DiriSIOX OF EORTICULTURE 835 



SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 



RASPBERRIES. 



The raspberry canes set a very large amount of fruit, but owing to the damage 

 done by red spiders, the yield did not turn out to be so good. 



Eigrht red varieties and one yellow are under test. Those that thrived best, and 

 produced most fruit are: Caroline (yellow). Sunbeam, Ironclad, Herbert, Miller and 

 Turner, in the order named. The largest fruit was produced by the Herbert, Ironclad 

 and Turner, the quality also being very good. The Caroline is small, but of good flavour. 

 The Sunbeam is small and sour, resembling the wild raspberry but is a good yielder. 

 The King and Loudon have not done so well, and have produced but little fruit so far. 

 The Minnetonka, and some additional plants of the varieties already named, were set 

 out in 1914. Of these the Herbert and Sunbeam are the only ones that bore any fruit 

 during 1915. The season for raspberries extends from the middle of July, until late 

 in August. 



STRAWBERRIES. 



Four varieties of strawberries were planted in 1914. These are grown by the " hill 

 system " (modified) in rows two and a half feet apart, and 15 inches apart in the row. 

 Two of these, — Dakota and Senator Dunlap, wintered well and a large number of new 

 plants were permitted to bear fruit or send out runners during the season and they 

 were consequently strong and well-rooted before winter set in. About 500 of these new 

 plants made very good progress during the summer, and should yield well next season. 

 The yield of fruit this year was rather small, — the Dakota being the best. The straw- 

 berry is the earliest cultivated fruit, and as such it deserves special attention from the 

 farmer who wishes to make the most of his farmstead orchard. 



AKBOKETUM AND GROUNDS. 



The arboretum contains about 500 specimens of ornamental trees and shrubs. 

 A number of hedges, windbreaks, avenue trees, etc., are also located on the grounds 

 and along the drives. Two new ornamental hedges — Russian Olive, and Laurel-leaved 

 Willow — were planted this year, while two others — the Siberian Crab and Southern- 

 wood (Artemisia) were removed. Tall hedges of Caragana arhorescens and Charles 

 IX lilac surround the vegetable garden, the small-fruit orchard and the plum orchard, 

 and aiford excellent shelter. A feature well worth pointing out to visitors is the 

 value of white spruce as a windbreak. If the farmers generally, knew the efficiency 

 and beauty of a spruce hedge (trees planted 4 feet apart) they would not go on year 

 after j^ear without planting these for shelter and ornament on their home grounds. 



The following are the chief evergreens on the grounds: (1) White Spruce^ very 

 useful as a hedge, as an individual tree or in a mixed plantation; (2) Black Spruce, 

 slow-growing, not very desirable for the home grounds; (3) Blue Spruce, an excel- 

 lent individual tree for ornamental purposes; (4) Norway Spruce^ a few robust 

 specimens are found on the grounds; (5) White Cedar, ornamental in its bush or tree 

 form. A low hedge of this species is much admired by visitors; (6) Scotch Pine, and 

 (7) Riga Fixe — both are hardy and robust — good as individual trees or in mixed 

 plantation; (8) Jack Fine, is quite hardy, but the least ornamental of the pines; 

 (9) Red Fine is quite hardy here — a few specimens 10 to 12 feet high are growing 

 on the grounds; (10) Stone Fine, is very slow growing and rather scrubby; (11) 

 Mountain Fine, low and bushy; hardy; (12) Pinus pumila (one specimen only, 7 

 feet high); (13) Balsam Fir, ornamental, quite hardy; (14) Creeping Fir (Ahies 

 excelsa procumhens) ; (15) Tamarack (a conifer but not evergreen) is hardy and 

 ornamental. It affords a pleasing contrast to heavier appearing trees, such as the 

 spruces and pines; (16) Juniper {Juniperus Sabina erecta) — scrubby; kills back 

 somewhat. 



Brandon. 



