76 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 



1-2 EDWARD VII., A. 1902 



be observed. For a week after I began the park plantation it was wet and foggy every 

 day, and on the 2nd of June we had a wreck. The Stella Maris, of Granville, France, 

 on the N.E. bar, our life boat went out but before we could reach the vessel the crew 

 had abandoned the wreck and taken their own boats in which they came ashore. This 

 was a temporary set back to the planting, but I employed three of the crew to help us, 

 or I should not have finished the planting so soon. I am glad to have got them all in 

 before the dry weather of July. I think it has been a favourable time, as we have had 

 frequent and some heavy rains. Tree growing grows on one, and I hope that in the 

 near future Gourdeau Park will be one of our show places. You can understand what 

 interest I took in it when I ploughed over ten pounds of superfluous flesh off, and had 

 a crick in the back several nights.' 



SECOND REPORT. 



The next letter was written on July 29, 1901, but in the interval Col. W. P. Ander- 

 son, Chief Engineer and General Supt. of Lighthouses, paid a visit to the island and 

 took notes on the condition of the trees, and on his return to Ottawa kindly gave me 

 an account of what he had seen and reported very favourably as to the general condi- 

 tion of the plantations. In Mr. Boutellier's letters, he says : ' Nearly a month has 

 elapsed since Col. Anderson's visit, and yesterday I visited the plantations. I cannot 

 give you close detail as to the many varieties, but can give you a general idea of the 

 whole lot, and those that call for special mention. All the pines are growing, except- 

 ing a few. The white pine P. strobus can't stand the wind, but when sheltered grows 

 freely. While the birches have leaved, they are feeble. Common juniper is a failure; 

 Virginian juniper good. Maples, willows are growing and seem to do as well in the 

 large plantations as in the nursery in the garden inclosure. Arbor vitae good. To 

 generalize, I think the plantation at Gourdeau Park looks as well as the most practical 

 enthusiast could expect. The small plantations at the other stations are doing about 

 the same. 



' The 50 lbs. of seed of maritime pine planted is up as thick as it can stand, and 

 looks very fine and strong; they are standing the last few weeks well, which have been 

 warm and dry. A few of the Manitoba maples are also up about two inches above the 

 ground. 



' In the garden plot there are some disappointments among the small lots. All the 

 Bpecimens of the following have died: Betula alba laciniata, four lots of honeysuckle, 

 Spiraea, Anthony Waterer ; Lilac Michael Buchner ; Retinospora filifera, Cornus sibir- 

 ica variegata, Halesia tetraptera, Juniperus communis and Cuthbert raspberry ; of 

 Borne others a portion have died, but samples of each are left. 



' The following are doing well and making good growth : Beach plum, Pyrus 

 prunifolia, many of the currants and gooseberries, Golden Queen raspberry, blackber- 

 ries, strawberries, roses, Siberian crab, Acer platanoides, Ampelopsis quinquefolia, 

 Berberis purpurea, Deutzia crenata, Bignonia grandiflora, Retinospora plumosa, 

 Hovey's arbor-vitae, Columbian arbor-vitae, also Elwangeriana and Globosa, Amur 

 privet, Euonymus Japonica and Lycium Europeum. Of this I feel quite satisfied 

 that if only one variety grows and succeeds nearly all the others may be grown under 

 the shade or protection of that one. Shelter seems to be the desideratum. One dress- 

 ing of the mixed fertilizers has been given, but it is too soon to expect results.' 



THIRD LETTER. 



The last communication was written on November 5. The Superintendent says : 

 ' With regard to the condition of the trees the latter part of the summer was very dry, 

 bo much so that our vegetables are less than a half crop, so that you can see it must 

 have been trying for the trees. 



