570 BRITISH NORTH AMERICA 



BRITISH NORTH AMERICA 



the trees having been grown at the Central Experimental 

 Farm, Ottawa, from especially selected seed that had 

 been imported from Russia. The introduction of this 

 hardy Russian apple has done much for the advance- 

 ment of apple-growing in Manitoba. It furnishes a 

 hardy stock on which the tenderer standard varieties 

 may be grafted and their hardiness very much in- 

 creased. An effort has also been made to increase the 

 hardiness of some of the standard varieties by hybridiz- 

 ing them with Pyrus baccata. Several promising hybrids 

 have been produced in this way and are now being 

 grown to some extent in the province. (See page 557). 



Among the earliest attempts in fruit-growing in the 

 district of Winnipeg, may be mentioned those of the 

 late W. B. Hall, of Headingly. In the early sixties, 

 some not unsuccessful experiments were conducted by 

 him with currants, tomatoes, gooseberries, Siberian 

 crab-apples and rhubarb. The results were indeed so 

 satisfactory that he and others in the neighborhood 

 were induced to undertake fruit-growing on a limited 

 scale. Among other pioneers whose experiments on 

 fruit-growing have been of value, may be mentioned the 

 late Thomas Frankland, of Stonewall, A. P. Stevenson, 

 of Dunstan, and D. W. Buchanan, of St. Charles. Mr. 

 Stevenson has experimented with apples, plums, cher- 

 ries, grapes, gooseberries, currants, raspberries and 

 strawberries, and his untiring efforts have been a great 

 incentive to others. He has been very successful in 

 growing apples, particularly the hardy Russian sorts. 

 He has at the present time a number of the better 

 varieties of this class growing in his orchard, practi- 

 cally all of which are yielding good returns, his annual 

 crop being usually over one hundred barrels. The 

 various hardy crab apples also yield good returns. Mr. 

 Stevenson is convinced that apples can be successfully 

 grown in Manitoba if the proper varieties are chosen 

 and the proper conditions provided. 



The experimental farm at Brandon has accomplished 

 much for Manitoba horticulture. Hundreds of varie- 

 ties of the various classes of fruits from different parts 

 of America and Europe have been tested there and the 

 results published. In the month of April, 1899, about 

 500 fruit trees, consisting of apples, crab-apples, plums 

 and cherries, were placed under test at the experimental 

 farm. These included many of the large standard 

 varieties together with a number of hardy imported 

 kinds. Numerous varieties of grapes, currants, goose- 

 berries, raspberries, blackberries and strawberries were 

 also tested. Many of these plants did not survive the 

 first winter and in a few years only the hardiest sorts 

 were found to be alive. Since the first planting, many 

 other varieties of fruits have been introduced and 

 experimented with and much valuable information 

 has been gained. Among the numerous introductions 

 made was the Russian berry-crab, Pyrus baccata. Its 

 extreme hardiness makes it eminently well suited to this 

 country, where it is used as stock on which the less hardy 

 sorts are grafted for the purpose of increasing their 

 hardiness and thereby adapting them to an environment 

 that would otherwise be uncongenial to them. 



Small-fruit culture in the province of Manitoba has 

 always been attended with a fair degree of success. 

 Currants, gooseberries, red and black raspberries, and 

 strawberries have been grown since the early settle- 

 ment of the country. They yield profitable returns when 

 intelligently cultivated. They apparently possess an 

 inherent hardiness not shared by many tree fruits, 

 which renders them much more suitable for the severe 

 climate. It is only a matter of a few years until these 

 smaller fruits will be grown in all parts of the province, 

 in sufficient quantities to supply the local demand. 



Another phase of horticultural work to which con- 

 siderable attention is being given, is the decoration of 

 home- and school-grounds by the planting of ornamental 

 trees, shrubs and flowers. The prairie is bare and unat- 

 tractive and around many prairie homes there has been 



a lack of trees and shrubs. The work of beautifying the 

 surroundings of residences is one of the most necessary 

 steps in the horticultural work of Manitoba. Much 

 has already been done in the cities, towns and rural 

 districts by horticultural organizations to increase their 

 attractiveness by ornamental planting. 



Practically all garden vegetables, with the exception 

 of a few that require a long season, may be grown to a 

 high state of perfection. The richness of the soil and the 

 shortness of the seasons tend to give a flavor and tender 

 crispness to the vegetables not attainable elsewhere. 

 The heavy yields that may be obtained from these 

 gardens make vegetable-growing a very profitable 

 branch of horticulture, as there is an abundant demand 

 for vegetables in the home market. 



The work of fostering horticulture within the prov- 

 ince is borne largely by the Agricultural College and 

 certain societies; among the latter are the Manitoba 

 Hortjcultural and Forestry Association, the Brandon 

 Horticultural and Forestry Society, and others of a 

 more or less local character. The objects of these 

 societies are to bring together those persons interested 

 in horticulture, to assemble horticultural literature, 

 and to stimulate in every possible way a greater 

 interest in horticultural pursuits. Much good work 

 has been accomplished by these societies and to their 

 efforts is largely due the increasing interest that is 

 being taken in the various lines of horticultural work 

 within the province. 



There are several directions in which progress may 

 be made in Manitoba horticulture; for example, a bet- 

 ter selection of varieties; an improvement by breeding 

 and selection of wild and native fruits and varieties 

 grown in the country; and improved systems of culture. 

 Much is being done in plant-improvement in other 

 parts of the country, and Manitoba also offers an 

 excellent field for the improvement of native fruits. 

 Various wild fruits grow very abundantly in many 

 parts of the province, and if a combination could be 

 effected whereby the hardiness and productiveness of 

 these could be combined with the larger size and 

 better quality of the cultivated fruit, a great step in 

 advance would be achieved. p\ \\ BBODRICK. 



Saskatchewan. 



In the map (Fig. 661), all that part of Saskatchewan 

 that need be considered here is shown in the numbered 

 districts, the remainder farther north being still beyond 

 the reach of settlement, although many parts of it will 

 no doubt be found, amidst its lakes and forests, emi- 

 nently suited to the growing of farm and garden prod- 

 ucts, where now the lonely trapper and the mink and 

 marten roam. Districts Nos. 2, 3, 5 and 6 are mostly 

 bare prairie, being slightly wooded about some of the 

 hills, river-banks and coulees; district No. 1 has also 

 considerable prairie, but about the center is situated 

 the Moose Mountain Forest Reserve, while mixed prai- 

 rie and scattered groves of poplar extend over the 

 northeastern part and through districts Nos. 4, 5 and 

 9, with heavier timber towards the northeast in dis- 

 trict No. 7. 



The average annual precipitation has been about 17 

 inches, but hardly more than 15 inches in districts 

 Nos. 2, 3 and 6. Over 12 inches of this occurs from 

 April to September. The elevation is also greater in this 

 southwestern portion of the province, being 2,439 feet 

 above sea-level at Swift Current, 1,884 feet at Mooso- 

 min near the eastern boundary, and 1,432 feet at Prince 

 Albert on the Saskatchewan River in the north. 



The average mean temperature of Saskatchewan for 

 ten years has been: January, 2.9; February, 3.8; 

 March, 14.5; April, 37.4; May, 50.2; June, 57.5 ; 

 July. 63.3; August, 60.5; September, 50.1; October, 

 40.9; November, 25.0; December, 10.4 F. 



Horticultural industries have not yet been developed 



