832 



EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 



' 7 GEORGE V, A. 1917 



Each group was subdivided into (a) slightly blushed specimens, and (t) totally 

 green specimens, but the relative merits of the different methods used showed equally 

 well on both (a) and (&). Each group is therefore reported without any subdivision: — 



Groups. 



Temperatures. 

 Fahrenheit. 



Results observed. 



Group I. Placed in direct sunlight in a window 



Group II. in dim corner in room. 



Group III. in air-tight light proof bags. 



Group IV. in box in dark, on basement floor. 



Minimum 50°... 

 Maximum 66° . . 

 Average 55-6°.. 

 Minimum 50°... 

 Maximum 66°.. 

 Average 56°..,. . 

 Minimum 49-5° 

 Maximum 69°.. 



Average 56-3°.. 



Minimum 50°.. 

 Maximum 64*. 

 Average 56°. . . 



This was the quickest ripening group 

 (both "blushed" and "green" spe- 

 cimens) 40% of fruit was soft. 



Took longer to ripen, but showed only 

 17% of soft fruit. 



This method is good, especially for 

 perfectly sound, green fruit, as it takes 

 long to ripen and can be kept a long ' 

 time. Of_ the "blushed" specimens 

 used, only 50% came through in good 

 condition. The fruit ripens slower 

 (by a few davs) than that in Groups 

 I and II. 



Practically 100% of the fruit came 

 through the test in good condition. 

 Period of ripening about the same as 

 for Group III. 



TURNIPS. 



Seven varieties of turnips were tested. These were all swedes (Ruta Baga) and 

 made good growth for table use. The growth was not rank, but quite healthy. About 

 the smoothest and most uniform were Hall Westerbury, Favorite and Bangholm Purple 

 Top, while the heaviest yielders were Skirving Purple Top and Sutton Champion. 



FEUITS. 



APPLES. 



A good crop of cross-bred and seedling crab apples was harvested and was sold for 

 preserving and jelly making. The most productive and hardiest trees are Dr. Saund- 

 ers' cross-breds and seedlings of the same. The best tree of this type, a seedling from 

 Cluster, has been given the name of Bedford, in honour of the first superintendent of 

 this Farm, Mr. S. A. Bedford. This tree is perfectly hardy, has produced abundantly 

 every season for the last four years, and bears a crab apple of reasonably good size, fine 

 appearance and first rate quality. This apple should be of value and it is proposed to 

 propagate from it. Others of Saunders' hybrids and seedlings that are doing well are: 

 Gertrude, Seedling of Tony, Columbia, Alberta, Sparta, Elsa, Tony, Osman, Norman, 

 Silvia, Pioneer, Seedling of Elsa, and Seedling of Silvia. Sweet Russet Crab, and 

 Ostrakoff bore a fair amount of fruit, larger in size than most of Saunders' hybrids, 

 but the trees bear evidence of considerable injury from sunscald and other causes. The 

 Hyslop bore fruit of large size for crab apples, but was late. No fruit of other standard 

 varieties was produced this year, though many trees wintered well. 



The orchard has been entirely free from insect attacks, and frost did not do any 

 harm, at any time during the growing season. Fireblight attacked a good many trees, 

 but the diseased parts were cut out and carefully burned so that the disease did not 

 spread. Clean cultivation was practised, all weeds kept down and a du.st mulch main- 

 tained throughout the season. Cultivation was discontinued after September 1. 



The following table shows the results of several tests carried out during th« 

 season : — 

 ,. Br.\ndon. 



