except near the bottom, it was decided, 



as an experiment, to head them back to within three feet of the soil. This was done 



on September 28. Most of the plants, though checked severely, recovered from the 



effects of the heading-back and made medium growth again. On the new growth 



some moderately good fruit set, but the results obtained from such severe checking 



of the plants were not such as to warrant recommending it, as the different varieties 



did not recover equally well from the heading-back. The yields obtained in 1912-13 



are not reliable, but, as indicating the varieties which are likely to give the largest 



yields in an unfavourable season, and under such treatment, the following record is 



given of the six most productive sorts, the varieties tested being Winter Beauty, 



Industry O.A.C. Selected 1910, Industry O.A.C. Selected 1910-11, Improved 



Express, Sutton's Satisfaction, Sparks Earliana No. 10, Bonny Best, Sparks Earliana 



(C.E.F %2) Chalk's Early Jewel, Dobbie's Champion, Dominion Day, Wealthy, 



Sutton's Al, XXX Earliest Scarlet, Cbx's Earliest, Greater Baltimore, Livingston's 



Globe. 



