1905.] 



EX PE R I M E N T AL O RC HARDS. 



747 



In several European countries and in the Colonies orchards 

 have been established either by the State or by local authorities 

 for the purpose of illustrating by practical 



frequently with a view also to testing the suitability of different 

 varieties to local peculiarities of soil and climate. An account 

 of the steps taken in this direction in Hungary was given in this 

 Journal for March, 1904 (Vol. X., No. 4). In that country, State 

 seedling farms and model orchards have been established to 

 provide seedlings and grafting stems, whilst what are called 

 parochial orchards are planted along the roads and highways. 



In France a proposal to establish five model orchards in the 

 Department of Finistere has recently been approved on the 

 lines laid down in a Report by M. Souliere, the Departmental 

 Professor of Agriculture. The objects which such experimental 

 orchards are intended to serve include the testing of the best 

 varieties of fruit trees for grafting, the investigation of the best 

 local varieties as well as varieties grown elsewhere, and the 

 practical illustration of rational methods of planting, grafting, 

 training and cultivation of fruit trees. 



In order to avoid the expense of purchasing or renting land, 

 it is proposed to arrange with landowners for the use of the 

 necessary area on the condition that all expenses of planting, 

 cultivation, manuring, pruning, &c, be borne by the local 

 authorities, the fruit produced to belong to the proprietor and to 

 be gathered at his expense. It is estimated that by this means 

 an orchard of about 2\ acres could be planted with about 100 

 trees for the sum of ^18, whilst the expense in subsequent years 

 would be materially less. 



In the Province of Ontario eleven fruit experiment stations 

 and two sub-stations have been established on somewhat similar 

 lines. Instead of buying land, erecting buildings, and appoint- 

 ing employes in different localities, reliable fruit-growers have 

 been selected who possessed good orchards or plantations at 

 various places, covering fairly well the different soils and climatic 

 conditions of the province. These growers were asked to plant, 

 take care of, and report upon the varieties of fruit trees supplied 

 to them ; they received a grant of from ^30 to £35 a year, and 



Experimental 

 Orchards 



example the most approved methods of 

 planting and treatment of fruit trees, and 



