550 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 



1-2 EDWARD VII., A. 1902 



orchards on the valley level. On the mountain, at about 600 feet elevation, a few Ams- 

 den and Foster trees had a light crop. 



ALMONDS. 



The Hard-shell Almonds bloomed but bore no fruit, and none of the soft-shell 

 varieties have ever had any fruit, while the trees are large and thrifty and old enough 

 to have borne several crops. As these seem to be useless in this climate, it is scarcely 

 worth while continuing their cultivation. 



QUINCES. 



Constantinople. — Tree a free grower. Fruit medium size, pear-shape ; skin 

 smooth clear orange. 



MEDLARS. 



All the medlars produced a crop, blooming as they do very late in May, they are 

 pretty sure of mild weather, and always produce a crop. 



GRAPES. 



The grape vines made a vigorous growth, but were very late in starting and also 

 very late in blooming, averaging 21 days later than previous years. The fruit in most 

 instances failed to set and even the earliest sorts were not nearly ripe by October 1. 



SMALL FRUITS. 



There was a fairly good crop of small fruits this year. The blossoms were some- 

 what injured by the cold rains, and the frequent rain in June made the strawberries 

 soft, and much of the crop was unfit for any but a local market. The rain also in- 

 jured the currants, but the raspberries, black caps and black berries had fine weatlver 

 for ripening and were of very good quality. 



