.338 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS. 



CHERRIES. 



With regard to the above fruit some attention has been given of late to the 

 Improvement of one of the native cherries, known as the Sand Clierry, Primus pumila. 

 Three varieties of wild cherries grow here, the pin cherry (Prunus Penasylvanica), a 

 verry small red cherry, very acid but which makes a good jelly. The choke cherry 

 (P. Virginiana) somewhat larger but astringent and bitter. These latter do not appear to 

 var}' in character and hence much improvement by selection cannot be looked for. With 

 the Sand Cherry, however, the variation is remarkable, almost every bush showing some 

 distinct characteristics in size or quality from the small useless bitter sort scarcely 

 eatable to a large pleasant eating cherry with very little astringency or bitterness. 

 Several varieties of extra promise have been named and are being propagated as rapidly 

 as possible. 



In 1895 there were sent from the Central Experimental Farm 5 seedlings each of 

 the following cultivated varieties: Bessarabian, Olivet ; Montmorency, Carnation ; Red 

 Morella, and Wragg. These were planted under shelter of a thick hedge. 



The seedlings of the first three named have so far proved hardy and grow from the 

 tips each spring, seedlings of Carnation freeze back slightly each year and those from 

 Wragg and Red Morella winter kill to near the ground. 



I 



RASPBERRIES. 



The past season has more than ever shown the desirability of protecting raspberries 

 during winter. Those lifted from their winter covering on 5th May were in splendid 

 condition alive to the tips while a block of bushes which was purposely left unprotected 

 \^as killed back to half the length of the canes. 



The yield of fruit this year did not reach the average. All the varieties set a fair 

 quantity and a large yield was expected, but prolonged dry weather in July followed as 

 it invariably is by red spider greatly lessened the yield, but in the latter p%rt of the 

 season copious showers exterminated the red spider and revived the plants, so that a 

 fair amount of late fruit was gathered. The new canes also made a vigorous growth 

 and have been laid down this winter in fine condition. 



Following is a list of new varieties which have become established, but have not 

 yet fruited : — 



Miller, Palmer, Kenyons Seedling, 



London, Kansas, Gregg. 



Parnell, Niagara, Heeimer. 



Garfield. 



Two varieties of blackberries, Agawam and Snyder, also are thus far promising 

 as to hardiness. 



' CURRANTS. 



This season currants of all kinds were more or less adversely affected by protracted 

 «pring frosts and dry weather, but notwithstanding this a very fair crop was harvested, 

 and much valuable data was gathered respecting the frost and drought resisting capa- 

 bilities of the many varieties undergoing test. 



With the varieties of black currants previously reported on the Climax one of the 

 new seedlings from the Central Farm and the Prince of Wales gave the best results. 

 The Lee's Prolific and Black Champion (the standard varieties hitherto) are hard to 



