REPORT OF THE FOREMAN OF FORESTRY. 



(W. T. Macoun.) 



Dr. Wm. Saunders, 



Director Dominion Experimental Farms, 

 Ottawa. 



Sir, — I beg to submit, herewith, my fourth annual report as Foreman of Forestry 

 in which will be found information relating to the forest belts at the Central Experi 

 mental Farm ; the arboretum and progress of the work there ; the planting of orna 

 mental trees and shrubs with a list of one hundred of the hardiest and most ornamental 

 species and varieties ; information relating to the growing of perennials, with a list of 

 one hundred of the best species and varieties ; hints on hedge planting with a Ust of the 

 hedges growing at the farm ; and notes on the condition of, and work in connection 

 with, the ornamental grounds. 



I have the honour to be, sir, 



Your obedient servant, 



W. T. MACOUN. 



It is not often that two such trying winters as the past have been, follow one 

 another so closely. Both were characterized by lack of snow, very severe frosts, with 

 intervals of mild weather, and generally unfavourable conditions for the wintering of 

 trees, shrubs, and plants. It was feared that many losses would be discovered in the 

 spring of 1897, especially when it was remembered what a rigorous winter the trees and 

 shrubs had experienced, but, when growth commenced, it was found that the proportion 

 of deaths was little above the average, and in many cases, partly lender species were 

 not killed back so much as in former years. The early part of April was mild, but 

 during the third week of that month the weather became quite cold, the temperature 

 falling on the 19th and 20th to seventeen and nineteen degrees below freezing, which 

 checked the swelling buds for a time. Very cool weather, with frost at nights during 

 the third week of May, no doubt injured the buds on some of the earlier flowering 

 shrubs which did not make as fine a show as in some seasons. The summer was dry 

 and the trees and shrubs did not all have that robust appearance, nor make as vigorous 

 a growth, as in other years. The last week of July, however, was very wet, the 

 almost continuous downpour of warm rain causing many of the trees to make a second 

 growth. September and October were two of the driest months recorded in Ottawa for 

 many years. The drought coming at a time when growth had ceased, no apparent 

 harm was done the trees and shrubs, and it is hoped that the wood of tender sorts, having 

 had such favourable conditions for ripening, will be enabled to withstand the winter 

 better. 



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