51 THE DIRECTOR, EXPERIMEXTIL FARMS 



is. the additional results we have had in the crossing of the Siberian crab apple with 

 some of our best apples with the view of producing varieties of fruit which will be 

 hardy enough to stand on the open plains in any part of the Xorth-west or in northern 

 Ontario, and be large enough to be useful to the people. 



Q. You have a great deal of difficulty with that, don't you ? 



A. After trying almost every sort obtainable, a variety was got from northern 

 Siberia, known as the berried crab. Pyrus haccaia ; this produces fruit of the size 

 shown, (photograph produced for inspection of committee), with which we have now 

 had eight years' experience in the North-west, where it has been grown in the open, 

 and the trees have stood the test and come out hardy every year. Jt'he first cross of 

 that variety with some of our larger apples, has given us this series of nine sorts. 

 The fruit, as you will see, in these photographs (photographs produced) is much larger 

 than the parent crab, large enough to produce serviceable fruits for domestic use. 



By Mr. He yd: 



■ Q. This is No. 1 ? 



A. Yes. 



Q. Is this the life size ? 



A. These are all the actual sizes of the fruits accurately photographed for the pur- 

 poses of comparison. I have here a photograph of one of the most esteemed of the 

 crabs, the Transcendant, this is the actual size (photograph produced), and you will 

 observe that some of the new crosses are practically of the same size as the Transcen- 

 dant, while others are a little smaller. 



By Mr. Wihon: 



Q. Some of them are about the size of our ordinary crab here ? 



A. Yes. We have only yet fruited about 50 of these crosses, but have produced 

 between 400 and 500 of them. During the coming season we expect to have fruits 

 from perhaps 40 or 50 more. The crosses which have fruited are chiefly from early 

 autumn apples. It is probable that during the coming season fruit will be had from 

 crosses with some of the later keeping and more valuable sorts. The results thus far 

 obtained from these experiments are very encouraging, and I think the progress we 

 have made to have had nine from about 50 which have fruited, large enough to be of 

 value to the community, is a greater success than was anticipated. 



By Mr. He yd: 



Q. Will they reproduce themselves — these new varieties that you have fruited ? 



A. No; that is a point on which I am glad to have questions asked. When the 

 seed of such crosses is sown in most instances, in the young trees produced there is a 

 reversion towards the female, when the size will probably be smaller, that is the usual 

 experience, but there will occasionally, we cannot say how often, be a reversion to- 

 wards the male, which is likely to be associated with an increase in size. 



Q. Which is the larger apple in this case ? 



A. Tlie male is much larger. 



Q. Why not reverse it originally. 



A. I do not quite understand the question. 



Q So as to get the advantage of the male, the larger or stronger, in the first place? 



A. While you may bring the productive elements of the male and female together 

 you cannot control results, 



Q. It alv.ays has been uneertain ? 



