244 ANl^UAI. EEPOBT 



ground, and which had been injured by previous winters, died out to 

 such an extent that we are forced to the conclusion that it is useless 

 with our present knowledge, or want of it, to plant even the Duchess 

 in any but favorable localities. 



The crab apples have behaved indifferently for many years. Some 

 have died, some bear worthless fruit, others have occasionally borne 

 a fair crop of good fruit, but barrenness has been the rule. If we 

 would restore the confidence of the people we must present varieties, 

 either standard or crab, that will grow in all ordinary situations and 

 bear fruit of fair size and quality and in liberal quantity; or, in other 

 words, we must give them a perfectly reliable, long-iived, productive 

 fruit tree adapted to this climate. I have only one variety that I have 

 thoroughly tested and find fully up to this standard in every respect. 

 It is the Greenwood crab. It ripens with the Duchess, and can only 

 be valuable where that variety is not successfully grown. I offer the 

 Greenwood crab as my contribution towards the formation of a relia- 

 ble crab list. 



The fruit crop was nearly an entire failure, caused, I think, by 

 spring frost, drouth and insects. Currants seem to have been de- 

 stroyed by frost, strawberries by drouth, and apples and plums by the 

 three causes combined. Grapes did fairly well, and I have no doubt 

 by planting early ripening varieties they will be very profitably 

 grown in future. 



We will mention a few of our forest trees under cultivation: 



The Norway spruce is not quite hardy enough to withstand all the 

 effects of the snow line; the lower branches are frequently injured, 

 but it makes a magnificent tree and promises long life. 



The White spruce is more hardy — seldom browns, is of finer foliage 

 and more ornamental while young. Our oldest trees are only ten or 

 twelve years. 



Scotch pine is one of our most hardy and rapid growing trees while 

 young, but in cultivated or soft ground it is likely to be blown over, 

 and it becomes less thrifty and more open with age. 



White pine will evidently make a fine forest tree, but may require 

 the protection of surrounding trees. With me it needs further trial. 



The European larch maintains its reputation as a rapidly growing 

 beautiful tree, but its desirability {or stakes and posts does not much 

 surpass the basswood. Whether it will improve with age and the 

 heart wood of large trees will become durable remains to be demon- 

 strated. 



The European white birch and the European Alder seem sufficient- 



