84 DOMINION EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 



Cover Crops in Orchard. — In an experiment with cover 

 crops, the land was cultivated at different intervals up to the 

 first week in July, so as to store as much moisture as possible, 

 and then one-third of the orchard was sown to rape, one-third 

 to buckwheat, one-third to rape and buckwheat mixed. Besides 

 taking up water from the soil, so as to ripen the wood of the 

 young trees, these cover crops helped to kill the couch grass 

 which was very thick on this piece of ground. For the latter 

 purpose, rape was easily the best. Buckwheat gives fairly good 

 results until fall, when it shells, the stalks dry up, and there are 

 lots of open spaces for the sun to go through. If the autumn 

 is warm and wet, this gives a chance to the couch grass to start 

 anew. With rape, the ground is well covered until after it is 

 frozen hard, as the first frosts do not affect this plant very much. 



Small Fruits, — In 1911, 90 black currant, 72 red currant, 

 18 white currant, 60 gooseberry, 168 raspberry bushes and 

 134 strawberry plants were put in. This is to be followed by 

 a few more varieties of the four first mentioned, whilst several 

 hundreds of the two last named will soon be set. 



Vegetables. — Over 200 varieties are tested annually, and 

 notes are taken as to dates of sowing, germination, pricking, 

 transplanting, blooming, also when ready to use, height and 

 weight of each lot pulled or picked. Seed is saved from some 

 of the best plants, a row being sown the following year from seed 

 of one plant only. This can be done only with a rather limited 

 number of vegetables, in Central Quebec, but it seems to be 

 important work, when seed of the same variety ot cabbage, for 

 instance, from different seedsmen, often shows such wide 

 variations. Vitality, which is of such importance in seeds for 

 our field crops, is of only secondary importance for vegetables. 

 For these, the question of being true to type seems to surpass all 

 others. No doubt, some improvement can be made in thi^ 

 direction by sowing seed separately from one plant only. 



Flowers. — From 100 to 125 varieties of annuals are tested 

 each year, and our flower garden is generally the admiration 

 of every one who visits the farm. Plants which bear the best 

 flowers are marked, and seed saved later, when possible. Each 

 plant is represented the following year by a separate row, and 

 whUst we do not expect, with this very simple method of selec- 

 tion, to achieve wonders, we may, nevertheless, gradually improve 

 a few varieties and obtain a | reater uniformity in some special 

 feature. 



Ornamental Grounds. — A definite plan of improving the 

 looks of the property, near the main road, has been decided 

 upon, but it may take a few years to complete the work, as the 

 regular force of men will do most of it, at odd times. When 

 finished, these improvements will make of the Cap Rouge 



