Ill 



trees so affected were the ones to die. The others, in some instances, lost nearly all 

 last season's wood ; but the majority showed less damage, and all fought bravely 

 during past season, for existence, and if from 12 inches to 2 feet of growth is any 

 indication, their vitality may not be much impaired. The more than usual snow- 

 fall this winter affords ample protection, and the melting snows in spring will no 

 doubt supply in abundance the necessary moisture to the roots. The reputed short- 

 lived Eussians, naturally of dwarf habit, may necessitate continual planting, and 

 perhaps we may aspire no higher than apple bushes ; yet the promise is, that from 

 these we shall have fruit, and the seeds hybridized by these northerners, with a 

 judicious sprinkling of Siberians, may give us the longer lived, tough iron-clad, 

 that will make fruit growing here a success. The varieties that so far have seemed 

 most at home here are Eussians-Lieby, 240 ; Eed-Cheeked, Eubetz Natliv, 109 ; Vor 

 Hibernal, 318; Eed Eepka, 200; Autumn-Streaked, 964; Eussian Green, 382; Eed 

 Yellow and Koursk Anis-Lords, 315 ; and Autonovka. 



Seedlings and Hybrids: Whitney, Soiree, Early Strawberry, Martha, Cherry, 

 Eed, October, Florence and a number of Gideons, unnamed seedlings. 



Plums— De Soto, "Wolf, Speer, Arab, that I have had for three years. The first 

 three blossomed last yeai', but late frost destroyed fruit. 



Blackberries — Snyder, Ancient Briton and Taylor. These all need covering, 

 but have borne some fruit. 



Easpberries — Turner and a Blackcap (without protection) have borne for two 

 years very well. 



Gooseberries — Houghton and Downing, just coming to bearing. 



Currants — Cherry, Eed Dutch, Victoria, White Grape, Long Bunch Holland, 

 Naples, Lee's Prolific and Wild Black. 



Strawberries — Crescent, Downers' Prolific, and some others not yet fruited. 

 Mulched with sti-aw. 



The Beaconsfield nurseries, through our Agricultural Department, some years 

 ago distributed a number of grape vines, some of which, in Winnipeg, I am told, are 

 bearing ; but not many efforts have been made in this direction. I have a few vines 

 from the Minnesota Agricultural College that I got last year. I am sure an apology is 

 due for the length of this paper, but on the question of fruit-raising Manitoba is 

 seldom heard from, and I beg you will excuse me for trespassing a little more upon 

 your patience by giving an abstract of the weather for 1889, as prepared by G. P. 

 Bliss, official observer in Winnipeg, and hope that in reading the accounts of 40° in 

 Manitoba it will be remembered that the effects of extreme cold are far more keenly 

 felt, both by man and plants, in a maritime climate than in a continental one — 20° 

 below in Quebec being about equivalent to our 40*^. I also wish to call attention 

 to the fact that the average mean temperature for che three winter months in 1889 

 was 9° above zero, being the same figure as given by Mr. Gibb as denoting the 

 climate of Kazan, in Eussia. 



