CENTRAL EXPERIMENTAL FARM NOTES. 



16 



as are also the ornamental trees and shrubs, 

 with the exception of the Junipers and Ret- 

 inosporas, the foliag"e of which was injured 

 considerably. 



An unusual injury occurred in the nursery 

 among- the young apple trees, as the bark of 

 many of them was badly split within a foot 

 of the ground. The trees g^rew until very 

 late last autumn and the snow fell early on 

 the unfrozen ground when the young trees 

 were well charged with sap. The cause of 

 the splitting was probably due to the fact 

 that the snow prevented the frost from 

 reaching the lower part of the trunk until 

 very cold weather came and then the severe 

 frost caused the bark to burst. 



Tbe trees sprayed with the lime mixture 

 last autumn for the Oyster-shell Bark Louse 

 are already looking much brighter than 

 those not sprayed and large numbers of 

 scales have dropped from the trees and the 

 remaining ones appear quite loose and will 

 doubtless be washed oflF by rain within a 

 few days. 



The clover in the orchards which came 

 through the winter in good condition is 

 already beginning to grow. In one part of 

 the orchard it has already been ploughed 

 under and the land will be re-seeded with it 

 later on. It is the intention again this year, 

 as during the past three years, instead of 

 ploughing under the clover and cultivating 

 the soil, to cut it from time to time during 

 the summer and leave it on the ground. 



This system, however, is not recom- 

 mended where the soil becomes dry and 

 where the trees are liable to suffer from 

 drought. 



Visitors to the Central Experimental Farm 

 are often surprised at the number and var- 

 iety of the trees and shrubs used for hedge 

 purposes, and they manifest much interest 

 in them by asking questions regarding the 

 the best varieties to plant and the methods 

 of growing them. Examples of one hund- 

 red species and varieties are now growing 



side by side in hedges fifty feet in length 

 and ten feet apart, which present a fine 

 appearance in summer when in full leaf. 



The methods to be adopted in growing a 

 hedge successfully are simple, but should be 

 followed if a compact and regular hedge is 

 to be obtained. The young trees or shrubs 

 should be planted in good soil, and if it is 

 not good it should be removed and better 

 earth brought in its place. Young stock 

 from one to two feet in height, should be 

 planted and all cut back to an even height 

 of from twelve to fifteen inches. Ever- 

 greens should be procured as compacf as 

 possible at the base, for if they are loose 

 and the foliage wanting, it takes them a 

 long time to thicken. The roots should not 

 become dry from the time the shrubs are 

 dug until they are replanted in the hedge- 

 row. Planting is done by opening a trench 

 about a foot wide and placing the hedge 

 plants fifteen to eighteen inches apart in a 

 single row. The trench should be filled 

 with good soil pressed firmly against the 

 roots. Afterwards the surface soil should 

 be kept loose for about two feet on each 

 side of the hedge throughout the summer, 

 and every following season. If the trees 

 and shrubs are cut back when planted they 

 will need no further clipping the first season, 

 but, after that, hedges of most deciduous 

 trees and shrubs require to be clipped twice 

 a year, in the latter part of June and again 

 in August. Regular pruning from the be- 

 ginning is very essential to successful hedge 

 growing. 



The following trees and shrubs, after sev- 

 years' test, have proven among the most 

 satisfactory for hedge purposes of all those 

 yet tested at the Central Experimental 

 Farm : 



Ligustruni Amurense (Amur privet). — This 

 is the only privet yet tested at Ottawa which 

 has proven perfectly hardy. As the privet 

 is very largely used in Great Britain for 

 hedge purposes, it will be especially wel- 



