DIVISION OF HORTICULTURE 937 



SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 



EXPERIMENTAL STATION FOR VANCOUVER ISLAND, 



SIDNEY, B.C. 



REPORT OF THE SUPERJNTENDENT, LIONEL STEVENSON, B.S.A., M.S. 



CHARACTER OF THE SEASON. 



The winter of 1915 was exceptionally mild and dry, the spring remarkably early 

 and warm, while the summer was one of the driest on record. The autumn was open 

 and free from frost and snow, heavy rains set in during October and continued until 

 late December. The precipitation during the summer months was not sufficient for the 

 best development of plant life. The climatic conditions during January and Febru- 

 ary of 1916 were very severe on all plant life, and some tender foreign plants were 

 killed by low temperatures. All foreign plants that survived, we now know to be hardy 

 to twenty degrees of frost. 



ORCHARDS. 



Growth of the Orchard. — The trees planted late in the spring of 1914, survived 

 the summer, became well rooted and in good condition generally to start 1915. The 

 growth made during the past season has been remarkable for large and healthy wood 

 development. Some varieties of plums made a growth of 6 feet, while pears both dwarf 

 and standard made growth of from 2 to 4 feet. Medlars, quinces, apricots, almonds 

 and nectarines all made growth of 3 to 4 feet. Sweet and sour cherries in variety and 

 apples iu variety did well with but few exceptions, nearly all varieties making growth 

 of from 2 to 5 feet. 



Number of varieties of apples established in orchard 



sweet cherries established in orchard 



sour cherries " 



standard pears " 



dwarf pears " 



plums ' " 



peaches " 



quince " 



medlar " 



apricot " 



pomegranate " 



nectarine " 



almond " 



citrus " 



figs 



Orchard tillage. — The entire orchard area was tilled with a Kimball cultivator 

 from early spring until September. On September 2 the areas between trees were 

 seeded with rye and vetch. This crop made excellent growth through the autumn. 

 It will be turned under in May. 



Neiv Plantations during Season 1915. — A fig orchard of the following varieties 

 was set: Agen, Angelique, Adriatic, Brown Turkey, Black Ischia, Brunswick, Col. di 

 Signora Nigra, Celeste, Doree, Dauphine, Drap d'Or, Ladaro, Mission, Ronde Noire, 

 Pastiliere, Royal Vineyard, Ronde Violette Hative, Smyrna, San Pedro White, War- 

 ren Brown Turkey, Wilson Smyrna, White Ischia, White Genoa. 



16—634 



