24 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 



6 GEORGE V, A. 1916 



throughout the Donuuion. This important work, which is steadily on the increase, 

 calls for a large .amount of skilful and careful analytical work, necessitating in many 

 cases the devising of special methods which can only be determined upon after con- 

 siderable time spent in research. 



HORTICULTUKAL DIVISION. 



The experimental Farms and Stations, situated as they are in many parts of 

 'Canada where both the summer and winter climates vary in a marked degree, give 

 abundant opportunities for finding out what are the best horticultural crops and 

 varieties to grow in Canada and how best to grow t^em.. 



' WORK AT THE BRANCH FARMS ANT) STATIONS. 



The Experimental Station at Sidney, Vancouver Island, B.C., one of the newer 

 Stations, received considerable attention from the Horticultural Division in 1914, 

 During that year there was no superintendent and, in order not to lose any time, 

 plans were made at Ottawa for the plantations there, and material was ordered. As 

 a result, some 15 acres of fruits were set out. Among the fruits being tried are 

 apples, peaches, pears, plums, cherries, apricots, nectarines, quinces, persimmons, figs, 

 and citrus fruits. Of nut trees, there are English walnuts, chestnuts, filberts, and 

 almonds, and there will be others later on. Plantations of holly and cascara were also 

 se't out. Provision was made in the plans for a test of many species of ornamental 

 trees, shrubs, and herbaceous plants, a large number of which were set out in 1911. 



At the Experimental Station, Fredericton, N.B., another of the newer Stations, 

 11 acres of orchard were set out, consisting mainly of trees of apples, pears, plums, 

 and cherries. These orchards are arranged both for cultural experiments and the 

 testing of varieties. An addition of 3i acres was made to the orchards at the Experi- 

 mental Station at Ste. Anne de la Pocatiere, Que., where a good start had been made ' 

 the year tefore. At the new Station at Lennoxville, Que., the land was prepared for 

 an orchard to be planted in 1915. A nursery was established to make provision for 

 trees needed on the ornamental groimds when the land is ready. 



At the older Farms and Stations there was considerable development in the horti- 

 cultural work. Perhaps one of the most interesting experiments on the prairie Farms 

 at present is the testing of many thousand feeedling trees raised from the hardiest of 

 the Russian apples. It is hoped to obtain from this large number some varieties of 

 good si2:e which will be hardy and better in quality than any of those available at 

 present. There was a marked diiference in the hardiness of individual specimens in 

 1914. The cross-bred apples originated by the late Dr. Wm. Saunders, though small 

 in size, eontinu-e to show superior hardiness to any of the large varieties of apples. 

 These have now fruited at all the prairie Farms. So far, the best crops of true apples 

 have been obtained at the' Experimental Station, Lethbridge, Alta., where a number 

 of varieties bore in 1914 as in 1013 also. 



HORTICULTURE AT THE CENTRAL FARM. 



The new greenhouses recently erected for the Horticultural Division have proved 

 very satisfactory, and a number of interestirtg experiments have already been tried 

 there. The growing of greenhouse grapes in large pots is practically unknown in 

 Canada and, to show what might be done, these were given a trial and good rc.-ults 

 wore obtained. Black Hamburgh and Foster Seedling were two of the best varieties. 

 I>y growing grapes in pots, persons with small greenhouses need not devote a part 

 permanently to grapes, but may put the pots outside when the fruiting season is over 

 ?.nd afterwards store the vines in a cellar. Tomatoes grown in ISineh pots also gave 

 g:ol results. There was an excellent show of tlie best chrysanthemums in November. 

 Plant-breeding work was carried on under glass. Crops of melons, cucumbers, cauli- 

 flowers, beans, and lettuce were also raised. 



