REPORT OF MR. S. A. BEDFORD. 



3S9 



beat for a favourable season, but they have not the frost and drought resisting powers of 

 some of the newer kinds, especially the two above mentioned. 



With the Red Currants, Red Grape gave the best results ; this variety and the 

 Raby Castle can be confidently recommended. They are vigorous growers and produce 

 large crops of fine flavoured fruit. 



With the White Currants the White Grape has not yet been superseded. 



The following varieties fruited here for the first time this season : — 



Variety. 



Ethel . . . . 

 Charmer . 



Perry 



Monarch . 

 Standard . 

 Climax. . . 



Eagle 



Ontario . . 

 Beauty, . . 

 Clipper. . 

 Winona .. 

 Sterling .. 

 Parker . . . 



Flavour. 



Good 



Acid . 

 Poor . . . 

 Very good 

 Good . 

 Excellent . 

 Woody . . 

 Sweet . . . . 

 Excellent . 



Sour 



Very good 

 Sweet . . . 

 Acid 



Colour. 



Black 



Size. 



Large 



Small.. .. 



n 



Large 



Medium.. 

 Large .... 

 SmaU 



ir ... 



Very large 

 Medium .. 

 Large .... 

 Small. .. 

 Medium . . 



Earliness. 



Late . ... 

 Early 

 Medium . . 



Late , 



Early 



Very early 

 Late . 

 Medium . . , 



Late 



Early 



Late 



Early 



Productive- 

 ness. 



Good ..... 

 Poor . ... 



Good! !!! 



II 



Very good 

 Poor . ... 



Fair 



Good 



Fair 



Good 



Fair 



Poor 



Growth. 



Vigorous. 

 Not thrifty. 

 Fairly healthy. 

 Vigorous. 

 Very vigorous. 

 Very healthy. 

 Fairly n 

 Healthy. 

 Vigorous. 



II 

 Very healthy. 

 Fairly n 

 Vigorous. 



GOOSEBERRIES. 



Six each of ten new varieties of gooseberries were received this spring. They 

 arrived in good condition and most of them have made fine healthy growth. They will 

 be reported on more fully when they have fruited here. 



The five Manitoba sand hill gooseberries mentioned on page 355 of last year's 

 report, have been increased largely by cuttings. Specimens will be planted in pema- 

 nent positions next season, we hope this may prove a valuable addition to the list of 

 Manitoba fruits. 



NOTES ON THE ARBORETUM. 



This plantation of trees and shrubs improves in appearence every year and each 

 season some objects of beauty are added. 



The whole of the Arboretum was sown with grass seed in the fall of 1896, and has 

 this year formed a fairly good sod ; this adds greatly to the beauty of the appearance 

 of the plantation. Circles sufiiciently large to allow of root developement have been cut 

 in the grass around each specimen, and the surface soil is kept cultivated and free from 

 weeds so as to give favourable conditions for further growth and developement. 



There is now in this plantation a succession of bloom during the growing season 

 which makes this part of the farm most interesting and attractive. 



Following are notes taken of some of the ornamental shrubs in this block in con- 

 tinuation of the list given on page 363 of last year's report. 



Buffalo Berry (Sheperdia argentea). — A native shrub, useful as well as ornamental. 

 The flowers are inconspicuous and the shrubs disecious, that is, the male flowers are 

 produced on one specimen and the female flowers on another. The pistillate trees bear a 

 8a— 22^ 



