66 



flower pots of equal size and quality, but one white and the other black, be filled with 

 dry calcareous clay taken from some cool place and exposed to the rays of the sun, it will 

 be found that the temperature of the soil in the white pot will not increase more than 

 sixteen degrees, while that in the black one will increase 24 degrees. Therefore, if the 

 surface soil is too light in colour, it should be darkened, and this can readily be done by 

 applying a suflicient quantity of barn-yard manure, but where such an application is not 

 desirable, as in a young orchard, probably swamp muck might answef a better purpose. 



Well cultivated and thoroughly under-drained soil will withstand our occasionally 

 severe summer droughts much better than soil not so prepared. Perhaps it may not be 

 generally known that a very large proportion of the moisture necessary for the support 

 of vegetation, during the season of growth, is obtained from the subsoil. Many proofs 

 may be given in support of this theory. One of the most obvious is the numberless 

 springs which abound throughout the Province, at points much higher than the general 

 level of the surrounding neighbourhood. Another proof is the fact — which may not be 

 quite so obvious, although more satisfactory, when obtained — that, after a few days' heavy 

 rain, subsequent to a long season of drought ; water, or the subsoil saturated with water, 

 can often be found in undrained land at a depth of two or three feet below the surface ; 

 while the rain water which had lately fallen had not penetrated the soil more than eight 

 or ten inches. The intermediate stratum being absolutely dry, and this in places where, 

 had an examination been made before the rain fell, the subsoil, to the depth indicated, 

 would have shown no sign of moisture. If a supply was not obtained from this source, 

 many of our own trees and most of our agricultural crops would have been utterly ruined 

 during the prolonged drought of the last summer. As it is I am afraid much permanent 

 injury may result to fruit trees in undrained soil from this cause. The tiny rootlets pene- 

 trate the earth in search of the retreating moisture during a dry season, to a much 

 greater depth than during a wet one. When heavy rains set in, the subsoil becomes un- 

 duly saturated, and the rootlets, not having the power to retrace their steps, must of 

 necessity remain buried in the cold, wet subsoil until late in the following summer, and 

 before that time the roots become diseased by cold, excessive moisture, and the lack of 

 the needed stimulants of heat, air and other gases. The poison is absorbed into the tree 

 in early spring, generally causing permanent injury, often proving fatal to the tree. 



Ten acres of land planted with healthy, well grown apple and other trees, carefully 

 set in rich, loiray soil, overlying a calcareous gravelly clay (such as largely predominates 

 throughout this Province), properly subsoiled to the depth of two feet, thoroughly under- 

 drained by drains at least four feet deep, and carefully cultivated every year for seven or 

 eight years, by growing potatoes and mangolds or other root crops will, in my opinion, 

 from that time forth, prove to be a more profitable permanent investment than can pos- 

 sibly be realized from fifty acres of land devoted to any agricultural purpose whatever. 



Mr. Beadle submitted the following : — 



REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON THE SIZE OF FRUIT PACKAGES. 



The difficulty which met your committee in recommending a uniform size in berry 

 and fruit baskets, was the stock of these articles in the hands of shippers, which they, the 

 Committee, recognise <a,s a certain vested right. It is, therefore, decided that the date of 

 the coming into force of the proposed regulations be deferred to some future date, to be 

 named in the Act. 



Your committee recommend that twelve imperial quarts, equal to SSlj^^^o cubic inches 

 capacity, be the standard of baskets or boxes used for shipping peaches, pears, cherries, 

 plums, etc. ; and that three half pints be the size of the berry basket for strawberries, 

 raspberries, and other small fruits ; and that the size of the apple barrel be the standard 

 Canadian flour barrel, the dimensions of which in the bulge to be ... . inches in 

 diameter, the size at the ends to be . . . inches, and the length between the heads 



