432 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 



1-2 EDWARD VII, A. 1902 

 PLUMS. 



Although the plum crop was not a heavy one on the farm this season, it was in 

 many respects very satisfactory. The trees were covered with blossom in the spring, 

 and an exceptionally heavy crop of fruit set, the greater portion of which, however, was 

 destroyed by the frost on the evening of June 6. Fortunately, not many of the trees 

 were entirely stripped. In many instances, they were closely planted and sheltered each 

 other, and enough fruit escaped the frost to enable us to obtain information in 

 regard to the comparative merits of the various varieties. This partial immunity was 

 particularly opportune by reason of the fact that a large block, containing some hun- 

 dreds of seedlings, had come into bearing for the first time this season, thus enabling 

 us to obtain an amount of data which might have otherwise been considerably delayed. 



This large plantation of seedlings was sent from the Central Experimental Farm, 

 in the spring of 1897, where they had been grown from the seed of fruit ripened at 

 Ottawa. As mentioned in my report for 1897, they consisted of seedlings of Cheney, 

 Hungarian, Yosemite Yellow, Yoronesh, Ida, Boliingston, "Weaver, De Soto, Yan Buren, 

 Wolf, Yosemite Purple, Speer and Americana. 



Some of the plums described in the following pages were from a consignment sent 

 from Ottawa in the spring of 1893. These were seedlings of Weaver, De Soto and 

 Cheney, grown from plums which had ripened at the Central Experimental Farm. In 

 the spring of 1897, some of the trees from this earlier consignment of seedlings blos- 

 somed for the first time, but owing to a late spring frost, the fruit did not form. 



My report for 1898 shows that during that season 11 Weaver seedlings, 1 Cheney 

 seedling and 2 De Soto seedlings fruited, but although frost came later than the aver- 

 age season, the fruit was frozen before fully ripe. Twenty of the same lot of seedlings 

 bore fruit in 1899, when the same unfortunate experience occurred. In 1900 they 

 again blossomed well and set fruit freely, but the crop was destroyed by a late spring 

 frost. 



The success this year has been most encouraging, but while hopeful for the future 

 of the plum crop in Manitoba, especially from early ripening sorts, it must be borne 

 in mind that there has been no frost in August this year, which is unusual. 



The plums which have ripened on the Brandon Experimental Farm this year have 

 been much superior, both in size and flavour, to the fruit produced on trees of the type 

 Prunus nigra, which is the wild plum of Manitoba. 



The varieties mentioned as Frankland's seedlings were procured from Mr. Thos. 

 Frankland, of Stonewall, Manitoba. 



If these plums continue to fruit well and prove hardy, it is intended to propagate 

 the best of them for further distribution and test. 



Following will be found comparative notes on the best varieties which ripened. 



Weaver Seedling Xo. 1. — Bipe September 10 ; colour deep red ; depth l£ inches ; 

 nearly round ; thin skin ; flavour very good. 



Weaver Seedling Xo. 4- — Bipe September 16 ; colour greenish yellow, splashed 

 and dotted with red ; depth If inches ; slightly elongated ; thin skin ; flavour very 

 fine — one of the best. 



Weaver Seedling Xo. 5. — Bipe September 20 ; colour deep yellow, dotted with 

 red ; depth 1 inch ; round ; skin fairly thin ; flavour good. 



'Weaver Seedling Xo. 6. — Bipe September 16 ; colour deep red ; depth lj inches ; 

 round ; fairly thin skin ; flavour good. 



Cheney Seedling Xo. 8. — Bipe September 12 ; colour bright yellow, splashed with 

 red ; depth 1^ inches ; slightly elongated and flattened ; thin skin ; flavour flue. 



Weaver Seedling Xo. 9. — Bipe September 10 ; colour bright yellow, splashed with 

 red ; depth 1\ inches ; slightly elongated and flattened ; thin skin ; flavour excellent. 



Weaver Seedling Xo. 11. — Bipe September 12 ; colour bright yellow, splashed 

 with red ; depth l£ inches ; slightly elongated ; thick skin ; flavour good. 



