THE CANADIAN HORTICULTURIST 



\9 



Suggestions for W^orK at New Exper t Station 



J. "W. Crow, O.A.C., GuelpK 



THE establishment of a new experimental 

 farm in the Niagara district was mentioned 

 first in connection with plant-breeding. 

 It was thought that the Ont. Govt, should 

 undertake this work. In order to draw out dis- 

 cussion of this question through the press and 

 at fruit growers' meetings this winter, the 

 following is submitted. Others will no doubt 

 discuss the experimental and research work to 

 be undertaken. Plant-breeding in Ont. must 

 have 4 objects in view : 



1. The improvement of our present commer- 

 cial varieties with respect to their shipping 

 quahties and the production of new varieties of 

 superior excellence in this regard. This is the 

 crying need of the Ont. fruit industry to-day. 

 Our fruit is handicapped in the distant markets 

 in which we are compelled to sell because it does 

 not carry well and consequently arrives at the 

 door of that consumer in poor condition. Ship- 

 ping quahty is lacking in all early and mid- 

 season peaches; also in many otherwise excel- 

 lent plums, and in most grapes. Earlier peaches 

 as good as Crawford and as firm as Elberta; 

 plums like Reine Claude but of different season, 

 and compact bunching, mildew-proof grapes, 

 as firm as Lindley, are within the range of possi- 

 bility, and would reward all effort and outlay 

 in producing them. Many other lines of improve- 

 ment might be mentioned that will occur to 

 fruitgrowers 



2. The production of good varieties of sufficient 

 hardiness to withstand the vigorous climate that 

 prevails over the greater portion of this province. 

 Many who are not fortunate enough (horticul- 

 turally) to live in the region adapted to tender 

 fruits desire to grow their own plums, grapes, 

 cherries, etc., and it will be seen at once that 

 their interests are to a certain extent opposed 

 to those of growers in the more favored sections. 

 While the needs of the Niag. dist. growers should 

 occupy a large share of the attention of the plant- 

 breeder, plans for the future should be broad and 

 comprehensive, and everything possible should 

 be done on the new farm for both interests. 



The extent to which hardiness can be bred into 

 a plant is a matter of conjecture and remains to 

 be determined. In the light of recent knowl- 

 edge it would seem that this work can be car- 

 ried on to a greater or less extent in the Niag. 

 dist. It is conceded that selection within the 

 limits of the species can result in no change in 

 hardiness; the only alternative is cross-breeding 

 or hybridizing. At So. Dakota tlais crossing is 

 done in the greenhouse, because the tender 

 species which they desire to use will not stand 

 their winter unprotected, and because the high 

 winds which prevail make outdoor crossing 

 difficult and arduous. It would seem that the 

 crossing could as advantageously be done out of 

 doors within the habitat of the less hardy 

 species, and the new station is favorably situated 

 for much work in this direction. The actual 

 testing of the promising seedlings produced 

 would, in any event, require to be general 

 throughout northern sections. 



3. The production of new varieties of excel- 

 lent merit without regard to their shipping 

 quality or hardiness. Large quantities of this 

 class of fruit are already consumed in the fresh 

 state in the Niag. and Essex peninsulas, and 

 sold in the markets adjacent to them. Addition- 

 al large quantities are made use of by the canning 

 factories, and these 2 interests are practically 

 identical in the quality of fruit used. Extension 

 of season in either direction, so as to give a 

 better succession of high-class fruits throughout 

 the year, is much to be desired. Cold storage 

 facilities aid in lengthening the canning season 

 only in 1 direction, and good early varieties of 

 peaches, pears and plums would be most welcome 

 to the canner and to the home consumer. 



4. The improvement of fruits native to but 

 uncultivated in the more northern sections. Our 



native cherries have never been improved, and 

 the hardiness and productiveness of these and 

 of other fruits, such as blueberries, offers an 

 interesting field to the plant-breeder. This 

 work must be forwarded in the section to which 

 the fruits which it is desired to improve are 

 native, but it should be done under the direction 

 of the head of the plant-breeding department. 



There are many other problems arising out of 

 the foregoing, such as the production of disease- 

 resistant varieties, and of more suitable stocks 

 for grafting and budding, which require solution. 

 In addition to these the problems of the vegetable 

 grower and florist demand attention. The 

 breadth of the work and the importance of the 

 interests concerned merit generous treatment 

 at the hands of the government. The director 

 of the new station should be thoroughly capable 

 of directing the experimental and plant-breeding 

 work, and should be allowed a free hand in 

 doing so. 



No work in hybridizing can be undertaken at 

 the new farm until trees and plants reach bearing 

 age. In the case of the tree fruits this means 

 several years' time lost unless work can be begun 

 in other places. This brings to mind the experi- 

 ment stations and their stock of varieties already 

 in bearing. It is quite possible that excellent 

 use could be made of some of these. 



The Dept. of Hort. at the O.A.C. has made a 

 beginning in plant-breeding and has several 

 promising seedlings under test. Extended work 

 with fruits, flowers and vegetables is being plan- 

 ned for the future. The dept. would be pleased 

 to obtain results of accurate observations on 

 disease resistance. It is desired to find out if 

 there is variation in this respect within the 

 variety. If such is the case, selection alone 

 would probably bring about the desired end. If 

 such is not the case, the crossing of varieties, 

 which is a much more uncertain process, would 

 have to be resorted to. Information concerning 

 specific examples of resistance to mildew, scab, 

 rot or blight in varieties subject to these diseases 

 would be gladly received. 



Letters from Hort'l Societies 



The St. Thomas Hort'l Soc. was organized in 

 Jan., 1906, and we enrolled over 80 members. 

 Our first work was to start a lawn and garden 

 competition. We have been trying to get the 

 city council to beautify certain plots and to ac- 

 quire property for park purposes in the city. 

 In conjunction with the schools of the city, a 

 flower show was held on Sept. 22. No prizes 

 were offered, but through the school children a 

 large exhibit was secured. The Canadian 

 Horticulturist was given to each member and 

 bulbs were distributed in Oct. We expect to 

 distribute seeds next spring to the school chil- 

 dren and to our members. A committee of 2 

 of our members contributed seasonable articles 

 to our daily papers, for the information of mem- 

 bers. On Dec. 6, a public lecture was given by 

 P. M. Thompson, M.A., Science Master of the 

 Coll. Inst, on "Plant Societies." There was a 

 good attendance. We expect a strong society 

 next year. — S. Silcox, Pres. 



THE KINCARDINE SOCIETY 



The Kincardine Hort'l Soc.'s work the past 

 year has exceeded the work of any year of the 

 former 7. Its progress is steadily onward. 

 Every encouragement is given to plant for recre- 

 ation and profit. Nearly every garden and 

 home is embellished with plants of rare beauty 

 and merit. 



We have encouraged the culture of fruits, and 

 always place a fair proportion of fruit trees 

 bushes and vines on our premium list, as well 

 as plants and bulbs. We aim to give every 

 member many times more value than is got from 

 the membership fee of $1, as you will see by the 

 following list of trees and plants presented to 



the members- Fruit trees, 192; lilies, 108; 

 perennial phlox, 15; callas, 24; dahlias, 40; 

 gladioli, 150; tulips, 805; hyacinths, 240, 

 azaleas, 39; geraniums, 180; roses, 98; and 

 shrubs, 35, 



Our membership the past year was about 135. 

 We hope to have it over 150 the coming year. 



Our annual show was held on Aug. 30, and 

 was well patronized by young and old. From 

 the schools were about 2.50 pupils, and there was 

 a steady stream of visitors, many wishing that 

 the exhibition would be open the following day. 

 The flower show was free to all and a handsome 

 display. Many of the plants would be no dis- 

 credit to professionals. A very instructive lec- 

 ture was given by Prof. H. L. Hutt, with which 

 many of our local fruit growers and gardeners 

 were highly pleased. 



With carefulness and economy, the willing 

 efforts of our directors, the earnest zeal of our 

 secretary, the kindly recognition of our town 

 council, and the solid and financial aid of our 

 provincial government, a society has been built, 

 whose refining influence is seen and recognized 

 by town and country. This year we will give 

 as a premium to every member (in addition to 

 the flowers or fruits), the best, neatest and cheap- 

 est horticultural magazine in Canada — The 

 Canadian Horticulturist. — ^Wm. Welsh. 



Rind W^ords 



Many encouraging letters are being received 

 from our subscribers concerning the improve- 

 ments that have been made in The Canadian 

 Horticulturist within the last year. A few 

 of those just received are here given. Natur- 

 ally, it is encouraging to us to receive such 

 letters. Here they are: 



"Our society is well pleased with The Hor- 

 TictJLTURisT, and our members wish it every 

 success."— Robert Davis, Secy. Hespeler Hor- 

 ticultural Society, Hespeler, Ont. 



"I am delighted with the appearance of The 

 Horticulturist. It is one of the best month- 

 lies I know of on orcharding and the cultiva- 

 tion of fruit. Not only that, but the informa- 

 tion it gives on the marketing of apples is 

 worth everything to the fruit grower. I have 

 given a few copies of it to parties I thought 

 ought to have it." — ^John Spencer, Henrys- 

 burg, Que. 



' ' Here is one dollar as a renewal for your 

 magazine for two years. We are pleased with 

 the improvements and congratulate you upon 

 the able manner in which you advocate the 

 interests of the horticulturists. With best 

 wishes for your success." — R. Jack & Sons,. 

 Chateauguay Basin, Que. 



Of Interest to Fruit Growers 



Every one who grows fruit, either on a large 

 or small scale, will be interested in the adver- 

 tisement of The Fruit-Grower, St. Joseph, Mis- 

 souri, which appears in our columns. This 

 publication is issued monthly, is handsomely il- 

 lustrated, and comprises from 32 to 80 pages 

 each month, and all phases of fruit growing are 

 covered. The first four issues of 1907 will be 

 handsome special numbers, the January issue 

 devoted mainly to reports of meetings of horti- 

 cultural societies, February to spraying, March 

 to gardening and April will be the small fruits 

 number. Every reader of this paper who is in- 

 terested in fruit culture should take advantage 

 of the liberal offer of the publishers to send The 

 Fruit-Grower for three months on trial, abso- 

 lutely free. Read the advertisement and send 

 your name and address at once, mentioning this . 

 paper. 



On page 300, Dec. issue of The Canadian 

 Horticulturist, the orchid cuts should have 

 been transposed. 



Books For AH. We have listed in our book 

 catalog all the popular modern horticulturaL* 

 works, at the most reasonable prices. Send for - 

 a catalog. It's free • 



