DIYISHOX OF nORrrCULTURE 993 



SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 



Natural phenomena of interest to horticulturists are as follows : Snow disappeared 

 first week of April. Rivers open May 2. May-flowers blooming May 13. Strawberries 

 blooming May 15. Wild violets blooming JVIay 16. Lake free of ice May 17. Wild 

 gooseberries blooming May 19. First blooms of wild roses, June 8. Light frost June 14. 

 First wild strawberries ripe June 16. First wild raspberries blooming June 22. First 

 ripe raspberries August 4. First frost, September 10 and hard frost September 14. 



REPORT OF REV. FATHER LELSUEM, FORT PROVIDENCE. 



Notwithstanding the dryness all summer, and in spite of the hard frost of June 

 12 and June 15, the things sown have succeeded fairly well with the exception of 

 turnips. 



VEGETABLES. 



Stratagem and Gradus peas were planted on April 23 and pricked out on 

 June 17. 



Half Long Chantenay carrot was sown on x\pril 28, pricked out on June 7 and 

 harvested September 17. 



FORT SMITH. 



The following report was sent by the Rev. Alphonse Mansoz, Fort Smith, Alta. 

 This Sub-station is situated in latitude 60 on the Slave river. St. Bruno is 20 miles 

 west of Fort Smith on the Salt river. 



Fort Smith and St. Bruno are separated by only about 20 miles, but while the 

 climate is very similar the soil is different, at Fort Smith it being sandy and at St. 

 Bruno, of a black, strong character, so some plants might do better at one place than 

 at another. 



The year of 1915 was very unfavourable and very rigorous. A great drought 

 which began almost from the time the snow disappeared continued most of the sum- 

 mer; hard frost, at three different times, when the condition of the vegetables led to 

 the hope that a good harvest would occur, nearly destroyed everything. Notwith- 

 standing severe conditions everything was ready around the beginning ot May at both 

 Fort Smith and St. Bruno, and by the 20th of that month all the sowings were made, 

 including beets, carrots, onions, turnips and cabbage, all of which were tested in 

 both places. By the 30th of May all the samples had germinated and notwithstand- 

 ing the drought grew very vigorously by reason of the care given them. Rochester 

 Rose and Early Rose potatoes and a rose brought from St. Albert, Alta., were grown, 

 all of which were very fine. Towards the middle of June frost diestroyed many of the 

 plants. However, the different varieties of turnips and carrots resisted more or less. 

 Towards the end of July the garden had regained its first fine appearance, when a 

 second frost more severe than the first touched it again. The carrots, onions and 

 beets partly resisted! this cold by reason of the vigour of their stalks and a satisfac- 

 tory harvest was made of these vegetables. The turnips reached an average weight 

 of five pounds. The two varieties of onions reached a good size, when a third frost 

 which came a few days before the middle of September necessitated harvesting them 

 and putting them to cure under more favourable conditions. The frosts were even 

 more" severe at St. Brunjo than at Fort Smith and the vegetables were destroyed. 

 Having obtained these results in such a very bad year, it is hoped that better success 

 will be attained in a more propitious season and soil for crpps has been prepared for 

 next year. 



Fort Smith. 



