892 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 



7 GEORGE V, A. 1917 



The growth of the wind-break to the north of the orchard is providing much 

 needed protection and during the past season wind-breaks of laurel-leaved willow 

 have been planted east and west across the orchard at intervals of about 150 feet. 

 The rapid growth of the laurel-leaved willow will insure the development of a satis- 

 factory wind-break at these rather close intervals within the next four years. The 

 most promising sorts of standard apples and varieties which we expect will fruit 

 under satisfactory conditions as to protection by wind-breaks are: Hibernal, Blushed 

 Calville, Yellow Transparent, Charlamoff, Antonovka. 



PLUMS AXD CHERRIES. 



We have again to report no success in the production of fruit of either plums 

 or cherries. Even during the past comparatively mild winter, the plum trees native 

 to Manitoba showed winter injury here. It is apparent that this injury does not result 

 from low temperatures but is caused in our opinion by the rapid evaporation due to 

 our relatively dry atmosphere for which the limited precipitation of the fall of the 

 year does not provide. 



SMALL FEUITS. 



CURRANTS. 



Currant bushes have been injured apparently by the attack of a fungous disease 

 known as Nectria cinnabarina, Fr. It is claimed that the disease is saprophytic and 

 not parasitic; that it develops after the death or injury of the bush due to other causes. 

 From the f^ct that the disease may appear on a part of the bush only and that the 

 other branches, which seem vigorous at the time the fungus first makes its appearance 

 in the other parts of tJie bush, will quickly decline in vigour until the entire bush is 

 affected, it would appear to warrant the conclusion that the disease, though it may 

 attack weakened bushes, will hasten the destruction of the currant plantation by its 

 establishment therein. We believe that maintaining the vigour of the plantation 

 through fertilizers and proper pruning, the disease may be prevented from obtaining 

 a foothold. All affected bushes should be removed. 



The currant maggot (Epochra canadensis) has also made serious attacks on the 

 red and black currants here during the past year. It would appear that there is no 

 very practical method of controlling tliis pest since the only recommendation made for 

 control i'S to remove the surface three inches of soil beneath the bushes and replace 

 this with fresh earth. The soil which has been removed may either be buried deeply 

 or the puparia contained in it may be destroyed by the use of a strong solution of 

 Kreso Dip. 



The plantation of currants set in 1914 made a good growth during the season and 

 produced a fair yield of fruit of large size and good quality. The varieties of black 

 currants in this plantation heading the list this year are: Ogden, Climax, Merveille de 

 la Gironde, Kerry, Beauty. 



Those varieties which lead taking the average of the previous four years are: 

 Beauty, Merveille de la Gironde, Magnus, Lee Prolific. 



Lacomijk. 



