102 



EXPERIMENTAL FARMS. 



The tight package preserved the fruit best in store-room, but not in cellar ; per 

 contra the ventilated did better in cellar than in storeroom. 



Walbridge. 

 Salome. 

 Rawles Janet. 

 Nodhead. 



GOOD KEEPERS. 



Ist. Class. To April or later. 



Lawver. Scott's Winter. 



Sharp's Russet. Ben Davis. 



Hartshorn Thompson's 35. 

 Swayzie Pomme Grise. 



2nd. Class. To March. 



"Watterson No. 3. 



Ontario. 



Flushing Spitzenberg. 



Golden Stone. 

 Pewaukee. 

 Plumb's Cider. 



3rd Class. To February. 



ADDITIONAL NOTES ON COVER CROPS. 



This subject ■was discussed somewhat exhaustively in the report for 1896. 

 points of interest have presented themselves since that. 



Several 



CLOVERS INJURED BT WINTER OP 1896-97. 



The destruction of the clover crop by the severe weather of January, 1896, (without 

 snow) was general throughout the Ottawa valley. Mammoth Red and Common Ef^d 

 were completely killed out in the Farm orchards. Alfalfa {lucerne) fared a little better, 

 a small percentage of the plants showing vitality in the spring of 1897. It was noted 

 that whenever the plots of Mammoth Red and Alfalfa over-lapped in the orchard that 

 both varieties came through the winter better than when growing separately. Acting 

 upon this hint, plots containing equal quantities of Alfalfa and Mammoth Red were sown 

 last autumm. 6 pounds of each clover were used per acre and sown August 1st. The seed 

 germinated uniformly and the plants made a strong growth which continued till the 

 arrival of frosty nights. At this time the average height of the Alfalfa was 16 inches, 

 and the Mammoth Red 10 inches. The one formed an appropriate complement to the 

 other — the spreading stools of the Mammoth Red covering the ground with a thick 

 mat beneath the more slender and taller growing Alfalfa, 



Sowing the Seed. — It is wise for orchard cover purposes to use not less than 25 

 pounds of seed per acre. 



The soil should be in an excellent condition as regards tilth — entirely free of 

 weeds and lumps or clods of earth. The best time to sow the seed at Ottawa is 

 between July 25 and August 5. At this time purslane or " pursley " (Portulaca 

 oleracea) is the most troublesome orchard weed. If it has obtained a foothold, the best 

 thing to do is to turn it under with a gang plough. Surface cultivation will not 

 exterminate it but merely check its growth, and that only during dry weather. The 

 clover seed may be sown satisfactorily with a hand broadcasting fieade-r. If the soil is 



