DIVISION OF EORTICULTUEE 891 



SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 



EXPERIMENTAL STATION, LACOMBE, ALTA. 



G. H. HUTTON, B.S.A., SUPERINTENDENT. 



The season of 1915 proved one of the most satisfactory years possible from the 

 viewpoint of the horticulturist. When growth of trees and shrubs started in the 

 spring, no winter injury was shown, and as the minimum temiDerature recorded was 

 only — 25-1 F., it is scarcely necessary to state that all trees and shrubs came through 

 in good condition. 



Cultivation of the land began on April 5,, with the soil in good condition for 

 work. The latest spring frost occurred on May 22, and the period from then to 

 September 13, when the first frost of the fall was recorded was seasonable both as 

 to precipitation and temperature. 



The lawns of Kentucky blue grass made a splendid showing as there was con- 

 tinuous new growth due to the liberal rainfall. Trees and shrubs made satisfactory 

 progress and ripened their wood fairly well prior to the killing fall frosts. The hedges 

 planted during the past three years are now making a creditable showing and create 

 a keen interest on the part of visitors. The flower border produced a Ivixuriant 

 growth of foliage and bloom and was much admired during the entire growing season, 

 the tulips being particularly attractive. 



OECHAED. 



The fact that for three years in succession crab-apples have been produced here 

 is evidence that it will be possible to produce standard apples when varieties of this 

 class of fruit are produced which are equally suitable to the vagaries of this climate 

 as are the cross-breds and some of the crab-apples. The argument is repeatedly 

 advanced by those who consider that apples will never be grown in this section of the 

 West that the late spring frosts will almost invariably kill the apple blossom and 

 that for this reason alone we cannot expect to produce standard apples here. The 

 answer to this argument is conclusive and it is only necessary to refer to the records 

 of the past three years, which show the production of crab-apples, to effectively mini- 

 mize the force of this argument. The' following varieties of cross-bred apples fruited 

 during the past year : Charles, Prince, Pioneer, Eve, Eobin, Jewel, Progress, Aurora, 

 Alberta. 



Though the fruit is small, the texture is fine and since there would appear to be 

 a relatively large percentage of water in the fruit, it is admirably adapted to the 

 production of high quality jelly. 



The apple seedlings to the number of about 6,000 have made satisfactory growth 

 during the past year. It is the intention to thin the least promising of these seedlings 

 from the nursery row during the coming spring. This- thinning will permit of the 

 fruiting of the balance of these trees in the nursery row where the hardiness is being 

 established and will permit of testing the quality of the fruit with the least possible 

 labour. The varieties of apples from which these seedlings have been produced 

 include the following: August, Anis, Anisim, Anis Hose, Antonovka, Baraboo, 

 Blushed Calville, Bogdanoff, Charlamoff, Grandmother, Hibernal, Hoadley, Iowa, 

 Beauty, Lowland Easpberry, Moscow Pear, Patten Duchess. 



