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THE CAXADIAX HORTICULTURIST. 



CENTRAL EXPERIMENTAL FARM NOTES.— XIV. 



IWHE past month has been one of un- 

 usual severity, and while the temper- 

 ature has not been very low there 

 have been many days when it was below 

 zero. It has not been above freezing" point 

 since the 22nd of January, and since Novem- 

 ber there has been no thaw of any conse- 

 quence. The snow has continued to increase 

 this month, but there have been no heavy 

 falls. The coldest day of the winter, up to 

 February 20th was January 20th, when the 

 temperature fell to 25.5 F. below zero. The 

 lowest temperature in February, so far, was 

 ii.S^F. below zero, on the 3rd. 



It was my privilege recently to attend the 

 annual meetings of the Nova Scotia and 

 Prince Fdward Island Fruit Growers' Asso- 

 ciations. The meeting at Wolfville, N. S., 

 was well attended and the discussions livelv. 

 Two subjects, which received special atten- 

 tion there, were the proposed Agricultural 

 College for the Maritime Provinces and the 

 transportation of fruit across the Atlantic. 

 The fruit g-rowers of Nova Scotia appear to 

 have as much complaint regarding the man- 

 ner in which their fruit reaches the other 

 side as the fruit-g^rowers of Ontario ; al- 

 though it was clearly proven that, as in 

 Ontario, bad and dishonestly packed fruit 

 had often been shipped. Spraying received 

 considerable attention at this meeting. 

 Many of the fruit growers in the Annapolis 

 Valley now appear to be in doubt as to the 

 value of spraying, as the results last year 

 were not satisfactory. However, the value 

 of spraying was clearly proven at this meet- 

 .ing and it is hoped it will be done more 

 thoroughly than ever in the future. Last 

 year was an unfavorable one for spraving 

 and favorable for the growth of the apple 

 scab fungus, which probably explains the 

 failure to get good results. 



Owing- to stormy weather, the meeting at 

 Charlottetown, P. E. I., was not as well 

 attended as it would probably have been if 

 the weather had been better. However, 

 there was a good representative gathering 

 of the most interested in fruit growings in 

 the province. 



The importance of preserving the forests, 

 and their great value as a protection for fruit 

 and farm crops, were thoroughly discussed 

 and much useful information was given to 

 the meeting. 



The variety question is one in which the 

 fruit g-rowers of Prince Edward Island are 

 most interested. Fruit growing is quite a 

 new industry there and everyone is uncertain 

 as to just what to plant. Judging by the 

 exhibit of apples, in which were represented 

 many of the best varieties, it was quite evi- 

 dent that most of the best apples grown in 

 Ontario will succeed well on Prince Edward 

 Island. The importance of planting only a 

 few of the very best varieties was impressed 

 upon the meeting. It was recommended 

 that the varieties which were giving the best 

 satisfaction in Ontario for export purposes 

 should first be considered, and then out of 

 these the sorts which were succeeding best 

 on Prince Edward Island should be chosen. 

 The advantages of planting the trees from 

 35 to 40 feet apart were also g-iven much 

 emphasis. With some government aid the 

 Fruit Growers'Association of Prince Edward 

 Island should become one of the best in the 

 Dominion, as there are many practical and 

 intelligent men who take an interest in it. 



At present experiments are being carried 

 on at the Central Experimental Farm in 

 grafting. A large number of new varieties 

 of apples, of which scions have been pro- 

 cured in different places, are being crown 

 and root orrafted. The small Siberian crab 



