DIVISION OF HORTICULTURE 659 



SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 



Althougli the method of pitting adopted Avas probably not the best, improvements 

 have been made this present season and a description may be of value. 



A hole about 2 feet in depth, and as large as was needed, vpas excavated on a 

 sloping piece of ground. Carrots and beets were placed in rows in this pit and 

 covered with soil. Cabbages were also heeled in alongside the roots, being buried in 

 soil up to the head, in a single layer or tier, and celery in a like manner, the latter 

 being almost completely buried in soil till only the tips showed. Both cabbage and 

 celery were placed in nearly upright positions. Over these vegetables a heavy layer 

 of dry straw was placed, then a covering of boards, followed by tar paper and about 

 1 foot of earth. This was hardly sufficient covering to keep out frost, but most of the 

 plants thus stored grew and produced seed. 



Beets and carrots all came through without being injured at all and with very 

 little loss due to rot. Some of the roots had started growth when taken from the pit 

 and others were perfectly dormant. It was observed during the summer that the 

 perfectly dormant ones, in every case, did better than those which started growth. 



Cabbage also was free from rot and injury in most cases. Many of the heads, 

 however, had put forth considerable growth, which proved injurious before the season 

 was over, as the top grew too fast, before the roots had obtained a sufficient hold to 

 supply them with foodi and moisture properly, the result being that when dry weather 

 came they all drooped and died. 



The celery in. nearly every case was all gone with rot, excepting the heart, and 

 was a sorry looking mess when planted, but despite this a better stand of celery was 

 obtained than of any other crop. One variety, " Winter Queen," did not lose a single 

 plant out of seventy-eight planted. 



Onions, of course, were all in good condition, so that there is nothing special in 

 this instance to be reported. 



This season the roots have been pitted by themselves in a pit constructed as that 

 shown in the illustration (fig. No. 1), while the cabbage and celery have been pitted 

 in a similar manner to last year, with the exception that a ventilation shaft has been 

 provided and alternate layers of straw and earth take the place of tar paper and 

 boards, and will afford a better protection against freezing. 



SELECTION OF THE SEED STOCK. 



In order to obtain the best seed, seed which will produce first class vegetables, it 

 is very essential that careful attention be paid to the selection of the vegetables the 

 previous year to their bearing seed. Type is very important, and the grower must be 

 acquainted with the varieties he is attempting to grow, in order that he may have a 

 fixed type in his mind at harvest time in the fall. 



Erom experience gained this past season, fhe following recommendations are 

 made: — 



Beets.— In harvesting beets for seed purposes they should first of all be pulled by 

 hand, tops and all, then those roots which are full sized and true to type, selected 

 and placed to one side, after which they may be topped, taking care not to cut too 

 close to the crown buds, from which will start the seed bearing stalks of the following 

 year. The roots of the beets should be left intact and not trimmed as for table use. 

 When thoroughly dry they may be hauled to the pits, carefully, and piled in position 

 for storage, or, if desired, they can be handled in bags, whicli is, perhaps the more 

 desirable method of storing them, especially in smaller quantities. 



Carrofs.— Carrots are handled in a similar manner to beets, care being necessary 

 to select only the roots that are true to type. If small or immature roots are selected 

 the progeny will soon be of an inferior class. 



Ottawa. 



