CEXTRAL EXPERIMENTAL FARM XOTES. 



CENTRAL EXPERIMENTAL FARM NOTES— No. 4. 



'INTER has come since the last 

 Farm Notes were written, and the 

 lawn and fields are again covered 

 with snow, though the weather 

 has not yet been severe. There was an excep- 

 tionally open autumn this year, and winter not 

 set in until December 4th, thus giving ample op- 

 portunity for doing work which in an ordinary 

 season would have been left undone until 

 spring. During this month the annual measure- 

 ments are taken of the timber tree growing in 



covering the ground that the evergreens become 

 prominent features of the landscape at the Ex- 

 perimental farm ; and there are now so many 

 fine specimens to be seen there that a few notes 

 on some of the most striking may not seem 

 amiss. During the past eleven years no less 

 than 346 species and varieties of conifers have 

 been tested there, and the greater part of these 

 are still alive. In the Arboretum these are ar- 

 ranged in groups by themselves, but on the 

 ornamental grounds they are scattered among 



Fig. 1721. Group of Evergreens, in Arboretum at Central Experimental Farm. 



the forest belts, the terminal growth and in- 

 crease in diameter being recorded. The data 

 which have been accumulated during the past 

 few years are now becoming very interesting, 

 and each year's records add to their value. 

 This is the month also for preparing material 

 for the annual report by compiling the notes 

 made during the past season and making the 

 necessary calculations for the tables which ap- 

 pear in it. There are many other matters also 

 which winter gives the opportunity of attend- 

 ing to. 



It is at this season of the year when decidu- 

 ous trees have lost their leaves and the snow is 



the deciduous trees or occupy but small clumps. 

 In the forest belts are good size blocks of White, 

 Scotch and Austrian pines, White and Norway 

 spruce, and American Arbor vitse, and these are 

 becoming more conspicuous every year as they 

 reach a greater height. It is in the Arboretum 

 and on the ornamental grounds, however, where 

 the trees are given more space to grow in, that 

 the finest specimens are to be found, and where 

 the graceful or stately habit of a tree may be 

 developed at will. 



RETINOSPORAS. 



The Japanese Retinosporas are very little 

 known in Canada, yet these graceful trees sue- 



