50 



originated since then, considered to be of especial merit and hardiness, 

 have been subjected to similar trials. 



In 1887, the year during which work on the Experimental Farms 

 was begun, seed was obtained from the Imperial Botanic Gardens, 

 St. Petersburg, Russia, of a small, wild, Siberian crab-apple, known 

 as the 'Berried Crab' Pyrns baccata. This crab grows in abund- 

 ance about the shores of the Baikal Sea and in many parts of Northern 

 Siberia. Young trees were raised from seed of this crab, and as soon 



The plum orchard in bloom, Central Farm. 



as the specimens were large enough for transplanting, some were 

 sent to Brandon, Manitoba, and others to Indian Head, Sask., and 

 in both places they were found to be entirely hardy. During a 

 trial of about twenty years the Berried Crab has never been injured 

 by winter and the trees have started from the terminal buds on the 

 branches every season. These trees have fruited abundantly for 

 many years, but the fruit of most of them is small, and acid, and in 

 some cases bitter. The trees are rather dwarf in habit, low-branched 

 and strongly built, with the fruit firmly attached to the tree. From 

 its general habit of growth, it is well adapted to resist the high \vinds 

 to which trees are often exposed in the northern prairies. After 

 four or five years' experience had thoroughly established the char- 

 acter of the ' Berried Crab ' for extreme hardiness, efforts were made 



