report of mr. s. a. bedford 435 



Sessional paper no. 16 



SAND CHERRIES. 



There was a very fair crop of Sand Cherries harvested during the past season, 

 which would have been exceptionally heavy had not the frost of June Gth seriously 

 injured them. 



Brandon, No. 6. — Eipe August 4 ; medium size ; dark red in colour, slightly as- 

 tringent ; very prolific ; thin skin ; firm flesh ; fairly sweet. 



Seven trees of ' Rupert ' Cherry and one tree of ' Compass ' Cherry, crosses be- 

 tween the Sand cherry and plum, were received from the Central Experimental Farm 

 during the past season. All made excellent growth, which ripened well and went into 

 winter quarters in good condition. 



RASPBERRIES. 



Owing to the unfavourable season of 1900, very little growth was made in rasp- 

 berries, consequently the crop of 1901 was extremely light. The past year's growth, 

 however, has been very vigorous and gives promise of a satisfactory crop next season. 

 On the approach of winter, the canes were laid down and the tips covered with soil, in 

 order to afford as much protection as possible. 



CHERRIES. 



A small quantity of seed of three varieties of cherries were received from Russia in 

 the fall of 1900. 



These were stratified for the winter and sown on April 25, 1901. The germina- 

 tion was good and a number of plants of each variety made excellent growth, and have 

 gone into winter quarters in fine condition. 



CURRANTS. 



The currant crop of 1901 was only a very medium one. Although there was a good 

 display of bloom, the setting was considerably interfered with by spring frosts, and 

 only a comparatively small crop of fruit was harvested. Exceptionally fine growth, 

 however, was made during the season, and hopes are entertained of better results in 

 1902. 



Following will be found a few notes on the different varieties under cultivation 

 here, which have fruited during the past season. 



RED VARIETIES. 



Bed Grape. — A robust grower ; flavour fairly sweet ; size medium to large ; 

 length of spike, If inches ; ripens evenly. 



Baby Castle. — A robust grower ; fairly sweet ; size medium to large ; length of 

 spike, 11 inches ; ripens evenly. 



Pomona. — A fairly vigorous grower ; size medium to large ; length of spike, 2 

 inches ; flavour sweet ; an even ripener. 



Wilder. — Produced only a very few berries ; trees small. 



North Star. — A robust grower ; size small to medium ; flavour fairly sweet ; 

 length of spike, 2 inches ; even ripener. 



Bed Cherry. — Of weak growth ; a large berry ; sub-acid ; length of spike, 1| 

 inches ; not productive. 



Versailles. — A fairly vigorous grower ; size small to medium ; length of spike, 

 1\ inches ; not fruitful ; very sweet. 



16— 28J 



