Fig. 1S38. Iris Bed at Central Experimental Farm, Ottawa. 



CENTRAL EXPERIMENTAL FARM NOTES— IX. 



•HE weather during- the latter part of 

 ^iTIIf ^Ia.y was cool and showery up to the 

 ■^1 19th, when it became warmer, the 

 temperature being i8'F., 82 F. and 83'F., 

 on the 26th, 27th and 31st. Rain was be- 

 g-inningf to be needed by June ist, but on 

 the 2nd about 1 ^2 inches fell, which did 

 much good. .\s the weather has continued 

 warm since then, growth has been rapid. 

 The warmest day so far this month was on 

 the 6th, when the temperature was 84''F. 

 No frosts have occurred during the past 

 month. 



The blossoming season of apples, plums, 

 pears and cherries was very favorable this 

 year, the weather being bright and warm, 

 as a result of which these fruits, as a rule, 

 set well. There were exceptions, however. 

 Cherries only set fairly well, and there will 

 not be a heavy crop of any of the varieties 

 fruiting here. The severe frosts which oc- 

 curred here on the loth and i ith May proba- 

 bly did more injury to the apple and cherry 

 blossoms than was at first supposed. Among 

 the apples, several varieties growing in 



sandy soil, but apparently quite healthy, did 

 not set much fruit, although the trees 

 bloomed freely. As records are kept of the 

 approximate amount of blossom on each tree 

 and records of the yields from these trees, 

 also, we hope soon to learn the various 

 causes of their unfruitfulness. It may be 

 from lack of certain plant food ; from some 

 disease, not apparent ; from frost, or from 

 self-sterility, but, there being plenty of op- 

 portunity for cross-fertilization where so 

 many varieties are growing in close prox- 

 imity, the last cause suggested is not likely 

 the true one. The trees of the Wealthy and 

 Duchess are particularly well loaded with 

 fruit this year. The Mcintosh Red apple, 

 which is one of the most satisfactory trees to 

 grow in this part of the country, is an annual 

 bearer at the Experimental Farm. It never 

 fruits heavily, but each year there is a 

 medium to good crop of fine apples, which 

 are all the better on account of the tree not 

 over-bearing. The hardiest apples have set 

 fruit best in most cases. 



The pears are making good growth this 



