918 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 



7 GEORGE V, A. 1917 



EXPERIMENTAL STATION, SUMMERLAND, B.C. 



REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT, R. H. HELMER. 



This is the first annual report of the horticultural work carried on at the Experi- 

 mental Station, Summerland, B.C., but as it was not possible to do much experimental 

 work this year, there is not much to report on. 



The season of 1915 was very promising for unirrigated crofjs in the spring, but as 

 usual July and August were very trying on growing crops. Field beans of which a 

 number of varieties were planted made good growth, receiving very little water, and 

 a fair crop of good beans was harvested. These were threshed through a grain sep- 

 arator with all teeth removed from the cylinder and concave; it cleaned the beans very 

 well but too many were split and the varieties were somewhat mixed. 



A few apple trees only were planted to see if they would become established with- 

 out irrigation, namely, 20 Delicious, 20 Duchess, 20 Wagener, 20 Jonathan, and 20 

 Rome Beauty; these did very well without any irrigation. Out of the lot, three died 

 and they were in very Irard spots where an old road had been. All the trees were 

 wrapped early in the fall as there are quite a few jack rabbits in the sage brush sur- 

 rounding the Station and they come to feed on the clover and alfalfa. 



The Soy beans with the exception of Quebec No. 92 did not produce pods to any 

 extent. The main crop produced hardly any but made splendid growth. They were 

 left growing as long as possible as they had flowered so late and a few beans were 

 forming. The plants had to be cut with a mower as they were so hard to plough under, 

 and they were harve&ted for bedding the horses. It was found that the horses would 

 leave any other fodder to eat their bedding and an improvement in their coats has 

 been noticed. 



Bulbs from the Sidney Station and also those from Holland arrived in good con- 

 dition and were planted. The Sidney bulbs have been kept by themselves that they 

 may be compared with the others. 



Some tomatoes were grown on a very sandy patch of ground near the stable with 

 very good results. They were hotbed plants set in the open and there were ripe 

 tomatoes on July 8, and a heavy crop of fruit during the summer. 



The trees planted in the spring of 1915 came through the winter well. 



Hotbeds were started in March, 1916, and by the end of the month they were filled 

 with plants ready to go out when the weather became warmer. 



There is every indication of a big apple year in this district; and peaches, apricots, 

 and sweet cherries are not as much damaged by the severe winter as was at first 

 thought. Many experiments with fruits, vegetables, and flowers will be started at this 

 Station in 1916. 



