I^Iotes ]^Pon) 0(jp ^P(^if Exp^pin^er)! ^tatior)<?. 



Notes on Peach Trees. 



During the spriug ami suiiiii.tr of IS9G the 

 weather was very favorable to the growth of 

 the Peach trees. They made a very strong 

 growth from three to five feet on most of tlie 

 trees not over four years plantetl. The wood 

 and fruit buds ripened up perfectly in the 

 aiiiumn which was quite dry. When the 

 first frost came I never saw buds in better 

 condition. In December the weather was 

 (juite warm for a number of days which 

 started the fruit buds to develop and swell 

 to nearly double their normal size, this of 

 course developed portions of the fruit bud 

 that should remain dormant until spring 

 The cold of January, 12° below z-ro tinished 

 the work, I have cot seen one fruit bud 

 except what has been killed on the peach. , 

 Plums and cherries are all riglit. 



\V. \V. HlI.BOKN. 



Leamington, Out. 



GoosebeFFies in Simeoe County. 



■Sir, — I offer for puldication a few notes 

 upon my work as gi^oseberry experinjenter. 



r.,ast fall my bushes «ere dug among last 

 thing in the fall. As much first class stable 

 manure was dug in as possible, so as to be in 

 shape for mulching in the spring. This spi ing 

 we mulched largely with strawy manure «nd 

 pea straw that had been tiamped by sheep all 

 winter in pens. 



The winter finished many of the Knglish 

 variitits received last spring, many of which 

 notwiti standing all the care taken of th^m 

 last summer, only barely showed signs of life 

 in t'le fall. Ironmonger, Ked Champaigne, 

 London, Railway and Gieen Chisil are excep- 

 tion'". These all lived and did well. 



All the American seedlings, Dominion, Suc- 

 cess and Oregon Jumbo came out splendidly 

 this tpring Some rows mulched last fall 

 look fiue, as the pea straw is up level and 

 smooth as a board with not a weed showing 

 through. Mulching a 4arge piece might be 

 impracticable that is to cover all the ground 

 as it certainly gives a lot of work, and re- 

 ijuires a lot of material, but about bushes 

 wouhl be sufficient for all practical purposes. 



.My strawberries have come through the 

 winter in fine condition without any winter 

 covering and they were in a side hill facing 

 the north Hud were bare several times during 

 the winter. This is the fifth time in succession 

 that I have liad the sam« experience without 

 winter protection. 



The older gooseberry bushes could hardly 

 look better than they do, and if late spring 

 frost don't prevent. 1 shall certainly have 

 something worth looking at. 



Stanley Sfillktt, 

 Xantyr, Onl. 



Spring- Notes fFom St LawFence 

 FFuit ExpeFiment Station. 



On the whole the weather during the past 

 winter and spring has been favorable to fruit 

 growers. Once during the winter the ther- 

 mometer dropped to 2s below which was not 

 unusual, as some winters it goes as low as 30 

 or '.W below. I he spring has been cool and wet 

 up to May 4th, but no late frosts as yet to injure 

 buds. Since May 4th, the weather has been 

 warm and bright forcing plant growth rather 

 rapidly The blossom will be from 3 to G days 

 later than last year which gives us that much 

 in favor of mi>sing a late frost. 



Of the varieties planted at the station in 

 1S96 as mentioned in the Annual report for 

 that year I had nothing injured by winter 

 killing, and in Plums I have the Chas. Down- 

 ing. Whitaker, Hammer and Weaver that will 

 bloom this year. Pears do not show any in- 

 jury as yet. In my commen;ial orchard, 

 which is composed mostly of Fameuse apple I 

 have prospects of a good blossom, even though 

 it was heavily loaded last year. 



Fungi have been m!iking rapid growth this 

 year during the wet weather, and orchards 

 left uusprayed will run a '.'leat risk of having 

 the fruit badly affected. Green aphis is also 

 present in large numbers, and tent catapillers 

 are numerous and are now feeding on the open- 

 ing leaves. 



Strawberries wintered very well, a few 

 reports of heaving on c'ay ground, but where 

 well covered they came out m perfect condi- 

 tion. Xo bloom yet even on early varieties, 

 but wild berries are in bloom to-day. 



Next n\onth after ilanger of late frosts are 

 over, I hope to be able to give a good account 

 of spring growth and prospects. 



H.^ROLu .Tones. 

 MailUuul, Out. 



Plums and Pears at Whitby. 



I think the Abundance and liurbank are as 

 hardy as any plums I have tested. I have 

 grown them for some years, and they winter 

 as well as any other variety. Duane's Purple 

 is rather tender, and (ieneral Hand a very 

 shy bearer. Pond's Seedling does splendidly, 

 and although a neighbor complains that it is 

 not productive, I have had to support 

 branches of my trees to prevent their break- 

 ing from the load of fruit. My choice for an 

 early plum is McLaughlin Two years ago 

 we picked thirteen 12 qt. baskets from one 

 tree, and sold them ai SI 2o a basket. I 

 think a good wlndbrciiK a great help to a 

 plum orchard, as well as adding to the beauty 

 of the surroundings. How cheerless the farm 

 homestead is without an evergreen or other 

 tree I 



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