SOIL CULTURE, CEREALS AND FRUITS. 2? 



A. The small apple in fthe centre is [the 'seedling we started from the wild 

 Pyrus baccata, and by the crossings reforred^to the fruits have been brought up to 

 the size shown. They are useful fruits, valuable for jelly, and the large ones make 

 good apple sauce and bake well. 



By Mr. Wilson : 



Q. This small one is very like the Hawthorn ? 



A. Yes, that is the original wild form of Pyrus baccata. 



By Mr. Hurley : 



Q. Was the Wealthy apple you crossed with the common variety? 

 A. Yes sir, it was the ordinary Wealthy. 



By Mr. Wilson : 



Q. What is the numbering on this photograph for? 



A. The varieties aro numbered on the plate merely for convenience for refer- 

 ence. 



Q. Number " 1 " is not then the best there ? 



A. No. The numbering was not made from the standpoint of quality. 



TREE PLANTING ON THE NORTH-WEST PLAINS. 



Much interest has of late been manifested in this country in the subject of 

 forestry. This is a most important matter and one deserving the attention of every 

 statesman. The necessity of husbanding our timber resources, protecting them 

 against fire, and preserving a fair proportion of forest and wood land throughout 

 the Dominion is of the utmost consequence to the welfare of the people. One 

 important division of this subject relates to tree planting, and the need of trees for 

 shelter and protection is strongly felt in the North-west country, particularly in 

 the treeless districts. Persistent work has been carried on in this connection by 

 the experimental farms ever since their organization, and one of the experimental 

 farms, that at Indian Head, was purposely located on a bare prairie section of land, 

 where at that time there was scarcely a tree or shrub anywhere within sight, so that 

 a practical test might be made as to what could be done in successful tree planting 

 there. Before giving you the particular reMilts had on this prairie farm, let me 

 present to 3 T ou some details of the work done at the central farm in Ottawa to gain 

 information in reference to tree growth. At the Central Experimental Farm, in 

 1888, tree growing experiments were begun and a block of land 165 feet wide, 

 extending all across the west end of the farm was set aside for that purpose. A 

 narrower strip 65 feet wide has been similarly planted along the northern boundary 

 of the farm. This planting was continued year by year and completed in 1894. It 

 was not found practicable to complete this planting in one or two years. About 

 3,000 trees were planted in 1888, 7,700 in 1889, and continued after that from year 

 to year and completed in 1894. There are now growing in these forest plantations 

 about 21,000 trees, including all the more important timber trees which are hardy 

 in this climate. The objects in view in planting these forest belts at Ottawa were : 

 first, to test by actual experiment the relative growth in circumference and height 

 of a number of different sorts of trees when planted at different distances apart. 

 The distances chosen for this trial were 5 feet by 5, 5 feet by 10, and 10 feet by 10. 



Q. Were these trees planted in this way to stay ? 



A. They were planted in permanent plantations for experimental purposes. 

 The distance of 5 feet by 5 apart is commonly recommended in most of the north- 

 western States as the distance at which blocks of forest trees should be planted. 

 Some were planted 10 feet by 10 and others 5 feet by 10, and thus we have had the 

 opportunity of testing how the trees succeed under these different conditions. The 



