690 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 



7 GEORGE V, A. 1917 



It will be noted in the above table that Stratagem, the latest maturing variety 

 of those mentioned,, shows a considerable increase in crop over that of either of the 

 two preceding seasons. It is interesting to note that during the extremely wet weather 

 experienced last simamer, the injury to the pea crops was more particularly done 

 to those varieties that were nearing maturity at that time. The Stratagem was com- 

 paratively uninjured. It, therefore, seems reasonable to suppose that the lighter yields 

 of the other varieties during 1915, as compared to 1914 were, in no small measure, due 

 to climatic conditions. 



BE'ANS. 



A certain amount of selection has been done in seasons past with beans, but the 

 crop proved a total failure, owing to Bean Anthracnose (Colletotrichum lindenmuthia- 

 num). The setback has emphasized the importance of the fact that the most urgent 

 work with beans, now needing attention, must be that of developing rust-proof 

 varieties. With this object in view, a number of individual plants were chosen from 

 varieties that showed a decided ability to withstand the ravages of this disease. 



There is a large field ot work requiring urgent attention; such crops as potatoes, 

 onion, and cabbage offer many possibilities of improvement. Perhaps the most 

 important of these mentioned is potatoes, but little can be done in this line of work 

 at Ottawa, as it has been found by past experience that the climate, or length of 

 season, is not suitable to the continued growing of any strain of potato from its own 

 seed; such a policy has shown that varieties, in this district, lose vitality and vigour 

 and become particularly susceptible to the diseases most commonly found attacking 

 the potato. 



FLORICULTUEE. 



Aquilegia. — In the spring of 1915, further selections were made of the best types - 

 of Aquilegia with a view of securing those of perennial rather than biennial habit. 

 A number of crosses were made by hand of the most desirable types, and when the 

 seed matured some six weeks later it was immediately sown, and a good germination 

 of young plants was secured. The Aquilegia, as has been pointed out before, is so 

 eminently suitable for a national flower that efforts are being made to popularize it. 

 It is perennial in habit, and vigorous in growth under a great variety of conditions. 

 There are several native species or sub-species and it is certainly one of the most 

 beautiful spring and early summer flowers that are to be found in garden or wood- 

 land, the flowers being graceful in form and ranging in shades from deep rose-red 

 through shades of orange and pink to a deep violet blue. The only colour not yet 

 secured amongst the new strains is that of a bright crimson, but there is, perhaps, 

 no plant that can be grown so easily and, at the same time will respond so readily 

 to careful treatment. 



Considerable work has been done with Aquilegia under glass. A number of the 

 most promising ^seedlings have been grown in pots during the latter part of the sum- 

 mer of 1915. These were saved for forcing under glass and have produced during the 

 month of March a very satisfactory display of flowers, amongst which have been 

 isolated some notably beautiful plants of the " stellata " type. Further crosses have 

 been made with this type with the hope of securing shades of colour amongst them 

 that have not so far appeared. 



Roses. — During the summer of 1914 several attempts were made in crossing roses, 

 to secure new types of hardy hybrids, but climatic conditions were unfavourable and 

 seed was scantily produced from the crosses made. Nevertheless a few germinated 

 and grew successfully during the past season, and are now receiving care with other 

 stock in the nursery rows. 



Dtiring 1915 a number of further crosses were made, and a certain amount of 

 seed secured from them, the object being to secure, if possible, new types of the very 



Ottawa. 



