m^m ll . .3 COLLECTION I BrvOCiv Ui^iVERSiTY i l:3RARY O V-»WL_L.L.O i iUiNi FORTY-SECOND ANNUaL R^l^dfef ' ^ OF THE Fruit Growers' Association OF Ontario 1910 (PUBLISHED BY THE ONTARIO DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, TORONTO.) PRINTED BY ORDER OF THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF ONTARIO Dec 8B556 'J^ /9/d TORONTO : Printed by L. K. CAMERON, Printer to the King's Most Excellent Majesty 1911. Printed by WILLIAM BRIGGS, . -37 Richmond Street West» TORONTO. To the Honourable JOHN MORISON GIBSON, K.C., LL.D., etc., etc., etc., Lieutenant-Governor of the Province of Ontario, May it Please Your Honour: I have the honour to present the Forty-second Annual Report of the Fruit Growers^ Association of Ontario. Respectfully submitted, James S. Duff, Minister of Agriculture. Department of Agriculture^ Toronto, 1911. ^ [3] CONTENTS. Page. Officers, Directors, Representatives and Committees 5 Financial Statement ^ Annual Meeting ^ President's address : J. E. Johnson 9 (Lime S'ulphur vs. Bordea'ux: Discussion 12 Orchard Fertilizers : Robt. Harcourt 22 Orchards in Prince Edward County: M. B. Clark 28 Orchardimg for Profit: B. J. Case 32 Resolution of Ontario Apple Shippers' Association 42 Difficulties in the Siuoccssful Sihrpmiemt of Fruits: W. H. Bunting 43 Extensio.n of Orchards : Robt. Thompson 52 Fire Blight Successif ully Comibatted : D. H. Jones 61 Cover Crops in the Ordhard : Prof. S. Blair 66 The Cider Industry: Louis Neunier 71 Resolutions • • '^ Profits from my Apple Orchard : R. R. Sloan 77 Orchard Profits in Georgian Bay District: J. G. Mitchell 78 Judging of Fruit at Exhibitions : Harold Jonks 81 W. F. Macoun 83 "What is the matter with Co-operation : S. E. Todd 90 Shipping Peaches to Great Britain : C. A. Dobson 97 OoM Storage foT Ocean Shipments: W. W. Moohe 100 Resolution re M'ClntoiS'h Apiple Memorial 108 Fbuit Prize List at Ontario Horticultural Exhibition, 1910 109 [4] Fruit Growers' Association of Ontario. Officers for 1911 President D. Johnson, Forest. Vice-President J. W. Smith, Winona. Secretary-Treasurer P. W. Hodgetts, Parliament Buildings. Directors : Division No. 1. — Wm. Alford, Ottawa. " 2. — (Harold Jones, Maitland. 3.— W. H. Dempsey, Trenton. " 4. — W. H. Gibson, Newcastle. 5. — Wm. Stainton, Oshawa. " 6. — 'L. A. Hamilton, Lorne Park. 7. — J. W. Smith, Winona. " 8. — ^A. Onslow, Niagara-on-the-Lake. " 9. — Jos. Gilbertson, Simcoe. " 10. — D. Johnson, Forest. 11.— tR. R. Sloan, Porter's Hill. 12.— F. M. Lewis, Burford. " 13. — Adam Brown, Owen Sound. Ontario Agricultural College: Prof. J. W. Crow. Auditor: D. F. Cashman, Parliament Buildings, Toronto. Representatives to Fair Boards and Conventions: Canadian National: Robt. Thompson, St. Catharines; P. W. Hodgetts, Toronto. London: D. Johnson, Forest; C. W. Gurney, Paris. Ottawa: R. B. Whyte, Ottawa; Harold Jones, Maitland. Ontario Horticultural Exhibition: W. H. Bunting, St. Catharines; J. E. Johnson, Simcoe; Elmer Lick, Oshawa; P. W. Hodgetts, Toronto. Committees: Executive: ViceiPresident and Secretary, with E. D. Smith, Winona, and J. E. John- son, Simcoe. Transportation: W. H. Bunting, St. Catharines; L. A. Hamilton, Lorne Park; R. W. Grierson, OsTiawa; E. D. Smith, Winona; R. J. Graham, Belleville; Wm. Randall, Grimsby; J. L. Hilborn, Leamington; J. E. Johnson, Simcoe, and the Secretary. Co-operation: J. E. Johnson, Simcoe; Elmer Lick, Oshawa; Robt. Thompson, St. Catharines; Adam Brown, Owen Sound; D. Johnson, Forest. Neiv Fruits: Prof. H. L. Hutt, Guelph; W. T. Macoun, Ottawa; J. W. Crow, Guelph; A. D. Harkness, and A. J. Logsdail, Jordan Harbor. Historical: A. McNeill, Ottawa; L. Woolverton, Grimsby; Harold Jones, Maitland; W. T. Macoun, Ottawa; W. Dempsey, Trenton; R. B. Whyte, Ottawa. TREASURER'S REPORT, 1910. JReceipts. Balance on hand, Dec. 31, IWD . $1,411 O-T Members' fees 261 75 Fruit Show : Sale o.f fruit I,3i77 91 Entry fees 100 60 Incidentals 1 50 Legislative grant 1,700 00 Interest 11 57 $4,8i64 40 EXPENDITUBES. Fruit SIhow: iGrants to special prizes $185 OO Refunds fruit sold 1,299 35 iLabor 2-51 85 Transportation, storage, etc. 358 33 Printing 13 00 Incidentals 19 65 Annual Meeting 284 57 Committees 207 58 Periodicals 343 50 Postage 75 00 Printing 25 50 Miscellaneous 281 64 Balance on hand 1,519 33 $4,864 40 Show : Cash for Special Prizes: County Northumberland and Durham $50 00 Leeds and Grenville 35 00 Norfolk 50 00 Ontario 50 00 •Cash to ExTiihitors : Norfolk F. G. A $568 75 F. R. Oliver 18 75 W. G. Watson 17 50 A. Armstrong 5 25 J. B. Guthrey 29 00 W. H. Stevenson 3 60 Isaac Rush 28 75 Oshawa F. G. A 326 25 ■Mrs. F. F. Reeves 2 25 Haliburton Women's Institute 1 25 Whitby Women's Institute 2 20 H. Jones 84 00 A. D. Campbell 10 00 Ontario Government 51 25 D. Whyte 2 50 W. H. Dempsey 5 25 J. G. Brown 10 50 W. H. Bunting 39 Oo Rush Brothers 22 00 St. Catharines Cold Storage 66 00 Mrs. T. Delworth 3 35 Mrs. J. -G. Wait 1 90 Lal)or: ■E. T. Reed $125 00 W. F. Kydd 40 00 R. C. Ferguson 51 85 E. T. Reed for students 35 00 Transportation and Storage: W. H. Harris & Co., 190'9 (storage) $8 74 S. Mcllroy (cartage) 1125 Manning Cold Storage (express and storage) . . 23 04 [6] $18'5 00 1,299 35 251 85 1911 FRUIT GiROWERS' ASiSOCIATION. W. H. Bunting (freight) 2 23 E. T. Reed (freight) 1'9 78 Dominion Express Co. (express) 9 92 Canadian Express Co. (express) 36 73 Norfolk F. G. A. (freight) 38 40 United Produce Co. (express and storage) 21 20 Manning Cold Storage (express and storage) .. 175 33 J. H. Hurd (cartage) 5 25 P. W. Hodgetts (freight) 1 29 Oshawa P. G. A. (freight) 5 17 35-8 33 Printing : Bryant Press, cards 13 00 Incidentals: Miss Mc'Master (post cards) $1 00 P. W. Hodgetts, meals, car fare, etc 7 70 Expenses Oif apple packers lOi 95 19 65 Total for Show $2,127 18 Annual Meeting: Travelling Expenses of delegates to Novem.her Convention, 1909: Thos. Berriman $2 85 W. J. Schuyler 2 95 P. A. Goring . 2 75 Jas. E. Parnall 3 10 W. S. Thompson ' 2 75 Robt. Thompson 2 75 C. E. Secord 2 75 A. Lawrie 4 50 H. T. Poster 1 30 W. P. Olds 2 60 W. D. A. Ross 5 40 R. E. Hamilton 2 90 Niagara District P. G. A 3 90 D. P. Cashman (reporting 1909) 50 00 Travelling expenses of delegates to November Convention, 1910: Norfolk P. G. A. delegates $37 90i E. P. Augustine 4 85 P. S. Wallbridge (Director's exp.) 10 70 B. J. Case (Lecturer) travelling expenses 16 30 W. S. Blair (Lecturer) travelling expenses ... 22 05 Supreme Court I. 0. P., rent of hall 20 00 Chas. Potter (Lantern) 7 00 Wilson Publis'hing Co. (Advertising) 12 00 Parmers' Advocate (Advertising) 5 60 MciLean Publishing Co. (Advertising) 11 6'7 J. H. Dunlop (Advertising) 12 00 Bryant Press (Programmes, cards, etc.) 34 00 $284 57 Committees : P. W. Hodgetts (Meals of Directors) $5 00 C. W. Gurney (Director, trav. exp.) 5 80 Jas. E. Johnson " " " 7 45 H. Jones " " " 16 30 R. B. Whyte " " " 18 00 . W. H. Gibson " " " 5 00 P. S. Wallbridge " " " 9 25 A. Onslow " " " 4 35 P. Metcalf " " " 10 20 A. Brown " " " 7 70 E. D. Smith " " " 2 40 J. L. Hilborn " " " 14 90 THE REPORT OF THE No. 32 Jas. E. Johnson (Co-op. trav., etc.) D. Johnson (Co-op. trav., etc.) E. D. Smith (R. R. Commission) E. D. Smith (R. R. Commission, Toronto) D. Johnson (Western Fair. Com.) W. H. Bunting (Various meetings) Periodicals : Periodicals for members . . . Postage : Mrs. Hubertus Printing : Bryant Press (Letterheads) Wm. Briggs (Envelopes) .. Miscellaneous : Exchange Pomological meeting, C. A. Hesson (Expenses) G. T. R. Excursion J. H. Dunlop (Wreath) Dominion Guarantee Co Aflaiiation fee 5 45 10 00 19 65 5 40 3 10 57 63 $207 58 343 60 75 00 9 00 16 50 25 50 $0 45 199 99 50 70 15 50 10 ao 5 00 0Q1 fil Fruit Growers' Association of Ontario, ANNUAL MEETING. The fifty-first annual meeting of the Fruit Growers^ Association of Ontario was held at the Temple Building, Toronto, on the 16th and 17th of November, 1910. Mr. James E. JoHKso^■, the President, called the meeting to order at ten o'clock on AVednesday morning. PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS. Ja^[ks E. Johnson-, Simcoe. As an Association we again meet tliis fifty-first anniversary to review the past, and, with the aid which past experiences have furnished us, to plan to carry oui a future policy of improvement. The past record of this Association has fully demonstrated the fact that these meetings are not selfish but of a broad, liberal type, obtaining and disseminating information of the greatest value. There are many subjects on the programme of this meeting which will not receive the time they are justly entitled to, but will receive such consideration of time as will enable us to perfect our plans for the most important subjects for dis- cussion at our Institute Fruit Meetings held in our counties during the winter months, and in preparing this programme it w^as the aim of your Secretary and President to have a discussion at the end of each subject, in which discussion T ask you to take a part. I helieve the man who learns the most at these meetings is the one who tells the most. What he gives he gets back manifold. In reference to the work of the Association this year, this has been, of course, largely in the hands of our committees. As you know from the price lists sent out and other reports, the co-operative committee has been active in assisting the local associations in their purchase of materials. This committee has worked with the Co-operative Fruit Growers along these lines. In conjunction Avith Mr. Putnam, of the Institutes Branch, we have assisted with a large number of fruit institute meetings held all over the Province during the past year. The Transportation Committee has been at work, but under somewhat of a disadvantage as the Railway Commission has not yet given any decision in respect to the express situation. This has been rather a serious matter and the Association ought to in some way press the matter to a conclusion. The Chairman of the com- mittee, Mr. Bunting, has been gathering definite infonnation in respect to pilfer- ing of packages, which was quite a serious matter in the Niagara District this year. He and the other members of the committee have also been watching the general express situation and the matter will be fully discussed at the convention. The special committee appointed in reference to the judging standards for fruits has also, I believe, been working under the direction of Mr. Macoun. A special discussion of the results of their work will form a part of this programme. The Horticultural Exhibition, which now forms one of the leading features of our year's work, was for 1909 a very successful venture. The exhibits were wel' up to the mark in every respect, those of the box packages being especially good. The Association took entire charge of the receival and storage of all exhibits and [9] 10 THE REPORT OF THE No. 32 the placing of fruit where the parties owning the same could not attend the Show. The fruit at the close of the exhibition was sold at a price of $2 per box and $4.50 per barrel for all Jfruit that was packed, including both Falls and Winters. The proceeds from the sale of the prize fruit which remains the property of the Associ- ation, covered all expenses of transportation of exhibits, cold storage, cartage, labor, placing the exhibits and other incidental expenses of the Show. The Association is again looking after this year's exhibition along the same lines, but with some additions to the prize list which it is hoped will render the Show even more educational. Special prizes have been arranged for packing of apples in boxes as well as for five-box displays of fruit. Some additional varie- ties have been added in the other sections so as to have the display more attractive. The opening up of special apple shows in various Provinces and States has brought up the Question as to whether this Association should not now carry on a show entirely devoted to the apple here in Ontario. The advertisement which would accrue would be far greater than we are now gaining from the preseat Show, which is of necessity called a Horticultural Exhibition. The apple industry should be large enough in the Province to support such a show. British Columbia has led the way this year by inaugurating an exhibition which is claimed to be larger than any other show previously held on this continent. Ontario must not fall behind, and with her extent of orchards should certainly be able to put up as good an exhibition of this kind as British Columbia with her limited area of orchards. The Orchard Meeting held by this Association at Burlington this past sum- mer was of great value, and by the large attendance and interest taken, our Associ- ation is justly entitled to hold several of these orchard' meetings this coming year. I may ask that you as fruit growers from your respective counties do not leave all the work of suggestions to our iSecretary. but take a live interest in your own county, and interview our Secretary if you wish such a demonstration held some- time during the summer. The growers and packers of oranges, lemons, pine apples and box apples are endeavoring to put up each year a more attractive and superior article. An attractive substitute is taken in preference to a scabby, ill-appearing apple, and we must at least keep posted or the king of fruits in the East will be compelled to take a lower position with diminished consumption and declining popularity. The apple business in the Province of Ontario for the past few years has been on the decline, caused by: 1. Insects and fungus diseases in unknown quantities attacking our orchards. 2. Careless growers not giving their orchards proper care. 3. Apple purchasers purchasing these uncared-for orchards. 4. The Department of Agriculture of the Dominion of Canada being unable to get sufficient funds to employ the required numher of Inspectors to enforce the Friiit Sales Act, at the point of shipment. Many of our careless growers will not spray until they are unahle to sell their apples for barreling or boxing, as their policy is to lump their orchards for the highest consideration each year. I should offer a suggestion that the fruit growers of Ontario would do well to appoint a committee to interview the Honorable James Duff, Minister of Agriculture, re the passing of a provincial law for the inspection of our fruit, and that the In- spectors so appointed also act as instructors and thus encourage the growers in the Province in our future fruit industry. With this improved system our apples grown in the Province of Ontario will soon be reaching the Far West apple con- suming markets in attractive packages. Our possibilities as apple growers, with 1911 FRUIT GiROWERS' ASiSOCIATION. 11 our cheap value of land, soil and climatic condition, arc unequalled in the world. This is splendidly demonstrated by the beautiful display of apples at the Horticul- tural Exhibition now in process at the St. Lawrence Arena, which will certainly elevate the standard of the apple industry in this Province. This annual exhibi- .tion has now been carried on for seven years, each year advancing in quality, im- proving in packing and growers' display. The committee in charge of the exhibit of Northumberland and Durham have a beautiful exliibit of which every resident in the Province of Ontario should be justly proud, especially the residents of these two counties. The county fathers did good work in granting to this committee the sum of $200 towards this exhibit, the value of which cannot be estimated. We wish them success in securing a larger grant next year. The St. Catharines Cold Storage Company are also to be congratulated" on their annual exhibit. They in the past seven years have done more than any other body of fruit growers towards the success of fruit exhibits and extension of markets. The counties of Leeds and Grenville, Ontario, Prince Edward and Norfolk are assisting materially in this Horticultural Exhibition. The Department of Agriculture of the Dominion of Canada has a neatly ar- ranged exhibit of the far north apple district from their Experimental Farm at Ottawa. The educational exhibits from Jordan Experiment Station and Collingwood furnished by the Department of Agriculture of the Province of Ontario are en- titled to more than passing remarks. The hand of death has dealt quite severely with us during the past year by the irreparable loss sustained by this Association and this Province in the death of three of our past Presidents, Mr. A. M. Smith, Mr. Murray Pettit, and Mr. Wellington, whose names stand first in the history of fruit growers in this Domin- ion. Only last year the former passed his fiftieth year of membership, an event which received fitting recognition from our members. Again as if to add to the bitterness of our loss comes the death of one of our most promising young members, Mr. H. S. Peart, Director of our Fruit Experimental Station. Cut down in the prime of his manhood, called from a work of value and usefulness only well begun, his untimely removal, if only by its contrast with those already referred to be- co-mes, if possible, a greater source of deep regret. In conclusion I wish to express my appreciation of the valuable services ren- dered by our Secretary, Mr. P. W. Hodgetts, who by his untiring efforts as Business Manager lias made this Horticultural Exhibition such an educational success, being only a small portion of the valuable work he is doing for the Fruit Growers^ of Ontario. Let us one and all render him a helping hand. Mr. Grierson (Oshawa) : There is a matter I would like to speak of, and that is whether we should appoint a deputation to interview the Minister of Agri- culture of the Province with reference to appointing inspectors. Do you think the Inspectors would conflict with the Inspectors appointed under the Dominion Act? The President : That is a point it will be necessary to work out very care- fully. British Columbia has a provincial law, and I believe Ontario also could work in conjunction with the Dominion in connection with this work. I should think it might be worked out quite successfully. Mr. McNeil: They could do the same with regard to the fruit as with the fisheries. They have inspectors both for the Dominion and the Province. The President then called on the Secretary to read the Financial Report. The Treasurer read the report and on motion of Messrs. Grierson and Jones the same was adopted. The report appears on page 6. 12 THE REPOIIT OF THE Xo. 32 APPOINTING A NOMINATING COMMITTEE. The President called for the appointment of committees, the first being the Nominating Committee, and named Mr. A. McNeil and Mr. F. G. Stewart as two of the Committee, the other three to be named by the meeting. Mr. Robert Thompson, Mr. Wallbridge, and Mr. Harold Jones were proposed. Considerable discussion ensued. The President: I would like to get the voice of the meeting on the point as to whether the six retiring directors be on the nominating committee, or whether two should be (appointed by the Chair and three by the members. The President put the question to the meeting, and after a vote was taken, declared that the retiring directors could not be re-nominated. The President suggested, however, that six members retiring should help the Nominating Committee in any way they could. A YEARNS FURTHER EXPERIENCE WITH LIME SULPHUR VS. BORDEAUX. Mr. R. R. Waddle (Simcoe) : The subject under discussion is a year's further experience with Lime Sulphur vs. Bordeaux. As far as the first spraying goes it seems to be generally admitted that all should use Lime Sulphur, which will con- trol the fungus best if used in the proper time, but if neglected until the leaves peep out about a quarter of an inch you will fail to control it. This year I have been through several orchards in three counties, and ' I failed to find any proof that three sprayings of lime sulphur for the fungus is any better than one spray- ing of lime sulphur and two of Bordeaux. In a close examination of some of the orchards sprayed three times with lime sulphur I found one 90 per cent, free from fungus, while the adjoining orchard, which received the same formula, would have fungus on thirty per cent, of the fruit. In examining the orchards sprayed with Bordeaux I found they differed in the same way, whether from lack of thoroughness, difference in time of spraying, or difference in preparing the formula, it is hard to explain. After all we can figure that the lime sulphur has a few points the better of the Bordeaux for fungus, because, first, it will not cause the fruit to rust; second, we can prepare home-boiled concentrate lime sulphur a little cheaper. Of course this amounts to very little in comparison in spraying for fungus. Now, the only way I would pass an opinion as to which is the best would be to see two like machines in an orchard at the same hour using the two different formulas and watching the results. W. F. Kydd (CoUingwood) : As some of you know% the Department of Agri- culture took charge of six orchards in the Township of Nottawasaga this summer, and it is from the results shown from six orchards that I will speak. The first spraying was done with lime sulphur when the leaves began to come out, just peep- ing forth. The material did not come quite soon enough, and we w^ere not able to do all our orchards with 1 to 10. Half the first orchard was done 1 to 10, and the second half was done 1 to 20. We were very sorry afterwards we did not continue the whole thing 1 to 10, because we found we did no damage, but we were afraid we might bum the foliage. The people in that locality were disappointed because we didn't burn the trees. (Laughter.) The next spraying was done all lime sulphur, 1 to 40 with the exception of the halves of two orchards, and they were done with Bordeaux. The Bordeaux was 15 per cent, lime to the barrel, and I 1911 FliUIT GE0WEK8' A8S0C1ATI0X. 13 could see no differeiu-e in the cleanness ol' the apples either from scabs or worms,- whether it was Bordeaux or lime sulphur. We had no rust to speak of at all, in fact none. Now, the proof of the pudding is the eating of it, and our applet were 85 per cent. No. 1. Probably you will say, how could you get that with only- two sprayings. In the first spraying the trees got four gallons of material per tree, and the second spraying after the blossoms fell olf about five. Now, I have seen a number of orchards sprayed, in my travels this year, and I do not think they had enough material put on them. That is one of the things I think is neglected. This old fashioned way of only putting on a nice little mist is not as effectual as drenching the tree. Now, I think I have taken enough of your time, and I thank you for listening to me. I may say the first spraying was done when the leaves were peeping out and the last when the hlossoms were just out, and it was plastered on as if it was put on with a trowel. M. C. Smith (Burlington) : The Secretary or the President notified me that I was to have five minutes to say what I had to say and I did not think it was necessary to prepare an address. I thought probably I could last that long. Now, you all know I am a lime and sulphur man. I have done probably as much spraying with lime and sulphur as any man in Ontario, and 1 have had ver}' good results. I could instance in our own orchards this year. In one orchard in Burlington, when the demonstration was held in September, we bagged almost 1,100 barrels from eight acres, and I think there were only two spoiled apples found in that quantity — not more. One gentleman from Simicoe found one, and the bagging man said there was one more spoiled apple found, and I gave particular instructions to keep all the spoiled apples. Now, I have travelled very extensively this year throughout the apple-growing section of Ontario, and I have failed to find any Bordeaux sprayed apples that were as clean. T have seen a good many orchards sprayed with Bordeaux that were practically clean, but I believe the cleanness of the fruit depends on the thorough- ness of the application. I have no doubt the Bordeaux w^ill control the blight scab, but you have the disagreeable feature of burning. I have seen some very beautiful orchards of apples this year and in my opinion they were very badly damaged from Bordeaux. I am speaking of Simcoe. Mr. Johnson, of course, disagrees with me as to the harm that burning does the apples, but as an apple buyer, it must appear more would be paid for apples that did not have that hurn or rust on. A Member: Did you observe a good many orchards where the apples were burned where there was no spraying with Bordeaux or other things? Mr. Smith : I did not. I noticed a little rust sometimes. If the stem end of an apple happens to hold a little water you might get a little rust that way, but there is a great difference between rust from water and rust from burning. I believe further that lime and sulphur puts a bloom and a freshness on apples that you cannot get from Bordeaux, and I believe it is a greater stimulant to the fruit, and I believe the apples will hang on better. I might say we just finished picking out Spies last Saturda3^ and in one orchard where we packed over a thou- sand barrels of Spies I don't believe there was twenty bushels of apples on the ground. With all the wind and storms we have had it didn't seem to blow them off. In my opinion a man can get more absolutely clean fruit with lime and sul- phur. It has been admitted by the friends of Bordeaux that you must use lime and sulphur for the first spraying, and I believe if you follow that up with 1 to ,30 or 1 to 35 you will do better work with lime and sulphur, and you will do it cheaper, and get better fruit. The growers have got to learn tlioroughness be- 14 THE EEPORT OF THE Xo. 32 fore they are going to get good fruit, and if a man has spoiled apples it is simpl}^ because he didn't cover them with the spray. In Nova Scotia this year lime and sulphur was used first, and the only good apples they have got is where they were so sprayed. • I have some photographs taken by the Nova Scotia Government, which you can see, of apples sprayed with lime and sulphur, and unsprayed, and Bordeaux sprayed. The Bordeaux did not seem to control the fungus this year and the lime and sulphur did. We always applied arsenate of lead for all the spies first.' I sprayed four times using about nine, ten or eleven to thirty before the blossoms opened, and immediately after the blossoms had burst with the same mixture, and probably about a month before I finished. A Member: What portion of arsenate? Mr. Smith: Two pounds to forty gallons. A Member : Did you try any arsenate of lime at all ? Mr. Smith : No, I did not. I used it two years ago. A Member: Did you find any injury? Mr. Smith: I don't know that I did particularly. I used it in Bordeaux; J didn't use it in -the lime and sulphur. A Member : Do you use hard water or soft water ? Mr. Smith: Used one or the other. I didn't notice any difference. I use both generally. A Member : How many gallons per tree ? Mr. Smith: I would say from eight to ten gallons a tree. They are large trees. I would want the trees drenched, and I like to spray with high pressure, and put lots of material on. I don't believe in this fine misty spraying. I believe in a high pressure nozzle so that you can drive it and cover your tree. A Member : How much did you put on the first spraying ? Mr. Smith : Five or six gallons to a tree, and later when the foliage is on, and the blossoms and fruit, it takes more material. It depends on the size of the tree. I use the Bear nozzle, as it drives a little farther than the others. A Member: Is the strongest 1 to 10? Mr. Smith : You can use 1 to 10, or 1 to 11 even, when the leaves show like little lumps. There is no danger of burning at that time. You would think the leaves would be more tender, but I have sprayed when they were out half an inch, and I have never had any burning, and I sprayed nearly every day it was possible to spray. I never saw one burned apple. I found I could control the scab abso- lutely with 1 to 30 or 1 to 35. A Member: When did you use the arsenite of lime ? Mr. Smith: Two years ago I used some in the Bordeaux formula, but I found the arsenate of lead to do better work. It is more easily prepared and it is more regular, and I might also say that applies to lime and sulphur. I would like to see every fruit grower test his lime and sulphur, and then he would know what he was getting. You can't have any variation with commercial lime and sulphur if you test the material, you know just exactly what solution you want, and if you are making Bordeaux you can't get two barrels to test alike. You might get variation in your apple scabs in that way. A Member: How often do you spray ? Mr. Smith : I like to spray four times, but one five acre orchard that never was sprayed before I sprayed twice and had absolutely clean fruit, and the five acres was sold for $1,375 on the trees. A Member: What time did you spray ? 1911 FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION. 15 Mr. Smith : Just before the blosisoms opened and just after. I couldn't get to it, as it was wet, and I just sprayed it twice. A Member : Do you think the season would m-ake any difference ? Mr. Smith : You have to spray at the particular time the blossom is ready. A Member: I mean for the quantity of scab ? Mr. Smith : Well, this is a very spotty year. A Member : Do you notice some seasons in a great many orchards the worms bore in the side ? Mr. Smith: I did notice that. I noticed the worms working as late as September in the side of the apple. I don't believe it is the moth does it. I absolutely control the moth in the blossom. We hardly find any at all, and we grow 3,000 barrels of apples. We had some side worms. A Member: How deep did they go in? Mr. Smith : From an eighth to a quarter of an inch, or sometimes farther. They go just inside the skin, apparently. A Member: Some of the gentlemen think with those side holes the worms go in? Mr. Smith : No, you can look and find the end of it. The apple worms bore inside. A Member : They might get in the apple after they were barreled ? Mr. Smith: Possibly, if they were around. A Member: Do you think that is a different worm? Mr. Smith: I do; yes. Mr. Pattison": I went up to the Simcoe District, Norfolk County, and saw that worm, and all the growers had that opinion. They got two specimens of the Codling moth, and two specimens of that worm, and put them under a micro- scope, and they were exactly the same worm except in size, and the small worm had a black head instead of a red one, and I came to the conclusion that that was a Codling moth in the embryo state of development, and Mr. Caesar, who had studied the same thing, came to the same conclusion. Mr. Smith : Well, one of the professors in Washington came to a different conclusion, so there it is. If you spray three times you can get good fruit, and a year like this is the best to do it. Of course if a man has a very large orchard, he probably will have to start to spTay a little earlier in order to get over it inside of a month, but I generally wait until they get to the size of a marble or hickory nut before I give them that fourth spraying. I want to get it on the outside of the apple in order to protect it from fungus and that apple worm. A Member: What is the object of that second spraying? Mr. Smith: The fungus develops more just at that time than it does earlier. You want to kill the fungus spores, and you kill more just before tHe blossom opens than afterwards. The first spraying vsdll control the fungus to a certain ex- tent, but that particular spraying is more for scale or oyster shell and blister mite. Mr. Campbell (Morrisburg) : I come from the St. Lawrence Valley, Dundas County, where the apple crop flourishes to perfection, that is, the Mcintosh and the Fameuse. I think if we control the scab on those two varieties we do a good deal. Now, I have been doing some work with those two sprays, and I am an un- biased investigator. I have watx^hed pretty closely nine or ten orchards this sum- mer, and in some of those orchards both sprays were used. In three of them just the Bordeaux was used, and I think in three of them just the lime and sulphur was 16 THE REPOR^I^ OF ^IMIK Xo. 32 used, and so far as results go we could see but very little difference. In orchards which were never sprayed before, and I think we plastered it on, we did not get the apples absolutely clean. Probably ^fr. Smith will say that we did not put it on thick enough, but at any rate we did not get them absolutely clean. However, I think they got excellent results, and the growers were- exceedingly well pleased. In regard to the injury done, I may say that in the orchards sprayed with Bordeaux at one season of the year there seemed to be a very great deal of injury. One man who had a Mcintosh orchard of three acres, and he had never sprayed at all, came in one day along in June or the beginning of July, and he spoke in very strong language against the spraying with Bordeaux. He thought there wasn't an apple in his orchard that wasn't injured, and he would just as soon have them damaged with the scab as with the Bordeaux. However, we let him talk, and he sold his orchard afterwards for a very good price, and the buyer never noticed it, and he had been a buyer of some years' standing, so he seemed better satisfied. When Mr. Hodgetts communicated with me in this matter I wrote to this man and asked him to get me some damaged apples, but he told me he had looked over two barrels and couldn't find any. It seems to pass off pretty well, but does not entirely. Now, in orchard spraying with both materials, as I said before, we could see but ^ ery little difference in the results. Perhaps if we had taken areas and counted up the trees we might have seen something in favor of either one or the other. I may say, though, that the foliage was certainly injured to some extent by the use of Bordeaux. We noticed it particularly in a Fameuse orchard. Some sprayed with lime and sulphur (Mcintosh apples which went to Britisli Columbia), re- flected credit on Ontario. Two other men used lime and sulphur and Bordeaux. Two men who have been spraying for some years have apples pretty nearly clean. They got more injury from the Bordeaux, and they are inclined to use lime and sulphur. A YEAR'S FURTHER EXPEIUENC^E W ITH LIME-SULPHUR VS. BORDEAUX MIXTURE. L. Caesar, Department of Biology, 0. A. C, Guelph. In dealing with the comparative values of lime-sulphur and Bordeaux mix- ture we must consider them first as spring washes and second as summer washes. Lime-sulphur vs. Bordeaux Mixture as a Spring Wash. x\ny person, so far as I can see, who has studied this question, and observed the results this year and for several years back, will readily agree that for the first application, the one just before or as the buds are bursting, lime-sulphur is much the superior spray. This is because it not only does all at this season of the year that Bordeaux mixture can do, namely, destroy the early spores of such diseases as Black Rot Canker, Pear and Apple Scab, Black Knot, Brown Riot and Peach Leaf Curl, but it also does a great deal more in that it keeps under thorough con- trol at least three of our worst insect pests- — San Jose Scale, Oyster-shell Scale, and Blister Mite. What a boon this is to the fruit-growers can only be estimated by visiting orchards where one or more of these pests flourish ; and we must not forget that Oyster-shell Scale and Blister Mite have now spread over almost the whole Province, while San Jose Scale is slowly but steadily extending its boundaries. 1911 FKUIT (i ROWERS' AS'SOCIATIOX. 17 L Lime-sulphur vs. Bordeaux as a Summer Wash. Passing on to the really debatable point, of which is the best spray for fruit trees after the foliage is out, I shall first give my own experience in spraying this year, and then draw some general conclusions, based on these and previous experi- ments, and on information acquired in various other ways, such as correspondence, travel, and conversation with fruit-growers. I sprayed two orchards this year and partially sprayed a tliird. One of these belonged to Colonel McCrae, and was situated about two miles from Guelph. The trees were from twenty-five to fifty years of age, had never, so far as I know, been sprayed before, and had received but little, if any, pruning for several years. Most of the orchard was in sod. About one-third of the trees were left as a check; the other two-thirds received three thorough applications of lime-sulphur. No Bor- deaux was used in this orchard. The first application was just as the buds were ready to burst, at the strength of about 1 to 10 (hydrometer reading of from 1.030 to 1.035 specific gravity). The second application was just before the blossoms opened, at 1 to 40 (hydrometer reading of about 1.008), plus 2 pounds arsenate of lead. The third application was just after the blossoms fell, with the same inixtures and strength as the second. 1. Scab. — Unsprayed trees, 30 to 95 per cent, scabby. (Almost every apple oil the Snows was scabby). Unsprayed foliage, very scabby; some of the crab apple trees lost much of their foliage in July with this fungus. Sprayed trees, 0 to 2 per cent, scabby. Snow apples even in sheltered parts of the orchard were beautifully clean. Sprayed foliage, just as clean as the fruit. 2. Wormy Fruit. — Unsprayed trees lost most of their fruit from fungus and worms. Sprayed trees, 5 per cent, wormy. Fruit hung on well throughout season. 3. Rnsseting of Fruit. — Xo sign of any injury from the spray, the fruit being glossy and well colored. 4. Injury to Foliage. — xsTo perceptible burning; on the contrary, foliage was a rich green, clean and healthy, a great contrast to unsprayed trees. The second orchard sprayed was the experimental orchard at Jordan Harbor. This was not so thorough a test in some ways as the McCrae orchard, because the varieties were less subject to scab, being chiefly Baldwin and R. I. Greening, wdth a few Spy, Ben Davis and King trees, whereas there were several Snow trees in the McCrae orchard. The dates of spraying this orchard were somewhat different. The first appli- cation, given under the late Mr. H. Peart's directions, was before the buds burst, with lime-sulphur, and was, I believe, thoroughly done. The second was just after the blossoms fell, and was under my directions. In this application I used on half of the orchard lime-sulphur, 1 to W, plus 2 lbs. arsenate of lead; on one row of 15 trees the same strength of lime-sulphur, with arsenite of lime instead of arsenate of lead; on half of the remaining rows Bordeaux mixture, 3, 3, 40, plus 2 lbs. arsenate of lead; on the rest Bordeaux mixture about 2, 2, 40, plus a little more than 1 lb. of arsenate of lead. This last part was the first to be sprayed and the weaker wash was due to mistaken information at first as to the capacity of the spray tank. About three weeks later the whole orchard, except three trees at one end of each row, received another application with lime-sulphur, 1 to 40, plus 2 lbs. arsenate of lead. This third spraying seemed to make very little differ- ence in the results. 2 F. n. 18 THE REPORT OF THE Xo. 32 Results. 1. Scab. — Unsprayed fruit, 5 to 50 per cent, scabby. Unsprayed foliage, 20 to 90 per cent, scabby. Sprayed fruit, 0 to 2 per cent, scabby. Sprayed foliage, 1 to 3 per cent, scabby. Note. — No difference in amount of scab could be seen in the different parts of the orchard, each mixture, even the weak Bordeaux, having given practically scab-free fruit. 2. Wormy Fruit. — Unfortunately I have not yet received the results of the count of clean and wormy apples that Mr. Hodgetts, at my request, gave orders to have made on twelve representative trees situated in different parts of the orchard, but judging from my own observations on September 15th I think the fruit will average about 87 per cent, free from worms of any kind. 3. Russeting of Fruit. — None of the fruit was badly russeted, but there was decidedly more russeting on both the Bordeaux plots than on the lime-sulphur, the latter apparently being very little, if any, more russeted than unsprayed trees. 4. Injury to the Foliage. — In the row on which arsenite of lime and lime- sulphur was used, 5 per cent, or more of the leaves were rather severely burned, though no permanent injury was done. In the rest of the orchard there was some burning to be seen on most of the trees, but not" nearly so much as where the arsenite of lime was used, and not enough to cause any of the leaves to drop. It was somewhat worse on the Bordeaux plot than on the lime-sulphur, and was just as severe on the trees sprayed with the weak Bordeaux as witli the stronger. In addition to the spraying of these two lorchards, I sprayed part of the Ciollege orchard at Guelph, chiefly as an additional test of whether arsenite of lime with lime-sulphur would burn the foliage. This mixture was used on the trees just before the. blossoms opened and again after they fell, and was heavily applied, to make la thorough test. Results. 1. From the spraying before the blossoms opened, no burning of foliage, or so little that it was scarcely perceptible. 2. From the spraying after the blossoms dropped (Codling Moth spray), very severe injury to both the foliage and young fruit of Montreal Beauty and Hyslop Crabs and to Salome and one or two other varieties of apples. Several other varieties of apples were less seriously injured, but more than one would care to risk season after season. C0!TCLTr;70^'S BASED OX ThTS AND LaST YeAR's EXPEEIMEISTTS, AND ALSO ON Information Gained by Travel^ Correspondence, etc. 1. Either Bordeaux mixture or lime-sulphur will thoroughly control the or- dinary fungus diseases of the orchard, one apparently being just about as effective in this respect as the other. 2. One mixture remains on the foliage and fruit just about as well as the other. 3. There is very little difference in the price as a summer spray. Bordeaux mixture, 4, 4, 40 formula, costs 5 cents a lb. for bluestone and 1/2 cent for lime, 1911 FRUIT GROWERS' ASiSOCIATION. 19 4X5 = 20 + 4X1/2 = 2 + about 3 cents for labor in preparation = total of 25 cents per bbl. Commercial lime-sulphur at $8.00 per 40-gallon barrel, which is equivalent to 20 cents a gal., costs, when used at the strength of 1 to 30, about 27 cents per bbl. of diluted spray; and when used at 1 to 40 costs 20 cents per •bbl. Nothing is allowed for labor of preparation here, because practically none is required. 4. Whenever there is San Jose scale in the district or where Red Spiders arc abundant on the foliage a fruit grower will act wisely in using lime-sulphur in- stead of Bordeaux mixture as a summer spray, in addition to the spring applica- tion of this mixture. It would also be well to use it in the same way if the orchard is badly infested with Oyster-shell scale, because the summer applications are quite valuable against this pest also. 5. Bordeaux mixture is much more inclined to russet the fruit than lime- sulphur properly diluted. In some districts very little damage is done from this cause, and in such districts, unless Scale insects or Red Spiders are troublesome, it makes very little difference which wash is used. In many districts, however, Bordeaux injury to fKe fruit is quite serious. Professors Scott and Waite, of Wash- ington, D.C., both of whom have been studpng this problem, state that of late years from some unknown cause there has been a decided increase in the amount of russeting of fruit and injury to foliage from Bordeaux mixture. The injury to the foliage often takes the form of small, circular, brown spots looking almost exactly like the disease known as Leaf-spot. Both these men seem to thinly that concentrated lime-sulphur, whether commercial or home-made, is likely to super- sede Bordeaux mixture in 'the near future on account of this injury. AAHlien in Michigan this October I visited a famous apple orchard at Fennville and watched the packers putting up the fruit. The apples were very large and fairly free from worms, but were so severely russeted that I could scacely tell a Baldwin from the other varieties. The packers said that owing to the unsightly appearance only a small percentage of the apples would grade No. 1. In cases like these it is very clear that there should be no hesitation in using lime-sulphur instead of Bordeaux mixture. Precautions that Should be Taken if Lime-Sulphur is Used as a Summer Spray. 1. Arsenate of lead is the only insecticide that we know to-day that is safe to use with lime-sulphur. The combination of these two substances seems not to lessen the value of either. In some seasons and localities arsenite of lime has been used without any injurious effects, but this year's experiments prove that it will sometimes burn very severely, especially in the later sprays of the season. Paris green likewise cannot be safely combined with lime-sulphur. 2. The strength of lime-sulphur that should in my opinion be used for the different applications are as follows: — For the spring applications 1 gallon diluted with water to 10 (if there are no scale insects in the orchard this may be diluted to 12) ; for the application just before the blossoms open 1 gallon diluted to 30 or 35 ; for the application just after the blossoms fall (the time for the Codling Moth spray), 1 gallon diluted to 35, or preferably to 40. If a later application is given it should be at least as weak as 1 to 40 if applied at all heavily. In the above I am taking as a standard a commercial wash with an hydro- meter reading of between 1.300 and 1.3-20 specific gravity. 1 to 10 at this strength •30 THE HEPOKT OF THK No. 32 gives an liydrometer reading of 1.030 to 1.032 specific gravity, while 1 to 30 gives a reading of about 1.010; 1 to 35 gives about l.OOi), and 1 to 40 about 1.008. Most of the commercial companies recommend a uniform strength of 1 to 30 for summer use, but I have known several cases in Ontario, and have been informed of several more in Oregon and in Michigan, where this strength was found too strong for the heavy application required at the time for the ('odling Motli spray, and I know that 1 to 40 gives excellent results. If a home-made concentrated spray is used on the foliage, it should be so diluted that each barrel will contain 4 lbs. of sulphur in solution; for instance, if the formula used be 100 lbs. sulphur, 50 lbs. good stone lime and 40 gallons water boiled vigorously 1 hour. It is clear that, as with ordinary care almost all of the 100 lbs. goes into solution, this should therefore make for summer use about 25 barrels of spray. For spring use each barrel should contain about 13 lbs. of sulpluir. so that the above 100 lbs. sulphur would be sufficient to make slightly over 7 barrels when diluted. In conclusion I wish to say that it would 1)e a most desirable thing if a guar- anteed standard of strengtli could be set for the commercial washes and stamped on each barrel so that the fruit grower would be able to rely on the mixture being of uniform density. The standard might read from 1.300 sp. gr. to 1.320 sp. gr.,, or from about 33 to 35 Beaume. The adoption of such a standard would help the- companies as well as the fruit growers. A Member: How is it they have more rust on the other side than here? Mr. Caesar : I do not know, unless they have been on it longer. A Member: Do you think the weather has anything to do with it? Mr. Caesar : Perhaps. This year has been a serious year for russeting. A Member : In mixino- the solution, has the stirring not something to do with it? Mr. Caesar: It must be stirred while it is being boiled, and care must be- taken to see that the little lumps are broken up. Work them through a screen beforehand, and try to keep them broken up as you go along. Mr. Jones: For the practical farmer, 5 to 40 gallons of water makes it about right. I mean 5 gallons of the concentrated. Mr. Caesar : That depends on how much it is boiled down. There are not five men I think in this audience who will get by boiling 100 lbs. of sulphur and 50 lbs. of lime and 40 gallons of water a strength that will on the average exceed 1.210. So you see that it is not more than two-thirds the strengtli of the commer- cial wash, and you have always to take that into consideration. The difference in rlie cost is not so great as one might think. I was working it out last night, and I decided if you took everything together there is not much difference. That 40 gallon barrel of home-made will cost you about $6, and the 40 gallon barrel of commercial will cost you close on to $8 at the ordinary price. Mr. Thompson: How do you figure that out? Mr. Caesar : The sulphur will be two cents a pound, and for 100 pounds you have $2. Lime will cost in most districts forty cents a bushel. It will cost at least that. You might allow thirty cents for fifty pounds of lime. That is $2.30. Then I am allowing fifteen cents a barrel for making it, which I think is too low. Twenty cents would make $2.50. Then $1 for each barrel, and I am allowing fifty cents for the cost of your plant, that is to every barrel. Your plant will cost you $7 or $8, or perhaps more. That makes $4. Xow every barrel is just two- thirds the strength of the commercial, so vou have to add $? more to each barrel. 1911 ' FRUIT GKOWEIIS' ASiSOCl ATIOX. 21 That makes your $6. which I think is fair. It was a Surprise to uie when I made it up. A Member: Are you speaking of the average man? How ahout the co-oper- ative associations? • "^ Mr. Caesar: I am not talking of co-operative associations. A Member : If you were in an association you could cut it down one-half. Mr. Caesar: One-third, possibly. A Member : Then you have to have sufficient pure material to compare fav- orably with the home-made. Mr. Caesar: The home-made concentrated I find gixcs good results. I used a lot of it in Jordan Harbor, and I used it at home. A certain American pro- fessor is wrong when he said our side worms were not Codling moths. I am c-ertam of it, that a large proportion of our side worms are Codling moths, but there are quite a few of them that are the Lesser Apple Worm. I do not suppose ninety per cent, of this audience can define the Lesser Apple Worm from the Codling worm. They are the same color and the same appearance, and almost identical. The Lesser Apple Worm in this Province I think does not amount to more than five per cent., taking in the side worms and all. The professor is a pathologist, and I do not think made the statement very seriously. A Member: What is the particular peculiarity of the Lesser Apple Worm? Mr. Caesar: It causes a large blotch wherever it works on the side of an apple or at the stem of the apple, or at the calyx end of tlie apple. It does not go in more than a quarter of an inch as a rule. It just works underneath the skin, but feeding near the surface it n^aturally covers a large area. A Member: The curculio is a different cut altogether? Mr. Caesar : The curculio injury in the fall of the year is entirely different from the spring. In the fall they are all feeding punctures, and there is a circle made. I mean to say there is a little hole made through the skin, and then the insect, having a long beak, eats all the flesh it can reach through this hole, and that causes the skin to turn brown. Sometimes it will cut it all out and make quite a large hole. A Member: When is the proper time to spray for that? Mr. Caesar: You can control it better by clean cultivation. A Member: I come from the County of Kent, and wo are troubled with scale. If we miss the scale on the first spraying, would you make the lime-sulphur strong enough to kill it later? Mr. Caesar : The lime and sulphur as a summer spray will help to supple- ment your spring spray for the San Jose scale. The young scale appears early in June, but not till June. Your spray for the Codling moth begins usually around the first of June, and by that time you cannot use lime and sulphur very strong. One to thirty-five is as a rule as high as is safe, but Mr. Smith has used in a good many places one to thirty, and I would judge you could use that strength. A great many use one to thirty and get no injury, but some do get injury. If you use one to thirty that is as strong as you can use, and it will supplement the other a great deal. 22 THE KEPORT OF THE No. 32 OECHARD FERTILIZERS. Professor Robert Harcourt^ 0. A. C, Guelph. I have been asked to say something on the nse of orchard fertilizers, because there seems to be a feeling that the time has come that we must use something to supplement the ordinary farmyard manure m order to get the best results. All plants require at least ten elements in order that they may make full and normal growth. Fortunately, of these ten there are only three, or in some cases four, elements to which we need pay special attention. Usually the soil and the air contain sufficient of all other elements to produce full and normal crops. The three which are sometimes present in insufficient quantities are: Nitrogen, potash and phosphoric acid. In some cases, lime may also be deficient, but our experience would go to show that there are very many cases of Ontario soils where lime is absolutely needed. The function of nitrogen is to produce large leaf and stem growth, and it is a prominent constituent of protein materials. Where there is an abundance of nitrogen we will usually have a deep green healthy-looking plant. Too much nitro- gen, however, will over-stimulate the growth of wood and leaf to the detriment of the production of fruit. Potash apparently has to do with the formation and transportation of carbohydrates, starch, sugars, etc., within the plant; conse- quently, in all pl-ants producing large quantities of carbohydrates potash is required in considerable quantities, or, in big, fleshy-leafed plants we usually find that large quantities of this constituent are essential in producing the best results. Phosphoric acid has to do with the formation and transportation "of the protein materials, so that it is said to follow the proteins. Phosphoric acid seems to hasten maturity, and thus may to some extent overcome the retarding effect of nitrogen on maturity. Excessive quantities of nitrogen tend to make leaf and stem growth at the expense of the maturity of the fruit, whereas the phosphoric acid has a tendency to bring on maturity. Before speaking particularly of the results obtained from the use of fertil- izers, too much emphasis cannot be put upon the fact that artificial fertilizers will give their best results only when used along with farmyard manure, and that we should never thinlc entirely of replacing stable manures with fertilizers; rather, they should be used in conjunction with it. Furthermore, the full results of fer- tilizers can be obtained only when they are used in conjunction with the very best of cultivation ; consequently, the presence of humus and thorough cultivation should always be associated with the use of fertilizers. So far as I am aware, very few continued experiments with fertilizers have been carried out on the fruit crops of this country. Numerous experiments have been conducted in the United States and in Germany. The German investigators seem to have fairly well established the fact that the mineral constituents required per acre for the full development of fruit trees do not materially differ from those required for root and vegetable crops. Repeated extensive experiments have also proven that hoed crops, such as potatoes, sugar beets, etc., make a better use of farmyard manure than fruits. Among the fruits, apples are more successful in gathering their food from the farmyard manure than the stone fruits. Experi- ments carried out at the Diemnitz Experiment Station and at Strassfurt in Ger- many seem to clearly indicate that in the case of core fruits, and especially with apples, that fertilizers containing the three essential mineral constituents, nitrogen, potash and phosphoric acid, can be used with profit, and that potash affects the 1911 FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION. 23 results more than any other one constituent, nitrogen being assigned the second place, and phosphoric acid the third. It has been repeatedly noticed that when potash was not supplied, even though light dressings of stable manure were made every three or four years, the trees assumed an appearance of those grown under adverse conditions on poor soil ; i.e., the growth of wood is arrested and the leaves are small and have an unhealthy color and are covered with yellow spots. After the fruit is matured there is some growth of wood and the next spring there is put forth an abundance of blossom, of which, however, few develop, owing to the lack of proper nourishment. In spite of the fact that there is an abundance of phosphoric acid and nitrogen in the soil, most of the fruit falls off during the summer, and, in consequence, the yield when potash is not supplied will be very little greater than when no fertilizer is used. However, these conditions are not general; some varieties show a marked ability to thrive under unfavorable condi- tions, particularly in the fact that they are able to throw off the superfluous fruit which the tree is not capable -of fully ripening. Lack of nitrogen in the soil has been shown to have a somewhat similar effect upon the development of the fruit, although not so pronounced, while the absence of phosphoric acid is even less notice- able. At Strassfurt, in Germany, in an experiment in which we are given the yields for eleven consecutive years from an orchard, we find that the total fertilizers used on the complete fertilizer plot during this period were worth $166.60. The increase due to the use of these fertilizers was worth $1,190.50, leaving a handsome profit for the use of fertilizers. Where the potash was omitted the results were very much decreased. German experiments have also fully demonstrated that the use of fer- tilizers has a very marked influence upon the yield of plums. Their results in gen- eral seemed to indicate that the yield of stone fruits is more influenced by phosphatic and nitrogenous manures than the core fruits. It is quite possible that this is due to the fact that stone fruits have a large kernel which is rich in phosphoric acid, and as the proportion of kernel to fruit is much larger in stone fruits than in core fruits, the former have the greater need for phosphoric acid. These results have been fully confirmed by fertilizer experiments on peaches reported from the New Jersey Experiment Station. From a German source we take the following results of a long continued experiment of fertilizers on plums : The value of the fertilizers during the experimental period of 13 consecutive crops is $193.50; increased yield of crop worth $1,709.05. Profit, $1,515.45. When potash was left out the profit was reduced to $140 ; without the phosphoric acid there was only $108.57 profit, which was still further reduced to $69.03 when nitrogen was the constituent left out in the experiment. In this particular case it is evi- dent that the lack of nitrogen infiuenced the results more than the lack of either potash or phosphoric acid. Quoting again from German investigations on gooseberries, the following results are also very interesting : The total value of the fertilizers used through 13 continuous years of cropping was worth $203.50; total value of the crop due to the fertilizers, $t?,035. It is ap- parent that this would leave a profit of $1,831.50. When any one constituent was omitted the profit was very much reduced. With most of the varieties used in the experiment potash had the greatest influence, phosphoric acid next, and the nitrogen least. Evidence goes to show that different varieties of the same kind of fruit make use of the various mineral constituents in different proportions. Strawberries have been found to respond very readily to the application of ^4 THE REPORT OF THE So. 32 commercial fertilizers. A study of the requirements of this crop is not so difficult as that of the other fruits in as much as the straVberry crop does not occupy the ground for so long a time, and therefore experiments do not have to be con- tinued for such long periods. Experiments seem to show that the complete mix- ture of fertilizers will give tlie largest yields, hut that on ground in good condi- tion the plot receiving no nitrogen gave nearly as good results as where this con- stituent was added, while if potash or phosphoric acid were omitted the yield seriously diminished. One point particularly demonstrated in all experiments with soft fruits is that an excessive amount of nitrogen seems to produce soft fruit which will not ship well and which decays early. This is particularly true in wet seasons and with the strawberry. Regarding the influence of fertilizers on quality and flavor of fruit, experi- ments seem to show that an abundance of phosphoric acid and potash in the food plant is extremely important, and that, on the other hand, where nitrogen is somewhat deficient the effect on the quality is scarcely perceptible. Considerable work has heen done in determining the influence of the several ingredients, that is, the nitrogen, potash and phosphoric acid, on the size of individual fruits. With core and stone fruits tlie experiments are not far enough advanced to warrant definite conclusions, hut with berries a greater numher of results have heen ob- tained, and these appear to indicate that the lack of phosphoric acid did not materially decrease the size of the berries, as compared with those grown where a complete mixture of fertilizers was used, but when potash was not supplied the berries were small, and where nitrogen was left out they were still smaller. There is very little definite data to show that color in the fruit is influenced by the nature of the fertilizers used. It is supposed by many that the use of potash and phosphoric acid will influence the color, and it is quite probable that they do, but T fancy that the influence of these may be very easily overshadowed by thp effects of excessive quantities of nitrogen in the soil. It is quite possible, and even probable, that too late in the season there is apt to be so much leaf growth that the fruit is too much shaded, and the leaf and stem growth once strongly started is not easily checked, and as a result we have fruit lacking in color and often really lacking in maturity. It seems likely that if cultivation was' stopped early in the season, and cover crops sown, that better results would be got. The cover crop will use up a great part of the moisture and thus check growth and cause ripe^ing of the fruit. If this be true, cultivation in the orchard cannot be stopped at any set time from year to year, or in one orchard as compared with an- other. The time to cease cultivation is dependent upon condition of the growth, which will be influenced by the nature of the weather and the richness of the soil in plant food. It is our intention this coming year to place a number of experiments which we hope to continue for a series of years. We wish to see what effect fertilizers will have on the fruits and also to study the influence of fertilizers and other factors on the color of fruit. I shall be very glad to co-operate with anyone who wishes to take up this matter seriously, in order that we may get the experiment started on some really good basis. It is useless to start experiments on orchard fruits unless they are to be continued over a number of years, so that the full effects of the fertilizers on the trees and fruit can be definitely studied. A Member : Wliat effect does it have on the color? Prof. Harcourt: We cannot get any really clear statement with refer- ence to the effect on the color as a result of fertilization. There does not seem to 1911 FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION. 25 be any authoritative iiii'oriiiation on that point. Many of the CJernians seem free to admit that the mineral constituents such as potash and phosphoric acid do affect the color, but it is difficult to get proof. These that I have given you are the re- sults of experiments. A Member : Can you give too much fertilization ? Can you overdo it if you use a certain proportion as a guide, or do you only overdo it when you use too much at one time? Prof. Harcoukt: You can overdo it with nitrogen. As I said before that is the constituent that forces the big leaf and stem growth, and this is not always followed with a good development of the fruit. On the other hand you can put on all you like of potash or phosphoric acid without fear of hurting the plant. A Member : Can you overdo it ? Prop. Harcourt: Oh, yes, you can put more fertilization on than you can hope to get money returns for. A Member: What is the limit? Prof. Harcourt: That varies, a great deal depending on the soil upon which it is going to be applied. I have no doubt many of you have land where it is doubtful if the fertilizers would give good results, or they might have to be used in small quantities, whereas on another man's land they would have to be used in large quantities in order to get the best results from it. It depends on the need of the plant in that particular soil. We cannot give any definite formula which will suit all soils. We have to study the characteristics of the crop and t^c deficiencies of the soil before we can use fertilizers with any degree of success. A Member: Where you have exceedingly heavy crops every year does ihv nature of the soil amount to much? Prof Harcourt: If you are comparing a light sand to clay you would have to feed your sand heavier than you would the clay, but of course if we have two soils equally rich it is a question of increasing that which is available to the plant. A Member: Does an apple orchard in clay require potash? Prof. Harcourt : It may or may not. We cannot say that, because in clays we have so many conflicting elements or interests, and reactions going on in the soil. I may say all our soils contain enough potash to grow apples for years and possibly hundreds of years to come, but the difficulty is the getting of thar potash into a form that is available for the plant. Some soils will bring that into an availahle condition faster than others, and you might then have crops without the use of much additional food, but if we do not get tliat condition then we have to add the additional substances. A Member: Do you think we should first get the soil into proper condition before using these foods? Prof. Harcourt: Any man who uses a fertilizer without first getting i.ie soil into the ver}^ best possible condition chemically and physically, and every other way, is throwing; money, away. Now, if you are going to use fertilizers do not stai*t by making them take the place of manure or cultivation. They can only bring you results when you use them with the very best kind of cultivation and under the very best possible conditions. A Member: Do you think the mustard family, such as turnips, have the faculty of taking the phosphoric acid in the soil and storing it up in their roots so that the plant can get it? Do you know of any experiments along that line? Prof. Harcourt: Xo. On the other hand if you wish to aid a crop of tur- nips it should be with phosphoric acids in some form. Turnips and rape, and so on, have greater difficulty in getting phosphoric acid than any other constituent — 26 THE REPORT OF THE No. 32 more difficult than potash or nitrogen. It is possible when they do get it they hold it in their roots, but they do not hold any more in their roots than they get out of the soil. A turnip crop will take a little larger proportion of phosphoric acid out of the soil than will some other crops. Mr. Patterson: Do you think the climate has any effect on those things. I mean to say that a series of experiments conducted in Germany and a series of experiments conducted in the United States would be different. I ask you that because a series of experiments have been conducted in the United States with apple orchards, over a considerable number of years, and they have found what retarded the apple growth was the lack of nitrogen. I believe it is Prof. Stewart who puts forward the theory, with which I agree, thait whenever an apple orchard is not doing what it should be doing it is owing to isome deterrent or something which limits it, such as pruning or spraying or cultivation or some element in the fertilizer, and it is up to the grower to find out what that is. Prof. Harcourt:' That is correct. A Member : Is there any different result with fine ground and coarse ground ? Prof. Harcourt : We have done nothing yet to follow these questions up. A Member: Is there likely to be very much difference? Prof. Harcourt: The fine ground will give results quicker than the other. A Member: What proportion of phosphoric acid do you recommend in the fertilizer ? Prof Harcourt: That will depend somewhat upon the conditions, whethei it is strawberries or what it is. A Member: An apple orchard? Prof Harcourt: Perhaps the Thomas Phosphate would be as good a for- mula as you could get. It would come cheaper, and it has this advantage that it will also liberate potash. A Member : Who handles that ? Prof. Harcourt: Almost any of the fertilizer dealers would handle it. A Member : What is the charge ? Prof. Harcourt : I don't know that I could answer that exactly. A Member: Down in Nova Scotia they quote $27 a thousand. Prof. Harcourt: That is the kind that is used in large quantities down there. A Member: I understand there is no data with reference to the coloring of fruit by fertilization. I have heard that iron increases the color of fruit. I have large beautiful apples, but I do not seem to get the color. Prof Harcourt: We really have no authoritative data on that point. We have lots of statements, but I do not know how much they are to be depended on. It is stated that the mineral constituents will do it, and that other substances may do it. With reference to the question asked a few minutes ago as to the difference in climate, in the discussion, it was stated that the controlling factor in the United States was the lack of nitrogen. We may have different controlling factors depending on the soil, and then there is the ability of the plants to take up the food they require, to be considered. Of course if the soil is very deficient in nitrogen that would be a factor. A Member: I suppose the potash you get in wood ashes is worth as much per pound as what you buy in the form of fertilizer? Prof. Harcourt: You would have to know how much potash there is in the ashes. I believe the land is suffering to-day for this reason that the aishes are sold out of this country. We have analysed wood ashes and found one and a 1911 FRUIT GROWERS' AStSOCIATION. »7 half per cent., and we have analysed them up to six per cent. You can't tell by the look of them how much is there. A Member: It would depend on the kind of wood, and the care that has been taken, and the moisture that is in them. If you could huy them on the basis of their analysis then they could be safely bought. If you could go around amongst your neighbors and they were willing to give you their ashes, and if you knew the nature of the wood and the care they had had, then you would be safe in buying them. A Member: Has applying ashes to an orchard any effect on the color of the fruit? Prof. Harcourt: Some say yes. That is just the same thing as saying that potash and phosphoric acid will develop color. We get some samples with double the amount of moisture that there is in others, and this will affect the percentage of the other constituents, and the difficulty is to know what you are buying. We have analysed samples as low as one and a half, and it is being bought on the basis of five per cent. A Member: Elm gives very good results. If you can get anybody using elm 'slabs in a mill don't hesitate to get hold of his ashes as fast as you can get them. A Member : How much would they be worth a bushel ? Prof. Harcourt: Perhaps twenty- five or thirty cents a bushel. A Member : Is swamp muck valuable as a fertilizer ? Prof Harcourt : It has very little value as the constituents are in the wrong condition. It ought to be drawn out and piled up and allow the acids to neutralize. A Member : Is plowing in a green crop better than manure ? Prof. Harcourt: That is a question I cannot answer definitely. I believe we can get humus into the ground quicker with a green crop than with farm yard manure, but I believe every time we plow farm yard manure into a field we are re-seeding that soil with organisms that cause decay in that soil, and I think frequent and small aplications of farm yard manure is very much better than large applications at long intervals. However, I think we get a greater accumu- lation of the humus matter through the plowing in of green crops than with the application of manure, but I really believe when we are putting on manure we are re-seeding that soil with organisms which cause decay, and to that extent the farm yard manure will hasten the availibility of plant food in the soil. A Member: Does lime hasten it? Prof Harcourt: Of course lime is an indirect fertilizer, and some of our soils require a good deal of it, but lime also acts as a liberator. Not only does it hasten the decay of the organic matter in the soil but it also liberates a certain amount of potash. Soils, of course, differ in their nature. A Member : How much lime would you put on ? Prof. Harcourt: I do not think it is safe to put more than a ton or a ion and a half of lime to the acre. In the Old Country when they found the value of lime, they commenced using it up to five or six tons to the acre, but they have come to the conclusion that lime without manure will make the father rich and the son poor. Over stimulation can take place in soils as well as in other things. The longer the soil has been under cultivation the more likely it is to need lime. A Member: Have you had any experience with straw? Prof. Harcourt : That would have a benefit on clay as well. The question of the color of fruit is all tied up with the pruning and the rank growth of the 28 THE REPORT OF THE No. 32 tree, because you cannot get highly colored fruit on a tree so covered with leaf as to keep the fruit entirely from the sun. A Member: Do you not think the sunshine has a great deal to do with it? Prof Harcourt: I think so. I think the pruning has a great deal to do with the color. I think it may be influenced by the mineral constituents, but we have no definite data. I think it would be well for this organization if we could get fertilization experiments started in one or two districts and let tliem run on for a number of years to see what the effect would be. A Member: Do you find that fruit w^hich is not colored has not got the flavor ? Prof. Harcourt : That would really indicate immaturity. Too much nitro- gen will mean immaturity and will mean uncolored fruit. Wherever we have a large amount of nitrogen and much leaf and shaded fruit we have lack of ma- turity, and that is as true with vegetables as with fruits. A Member: Vfhat vv^ould you do with an orchard where you have lots of leaf and lots of fruit hut no color ? Prof. Harcourt : I would not use any farmyard manure on that. I would use some of the mineral constituents to balance up. That soil must be rick in nitrogen when you get that big development in leaf. Is there anything growing between the trees? A Member: No. Prof Harcourt: I would put on a good heavy crop to use up that nitrogen. A Member: The best crop of apples I ever grew was a year when it was planted with corn, but there has been so much said on the subject I didn't do that again. Prof. Harcourt: Yes. but you have an off condition. I would certainly advise there to crop between the rows and use up some of that excessive plant food. In your case it mi^ht pay to use rye, or something of that nature. It has been said that plowing down good sod is equal to eight tons of farm yard manure per acre, but I have no definite figures to base that on, and I am not giving that as an exact statement. The President : I think we should experiment in our own orchards in some systematic way, and we would then know exactly what our own soil is lacking. Prof. Harcourt: Of course I will be quite willing to co-operate with you in that work. OECHAEDS IN PEINCE EDWAED COUNTY. M. B. Clark, AYellington. At the time the Department of Agriculture opened a branch office at Picton and placed a District Eepresentative in charge, very few fruit growers were prac- tising modern methods of orchard management, as was plainly evidenced by the conditions of the orchards generally throughout the county. Bark-lice were very prevalent and gaining ground each year, leaf blister- mite had arrived and was spreading rapidly, sun scald and winter injury had left footholds for canker, a great many orchards were in sod or growing crops other than apples, and few, if any, were spraying satisfactorily. Our first representative, E. M. Winslow, was an enthusiastic fruit man and was tireless in his efforts to acquaint himself with the condition of Prince Edward i 1911 FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION. 29 orchards, and also to create an interest among their owners in improved methods of orcharding. The first Fruit Institute was held in November, 1908, tat which spraying re- ceived particular attention. Special fruit meetings were held by the Farmers Clubs throughout the county, and a few fruit men decided to get after their orchards in a thorough manner. The lime and sulphur spray was used generally for the first spraying, for bark-lice, leaf-blister mite, etc., and the Bordeaux mixture for the summer spray- ings. Cultivation, pruning, scraping and fertilizing were also practised, and those who made a worthy effort were delighted with their results. The success attained by these few men became widely known throughout their respective sections and resulted in a very successful and enthusiastic Fruit Institute last winter, at which the many problems encountered by fruit growers in Prince Edward were discussed and made clear by such men as Prof. Harcourt and Mr. Caesar of the 0. A. C, Mr. W. McCalla of St. Catharines and Mr. E. Lick, of Oshawa. This year a large number have handled their orchards in a very thorough manner, using the lime and sulphur for both scalecide and fungicide and adding the arsenate of lead for the insecticide and their results have convinced them that fruit growing can be made the most profitable as well as the most pleasant line of agriculture. There is still, however, a very small percentage of fruit growers taking any special care of thieir orchards, many hundireidis of acres of orchard have heen planted in the last twenty years, and no small share of them have died, principally from neglect, although that a large number of them have survived is very noticeable in driving through the county. There has been a greater effort made at Wellington to encourage the growing of better fruit than at any other part of the county. A small Fruit Growers' Asso- ciation was formed last winter with about sixteen members, all supplies were fur- nished at cost, and all po'ssihle encouragement and assistance was given to the members, both by the officers and the District Representative. A system of orchard management was discussed and adopted by all. As the season approached for the different operations, meetings were called, at which a full discussion and explana- tion of the principles of the w^ork in hand was carried on. Special emphasis was laid on the necessity of spraying at the right time, using good material and 'lots of it, and maintaining a good pressure. The results obtained, both in the quality of the fruit and the improved health of the trees are highly satisfactory. There is just now a general inquiry among fruit growers as to how they should handle their orchards. Two years of thorough treatment have proven that there are few orchards so far gone but that they can be redeemed, hence all possible assistance should be given to encourage and develop the work already started. Demonstration work is necessary, especially in spraying and pruning, many hundreds of acres of young orchards are justheginning to bear, the Lime-Sulphur spray has proved to be the great panacea for the many insects and diseases common in our orchards and all th.at remains to be done is to conduct an energetic campaign for orcharding and the revenue from Prince Edward orchards can be doubled in three years time. The President: We have fifteen minutes for discussion upon this paper. Mr. Caesar : Just to start the ball rolling I would like to mention one or two things about Prince Edward County and their work there. It is only three years, you might say, since they started into this matter of looking after orchards, and the results in that county I think are simply great. If all the counties of Ontario were coming up as quickly in orchard improvements as Prince Edward 30 THE EEPORT OF THE Xo. 32 County is, and if we had the same enthusiasm as quite a number of the men are showing there, the apple industry of Ontario would go forward very rapidly. It is a delight to go through Mr. Clark's orchard. I went through it last year, and he had some of the cleanest and nicest fruit to be found in the Province. Mr. Clark: In the last ten years there have been grown a large number of Ben Davis. You will find in the young orchards from five to fifteen years old possibly fifty per cent. Ben Davis. You will find Spies, Golden Eussets, Tolman Sweets and the early winter apples among the older varieties. Snows, Baldwins and Greenings are not being set out in that county on account of the climate being too severe. Although the trees are bearing very well, very few are setting them out at present. A Member: What do they expect to do with Ben Davis? Mr. Clark: The buyers take a great many Ben Davis. There is no trouble in getting rid of them. A Member: Have you had much experience of top grafting in these varie- ties? Mr. Clark: I have had no experience along these lines myself. I know several who have done it, but it is not generally adopted. A few are doing it suc- cessfully, but as a rule those who are setting out apples now are leaving Baldwins and Greenings out. The President: I may say I have not noticed in our orchards the foliage being injured by the use of the Bordeaux mixture, but I have heard quite a num- ber express the view that the fruit looked far worse a month before picking time than it did at picking time. As the color developed, it showed through the rust. For instance, what our friend has on exhibition here is practically all Bordeaux mixture sprayed. At the same time, I don't want you to think I am condemning the lime-sulphur, because I think it necessary that you should use lime-sulphur, especially at the first spraying. Arsenite of lime with lime-sulphur mixture is something I am not acquainted with. Mr. Clark: There were a few who used arsenite of lime with lime-sulphur; but they quit it and used arsenate of lead. Just at that time Mr. Caesar sent out word through the papers warning the growers against using it; that there was a possibility of getting some burning. Some got some burning and they quit it and used the arsenate of lead. Mr. Case^ New York : Experiments were carried on at my place with arsenite of lime, with the lime and sulphur, and scorched the foliage terribly, although it outgrew it later and there was really a pretty good crop of apples there, and the crop of apples was clean, but it took about one-third of the foliage. Of course they are very thorough in their experiments. A Member: In Norfolk County did you use the pure arsenite of lime? The President : Half Paris green usually, but some arsenite of lime. That is with the Bordeaux mixture. Do not get that mixed up with the spraying with the lime and sulphur, because in Norfolk County we only use the lime sulphur in the first spraying, and then only a few of the orchards, probably not to exceed five per cent. A Member: Wliat proportion of the arsenite did you use in the water? The President: I think twenty ounces. Prof. Harcourt: Did you boil that in? The President: We boiled it, and mixed it with the lime before we mixed it in our boiler. 1911 FRUIT GROWERS' AS'SOCIATIOISr. 31 A Member: The question I asked about grafting the Baldwin trees was because we found six years ago the Baldwin trees all around died, and the Cran- berry also was pretty tender, and part of them went, but we top grafted, and find they are standing still, both the Baldwin and the Cranberry. That is in Prince Edward County. Mr. Clark : I would like to mention the results we had in using lime sulphur. A year ago we had about fifteen Maiden Blush trees in our orchard and they were very badly infected with leaf spot and blister mite, so I made a special point to give them a good spraying of lime sulphur. I did my work as thoroughly as I knew how, and gave a good pressure on both sides. Mr. Caesar inspected them this year, and we could find a very small percentage, possibly one-half of one per cent. It is mighty hard to find a leaf infected at all, just in one year's thorough treatment. A Member: When did you spray? Mr. Clark: Just as the leaves were budding. A Member: What strength did you use? Mr. Clark: We used it about one to nine, commercial lime sulphur. Mr. Gibson : I used the same treatment and it did not do my orchard a particle of good. I got a worse dose of blister mite and scab this year than I ever had in my life. I am sure I have lost over $500 with the blister mite. Mr. Caesar: A few years ago I tried to get a few good tests for blister mite in Ontario, where I knew there were trees very badly infested, and I examined those under the bud scales. Just before I sprayed the leaves, the buds had actu- ally burst, and the leaves were out a quarter of an inch. I examined underneath those bud scales, and I could find from twenty-five to one hundred of those blister mites under these scales. I gave those one thorough spraying, and all through that summer I was unable to get more than two leaves on a tree that had any mite on them. I might also mention half a dozen places in Prince Edward County where we got excellent results. Mr. Lick, Oshawa : The question was raised a moment ago about lime sulphur not killing blister mite. There must have been something wrong with the lime sulphur put on those trees, for we have abundant evidence for two years in our section of the country that where the home-boiled has been put on thoroughly it has made a thorough job. A Member : Can you tell me the difference between leaf spot and blister mite ? Mr. Caesar: It is a little difficult to explain what is the difference in the appearance between leaf spot and blister mite. The leaf spot is nearly always a small circular brown area on your leaf, not any thicker than the rest of the leaf. It will vary from one-eighth of an inch to sometimes as much as one-quarter of an inch. The blister mite on the other hand is a slight swelling on the under side of the leaf. In the early part of the season it is a yellowish color and quite small, not any bigger than the head of a pin, on the under surface of the leaf. Then as the season goes on it turns gradually brown and gets to be a reddish brown. On pears it turns black. They are very small, and there is a little elevation on the under surface. The little mites lay their eggs there and they hatch out there. They tunnel in between the upper and lower surface. You would never mistake the two if you saw them side by side. It is chiefly by that little swelling that you can distinguish it. 3^ THE REPOKT OF THE No. 32 ORCHARDING FOR PROFIT. B. J. Case, Sodus, N.Y. I asked your President last night what he wanted to bring me over here for. I was down in the arena looking at your exhibits of fruit, and I cannot see what you want of me. Now, I am not a scientific man. I had to leave school when I was fifteen years of age and go to work on the farm, so I am just an ordinary fruit grower, who is trying to use all the helps he can get from the scientific men when they make it practical. We have no use for scientific work if it is not prac- tical. I know I have said a good many times, and perhaps I may repeat it, that I hadn't any use for an experiment where you had to count, weigh or measure. I want it so apparent that you have not got to count, weigh or measure a thing in order to know if it is any good to you. If it is so close that you have to count, weigh or meausure, I haven't any use for it. I want it very decided in all experi- ments I put in myself. Now, I have 170 acres in fruit of different kinds. Quite a lot of it is young yet and has not borne. I grow all kinds of fruits that are grown in our market except the berries. I used to grow lots of berries, but haven't so many of late years. A Member: Is it at all possible to have large fruit in connection with small fruit? Mk. Case : I am hardly able to answer that question. In some instances it is and in some instances it is not. I grew this small fruit, such as berries, when my young trees were growing, and after my orchard got larger we cut them out, and I have arrived at the conclusion after years of experience that I don't want any berries amongst my fruit trees. The time is past when you are going to grow fruit as our fathers grew it ; that is, that you can set out a tree and go off and leave it, and come back in ten years or twenty years and gather the fruit. That time has passed, with the increase of insects and diseases. I see my first note is " Keeping Books." I would like to know how many there are in this audience who will hold up their hands to show that they know just how much money they have made out of an apple orchard or a peach orchard or a plum orchard. Is there anybody in this audience who knows and can prove it by figures? I see three. It seems to me the weakest point of the farmer to-day is not keeping books. Any man of practical sense, if you will take a set of books and show him he is losing money, will either change it so as to make money or quit. It is so easily done. Now, I want to beg your pardon for not thinking of bringing over some time cards I have used for several years. They are not copyrighted, so anybody can print them. It is a very simple thing, but I didn't think of it. The card is so arranged that I can tell for the last twenty years, or nearly that, what every man has done every day he has worked for me. It is a card about eight inches wide and perhaps twelve inches long, and good cardboard, so that you can write on it with a pen. Down at the bottom there is a space for the man's name, a^d the price. Then it is laid off in squares, and the dates are down one side. Then it starts at the top with the hours worked. Then " Apples," " Peaches," " Pears,'' "Plums," "Grapes," "Berries," or anything a man may keep. Then I take a little stamp, which you can buy for ten cents, with the word " Sunday " on it, and the first thing we do when we start the first of the month is to write down the man's name and the wages he gets, and then we take that stamp and mark the Sundays where they come through the month. Then we take a little file, which 1911 FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION. 33 we buy for a quarter, and clip them on. Every man and every horse has a card and it is on this file, and it is kept there for the month. For instance, here is John Legacy, my foreman, $1.60 a day. I start up here at the top, and it shows he works ten hours, and J })ut down that " 10." Tlien, say he is trimming, and he spent three hours on the peaches, I put 48 cents under " Peaches.'' Three hours on apples, 48 cents under '" Apples." Then the other four hours he was trimming, I put four under there, showing what the man has done. If anyone would like a card, if he sends me two cents for postage, I will send him one, and it will show you just where you are making your money. That is the thing that drove me out of the grain growing years ago, and it is that I have got as the outcome of it. Now, I started working my father's farm on shares. There was about ten or twelve acres of apple orchard on it and the rest of it was general farming. I found with that system at the end of the year we made about ten dollars an acre on wheat. When we got through and made an inventory and balanced it up, we found that was all we could do, and it was more liable to fall below that than go above it. I could do a little better on barley. I never could make any money on corn; I did well if it balanced. But when we came to that ten or twelve acres of apple orchard, there was $600 or $800 clean profit. It did not take me long to figure it out that it was the fruit business I wanted. However, that is a good many years ago. The next heading I have is " Trimming." Now you want to know when you have got through here if you have made any money on your orchard or not. One man says, "I sold $2,000 worth of apples this year." What did they cost you? You don't know. You have kept no account of it. Now, suppose Ontario has done the same thing as New York State in regard to trimming. I haven't seen many of your orchards for twenty years. Twenty years ago I went over to Belle- ville one fall evaporating apples. In these older orchards we have been trimming our apple trees until on the older trees we have got a circle ten or fifteen feet in diameter in the centre of the tree that does not bear anything practically. All these years in trimming, if a limb runs out with some side limbs on, you have cut off the side limbs and kept on sawing it off till you have got that great circle in the centre of the tree that does not bear anything^. Just imagine the strain on the limb that runs out fifteen or sixteen feet, or in many instances twenty feet, carry- ing a bushel of apples. If you have that bushel of apples five feet nearer to the centre of the tree there would l)e nothing like the strain on it. I claim we have been making a mistake all these years in cutting the short limbs. Where you have a long limb and a short limb, cut the long one instead of the short one, and force the bearing weight back into the centre of the tree. At the same time you must realize you have to thin out those trees. You have got to thin them until the sun will shine on every leaf as far as possible, for every leaf the sun does not shine on is ^f no benefit to that tree. It is an actual detriment. Now, if you will follow that plan on these old trees, you will find it an advantage. We have stopped setting out these trees that we set thirty feet apart diagonally. We wouldn't do that to-day. There is no trouble to get into that tree and cut the diameter of that tree down three feet a year, at the same time leavins: some of those suckers, so that you can force the bearing weight right back. A Member: What time of year would you trim? Mr. Case: When the saw is sharp. That needs to be qualified. Remember this fact, that winter pruning stimulates growth and summer pruning stimulates the setting of fruit buds. A Member: A railway is now coming through our part of the country and 3 E.G. 34 THE REPORT OF THE No. 32 cutting through our orchards, and the people do not know what price to ask for those trees. What is your idea as to the valae of trees cut out in that way. Mr. Case: I can give you instances where orchards have paid year after year 10 per cent, net on a valuation of $1^,000 an acre — that is, apples. A Member : Is there any special time for pruning a tree ? Mr. Case: We trim all winter whenever the weather is mild enough. In fact, we would never get through trimming if we didn't. As soon as we can see what wood to cut out, we trim all winter long. I don't believe it makes nmch differ- ence. A Member: In cutting back those trees, how large a limb would you stop at? You would have some limit in cutting them back? Mr. Case: That is a good point. Of course, most of the agriculturists tell us we must not cut big limbs. I imagine in cutting the big limbs we do shorten the lives of those trees, but we are doing it. We are cutting limbs four inches in diameter. That would be about the limit, unless it is some dead limb. A Member : Would you recommend that in an old orchard ? Mr. Case : No, I wouldn't, but we are going over the outside of trees and right over the centre, and we are cutting limbs as large as my wrist. You cut the long limb and leave the short one. You will find if you look at the tree that there is a limb runs away out here and there, and you can spare that limb. There is plenty of wood growth there without it. A Member: How large a limb would you stop at running out? Mr. Case: Well, I have found instances where they have cut down four inches in diameter. A Member: They never heal over. Mr. Case: No, I don't think tliey do. We most always paint them, but of late years we have been using a thin grafting wax. There are quite a few of our growers who like a thin cement that they paint over them. I have never tried it, but they speak very well of it. Anything that will preserve the v/ood will do. A Member : Where they trim all winter, how low does the temperature go ? Mr. Case: It hardly ever goes much below ten or twelve below. I have known it 22 below, but they wouldn't do any trimming at that time; it is too cold. A Member : Do you have much snow in tlie winter time ? Mr. Case : Quite a little. Of course, when it is storming, and there is a large amount of snow on the ground, you can't work to good advantage, but we do have a lot of good weather in the winter. They do sometimes work when tlie thermometer is down to 20. It depends on the wind. A Member: In planting a new orchard, how far apart would you recommend planting the trees? Mr. Case: We are setting all onr apple trees 20 by 24 — Baldwins, Greenings and Spies. I mention these three, because they are big bearers. A Member: Diagonally? Mr. Case : No, right in squares. . A Member: Using some of them as fillers? Mr. Case: Sure, but we do not mix up our apples. I do not take any stock in cross-pollination. I can show you orchard after orchard in our country where they are all Baldwins or all Greenings, and if a man takes care of his^ orchard it bears just as well as where they are mixed. A Member: What do you say about all Spies? Mr. Case: There are very few Spies grown in our sectioTi. I was trying to think of a Spy orchard. I have never set any Spies until late years. I have got 1911 FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION. 35 a young orchard of Spies, because I take the position we ought to set apples which are in their home, and where we are not going to have another section competing with us, because to-day the transportation facilities have almost annihilated dis- tance. We know we have got to go into competition with apples from the Pacific Coast. A Member: Mr. Powell has some Spies. Mr. Case: I am four hundred miles from him. They grow good Spies down where he is. I found when I was down at Poughkeepsie they couldn't grow good Spies. They didn't get the color. A Member: What treatment would you recommend for an old orchard, prob- ably 25 or 30 years old, set about 28 and 33 feet, and it is now considered too thick? Would you recommend removing a part of these trees, or would you cut back a certain portion from the outside each year? Mr. Case: Twenty-eight feet is pretty close, but at 33 feet I think you can cut those trees back, but you want to be sure every time you cut a limb that you don't stub off the limb. I don't like that at all. A Member: You would recommencl that rather than taking out every other tree ? Mr. Case : Yes, I think I would. Of course, 28 feet is pretty close. I think any of you will admit a lot of the fruit growers on the other side, and I imagine on this side, are growing paying crops of apples in seven years. It used to take 20 years, but we are learning to do it quicker, and we are coming to the low headed trees. A Member : Are you getting Baldwins in that time ? Mr. Case : Yes, paying crops of Baldwins in seven years. A Member : By top grafting ? Mr. Case: No. A Member: You have rather a longer season than we have. Mr. Case : I do not think it makes much difference. Your season is not so much shorter than ours as to amount to anything. A Member : Is it Paradise stock ? Mr. Case: No, but start your tops away down, two feet or two feet and a half from the ground. You understand you get bearing wood three years quicker by doing that than if you start your tops higher. Of course, I have been held back ten years, but I have known for some time those low-headed trees were the best. I have been held back ten years with figuring out some way to cultivate under those trees. A ^Me.afber : How do you do it now? Mr. Case: With the gasoline engine. Sure thing. I had one built for me this year, but I didn't get it out in time to do very much cultivating with it. I hauled most of my apple crop with it. It is coming. We are going to put a gasoline engine in there and clean it from tree to tree up to 24 feet. We are going to put a gaso- line engine there that will haul those 12-inch plows. A ME:\rBER : Do you mean to put the motor at one end of the row ? Mr. Care : Xo, right in, so you can put your plows in ten feet without any side drauglit, l)ut your engine goes right through the centre. A Member: If you start a tree that low you can't get even a plow under it. Mr. Case : The plows have got to be made lower. We are going to have them made differently and tliey will ,iro ri.o^ht under those limbs. A Member: This gasoline engine you speak of is a compact machine? Mr. Case: I will describe the one that was built for me. It has an eight-foot 36 THE EEPORT OF THE No. 32 wheel base and it steers like an automobile. All four wheels are forty inches in diameter, and made so that when you steer the front wheels one way the hind wheels go the other, and still we have got the power transmitted to all four wheels. It is a 35 horse power. A Member : What do they cost ? Mr. Case : The people there are just forming the company and getting started, but probably about $3,000. 1 understand they have taken out their patents for the United States and have just taken out Canadian patents as well. They are over- coming a lot of difficulties that have been in the way. There is no wear out to the gasoline engine itself hardly. But that is getting away from my subject. You took me off this 20 by 24 seven years' crop. If you don't do it you are not on your job and that is all there is to it. Now, trees set 20 by 24 will not crowd under 15 years and you have had a chance of having eight crops of apples there. Then when they commence to crowd you take them out diagonally and you have 31 feet each way, and then they are good for 25 years. A Member : Should you ever let them crowd ? Mr. Case: 1 wouldn't let them crowd. Just as soon as they commence to crowd I would take them out. A Member: I understand from your system of pruning you can keep a tree just where you have a mind to. Mr. Case : I am talking about a big tree that is covering 30 feet now. A Member: You .are crowding your new wood into the centre and cutting oiU the old wood. Mr. Case : I don't believe you can take a Grreening or a Baldwin and after- wards hold it at 20 by 24 feet. You might, but I doubt it. A Member: Did you mean 25 additional years? Mr. Case: No, 25 altogether. Then, if they commence to crowd, you take out the odd trees and you have got them 40 by 48, which is the ideal distance for Greenings, Baldwins, and Spies. A Member : \Yhen your trees are taken out diagonally the first time how far apart are they? Mr. Case : Thirty-one feet. A Member: It is said in the humid districts in British Columbia they can grow their trees low, but in our districts, where we haven't humidity, we have to grow our trees high. In other words, we are troubled with all sorts of fungus growths if we don't. Mr. Case : Well, that is a new thought to me. Yet I have got such faith in the lime and sulphur that I think we are going to hold anything that comes along. Of course, you are breeding a lot of insects and diseases that we do not know any- thing about to-day that our boys will have to study out later. A Member: What would you do witli an orchard planted 40 feet apart and has not yet started? The trees are three or four years old. Mr. Case: Are they natural fruit? A Member: It was intended for a Spy orchard and not grafted yet. They •are planted 40 feet apart. What would you do with that orchard? Mr Case : I would fill it in, and the reason I would do that is, you may be all right on this side, but in New York State there is hardly one of those cropped. You set an orchard out 40 feet apart each way and you want to do something with tnat A Member: T should have said it is already planted. I want to know what 1911 FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION. 37 you would do with those ti'ees if tliey were yours, in order to get a good apple orchard. Mr. Case: I would graft them or bud them. A Member: Would you cut the limbs, and how low? They have been set three years. Mr. Case : You will have to ask some of these scientific men. A Member: You interest me very much when you say a tree should bear in seven years, or ten years. Would you advise cutting those trees and grafting them for a low top? Mr. Case: How high are they trimmed now? A Member : Just ordinary, fairly low trimming. Mr. Case : Well, I doubt if you can get them budded at two feet without any- thing to draw the sap, and get your graft to live. I doubt it very much. You might in instances, but still I don't think you would have a good result all through the orchard. The only thing to do with that orchard is to graft it just as well as you can and leave enough to draw the sap. What I was going to say is this, if they set them 40 feet apart you want to try and grow something in between there. On the other side we grow grain, beans, potatoes and general farm crops, and with the rate of wages we have got to pay over there, if they will take my system of keeping accounts to know just where they are, they will find they are just swapping dollars. You are just giving an old bill to get a new one. You put an old bill in in the spring and get a new one out in the fall at the wages we are paying. At the same time look at the fertility you are drawing out of that soil unless you put something back. Now, my plan is clover. I have experimented with all the cover crops that have ever been suggested, and clover gives me the best results. Among those young trees we cultivate till perhaps the 1st of July or the middle of July, or sometimes till the 1st of August, and seed them down with the clover and let that clover grow till the next spring. Then if you wanted a little horse feed I wouldn't ohject to mowing it for one year through the centre, but if you will keep sowing that clover every year and plowing it under every spring and sow it in clover again, you are storing up a lot of humus and fer- tility in that soil that that orchard will not forget. A Member : Will you not make your orchard clover sick ? A Member : Most of them are sick for the want of it. Mr. Case : That is easily got rid of. A Member : Is mammoth clover better than the ordinary red clover ? Mr. Case : It strikes me it is a better nitrogen clover. We came to that con- clusion. A Member: Do you prefer clover to hairy vetch? Mr. Case : Yes. I sowed that one year. Maybe I should have tried it again, but I didn't like it I had to sow it under the trees, and I had to sow it earlier than I wanted, to get a good growth. A Member : When do you sow the clover crop ? Mr. Case: On old bearing orchards we commence on the 15th of June or so We are governed by the growth of the tree. Now, these men who have been talking about the color of your apples ; I have been all through that and have had that same thing. It is too late cultivation, in my opinion. Some of the professors had a great set-4o over that, and I put in an ex- periment of my own, and my plan knocked them silly. If an orchard is making much growth and you get a big rank growing foliage, I stop it right there about the first of June, or certainly by the tenth, and seed it right down, and then I get 38 THE REPORT OF THE No. 32 color. I am getting better and better color every year. This year I was away from home during that period and they didn't get the seeding done quick enough, and I lacked the color. I think if that clover had been in ten days sooner I would have got much better color. A Member: Have you got any other fertilizer? Mr. Case : Yes. A Member : Why do you think the clover is better ? Mr. Case : Some of you scientific men correct me if I make any mistake, but this is what I have picked up and put into practical use. My theory is this, that you stimulate a big growth, a big foliage, and you shade your fruit. We always mow twice. For instance, you mow this clover by the 15th June and by the 20th July it is all weeds. By the way, I would just as soon have weeds as any other cover crop except clover. A Member: When do you plow it under? Mr. Case : Again the next spring. A Member: Clay soil is a difficult soil to plow in the spring of the year. Do you think it would be advisable to plow under your cover crop in the fall ? Mr. Case: No. That gasoline engine is coming. A Member : My orchard is clay, and I can't do it in a few da^^s. Do you think the color is a matter of shading? Mr. Case: Yes. I think that was covered this morning. We have been all over the ground in regard to putting in potash and phosphoric acid, and while it probably does affect the color a little, it takes the sun on the apple, I believe, to get the color, and if there is a big foliage you won't get color. " The point is to shrivel up that foliage and get the sun into it. A Member: Do you think you would get the quantity? Mr. Case : Not quite, maybe. Now, there is one point I have been pretty fully decided upon that I want to give to you, and that is that 'an apple tree is like an animal in this respect, that during the incubation period it wants the best of food, and food so it can get it. Now, you know that great care is taken 'of a stallion dur- ing the breeding season, and the mare must be in good health in order to get good results, but as soon as the flesh is formed that feed must be stopped or it will go to fat. Now, I claim with an apple tree you are doing the same thing, and that during the months of April, May and June, when that apple is forming, first the blossom, and the embryo seeds and the apple, and getting ready for the fruit buds during the next year which it forms in July and August, that during that period the tree must get the very best of food which those little rootlets can get hold of, but after that apple is formed and commences to grow, if you keep up that food, it will go to wood. I don't know whether that is scientific, but I can prove it by actual experience anway. I have twenty- five acres of apple orchard, and I have just harvested my eighth crop in succession. But now comes another important point, and that is thinning. I will give you the history of tliat We sent some apples to a chemist to have him analyze them so that we might Iniow what they were taking out of the soil, and what we had to give back to the soil, in order to grow those apples. The chemist came back at us and said the flesh of that apple is nearly all water; there is just a taste of potash and phosphoric acid in it, but he said the seeds were high in potash and phosphoric acid. You can see where our reasoning would lead us. We claim it does not exhaust the soil or strain the tree to pump water up out of the soil to make the flesh of that apple, but what doe? exhaust the soil and strain your tree is to pump potash and phosphoric acid up out of the soil to make the seeds of that apple, and the bigger apples you grow and the 1911 FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION. 39 less seeds you grow the less you exhaust your soil and strain your tree. Now, how are you going to do it ? The great point is to get those apples off, and we started m September. They may come off in July. We tried to save them, but they must come off, and I pulled off hundreds and hundreds of bushels this last year, and have for three or four years. Now, the point is here, you can go out here among your Baldwin trees that have borne a crop of apples — last October you could anyway —and you could find fruit buds there, but you go there next spring and see if you can find them ? And even if they do come through off comes your blossoms or your apples; they will not grow. But if you will carry those trees through in a healthy condition, and do not let them overbear, what few buds you have got you can carry through and they will fetch you in a crop of apples the next year. A Member: What time would you start? Mr. Case : Just as soon as the chief drop is over and you know what you have got. A Member: Do you use commercial fertilizers? Mr. Case: I certainly do, and Dr. Jordan and Prof. Hedrick and I have had many a battle over it. They claimed at the Experimental Station it didn't do a bit of good, but I never grew such crops of apples until I used commercial fertili- zer. I do not use very much barnyard manure. I kept a lot of cows there for years and years and I couldn't make them pay, and I thought they ought to pay, and L got them to a point where I reckoned about $2 a load for every load of manure, and still I could not make those cows pay. The last year I sold my butter for 30 cents a pound in Rochester, nearly all of it, but when you take your inventory at the end of the year it tells you whether you make any money or not, and I never could make any. Then I sold all my eows but two. One I couldn't sell and the other I wouldn't. Now, you take those things and figure them in that way from a fair business stand- point, and you wall find where you stand. Now, as to the fertilizer question: I use a little barnyard manure, but very little. I like to put a little on every year. I use the clover as I have told you, sowing it so that my orchards now are all covered with a mat of clover and weeds and stuff that we have mowed. We have mowed it twice. A Member: Do you keep the clover that you mow? Mr. Case : No, sir. We leave it out there till spring and plow it all under. A Member : Would you plow it late in the fall ? Mr. Case : I think you are losing a whole lot of fertility the whole winter long. It is nature's way that that land should be covered during all the winter. I am talking about these orchards being cultivated. Of course, it is different if you have an old tough sod. Then I use 112 pounds of sulphate of potash and 600 pounds of ground bone per acre. You ask me why I use sulphate instead of muriate. My land is retentive ; it is naturally wet. I have got miles and miles of underdraining, and a lot more to put in yet. I try to get a drain between every row of trees if the land is very wet. Of course, that is not necessary for the land where it is dry, but I run my drain through the hollows, and then run the other way, a three-inch tile between every row of trees, leading into the main drain. A Member: How old are your apple trees? Mr. Case: There was one orchard was set there in 1853. It is 58 years old. Another one was set in the fall of 1852, and another was set in the 60's. One was set in 1881 and another in 1882. That is the bearing orchards. A Member: Were tliose underdrains put in then? Mr. Case: No. Some of them have been in 20 years. A Member : Are your trees set 20 x 24 ? 40 THE REPORT OF THE No. 32 Mr. Case : We only have been setting them 20 x 24 for a few years. My father set out the orchard that was set out in 1853 and he set them 33 x 491/2. Of course, I have been sorry that he did. The 33 feet we have had to keep cutting, but, of course, with 491/2 feet there is room to drive through yet. A Member: Do you think there is any difference between grafting a tree and budding ? Mr. Case : There is a great difference. I don't understand budding very well. A Member: I heard the other day that winter killing could be caused by being grafted instead of budded. Mr. Case: I don't know much about it. A Member: I would like to know what we can make. I know one tree that raised 18 barrels of apples and the tree was over 100 years old. I would like to invest in it, if you can prove that all trees will bear 18 barrels per year. (Laughter.) I have got a 25-acre orchard in which was planted 2,900 trees 30 years ago. A great many trees have died down, so that I helieve there are about 2,000 now. Would you take the orchard as a gift ? Mr. Case: Sure. I don't take much stock in the 18 barrel business, but there is no trouble in making an ordinary tree bear four or five or six barrels. We all know that can be done, and if that will not figure up enough money, T think you are pretty grasping. A Member: Some trees bear 23 barrels. Mr. Case: That is 69 bushels. I have known in my life of a few of those tremendous big trees that have 40-foot spreads, and occasionally I have known them to produce 50 bushels, taking those that drop on the ground and everything, but that is very exceptional. A Member : If you have a great many on a tree one year will you not get only a few next year? Mr. Case: Yes. A Member: I would like to know at what depth yon put your drain in your orchard. Mr. Case: Nothing less than two to two and a half feet in the shallowest place. Of course, you can't get them all the same depth if your land is rolling. A Member : Would it be necessary to plant one year old trees in order to cut the heads down that way? Mr. Case : I think we are all coming to that. A Member : With reference to that commercial fertilizer, do you use the treated or untreated, or do you put it on raw ? Mr. Case: We use what is known as bone meal. A Member: Is it treated with sulphuric acid? Mr. Case: I cannot tell you. A Member : Do you mix your bonemeal and potash together first ? Mr. Case: No; there is not a man who could live in the same building if yon did. A Member: We have not found out if there is any profit in raising appleg yet? Mr. Case: Now, there have been experiments carried on on a farm near Rochester, where they have ten acres of apple orchard, and they have cultivated half of it and have half in sod. You will find a controversy between Professor Hedrick and Mr. Collingwood in a paper called " The Rural New Yorker," where Mr. Collingwood advocated the Grant Hitchings system and Professor Hedrick ad- Yocates the cultivation of orchards, and to clinch the argument he instanced an 1911 FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION. 41 orchard where half was cultivated and half was sod, whel'e accounts were kept by the Experimental Station, and it was proved that the five acres of cultivated apple orchard paid a net profit for four years of ten per cent, per year on a valuation of $1,000 per acre. You can find that in the files of " The Rural New Yorker " over Professor Hcdrick's signature. Now, don't whistle when I tell you this story. I took four years and I struck 141/2 per cent, per year on a valuation of $1,000 pei acre. Now, where is there any business equal to growing apples? A Member: Do you cultivate? Mr. Case: Yes. It is a mixture between the cultivated and the sod. I stop cultivating between the 10th and 15th June. A Member: Do you remember the figures for the sod cultivation? Me. Case : No, but it is much less. A Member: Do you cultivate every year or let it remain for some years? Mr. Case : I cultivate every year, but stop yearly. A Member: How deep do you plow? Mr. Case : Just as shallow as we can plow and turn the sod under, four or five inches. If we had some tool for cutting off that clover I wouldn't plow at all. In fact, I have not plowed my vineyard for many years. (Applause.) Mr. a. McNeill (Ottawa) : May I be allowed the privilege of moving a vote of thanks to Mr. Case. Somehow or other he appeals to me. This is the first time I have had the pleasure of hearing him, and it strikes me he is one of the right kind. He is one of the fellows who is doing things and not merely thinking them. Thinking is all right. It has got to be done. Every castle has got to be in the air before it comes down to earth, hut Mr. Case's address has been particularly in- teresting to me, because he has gone into this thing and has given us his rich ex- perience, and has done it in a way that goes to the bottom of our hearts. Now, I am further pleased, as I believe he has modern methods, according to the profes- sors. I rather like the professors. I have got a sneaking regard for them, although in public it does not do to admit it. Mr. Case has got the right idea, and I am par- ticularly pleased, because I have a couple of thousand trees planted in exactly that same way, low-headed, close together, smaller trees and more of them on the acre, and easy to spray and easy to pick and easy to prune. It is perhaps because I am doing just as he did that makes me think so, hut he has made an impression upon us, because he has actually done these things, and he can indulge in automobiles. You cannot get around the argument of a man who has got an automobile. (Laughter.) Therefore, I have the sincerest pleasure in moving this vote of thanks to him. I would also like to add that this is one more "case" — (laughter) — ^and it is a hard case to get around, when we can welcome a brother from the other side of the line at this particular time when there is so much turmoil and unrest in lEurope and in America, and I think we cannot do too much to band ourselves as brothers together. We must all come to the conclusion that we are brothers, and we must stand together for the betterment of the world, and Mr. Case is an apostle of that kind. Mr. Grierson: I have much pleasure in seconding the motion. The President put the motion, which, on a vote being taken, was declared carried. 42 _ THE REPOET OF THE No. 32 ONTARIO APPLE SHIPPERS' ASSOCIATION RESOLUTION. Mr. Nesbitt: I have the honor to represent a body of men who in the past have purchased between 750,000 and 850,000 barrels of apples in the Province of Ontario. The situation has been getting worse and worse from year to year until finally we have decided, which the resolution I will read to you directly will show, that unless we can get apples that have been spra3^ed it is the intention of the great majority of these people who are buying the ^apples to go out of the business. To a certain extent perhaps the speculator has been to blame. We all know, and I am not blaming the grower of apples one bit, he was always asking any kind of an old price for any kind of an old apple that grew upon any kind of an old tree, and you always found some person who was buying apples as representatives of people in Great Britain or people interested in Ontario— you always found some person ready to pay those prices. Now, if there was a normal crop of apples this year, and I think I am talking to growers who know this, you could not have sold the crop that was grown upon the trees, because the men who are representing the large interests would not have bought them. However, as it stood the crop was very low, and we knew it in the month of July. It was estimated about 60 per cent, of the crop of last year was grown east of Toronto, and 20 per cent, of the crop last year was grown west of Toronto. As a matter of fact there has been less than that. Nevertheless, with that shortage in their minds their buyers went out around the districts where these apples were to be bought, especially east of Toronto, and where they found orchards that were sprayed they went into them and tried to make a purchase. The orchard immediately adjoining that which was not sprayed they did not waste any time over it at all. They secured as many apples as they could that were sprayed, but the crop was so much shorter than they expected they went back the second and third and fourth time, and eventually picked up all the fruit that was to be found in these orchards that were not sprayed. But that kind of thing will not obtain very much longer, and the result of the conference we held this morning is this : " Moved by Mr. Shourds, of Wellington, seconded by Mr. Douglas, of Newcastle, that the members of the Ontario Apple Shippers' Association agree for themselves that they will not purchase apples from any grower who does not spray his apples with lime and sulphur and arsenate of lead, or some other equally good insecticide." That was passed unanimously. The proceedings of the Apple Shippers' Association will now be mailed to some of the larger growers and other co-operative associations in Ontario, and what the result may be I don't know; but I can tell you now that I have attended a great many meetings of apple buyers in the last ten or twelve years and I have not seen so unanimous a feeling in all my experience as was shown yesterday and to-da}^, and we have determined that if people will not grow good apples we do not want them at any price. A large pro- portion of them, or a considerable proportion of them at any rate, ought to be put in evaporaters, but we do not get a chance to get them there. The buyers, on the one hand, and the farmers on the other, are forcing all kinds of stuff into barrels, and the result is we are losing the reputation that Ontario has had for apples. It appears to me you are up against a serious condition, as compared with British Columbia and the Pacific Coast, and the sooner you recognize it the better. We have the advantage in some ways over these places on the Pacific Coast. We have got a better flavored apple, and we have got a better Spy than they can produce anywhere on the continent, and why we do not take advantage of it and get the results is beyond my comprehension. 1911 FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION. 43 THE CHIEF DIFFICULTIES IN THE SUCCESSFUL SHIPMENT OF FRUITS. W. H. Bunting, St. Catharines. I want to congratulate you upon this very enthusiastic and largely attended meeting that we are having here in Toronto on the fifty-first anniversary. I have been wondering whether it was the popularity of the presiding officer or the awakeii- ing that has taken place in the Province of Ontario that is responsible for it. There is another factor in connection with it that I have noticed, and that is the very broad and complacent smile on a great many of our growers who have come up to our convention after a profitable season. The gentlemen who are here to-day are the men who are practising the methods that the last speaker has urged upon the growers of the Province of Ontario, namely, the spraying of the orchards. I want to say for Mr. Nesbitt's information that I think the resolution which he has pre- sented will meet with the hearty approval of every gentleman here present, and that we will, as a body, only too gladly support any further measures that will assist in increasing the number of people who will take the best of care of their orchards. It is the only thing that can be done with any degree of satisfaction, and I am sure if persuasion and education will not accomplish that work perhaps a little coercion on the part of gentlemen like the Apple Shippers' Association will have a beneficial effect. There is another feature in connection with our Exhibition and Convention this year that has struck me as a very good one, and that is the very large number of intelligent young men that I have seen about the Exhibition for the past few days and during our Convention to-day. It speaks well, I think, for the future of fruit growing in the Province of Ontario that we have joining the ranks of the Ontario Fruit Growers' Association the flower of the yeomanry of the Province of Ontario, and I feel certain while there are a number of us who are getting gray in the service, and who perhaps are getting a little too old to learn new methods, that the hope of the fruit growing industry of Ontario rests with our young men, and I feel, sir, it is in good hands. The Secretary has placed me on the programme to speak for a few minutes with reference to the chief obstacles in the successful shipment of fruit. The Secretary has enlarged upon my subject, and I had not proposed to-day to speak upon the chief obstacles connected with the shipment of fruit, but only a few of those obstacles with which we have to contend. This is a very large subject, and to undertake to discuss all the obstacles and all the various ramifications that come up in connection with placing our fruits on the market in the best condition would be too big a subject for me to handle and would take up too much of our time during the present session. However, there are two or three things I would like more par- ticularly to refer to and emphasize. As I take it there are three parties to this transaction — the producer of the fruit, the carrying company, the transportation company, the railway or otherwise, as the case may be, into whose hands we are obliged to place our product, and then the man at the other end, the customer or the ultimate consumer. Now, in order that this transaction should be successful it must, in the first place, be satisfactory and profitable to the producer. In the second place the middle man, the carrier, must have a fair and reasonable return for the services rendered. In the third place we must have a satisfied consumer at the other end, and one who is prepared to repeat the operation of ordering more of the same commodity. Unless that transaction is carried out on that mutually satisfactory basis, if any of the links of the chain fail, it seems to me, to a very 44 THE REPORT OF THE No. 32 large extent, the whole transaction falls to the ground. This Association was formed for the purpose of educating the Fruit Growers' of this Province in the very best methods of producing fruits of the very best quality. For 51 years we have been preaching the gospel of good tillage, the selection of good varieties, care in handling, good packing, and all the other things that pertain to the production of first-class fruit. Sometimes progress has been slow, but I think, Mr. Chairman, that I am well within the mark in saying that the rank and file of the members of the Ontario Fruit Growers' Association to-day are engaged conscientiously in an endeavor to-do the best they can in these respects. While there are some things we would like to see improved, while there are many of our neighbors and friends who do not attend these meetings and are not connected with our organizations, and who are not endeavoring to do as we would like, yet we feel there has been great progress made and we have hopes for the future. When it comes to the next factor in the transaction, that is the carrying companies, as many of you know, during the past ten or twelve years through this Association, through this Committee and through its members, we have been engaged in an effort to improve the conditions that obtain as to the carrying of our perishable fruits, not only in America, but across the ocean. Some progress has been made. Better rates have been obtained. I think this Association was one of the first Associations to move in the appoint- ment of the Railway Commission, and we have it to our credit that we supported that movement and succeeded in having the Railway Commission appointed, a body of men who have succeeded in doing untold good, not only in our own industry, but to all the commercial activities of this Dominion of Canada. Now, in connection with these efforts, we have, as I say, succeeded in getting some improvements and some redress, but there are still some things which require attention. One of the things I wish to refer to here is in connection with the delays in transhipment of fruit by the fruit service. Some years ago, in pressing our claims before the Railway Commission, one of the things we asked was that respon- sibility should be fixed in connection with delays connected with the transhipment of fruit by our fruit service, and that the Railway Companies give us a schedule of shipment. They tell us they will, at the present time, endeavor to place our fruits in the Winnipeg market, for instance, with a schedule of 4% days ; they give us a schedule of 34 hours to Montreal from the Niagara Peninsula; they give us a schedule of 12 hours to the city of Toronto. Now, it is reasonable to expect that these schedules should be carried out, and if they are not carried out that the responsibility for failure to carry out those schedules should be fixed. Now, as a matter of fact, during tlie past year there has been a good deal of difficulty in con- nection with this very point. Instead of a 41/2 day service during the early part of the season, 7 and 8 and 9 days frequently obtain. Instead of a 24-hour service to Montreal it was frequently 36 and 48 hours, causing the bunching of cars in the Montreal market. Instead of a 12-hour delivery to the city of Toronto, an 18 and 20-hour delivery was frequently the case. These things caused a very great deal of loss and damage to the shippers. Now, it seems to me that these matters should be pressed still further home to the Railway Commission, if they have jurisdictio.i in tills matter, and I have reason to believe they have jurisdiction, and that the responsibility of these delays should be fixed where it properly belongs. So much, sir, for the freight end of the matter. As far as the rates are concerned, I think we have nothing to complain of in connection with the freight rates to the various points which I have mentioned. There are some details which might be improved upon in that respect in connection with shipments farther west. 1911 FKUIT GROWERS^ ASSOCIATION. 45 Now, there is another phase of the matter. It is not possible for us to handle all our goods in bulk in carload lots. It is necessary, owing to the nature of circum- stances, that a very large proportion of our shipments should be carried by the Express Companies of this country. We have a number of Express Companies who are operating, and the very facts that have been shown in the enquiry before the Railway Commission, that these Express Companies have not only been making 14 per cent., as Mr. Case spoke of with reference to his orchard, but three or four times that percentage has been made upon the capital of those companies, and those revenues have been made upon the products we have furnished, gives us an idea what they are doing. Now, in connection with the handling of fruit by express the statement hai? been made frequently that this service is unsatisfactory, and to-day I wish to em- phasize this fact that the service during the past year has been unsatisfactory, and more than that, that in connection with one of our companies that no very great effort has been made to improve the service, and that while this matter has been the subject of protest for years, the same thing has obtained from year to year. We are practically to-day where we were a number of years ago in this respect. During the past year it has been my privilege to endeavor, personally, to cater to a private order trade by express, and I have had very great difficulty in conduct- ing that business with satisfaction to my customers largely from the fact that conditions, over which I had no control, were of such a character that dissatisfac- tion arose amongst my customers. In connection with that matter I was obliged finally to address the following letter to the Chairman of the Railway Commission. With your permission, Mr. Chairman, I will read this letter : " The Honorable Mr. M'afbee, Chairman of the Board of Railway Commissioners, of the Dominion of Canada, Ottawa, Ont.: "Honorable Sir: I am taking the liberty of writing to you at this time in connec- tion with a matter, which in its indivdual aspect may seem somewhat trivial, but which effects to a greater or less extent all those who are engaged in the transhipment of perishable fruits by the Express Companies of this country. " It would seem that notwithstanding all the care that may toe taken by the pro- ducer of fruit to select and pack his fruit in a careful manner, that when it is handed over to the Express Companies for carriage, it is subject to depredation and pilfering by the employees of the said companies. This condition of affairs has been brought to your notice in a general way during the Express Enquiry. "During the present season, however, I have been engaged, to some extent, in catering to a select list of private customers scattered over a considerable area. In a number of cases specific instances of which I herewith append, these consignments have been subject to pilfering before reaching their destination. In some oases the con- signees have refused to accept the goods. In others they have been accepted and com- plaint has been filed with me. " I take 'the liberty of bringing this matter before the Board in order that, if pos- sible, some plan may be devised in connection with the adjustment of the Express enquiry that will result in this unfortunate condition being, if not entirely abated, at least very considerable minimized. " I have the ihonor to be, sir." I had the following letter in reply to that communication: " My Dear Sir, — I have gone over the copies of letters you enclosed to me with much interest. I have, ever since this matter of pilfering and rough-handling was first ventilated before the Board, felt the seriousness of it from the public point of view. That something should be done needs no argument, but the question is what ? The difficult is brought about by careless and dishonest employees, in whose hands the Express Companies are compelled to entrust their business. The Company sliould not be unfairly dealt with, because of the occasional wrong-doing of its emiployees. It is: liable for loss sustained through this pilfering or rough-handling. The proper place for the shipper to establish his claim and make recovery is in the Division Court What other system could toe established to take the place of this? The Act, as it now 46 THE EEPORT OF THE No. 32 stands, gives the Railway Commission no authority* to deal with these claims or to say within what time Express Companies should make settlements, or as to whether they should make settlements at all or not. If any change is made, it will have to be made by Parliament. " I hope that in the course of another month the conclusions reached with reference to the Express Enquiry will be in a position to be made public." Now, Mr. President, in connection with that matter I addressed a letter in the same tenor to Mr. Bryce, General Superintendent of the Canadian Express Company, and also enclosed to him a number of communications bearing upon this point, and I must say up to the present time, while I have received several letters from Mr. Bryce, the General Superintendent of the Canadian Express, these letters are extremely unsatisfactory in their tenor and offer no sort of relief to the shipper in that respect. Now, with your permission I will read a few extracts from some of the letters I have received during the past six weeks bearing upon this point, and showing this is a matter of the very greatest importance. Here is a letter from my accountant : "This evening at 6.30 o'clock (twelve hours late) I received 27 baskets grapes, 3 of the lot in very 'bad order; 1 basket being i/^ empty; about 1-3 of the balance are badly shook up. " I have put in a claim to the Express Company for the damage and shortage of the 3 baskets received in bad order. You can put in a claim for the three baskets that are short delivered. I understand you shipped 30 baskets. This shipment was carried past Kingston this morning and returned this evening. I Here is a letter from a gentleman of Port Balhousie, who has made some ship- ments. He says, in a shipment made to Mariposa on September 29th of 10 baskets peaches and 10 baskets grapes, the covering of all the peaches had been removed and fruit taken out, and one basket of grapes had but one bunch left: " On Seipt ember 13th I sent a basket of mixed fruit per Canadian Express to Brighton. This package was well packed and covered, and the lady wrote me that the covers were torn and part of the paiper removed and top layer of fruit all removed. Here is another letter: "Your letter came last nigM. The peaches came on Monday night, but they did not let me know anything about it till yesterday. I found them with the baskets all broken, the handles broken off, and all had been opened and a lot of the fruit taken out. The peaches were jammed up as though something heavy ,had been put on them, or else they had been piled up into a corner and heavy things laid upon them." Here is a letter from the manager of the Humberstone Club : "The five crates of melons received this morning must have been handled very roughly, as they were well packed, but when I got them here they were in a very bad condition. There were seven of them knocked to pieces. Here is a letter from Winona : "Received three baskets of grapes, which I ordered. I find an unreceipted bill enclosed, etc. The grapes had been pilfered. The cover of the Delaware basket was broken and a lot taken out. The Red Rogers had also been robbed. The weight was 3 pounds less than the quantity billed." Then here is a letter from Montreal : "At 10>.30 this morning the peaches came and fortunately I was in at the time. Both baskets ihad .been tampered with, being about two-thirds full. There was 35 cents to pay, (but I refused to take them. Please see Mr. Bunting and s-how him this letter, BO that he may take the matter up immediately with the Exipress Company." 1911 FRUIT aROWERS' ASSOCIATION. 47 Then here is a letter from Walkerton : "Please find enclosed the sum of six dollars, for which please send six baskets of - Crawford (peaches. Saw your ad in the Toronto World. Please when sending do them up, so as the baggage men cannot help themselves, as quite often the fruit comes baskets half empty. Trusting to hear from you in the near future." Then here is the other side of the story: " I wish to thank you for the splendid fruit you sent to Mrs. Cook for me. It was so well ipacked that it arrived in excellent condition. Enclosed please find cheque to cover the same." Then here is another : " I enclose P.O. order if or five dollars and fifty cents, the amount which I owe you for fruit purchased from you. I only got the cash a few days ago or I would have sent it before. The ifruit reached me in good condition and was satisfactory in every respect." I just read those letters to show that an effort has been made to do the packing carefully. Then I have an extract from a letter of Mr. Bryce's which I wish to read, and then a letter from a gentleman, an eye-witness of some of the handling. Here is an extract from the letter of Mr. Bryce, dated the 26th October: " As you are aware, we have had this matter up before the Railway Commission, and if at any time you would like to travel in our fruit train, say to Toronto, or take it right through to Montreal, to see how we handle the fruit, I would be only too pleased for you to do so, and I feel convinced it would demonstrate to you the care- ful way in which this fruit is handled, and also the way in which the fruit settles in the basket, and so you may have a personal knowledge as to what the Express Com- panies are doing to get the fruit to its destination in good order." Mr. Bryce makes the charge that the fruit is thrown into baskets : "As regards the packing; well, I have /been too long in the business not to know about that. It is quite obvious to see when fruit has been thrown into the baskets, for the result is, as previously stated, that the ifruit settles in the basket." Now, I have a letter from a gentleman who is one of our most careful packers and shippers, and a gentleman who is conservative in his views, and who handles his stuff with the greatest care: " Dear Sir, — ^Although not often at the station at express time, on Wednesday, September 14th, I was at the Welland Station when the one o'clock fruit express was being loaded, and noticed that some of the fruit was handled in an extremely rough way. Baskets were sometimes thrown 2 or 3 feet, landing with a thud on the fioor of the car. I also saw -baskets thrown on top of each other, the upper basket tilting at such an angle as threatened to throw the contents out through the leno of the cover. " Since at home we handle these soft fruits with the utmost care to prevent bruis- ing, and since the success of our business depends on the fruit reaching the consumer in good condition, it is shameful to have it so carelessly handled. It would seem, too, that it were in the interest of the Express Company that their service should give satisfaction both to the shipper and the consumer." I have read these extracts, not that they are anything new, I presume, to a great many of the gentlemen here present who are engaged in the shipment of fmit, but simply to refresh their minds as to the instances that have occurred in their own personal experience and are occurring every day, and to present the matter to the Association for a little discussion on this question, in order that some method or some plan of procedure may be adopted that may, if not entirely do away witli this unfortunate state of affairs, at least minimize it to a very great extent. I 48 ' THE KEPORT OF THE No. 32 leave the matter, Mr. President, with the meeting. If 1 can answer any questions in connection with it I shall only be too pleased to do so, and I now ask for sug- gestions and for assistance from the rank and file of the Fruit Growers Association. The President: I think this should be thoroughly discussed at this meeting. It is an important subject, and I may say I am one of the sympathizers, as I have suffered in the same way. I sent a shipment to Morrisburg and I took extra pains in having it doubly covered, and I received a letter saying that the top layer of the peaches had been removed. I think this matter should be taken up and thor- oughly gone into by this meeting. Mr. Augustine : I might speak as an eye witness of the way peaches are handled. Coming up from London Fair, I got off at Glencoe, where there are a great many peaches shipped. I saw them piled up in the express car probably six feet high, and if the engine stopped or started very suddenly, I suppose two or three hundred baskets all went down, and I saw the express agent just take his foot and shove them back in one corner. I suppose twenty or thirty baskets were just pushed away back into the corner, and the rest were thrown about just like you throw sacks. Mr. Dickie : It appears to me whatever action is taken it should be brought very forcibly to the attention of the Express Company. I was shipping a quantity of strawberries a year ago, and I saw the express messenger on the train take them and upset them in the car. I was somewhat enraged about the matter, and I wrote down to them and I got a letter saying they would give it their earnest con- sideration, but I never heard of it again. This summer I had occasion to sliip half a dozen baskets of pears to my father, living in Muskoka, and I got a letter back saying when they arrived there they had been broken open, and they emptied the six baskets into three and a half. Mr. Pattison : I have been connected with the paper which has taken this question up and argued it very strongly before the public in the interests of the Fruit Growers as against the Express Companies, so strongly that we received a lawyer's letter to say if we didn't stop that things would be made very unpleasant for us. To that we replied that we intended to hew on in the same old direction, and if they wanted to make it unpleasant, why, let them come on with their un- pleasantness, because we considered that it was of most vital importance to every man shipping fruit by express to-day. I am not going to go into the question of complaints. Mr. Bunting has given you ample evidence, and every fruit grower who ships by express could supply you with a lot more. The question is. What are we going to do about it? It seems, reading this letter of Judge Mabee's to Mr. Bunting, that the Railway Commission do not feel that they have power to make any ruling at present, and they suggest our remedy is in the Division Courts. I would throw it out as a suggestion that this Fruit Growers' Association take it up as an Association and appoint a committee, or appoint some of the members, to get up some cases, or a case, and push it home. Let them send out detectives or collect in some way the particulars of the grievances of the growers, and have a test case made, and have it pushed right home and these employees fined or sentenced to imprisonment. That stealing and pilfering is very common I know exceedingly well from my own experience, but there is another thing that is almost worse, and that is, when just complaints of injury to fruit go in, there is unusual delay. The express companies, I may say more particularly the Canadian Express Company, admit that these growers have cause for complaint, and still continue to put off adjusting the complaint with letters, and they drag it out so long that finally the grower becomes disgusted, and gives the whole matter up. 1911 FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION. 49 I think, perhaps, there are two otlier points where good could be done. One is that it should be widely advertised in the papers that customers, both private and otherwise, who receive these fruits are not compelled to receive them at all, and that they should refuse them at once and send in a complaint. At present there are a number of people, especially private customers such as Mr. Bunting refers to, who think they have no redress, and are obliged to receive the fruit in whatever condition it comes. The proper thing to do is to refuse the fruit and send it right back to the railway company and lodge a complaint, and communi- cate with the parties who have sent it, and demand redress. I may add that I was deputed by a leading medical man of Hamilton this year to purchase some peaches for him to send to his mother, who lives in a small town in the north. I bought him the finest peaches that could be got, packed and shipped them myself, and in three diays he got a letter saying that what was left of the peaches were very fine, but although there were four baskets arrived, there were only two baskets of fruit in them. I took the matter up with the Dominion Express Company, and I got this doctor to do the same, and through the agent, Mr. Dobson, of Hamilton, I am glad to say we got prompt restitution. The full damages were returned to those people. Now, that is the way an express com- pany should do, but it also should go further than that. It should send out detectives, or have its system so managed that there would be no need of constant complaints. There is no doubt, although the evidence is absolutely overwhelming, that the express companies, and more particularly the Canadian Express Com- pany, have pooh-poohed all these complaints, and have said that the packers were the people who were doing the pilfering, and any way, what did it matter if there was a little fruit taken away. Now, there are a great many, city people particu- larly, who think that the fruit grower is a sort of universal philanthropist, and if a little fruit is taken it makes no difference ; whereas, if you go to a lawyer and ask them for a little law you will have to pay a mighty fine price for it, or if you go to a doctor and ask him to give away a few of his pills, no matter how poor they may be, you will have to pay for them. I think that a committee should be at once appointed and that some test case should be taken up and let the offenders be fined, and that the fact should be advertised that the fruit may be refused when it is in a damaged state and damages demanded. Mr. a. E. Sherrington: This is an important matter. There is another question and that is the question oi the delivery by the Express Company in the cities and towTis to which the shipments are made. "We find in nearly all the towns, and more especially the cities, that we are charged with a certain amount for the delivery of the fruit. I believe the Express Companies ought to deliver to every- body within the corporation, no matter what size the city or town is, and it should be delivered free. I think we ought to urge this upon the Railway Commission and ask them to order all the Express Companies to make free delivery of fruit within the city limits, irrespective of the size of the city or to-wn. I ship a great deiil of fruit to the City of Toronto and I am charged pretty heavy rates for delivering, and we pay them a pretty heavy rate for carrying the fruit. It should be delivered in the city free, the same as in the smaller towns. Mr. Bunting : I think Mr. Sherrington is in error. I think there is free de- livery. A. W. Smith: In many parts of Toronto it costs more for delivery of the goods after they arrive at the express office than it does to send them to the express office. It is a very serious matter. I pay 25 cents for express, and 40 cents for delivery after it arrives. 4 F. G. 50 THE REPORT OP THE No. 32 Mr. Sherrington: I have never made a shipment to Toronto but I have had to pay delivery. Mr. Smith: In the City of Toronto they do not deliver past the Dundas Street bridges. They deliver within a certain limit, but they do not deliver to other parts of the city, and you have to pay extra. Mr. Sherrington : They do not make free delivery to the wholesale houses, only across Pront Street.. Mr. Bunting : There is just one point I wish to refer to before the discussion closes, and that is the matter of bringing cases of this kind into the Division Courts for settlement. It seems to me that the Canadian Express Company has been referred to this afternoon as being the greatest offender in this respect. I may say I do business almost entirely through the Canadian Express Company fo^- the reason that the Dominion Express Company does not extend from St. Catha- rines to a number of points. I have heard that the Dominion Express Company has been, as Mr. Pattison has stated, very much more amenable to making amends when difficulties of this kind arise, but I have at the present time some eight or ten claims ranging from one to five or six dollars against the Canadian Express Company. These claims have been filed some six weeks, some two months, and up to the present time I have heard nothing definite from them whatever. They are in process of investigation, or have probably been pigeon-holed. A gentleman here suggests they have been put in cold storage. However, you can easily understand that it means I have to bring parties from all parts of the Dominion of Canada, you might say, to endeavor to prove claims of this kind, when the Cbmpany itself has records and knew before I did that there was something wrong with these very shipments and knew the particulars from the time the shipment left the shipping point till it reached the consignee. I would like to ask any gentleman here who has been in the habit of shipping fruit if in his recollection at any time an Express Com- pany's agent has come to him and stated such and such a shipment he made at such a time to such a party was in bad order, and they were anxious to make a settlement. Does any gentleman know of any such thing occurring in the Province of Ontario? In my experience of 30 years I have not heard of such a thing. Now, the companies have the records and they know the circumstances from start to finish, and without any claim on the part of the shipper, without any effort or process on his part these claims should be settled, and settled promptly, and an effort made to obviate a recurrence of the same from time to time. It disorganizes a man's business and it prevents giving satisfaction to his customers. I think lb at is the important part of it, it is a clog on the wheels of progress and the future prosperity of the fruit growers of this Province. Mr. McNeill: What form would you like the resolution to take? Mr. Bunting : It strikes me a strong resolution going direct to the Express Company should have a beneficial effect. Mr. Mabee, the Chairman of the Railway Commission, has expressed his inability to undertake to remedy this matter, and you can see the force of his argument. I do not think we could ask Parliament to deal with a matter of this kind very well. I think it is a matter between our Association and the companies themselves. Mr. Augustine: Mr. Bunting made the statement that the rates were satis- factory. Are the rates satisfactory as far ajs express charges are concerned, because I was going to say we could not all say that. Mr. Bunting: No, the freight rates in carload lots. Mr. Augustine: In large fruit growing centres they have a decided ad- vantage over an isolated fruit grower who is perhaps the only one who is growing 1911 FRUIT GROWEEiS' ASSOCIATION. 51 small fruit. He has to pay in some cases nearly twice the rate to a certain point as they have to pay from the Niagara Peninsula. I do not think that is fair. They have to run the express cars anyway and they have the messenger there and it does not cost them any more. I do not see any good reason why we should not have the same rate. Mr. Bunting: I said there had heen an effort to have the frieght rate re- adjusted, and as far as I am aware, with one or two exceptions, from the largo shipping centres the freight rate at the present time, more particularly in car- load lots is not very unsatisfactory. There are some exceptions to that. However, as far as the express rates are concerned that matter was hrought before the Rail- way Commission a year ago last January in Toronto, and as Mr. Mahee has stated in his letter to me the expression of the Railway Commission's judgment on the matter is to be issued inside of this coming month. The committee appointed by this Association made a presentation to the Railway Commission suggesting a schedule of rates and if those rates are adopted and accepted I think the Associa- tion will feel that the Committee has done its duty in that respect. M]{. Thompson: There are quite a few exceptions. There are places vr'here the freight rates are very exorbitant and it has got to he a serious matter whe^ you have to pay $300 per dar instead of $160. Mr. Bunting : I tliink Mr. Thompson refers to rates to the far West. I think I mentioned they were not satisfactory, but other points have been rectified. The President: Mr. Bunting, you have this matter far better in hand than anybody else here and I would like to ask whether you would suggest whether or not this should be referred to the Resolution Committee ? Mr. Bunting: My chief object in bringing the matter before the meeting to-day was that a large representative meeting like this, a representative opinion, would back up whatever committee might be appointed for the coming year, and enable them to feel they have the support and co-operation of every grower in the Province of Ontario, which I take for granted they have. I think an expression of opinion from this Association would very much strengthen the hands of the committee at the present time. Mr. Augustine : There is one other matter I would like to mention. It was suggested some time during this meeting to bring in a resolution, or to bring up the matter anyway, that the inspection in regard to the Fruit Market Act be made to cover the open package as well as the closed. There is a great injury being done at the present time by shipping in open baskets. I don't mean the baskets, but the barrels that are being shipped to the North- West during this last fall. They are simply trash, and the difficulty is you might say that is nobody else's business if somebody has a mind to buy those apples that way. But the question is that the people who are consuming those apples are paying prices that they ought to get good ones for, and if people operate in that way there is no chance for a person who is trying to do a legitimate business and who complies with the law. I do not know whether it comes properly into this business that we are discussing now or not, but I would like to get an expression of opinion on that, as to whether we should include the open package in the inspection as well as the closed. We go into competition with British Columbia, and if we are going to allow people to send that stamp of apples to consumers in the North- West, no wonder we hear the cry of poor fruit that is being sent from Ontario. Mr. McNeill: The open packages are subject to the Fruit Market Act, to this extent, that the open face must agree with the rest of the package all the way through, and the Inspector inspects it to that extent. Mr. Augustine is com- 52 THE KEPOKT OF THE No. 32 plaining really of a real grievance in as much as there has been a great deal of poor fruit sent away to the North-West in those open barrels, but there is no way of getting at that except by opening up a new principle which I do not think the majority of fruit growers would agree to. A man can ship anything he pleases provided there is no fraud in the matter. There is no fraud in these open packages if the top is the same as the bottom, and you can see what you are buying. I am told that Mr. Vair, of Barrie, undertook to put a linen cover over these barrels and still call it an open package. Mr. Augustine will be pleased to know that we laid an information against Mr. Vair, and a telegram from Winnipeg announces Ihat yesterday Mr. Vair was fined. And Mr. Vair, if he continues in the practice, will be increasingly fined, until I think a $100 fine will convince him that ship- ping in these barrels with linen covers, which is just to get over the law, will not pa.y. Mr. Bunting: I had a case in point a few days ago. I happened to see a car of cider apples, and I also saw another car loaded with basket apples, and I thought a good many of those basket apples ought to have been put in the cider ear. However, I was curious enough to follow up those apples, and I enquirer! from the wholesale man what he was getting for them, and he said he was getting 20 cents a basket. I do not think there is very much profit to a shipper at 20 cents a basket, and I thought he would not care to keep on doing it. As a matter of fact there is a class of people that would like to get a cheaper grade of fruit, and I do not think we can say that a man shall not ship poor fruit, as long as it is shipped on its merits. Mr. Jones (Maitland) : When the question of these open packages was up some of the people in Quebee Province spoke very strongly on the matter, because tiiey said most of the fruit growers in the vicinity of Montreal shipped an immense amount of fruit into the market at Montreal in open packages, and that was a trade that they had to fill, and it was a trade the city looked for and expected and there were purchasers of that kind of fruit. When the discussion took place with re- gard to the Act this question was taken up' and it was decided to have the Act read in such a way that open packages can go into any market provided the face of the package represents the contents as regards grade. It simply protects those who want to do that kind of a trade. IS THE PEESENT ACTIVITY IN THE EXTENSION OF OECHAEDS LIABLE TO BE OVEEDONE? Egbert Thompsgn, St. Catharines. To answer this inquiry briefly, I do not think it is likely to be overdone at the present time. Outside of a few lines I do not think we are planting enough to keep pace with our market. It is true sometimes on account of not being able to market our fruit, and not knowing what markets would be open for it, we have had to take a low price, but knowing the high and excessive prices we have got for our fruit this year it seems to me there is an opening for a lot more planting than is being done. Tlie southern part of Ontario is an apple-growing section, and there are going to be more apples planted this spring than has been planted in the last ten years. In other portions of the Province they are going back. However, with the openings and the possibilities of the markets of our Dominion I think we can 1911 FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION. 53 market one hundred times as many apples as we are doing at the present time. I was amazed when the apple huyer was speaking in the early part of the meet- ing about what they were doing and the way the philanthropists were giving us so much money. I remember the time they came very early in the season and offered ■ us big prices. I have in mind a man that sold his orchard for $500 and they took out over 1,000 barrels. At present prices? you can figure out who is the philanthropist. Mr. Oase was speaking to you about the low-headed apple trees. I saw some people shaking their heads. If they could have gone back no longer than four years you would have seen the same thing happen when we talked about low-headed peach trees. To-day we have got them down and I have seen the men selecting fruit within a foot of the ground which is as good as at the top of the tree. As fdr as the apple trees are concerned there are orchards being set out with the idea of growing them and handling them the same as our peaches, and I agree with that from what I have seen during the last few years, that we can get apples in paying quantities in a very short time. Of course some years we may have to take lower prices. Take peaches, for instance. We may have to take a lower price than we have been taking for the last few years, but that will only help to extend our markets. Our own increase in population, with the railway extensions, and better transportation for handling the fruit will mean that much more fruit will be required, and I think our markets will double every year and we will be able possibly to sell our fruit for less than we are doing at the present time and make more money. I remember when grapes were sold at 4 cents a pound and people had to go out of the business, and now they are selling them for a good deal less. Mr. Jones: In speaking from the standpoint of the part of the Province in which I live, I may say I do not see any danger at all with regard to over-plant- ing of orchards. With the exception of the result of some good work that A. D. Campbell has done in the County of Dundas, there is practically no planting being done. In Leeds and Grenville, where I live, they are so wedded to the cow's tail ihey cannot get away from it, and the consequence is the orchards there at the present time are being seriously neglected. I think the owners forget they ha^'e such a thing, and the consequence is the fruit is being neglected, with very few exceptions indeed. The fruit this year was almost nil. There is practically no planting being done. Agents come through there and say they cannot do any business. It is a m'atter of sentiment, I think, in some localities. Now, I think what sentiment and enthusiasm we have in connection with one of the best pay- ing branches of the farming industry should be encouraged to its fullest extent. Our m^arkets are extending in every direction. A few years ago when we took suoli low prices for our fruit there were practically no markets in the North- West. It was the land of the Hudson Bay Company for getting furs, but to-day we have a large consuming population there and they cannot grow fruit. They are looking towards British Columbia to supply the Western Provinces, but this year even though they say they have large crops of first-class fruit, more Ontario fruit has been sold than ever. They are not able to supply the demand, and I do not think British Columbia will ever supply the demand in the North- West Provinces. We are getting better transportation across the ocean to the European markets, and the orchards are not increasing in Europe in acreage to any extent. The population of our own towns and cities is increasing to a greater extent year by year than our niral population, and I feel we have very bright prospects for a continued profitable 54 THE EEPORT OF THE No. 32 market for our fruit. I cannot see that there is the least danger of over-produc- tion. I miay be wrong, but I think I am right. Mr. Wallbridge : How do you account for more Ontario apples being sold in Winnipeg ? Mr. Jones: I think there were two reasons. One reason was our packing this year. The fruit has gone into the Winnipeg market, in better shape than it has ever gone before, and the other reason was, I think, that British Columbia, with all the noise they make with regard to their immense crop of fruit, did not have the fruit to put there. It was recognized this year that our fruit was very su- perior, in packing, to what it had been previously. Mr. Wallbridge: How did the prices compare? Mr. Jones : I do not know liow the British Columbia fruit sold, but the prices from the West this year to the Ontario growers were very satisfactory. In one case I sold one carload of fruit, and it was practically the run of the orchards, graded into firsts and seconds and thirds, and shipped out to points west of Winni- peg, at $3.25 a barrel, and on that oar the purchaser paid $293 freight, so that the apples cost him something by the time he got them. Mr. Sherrington : I do not think that we should have any fear of the over- production of fruit in this country. Where there are a thousand trees being planted to-day there are nearly that many dying or becoming unproductive. What is the use of all our work, and attending all these conventions, and all this money that is expended, if we throw cold water on the prospects of tlie fruit industry of the Province of Ontario and try to frighten the growers by saying we will have over- production and we will have to take lower prices. Now, even if we do have to take a little lower price, I for one think I can live on a little less than 10 per cent, on a basis of $1,000 per acre of orchard. I have been making myself this year 17 per cent on a basis of $1,000 per acre, and on the basis of $200 a year which the land cost me six months ago — it was not all in apples — 88 per cent. I am making some money, but I can live on less than that, and I am quite willing to take a little lower price. What we want, I think, is greater activity in planting out. and greater activity in the production of a higher class of fruit. We have a large percentage of a low grade of fruit and what we want is a larger percentage of a higher grade of fruit, and let the prices take care of themselves. I think it is a mistake to throw out any hint or suggestion in any way that we are going to have any over-production of fruit in Ontario, for the simple reason that tlio markets are widening. In our Canadian North-West there is a greater consump- tion, and over the whole continent of Europe there is an increasing demand, as I understand it. In the United States in a few years they will have no apples to export. They are buyers 'at the present time, and they will pay any price for our Canadian Northern Spies. And not only that, but there is greater consumption right here at home. I think if they were all as great consumers of apples as I am they would need to plant out new orchards pretty fast, for it takes half a dozen to a dozen apples to do me a day, and I would like to say right here that people cannot eat too many apples, and therefore I have no fear as a grower of over- production of fruit of any class. Mr. Mitchell (Clarksburg) : I do not think we need fear very much for the next few years at any rate, and perhaps in our life time. As the last speaker said, I think it is going to fall into the hands of specialists who will grow a high class of fruit. We have enquiries from Sweden, Norway, Belgium and South Afriany new variety. It is just at this point that the average judge breaks down. The prize lists generally give a first and second for the best seedling. When the judges consider these exhibits they find them entered on number and in at least 50 per cent, of the entries known named varieties are shown. The first problem is bow many of these are named varieties, and the judge feels that he is in duty bound to name the varieties and rule them out or give the prize to the plate with the best points. I have judged fruit more or less for over 25 years and I have never felt perfectly satisfied with my work at this point on account of the possibility of awarding a prize to a named variety that I could not identify and classing it as a seedling. T would suggest that a special score card for seedlings be drawn up giving : Points— 10 Freedom from blemish. 20 Color. 10 Uniformity. 15 Form. 15 Size. 25 Texture and quality. 5 Season — meaning the length of time or period of its usefulness. I would suggest further that our Association use every means in their power to have every agricultural society or county fair board and exhibition committees print in their prize lists every year the scale of points for judging fruit, with the explanation of terms and have all exhibits of seedlings shown under the owner's name with his post office and county and the age of the tree, leaving off the exhibitor's number so that there would be no key by which the judges could identity any fruit he might have in the general exhibit. The associations to pro- vide suitable cards for the purpose. This last clause would add to the value of the exhibit and simplify the work for the judges. I do not wish it understood that I would advocate the scoring of a whole exhibit for that would entail work upon the judges that would be practically im- possible to accomplish in the time usually allowed for such work, but have the scale of points as a guide and help at the deciding point and as a means of over- coming differences of opinion between judges. To give a case in point: I was judging with an acknowledged authority at one time and we had a rather good lot of Fameuse to work on. It simmered down to three plates, and then to two, for first prize. One of these had full points on color, uniformity, and everything except size. The other was perfect in everything 1911 FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION. 83 except color, and it was off four or five points in this respect, but was at least ono- 6ixteenth larger. My fellow judge said, " Consider the earliness of the season; see what the color will he in a week or two; size is everything in Fameuse, etc/' I gave way to his judgment, but was not quite satisfied. This brings up the question of judging immature fruit at county fairs. I leave it to the meeting for discussion. Mr. Wallbridge : It seems to me there is a very important matter that should be attended to in connection with the inspection of apples. You will see many of our fruit growers and many of the public inspecting the apples who do not know what varieties they are, and it would only be a matter of trifling cost to have little cards printed and put on each box. It would be instructive to bave them. Mr. Jones: Every plate is supposed to bave the name of the variety on it, and it must be on there or the judges cannot act. That is one of the rules of the Association, and that is general all over the Province. Mr. Wallbridge: It is important that the boxes and barrels of fruit should be labeled. Mr. Jones: It is a very important thing. We can throw it out as a sugges- tion to our societies that they should provide printed cards with the name of the varieties suitable to their districts. Mr. Wallbridge : I was speaking more particularly as to our annual Exhibi- tion at Toronto. Looking at the fruit myself last night and to-day I saw numbers of people that were asking what the different varieties were. Fruit grown in one district is so different to what is grown in another district, ^although it is the same variety, it is difficult often for a person to tell what the fruit is, and if this Exhibition Association would have cards printed and put on them and just laid loosely on top of the boxes and barrels it would be very instructive to the public. Mr. Jones : That would be a good point. O'ur own Executive can attend to that matter. However, with regard to the County Fairs throughout the Province, as it is at present, nearly all packages and barrels shown are named, necessarily so, or the judges could not act. The Chairman : Just at this point it would be interesting to have the report of the committee, and I will ask Mr. Macoun, of Ottawa, to give it. STANDARDS FOR JUDGING FRUITS, APPROVED BY THE ONTARIO FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION FOR TRIAL IN THE YEAR 1911. W. T. Macoun. Ottawa. The following is the report of the Committee on Standards for Fruit Judging : Apples and Pears. Peaches. Single Plates: Single Plates: Form 15 Form 15 Size 15 Size 2a Colour 25 Colour 25 Uniformity 25 Uniformity 20 Freedom from Blemisli 20 Freedom from BlemisTi 20 100 100 84 THE EEPORT OF THE No. 32 Plums. Single Plates: Form lOi Size 25 Colour 1§ Uniformity 25 Freedom from Blemish 25 100 Cherries. ;Sw(/Ze Plates: Form lOi Size 20. Colour 20 Uniformity 25 Freedom from Blemish 25 100 Seedlings and " Any Other Variety. Si7igle, Plates: Form 15 Size 15 Colour 20 Uniformity 10' Freedom from Blemish 10' Quality and Texture 25 Season 5 100 Uniformity 10 Freedom from Blemish 20 Quality 10 Commercial Value 10 Nomenclature 5 Arrangement 5 Season 5 100 Barrels: Apples. Fruit: Size 10 Colour 20 Uniformity 15 Freedom from Bleonis'h 15 Texture and Flavour 15 — 75 Package: Material 4 Finishing 6 — 10 Packing : Facing 6 Tailing 2 Racking o Pressing 4 — 15 100 Boxes: Apples, Pears, Peaches. Grapes. Single Plates: Form of Bunch 10 Size of Bunch 15 Size of Berry 10' Colour 10' Bloom 5 Freedom from Blemish 20 Quality 25 Firmness 5 100 Collections of Apples, Pears, Plums, Peaches, Cherries and Grapes. On Plates: Form lOi Size 10 Colour 15 Fruit: Size 10 Colour 20 Uniformity 15 Freedom from Blemisli 15 Texture and Flavour 15 Package and Packing: Material ' 3 Finishing 4 Fulness or 'Bulge 4 Solidity or Compactness .... 5 Attractiveness and Style of Pack 5 Alignment 4 75 — 25 100 Explanation of Terms — Fruit. Arrangement. Taste and skill in staging so as to attract attention and add to the general appearance of the exhibit. Colour. Bright, clear, well developed colour, characteristic of the variety. Comm,ercial Value. Standard, known market varieties, as grown in and suited to the district, preferred. Form. In all cases, except seedlings, refers to the normal type or shape of the variety, but in the case of seedlings it refers to shape as desired in a commercial variety. A roundish apple is of the most desirable ehape, and oblate and oblong gpples least desirajble. 1911 FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION. 85 Freedom from Blemish. Any injury by insects, fungus, bruises, loss of stem, or other cause, lessening the value or appearance of the exhibit shall be called a blemish. Nomenclature. Exhibits must be correctly named according to the nomencla- ture adopted by the Society, Association or Exhibition at which they are shown. The use of the standard of nomenclature adopted by the American Pomological Society is recommended to such bodies. Polishing. Fruit on exhibition shall have as much of the natural bloom as possible. Judges should discourage polishing. Quality and Texture. To be considered in collections, seedlings, new varie- ties on trial, or other sorts in competition. Season. In collections it is desirable to have as long a season as possible represented by the varieties shown. Varieties past condition shown for the pur- pose of lengthening the season will not, however, score as high as apples in con- dition though of later season. Size. While size in some cases indicates care and skill in production, it is not usually found with the highest color and with freedom from blemishes and as large size is not as important as high color and freedom from blemishes, the largest fruit should not take the first prize unless it is equal or better in other respects than those in competition with it. Uniformity. Specimens should be as nearly -alike in size, form and color as possible. Explanation of Terms — Packing and Packages. Alignment. Alignment refers to the rows of fruit in the box — the straighter and more regular the rows the better is the alignment. Attractiveness and Style of Pach. When the box is opened the fruit should look attractive. The skill and good taste. of the packer is shoAvii in the appearance of the fruit and the style of the pack. There are many styles of pack, but the one should be used which lends itself best to the variety and size of fruit packed. The diagonal pack with solid sides is preferred. The fruit should be as nearly alike in size and color as possible. The box also should be clean and attractive looking. Bulge. A bulge or swell in the top row of fruit is necessary in order to en- sure the fruit carrying well. Before the top is put on there should be a bulge of one and one-half inches in the centre of the top row and the fruit should be one- quarter of an inch above the top of the box at the ends. When the cover is on t'nere should be a bulge of three-quarters of an inch at the centre, at both top and bottom. Facing. When facing a barrel, or when beginning to pack a barrel, the apples for the first row should be put carefully in with the stem end down, the stems having been first cut off so that they will not injure the fruit when pressed. If slightly smaller apples are used in the outside rows and larger ones in the centres it improves the appearance of the face. A second row is now put in, in the same manner as the first, and these apples should be arranged so they will show through the spaces between those in the first row. These two rows constitute the face of the barrel. The fruit used for the face should fairly represent the fruit throughout the barrel, but the apples in these two rows should present as attractive an appear- ance as possible. The law in regard to facing, as defined in the Inspection and Sales Act. is as follows: ^^ Xo person shall sell or offer, expose, or have in his possession for sale any fruit packed in any package in which the faced or shown S6 THE REPORT OF THE No. 32 surface gives a false representation of the contents of such package, and it shall be considered a false representation when more than fifteen per centum of such fruit is substantially smaller in size than, or inferior in grade to, or different in variety from, the faced or shown surface of such package." Apples in barrels for exhibition should be packed as required by law. Finishing. By finishing is meant the heading, lining, cleating and marking of the box or barrel. The heads of the barrel should fit snugly into the chine. For barrels, six rosined nails in each head are usually sufficient. They should be skillfully driven through them and through the top or bottom into the ends of the box. The sides of the boxes should be nailed with four nails at each end of each side of the box. The nails used should not be smaller than those known as five- penny. Marking. The marking of barrels and boxes should be distinct and attractive. It should comply with the regulations of the Inspection and Sales Act, which call for the initials of tlie Christian names of the packer, his surname, and his address; the name of the variety of fruit, and the designation of the grade, whether it be '' Fancy," " Ko. 1," " ^o. 2," or " No. 3." Such mark may be accompanied by any other designation of grade or brand if that designation or brand is not incon- sistent with, or marked more conspicuously than, the one of the said four marks which is used on the said package. Material for Barrels. The standard barrel must be large enough to contain at least 96 quarts of fruit. Smaller barrels should not be exhibited. The barrel in general use in Ontario has staves 30 inches in length. In Nova Scotia the staves are 28 inches long. The dimensions called for in a standard barrel of mini- mum size are: Between heads, 26% inches wide, inside measurement; head diameter, 17 inches, inside measurement; middle diameter, 18-V^ inches, inside measurement. The barrel generally used in Ontario is 27% inches between the heads, 17 inches in diameter at the head, and with a middle diameter 'at the bilge of 19% inches. A good barrel should have sixteen staves with 9-16 jointing, cut five to two inches and averaging four inches in width at the bilge, and be free from large knots or shakes. The head should not be less than one-half an inch in thickness, dressed clean and sound. The hoops should be about one and three- eighths inches in width and eight in number. The barrel should be new and clean. Material for Boxes. The box should be made of material strong enough to withstand handling in transportation. The heads or end pieces should be each of one piece of wood and not less than three-quarters of an inch thick. The sides also should be each of one piece and not less than three-eighths of an inch thick. The top and bottom boards may be of one or two pieces, preferably two, but not more than one-quarter of an inch in thickness. They must be thin, so that they will bend readily when the box is closed. There should be two cleats each for the top and bottom. Dovetailed 'boxes are not desirable. The standard box must be used. This is 10 inches deep, 11 inches wide, and 20 inches long, inside measure- ment. Pressing. Apples are often over-pressed. If the barrel is racked well there need not be much pressing. The proportion of fruit that is injured by pressing will be evident when the barrel is opened. The less fruit that has been injured by pressing the better the barrel has been packed, provided, always, that the pressing given has been sufficient to scure the required firmness. Barrels loosely packed frequently show more injury to the fruit through shaking than barrels over-pressed. Backing. All barrels of apples should be racked when being packed, so that 1911 FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION. 87 the fruit will settle, and the packer thus be able to tail liis barrel so that the fruit will carry well. When the barrel is opened the fulness or slackness will indicate how well the fruit has been racked. Over-pressed fruit is usually found when apples have not been racked well. Solidity. This may also be expressed by the terms firmness and compactness. The more solid the pack the better the fruit will carry. Tailing. By tailing is meant the putting and placing of the last fruit into the barrel. All that is necessary in good tailing is to have the surface as level as possible with the stem end down when the apples are pressed. The care in tailing will be known when the barrel is open by the manner in which the fruit has been bruised when pressing. Q. — Why do you give marks for quality in plums and cherries and not in apples? Mr. Macoun : The reason for that is in plums and cherries there are com- paratively few seedlings which are shown, and we thought it better to use only one score card for those, and use quality. In all score cards except the one in Nova Scotia, quality has been included. We include quality in this because in the case of plums, for instance, where you have a comparatively small collection you can test the quality, and the same with the cherries. There are a large quantity on the plates, and there is not the same competition as a rule as with apples and the other fruits. Q. — Don't 3^ou think the percentage of tails is an important matter? You spoke of 2 per cent. Mr. McNeill emphasizes it as a very important part in the packing of the barrel? Mr. Dempsey: The tailing of the barrel is very expensive, and that is not the part we put up to sell the barrel. A barrel tailed to carry well to any market, the apples should be put in so they will be level, no matter whether they are on their sides, tail up, or heads up. Mostly we think that percentage is sufficient. The face of the barrel is the most important part, how the face is put in, and then the apples through the barrel should be the same. The tail is simply where we press it in and we shouldn't have to put on so much expense or take so much time in tailing up the fruit. Mr. Wallbridge : If the tailing is right your face is more apt to be right. I think you ought to give more points to the tail because of the way it brings out the face. Mr. Dempsey : Not at all. You can get a man to get that tail level for much less money than you can have a man make the tail look exactly like the face. Q. — Don't you mean both tail and face? Mr. Dempsey : No. If you are going to give a lot of points for the tail then the tail must be equal to the face, and that is the point we want to discourage. Q. — According to Mr. McNeill's statement it was as important? Mr. Dempsey: Well, I am speaking from practical work for a great many years in my own business ^^ a grower and we have to pay more money to get a man to do fancy tailing than we do for fancy facing. It is easier to get a fancy face than it is a fancy tail, and why should we encourage tailing? It is not the tailing that sells the barrel. Q. — Are you speaking of the English market? Mr. Dempsey: I think that would apply to all markets. Mr. Lick: When you go to the Western market you must pay more atten- tion to the tailing. We have had to change our method for the Western market. 88 THE EEPORT OF THE No. 32 Mr. Dempsey : I have been putting up my apples for Chicago. Q. — What is the reason that they require it different in the West? Mr. Jones : They have gone a little crazy in the Chicago market with regard to tailing a barrel anyway. I had some packers only a year or two ago from Chicago, and they hadn't packed anything but Ben Davis, and they tailed them on their sides and pressed them down about three inches and a half, and when they got through I would have wanted about $1.50 off for demurrage on those barrels. There was nothing left but the face and probably six inches of apples below the face, and the rest of the barrel was bruised. The tail being so heavily pressed in and . being on its side, the apple hasn't the same resistance as it has on its stem end, and those apples on the tail were completely ruined. Now, those men were considered to be expert packers and they knew actually nothing about packing a snow apple. They ruined a lot of apples, a matter of some 600 barrels, and I wouldn't have taken them back off their hands at 50 cents a barrel after they were done. They spent a lot of money at that work, too. Those men were in there at $3 a day and ihey spent a lot of time on that tailing, and just ruined the apples. Don't go and press it and have your fruit packed so that it will show pressure more than three apples back from the tail. It will travel from here to the north of Scotland or to the other end of Alberta, and there will be no scars. Mr. Dempsey: I would like to give a little instance of what we have had to contend with in the last three or four years in connection with the Northumber- land and Durham exhibit. We had some apples packed up by some of the best packers in our section this year and they came up for exhibition, and I am sorry to say there were a great many of those barrels we couldn't use at all, simply because they had been filled right up full and pressed, and there were only two or three apples at the face we could use. There were other barrels p-ut up by the growers that were barely filled and very slightly pressed, and every apple of those barrels has gone into the exhibition. I don't know why we should have those barrels tailed so much and pressed down that way to go any place. It certainly destroys them. A Member : That is all right to send as far as Toronto. Mr. Dempsey: They will carry to the Old Country with much less tailing and pressing than the buyers are doing. Mr. Smith : I think Mr. Dempsey's argument is a good one. Are you going to put as much value on the tail end as the face? It seems to me the face end is what is looked on in the market and what it is sold by, and it is the end that has the most importance, and it ought to have more marks. I don't want to enter into any argument or criticism, but there is a point worth considering. It seems to me it is necessary to have a score card fixed up by experts, something you can go by. There is one thing that struck me as being very important to us if we go into a National Apple Show, if we have to compete with British Columbia, for instance. We in Ontario would adopt that score card and there are no points for flavor, and flavor is one point particularly that we excel in in Ontario, and if British Columbia or Washington or Oregon comes into competition with us and no points for flavor we will fall down. Of course I can see good reason for leaving it out in competitions in our own Province. We could, of course, adopt a new score card for national apple shows, but we would have this precedent before us. Mr. Dempsey: I think Mr. Smith is under a misapprehension. In plates, say, of all Kings or all Baldwins or all Spies, that is the only place the quality is left out. 1911 FRUIT GEOWEEiS' ASSOCIATION. 89 Mr. Smith: There would be plate competition, I suppose, in a National Apple Show as well as barrel and boxes, and I think we would fall down before the Western men. Mr. McNeill : In the case of a National Exhibition I think we would need a special score card for that show. We don't need the quality points where we have the show in Ontario. Mr. Macoun : I move the adoption of the report. Mr. Jones : I second the motion. Mr. Macoun : Before that resolution is put to the meeting there is something in wliat has been said about it being impossible for this meeting to go over all the points. I should suggest that this meeting adopt it for this year. It will only be a small cost to have 10,000 printed, and then next year we can go over the score card again and revise it in any way the Association thinks fit. My idea would be to have a small card for Eastern Canada, and I don't think it would require much change to have it for all of Canada. Q. — Is there anything in the report as to whether the apple is to be polished or left with the bloom on it? Mr. Macoun : There is nothing in the score card referring to whether the apple should be polished or not, but in the explanation given there will be some- thing of that character. In Association shows all fruit is polished. I myself do not believe in that except perhaps for barreled and boxed fruit. For plate fruit I think it is better not polished. Mr. Smith : I think it is a good idea to adopt this for one year and have copies printed, and another year we will be prepared to criticize it. The Chairman put the motion, which on a vote having been taken, was de- clared carried. Mr. Jones : I have a motion to present. I move that a sufficient number of copies of this report be printed by this Association and be sent to the Fair Boards and the Agricultural Societies, and the district representatives, and the colleges and experimental societies for use next fall at the fall exhibitions, with a circular letter, and that a copy of this report be slipped into each prize list when they are mailing them out in the fall of the year to their prospective exhibitors, and also that a copy of this report be handed to each judge as he goes to perform his duties in the fall at the local fairs. Mr. Smith : Why could you not say that without adopting this absolutely as the guide of this Association? The only reason for not adopting it absolutely is that which I spoke of before, that if we should have a national apple show within a year, although you might change the score card for that purpose, yet it might be thrown up to us that we have a score card for Ontario and you don't use vour own score card. Mr. Macoun : If this Association would authorize the printing of a sufficient number it misrht he a good idea. The thing will cost very little and I think there will be a sufficient number of copies printed to get it well distributed. Mr. Dempsey: I second Mr. Jones' motion. The Chairman put the motion, which, on a vote being taken, was declared carried. Mr. Jones : Eeferring back to another motion in reference to what Mr. Wallbridge said, I might move that this Association provide name cards for all boxes and barrels and packages for the Ontario Horticultural Exhibition next year. The motion was duly seconded, and on a vote being taken was declared carried. 90 THE REPORT OF THE No. 32 WHAT IS THE MATTER WITH 00-OPERATION? S. E. Todd. Petrolea. If I were a poet or a musician I would try and work out a parody on " What is the Matter with Father? He's all right." "What is the matter with co-operation? It^s all right." Co-operation, I think, is really the answer to the great question of how to produce and market our fruit properly, hut in order that we shall be able to co-operate properly we must understand what co-operation means. If there is anything wrong with co-operation it is with the people who are in business, not with the principle itself. There is no doubt about it, because it has been proved in so many countries in the world to be a perfect success. This idea of co-operation, is no experiment. In the countries of Denmark, Germany, England, Ireland, France, Switzerland, and Italy co-operation has proved itself to be able to answer whatever problem it has been put up against, and it has been put up against a great number of prob- lems, and a great variety of problems. In Denmark it has been applied to the ([uestion of marketing the farmers' products. In Germany it has been applied to the question of supplying the farmers with cheap credit. It has become his bank account, his means of getting credit with which to perform his work, and to get capital to carry on his business. It has freed him from the Jew money leader who was there and who was exacting tremendous interest from him, simply by getting together and working together as a co-operative body. In France it has been applied to the business of producing. Over in France "there are co-operative vintries and co-operative dairies, a number of farmers join- ing together and producing together. While that is so, it seems to me in Denmark thgt conditions more nearly resemble ours than they do anywhere else, and it is from Denmark we can learn the greatest lessons. Over there they have organized -their industries in such a way as to bring them greater returns for their outlay. D(mmark has had the same trouble that the people of this country have had and are naving all along, and that is to get adequate returns for their effort. Their prob- lem has been one of marketing, just as ours has, and wherever co-operation has attacked the question of marketing there it seems to be most eminently essential, and it is the consensus of opinion of a great number of men who have been engaged in this for 30 or 40 years, that the main thing which co-operation is able to do is to answer the question of marketing. When the farmer and the fruit grower is provided with an adequate market, when he sees if he produces, and produces any quantity, that that is going to bring him a market which will fulfil all that he needs and will give him expansion and that will allow him to go on and produce more and more with perfect confidence, then he is able to go ahead. It seems to me that the answer to the question that has been asked time and time again of the farmer of Ontario is why he is not producing more ? That is the question that seems to be large in the minds of a great many people in Canada and the United States to-day. Why is the Ontario farmer not producing more? The answer generally is that the markets are not in a con- dition to give him returns for that product, not that the produce is not dear enough, but that he is not receiving the benefit he should receive from that high price, and co-operation seems to be the way to give him that market. Now, I believe I am to talk about the question of why failures have occurred in the co-operation system. I will not go further into this other subject, because I want to get right into that. I think the chief thing that is wrong, and the rea- 1911 FRUIT GROWERS^ ASSOCIATION. 91 son we have had more failures than in any other thing, is simply that we do not understand what co-operation means, nor the principles involved. Every country in Europe that has been successful in the co-operation eifort has had what they call a central organizing body. Tliis body is a small association whose business it is to go through the country and organize co-operation associa- tions. They start in by studying what has been done in all the other countries. With that knowledge then they are ready to go into a new section of country and organize it, with the experience gained by other countries. The principal problems which they have to attack are of course different in the different countries because their business is to organize, and they have to studv just how it is done. The mistake which is made in organizing one society is not made in organizing the next society, and so by means of this central organizing body they are able to go on from one success to another, till they work out a system that is peculiarly adaptable to the country in which they are worldng. Tliis is the only way, I may say, that co-operation has been successful, in any <;ountry, that is, through a central organizing body whose business it is to or- ganize individual societies. The work of that body is to organize societies, to ad- vise how managers shall be paid, and to settle disputes. They have those three main points to look after and these three are of very great interest. Q. — What control has this central organization over the other? Has it power ±0 make changes in the smaller bodies? Mr. Todd: That all depends on the Legislature in the country in which it is. In some countries, take, for instance, France, small societies can only be organized through the central. That is, small societies are only recognized as co-operation societies when organized through the central Association. In Den- mark this is not followed, because they have worked out there a universal plan and they never think of organizing except along certain lines. Just at this point there is a question comes up. You go to a man in Denmark and you ask him what about a man withdrawing from those societies, and he will tell you no one ever withdraws there; they never think of such a thing. The whole success of their country is bound up with the co-operation system of manufacturing and marketing their products. Now, the fact that there is in this country no central organizing body had led to a great diversity of associations of every kind and description, and every person who wishes to organize what they call a co-operation society can go in and do so. It may be co-operation or it may not. The people of Europe, in fact all the countries of Europe, have agreed on certain things that they lay down as co-opera- tive principles, and they do not recognize anything else as co-operative. If they have a society requiring capital they have two forms. One is for the whole associa- tion as an association to go in and borrow the money with unlimited liability, eacli person going in for the whole amount of the liability of the association — that is the most popular method; or, on the other hand, they have a share system as we have in this country, but they have changed that share system from the way it is commonly used in joint stock companies. The share system as used by co-operation societies has two differences, and one is that no m.atter how many shares a man may own in the Association he has only one vote, and so can never gain control of the society. Then the dividend paid on the shares held in an Association is always fixed so that it amounts to interest on the money wliicli is invested in the Association in the form of shares. This lack of a central organizing body has led to all the other mistakes which 92 THE EEPOET OF THE Xo. 32 our associations are also plagued with and that have caused so many failures. We have no general body and there has not been gathered from the mistakes of others the experience with which to go on and form more successful associations. Each association is working separately and blindly, and for that reason the co- operation associations of this country have not made nearly the headway they sliould have made, or would have made, if they had proper and skilful direction. Mr. Pattison" : Don't you think one of the chief reasons in addition to what you have pointed out is that the spirit of the people in this country is totally diiferent from the spirit in those other countries? The people here largely are too individualistic, too selfish, too disinclined to make any sacrifice for the benefit of others? In other words there is a spirit of mutual distrust instead of mutual faith, which is largely absent in the countries you have mentioned? Mr. Todd: I think probably human nature is not different in one country to what it is in another. Human nature is pretty nearly the same everywhere. If there is a difference it is a difference of education. Let us go into the history of the formation of co-operation societies in other lands. In Denmark in 1854 there were probably no more individualistic people anywhere. The English farmer has been noted for centuries as being individualistic, and to-day he is recognizing the value of co-operation. The Irish farmer has always been known to be " agin the Grovernment," and everything else that had anything to do with working together. They were always afraid some one was going to skin them, and they got skinned a good many times because they were afraid. Yet in Ireland things are entirely changed, mainly through the work of Sir Maurice Plunkett, who has spent his life in doing that. Q. — What remedy do you suggest? Mr. Todd : I think there is probably only one way out of it, and that is by some means to get a central organizing body. To suggest how that shall be done is beyond me at the present time, for I may say I am a little too young in the business, and I think that will have to be worked out through tbe combined ideas of the men who are in the co-operative work. What I am doing at present is point- ing Out what has made the success there, and what has caused a great deal of the failure that we have had. Q. — ^Would you not have to get some legal standing for the central committee? Mr. Todd : Yes, we would. That is one of the things we lack in Ontario. Now, coming down to some of the individual reasons why our associations have failed. One of the things that strikes a person who goes over to Denmark, for instance, is the business methods with which the farmers of the country are im- bued. Each farmer has an exact record of what his farm is producing. He knows exactly what is being done on that farm. The co-operation societies there all issue a form of bookkeeping which each member of the society is expected to carry out all the time, and they employ expert accountants who go from place to place. They are experts in the cost of production, and they point out where the cost of production has been too high and where they could succeed very well somewhere else, and so on all the way through. These men travel through the country and are in the employ of the co-operation societies and pairtly of the Gov- prnanent. These business methods in which the people are trained aids them in dealing with the co-operation society. They recognize just what their own living is worth; they recognize what it costs to run a business, and they recognize that you cannot get anything without paying for it. Now, that brings up the question of running a society in this country. One 1911 FRUIT GROWERiS' ASSOCIATION. 93 of the great reasons why we have failed, I think, taking individual reasons, is that we have never learned as farmers that it costs money, and just exactly what it does cost to run anything. We start a society and we pay say five cents a barrel for packing apples and it amounts to about six or seven hundred dollars, or three or four hundred dollars for the man who is handling it, and wo expect him to spend the biggest part of his time running the society for that much money. We have not had sufficient training in business to know what it costs to jun an association and the expenditure necessary in handling that Association, and Ave are not pre- pared to pay a good man a good thing in order to get his services. I think that is one of the great difficulties. You can't get any thing without paying for it, and in order to make a success of anything we have got to have brains behind it, and if you are going to have brains behind it you have got to pay for it, and in order to get a good manager you have got to pay him a good thing no matter who he is or what his business is. On the other hand there is a point where the man- ager's salary should stop, and every society should know exactly what their manager is getting. If he is being paid by commission they should know exactly what he is getting. It has been said that perhaps the greatest cause of trouble in an association is jealousy. That probably is true, but jealousy is caused by suspicion, and suspicion is caused by ignorance. If we had more knowledge of what the whole system is doing, if every three months all the transactions were laid before the society, that would be a great means of disarming jealousy caused by the ignorance of th£ members of what bas been done in the societ}^ Another cause of our troubles has been the quality of the goods. The quality has often not been what it should have been. We place a brand on the goods that go out and that brand becomes the standard of what the society is putting up. If you are putting up a good article it is going to give your brand a good name, and if a poor article it is going to give the brand a poor name. That is absolutely certain, and tbat is one of the things that every society must recognize. In dealing with the causes of failure, as I have been going through the country and trying to find out from those societies that have failed, I have found that one of the greatest causes is that the quality has not been what it should have been at all, and the brand itself got a bad name and of course then the society had to die. Another trouble has been the forms of organization under which we have labored. We have had joint stock companies formed who have called themselves co-operation societies, when they were anything but co-operative. A few memhers owned the biggest part of the stock, and the great bulk of the results was going to a few. That has been a very general cause of trouble. Then there are two kinds of societies very often within one, selling societies and buying societies. An Association will have two ends to it. It will pack and sell the man's product, and on the other hand it will buy. Now, u-nless those two businesses are kept abso- lutely separate there is sure to be a mix up. If the manager is selling on com- mission, the members will generally think he is getting too much commission. The plan that has worked out best in the European countries has been separate socie- ties for each of these purposes. The members, of course, will be the same, the manager may be the same, but the Board of Directors will be different, and the President and Secretary will be different. This has been found the only way ovei there of handling the thing to good advantage. Now, about this question of jealousy. In talking to one man this forenoon he told me that perhaps the biggest trouble that there was in co-operation societies was 94 THE KBPOET OF THE No. 32 tlie question of jealousy between the members. We can go on and preach and preacli for all we are worth that men ought to love one another, and not be jealous of one another, and not be suspicious of one another, but the way I think to get over that trouble is to disarm suspicion by running the business in such a way that every dollar's worth of business done shall appear before the members so that they will have nothing to talk about. If a society is paying their manager on a com- mission basis then every dollar's worth of goods sold and the commission on that should appear in the statement so that the members would know right along just exactly what the manager is getting. If he is selling apples on commission every dollar's worth that he sells should appear, and should appear often enough so that they would know exactly what he is getting. There is nothing that would dis- arm suspicion and would throw down jealousy so hard as a system of that kmd. There would be. no room for jealousy because every one would know exactly what they were doing. Q.— I understand in Alberta the Government built a creamery building and. they receive the milk and 'Sell the product? ^ _ ^ Mr. Todd : Alberta is a section of municipal ownership, which is a different thing. That is where the whole country is a co-operative society. The co-opera- tion idea as it is generallv understood is confined to members only. Whether that will he a success or not is hard to say. It is still in the experimental stage. I have been trying to find a parallel in some of the older countries and I have not yet done so. New Zealand, I think, has the nearest approach to the Alberta system of anything I know. They have been running there something on the same plan and are more or less successful, but the plan that seems now to he more successful m Islew Zealand is the co-operation society, and they have carried it to such perfection that they have confederations of their societies which have agencies m London, England, and there they sell all their products directly to the consumer or to the small markets in London, England. Now, they handle butter, eggs, hides and so on, and also do a banking business for the farmers m ^ew Zealand. A Member: The gentleman who spoke just before is mistaken in supposing^ that the Government builds the creameries in Alberta. The Associations which are organized build the creameries and pay for them. The Government is at present running a few of the creameries. They rent the creameries from the owners or the farmers that built thejn and run them for a time. The idea is to put them on their feet until they get the confidence of the people. A Member: The idea being, I suppose, as soon as they -are self-supporting then they will go back to the owners. . , ^ ^ ^ ^^^. ^ A Member- I don't know what the idea is of the Government of Alberta at the present time, but I know that was the idea of the Dominion Government when they were operated by the Department of Agriculture. Mr Peart • I have been very much pleased with the address by Mr. Todd. In regard to the principle of co-operation as applied to handling apples I think he has struck the nail on the head when he said that one of the causes of failure is in not securing a competent manager. There is no doubt if you want to get a good man you have got to pay a good price. I am a member of an association which is ahout twenty-five years of age, at Burlington, and we call it a co-operative association. We ship apples and pears, and we have been doing business continuously for a quarter of a centurv. We engaged a competent manager, and under our system each member of the^association packs his own fniit. He packs under general rules that are laid down hy our association, and it is supposed to come up to that stand- 1911 FRUIT GROWERS^ ASSOCIATION. 95 ard. Now, the great beauty in our association is that each man is paid tor his own stuff. As I understand it, in the standard Co-operative Apple Associations the results are poor. For instance the chairman and I inay each send ten barrels of No. 1 Spies in a car to some point. His ten bands of Spies are No. l^s but of a higher degree of No. 1 than mine. All of you who know anything about the peculiarities of the Northern Spy know tbat there are a great many degrees in a No. 1 apple. Now, his apples are a degree or two better than mine, and yet when it comes to pooling the price he is given a price the same as my inferior No. I's. I consider that is a weakness. But I just wish to bring forward the fact that under our system there is no dissatisfaction among the members in regard to the price they get. The more brains, the more capital, the more labor I put on my apples and pears the better results and the better prices I get and I reap the results of my own work. Mr. Buchanan (Beamsville) : Perhaps the best way I can begin is to give some of the circumstances under which we organized, as it will throw some light on some of the points that Mr. Todd has so well set forth. We organized down there in Western Ontario, and when we commenced to organize it was perfectly plain that there were two classes of fruit growers in the peninsula. In the first place there were a small number of men who were growing fruit and who were business men or retired professional men. The business men as a rule did not know very much about fruit farming. On the other hand there were a large number of fruit growers who were ver}^ good farmers, but who did not know very m.ucli about busi- ness. Unfortunately a very large number of farmers think they know a whole lot qbout business. They think because they can send out quotations, and because they can draw drafts on their customers, and discount a note in the bank, and so on, that they are acquainted with all the intricacies of business. For myself, I know very well I don't know anything at all about business, and we people who organized got the idea into our heads th^t it was necessary for us to hire a man to do our business in the same way as we hire a solicitor or a doctor. It is perfectly clear that no man who employs a solicitor will have any success if he 'assumes he knows as much about law as the solicitor and tries to bring his knowledge of the law into the case ; and in a similar way if farmers get together into a co-operation association they must definitely make up their minds that their manager whom they have hired is a business expert, and they can have no idea if the means he adopts in carrying on business is the best way or not. They must, of course, have a Board of Directors, but they must on the whole leave things to their manager, and it is necessary that he should be an expert business man, and he must be a sort of prime minister. That was one point that we held as essential. We also held that a co-operation association to be a success must be large one. There are a great many reasons for that, sudh as the fact that unless it is large it cannot be influen- tial enough to make its weight felt with the railways and the Railway Commission and a great many other organizations. But those reasons are really side issues. The real reason why a company must be large is that they must be powerful enough to hire the best business expert they can get. A small association of ten or twenty or thirty members cannot do that. For example, if we were paying our manager the same rate per individual that some of the smaller associations are paying their manager we would be paying him something like $10,000 a year. We are paying him a very good salary, but very much less than that. We organized our Associa- tion with a great deal of difficulty on account of the Canadian law. Mr. Todd has alluded to the fact that there is no Canadian law^ for co-operation as&ociiations. I was 96 THE REPORT OF THE Xo. 32 one of the unfortunates who was on the committee of organizations, and it looked to me as if it was something like that old game of bagatelle where you shoot a ball through a lot of pins, and every time we got through one pair of pins there was another pin stuck up that we had to get around also. We organized as a joint stock company with a Dominion charter, and we had a great deal of difficulty in getting our charter through the Department. We found there were rulings to this effect and rulings to that effect that made it almost impossible to get a co- operation association. Mr. Todd: May I ask how much business you did? Mr. Buchanan : If it had been in carloads it would have amounted to 400 carloads. Mr. Todd: In dollars, roughly? Mr. Buchanan: I couldn't say exactly. It would be $200,000 anyway. You can figure that from the carloads. We got our charter and our company was organized first of all in local asso- ciations. At each shipping point there is a semi-independent local association, with its own chairman and secretary, to carry on such of its local affairs as it sees fit. The whole company is co-ordinated under one Board of Directors elected by the shareholders at large, but our charter is so drawn that each separate part of the Province can elect its own directors quite aside from another part of the country. We also arranged that each local association should contribute one member to the Price Committee. Our object in that was this, that the Price Committee is a very important part of the company, and we purposed in making that arrangement that our Board of Directors would be elected from amongst our strictly business men quite irrespective of their knowledge of farming. On the other hand, we arranged that each local association should be able to send a competent farmer to act on the Price Committee. Now, that organization has been found to work very well this year. We have had very little friction. The principal difficulties we have had in our company this year were of a clerical nature, probably because we have done double the business that we expected to do. In other words, our expert staff in the office has been simply swamped all summer. Our company, as I said, has been organized on a co-operation basis. Tliat is to say, no matter how many shares a member has, he has only one vote, and although it is a joint stock company, there has been no such thing in it as any promotion stock. We think under the present Canadian law that is about the only way an association can be -formed. Mr. Todd: As a joint stock company? Mr. Buchanan : Yes. We consulted a very eminent firm of solicitors w^ho got our charter out for us 'and smoothed awiay a great miany of our difficulties. There is just one point I would like to mention. Mr. Todd said the lack of business ability had a great deal to do with the failures of associations. My opinion is most co-operation societies fail on account of their system of accounts. We put our accounting affairs into the hands of chartered accountants from the very start. I will be very happy to comply with your suggestion. Mr. Todd: There are three points in connection with co-operation societies. First of all be sure that you have the right form of charter, then get. a good man- ager, and do everything on a business basis. If that is done nearly all the jealousy will disappear. If it is conducted on business lines I do not see why it cannot succeed the same as any other business. The President: The Committee appointed to deal with the tariif question have sent in their recommendation. It is moved by Mr. Albert Thompson, and 1911 FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION. 97 seconded by Mr. E. Lick, that the following names go upon that Committee: A. Onslow, Niagara; J. W. Smith, Winona; A. W. Peart, Burlington; R. Thompson, St. Catharines; H. Jones, Maitland; W. H. Dempsey, Trenton; E. D. Smith, Winona; D. Johnson, Forest; R. W. Grierson, Oshawa. These are the names of the members of the Committee to deal with the tariff question. The President put the motion which, on a vote being taken, was declared carried. SHIPPING PEACHES TO GREAT BRITAIN. C. A. DoBSON, Hamilton. In the fall of 1909 a few gentlemen accompanied me down to a farm that I have coming into bearing at Jordan Harbor. They had just recently returned from England after a short visit and they admired the fruit on the trees and passed the remark: "Now, if 3'-ou coald only ship some of that fruit to the gentleman we 'have yi sited in England, we think we would be kind of squaring ourselves." However, as the undertaking seemed to be rather an expensive proposition at that time I didn't think seriously of it then. I had in mind previous to this sending a few packages over to my personal friends there, as they were the first peaches that came off the orchard, and I made a proposition to these gentlemen, and said, '' I will prepare a certain number of packages along with my own, and I will send over to our agent at Liverpool and write him asking him how to despatch them from Liverpool to the respective places." The destinations were London, Liver- pool, Bristol, Manchester, and Glasgow; in all we forwarded some sixty cratea packed after the Georgia style. These crates had capacity equal to eleven quart baskets, or 120 peaches each. We picked them very carefully, wrapped them, and got the best color we could. These were shipped, and in every instance we had the most glowing and flattering expressions, and they were astonished and amazed to think that we had such fruit in Canada, especially Ontario. One gentleman immediately wrote back and said he wanted me to set aside twenty packages for his own personal use and his neighbors and friends. That is equivalent to forty baskets. Towards the Christmas season a gentleman from London called into my office at Hamilton, so I raised the question with him about the peaches, and the possibilities of the market there. He seemed to look very favorably on the out- look, and I asked him when he went hack to put me in touch with a first-class firm with, whom I could take the matter up thoroughly, and he sent me the name of Parsons & Company. They wanted nothing but a white peach in the Old Country, they said, and Parsons seemed to have the idea that we had nothing but a yellow- fleshed peach here. However, I told them our peacfhes were not exactly yellow. Our experimental shipments to our friends led us to believe that it would be advisable to adopt a different kind of packing or package, and we began to ex- amine as to how these peaches arrived in London that were exported from South Africa, and finally, through the courtesy of Parsons & Company and the Agri- cultural Department, we had the privilege of examining one of these packages. Then I took up the question with Parsons & Company as to how many they could handle, and I asked them if they could handle one, two, or three thousand pack- ages a week. I got their maximum and minimum prices for the South African peaches, and it occurred to me if we could get a few of their maximum in with their minimum prices we wouldn't mind making a test of it occasionally. 7 F.G. 98 THE EEPORT OF THE No. 32 I laid my plans for giving them about a thousand packages a week, but owing to the fact that our peaches must arrive there in perfect condition, the size must be large, the color must be good, and the flavor must be right, the number was reduced. We got the first shipment off by express from Jordan station to Montreal. When the fruit had been sealed up in the cold storage compartment of the boat I received a telegram the following day from the Dominion Inspector that the con- signment was a little over ripe, and unfortunately the temperature of the fruit when being transferred from the express car to the steamer was found to be un- reasonably high. However, the shipment went forward, and, to make a long story short, the price I received for that particular consignment, the average net price, was 95 cents per box. These boxes each contained from fifteen to twenty peaches. The next consignment, some 309 boxes, averaged $1.21 net. The next consignment of 529 boxes was $1.29 net. The next consignment of 600 boxes met with a little misfortune in the cold storage compartment, through the cold storage pipes leaking, and I can^t say whether there will be a loss or not at the present time. These peaches were distributed in London, Liverpool, Manchester, Glas- gow, Birmingham, Brussels, and Paris, so that all +hose cities have had a tasce of Ontario-grown peaches. Now, if you anticipate going into this business, bear this in mind, send no- thing but Al stock, and such that would only afford you pleasure to hand out to your dearest friends. They pay great attention to the size. Of the size we had at Jordan later in the season we could only force about fifteen into a box. The Srst two shipments consisted of Early Crawfords, and the later shipments were Elbertas. They say over there they must have a peach with lots of color and good size and some flavor attached to it, and if we send that kind we will get our money out of them. Mr. Euddick: Before I left Ottawa I was authorized by the Minister of Agriculture to arrange for another conference of fruit growers from all over Canada to take place next autumn at whatever time you thought would be best. Probably a week later than this, just after the fall meetings are over, would be a good time. I think it would be desirable for this Convention to appoint their delegates to that conference now, and set them at work on the subjects they are to discuss. I also intend to ask the delegates to this conference from this Pro- vince to prepare special exhibits of the leading varieties of apples from their re- spective districts. It need not be a very large exhibit, but probably a dozen varieties from each of the localities. Now, I may say for your guidance that it has been decided that the conference will be organized on the same basis as the last one, and that will give this Province nine delegates. There will also be the De- partment of Agriculture and the Ontario Agricultural College, as well as the others, asked to send delegates. This Association will be entitled to name nine delegates. As the time is so short I will not say anything further now. Prob- ably anything more can be made a matter for correspondence with the delegates that are appointed. The President: The chair will appoint Mr. Smith, Mr. Johnston and Mr. Jones to pick out the delegates for this meeting. They can bring in a report right away. Mr. Robert Thompson : I see I have been asked to say a word or two on this. Last year in this room, when we were discussing the question about what was to be done, I think I was asked the question what, as fruit growers, we ought to rlo, 1911 FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION. 99 and my answer was I thought the Dominion Government ought to do something, the Ontario Government ought to do something, and the fruit growers ought to do something to help to send those experimental shipments through. The two Gov- ernments expressed their willingness, and an appropriation was secured. Along early in the spring, when the wild cat stories got about with reference to the peach crop, I met some of the gentlemen that were afraid we wouldn't be able to put those peaches in aij a fair price. It was supposed to be at the market price, and it meant extra work and care in regard to them. I assured Mr. Rud- dick that there would be no trouble, that they would get the peaches at St. Cath- arines, and we undertook to put up 2,000 boxes. Owing to the weather we were not able to put up quite so many. We had two weeks of bad weather this year, one week with Labor Day in it, and we had to put the peaches up on the first three days of the week to get them ready for the boat, and we had to work on Sunday there, as they had to in some other parts of the Province. Now, Mr. Moore and Mr. Ruddick, will give you the particulars, and I am not going to go into any details. Mr. Dobson said there were two sides to the question, and he, of course, took the rosy side. I am a grower, and I am not in the habit of taking the rosy side. I feel it is right to say that at the present time there is nothing that has made my indignation rise so much as to hear some of those men tell stories of what great profits were made, as we see in the papers. They do not say, on the other side, what the cost is to produce, and if we get seemingly a large amount out of it, we have got to a pay a great deal out which the public does not know about. I heard a gentleman sitting opposite me to-day sa3ring, how are you going to reconcile the fact that the apple men are coining money? I said it isn't so. I said you have got to have an explanation of that. Now, for instance, the expenses of this meeting have to be taken into consideration in growing your fruit. All those things have to be taken into account, and that is the reason I don't want to say that because we have received a good price for those peaches it is going to pay us for all the extra trouble we have taken in regard to it. I am glad to say this though, that it was successful. We didn't expect we would come out ahead. I just w^anted to say this for fear some of our growers would follow Mr. Dobson's example and think that each and every one, could go and make ship- ments to the Old Country and be successful. It is only a large association with large bank accounts, or men like Mr. Dobson, that can handle that. We had some twenty odd growers that participated in sending this fruit into the packing house, and when you consider that we had to get excelsior to put into the packages, and take it out to the orchard, and then pick the peaches off the trees and select them and pack them so that no two peaches touched, and then take them out again and lay them to one side, and all that extra handling and care, you can see it requires a good deal of extra expense. I won't say much about the quality, because some varieties haven't much quality about them. The receipts are apparently high; on the other hand, the expenses are very great, and I think we have got a good deal yet to learn with regard to the varieties to send. I think we should get the assistance of the officers of the two Governments in trying to advertise the ship- ments to the Old Country, and help us out in that way at least. I think it is one of the best advertisements that Canada has ever received. I was amazed to read an article in a British Columbia magazine about the fact of the successful ship- ment of peaches to England, and it didn't say where they were from, and British Columbia got the same glory as we did. 100 THE REPORT OF THE Xo. 32 COLD STORAGE FOR OCEAN SHIPMENTS OF FRUIT. W. W. Moore, Ottawa. The two previous speakers have told you about the shipping of peaches to Great Britain this season, but I vrant to impress upon you the fact that this export trade in tender fruits has been made possible only through the action of the Dominion Department of Agriculture in reserving cold storage space in the ocean steamers, which enabled a shipper to send one case or one hundred cases in cold storage at the regular rate of freight for cold storage goods. i Reservation op Cold Storage Chambers for Fruit Only. On August 9th the Dairy and Cold Storage Commissioner sent out a notice to fruit shippers, stating that in order to assist in the establishment of an export trade in tender fruits and early apples, he had arranged with the steamship com- panies for the reservation of cold storage chambers for fruit only on steamers sailing from Montreal to Glasgow, Bristol, London and Liverpool, on the following dates : To Glasgow — September 8th, 17th, 24th, and October 1st. To Bristol — September 15th. To London — September 17th, 24th, and October 1st. To Liverpool — September 17th, 24th and October 1st. The Department guaranteed a certain amount on one chamber on each of these steamers, and when the actual earnings fell short of the guarantee, the Department paid the difference. In addition to the steamers referred to above, the Commissioner arranged for cold storage space for Mr. Dobson's shipments on the steamer Tortona, which sailed from Montreal to London on September 10th, and on the Cairnrona, which sailed on October 8th. To illustrate the benefit conferred upon shippers by the policy of the Depart- ment in regard to this matter, I may say that when Mr. Dobson found he would have a shipment of peaches ready for the week ending September 10th, he endeav- ored to get cold storage accommodation, but was turned down by the steamship companies because he did not have a sufficient quantity to make it worth their while to open a chamber. He was, therefore, absolutely blocked, and appealed to us for help. We promptly took the matter up with the Robert Reford Co., and arranged for the necessary space in the Tortona. Refrigerator Cars for Shipments of Fruit from the Niagara District to Montreal for Export. The Commissioner also arranged with the Grand Trunk Railway Company to run one refrigerator car from St. Catharines on Wednesday of each week to con- nect with steamers sailing from Montreal September 17th, 24th, and October 1st. Only export fruit could be put in these cars. The Department guaranteed mini- mum carload earnings, plus icing charges, and shippers were charged the l.cl. rates only. If the freight collected on each car fell short of the guarantee, the Department made good the deficit. A notice was sent to shippers at Grimsby, Vineland and Burlington that an iced car would be furnished them at any time on terms similar to the above, provided that not less than half a carload was shipped at one time. 1911 FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION. 101 In passing I might state that the St. Catharines car was run as per schedule, but that it carried little besides the Department's shipments of peaches. One car was shipped from Grimsby and one from Burlington. Canadian Peach Shipments, 1910, The total quantity of Canadian peaches shipped to Great Britain during the season of 1910 was approximately as follows :— Date shipped from Montreal. Shipper. Market. No. Single Layer Cases. Total Number Cases. 1910. Sept. 10 . " 15 , 16 17 17 17 24 24 1st Week. C. A. Dobson, Jordan Station, 2nd Week. Dept. Agriculture. Ottawa Sept 30... " 29... Oct. 1 " 1 *• 1.... " 1.... London Total for Bristol and Dept. Agriculture, Ottawa Total for Liverpool Dept. Agriculture, Ottawa i. it >« C. A. Dobson, Jordan Station Total for 2nd 3rd Week. Dept. Agriculture, Ottawa Total for Liverpool Dept. Agriculture, Ottawa Biggs Fruit and Produce Co., Burlington C A. Dobson. J rdan Station , Total for 3rd 4th Week. Dept. Agriculture, Ottawa Biggs Fruit & Produce Co., Burlington Biggs Fruit & Produce Co., Burlington C. A. Dobson, Jordan Station D. Johnson, Forest Miscellaneous Total for 4th Bristol Cardiff via Bristol Birmingham District Liverpool Leeds via Liverpool Manchester " and District Glasgow . London . London . week. Liverpool Leeds via Liverpool Manchester via Liverpool and District Glasgow . , London . . Liverpool Glasgow . London . . London . . week , London via Liverpool . . . . Bristol Glasgow London London London week 99 75 93 150 309 102 24 24 150 177 342 27 68 105 529 198 67 15 600 9 27 102 THE REPORT OF THE Xo. 32 Canadian Peach Shipment, 1910— Continued. Date Shipped from Montreal. Shipper. Market. No. Single Layer Cases. Total Number Cases. Oct. 8 5th Week. C. A. Dobson London 19 " 15 6th Week. C. A. Dobson London 84 Total quantity Shipped 3,743 SUMMARY. Shipped by Dept. Agriculture, Ottawa 1 ,284 Cases " C. A. Dobson, Jordan Station , 2,141 " Biggs Fruit & Produce Co., Burlington 282 " Miscellaneous Shippers 36 Total 3.743 Temperature of Peaches in Transit to, and at^ Montreal. All the peaches shipped by Mr. Dobson and the. Biggs Fruit and Produce Co. were carried to Montreal by express whereas those shipped by our Department were carried by refrigerator car and fast freight, with the exception of the Bristol consignment, which was shipped by express. The peaches in this lot were at a temperature of 60 degrees when unloaded at Montreal. In the three subsequent shipments by refrigerator cars thermographs were carried, and the temperature in the first two cars during transit to Montreal ranged from 50 degrees at the start to 44 degrees when the cars were unloaded, and in the third car from 56 to 40 degrees. The actual temperature of the fruit at Montreal, ex the first refrigerator car, was 44 degrees for those peaches which had been pre-cooled before shipment, and 54 degrees for those packed the day of shipment and loaded without pre-cool- Ing. In the second car the average temperature of the peaches was 50 degrees, and in the third car 45 degrees. The express shipment left St. Catharines on Tuesday at noon, and was delivered to the steamer at Montreal about noon the following day. In each case the refrigerator car left St. Catharines on Wednesday about 6.30 p.m., arrived at Point St. Charles, Montreal, before 7 o'clock Friday morning, and was placed alongside the steamship sheds on the dock about 2 p.m. The temperature of Mr. Dobson's peaches, ex express cars, on arrival at Mont- real was as follows: September 10th — S.S. Tortona 64 degrees September 17th — S.S. Hurona 60 degrees September 24th — S.S. Devona 56 degrees October 1st — S.S. Cervona 58 degrees October 8th — S.S. Cairnrona 58 degrees The condition of the Cervona lot was referred to by the fruit inspectors at Montreal as " very soft '* and that of the Cairnrona as " soft." All peaches shipped Iby our Department were reported as in firm condition at Montreal. 1911 FKUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION. 103 The temperature of one lot of peaches shipped by the Biggs Fruit Company on the "Cervona," October 1st, was 60 degrees. It will thus be seen that the express service was about twenty-four hours faster than the freight, but that the peaches carried in the iced cars were at a much better temperature than the others. If there is any delay en route peaches will not receive any damage in a well iced car, whereas, if they are carried by ex- press, a delay in transit to or at Montreal at the temperatures mentioned above is dangerous. That this is liable to happen was shown in the case of Mr. Dob- son's first express shipment, which, owing to an accident to the car, arrived in Montreal on the evening instead of the morning train, and, as a consequence, was not delivered on the dock until 11.30 p.m., the peaches being loaded in the steamer between one and two o'clock in the morning. Inspection of Shipments at Montreal and at Ports in Great Britain. All the peach shipments were closely looked after by our cargo inspectors at Montreal. Cars in which peaches were carried, whether by express or fast freight, were looked for by our Chief Cargo Inspector, and the officials of the Harbor Commissioner's staif (who have charge of the switching of export oars at the head of the docks) were urged by him to have the cars placed alongside the steamers vv^ith the least possible delay. Care was taken to see that the peaches were promptly loaded in the steamers, and that proper care was exercised in handHng the packages and in stowing them in the chambers. Cases were well dunnaged in the steamers (by dunnage, I mean the placing of strips of wood between the tiers of cases, both horizontally and vertically, so as to insure a good circulation of air) and thermographs were placed in each chamber. In London, Liverpool, Glasgow, and Bristol our inspectors were on the alert and remarkably quick deliveries were made. For instance, London peaches were on the market within three hours from the time discharge of cargo commenced. Our inspectors also made a careful report regarding the condition of the fruit on arrival and the prices realized by the brokers, although in some instances it was not possible for them to obtain accurate information on this latter point. Condition of Canadian Peaches. All the peaches shipped by our Department were landed in excellent condi- tion. Mr. Dobson's shipments were also in good condition when discharged, ex- cepting those ex the '' Cervona " and " Cairnrona " which were reported over-ripe. Favorable reports were received re the condition of peaches shipped by the Biggs Fruit Company. Temperatures in Refrigerator Chambers on Steamships. Our instructions to the steamship companies were to carry peaches at a tem- pera.ture of from 34 to 36 degrees, with a gradual rise of 55 degrees during the last day of the voyage in order to prevent sweating or the condensation of mois- ture on the cold fruit when removed from the refrigerators and exposed to a warmer atmosphere. Thermograph records in the steamers sailing to London, Glasgow and Bristol were sa/tisfactory, but in the case of the three Liverpool boats in which our Department had shipments of peaches, through a misunderstanding, no rise of temperature occurred at the end of the voyage, the peaches being re- 104 THE EEPOET OF THE No. 32 moved from a temperature of 35 degrees to a temperature of 60 degrees, and, while our inspector reported that the peaches were landed in good condition, they did not appear to stand up as well las those shipped to the other ports, and I have no doubt that the reason for this was owing to the abrupt transition from a low to a high temperature. I might mention here that South African peaches are carried by the Union Castle Line lat a temperature of from 34 to 36 degrees, the voyage occupying seven- teen days from Cape Town to Southampton by the fastest boats, which means between throe and four weeks from the time the fruit leaves the orchard to the time of arrival at the port of discharge in Great Britain. The South African shipping season extends from the 1st of January to the end of March, so that they have the advantage of landing their peaches in England during cold weather. Memo, showing number of days from port to port taken by steamers carrying Canadian peaches, season 1910, and extra time until discharge in the case of those which arrived in port Saturday or Sunday. Steamer. Date Sailed from Montreal. Date of Arrival at port in Great Britain. r r—l d a a No. of Days from Sailing Date until Discharge began. Liverpool— Megantic Dominion Laurentic Sept. 16 - 24 " 30 Saturday, Sept. 24 Monday, Oct. 3 Saturday, Oct. 8 8 9 8 2 1 2 10 10 10 Bristol— Ry. Edward Ry. George Sept. 15 " 29 Thursday, Sept. 22 Oct. 6 7 7 7 7 London— Tortona Hurona Devona Cervona Cairnrona Zona Sept. 10 M 17 " 24 Oct. 1 8 " 15 Tuesday, Sept. 2J Thursday, Sept. 29 Friday, Oct. 7 Saturday, Oct. 15 Oct. 22 Oct. 29 10 12 13 14 14 14 2 2 2 10 12 13 16 16 16 Glasgow- Hesperian Ionian Grampian Sept. 17 " 24 Oct. 1 Sunday, Sept. 25 Oct. 2 Oct. 9 8 8 8 1 1 1 9 9 9 Note. — The Department of Agriculture, Ottawa, made one shipment of peaches to London, via Liverpool, shipping on the Laurentic, which left Montreal on September 30th, arrived at Liverpool Saturday, October 8th, and discharged the peaches Monday morning, October 10th. The peaches left Liverpool by refrigerator car at 7 p.m. same day and were delivered in London at 7 a.m. the following morning, October 11th, or within eleven days from the time they left Montreal. These peaches were all sold by October 14th. Shipments by Dominion and Provincial Departments. Many of you doubtless have noticed a recent press paragraph commenting in a " too many cooks spoil the broth " strain on the fact that both the Dominion and Provincial Departments of Agriculture had apparently made shipments of peaches to Great Britain this year, and I want to say a word or two in explana- 1911 FRUIT GROWERS^ ASSOCIATION. 105 tion of the position of our Department in the matter. First, let me point out that it has always been generally recognized that the work of a Provincial De- partment lines along educational and instructional lines. In agriculture, for in- stance, the Department at Toronto is engaged in an endeavor to have two blades of grass grow where only one grew before, or, in other words, to convert the poor and indifferent farmer into an efficient and up-to-date agriculturist. On the other hand, to the Dominion has 'been relegated matters of transportation and trade and commerce, which include the extension of our markets abroad for Canadian pro- ducts. Therefore, in making trial shipments of peaches to the Old Country this season our Department was engaged in a work which was eminently proper for a federal department to carry on. The shipping of tender fruits to Great Britain by the Dominion Department of Agriculture is no new thing, as in 1897 we forwarded trial sliipments of over 7,000 cases, of which over 1,400 cases were peaches. Since then, more 'particu- larly during the last four or five years, we have shipp€d, peaches, grapes, etc., to various parts of Europe for exhibition purposes. These lots, selected and packed by members of our staff, have always reached their destination in first-class con- dition. Last year the Commissioner decided that it would be advisable to make a few trial shipments of peaches in 1910 in order to procure data regarding the proper degree of maturity at picking time, best method of packing, proper temperatures during transportation, etc. If shipments are made by private individuals or firms information of the ahove character is not readily available for the general public, so that it becomes necessary, if full and exact particulars are required, for the De- partment to make shipments itself. An appropriation was secured during the Session of 1909-10, active prepara- tions commenced in April, and all preliminary arrangements completed with the growers at St. Catharines by the first week of June. About this time Mr. Rud- dick received a letter from Mr. Hodgetts, Director of the Fruit Branch, Toronto, intimating that his Department might send several shipments of peaches to Great Britain during the season. The Commissioner, in his reply, gave an outline of our plans, and pointed out that we were particularly well organized to carry on work of this nature with little extra trouble or expense. On June 14th, Mr. Hodgetts replied, and after stating : " It was our intention to arrange with a num- ber of parties in the Niagara Peninsula for the shipment to London of experi- mental lots of peaches, sending forward three or four consignments according to the ripening of the more suitable varieties," he added, " I feel, however, that as you are in a better position both financially and otherwise to undertake the work on a fairly large scale, we will leave it entirely in your hands.^' We very much appreciated Mr. Hodgett's graceful acquiescence with our point of view, and we went on with our arrangements. A little later we received a letter from Mr. Dobson, stating that he intended shipping several thousand cases of peaches to London, and asking for our assistance. During the remainder of the season our correspondence with Mr. Dobson was lengthy, and we rendered him all the assistance we could. None of his letters, however, contained any hint that the Provincial Department of Agriculture was in any way connected with his shipments, and only on October 21st, long after our last shipment had gone for- ward, did we learn (by a letter from Mr. C. C. James, in reply to one from Mr. Ruddick asking for information on this point), that it was the Ontario Govern- ment that had made the shipments from Jordan Station, and not Mr. Dobson, 106 THE REPORT OF THE No. 32 although the latter supplied the peaches, made the shipping arrangements, and as- sumed all the financial responsibility. * Maekets^ etc. Aq is indicated by the statement presented at the commencement of my re- marks, the peaches shipped by our Department went to the ports of Liverpool, London, Glasgow and Bristol. The two Liverpool shipments were each divided between that market, Leeds and Manchester. The Bristol lot likewise served three markets, viz., Bristol, Cardiff, and Birmingham. The claim has been made that it would be better to have all the Canadian peaches which are exported shipped to London and distributed from there to the various markets, but to my mind the proposition is unsound. London is undoubtedly the best market for peaches, but it does not seem reasonable that fruit intended for sale in Liverpool and district should first be forwarded to London, and, after a delay of one or two days there, be re-shipped by rail to Liverpool. Apart from the extra expense and the risk of injury from extra handling and exposure during fairly warm weather, there is the important question of time in transit to be considered. As is shu.vn by the preceding statement the boats in the Montreal-London service are slower than those running to Liverpool, Glasgow or Bristol, and peaches shipped via London would require from twelve to eighteen days to reach either Liverpool or Glasgow, as com- pared with ten and nine days by direct boats. The argument applies with even greater force to Bristol, which has a seven-day service from Montreal once every two weeks. The cold storage freight rate to each of the ports mentioned is the same, viz., 25s. a ton of forty cubic feet. All of the peaches we shipped were sold by private sale excepting the two Liverpool lots of 51 and 102 cases, which were sold under the hammer. Cardiff made the highest price, viz., 6s. 6d. ($1.58) per case of 23 peaches, while the highest average price received was $1.45 per case for 72 cases "Old Mixon" sold in London. At the same time 78 cases "Elbertas" made an average of $1.39. In Cardiff, 25 cases "Crawfords'^ averaged $1.30 per case; Manchester made $1.33 per case for 12 cases and Leeds $1.22. On the other hand, 198 cases "Elbertas" sold in London for 94c. per case, 24 cases sold in Birmingham for 83c. per case, and 177 cases in Glasgow for 85%c. per case. The whole shipment of 1,284 cases sold at an average price of $1.04 per case, while the charges averaged as follows: Freight from St. Catharines to Montreal, 4c. per case ; ocean freight, 9.6c. ; selling ^'ha^ges in Great Britain, including commission, 9.7c.; total charges, 23.3c. per case, leaving average net returns f.o.b. cars St. Catharines of 80.7c. per case, or about 131/^c. per pound. From this must be deducted, of course, the cost of the package, packing material and extra labor. In conclusion I want to say that in my opinion a mistake was made this year by London brokers in holding for the last penny they could squeeze out of the retailer. When the latter was forced to pay 6 shillings and upwards for 18 or 20 peaches it meant retail prices of 12 to 16 cents per peach. At this price sales would be slow and the trade restricted. Many of the retailers in order to get their money back held the peaches too long, decay set in and they lost money on the transaction. Where this happened they naturally became prejudiced against Canadian peaches and will not want to handle them another year at any price. It is much better to have the brokers clear the peaches quickly at a fair price and give the retail dealer a chance to dispose of them rapidly at a reasonable profit 1911 FRUIT GKOWEliS' ASSOCIATION. 107 than to have them hanging around the market and the shops until they lose their flavour and become wasty or rotten. In this connection I think the following excerpt from "Fruit, Flower and Vegetable Trades' Journal/' London, dated October 8th, 1910, is to the point: "The Canadian peaches have turned out well, and quite up to the expectation of those who are handling them. Another consignment is now due. In boxes of 20's, sell- ing at 5s. to 6s. 6d. per hox, they should be handled by the majority of fruiterers. It will be wise if those handling consignments do not aim at higher prices than will make this fruit sell freely, for although English peaches are up to 24s. per dozen this week, it does not follow that the Canadian article Is worth more than is being asked for it, and to raise the price will probably be to spoil the market, for it must be remembered that it is not every fruiterer that can handle peaches, or will some of those who might, until they become better acquainted with the quality and condition of these consign- ments. Of course, very few shops can handle peaches that cost two shillings apiece whole- sale, but at threepence or fourpence each a good trade shoiuld be done at this time of year." A Member: I tJiink it would be advisable for the Department to find out from South Africa the exact varieties they are shipping there. I think it would be well to get buds from South Africa, and then we could plant the varieties that they are shipping from South Africa, and the sooner we get into the right vari- eties the better for ourselves. Mk. Moore: If you write us for that information we have it right in the Department at Ottawa and we will give it to you. The President: I have the names which have been submitted as delegates to attend the conference in 1911. Harold Jones, Walter Dempsey, E. W. Grierson, James E. Johnson, E. D. Smith, W. H. Bunting, Robt. Thompson, A. W. Peart, D. Johnson. It was moved and seconded that the above members should be delegates to the conference. The President put the motion, which on a vote being taken was declared carried. EESOLUTIOlSr BY THE HISTORICAL COMMITTEE. "Whereas the Mcintosh apple tree grew till 1908 on the farm and on the spot where it was planted as a chance seedling over a century ago, and "Whereas this variety has taken its place as the highest type of dessert fruit; and whereas it has shown its adaptability to a wide range of territory over the whole of the apple area of North America, "We, therefore, wish to show our appreciation of the efforts of the people of Dundas County in the laudable object of erecting a suitable structure to mark the site of this tree. "Resolved, therefore, that this Association contribute fifty dollors to the cost of this memorial." The President put the resolution to the meeting, which on a -vote being taken, was declared carried. The Convention then adjourned. FRUIT PRIZE LIST AT ONTARIO HORTICULTURAL EXHIBITION, 1910. APPLES. Class 1. — iBarrels for Export. Baldwin- 1st, iStork, R., Brooklin; 2ii'd, .McGrregoir, W. E., Whitby; 3rd, Demipsey, W. H., Trenton. Ben Davis: 1st, Dyer, W. D., lOo'lumibius ; 2nid, Hiamiiltom, Wm., Oollingwood; 3rd, Os/borne, J. J., Diunedin. Golden Russet: Ist, Bunting, W. ;H., St. Clatharines; 2n'd, O'venis, Wm., Dunedln; 3rd, Hamiilton, Wm. Greening: 1st, Micinael, R. R., Brookllin; 2intd, Bunting, W. H.; 3rd, Ruslh Bros., Hlatchley. King: Ist, Biunting, W. H.; 2nd, Gnaw ford, 'M., Whitby. ^8py: I'Sit, RiU'Sih, Isaiaic, Niorwiich; 2'njd, Groat, Chas., Birooklin; 3rd, Hamilton, Wm. Stark: Ist, .Smith, Alex., EnfieM. Any other variety: 1st, iStork, R.; 2nd., Bunting, W. H.; 3rd, Rush Bros. Glass 2. — 'Boxes Ready for Export. ( Unwrapped. ) Alexander: 1st, Oshawa Fruit iGroweina' Assioeiatiioin; 2nd, Diemipsey, W. (H. Baldwin: let, Buntiing, W. H.; i2nd, VanDyke, J. W., Grimistoy; 3Td, Hiamilton, Wm.. Cranberry: Ist, Dyer, W. D. Fameuse: Ist, Watson, W. G., iDixie; 2nd, Biunting, W. H.; 3(rd, Goring, Geo., St. Catharines. Golden Russet: 1st, Ovens., Wm.; 2nd, Bla.ckhurin, S., Cneemore; 3rd, Btoiwu, J. G., Htumber Bay. Greening (Rhode Island) : 1st, Hamilton, Wm.; 2nd, M.ichael, R.; 3rd, Watsion, W. G. King: Ist, Biunker, S. C., Pickerling; 2nd, Dempsey, W. H.; 3rd, Bunting, W. H. Mcintosh: 1st, Watson, W. B.; 2nd, Baker, Whitby. Spy: Blaokbum,, .S.; 2nd, Hamilton, Wm.; 3rd, McGregor, W. E. Class 3. — ^Boxes for Export. (Fruit wrapped.) Fameuse: 1st, Bunting, W. iH.; 2nd, Goring, Geo.; 3rd, Watson, W. G. Gravenstein: 1st, -Lick, E., iQsihawa; 2iiid, Thomipson, R., St. Catharin'es. King: 1st, Dempsey, W. H.; 2nd, Biunting, W. H.; 3rd, Gorinig, Geo. Mcintosh: 1st, Watson, W. )G. Spy: 1st, Hamilton, Wm.; 2nd, Blunting, W. H.; 3rd, Stainton, T., Tauaiton. Wealthy. ^l&t, Crawforth, W.; 2nid, Broiwn, J. G.; 3rd, Hamilton, Wm. Class 4. — ^Domestic Varieties — 'Barrels Ready for Shipment. Blenheim: 1st, Brow.n, J. G. Gravenstein: 1st, Lick, E. Ontario: 1st, Westney Bros., Audley; 2nd, Guthrey, J. B., Dixie; 3rd, -Demipsey, W. H. Tolman : Roxlury Russet: 1st, Ovens, Wm.; 2n'd, Dempsey, W. H.; 3ird, Biunting, W. H. Any other variety not in Class 1: l&t, The Biggs Eruit & Produce Co., Burlington; 2iid, Rusih, Isaac; 3rd, Oliver, F. R., Lome Park. Class 5. — .Domestic Varieties — ^Boxes Ready for iShipment. (Unwrapped.) Blenheim: let, Birawn, J. G. ; 2nd, Watson, W. G.; 3rd, Grierson, Oshawa. Gravenstein: 1st, Lick, E.; 2nid, Stevenson, W. H., Osihiaiwa; 3rd, Thompson, R. Ontario: 1st, Dempsiey, W. H.; 2nd, Westmey ®ros., Oshawa; 3rd, Guthrey, J. B. Ribston: 1st, Hamiiltion, Wm.; 2nd, Osborne, J. J.; 3r'di, Werry, iFletcher, Oehawa. St. Lawrence: 1st, Watson, W. G.; 2nd, Goring, Geo.; 3rd, Bunting, W. H. Any other variety not named in Classes 2 and 3: 1st, B'uinting, W. H.; 2nd, Watson, W. G.; 3rd, Goring, Geo. [109] 110 THE EEPOET OF THE No. 32 Class 6. — Standard Winter Varieties — 5 Boxes of Each. (Unwrapped.) Baldwin: Ist, "VTan.Diyke, J. W.; 2ii.d, Ovens, Wm.; 3ird, Blunting, W. H. Class 7. — 'Dessert Varieties — .Plates of Five. Fameuse: 1st, Westmey Bros.; 2n'd, B'untimg, W. H.; 3rd, Grorlmg, Geo., SI Oathiarlnes. Golden Russet: 1st, Tbompson, iR.; '2nd, Broiwn, J. G.; Srd, Guthrey, J. B. Oravenstein: 1st, Stevenson, W. H.; 2nd, Thompeon, R.; 3rd, Brown, J. G. King: Ist, Biumker, iS. C; 2n*d, Bunting, W. H.; 3rd, Goring, Geo. Mcintosh: 1st, Watson, W. G.; 2nd, Everett, Nicholas, Iroquois; 3rd, Michael, J. G Wealthy: 1st, Guthrey, J. iB.; 2nd, Broiwrn, J. G.; 3r.d, Rennmer, H., Whitby. Spy: 1st, Mldhael, R.; 2nd, iHamilton, Wm.; 3rd, Henderson, H. T., Paris. Spitzenhurg : 1st, Goring, Geo.; 2nd, 'Tihomipson, R.; 3rd, Bunting, W. H. Any other variety: 1st, Watson, W. G.; 2nd, Bunting, W. H.; 3rd, Westney Bros. class 8. — Cooking Varieties — Plates or Five. Alexander: let, Lee, W. T., Onillia; 2nd, Brown, J. G.; 3rdi, Guthrey, J. B. Baldwin: 1st, Bunting, W. H.; 2nd, iMicGregor, Wm.; 3rd, Henidersion, H. T. Blenheim: Ist, Wiatson, W. G.; 2nd, Thomipson, R.; 3rd, Brown, J. G. Cayuga: 1st, Bunting, W. (H.; 2nid, Thomipison, R.; 3rd, Stewart, F. G., Homer. Greening (Rho'de Island): 1st, iMichael, R.; !2nd. Bunting, W. H.; 3rd, BrOiWn, J. G. King: let. Brown, J. G.; 2nd, Guthrey, J. B.; 3rd, Thompson, R. Rilston: let, Guthrey, J. B.; find, Brdwn, J. G. Spy: Ist, Wait, J. G., Wlcklow; 2nd, B;ig®s Fruit & Produce Co.; 3rd, Palmw, W. E., Marshville. Any other desiral)le variety: Isit, Guthrey, J. B.; 2ndv Biggs Fruit & Produce Oo,; 3rd, MtciGre^or, Wm. Class 9. — iStandard Winter Varieties— [Ten Pi-ates of Five Specimens Each. Baldwin: 1st, VanDyke, J. W.; 2nd, 'Stork, R.; 3rd, Guthrey, J. B. Greening: Ist, Brown, J. G.; 2md, Watson, W. G. Spy: 1st, Palmer, W. E.; 2ndi, Henderson, H. T.; 3rd, Guthrey, J. B. CLASS 10. — ^OoNES OF Fruit. Ben Davis: 1st, Palmer, W. E.; 2nd, IDyer, W. D. Baldwin: 1st, iStork, R.; 2nd, VanDyke, J. W.; 3rd, Guthrey, J. B. Blenheim: Ist, Brown, J. G.; 2nd, Watson, W. G.; 3rd, Grierson, Oshiawa. Gravenstein: 1st, Whyte, D., Wohurn; 2nd,, iLlck, E. Fallawater: 1st, Stork, R. Fameuse: 1st, Watson, W. G.; 2nd, Guthrey, J. B.; 3rd, Stainton, T. King: 1st, Watson, W. G.; 2nd, Guthrey, J. B. Mcintosh: 1st, Watson, W. G.; 2nd, Farlinger, Ernest, Morrishurg; 3rd, Lee, W. T. Ontario: 1st, Guthrey, J. B.; 2nd, Westney Bros.; 3rd, Watson, W. G. Spy: let, Henderson, H. T.; 2nd, Watson, W. G.; 3rd, Palmier, W. E. PEARS. Class 11. — Plates of Five. Anjou: 1st, Guthrey, J. B.; 2nd, Stewiart, F. G. Bosc: 1st, Read, M. A., Port Dalhoiusie; 2nd, Furminger, iS. D., St. Oatharines. Glairgeau: 1st, Guthrey, J. B.; 2nd, Stewart, F. G. Duchess: 1st, iStewiart, F. G.; 2nd, Thompson, Robt. Hardy: Itet, Read, M. A. Howell: 1st, Stewart, F. G.; '2nd, Thompson, R. Kieffer: 1st, Stewart, F. G.; 2nd, Thomipson, R. Lawrence: 1st, (Stewart, F. G.; 2nd, Thompson, R. Winter Nelis: I'st, Read, M. A.; 2nd, .Stewart, F. G. Any other desira'ble variety: 1st, Stewart, F. G.; 2nd!, Thompson, R. 1911 FRUIT GROWEEiS' ASSOCIATION. Ill Class 12. — Expout Vakieties — .Boxes Ready for Shipment. (Fruit wrapped.) Anjou: 1st, Roiberteon, G. A., S't. Catiharines; 2nd, Stewart, F. G.; 3rd, Thompson, R. Bosc: 1st, Tihompson, R.; 2nd, Bun'tiing, W. H.; 3ird, Roibertson, G. A. Clairgeau: Ist, Thomipson, R.; 2nd, Stewart, F. G. Duchess: 1st, iStewart, P. G.; 2nd, Robertscn, G. A.; 3rd, Thompson, R. Winter Nelis: 1st, .Stewart, F. G.; 2nd, Thompson, R.; 3rd, Furminger, S. D. Kieffer: Ist, Roibertson, G. A,; 2nd, Steiwart, F. G.; 3rd, Thomipson, R. Lawrence: l,st, Ro'bertson, G. A.; 2nd, Stewart, F. G.; 3rd, Thompson, R. Any other desirable variety: 1st, 'Stewart, F. G.; 2nd, Furminger, S. D.; 3rd, Thompson, R. GRAPES. Class 13. Agawam: 1st, Dew:ar, R. H., Fruitland; 2'n;d, Roihson, W. M„ Lindsay. Concord, 3 bun€ihes: 1st, Dewar, R. H.; 2nd, Biunting, W. H. Lindley, 3 bunohes: list, Dewar, R. H.; 2nid, iStewiart, F. G. Niagara, 3 bunohes: 1st, Deiwar, R. H.; 2nd, Bunting, W. H. Vergenncs: 1st, Bunting, W. H.; 2'n*d, Steiwart, F. G. Wilder: list, Thiomipson, R,; 2nid, Furmlinger, S. D. Any other desirable variety: 1st, Deiwar, R. H.; 2nd, Buntinig, W. H. Black Grapes, 9 lib. basket: 1st, Dewar, R. H.; 2nd, Stewart, F. G. Red Grapes, 9 Kb. basiket: 1st, Biunting, W. H.; 2nd, Dewar, R. H. White Grapes, 9 ah. basket: 1st, Dewar, R. H.; 2nd, Biunting, W. H. Black Grapes, fancy package: 1st, Dewar, R. H.; 2iid, Furminger, S. D. Red Grapes, fancy package: 1st, Dewar, R. H.; 2nd, Thomipson, R. White Grapes, fancy package: 1st, Dewar, R. H.; 2nd, Stewant, F. G. COiLLEOTIOiNiS. Class 14. Exhibit of apples in commercial packages, space limited to 60 square feet for each exhibit: 1st, St. Oatbarines Cold 'Storaige Co.; 2nd, Stewart, F. G. Display of apples, not in commercial packages, table space limited to 60 square feet for each exhibit: 1st, St. Catharines Coild Storage Co.; 2nd, Stewart, F. G. Class 15. — iBox or Barrel Brands. 1st, Oshawa Fruit Growers' Asisioeiation ; 2nd. St. Catharines Cold Storage & For- warding Co.; 3rd, Stewart, F. G. Class 16. Commercial package of unwrapped apples, any variety: 1st, Hiamiilton, Wm.; 2nd, Demipsey, W. H.; 3rd, St. Catharines Cold Storage & Forwarding Co. Commercial package, wrapped apples, any variety: 1st, Osfborne, J. J.; 2nd, St. Oatlharines Cold Storage Co.; 3rd, French, P. E., O. A. C, Guelpih. PRBSIERVED FRUITS. Class 17. — Quart Sealer of Canned Fruit of Each of the Following Varieties. Blackberries: 1st, iMorningstar, S., Goderic'h; 2nd, Deipotie, Mrs. P., St. Catharines; 3rd, Delworth, Thos., Weston. Cherries, black or red: 1st, Reeves, Mm. F. F.; 2nd, Thomipson, Mts. R.; 3rd, Hassard, Mrs., Mankiham. Cherries, white or yellow: 1st, Depotie, Mrs. P.; 2nid, Stewart, Mrs. F. G.; 3rd, Hiassard, Mts. Gooseberries: 1st, Thomipson, Mrs. R.; 2nd, Stewart, Mrs. F. G.; 3rd, Wait, Mrs. J. G. Grapes, black or red: 1st, Delworth, Mrs. T.; 2nd, Morninigstar, S.; 3rd, Wait, Mirs. J. G. 112 EEPORT OF FEUIT GROWEES' ASSOCIATION. No. 32 Peaches (white fleshed): 1st, Depotie, Mrs. P.; 2.nfd, Stewart, Mrs. F. G.; 3rd, Bennett, C. A., Burl'ington. Peaches (yellow fleshed): Ist, Bennett, Mirs. C. A.; 2nd, iStewiart, Mrs. F. G.; 3rd, Hassard, Mrs. Pears: list, Miorninigstar, S.; 2nd, Depotie, Mrs. P.; 3rd, Sipeight, Mrs., Markham. Plums, blue or red: 1st, Depotie, Mts. P.; 2nd, iStevenson, Mt $4 50 2. Pruning, 39 days at $1.50' 58 50 3. First Spraying — 4 men, 18 hrs. each at $1.50 10 80 Team, 18 hrs. at $1.00 1 80 Material — 40 gals, commercial Lime Sulphur at 20c 8 00 14 lbs. Arsenate of Lead at 13c 1 82 4. Second Spraying — 4 men, 24 hrs. at $1.50 a day 14 40 1 team 24 hrs. at $1.00 a day - . 2 40 Material — 22 gals. Lime Sulphur at 20€ 4 40 66 lbs. Arsenate of Lead at 13c ^ 8 58 5. Working Orchard — Hauling brush, man and team 2 days at $2.50 5 00 Plowing, man and team 4 days at $2.50 10 00 Cultivating, man and team 3 days at $2.50 7 50 6. Cover Crop — Man and team, 2 days at $2.50 5 00 Buckwheat 1 50 Total $144 20 Returns : 37 bbls. at $2.50 pe rbbi $92 50 129 bbls. at $3.00 per bbl. 387 00 2U bbls. culls at 60c. net 12 90 30 bbls. windfalls at $1.25 net 37 50 $529 90 Cost of picking and packing — 166 bbls. at 75c. per bbl 124 50 Net returns $405 40 Eequests for similar work from many sections have been already made and an extension into other districts will undoubtedly be required. In two other districts where orchard conditions were somewhat better, repre- sentives of this Branch were stationed throughout the season from the time of spraying until the harvesting season began, to give advice to the fruit growers. These men went from orchard to orchard under the direction of the District Representatives holding small meetings or visiting in person the owners, and answering any requests that might be made for advice. In one section, which was badly infested with the San Jose Scale, an expert in the handling of the lime sulphur mixture spent the spring months in demonstrating the making and using of this insecticide, which is now recognized as the best for combatting this pest. 1911 FKUIT BRANCH. 17 APIAllY INSPECTION. Witli the discovery of what is known as European or Black Foul Brood in the eastern part of the Province a further re-arrangement of the inspection dis- tricts was' found necessary to look after the work. Mr. Morley Petti t, Provincial Apiarist, has been given more direct charge of the inspectors, and has spent consid- erable time personally in investigation and supervision. Sixteen districts were arranged for and the apiaries in these were gone over closely as was permitted by the appropriation which had been voted by the legislature. It has been found that disease in either of the two forms existent is wide- spread throughout the Province. Very few of the smaller beekeepers seem able to detect the disease without a visit from the inspector, and even after being shown many of these men will not give the short time required for proper treatment. Apiary of Homer Burke, Highland Creek. This has resulted in our inspectors being called back year after year to cases where one or two visits should have been enough; and has handicapped the De- partment in its work entailing a great deal of expense and loss of time needed for other sections. It is absolutely impossible for these men to visit all of the apiaries in Ontario within the limited time when proper treatment can be given. It would almost seem advisable that the inspectors, where carelessness is shown by the owners of bees, should destroy the colonies rather than leave them to prove a source of infection for the surrounding districts. A list of the divisions and inspectors for 1910 is given herewith: 1. Bruce and Huron — J. S. Scheank, Port Elgin. 2. Waterloo and Perth — D. Chalmers, Poole. 3. Wellington and Grey — John Artley, Blantyre. 4. Lambton, Kent and Essex — W. A. Chrysler, Chatham. 2 F.B. 18 REPOET OF No. 33 5. Middlesex and Elgin — Jno. Newton, Thamesford. 6. Norfolk, Haldimand and Welland — Jas. Armstrong, Cheapside. 7. Oxford and Brant — ^W. Bayless, Grand View. 8. Wentworth and Lincoln — Alex. Robertson, Waterdown. 9. Halton, Peel and Dufferin — Arthur Adamson, Erindale. 10. Simcoe and Muskoka — Hy. Johnson, Craighurst. 11. Ontario, York, Victoria and Durham — J. L. Byer, Mount Joy. 12. Peterborough, Northumberland, Hastings, and Prince Edward — W. Scott, Wooler. 13. Lennox and Addington, Frontenac and Leeds — J. B. Checkley, Linden Bank. 14. Renfrew, Lanark and Carlton — R. J. Stead, Lanark. 15. Russell, Prescott and Glengarry — Alex. Dickson, Lancaster. 16. Grenville, Dundas and Stormont — Homer Burke, Tayside. FRUIT EXHIBITS, The exhibits directly under the charge of this Branch were again confined to Winnipeg in the west, the Canadian National, and the Ontario Horticultural Exhi- bitions in Toronto. The western exhibit was in charge of Messrs. Revett, Road- house and Lee, of the Department of Agriculture, and proved to be fully up to those of pafit years. Owing to the tremendous growth of the West and to the rivalry which exists between Ontario, British Columbia and the Western States for this market we will of necessity have to continue our displays of fruit at this point, and should possibly extend to some of the other western exhibitions. With the decided improvement in the packing of our tender fruits and apples that is now taking place, Ontario is in a position to compete on fair grounds with the western fruit growers. Owing to the extension of our orchards the large dealers and co-oper- ative associations are now able to sell either straight or mixed carloads and can quote prices that will compare very favorably with those from the Western States where fruit is raised in large quantities. Our growers are quite willing to take a fair profit on their fruit providing the markets will handle the increased quan- tities which are now being raised, not only in the Niagara District, but in other parts of the Province as well. The Winnipeg exhibit was made up of apples held in oold storage from the season of 1909, and tender fruits such as cherries, raspberries, blackberries, cur- rants, and gooseberries of the present season's crop. Many inquiries were received in i-eference to our fruit® and a number of representatives from eastern dealers and associations were present at the time of the Exhibition to meet with possible customers there. Winnipeg is at present the centre of the wholesale fruit busi- ness, and on account of the number of railway lines radiating from it will likely continue for many years to be the most important fruit distributing point in the West. THE CANADIAN NATIONAL EXHIBITION. The Department of Agriculture was, as usual, represented by a mixed exhibit of fruit, grain, minerals, etc., from the Province generally. Owing to the large number of visitors attracted to this Exposition from outside States and Provinces, it is necessary that such a representative exhibit should be there so as to give 1911 FEUIT BKANCH. 19 these visitors an idea of what the Province can produce. It is also necessary to make a good display of both fruits and grains to counteract the exodus of our rural population to the West by showing our farmers that we can produce just as good crops here of the kinds grown West, and make as much money. Then we can hope in time to regain some of the ground which we have lost in recent years where statistics show that the population in our towns and cities has been rapidly growing with a corresponding falling off in the country. With fruit lands here much cheaper on the average tlian in British Columbia or the coast States, and with profits correspondingly high there is no reason why any one from Outario should leave here to engage in that industry in the West. A part of the exhibit of the Fruit Branch, Canadian National, 1910. The exhibit at the Canadian National is not of an educational nature in so far as the fruit grower i? concerned, except to show what can be produced. The educational part of the work has been handed over to the Agricultural College at Guelph, which has a large exhibit on the grounds. The fruit exhibit consists of a well-arranged display of the very best fruit of the different kinds raised in Ontario, and is shown to impress, not only the visitors from other countries, but also our own people, with the fact that we can in this Province produce the finest fruit of all kinds that is raised on the American Continent. Any country that can produce the best of fruits will also excel in any other agricultural product. 20 REPORT OF No. 33 ONTARIO HORTICULTURAL EXHIBITION. The seventh annual exhibit, which was held again in November, excelled all of those of past years in the exhibit of boxed fruit. One of the chief aims of the Exhibition when it was organized was to teach our fruit growers the proper methods of packing and handling the standard apple boxes. That rapid develop- ment has taken place was well illustrated by the difference between the exhibits held in 1904 and 1910. A great many of the growers are now competing in the numerous classes which call for boxed apples, and in addition quite as many more attend the Exhibition to get a knowledge of the methods required. There are always in attendance at this Exhibition the most up-to-date of our fniit growers, and also those of the Government service who are qualified to give advice A View at Ontario Horticultural Exhibition, 1910. as to packages and packing, so that the Show forms the very best opportunity for the fruit grower to secure any information which he may desire in- reference to this important part of the industry. That the exhibition is growing in popu- larity is shown by the increase in the attendance from outside points. While the city of Toronto still furnishes the greater part of those paying admittance at the gate, the railway coupons have sliown a very rapid increase during the past three years. 1'he attendance also at the Fruit Growers' Convention, which is held the same time, shows that this week is being looked forward to by the fruit growers of the Province as the one time in the year when they should gather together to discuss matters of importance relating to the industry. The only difficulty now in the way of a still further improvement in both Exhibition and Convention is the lack of suitable hall accommodation at some central point in Toronto. If thisi can be oveicome there is no doubt that future exhibitions will still further repre- ^ sent, the improvement which is taking place in fruit growing all through the ProNineo. 1911 FKUIT BRANCH. 21 EEUIT SlIirMP:NTS TO GREAT BRITAIN. The Province of Ontario has been noted for many years for the extent of its export trade in apples with Great Britain, especially with the ports of Liverpool and Glasgow. The season of 1910 was remarkable for the shortage in the apple crop, and as a result the exports dropped to about one-third of thi) 1009 figures. The amount of the export trade was somewhat influenced by the general scarcity of apples in all of the districts and the consequent increase in the demand for local use. Some of our best sections, notably the Georgian Bay and I^ake Huron districts, did not have enough for more than their own use. Prices were correspondingly high, and those sections having apples, even if the quality was poor, were able to maLo very handsome returns. The shortage in the crop permitted of a large increase in the shipping of boxed apples from the western coast States to the big centres of trade in Great Britain. This increase will likely continue, and Canadian apples will have to compete with these goods, which are generally of magnificent appear- ance and well packed. The increasing use of the box package for our better class of apples should be encouraged. A very profitable trade in pears is being worked up in Great Britain, and could be very well increased if the fruit were available. An extended planting of this fruit is recommended. The Burlington district has perhaps led in the trale with Great Bj'itain, and growers there are enlarging their pear orchards. Other districts could quite well go in for the raising of this fruit with profit to the growers. The 1910 season witnesses the first shipment of peaches to Great Britain on a commercial scale. This Branch in 1909, acting on instructions from the Hon. Mr. Duff, Minister of Agriculture, sent forward a shipment of Elberta peaches to our London agent, who placed the fruit in the hands of Messrs. Parsons & Co., of Oovent Garden Market. The reports on the fruit were on the whole favorable, though some criticism was offered on account of the varieties being yellow fleshed instead of white fleshed, as are those grown in Great Britain, France, and South Africa. As a result of this shipment it was decided to send over a considerable quan- tity in 1910 of different varieties to determine more definitely what the oppor- tunities were for this trade. The Dominion Department of Agriculture had, as usual, arranged cold storage s/pace for tender fruits on a number of steamers sail- ing to Great Britain, and had also decided to experiment with shipments of peaches. At first it was thought wise to leave the matter in their hands, simply giving what assistance we could to them in the packing. This was carried out by sending Mr. T. B. Revett, of the Fruit Branch, to help with the putting up of t'^e fruit at the St. Catharines Cold Storage Company's plant, from where the Domin- ion shipments were made. Later on in the season Mr. C. A. Dobson, of the Jordan Harbor Peach Ranch, requested the help of the Ontario Department in putting out some large shipments to the London market. Mr. Dobson's request was acceded to, and this Branch took charge of the work of picking, packing, and shipping the fruit until the time it w^as placed on the steamers at Montreal. Messrs. Parsons & Co., of London, England, handled the goods on their arrival at that port. The peaches, consisting largely of Crawfords and Elbertas, were packed in small cases holding from 15 to 25 fruits, a layer of wood wool was placed in the bottom and top and each peach, after being wrapped in fine paper, was surrounded with a roll of the wood wool. The packing as reported on by the receivers was pro- 22 EEPORT OF No. 35 nounced perfect and fully equal to that of the South African shippers who had been sending peaches forward to London for some years. The fruit sold at from 3s. 6d. to 8s. per case. If these prices could be maintained it would mean a very fair profit to the shipper. The chief difficulty lies in the cold storage on the steamers, one shipment of 700 cases being seriously damaged by leakage from the brine pipes, due to a too sudden change in the temperature as the boat approached the other side. On the whole the shipments were fairly satisfactory and will likely be continued in 1911. It is a trade that would, however, be largely in the hands of large growers or co-operative associations that could get together a con- siderable quantity of fruit on short notice. One of the most important points in connection with the shipments was the obtaining of a good grade of wood wool. This Branch, through our London office^ imported two tons of very fine aspen wood wool manufactured in Norway. This material was very soft and absolutely odorless. Enough was obtained to supply the shipments for both the Dominion and Provincial Departments. The former tried to use a layer of the Ontario made wood wool for padding the top and bottom of the case, but reports received from Great Britain state that the fruit was more or less tainted as a result. The shipments from St. Catharines consisted of 1,284 cases, which were shipped to a number of points in Great Britain. The Jordan Harbor shipments were 2,400 oases, all of which were sent direct to Parsons & Co., of Covent Garden, and from there distributed to points in the British Isles and on the Continent. HORTICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. The work at this Station during the past season was somewhat deranged owinr to the illness and death of the Director, Mr. H. S. Peart. Mr. P^^dit hacL been in charge of the Farm since it was taken over by the Department from Mr. M F. Rittenhouse. He had been largely responsible for the carrying out of the planting of the orchards as directed by the Advisory Board appointed by the Department, and was in very close touch with the experiments which had been outlined. It was the intention to continue the plantings during the spring of 1910, so a^s to complete all the experiments in band, but under the circuimstances this was not carried out. Mr. A. J. Logsdail, expert in plant breeding, acted as Director of the Station uatil ffche appointment of Mr. A. D. Harkness, of Irena, in December. Owing to tiie work that this entailed on Mr. Logsdail his own plans for the plant breeding were more or lests interfered with. Mr. Logsdail has, however, given in this report a brief summary of the results of the year's work. With the change in the staff, the Minister of Agriculture has also made a slight alteration in the supervision of the work there. Mr. Harknes.> will be .superin- tendent and Mr. Logsdail expert in plant breeding, both directly responsible to the Director of this Branch. This change was decided upon to keep the Depart- ment here in closer touch with the work and expenditure on the farm. With the tender fruit orchards coming rapidly into bearing, it is hoped that something of value to the fruit growers of that district will soon be determined upon as a result of the experiments already begun. In connection with the plant breeding work a specialty has been made of strawberries, and the coming season will see about twenty thousand plants growing for testing purposes. Quite a large number of other fruits are also being brought on. A completion oi the planting and the erection of a fruit house will be necessary for the season of 1911. 1911 FRUIT BRANCH. 23 NURSERY INSPECTION. In the year 1909 the Fruit Branch made a special inspection of all nursery stock grown in the Niagara District, with a view to finding out what percentage of stock was infested with the San Jose Scale and other fruit tree pests. Owing to the prevalence of the scale in this district it was though better to continue the inspection in 1910 and in following years. Unfortunately, however, the necessity for an early inspection of stock for the Brown Tail Moth used up a large part of our appropriation, and it was decided to discontinue the later inspection for San Jose Scale for the season. A further appropriation for this work will be asked for, so that the summer inspection of stock can be resumed in 1911. Our local inspector® were directed to spend as much time -as was available in clearing up infested orchards, and seedling trees in the neighborhood of the blocks of nursery stock. As the latter are removed at frequent intervals the spread of the scale in the nursery would not be serious if it was possible to prevent reinfestation. A considerable cleaning up of these places was effected, but there still remains quite a bit of it to be done. The chief difficulty is that many of the local inspectors are not given the moral backing required from the fruit growers in the section, and are afraid to enforce the regulations of the Department. Our chief inspector has received instructions personally to supervise this work, and we hope within a short time to place the nurseries in a much better position in this respect. Further help was provided in inspecting the fumigation of stock both for spring and fall digging. Every year, however, we receive reports of orchards recently planted that have been found with scale on the young trees. In most cases, so far these have come from our Ontario nurseries, and show either careless- ness or disregard of the law. The proper fumigation ha® proven by numerous ex- periments to be absolutely fatal to scale in any stage of its existence, and the endeavor of the Department will be to see that treatment of the stock is properly carried out. Four inspectors devoted their whole time to this work in the spring and fall of the past year. Local inspectors under the Fruit Pests' Act were again appointed in most of the tender fruit growing districts, and also in some of the apple growing sections. A list of the inspectors and their districts is given herewith : Township. Inspector. Thorold Albert Nelson, Fonthill. Niagara Theodore Brooker, Virgil. Saltfleet W. E. Blggar, J. P. Vanwagner. Bartonvllle. Clinton John Reid, Chas. Watson, Beamsville; North Grimbsy J. M. Kelson, A. T. Hunter, H. L. Walker, Grimsby. Barton Harry F. Burkholder, Bartonville. Louth E. J. Fisher, A. D. Broderick, Lewis Haynes, St. Catharines. Walkerviile J. B. Forrest, Walkerville. St. Catharines Wm. Elliott, St. Catharines. Grantham Norman Foster, Port Dalhousie. Leamington Town Wm. Roadhouse, Leamington. Pelham Harry Arnold, Ridgevi] le. Middleton J. G. Herron, Courtland. Derby Township Henry Hi] ts, Owen Sound. , Beamsville^Vil lage Frank Gulp, Beamsville. A request was made to the Department during the year that these local in- spectors be appointed by this Department, the system of pay to be the same as at present, i.e., one-half the expense to be borne by the townships and the other half 24: EEPORT OF No. 33 by the Province. The feeling among some of the fruit growers was that if outside inspectors could be appointed the law would be more strictly enforced. On tlie other hand, there existed a feeling in many quarters that a local inspector, if properly backed up by public opinion, would do better work, as he would be better acquainted with the district in which he was living. The matter was discussed at three different meetings of the Niagara Peninsula Fruit Growers' Association, which represents the Niagara fruit growing section, and it was decided that the fruit growers make an effort the coming season to have the very best men available appointed for the positions, , and to back up their work in every way possible by the influence of the district association. It is hoped in this way to secure a better enforcement of the Act during the coming season. Sour Cherries in Norfolk County intercropped with Tomatoss. ORCHARD SURVEYS. This term has been applied in the United States to a careful census made of the orchards in certain districts. The plan consists in sending one or more men with a knowledge of horticultural conditions to visit all of the orchards in a district, securing from the owners detailed information concerning the trees. Such information is afterwards compiled and the results given out in bulletin form to show just what conditions along all lines of orchard practice have given the most satisfactory results. The States of New York and Oregon have gone to con- siderable trouble to compile these resports from a number of their best fruit dis- tricts. In the years 1909 and 1910 Prof. J. W. Orow, of the Agricultural College at Guelph, in co-operation with this Branch, arranged for surveys to be made in the Counties of Simcoe, Huron, Lambton, Elgin, Lincoln, Wentworth, Durham, Nor- thumberland, and Prince Edward. The field work was placed in the hands of students of the College, who, during the summer vacation, visited all of the orchards in these districts, making a detailed report on each farm. To show how thoroughly this was done a copy of the form used is given herewith. & a ^ > Q E Q O o O < Z o o o < O z rJ < ID O rt a -^ ^ fe «2 ^ ^ 00 CL, W I be a Q ^ Ph 1 d rH C5 rH T— ( V : S [25] 26 EEPOET OF No. 33 With the information obtained the reports of the work were prepared and are printed as part of this volume. The Counties of Simcoe and Kent were not com- pleted, and for the present are not printed. The results as shown here prove very clearly, 'by comparison between different blocks of orchard treated under different methods, the value of proper care of both soil and tree. A careful study of the tables will prove of interest to all of our fruit growers, not only those residing in the counties mentioned, but in other parts of the Province. These districts are typical of conditions existing everyivhere along the G-reat Lakes, where the bulk of the fruit is at present grown. A further study of counties inland and along the St. Lawrence and Ottawa Valleys will be necessary to complete the work. • 'rurdfiM^ n « am '^m^ '*.7 ife Hoeing young nursery stock near Fonthill. CO-OPEEATIVE WORK. The short crop of apples which was quite general over the Province resulted in the formation of very few new associations d^uring the past year. This was specially true in the western part of the Province, where co-operation has been most successful. However, those already in existence have strengthened their mem- bership in most cases, and as a result of the poor crop were able to sell their fruit at very good prices. The Norfolk Fruit Growers' Association, with a large mem- bership, handled over 36,000 barrels of marketable apples, besides selling thousands of dollars worth of low grade apples to the canneries and evaporators. This Asso- ciation showed a remarkable increase in membership, and with a full crop would undoubtedly handle close on to a hundred thousand barrels of apples. The Niagara Peninsula is now well organized from Stony Creek through to the Niagara River. During the season the recently organized Ontario and Western Association handled a large quantity of fruit from their membership, which ex- tends from Stony Creek through to Beamsville. The presence of the Hamilton, Grimsby, and Beamsville Electric Line has aided them greatly in their work. 1911 FRUIT BRANCH. 27 This Association is doing for the western end of the peninsula what the St. Cath- arines Cold Storage Company has already done for the eastern portion. Both Associations are handling large quantities of fruit growers' supplies, and later looking after the sale of the fruit. The 0. & W. is endeavoring to pack a large quan- tity of the fruit in small packing houses distributed along the line of the electric railway, and should be able to put out a more uniform article than where the bulk of the fruit is still packed by the individual member. In addition to these two large associations there are three other smaller ones, located at Winona, Grimsby and Jordan, and these, with a number of large dealers, furnish the fruit growers of the Niagara Peninsula with an excellent outlet for all kinds of fruit. With good markets close at hand this favored district should continue to show a big in- crease in the production of fruits, especially of the tender kinds, and as a result higher prices even yet for the lands throughout the section, A revised list of Associations, with secretaries or managers, is given here- with: CO-OPERATIVE FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION. 1. Arkona Fruit Growers' Association T. A. Lampman, R. F. D., Thedford 2. Brant Packing Association F. M. Lewis, Burford, 3. Chatham Fruit Growers' Association A. McGetchie, Ciiatham. 4. Georgian Bay Fruit Growers' Limited G. H. Mitchell, Thornbury. 5. Gore Fruit Growers' Association B. J. Palmer, New Durham. 6. Newcastle Fruit Growers' & Forwarding Assn. . .W. H. Gibson, Newcastle. 7. Norfolk Fruit Growers' Association Jas. E. Johnson, Simcoe. 8. Oshawa Fruit Growers' Association Elmer Lick, Oshawa. 9. Owen Sound Fruit Co., Limited Adam Brown, Owen Sound. 10. Sparta Fruit Growers' Association J. A. Webster, Sparta. 11. Watford Fruit Growers' Association D. G. Parker, Watford. 12. Grafton Fruit Growers' Association J. G. Wait, Wicklow. 13. Alvinston Fruit Growers' Association E. F. Augustine, Aughrim. 14. Burgessville Fruit Growers' & Forwarding Assn. .W. H. Kneal, Burgessville. 15. Canadian Apple Exporters, Limited F. B. Mallory, Frankford. 16. Cobourg Fruit Growers' Association S. W. Staples, Baltimore. 17. Hatchley Station Fruit Growers' Association W. P. Robinson, Hatchley Station. 18. Mount Nemo Fruit Growers' Association R. M. Spence, Nelson. 19. Orono Fruit Growers' Association E. J. Hamm, Orono. 20. Forest Fruit Growers' & Forwarding Co D. Johnson, Forest. 21. Jordan Co-operative Association J. A. Wills, Jordan. 22. St. Catharines Cold Storage & Forwarding Co. . .Robt. Thompson, St. Catharines. 23. Ontario & Western Co-operative Fruit Growers' Co.C. J. McCallum, Grimsby. 24. Wyoming Fruit Growers' Association E. J. Borrowman, Wyoming. 25. Prince Edward Fruit Growers' Association Philip Greer, Wellington. 27. Georgetown Fruit Growers' Association W. F. Bradley, Georgetown. 27. Lambton Fruit Growers' Co-operative Assn George French, Sarnia. As requests for information on co-operative work were so frequent, it was decided to publish a special bulletin on the subject. Mr. S. E. Todd^ the Representative of the Department at Petrolia, who has made a special study of co- operation for a number of years, prepared the bulletin (No. 192). It contains complete information on organization and the carrying on of co-operative buying and selling in all lines of agricultural products, but with special reference to fruits. '^s EEPORT OF ^0. 33 HORTICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION, JORDAN HARBOR. VEGETABLES. A. J. LoGSDAiL, B.S.A.^ Jordan Harbor. The work with vegetables during the past year has been almost entirely con- fined to the testing of a large number of varieties of the more important market garden crop?, such as: Beans, beets, carrots, lettuce, peas, peppers, sweet corn and tomatoes. Nearly eighty varieties of beans were grown during the past season. A fifty- foot row of each of the varieties was sown on the same date, and a record was kept of the most important features. The list given below includes eighteen of the most satisfactory varieties, with their respective yields (in ounces), and the season of bearing, namely. Early, Medium or Late. Beans, 1910. Name of Variety. Season, Yield. Davie's White Kidney Wax . , Early Valentine Early Mohawk Dawson's Horticultural Wax Henderson's Bountiful , Michigan White Wax , Green Pod, Dwarf Stringless Green Pod Scarlet Flagelot Wax Giant Yosemite Early China California Rust Proof Refugee Wax Burpee's White Wax Rennie's Stringless New California Wax Michigan Wonder Emerald Beauty Early. Early. Early. Early. Early. Early. Medium. Medium. Medium. Medium. Medium. Medium. Late. Late. Late. Late. Late. Late. 329 ozs. 820 " 314 '* 275 " 240J " 216i •' 400 " 338 " 2m " 259 " 233i '• 231i " 442 " 399 " 341 " 303 " 293 " 292 " In order of yield, the ten most satisfactory varieties were: Refugee Wax, Green Pod Dwarf, Burpee's White Wax, Rennie'iS Stringless, Stringless Green Pod, Silver Bush, Davie's W'hite Kidney Wax, Early Valentine, Early Mohawk, and Triumpih. of the Frames. A similar experiment was conducted with about sixty varieties of peas. This crop was by no means satisfactory, owing to the nature of the soil in which it was growm, and the general metliod of growing. In order that the host results may be obtcined from a crop of garden peas, the soil should be quite rich, and a soil mulch should be maintained throughout the whole period of growth; tall growing varieties should be given support in the nature of a trellis of wire or sticks, and the rows should be further apart than those of the dwarf varieties. Many of these factors were 'unavoidably neglected, but it is hoped that by the system to be followed during the coming season these features will be almost, if not entirely, eliminated. [29] 30 REPORT OF No. 33 In the list of peas given below are included twenty of the most satisfactory varieties, together with brief notes regarding the relative size of pea and pod, the season of yield, and the quantity of the crop of each of the varieties : Peas, 1910. Name of variety. Size of Pea. Size of Pod. Date of bearing. Total yield. Premium Gem American Wonder Extra Early Premium Gem Rennie's Best Extra Early. Alaska Early Conqueror Burpee's Qaality Little Marvel Bruce's Royal Little Gem Nott's Excelsior Sutton's Gem Abundance Yorkshire Hero Lincoln Heroine Senator Dwarf Telephone Fillbasket Medium. Small. Mid-Small. Small. Medium. Medium. Medium. Medium. Large. Medium, Medium. Large. Small. Large. Medium Large. Medium. Large. Large. Medium. Medium. Medium. Small. Medium, Small, Small. Medium, Large. Medium. Small. Large. Medium, Medium, Large. Medium, Large. Large. Large. Very early. Very early. Early. Early. Early. Early. Mid-season. Mid-season. Mid-season. Mid-season. Mid-season. Mid-season. Late. Very late. Late. Very late. Late. Very late. Late. 138 ozs. 1161 " 108i " 92 " 91i •• 90 " 142 " 137 " 107 " 102i " lOli " m " 188 " 165 " 164 " 162 " 158 " 158 " 154 " The ten best varieties with regard to quality, yield and season were : For Early Season : Premium Gem and American. Wonder. For Mid-Season : Little Marvel, Bruce's Royal and Burpee's Quality. For Late Season: Yorkshire Hero, Dwarf Telephone and Fillbasket. Ten varieties of beets are given in order of their respective yields, with brief note on the size, color and texture of each : Beets, 1910. Name of variety. Colour. Size. Texture. TotaJ yield. Whiteham Fireball White. Light red. Dark red. White. Dark red. Light red. Dark red. Bright red. Light red. 4 inoh. Tender. Tender. Fairly tender. Coarse. Tender. Tender. Tender. Tender. Tender. Coarse. 32 lbs. Improved Blood Turnip 4 ' 3 ' 4 ' 4 ' 44 • 3 ' 34 • 3 ' 4 ' 30 30 29 27 26 24 24 24 23 i New Intermediate i Philadelphia Turnip I Rennie's Globe i Albano or Market Garden i Rennie's Intermediate i Rawson's Arlington Favourite Crimson Globe : Extra Early Turnip . Several alterations have heen planned for the coming summer's work, and with the incorporation of these modifications, it is hoped that the results obtained from the competitive trials of varieties may demonstrate more accurately the relative merits and demerits of the several varieties under experimentation. The number of distinctive plots will be largely reduced, ])ut the varieties deemed worthy of further trial will be grown on a more extensive scale, together with a selection of the most promising -novelties of that or the preceding year. 1911 FRUIT BRANCH. 31 Not only will a greater number of plants give a more accurate average of the true merits of any one variety, but they will facilitate the very necessary work of be- coming intimately acquainted with the characteristics of the variety. Moreover, sufficient product can thus be obtained at one picking to enaJble an individual canning test to be made of each. With regard to this last feature of the experimental work, it is interesting to note that the variety of tomato, known as Earliana, gave excellent results in the canning test, despite tlie fact that this tomato is considered of little use for can- ning purposes. PLANT BREEDING. A. J. LoGSDAiL, Jordan Harbor. The progress during the past year in the work of plant breeding and selection has largely cansisted in extending the possible utility of this phase of investigation, and increasing the number of plants with which to carry on future selection. A bed of about 3,000 seedling strawiberries fruited for the first time. A careful record was made of each plant, the following data being noted, with regard to blossom: Sex — Whether pistillate or bisexual. Size — Quantity of pollen, date of first blossom, full blossom, last blossom, and whetlier the blossoms were numerous or otherwise. With regard to the fruit: Size, shape, color, iiavoir, texture (whether firm or soft), the position of the fruit (whether recumbent or semi- erect), and the dates of first fruit, main crop, and last fruit. Several other factors were noted with regard to the foliage, seeds and runners. This work will be carried on with the same plants for another season, and similar data will be collected from the progeny of these plants; by so doing it is hoped that some valuable information may be obtained regarding the transmitabil- ity of the characters of strawberries. Several plants of definite types were selected for further breeding and imp.ro vement, and a large number of seedlings (aibout 12,000) were propagated from the most promising strains. These plants are all grown in the hill system, and I will briefiy explain the reason this system is followed, because commercial practice of growing the plants in -a matted row is the method more generally adopted. A number of strawberry plants raised from seed will show great variation and a general tendency to revert to more primitive types. Occasionally one plant will appear developing characteristics which are of significant commercial value and warrant retention. The hill system enables each plant to form a hill of runnen very similar to itself, without intermingling with either poorer or better forms. The poorer plants are then destroyed, and those that are considered of sufficient value for further selection are retained and multiplied until a sufficient number of runners have been produced for planting in a matted row and testing beside standard varieties. The second reason is to facilitate the work of selection. A plant growing under such conditions will develop its individual characteristics to a more marked degree than when grown in a matter row, and is thereby more easily distinguished from the surrounding plants of inferior strain. The plant breeding work with tomatoes has been divided into two main divisions. The first comprises the cross breeding of standard varieties, with the object, firstly, of obtaining a meaty, early bearing fruit suitable for canning pur- 32 REPORT OF No. 33 poses, and, secondly, an early bearing, high quality, tomato, with a skin sufficiently tough, to recommend it as a fruit for long distance shipments. The second phase of this branch of the work consists in testing selected strains of Earliana, of which we now possess five distinct types. The Central Experiment Farm Strain has so far given the most satisfactory results, yielding a heavy crop of smooth fruit, earlier than the other types. This strain has heen selected for a number of years, and is now fairly established, as evidenced 'by the fact that seed of our own saving from this strain the previous season proved equally as good as seed procured the same season from Ottawa. Investigation is also heing carried on with regard to the transmitaibility of the characteristics of this fruit. With this object in view several varieties possessing An up-to-date peach orchard near Winona. certain clearly distinguish able features were self-fertilized during the season of 1909, and last year, 19 10,. were crossed with each other. The seed of these hybrids will be grown this year, and records taken of the features of each plant;. A number of seedling peaches, apples, and grapes will he planted in orchard and grapery this spring. Seedlings of peaches and grapes, procured at later dates, are making s^atisfactory progress. With regard to grapes, a numlber of crosses were made hetween varieties of the European Grape {Vitis Vinifera), with grapes of American origin, as Concord and Worden (Lahrusca), and grapes of hybrid origin. Wilder and Lindley (Lahrusca X. Vinifera), with the object of obtaining a sweeter grape, more nearly approach- ing the V. Vinifera type, yet of sufficient hardness to withstand climatic conditions, and a growth typical of the American species, and capable of withstanding the attack of mildews. 1911 FRUIT BKANCH. 33 EXPERIMENTAL WORK WITH BEANS. At the request of the hean growers of the Western Peninsula the Department undertook to conduct some special experiments with this crop on the farm of Mr. Matthew Wade, of Morpeth, in Kent County. There seemis to have 'been a falling off in the production per acre, and the growers differed as to the causes, some be- lieving it to be due to attacks of insect pests or fungous diseases; seme to lack of vitality in the seed, while others felt that some special mineral element was be- coming exhausted in the soil. Seed was imported from some of the best bean dis- tricts in the United States, but as a result of the experiments did not show any improvement over selected Ontario seed. The experiments will be continued for some time, and it is hoped that the problems presented by the growers will be solved. In connection with the work an Ontario Bean Grrowers' Association has been organized, with David Wilson, Morpetli, as secretary. The aims of the Association are to advance the bean growing industry in every possible way through co-opera- tion with this Department, and by the offering of prizes for the hest iields of grain in the western part of the Province, where the hulk of the crop is how grown. In this connection the various township and county councils have given liberal prizes, while the expenses in connection with the judging have been borne by the Depart- ment of Agriculture. The acreage devoted to this crop in Ontario, as given by the last Dominion census in 1901, shows 42,013 out of a total of 46,445 acres for the Dominion of Oanada. The production in bushels was 765,818 for the Province, as compared with 856,720 for the Dominion. Of these totals the Counties of Kent and Elgin have an acreage of 33,470, and a production of 636,536 bushels, practically con- trolling the m'arket. Most of the work, therefore, will be carried out in these two counties. LAKE HURON FRUIT EXPERIMENT STATION. A. E. Sherrington, Walkerton. The spring of 1910 opened very early. The weather during March was as warm as June, the temperature at times being 80 deg. F. in the shade. This warm weather induced rapid growth, resulting in serious damage to foliage and bloissom by the cold, wet spell which immediately followed. This cold, wet spell continued right ttirough the blooming period, causing a total failure of the apple crop throughout this district, especially in old orchards. Golden Russets suffered the most. The frost-damaged leaves appeared to be all the more damaged by a fungus which stripped them of almost all their leaves. In the young experimental apple orchard we had quite a crop of apples. Transparent, Duchess, Wealthy, Peter, Salome, Ben Davis, and Mcintosh gave the largest yields. We again undertook to test the commercial lime-sulphur and Bordeaux mixtures as fungicides. For this purpose the orchard was divided into two parts. Lime-sulphur wais used at a strength of 1 to 40, with the addition of 2 pounds of arsenate of lead. The Bor- deaux was used at a strength of 4 pounds copper sulphate (bluestone), 6 pounds Jime and 2 pounds arsenate of lead to 40 gallons water. The first spraying took place just before the blossom buds opened. May 3rd, with Bordeaux in one part and lime-sulphur used in the other on May 6th. The next spraying was done June 3rd, just after all the blossoms had fallen. The third spraying took place from ten 3 F.B. 34 REPORT OF No. 33 days to two weeks later. The results were very satisfactory. The apples in the young orchard were clean and free from worms and a good crop. What few apples there were in the old orchard were clean and free from worms. I cannot see any difference in the results of lime-sulphur versus Bordeaux as a fungicide. The lime- sulphur is less trou'blesome to prepare and more easily applied. Arsenate of lead is a much more superior insecticide than Paris green, 'both for fruit trees and potatoes. Fungi. Fungous diseases were not nearly as prevalent this season as usual, excepting on the apple leaves that were damiaged by frost. Insects. Orchard insects were conspicuous by their absence. A few codling moths were seen, but did little damage. June bugs were very scarce this season, and it is to be hoped they never appear again. Apples. As stated in general notes the apple crop was about a total failure here, ex- cepting the young orchards, which did not seem to be affected by the blight, as it is called. There is not as much activity in planting here as in some districts, still quite a few good orchards are being planted, mostly from five to ten acres. The variety that is being planted is the 'Spy, and I should not advise the planting of many of any other variety in this district. Pears. Pears are not grown extensively in this district. Although the orchard has been singularly free from blight this year, and despite the fact that it ha® thrived more this year th^an heretofore, very little fruit has been harvested. Clapp's Favorite, Bartlett, Lawrence, Josephine and Bartlett Seckel are about the best varieties. Plums. The plum crop was good this season, of excellent quality and sold for high prices. We had very little rot, a few varieties, such as Victoria and Gueii, being the most subject to this disease. The plums were sprayed mth either copper sul- phate at the rate or 2 to 3 lbs. to the 40 gallons of water or Bordeaux just before buds burst; the next sprajdng just before the blossoms open, and the third soon after the blossoms fall. The third spraying is applied when the fruit is about half grown. Bordeaux was used at all of these sprayings. Under this method we do not have much loss from rot. All European varieties have succeeded very well here. The Japan varieties have failed, except the Burbank. Another one or two hundred trees will be planted next spring, consisting of the following varieties : Quackenbos, Bradshaw or Niagara, Shippers Pride, H. R. P. Egg, Monarch, Grand Duke, Reine Claude, and German Prune. Our system of pruning plumsi has been the removal of any limbs that may be crowding or crossing one another, keeping the trees moderately thin and heading back all previous seasons^ growth from one-third to two-thirds. This gives us a strong, stocky tree. Cherries. Cherries, like the apples, were very scarce ; in fact, a total failure. However, the orchard is doing fine. The Yellow Spanish, Early Richmond and Montmorency 1911 FRUIT BRANCH. 35 are the best varieties. Windsor is doing better now than heretofore. The system of pruning cherries is simply to keep the trees from getting too thick. Very little pruning is necessary after the trees commence to bear. Raspberries. The crop of raspberries was not as heavy thiis season a® a year ago, mostly owing to the canes being broken down by the snow and the dry weather during the fruiting season. The quality was excellent and prices good. Another acre was planted to red raspberries this laist spring. The demand for raspberries has in- creased greatly the kfst year or two, and should prove a profitable crop. The varieties grown are Marlboro', the first to ripen; Herbert, next in season, and Cuthbert, the best of all. Cuthbert is still our favorite. It is a strong grower and good cropper and a first-class shipper. The Herbert is doing well. It is the heaviest yi elder and the fruit is very large, but rather soft for distant markets, but the demand is still for Cuthberts. Marlboro' is doing better with us now than formerly, possibly because it is on higher land. Very few blackcaps are now grown — only about 600 plants in all. Conrath and Hilborn are t^vo varieties and are planted in rows six feet apart, thoroughly cultivated and fertilized with barn- yard manure and wood aishes. Blackberries. The blackberries are all discarded as unprofitable in this district. Currants. We have aibout 35 varieties of red and black currants and about 1,000 bushes in the plot. The crop of red currants was good, but blacks were rather light, although of good quality. Shallow cultivation is practiced here for all small fruit, the currants are well manured and pruned once a year. Our best -varieties of reds are: Cherry Fays, Wilder, Pei'fection and Prince Albert. Blacks: Champions and Naples are the best. We have sixteen varieties of Dr. Saunders' hybrids, quite a number of which are very promising. Gooseberries. We have somewhat over 1,000 bushes of gooseberries. The crop this year was not quite as heavy ais usual, but the quality was good and prices fair. About six- teen varieties are grown, but the standard commercial sorts are Downing and Pearl. The English varieties here are very susceptible to mildew. The lime and. sulphur, in some cases, has helped to keep it in check, but not wholly so. Strawberries. We have now four acres of strawberries and about twelve varieties under test for next year. The crop was light this season owing to dry weather during tlie fruiting season. Brandywine, Williams and Glen Mary have been our most pro ductive and profitable varieties. .-..Mi! .ijirv; REPOET OF No. 33 SOUTH WESTERN FRUIT EXPERIMENT STATION. J. L. HiLBORN, Leamington. The season of 1910 was a very favorable one in moist respects for this district. The chief exception being an unusually severe hailstorm on August 10th, which did great daimage in some sections, and as this station was in the midst of the affected district it got its full share. Up to the date of this storm the season gave promise of being one of the best ever known here, for most crops. As the storm was the most severe ever witnessed by anyone whom I have heard express an opinion on it, much damage was done in the small area where its force was most severe. In the winter of 1909 and 1910 we had ^a good fall of snow early in the season, which w/as well distributed, and kept the land well covered through the winter, a-s a result of which fruit bushes and trees came through the winter in excellent condition. The month of March was unusually bright and warm, so much so that the fruit buds, particularly on the peach trees were much swollen before any one was ready for spraying. As the San Jose scale has become quite troublesome here' all fruit growers worthy of the name spray regularly every spring for that pest. As I was not well satisfied with the Commercial brand of lime sulphur used in 1909, I resolved to do my own manufacturing in 1910, but before any spraying materials could be secured £he fruit buds on the peach trees had become quite large, so much so that I feared it was too late for the control of the curl leaf. However we made a rush at it as soon as material could be secured, and as the Elberta is so readily affected by the curl, we sprayed these first, and gave them a thorough application, with the result that the curl was completely controlled on these and all other trees on the Station farm, except in a few cases where the work was not as thoroughly done as it should have been, owing to the necessity for haste on account of the buds de- Vveloping so early. Results of the past season were such as to add more proof (if that WHS necessary) to what I have claimed each year, that, the home boiled lime sulphur wash, the commercial solution or the vitriol solution, will entirely control the curl leaf, if it is thoroughly applied and done in time, say before April 10th in ordinary seasons. Peach trees of nearly all varieties that were old enough to bear, produced a full crop this season, but in this immediate vicinity the fruit was quite badly marked by hail, and albout the time that the first good varieties were preparing to ripen, we had a severe wind and rain storm which so swayed the trees that much of the fruit was again bruised, and as the weather continued damp and warm much of this fruit rotted on the trees before it was ripe enough to harvest. This happened with New Prolific, Engol, Kalamazoo and other of our very best varieties that were never known to rot before. About the time these varieties were all off the weather became cooler and fine, and later varieties ripened up in fine shape, but the quantity was not as good as in former seasons. At this station we have one block of peaches of some two acres planted to Golden Drop and Banner, with a few Engol and Kalamazoo. This block was planted in 1904, 15 by 18 feet apart, and has produced a full crop in each of the last three years. It has been headed back and thinned each season since planting and given good cultivation. The last two seasons much thinning of the fruit was necessary, especially of the Golden Drop, which was about one-half removed, but when harvesting the crop we decided that it would have been better had more been removed when thinning. , '^ CO [37] 38 REPORT OF No. 33 Still about 70 per cent of the Golden Drop (which is smallest of any) were large enough that three rows would fill the ordinary eleven quart basket. We secured this size, in spite of the fact that the bran<^hes of the trees meet either way in the rows, and that we had a very severe drouth through July which was not broken until August 10th. A good, thrifty growth was maintained through this severe drouth by stirring the soil about three times per week. As the straw mulch which we apply beneath the trees for winter protection, etc., covers albout 30 per cent of the area, and this directly labout the trees, all of the soil not covered by this mulch is easily and quickly stirred with our orchard implemients. It was very noticeable, however, that wherever a tree has failed and had been removed, those about this blank showed extra vigor and fruit was larger. As Ihese trees had produced a heavy crop three years in suocesision, and. well repaid their cost, we decided to practise some thinning; therefore we went over about 70 per cent of this block, after the crop was off, and removed e^ach altemiate tree in each alternate row. This was done by first cutting off the branches then by using a good team assisted a little by a man with a spade, the stumps were entirely re- moved, which will give the surrounding trees more root space. The alternate tree in the remaining full row as well as the 30 per cent of orchard which W'as left in one corner without thinning will be pruned more severely than the rest by de- horning a portion of each tree. By continuing this method for several seasons, we hope to be able to judge which is better, to remove alternate trees when too thick or thin by dehorning. So far as I can judge, from my own experience, an orchard planted at this distance and thinned out by either method, when it be- comes necessary, would yield much more fruit than one planted wide enough apart that the trees will have room enough when they are fully developed. Another block containing some two hundred trees (Banners) planted in 1907, sown to hairy vetch in 1908, which grew to a great size by late May, 1909, when it was plowed under, and this gave an immense start to the trees, and this season they produced three to five baskets each, of the largest and finest peaches I have seen of this variety, and again made a good growth. These trees are planted 16 by 18 feet apart, and some of the branches are meeting in the narrower spaces, although they have been cut back about one-third of the growth each season. This orchard was started with rather small No. 2 trees, and made only a moderate growth the first two seasons. The greater portion of the peach trees planted for variety test are growing well and some of them have borne a little, but have not fruited enough yet to report on. I have about forty trees of a new variety budded from a seedling grown in a Leamington garden. These trees are now three years, and they produced a small quantity of the finest peaches that I saw this season. This variety will be watched with great interest. Of the thoroughly tested sorts, I would name the following as the best seven varieties: New Prolific, Engol, Kalamazoo, Elberta, Banner, Grolden Drop, and Lemon. This applies to our sandy soil. Back from the lake where the soil is heavier, I would add to this list St. John, Garfield, and some others of the Oraw- ford type. I shall continue to mulch all peach trees with straw, or other coarse material, and several of my neighbors are now adopting that method. We have aibout thirty peach trees which were budded on plum roots that are growing fairly well. These are left without mulch, to test this hardiness should we get another severe winter. Poaches are again being quite largely planted in this county. 1911 FRUIT BRANCH. 39 Plums. Eighteen varieties of plaims were planted in 1907 for experiment. Only two or thre-e varieties have shown any fruit yet, and only one sort, Shiro, has shown enough to report on. This variety had consideraible fruit on it last season, and this year again each tree produced about six quarts of medium-sized, nice-looking plums of fair quality; bright yellow. The old orchard of Burbank plums on the Station Farm bore a light crop of very large, fine fruit, ibut as it was just beginning to ripen when the hail storm arrived, and the greater portion of the fruit was destroyed. Very few plums are grown in this county — not nearly enough to supply local demand. Blackberries. The varieties of blackberries reported on last season were all fruited again this season. The Mersereau was far ahead of all others this season as well as last year. Judging from these two seasons it is the blackberry of all others to plant here, being hardy, free from rust, of good size and more capable of resisting drouth than any variety yet tested here. We bad about two acres of this sort in bearing this season. It is less affected by drouth than any blackberry I 'have ever grown. Raspberries. Rasp'berries are but little grown in this C'ounty. For the past few years growers have ceased to cultivate them on account of the difficulty of securing pick- ers to harvest the crop. The few grown at the station for variety test bore a heavy crop again in 1910. They are mostly of the black varieties. Kansas did best of any again this season, followed by Hilborn, Gralt, and Palmer. Columbia again produced a large crop of purple fruit of peculiaT flavor, much admired by some and disliked by others. Currants. To my mind the production of currants has been much neglected for quite a number of years through this district, as a result of which this fruit is now much in demand, and not enough of it is produced to nearly supply local demand. About a dozen varieties are being tested hy me, most of which have borne more or less for several years. Some of the newer ones have only shown what they can do the one season. Prominent among these is the Perfection, which produced the heaviest crop of fine large red currants that I have ever seen on young bushes. If it will continue to thrive and bear like it did this season, it will eclipse all other sorts on this soil. Chatauqua, Wilder, Fays, and Cherry all produced excellent crops of fine large fruit. La Versailles produces a good crop of fine fruit, but the bush breaks down so badly that I would not care to grow it for market. Prince Albert gave a good yield on young bushes, but the fruit is not so large as most of the sorts niamed, it was latest of any this season, and should he valuaible where a late sort is wanted. Judging from experiment with red currants for the few seasons I have grown them, I consider that a plantation of the better varieties of red currants should be very profitable here, and in order to test and demonstrate it more fully, I intend planting out several hundred bushes to be tested in a commercial way, as this crop has been entirely abandoned by practically all growers in this vicinity. 40 KEPOET OF Xo. 33 White Grape gave a very heavy crop again this season of medium-sized fruit of excellent quality. Of the black currants, Naples produced the heaviest yield this season. Vic- toria produced a fair crop of large fruit. Champion was rather small this season, and latest of all to ripen. Gooseberries, Several varieties of English gooseberries are being tested here, but the plants were in very bad shape when received from the nursery in 1907, and many of them failed to grow. Those that grew have borne well in the past two seasons. The variety called Keepsake has outgrown all others, and bears a heavy crop each year of very large, fine fruit. This variety was by far the largest crop as well as the largest fruit of any. Whitesmith came next, followed by Industry. The bushes are sprayed every spring with the lime sulphur wash, and as yet have not suffered from mildew. Very few gooseberries have been planted for several years in this county, ^here is quite a demiand for the fruit in all markets now, and I think of planting several hundred bushes in order to test them in a commercial way, as it would appear from results with the few bushes in experiment that it would pay to grow this fruit in a commercial way. Vegetables. About the usual quantity of early vegetables were started again in 1910 at this Station, but the season was rather a precarious one, and while the total results were fairly satisfactory, they were hardly up to the average of previous years, which is accounted for by the fact that the hailstorm of August 10th was very severe in this immediate vicinity. No lettuce was^ grown last winter at this station, as our main greenhouse Wias entirely planted to carnations, which were not removed until the end of March, when the house was planted to cucumbers. As many who are growing vegetables under glass think they would like to grow carnations, I think best to sound a note of warning, as, judging from one season's experience, I would say : "Stick to the vegetables, unless you are going into 8 general florist business." While I had an excellent crop of carnations, even better than I had hoped to grow, I found that they required much time and care during August and September when we were very busy harvesting peaches. Another difficulty was that while a fruit and vegetable grower may have an excellent market established for these crops, he is compelled to seek other markets for the flowers, and I found that one growing only carnations has not the same chance to secure good prices as has the florist who has a full line of other flowers, and has more or less of an established market for such crops. As it was found that carnation growing did not fit in well with our other crops> we decided to labandon it, and are growing lettuce again this winter. Cucumbers. A® usual, all our space under glass, a^bout 11,000 feet, was planted to cucumbers just as soon as it could be cleared of tomatoe, melon and pepper plants, which were grown for early fruiting in the field. The cucumbers grown under glass are mostly set one plant in a place, about thirty inches apart in the row and trained upon a wire trellis, side branches are pinched off beyond the third leaf, except in some cases, where there is room, one branch is allowed to grow. An attractive exhibit of boxed apples at the Ontario Horticultural Exhibition. 1910. Well packed boxes from Ontario County, Ontario Horticultural Exhibition, 1910, [41] 42 REPOET OF No. 33 We seldom fail to secure a good crop, but to do so it is important to make the poll rich and to supply a liberal quantity of water after they begin setting fruit. We had a good crop again this season, for which we found a ready market. As the last half of the month of May and first half of June were so cold and bad for the production of cucumber plants, and those planted in the open early in the season throughout Western Ontario were mostly lost, I made a second plant- ing much later, and grew a'bout one-half acre outside in a warm location. These were kept well watered during fruiting time and produced a good crop. In order to produce a good crop of cucumbers outside, early enough to sell by the basket, it is important to har^e an early location well protected from the wind. I realized this a number of years ago, and erected a tight board fence eight feet high to the north and west, as there is a chestnut grove on the east, and the land has a little slope to the south. I have a'bout an acre in this location that is well suited for producing early crops of this sort. Water is supplied from a 180-barrel tank, which is fed from a well, pumped by windmill when there is sufficient wind at other times by a gasoline engine. Cabbage. We grew somewhat over three acres of early cabbage the past season. The seeds were sown in flats in the greenhouse the latter half of Febnuary, were twice transplanted while under glass, and planted in the field April llth to 13th, as the land was in good condition, and as good cultivation given (cultivated and hoed about twice a week) an excellent crop was secured. The varieties used were Jersey, Wakefield (Burpee's Market Gardeners' strain) and Pai'is Market. We have been growing these two varieties for several seasons, but are inclined to favor the former. While the heads are smaller, and hardly so early, it is a much firmer head, and the plant is more hardy. While we were a;ble to produce a good crop very early in the season, the crop did not sell well. As the weather was rather cool in June, both here and in the south, it favored the import- ing of caJbbages so much that all the larger markets were filled to such an extent that prices ran very low, much of it hardly realizing anything to the grower; con- sequently our extra early crop did not sell as well as did that coming in two or more weeks later when the market got cleared up. Tomatoes. About six acres of early tomatoes were grown the past season with satisfactory results. We find it important to have good plants grown from a good strain of seed, as it frequently happens that the difference in returns from these causes amounts to upwards of $100 per acre. I have been selecting a strain of Ear liana for a number of years, going over the field early in the season each year and select- ing only from plants that show a good type of both foliage and fruit by selecting the best fruits from the best plants every year. I now have secured a good, even form of plant and fruit, and a little earlier than any other that I have tested. A selection of the same variety from W. T. Macoun, C.E.F., Ottawa, appears equal to it, except for earliness. Excellent results were also obtained from seed secured from W. A. Burpee, called Sunnytbrook Strain. To secure good plants we sow the seed in flats in the greenhouse about March 1st, transplant three or four times, the last planting usually being made in cool frames, where they are given a space of six by six inches. Here they are given plenty of air for a week or so before removing to the field. 1911 FRUIT BRANCH. 43 As soon as they are planted out they are treated to ahout one teaspoonful of nitrate of soda to each plant, cultivated and hoed every few days, and thereby stimulated to grow as rapidly as possible. Musk Melons. The melon crop met disaster at both ends of the season in 1910. Aq usual, we started a lot of seeds in the greenhouse during the later part of April, which grew splendidly until after the second transplanting, and until they were nearly ready for the field. Then we got a spell of very cold, wet weather, which destroyed nearly one-half our plants, and most of these were rig'ht under glass at the time. I had never seen plants perdsh as those did, but all growers shared the same fate, some losing much the greater number of their plants. As many of the early plants were lost, later sowings had to be put in; but as the season was getting advanced by this time, thos« plants did not get sufficiently large to remove to the field until the end of June, and as a drouth iset in at this time, they did not do as well as usual. All growers agreed that it was most difficult to get a stand of hothouse-grown melon plants this season. On the other hand, seeds planted directly in the field late in May grew splendidly. In fact I never saw such thick, heavy growth of melon plants as we secured this season from seeds planted in the field, and they set a heavy crop of fruit which grew to a good size in spite of a severe drouth all through July. We bad begun to harvest a few melons from the earliest portion of the field in early August, when, on the 10th of that month a hailstorm descended with such severity that when it was over one could mot find so much as one half of a melon leaf in the seven lajcres, which had looked so promising just before the storm. The melons that were full grown and were about ready to ripen, continued to develop and ripened up rather rapidly, but the quality was not as good as it should have been. The later portions of the field were of no use, and the disc harrow was put on to fit the land for a fall cover crop. This hailstorm was severe only over a comparatively small territory. Where the storm was most severe great damage was done to the tobacco as well as other crops. Our soil and climate is such that in ordinary seasons the musk melon crop is usually a satisfactory one to grow, and usaially sells at satisfactory prices for good stock. It becomes more evident each season that the melons of best quality are what the miarket wants, and we as well as other growers are now growing many more of the better types than we did a few years lago. Such varieties as' Osage, Hoodoo, Rocky Ford, Fordhook, etc., are being largely grown now, and are prov- ing the most satisfactory to producer and consumer. Asparagus. Of the three acres of asparagus, all but one-half acre was in bearing this sea- son. The plants produced a heavy crop of seed in the fall of 1909. The following spring did not seem favorable to its growth, and only a moderate crop was har- vested. As the crop was generally light all over the country, the price was good, but hardly sufficient to make the orop as profitable as I had expected. However, the plantation is too young yet to produce a full crop, and as the plants were in much better condition at the end of the past growing season we look for a. better crop next year. 44 EEPOET OF No. 33 Peppeks. About half an acre of large sweet peppers are grown each season, and usually pay fairly well. This season they were just beginning to pick well when the hail etorm. caught them. This complete'ly destroyed all fruit that had attained much size, and also battered the plants to quite an extent. As the storm thoroughly soaked the land, which was previously very dry, a good cultivation was given as soon as the land was in condition, and the plants branched out and put on a very heavy crop of fruit, and as we had no killing frost until October 29th, a goodly portion of it was miarketed. To secure best results with peppers it is necessary to start the seeds quite early in March, giving plenty of heat to start the seeds well. We usually transplant twice while under the glass, and remove to a warm location in the field as soon as danger of frost is over. If given a rich soil and good culture they seldom fail to produce a good crop. VEGETABLES. E. E. Adams, Leamington. I have to report that seed selection has been made again in tomatoes, peppers, canteloupes and potatoes with some progress. Starting at this work in 1909, and making selections from the products of that year, and re-selecting again this season will, I think, give us a fair start for assisting in producing more uniformly better stock than the common quality. In potatoes I find some improvement in form already, and have hopes of considerable improvement in the future. In cante- loupes, I find even after one selection that there is a decided improvement in the netting which goes to make for quality and flavor, as I find melons that are well netted are usually the finest in quality. The selection for seeds as made this year siiould show a decided advance for another i&eason as the fruits were taken from individual plants of advanced type, that is, from. small plants of good vigor, and were very heavy, thick-fleshed and well netted and of good quality and flavor. Peppers as yet do not show any improvement, although individual plants are taken as types and seed from these plants carefully selected and grown for plants in the spring; all weak plants are thrown out, leaving only the stronger to go to the field. What is wanted is smoother and better shaped peppers and, if pos- sible, more productive types. Tomatoes are improving somewhat in shape and in productiveness. Earliana has been selected on my farm for some time, and we now have a type that is a very great advance on the earlier production. The present type is a very good sized tomato, smooth, and rough fruit almost none. This tomato has prOven the best money maker on the soils in South Essex of any that are now on the market. We even find it very good for green house use, producing very good fruits and in abundance. Other tomatoes under selection are Chalk's Jewel, Stoiie, Earliest of All, and Wealthy. The Wealthy has been selected for three years, and we now have a nice, smooth tomato, much superior to the first planting, with very few rough. Considering that this work hias only been commenced and that in some items an advance has been made, and with care in selection I hope to report next season a considerable improvement in all the stocks under test. 1911 FEUIT BRANCH. 45 ST. LAWRENCE EXPERIMENT STATION. Harold Jones^ Maitland. The season of 1910 has been very even in temperature and favorable for fruit trees along the valley of the St. Lawrence. The winter passed without high winds, with a fair covering of snow; the thermometer falling to 20 below on two days, Feb. 7, 11, which only lasted a few hours in each case. ^ Spring opened on March 28th with ploughing commenced. ' . j ONTftRib DEPARTMENT"' ftGRICULTURt COLLI NGWOOD BRRNCH - SIMCOECOUN^ tfrj '.•.-, Iltf 1 g2 m Exhibit of apples from Demonstration Orchards in charge of Fruit Branch, Ontario Horticultural Exhibition, 1910. April followed dry and cool, which was favorable for grain seeding and cul- tivation of the soil, but held fruit buds dormant and protected to large extent from frost injury. Fruit buds swelled and burst on April 22nd, when cool weather held them just at this stage until May 19th, when apple trees were in full bloom, with lowest temperature recorded during bloom of 42 degrees. Blossoms fertilized well and gave a full setting of fruit. The June drop was severe in some cases, but resulted in a crop of better quality, and relieved one of the necessity of thinning. The fruit matured rapidly and was ready for harvesting la week earlier than normal. The trees have gone into the winter in good condition, with well ripened wood and healthy appearance. Insects and Fungi. Insects were fairly numerous. On April 22nd the leaf buds were swell- ing and a few burst open. At this date I sprayed with lime sulphur (concentrate 46 EEPORT OF No. 33 lime sulphur) reduced 10-1 for oyster-bfark louse and green aphis, which gave good results, removing or destroying a very large percentage of bark louse, and entirely cleaning the buds of aphis. Blister-mite is giving no trouble as yet on apple trees in this section. May 26-28 — Sprayed lime sulphur, 30-1, just after blossoms fell. June 27-29 — Sprayed lime sulphur, 30-1, for spot fungi. Examination by actual count on July 29 — Sprayed Fameuse, 80 per cent, clean. 4 per cent. Codlin Moth. 8 per cent. Spot. Unsprayed Fameuse — 20 per cent, clean, 8, per cent. Spot and Codlin Moth. 72 per cent. Spot. Sprayed fruit grew to normal and large size with high color. Unsprayed were undersized, poor color, and there was a heavy drop before harvest. Cultivation and Fertilizers. A great many reports have appeared in the press during the past season about climatic conditions, insect pests, debility of trees, etc., causing the serious shrink- lage in the fruit crop this year. This is no new thing, but is only becoming more noticeable with the extension of our markets and increased demand at home. For years I have been considering this matter and watching results under varied conditions, such as I am able to obtain here at home and elsewhere. Do we realize that we are starving our orchards? What farmer among us would think of growing wheat in a field for twenty years m succession without manure? What would be said of one who attempted, not only that, but also at the same time tried to secure a catch crop from the same land. Yet hundreds of farmers are every year attempting just such a short-sighted policy. They try to grow apples and grain or hay on the same land. It has been estimated by eminent chemists that the plant food carried away from an acre of bearing apple orchard in fruit sold, and leaves blown away would be worth at commercial rates $207.45 in twenty years, or over $10 worth a year. Against this a fifteen bushel crop of wheat would remove in twenty years only $128.23 worth of plant food, or between $6 and $7 worth per year. A beariilg orchard makes annual demands upon the soil almost as heavy as a 25-bushel crop of wheat, not allowing anything for the yearly growth of wood. Remember, too, that an orchard makes no return of roots and stubble to keep up the physical condition of the soil; nothing but a few leaves and the seeds of somiei waste apples. Yet, when an orchard has borne a crop of fruit, and perhaps had a crop of ihay or grain removed the same season, we wonder why it should need a rest for a year or more. Bear in m;nd that a cropped orchard not only suffers a double demand on its fertility, but the sown crop is almost certain to deprive the trees of moisture, par- ticularly in the early part of the season, when an extra supply of it is most needed. A good orchard, well attended, is the most profitable branch of the average farm. It should be liberally fertilized and cultivated (if possible) in Ihe earl}- part of the season. It paj^s handsomely to do it. Do not starve the goose that lays the golden egg. From a careful record of sales made from the product of four acres of Fameuse planted in 1881 dated from 1894 to 1903, a period of nine years, I received an average net return of $S00 per annum, after pajdng all ex- penses of picking, packing and commission of sales, except cost of barrels. Since 1903, when the severe freezing of that winter killed 68 trees and se- verely injured many others, my gross returns per year have been : 1904, $298.45 ; 1911 FRUIT BRANCH. 47 1905, $651.86; 1906, $208.70; 1907, $949.45; 1908, $964.22; 1909, $580.40; 1910, $1,048.95 (not completed) ; or an average gross return of $671 for the seven years. These returns have been obtained by fertilizing regularly with cultivation and cover crops. I have some trees that have been under clean cultivation since 1896 without manure, and although they made good growth in wood until bearing age, they now show a tendency to short and feeble growth in the terminal wood with fruit undersized, poor color, and lack of maturity, but a good setting of fruit. In the same soil in sod pasture, I find poor terminal growth, less than one- fourth crop, undersized but good color. The same soil in sod, trees mulched with sawdust, barnyard manure and waste corn stalks, I find a medium crop of high coilor, that grades well, but too many undersized. The same soil cultivated from early spring to June 15th or 20th, with an annual application of barnyard manure during the winter with wood ashes or muriate of potash, and growing a cover crop of clover, or even weeds, gives a full crop of fine fruit that grades 80 per cent, to 90 per cent, clean, with high color, and good to large size. My results show that for the St. Lawrence valley the most profitable proce- dure to follow is to use barnyard manure at the rate of one load to 12 or 15 trees annually, spread on the snow in winter with shallow plowing and cultivation in the spring, until the 1st or 15th June, allowing the growing after this date of cover crops. , The next best results are by clean cultivation to the early part of June. Then a heavy seeding of clover with muriate of potash. Apples. The crop of apples in the experimental orchard was uneven. The appearance of the orchard is patchy, owing to many varieties being planted that were not suited to this climate, and are now dead or dying. However, a number are making fair progress and showing good points. Alexander maintains its reputation for vigor and hardiness, but too large a percentage of the fruit rots on the tree, making it hard to handle and cutting down the yield. Arabka, a hardy, vigorous grower, coming into bearing early, not of as good quality as the Duchess, season the same. Baxter is fairly well loaded every year, but never a heavy crop, a handsome fruit that sells well at top prices, subject to sun-scald and canker, which weakens the trees. Blue Pearmain, a very hardy, vigorous tree, slow to come into bearing, but gives good crops of high class fruit that commands good prices in January and February, keeps in ordinary cellars into March ; a -desirable winter apple. Gano gave a fair crop of high colored fruit trees showing sun-scald and can- ke(r; probably short lived like Ben Davis in this section. Gravenstein, top grafted, 1902. The first crop harvested this year; five apples, well grown and colored. King. Top graft, 1905; crop twelve apples, well grown and colored. Longfield is not desirable for the St. Lawrence Valley. The trees are very hardy, but a slow grower on account of its heavy fruiting quality. The fruit isl small, more like a cra.b apple — too small for peelins: and of poor quality. Unless heavily thinned it is not worth growing. Practically unsalable in the open mar- ket. This variety has been boomed by tree agents and sold in fairly large lots, rep- resenting the variety as a late winter of first-class quality. Work like this does more to discourage the fruit industry than any other thing. The stock can be sue- 48 REPORT OF ^ No. 33 cessfully grafted to desirable varieties suitable to the district, which would largely .overcome the harm already done. Mann is another variety boomed by agents and has led to much disappoint- ment. The tree sun-scalds and blights, and dies at an early age. Milwaukee continues to maintain its reputation as a business tree. It comes into bearing early, and the fruit commands fair to good prices and is in demand as a cooker all through January and February. The tree is a rather slow grower and will top graft successfully on Longfield without outgrowing the stock. Milding has now given several crops of large attractive finiit that keeps well into February; a promising variety that is well worth further trial. Tree vigor- ous and hardy, coming into bearing at about ten years of age. Fruit oblate, 3^ inches across the core; skin bright yellow splashed and streaked with bright red; flesh light yellow, tender, breaking, juicy, flavor, brisk subacid, good. Parlin Beauty, another apple of bright promise, tree vigorous, healthy, hardy, and promises to be a good bearer. Fruit large, 3 in. to 31/2 in., oblate, skin bright yellow, almost entirely covered with bright crimson dots partly obscure, numerous; flesh white, juicy, mild, subacid, with an aroma; core very small. A very attrac- tive apple and well worth an extended trial. Wolf River is a hardy, vigorous tree of spreading habit, giving a fair crop of large to very large handsome apples; keeps longer than Alexander, and does not rot on the tree to any extent. It sells well on the market ; a good show apple for decorating shop windows. With our standard varieties of world-wide reputation, such as Fameuse, Mcintosh, Scarlet Pippin, the intending planter will do well to carefully consider the merits of any other varieties before planting. Our study for a long time has been to grow a late winter apple with profit. We certainly can grow a long-keeper, such as Canada Red, Golden Russett, or BeUflower; but the light crops and some years only partly matured fruit places these varieties in the black list as unprofit- able. If in conducting variety tests in the station work we can find a hardy tree for our climate bearing paying crops of late winter fruit that will keep into April, with good size, color and quality, we would then have something that would rank with our Fameuse and Mcintosh as money-makers. Cherries. There was a medium to full crop of cherries. Montmorency produced a full crop of well-matured fruit. This is the best of all the varieties, and has given an annual crop for years past. English Morello comes second in yield, fruit of good size; tree and bud are proving quite hardy, and can be counted on to give an annual crop. Early Richmond has not done so well with me as the two above, and the fruit is more apt to be attacked by birds. Orel. The fruit is too small and too sour when compared with Montmorency. The trees also are showing weakness, and are dying off slowly. Ostheim has never been a success with me. The bloom has been injured sev- eral times when Morello and Montmorency have escaped. A very shy bearer, and fruit small. I cannot recommend planting this variety. Olivet is tender in wood and bud, and is not suitable for this climate. 1911 FRUIT BEANCH. 49 Pears. Flemish Beauty and Ritson produced fair crops of fruit. Flemish Beauty in cultivated orchard are all dead. One tree planted in sod appears quite healthy and bears every year. Ritson are breaking to pieces, and are almost dead; apparently not as hardy .as Flemish. The Russian varieties that are living are worthless. They bear some fruit, but it decays on tree before reaching maturity. Plums. Glass Seedling, thirteen years old, produced the first crop of plums in their history. The blossom bud came through the favorable winter without injury, and on three trees I secured five gaHons of well-grown fruit. Dunlop Seedling No. 53 (two trees), also gave a nice crop of six gallons. These trees are just coming to bearing age, and may prove of great value to the St. Lawrence Valley. The Americana plums set two years next spring had a few blossoms this year, but did not set fruit to any extent. Hammer, a variety that has borne annually for ten years or more, broke down and died this summer. Cluny gave a scattered crop. From present appearances the collection of Americanas planted in the springs of 1908 and 1909 will produce a group of value to this section; several of them show splendid vigor and hardiness. Strawberries. Plots came through in excellent condition, and the crop was all that could be desired in everything except length of season. Prices were good right through the season. Wm. Belt and Williams were the leaders. Wm. Belt, with its fan-shaped berries and excellent quality, commands a top price. Williams for the local mar- ket can be easly iharvested fully ripe and free from the green tip that is charac- teristic of the variety. Three W's is another successful variety, and should be given a place in every bed. Woolverton is a handsome berry and good cropper, but its mild, almost milk- likei flavor, is not popular, and is better left out of the varieties for market. Mrs. Miller has done wonderfully well with me, giving better crops, of large, bright red berries, flattened at the tip like Three W's, than many of the so-called best. Climax is another good berry. Plant healthy and vigorous, did very well. Sample and Splendid have not been quite up to the mark, but have given fair crops. Tennessee Prolific has always done well with me, and is a desirable variety to plant. Warfield is often a disappointment. It did well this year, but a drouth at picking time will ruin tlie crop. For a profitable plantation the following grouping will insure a crop almost any year: Tennessee Prolific, Miller, Three W's, Williams, Wm. Belt, Saunders. The early varieties hardly ever produce a profitable crop for the land occu- pied, with the possible exception of Haverland. Tennessee Prolific and Wm. Belt are only a day or two behind, and carry their pickings well through the season. 4 F.B. 50 KEPORT OF No. 33 Raspbereies. Herbert is proving perfectly hardy, and producing crops of well-grown, large- sized fruit. It is a vigorous grower, with large, healthy foliage, and produces well ; a very desirable variety for this section, where we have been hunting for many years for a hardy cane. All the varieties before tested have been tender and killed back more or less every winter, sometimes so badly as to destroy the whole crop. Cuthbert in the past has been the most generally planted, but the uncertainty of its coming through the winter without injury has discouraged the planting. Herbert now overcomes this difficulty. Older is the hardiest of the blackcaps, a handsome fruit and fairly prolific, but of a very sprawling habit. It makes quantities of tips and needs constant care to keep the row in line. Blackcaps have never been satisfactory, and practi- cally none are grown here. Currants. ♦ Red Ctirrants produced excellent crops of well grown fruit. Cherry holds its own against all comers, giving long bunches,' well filled with large to very large berries. Bush moderately strong, but some trouble with breaking down, under heavy snow. Raby Castle is also a profitable currant, with long bunch well filled to the tip with medium to small berries. Bush strong and vigorous. Fays is weaker in bush than Cherry and has not the vigor. Bunch short, sometimes only four or five fruits on it. Fruit large to very large, but has not been profitable. Wilder and Prince Albert are too late in season to be desirable; foliage is too heavy .and is very subject to aphis. The earlier ripening varieties hang to the bush well and give fruit of better quality all through the season. White Grape is very prolific, but the fruit is not in demand on the market and has never been profitable. Black Currants produced splendid crops this year. Victoria, Lee's Prolific and Champion have proved the best varieties so far. Champion, a moderate grower, fruit large to very large, subacid, moderate yielder. Lee's, fairly vigorous, fruit large, mild, subacid, a better jdelder than Champion. Victoria, strong grower, very vigorous, fruit large, brisk subacid and yields the largest crops of any variety on test and holds well to the bush. Gooseberries. Gooseberries gave a good crop of full-grown fruit. Golden Prolific is all around the best variety ever grown here; fruit large to very large; free from mil- dew, a strong grower and productive. Champion, a strong, vigorous grower, very productive fruit about the same size as Downing, but easier harvested. Downing, the old standby, produces well every year, apt to overbear and pro- duce undersized fruit. 1911 FRUIT BRANCH. 61 ALGOMA FRUIT EXPERIMENT STATION. Charles Young, Richard's Landing. The winter of 1909-10 on the whole was favorable, being comparatively mild for this northern climate, March being particularly so. This month and April are the months during which we sustain the greatest damage to our young orch- ards by sun-scald. Bright, sunny days, followed by hard frost at night, are very trying on the vitality of young trees. The losses from sun-scald last spring were very light. May was a cold, disagreeable month, and vegetation made little pro- gress until towards the end of the month. The bloom on most varieties was very fine, and the fruit set fairly well. June came in with dry weather, which con- tinued all through the growing season. Perhaps this was the reason for the ex- c^sive drop which continued all through the summer, or it might be from the imperfect fertilization of the blossom. On the whole, however, early apples, with A profitable strawberry patch. the exception of Transparent, were a very fair crop, much better than might be expected, considering the heavy crop of the previous year. Winter fruit was not up to the average, and was what might be called very patchy, there being no uni- formity about the crop — in some orchards a full crop, and in others almost noth- ing. The past season has caused me to somewhat modify my opinion of sod versus clean cultivation. Certainly those that were kept clean by surface cultivation had the best crop, the largest fruit, and the fewest culls. Field mice did little or no damage this year; it is only very occasionally that they are to be reckoned with as an orchard pest. Scab, notwithstanding the dry season, was more in evidence than I have ever seen it before; and I notice that where it was first seen a few years ago, it has been gradually getting worse, although some orchards are yet per- fectly clear. In my own orchard, in the portion set apart principally for experi- mental purposes, scab has made little or no appearance yet, although most of the 52 EEPOKT OF No. 33 trees are into bearing; while in the old orchard, planted twenty-eight years ago^ it would be impossible to grow clean fruit without spraying, which has not been done on the never planted ground except for aphis. They are only about 100 yards apart, but the newer ground receives clean cultivation, while the old part is only plowed up and cultivated once in five years. Oyster-shell bark lice are still getting worse, and if not taken in hand will soon ruin many of the small orch- ards; but I am pleased to notice that a vigorous war has been started this year against this pest, with results depending entirely on the method and persistence of the remedy. Bark lice and sun-scald are our chief trouble in- growing fruit in the north, but both are under our control if proper means are used. Just here on St. Joseph Island, where fruit growing is more of a specialty than in any other part of District No. 13, there is still much to be done, the difficulty being that. there are only a few who go into fruit growing as a specialty; the others as a sort of a side line, and grow enough for themselves and a few barrels to sell. I am,, however, pleased to notice that for the last few years much more attention and carie, with corresponding results, have been evident in this part of Algoma. I know very little about the extreme ends. Looking at the map, and beginning at the county of Pontiac, in the Province of Quebec, in the east, going west and north to an undefined distance, there is evidently plenty of room for experimental purposes. Adaptability will take time to find out, but judging from enquiries I have received there is a growing interest at both ends, especially from the Eainy Eiver and the Temiskaming Districts. The latter I know little about, but I can see no reason why ihe Kainy Eiver country should not produce enough fruit for itself, and small bush fruit to export further west. It is true a start was made some years ago at Dryden and failed, but a most unsuitable piece of ground was chosen to begin with, and besides when any undertaking is begun with the expecta- tion that it will turn out a failure it is quite likely to do so. Most enquirers state that they fear the extremely low temperature. " It sometimes gets 40 below zero,'^ they say. Well, it has done that here on several occasions without any bad result so far as the apple crop is concerned, provided the wood has matured the previous fall, with plenty of snow on the ground, and an absence of wind. I recollect one winter several years ago when 42 below zero was reported, and for several days 30 degrees below, but there was a fine crop of apples the following season. But I notice what may not be so apparent in more favorable climates that there is a great difference in the individuality of the same varieties, as well as in the quality of the fruit. This has been especially noticeable to me in the Fameuse group, and I strongly advise all who want to ensure the best success to top graft with scions of proved hardiness and quality. Nor is this all that is necessary; the stock should be also hardy. This may be done by raising seedlings from the very hardiest apples, preferably from a hybrid crab. Cultivate them well the first season, and then select the strongest for root grafting. Head the trees low, say not more than two feet for upright growing varieties. I cannot say that I have always succeeded in top grafting on an old crab stock; only sometimes a perfect union is made, but the scion outgrows the stock. Never use the water sprouts for scions, as the wood is usually not fully matured, and an inclination to sprout will be evinced by the top if it does grow. Now to sum up. Much depends upon the man. The fruit grower in the north: What is he? and What should he be? The fruit grower of the present is often a failure. Why? He knows little about his business. He intends to learn when going through his successful neighbor's orchard, but he has other things to attend to, and so puts it off until his trees are dead or may just as well be so. 1911 FEUIT BRANCH. 53 Then he consoles himself by saying that he planted them well. (So he did), but he found out that his ground was not suitable, or that the nurseryman cheated him. Nothing of the sort. It was the man (himself, and not the ground or the trees. The successful grower must first have a liking for his work, he must keep his eyes open to wliat liis neighbor is doing successfully in order to succeed him- self, he must understand something about the laws of nature, he will study the sciences that underlie his business, he will study his soil, he will have a knowledge of insects and fungus growths, he will know what varieties are suited to his soil, climate and market; he will be honest in his dealings. I know of such men, and they are successful. In regard to our market, this and adjoining portions of the mainland are exporting to nearby local markets many times the quantity of fruit they did a few years ago. We are always expecting to glut the market^ beginning wit^i strawberries and ending with fall apples, but somehow the appetite is keep- ing up with the production. For late winter apples we have nothing to compare with the Ontario-grown Spy. I am hoping that some just coming into bearing may partly at least fill the bill. Consumers are always willing to pay fifty cents a barrel more for local-grown fruit. They say the quality is better, and they ought to know. There is a bright outlook for fruit growing through this section, and more are making a specialty of this branch of agriculture. Apples. The apple crop this year was fairly good, except winter fruit, which was light. Charlamoff, one of the hardiest apples grown, has taken an off year. This apple has a slhort keeping season, but the market wants more of them. Transparent: Not quite a full crop, and small. Wealthy: Our old standby, good as usual, but dropped badly from the trees this year. St. Lawrence: Good; does not bear quite enough fruit to be profitable as some others. St. Lawrence can scarcely be called a winter apple. Peach: Profitable to grow here; hardy; quality good in its season. Longfield : This apple has been too extensively advertised. It is hardy, fruits quite young; of fair quality; rusts badly after being sprayed with Bordeaux; fruit too small to suit the market; inclined to overbear; needs thinning. Alexander and Wolf Eiver may both be classed together. Inclined to over- bear, then takes a few years to rest. Duchess: Always good, the most profitable apple grown. North Star: Follows the Duchess, and nearly as good. Astrachan: Good, enquired after. Liveland: Early September, hardy, good, productive. Low: Early, productive, resembles the Duchess, bears every year, fruit rots badly, hardy. Gipsy Girl : Quality medium, fruit large, hardy. Red Annis: Quality medium, productive, hardy. Brockville Beauty: Quality good, productive, hardy. Gideon: Quality medium, productive, hardy. Peter: Quality good, productive; resembles the Wealthy, but larger, and better color, keeps longer; very desirable. McMahon: Quality medium, productive, hardy. Shiawassee: Good, very productive, hardy, desirable. Snow: Very good, medium, hardy, productive. Louise: Good^ medium hardy. La Victoire: Good, hardy, productive. 54 KEPORT OF No. 33 Mcintosh: Very desirable every way; is being extensively planted; fruit clean where grown here so far. This apple is more sought after than any other. Can- not begin to meet the demand. Milwaukee: Not fully tested yet; cooking good, dessert poor, very hardy, winter. Hibernal : Very hardy, only fit for cooking. Winter Arabka: Quality poor, cooking fair, large, hardy. Scott Winter: Quality fair, not productive enough, medium hardy, fruit too small, winter. Baxter: Quality good, medium hardy, not fully tested. Gano: Quality poor, no use here. Black Ben: Quality poor, productive, hardy, keeps to spring. Tolman : Quality good for those who want a sweet apple ; this apple has been recommended as a stoc£ for top grafting, but it is too tender here; not desirable for the far north. These are some 1 can speak of wdth any certainty about. There are perhaps twenty others that have been recommended to me, which I am growing as top grafts, some of which fruited this year; but I prefer to say nothing about them yet. In past years we have depended on Wallbridge, Pewaukee, and Scott's Winter for late keeping, but none of these are satisfactory. Others not fully tried will, I think, turn out more satisfactory. Winter apples have never paid us anything like summer and fall fruit, and winter apples will have to be brought from the East for some time yet. I have tried to grow Spy, but with very poor success, and am pretty safe in saying that a Spy apple was never grown in Algoma. I have fruited Ontario, but the tree is too tender here. However, I am trjdng them again. Pears. Pears have never been a success here. A- few under exceptional conditions have done fairly well, but it is useless to grow them commercially. Top and trunk are both too tender down to the snow line. I had some promising trees up to the winter of 1893 and 1894, but that was too much for them. Nearly all started above the ground again, and this year had a little fruit of poor appear- ance. The Russians are quite hardy this year. Berrimankie had a very fine crop of large fruit and of a better quality than in previous years, but the keeping quality was no better; it begins to rot at the core before it is quite ripe; it is of no use for the market. I have several others supposed to be Russian not fruited yet, which are said to be of a better quality. Flemish Beauty and Idajho seem to be more hardy than the others I have; had the best success on rather heavy clay loam. I am trying to grow them more in bush form, with the top springing directly from the surface of the ground. A profitable market for Ontario-grown pears can be had here. It is mostly California fruit that is sold, of good appear- ance but inferior quality. CHERRIES. Were a fair crop; not quite as good as in former years, which may be accounted for by a three-days' rain while in bloom. While the demand is limited, there has never been enough grown to meet that demand. Sweet cherries are a complete failure, and there is no use trying to grow them. Even the Dukes are too tender, and only the Morello should be grown, and then not far away from the influence of a large body of water. Further back only the old Canadian can be depended on, which in appearance and quality is but a little behind the Rich- mond. The trees are short lived, but have a habit of reproducing by suckers from the root. The best way to grow them is to let them have a place entirely to them- selves, and thin out occasionally when they get too thick. Burbank Plums. Sweet Cherries in bloom, St. Catharines. [55] 56 REPORT OF " No. 33 Plums. This fruit with me has been both a success and a failure. Japan plums made a splendid growth until into bearing, when they began to die one after another, perhaps owing to the season to some extent. They were all on the peach root, which is I think a mistake when planted here. Another lot on the wild plum stock, Glass Seedling and Lombard, have all done well, and fruited for sev- eral years. Glass, although not what might be called a heavy bearer, has been very satisfactory. Pond's Seedling fruited this year. We have also a large and perfectly hardy Lombard inclined to overbear, needs thinning. Native Yellow of good quality, hardy, prolific and evidently of European origin, but which evidently escaped from cultivation and became acclimatized. An excellent plum, perhaps a little sweet for cooking, but good to eat out of hand. This plum is being propa- gated. I would like to know just what it is. Americanas are hardy enough, but they have several faults. The top is very brittle, and you are apt to lose half the top when loaded with fruit. The skin is thick and tough. Most of them are too late in ripening, and the color is against them in the market. So far I would prefer Glass to any of them. Those I planted were on the plum stock. Plums have been so near a success that during the last three or four years I have been getting from different sources a large variety. These have nearly all come to me without any name; some came by number. Several have frrfited, and so far promise better than anything I have had. They are all vigorous and healthy, with dark green foliage, large size; quality not quite as good as the best European, about equal to the Japans. It will be interesting to watch them as they come into bearing. Last spring I received from the Central Experimental Farm, Ottawa, the following: 1 Mankato, 2 Brackett, 1 Consul, 1 Fitzroy, 1 Tenny, 1 Omaha, 1 Gloria, 1 Oyama, 1 Don, 1 Swift, 1 Bixby. All are living, but made little growth, owing perhaps to the very dry summer. Grapes. As my object principally was to find what varieties were hardy and suited to the soil and climate, perhaps I have not paid sufficient attention to this fruit. Last fall I pruned, laid down and carefully covered up the vines. Result, a fine crop of fruit, large in the bunch and individual berry, and of a much better quality than formerly. Delaware and Campbell's Early were especially fine. Other varieties colored up nicely, but were inferior to eat. With a little care and winter protection in a favorable season I would not be afraid to compete with Southern-grown grapes at the price they are on the market here. Green Mountain was especially good. Concord ripened, but was not quite up in quality, although better than usually put on the market here. There is too much immature fruit sent West, which naturally lessens the demand. Raspberries. Cuthbert was a failure again this year. I have never had but one good crop. I notice they do best with a full northern exposure. Perhaps that helps to ripen the wood better in the fall. Brinkles Orange, which I have always recommended as the best berry for home use, but too soft to ship, I discarded last spring. A few canes were overlooked, which bore such a fine crop that I intend to try them again. Herbert, of which I received twelve plants for experiment last spring, I have never fruited. Marlboro and Louden did well as usual, not much demand for this fruit here. The wild fruit is plentiful. Currants. Both red and black currants as usual were a fine crop, and taking the labor into consideration, equal to strawberries. The large berries take the eye on the market, but I do not say that they are more profitable to the grower. The demand for white is limited. So far there has not been enough grown to fill the demand, but they are being more extensively planted. A strong, retentive soil, plenty of manure, and frequent renewal of the bearing wood meet about all their 1911 ■ FEUIT' BRANCH. 57 requirements. A moderately heavy clay soil with a full northern exposure is de- sirable. Gooseberries. Were as usual a very fine crop. Eleven varieties tested for the first few years. Pearl rather out-yielded any of the others. Since then Golden Prolific and Champion have be€n ahead of any of the others, Red Jacket coming in third, followed by Industry and Pearl. I have grown gooseberries for over twenty years here, and only once have I seen the English berry affected with mil- dew, and then it was only on the leaf. I have never grown enough, the difficulty is getting pickers to handle them. Strawberries are the crop we expect to take most money from. They are grown quite extensively here, and the market is fairly supplied with fresh fruit. I am not prepared to particularly recommend any one variety, as much depends on the soil and season, but the demand here is for a large berry, clean and fresh. The old Wilson would be thought too small, and would not sell like the Glen Mary. The early crop last season suffered somewhat from dry weather. After the rain the crop was good, but not up to some previous years. I do not cover in the fall, but find it necessary to use a fine tooth cultivator between the rows twice in the spring to loosen the surface and conserve the moisture. Formerly only one crop was taken off and the ground plowed, now I take two, and find it better. By having the land perfectly clean and keeping it clean the second crop may be as good as the first. I am trying three-quarters of an acre for 1911 for a third crop as an experiment. Bubach was possibly the best berry this season. Recommended for the North. Apples. Summer — Yellow Transparent, Charlemoff, Duchess, Peach, North Star. Fall and Early Winter — Wealthy, Mcintosh, Winter St. Lawrence, Wolf River, Baxter, Louise. Late Winter — ^Walbridge, Scott Winter, Pewaukee. Crab — Whitney, Hyslop, Isham, Florence. Cherries. If near the influence of the water, Richmond, Montmorency, English Morello, Orel 25, Ostheim. Plums. European — Glass, Lombard, Goliath, Early /Red, Trabesh, Pond Seedling. Americana — Cheney, Wolf, Hawkey e, Stoddard. Grapes. Moore's Arctic, Campbell Early, Winchell, Delaware. Currants. Bed — Versailles, Red Dutch, for quality; Black Victoria, Saun- ders, Champion. Gooseberries. Golden Prolific, Champion, Industry, Red Jacket. Raspberries. Bed — Marlboro, Louden. White — Brinckles Orange for home use only. [58] 1911 FRUIT BEANCH. 59 ORCHARD SURVEY OF NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY— PART I. H. K. Revell. Purpose. This work consists of a systematic inspection of orchards. Its purpose is three-fold, viz: 1. To study the effect of the geologic and soil characters upon the orchard conditions. 2. To collect for comparison data upon the different methods of soil manage- ment. 3. To try to arouse a greater interest in orcharding. This last purpose is perhaps the most important. Many men were met who seemed anxious to learn, but were too busy to leave their farms to attend the long or short courses in Hor- ticulrture which are held at the various colleges. Some of these men will keep the orchard surveyor busy for an hour or more answering pointed questions. Others there are who appear quite indifferent, but become quite enthusiastic when their attention is drawn to a few of ithe results of modem orcharding. Method. In company with Mr. French I was sent to Northumberland County to carry on this work. We first made a preliminary survey of the country, to determine the relations of the townships to one another, and learn where the majority of the orchards were located. This was accomplished by a rapid drive over the territory. A systematic inspection of the orchards was then commenced by driving up and down the side and concession lines, stopping a/t most of the or- chards. At first nearly all orchards of an acre and upwards were visited, but as the work progressed it was found necessary to miss the smaller orchards. When Hamilton Township was completed, we found that the average size of some two hundred orchards was about five and one-half acres. A complete record of every orchard could not be obtained, but sufficient information was collected to enable one to form a very fair idea of the general management of the orchards. The figures are not the results of bookkeeping, but are estimaltes by each owner of his yields and returns. While some are too high, others are too low, so that the aver- ages obtained are reliable. Just here, I might say, that we are greatly indebted to the farmers, of whom nearly nine hundred were visited, for the courteous man- ner in which they received us and their willingness to aid us in our work. Geography. Northumberland County lies on the north shore of Lake On- tario, bounded on the west by Durham, on the north by Peterborough, and on the east by Hastings Counties. Its western and eastern boundaries are, respectively, sixty-five and one hundred and four miles east of Toronto. It has a total area of seven hundred and four square miles. There are nine townships and some sixty towns, villages and post offices. Cobourg, the county seat of the united counties of Durham and Northumberland, is the chief town, with a population of over 5,000. In Alnwick there are some five or six square miles in Indian reservations. Rice Lake, which lies between Peterborough and NortEumbrland, has an area of twenty-seven square miles. Topography. The territory travelled is very hilly and a more picturesque country one could hardly wish for. It is fascinating, indeed, to stand upon any one of the innumerable hills and study the panorama. In many places hill after hill may be seen rising one behind the other, their sides, summits and the valleys between frequently being covered with woods. Here and there on the cleared areas are dotted the farm buildings, with their orchards, some small and others quite large. HAMILTON VIII Lake OnTario [60] HALDIMAND LaKe Ontario [61] G2 EEPORT OF No. 33 Following the lake shore is a strip of low, more or less flat, land of varying 'width, sometimes as much as five miles wide. North of this strip the land is of a onO'St uneven contour. Rising rapidly from the lake shore where the elevation iabove the sea level is about 245 feet, some points in the country are quite high. In Hamilton township, following the line of the old Cobourg and Peterborough Railway, which ran about twenty-five or thirty years ago, an elevation of some 879 feet in the seventh concession is attained. It then descends till Rice Lake is reached, where the water stands at a level of 616 feet. A portion of this road was built on a grade of 1.6 per cent. On the line of the old proposed Cobourg, North- umberland & Pacific Railway, which was surveyed north-easterly from Cobourg through Seymour Township to the Central Ontario Railway and Canadian Pacific Railway junction in Hastings County, an altitude of 958 feet in the sixth con- cession of Haldimand is attained. The line then descends to the Trent River in Seymour, where the elevation is 400 feet. It again ascends ffco the townline of Seymour and Hastings, which has an altitude of 537 feet. Swamps. About 7.5 per cent, of the assessed area for 1908 is classed as ^^ Swamp, marsh or waste land." There are numerous small swampy patches, but the main swamp is in the northern part of Brighton and Murray Townships. This great swamp extends along that part of the Trent River known as Percy Beach for about six or seven miles, and southerly into Brighton for some four or five miles. Drainage. The territory is well drained naturally, though there are many places which would undoubtedly be improved by underdrains. There are upwards of a dozen small streams and creeks, besides the Otonabee and Trent Rivers. The country has two general drainage basins; the smaller one is drained directly to Lake Ontario, the larger to Rice Lake and the Otonabee and Trent River. These are divided approximately by a line running from the western town line of Ham- ilton on the seventh concession, easterly through Carmel, Vernonville, south of Edville, through Hilton, and along the third line of Murray to Hastings. South Monaghan is bounded on three sides by water. Rice Lake to the souH w o bo <1 p. <5l ^ CM rH rH CO 05 1-1 CO t>- 05 k. ^ J :3 <§ W Izi bo O o 68 EEPOHT OF No. 33 Irrigation is often made necessary by an uneven distribution of the precipita- tion throughout the seasons. In the preceding table three western sections have been compared with Ontario. In all of these irrigation is practised, especially in the Okanagan Valley and in Southern California. In the latter case I have used the averages of precipitations from weather reporting stations in the heart of the orange section. Though apples are not grown very extensively in this section, it has been used to illustrate the uneven distribution of the total annual precipita- 'tion. These orchards are irrigated five or six times a year. As Northumberland is located between Eice Lake and Lake Ontario, the climate must be greatly influenced by these bodies of water. This is splendidly illustrated by a comparison of the meteorological readings taken Bit Toronto and Agincourt. The distance between these two places is less than fifteen miles, but as Agincourt is inland its climatte is more severe. This fact is verified by the fol- lowing tables. The most noticeable difference is in the temperatures, Agincourt ■ being much colder in the winter and much warmer in the summer. Table No. 5. Period of growth. Total heat unit received. Temperature of six hottest weeks. Length of growing season. Toronto .. Agincourt April 20— Oct. 25. April 15— Oct. 28, 10,983 11.666 67.5 68.9 187 days. 196 " • TABLE 6 AND 7— MEAN MONTHLY AND ANNUAL PRECIPITATION AND TEMPERATURES MONTHS Precipitation Temperature Toronto Agincourt Toronto Agincourt Tanuarv Inches 2.82 2.53 2.55 2.55 Inches 2.21 1.36 2.49 3.12 2.65 3.16 4.32 2.41 1.99 1.88 1.31 2.32 29.22 Degrees 22.6 22.4 28.8 41.3 52.4 62.6 67.6 66.2 58.6 46.4 36.1 26.3 44.3 Degrees 19.6 T^ehruarv 17.7 March 29.2 April 43.1 May 2.75 2.63 2.50 54.3 June 62.5 July 69.5 2.54 2.76 2.42 2.91 2.59 31.08 67.2 Sentember 60.4 October 49.6 Nnvpmber 35.7 December 23.3 The year 44.3 MURRAY VIII ()!)| 70 KEPORT OF No. 33 Winter Injury. There are many forms of winter injury to fruit trees. Tlie one most frequently seen was the sun-scald. This is nearly always found on the south and south-west sides of the trunks and main limbs. It is due to alternajfce freezing and thawing, causing the bark to split and fall off. Exposed trunks should be shaded on the soulth-west side during the season of bright sun and freez- ing nights of late winter. The heads of trees- should be kept only moderately thinned out, in order to avoid exposal of the upper surfaces of the branches to strong sunshine. Badly affected varieties would do better if top-worked on trunks of hardy sorts. The low heading of trees is also very helpful, as this leaves much less trunk exposed to the sun. A Northumberland Sand Dune. Root killing is another form of winter injury. This was noticed particularly in those orchards situated on low-lying, wet lands. The remedy for this condition is better under-drainage and proper soil management in order to prevent late fall growth. Varieties. All told, about sixty varieties of apples were mentioned, but of these not more than a dozen are being planted commercially. The following eight are those which were most frequently mentioned, their ratios of poipularity being also indicated. Many of the Tolmans were set to graft to Spys, but as at time of insipection they had not been grafted, they were counted as Tolmans. Table 8.— Most Popular Varieties and their Ratios of Popularity. Variety No. of times mentioned. Ratio. Ben Davis 841 699 489 411 368 217 163 157 5.35 Spy 4.46 Stark 3.11 Baldwin 2.61 Golden Russet 2.34 R. I. Greening 1.38 Snow 1.03 Tolman 1.00 1911 FRUIT BRANCH. 71 The varieties were classed according to date of setting. The following table shows what varieties were set in the different decades. Briefly summarized, only the winter sorts were set previous to 1870. Since then a preference for fall and early winter varieties has crept in with the additional plantings. The winter apples, however, maintain their lead. Table 8 is a summary of the settings of some thirty varieties for the five periods of time. In Table 9 the figures given indicate the numbers of orchards containing the different varieties. As definite Information could not be obtained in all cases, only those orchards where the date of planting was certain could be utilized. Hence, the figures are more or less relative. Table 9. Variety. Set previous to 1870. 1870-1880 1880-1890 1890-1900 1900-1910 1 0 1 2 6 0 6 6 0 1 6 58 42 43 73 0 1 1 10 27 0 9 13 6 2 5 55 63 100 191 0 0 3 0 4 1 8 4 0 4 0 4 4 5 10 3 90 8 3 2 1 3 1 10 54 0 1 1 0 11 0 11 3 3 6 0 1 0 1 5 0 2 5 11 51 4 48 40 23 18 0 2 1 0 1 1 13 11 17 6 0 1 2 2 2 1 1 4 7 15 1 2 2 4 17 0 1 8 16 3 7 72 74 43 38 0 1 0 0 7 1 3 4 2 1 0 0 4 2 0 1 19 23 11 21 11 88 89 74 115 2 4 12 23 167 3 20 15 8 20 0 3 4 2 10 0 3 3 12 28 0 0 0 2 8 Alexander . . . . Astrachan Baldwin Baxter Bellflower . . . Ben Davis . . . . Blenheim Canada Red . . Cooper Market Colvert Cranberry Delaware Red Duchess , Falla water . . . Gano Greening Hubbardston. . King , Mcintosh Mann , Ontario Pewaukee Russet Salome Seek St. Lawrence Snow, Spy Stark Tolman Wagener .... Wealthy Wolf River . . During the twenty years 1880 to 1900 there was a decline in the number of plantings of some varieties. Some of these continue decreasing, while others in- crease during the period from 1900 to 1910. This is significant of three points: (1) The early apples being unsuitable for export decreased, though some of these increased again with the advent of better shipping facilities and cold storage; (2) Those varieties which are unsuitable commercially have disappeared almost entirely; (3) Varieties subject lo scab decreased with the increasing prevalence of that disease from 1890 to 1900, but with the introduction of spraying during the past decade have again increased. But all through these periods Stark, Ben Davis, and Spy have rapidly increased — the first over 700 per cent., the second nearly 200 per cent., and the third over 50 per cent. Nursery Stock. Host of the nursery stock is secured from Ontario nursery 72 EEPOKT OF No. 33 men, though a little comes from New York State. Of the Ontario stock, the greater part comes from the nurseries in the Niagara Peninsula, very little being grown in Northumberland itself. The quality of the stock is very poor indeed, and almost nothing is being done by the farmers to secure first-class trees. The remark was noted on several occasions, " I know I sihould not have set them out." If these men knew the stock was inferior and yet accepted it, then they, and they alone, are to blame. Some have asked for legislation rto prevent substitution of varieties, and of inferior for first-class stock. But the most effective legislation lies in the contract which is drawn up between the purchaser and seller. Some claim that the farmers do not known what constitutes a first-class tree, but in answer to this we might say that they are nearly always able to distinguish the poor trees in their orchards. The majority of men seem to prefer to set trees three or more years old, believing that they are saving time. Though it has not been proved conclusively, most authorities claim that a one or two year old tree will in a short time equal in development an older tree set at the same time. If the younger trees are selected, the owner has better control over them in determining the shape and height of head. Some of the more noticeable faults of the stock were twisted and crooked trunks, crotchy heads, and lack of uniformity in shape and height of heads. These are faults which can be remedied most easily by the setting of one or two year olds, preferably strong one-year-old stock. Slopes. In selecting a site for the orchard the question is often asked, '^ In what direction should the land slope?" The results of surveys in New York State support the preference of some for easterly slopes. Our results, however, rather point to the contrary. We found so many orchards which were practically level that they also have been included in the table. The yields given are the average per acre for the last three years. Table 10. No. of orchards. No. of acres. Slope. Average yield per acre per year for three years 17 84.5 North to north-west 46.056 Bbls. 33 190.25 Level 42.936 " 112 678 South to south-east 39.676 " 22 114.25 West to south-west 37.360 " 20 193.5 East to north-east 26.633 " Note. — In all the tables the yields are the average for the years 1907, 1908 and 1909. Soils. " On what soil does the apple do best ?" is often asked. The answer generally given is that it will do well on any well-drained soil, table gives a comparison of the Northumberland soils. Table 11 (Soils.) The following No. of orchards. No. of acres. Soil. Average yield per acre per year for three years. 30 46 85 173.25 201.25 501.50 Clay Clay loam Sand loam 48.54 Bbls. 42.82 " 36.59 " PERCY [73] u REPORT OF No. 33 Distance of Planting. This question has provoked a great deal of discus- sion. Some claim that within due limits the farther apart the trees are, the more fruit each individual will bear, and therefore the production will be so much more per acre. On the other hand, there are those -Who say that the increased number of trees will more than make up for the lessened yield of each individual. The following table seems to bear out the latter contention. Table 12— (Distance). No. of orchards. No. of acres. Distance. Average yield per acre. 49 292.5 25 ft. X 25 ft., or less 45.07 Bbls. 28 • 147.5 31 ft.x 31 ft. to 85 fix 35 ft. 42.75 " 94 499.75 26ft.x26ft. to30ft.x30ft. 42.453 " 5 44.00 36 ft. x 36 ft. or farther apart. 33.406 " This table gives results in barrels per acre, but it must not be supposed that the results would be the same if they were figured on a basis of dollars per acre. Close planting gives a larger percenage of poorly colored apples, and consequently a lower price per barrel, and probably a lower price per acre. The distances recommended are 35 x 35 for large-grooving winter sorts, such as Spy; 30 x 30 or 30 X 35 for Ben Davis and similar sorts, and 25 x 25 or 25 x 30 for such as Wealthy. Orchards on Rented Land. Quite frequently we were informed by the farmers that it would not pay them to give their orchards any better care, because they themselves were "just tenants.'^ To ascertain what effect renting the farm and orchard usually had upon the orchard yields, a comparison was made of the yields from orchards on rented land with those on land which the owners them- selves were caring for. The following table does not speak very favorably for the tenant. Table 13.— Rented vs. Owned Orchards. No. of orchards No. of acres. Average yield per acre in barrels. Rented 13 222 109.00 1,304.75 1907 38.20 61.90 1908 20.01 35.46 1909 28.33 Owned 42.05 Soil Management. Under the heading soil management we have three gen- eral subdivisions, viz, : Underdrainage, cultivation and fertilization. These we will consider in order mentioned. Underdrainage. Very little underdrainage has been done in Northumber- land. Only 8.38 per cent, of all orchards have any underdrains, and not more than two or three are completely tile drained. In spite of this, however, a very small percentage of the orchards could be classed as poorly drained. It is well known that apples will not thrive on a wet soil. Scattered through- out the country are to be seen whole or parts of orchards on low-lying wet lands. Even the untrained eye will note the difference in the trees. Those on the well- 1911 EEUIT BKANCH. 76 (Jrained soil have a darker foliage ; they are also larger and freer from disease and insect pests. In many of the old orchards situated on the side or at the foot of a hill, there will be found places with the trees missing at the lower end, while on the higiher location all the trees are living and healthy. There is only one hypothesis to explain such a case as this, and that is the better drainage. To show the difference between good and poor drainage, the clean cultivated orchards having any artificial drains have been compared with the clean cultivated orchards having no drains of any kind. A large portion of thoee orchards classed as artificially drained have only one or two underdrains in a low comer, the remainder of the site being well drained naturally. Table 14— (Drainage.) No. of orchards. No. of acres. Average yield per acre in barrels. Artificially drained. Naturally drained. , 13 73 96.5 529.25 1907 69.98 52.73 1908 47.15 27.15 1909 35.91 31.62 In the preceding table only clean cultivated orchards were considered. Cultivation. Commonly speaking, there are three methods of cultivation in the orchard, viz.: Clean cultivation, growing of crops and sod. These methods have numerous variations in their details, but we shall only consider them in gen- eral, using for comparison the averages of the yields from orchards receiving as nearly as possible the same treatment, so far as pruning, spraying and fertilizing are concerned. Clean cultivation is generally recommended as the best method. Briefly stated, some of its advantages are, greater freedom from such insect pests as the apple maggot or Eailroad Worm and the Buffalo Tree Hopper, which are always more numerous in sod orchards; greater freedom from noxious weeds; the trees receive more benefit from the plant food stored in the soil, and the orchard has fuller control of the growth of the trees. Some claim they can grow better crops of apples in sod than in cultivated orchards. There are, of course, exceptions to all rules, but the following table shows quite plainly the results of different methods of soil management: Table 15.— (Soil Management). No. of orchards. No. of acres. Average yield per acre per year in barrels. 1907 1908 1909 Clean cultivated 34 23 180.00 86.25 18.80 Bbls. 56.81 48.81 41.64 Bbls. 42.34 30.19 33.03 Bbls. 50.40 Farm rotation 41.91 Sod 9 39.20 The orchards used in the preceding table were pruned, fertilized and not sprayed, for the reason there are too few sprayed orchards in sod to give a basis for comparison. 76 REPORT OF No. 33 The clean, cultivated orchards are also better than the orchards that are crop- ped. Some follow a regular system of farm rotation in the orchard, while others plant only hoe crops. Some plant the hoe crops as an inducement to cultivation in the orchard. To these men the orchard is a secondary consideration, their in- terest lying in the farm crops. It would be better for them to dig out the orchard so that the farm crops might receive the full benefit of the sunlight, moisture and plant food. In a section of country which has a severe winter such as Northum- berland, there is danger through the use of hoe crops of forcing growth too late in the season, which greatly augments the likelihood of winter injury. The practice of the best growers in Northumberland County is to spring plow as early as ground can be worked. Thorough clean cultivation is then given with spring tooth or other cultivator or with disc harrow every week or ten days if pos- sible and after every rain. At the last cultivation, which in an ordinary season would be between June 15th and July 1st, a cover crop is sown. This is allowed to grow for the balance of the season and is turned under the following spring. Bome of the best crops for covers are rye, 2 to 3 bushels per acre; rape 4 lbs. per acre; buckwheat, 2 to 3 pecks per acre; red clover, 12 to 16 lbs. per acre, and hairy vetch at the rate of 25 to 30 lbs. per acre. The men who crop their orchards think they are doing well to get two crops, while the land occupied by the clean cultivated orchard only produces one crop. But the clean cultivated orchard will produce a greater quantity of better apples than the orchard that produces a crop of grain in ad- dition. To illustrate this point, the best fifteen clean cultivated orchards which were pruned, fertilized and not sprayed were compared with the best fifteen crop- ped orchards, which were pruned and fertilized similarly to the clean cultivated orchards, and not sprayed. The average yield per acre in the clean cultivated or- chards was 77.54 barrels per acre per year, in the cropped orchards it was 44.48 barrels per acre per year, a difference of 33 barrels in favor of the clean cultivated or- chards. If these apples were sold at $1.25 per barrel, lihe clean cultivated orchard would produce $41.25 more than the cropped orchard. But the question may be asked, "Will not the field crop from the one orchard equal in value the extra apples from the other orchard? To ascertain this, we have used the market value of sev- eral field crops in Northumberland in 1909. When we divide the $41.25 by this price, we have the number of tons or bushels per acre that must be produced of that particular crop for the cropped orchard to equal the clean cultivated orchard in gross returns. This yield has been compared with the averao^e 3rield per acre in Northumberland for the past twenty-eight years. Table 16 co7.i tains some inter- esting comparisons: Table 16. Crop. Price in 1909. Fall Wheat... Spring Wheat Barley Oats Peas Beans Rye Buckwheat Corn (Husked) Hay Cents. 103.0 101.0 56.5 39.7 91.0 145.0 67.5 51.8 47.7 ,394.0 Average yield per acre for past 28 years. Yield necessary to equal value of extra apples. Bus. 22.0 13.1 24.5 32.9 18.3 16.9 15.2 24.0 63.1 1.14 tons. Bus. 40.04 40.84 73.00 103.90 45.32 28.44 61.66 79.63 86.47 3.02 tons. SEYMOUR k [77] 78 EEPORT OF No. 33 The average prices and yields used in this table were obtained from the 1909 report of the Ontario Bureau of Industries. Fertilization. So little commercial fertilizer was used that it has been dis- regarded in discussing fertilization, barnyard manure only being considered. The orchards were classed according to the quantity of manure applied, and in all cases they were clean cultivated, pruned and sprayed. The only conclusive evidence ob- tained, is in the comparison of the yields from the orchards which were poorly fer- tilized with those from the orchards receiving over six loads of manure per acre per year. The general conclusion reached is that the annual use of a medium quantity of manure is better than either too little or too much. The orchards re- ceiving over ten loads of manure per acre yearly, with one exception, have not yielded so much as those receiving from six to ten loads. This is probably due to the fact, that the heavily fertilized orchards made excessive wood growth to the sacrifice of fruit production. Had these orchards received a proportionate quan- tity of phosphoric acid and potash in addition to the nitrogen applied, their yields would undoubtedly have been much larger. TABLE 17.— (Fertilization). Orchards receiving per acre yearly. No of orchards. No. of acres. Yield in barrels. 1907 1908 1809 Average. Up to 5 loads 7 41 24 28 66.5 366.0 169.0 209.0 51.06 59.91 54.12 58.01 26.60 34.54 30.78 38.22 33.32 46.68 35.68 32.32 36.99 From 6-10 " 47.04 " 11-15 " 40.19 " 16 and up 42.85 Present Condition and Extent. Though there are odd orchards here and there of sour cherries, pears and plums, practically all the orchards are set to ap- ples. From the evidence gathered it seems that the industry in Northumberland, like that in many other favored sections, is thriving. But it must not be taken for granted that such is the case over the country at large. A few months ago one of our authorities was severely censured for stating that the apple industry in On- tario had declined in the past fifteen years. Though we have no figures for On- tario to prove this statement it is the only conclusion that one can come to, when after travelling the length and breadth of this Province, the number of neglected and decrepit orchards is compared with the number which are well cared for and in a flourishing condition. In this connection a few figures from the United States Census may be interesting. These show, that though the industry may be growing by leaps and bounds in the north-western States, it has, on the whole, rapidly de- clined. The average yearly yields in the United States were: From 1895 to 1900 inclusive was 51,619,000 barrels. From 1901 to 1905 inclusive was 44,480,200 barrels. From 1906 to 1910 inclusive was 28,063,000 barrels. In Northumberland the orchards are confined to a narrow strip along the ahore of Lake Ontario, and are chiefly in the eastern end. ALNVyiCK Vlf H-KR«v«ll j,- SOUTH MDNAGHAN ,C5 i^Vo. [79] 80 EEPORT OF iSTo. 33 The following table shows the number of trees and acres of orchard which were actually visited for the different townships and for the county: Table 18. Townships. 'Bearing. Non-bearing. Total acreage. Trees. Acres. Trees. Acres. Total No. of trees. Hamilton . Haldimand Cramahe . . Brighton . . Murray . . . Seymour . . Percy Alnwick .. Monaghan . Totals 27,840 31,796 47,021 38,255 49,480 1,900 7,805 1,095 575 618 955 849 977 35 168 22 (No orchar 26,768 29,939 35,246 34,035 49,090 555 611 786 727 1,034 1,130 1,229 1,741 1,576 2,011 36 277 22 lack of 5,100 109 ds visited because of 205,192 4,199 180,178 3,822 8,021 54,608 61,735 82,267 72,290 98,570 1,900 12,905 1,095 time.) 385,370 ORCHARD SURVEY OF NTORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY.— PART II. P. E. French. INSECTS AND DISEASES. Diseases and insect pests have, in many instances, done so much damage that they afford a great source of discouragement to many fruit growers. This county is probably as well endowed with those pests attacking the apple, as moist counties in the Province. The one very serious insect pest, which is not prevalent here, is the San Jose scale, and it is to be hoped that it will not get a foothold in this part of the Province. It is claimed that the scale cannot survive the cold winters in this section, but the writer found a few of the living insects on five or six trees, in a young orchard which had been out two winters. The nursery stock seemed to be the only source of infestation. The scales had not multiplied very rapidly, so that probably the cold winter had some effect on them. However, there is a pos- sibility that this insect pest might do considerable damage, if allowed to enter, so it is advisable to take every precaution to keep it out. In the unsprayed orchards, the oyster-shell scale has done a large amount of damage all through the country. It is claimed by many growers that this pest is not nearly as bad now as formerly, but many orchards were found this year, con- taining trees with the bark simply covered with the young, live insects. The apple canker is very destructive in all parts of the district covered by this survey. Many limbs, and in some cases, whole trees are dying. In many cases it has gained an entrance into the bark through injury caused by sun^scald. This is especially true with the high-headed trees, or those with an open habit of growth. Quite often it gains an entrance into the trunk through injury done by the single- tree. The codling worm, apple scab, and plum curculio, are doing the most damage to the fruit. The railroad worm or apple maggot was seen in two or three orchards near Smithfield. Blister mite was very bad this year in the unsprayed orchards. ' '^T^I^WMKIQSI^^U BK^V '-'' J££>fl . . ,■- ^'^^^^Bt ^Bp^nHhi JH ' ■'W.^^> I -^"igaBjH^^Hj RhImU| Xf, ' ■: ■■■■'' ^''^•^2f'/' ■ '''V "'*^!^B ^ ^ j:^* ^^^^Ij^^BHj te ^''' ^.'''*'^^v^'^^^I^B '*~.'^^S^' I'^tfn^ifi-- "vTS^*^ ^^^l^s* ^9 ^ p'' ■^" .' "* '»^"' ^^^ft*^^^BB^rii,Mi »i5^sR-'>r^S - -...^,:^-. . ,'': i^jiiiMMNMyE l^l^|sc~<« • ' '^^^^^^^h |^^a|4i "^ ^ '^ '# ' '^A^daSM MinuSl' "' '''^' * ""' ^^i^SH Hhk ?! \^f^S^M ^^^^Bi| ^4u^aE^M ^^^Hk' .^y^/^/^M ^HHf' ™K' G I'M'.. [81J 82 EEPOKT OF No. 33 The bud moth, cigar and pistol-case bearers, were bad, especially on the young orchards. The American tent caterpillar, apple aphis, yellow-necked and red-humped caterpillars, fall web worm, canker worm, were quite common in most sections, and doing considerabe damage. Collar rot is quite prevalent in some sections. Spraying. Spraying has been carried on regularly and systematically in very few sections of Northumberland County. A few of the more progressive fruit growers are becoming convinced that to grow fruit of high quality, they must combat the insect pests and fungous diseases. Throughout the county there is a very marked lack of intelligent knowledge of spraying and spray mixtures, and of the insect pests and fungous diseases affecting the orchard. Only a comparatively small number of the growers in this county, who are practising spraying, are doing it with sufficient thoroughness. Too many forget tliat one s];raTing, done at ihe proper time, does mach more good than two or three sprayings done at other times. Many are still of the opinion that it does not pay to spray, yet most of these men realize that they will soon have to do something. Only 30 per cent, of the fruit growers of Northumberland County, sprayed in 1909. Of these 3 per cent, sprayed three times, 44 per cent, sprayed twice, and 53 per cent, sprayed once. Bordeaux Mixture and Lime Sulphur Wash are the two principal spray mix- tures used. Formerly the Bordeaux was used almost entirely, but the Lime and Sulphur has been replacing it the last two years. Most of the growers who are using the Lim^e and Sulphur Wash are using the commercial brands. In spite of the poor spraying practice so general in the district, the following tables give conclusive evidence that it pays. In compiling these tables there were used, for comparison, well cultivated and fertilized orchards in every case. Very- few of the sprayed orchards were sprayed more than twice, and the cost of spray- ing did not average more than $5 or $6 per acre. The income given per acre is the amount realized on the tree in each case, the cost of picking, packing and packages, being deducted in those cases where the gross returns were given. Table 1.— General Results from Spraying. Average per acre. 1907. 1908. 1909. Aver, yield in bbls. for 3 years. Aver. income per acre for 3 yrs. 50 Cultivated, fertilized and sprayed.— 486 acres 68 Cultivated, fertilized and not sprayed,— 844 acres.. Bbls. 75. 52.7 $ c. 92 15 55 60 Bbls. 43.3 32. $ c. 58 80 37 15 Bbls. 47. 38.1 $ c. 68 10 42 75 55.1 40.9 $ c. 73.00 45.16 Table 2,— The Fifteen Best Sprayed Orchards Compared 'v^^ith the Fifteen Best Unsprayed Orchards. 3 years 3 years aver. aver. Average per acre. 1907. 1908. 1909. yield in income 1 bbls. per acre. Bbls. $ c. Bbls. $ c. Bbls. $ c. $ c." 15 Cultivated, fertilized and sprayed,— 116 acres 111.7 150 10 65.6 94 20 82.3 131 00 86.5 125 10 15 Cultivated, fertilized and not sprayed.— 63 acres — 87.4 101 55 52.6 62 70 62. 79 80 67.3 81 35 1911 FKUIT BRANCH. 83 Table 1 shows that over a period of three years, the 50 sprayed orchards gave an annual average income of $27.84 per acre more than the 68 non-sprayed orchards. In Table 2, the orchards were all well cultivated and fertilized. This table shows the value of spraying much more accurately than table No. 1, because in these sprayed orchards the spraying was fairly carefully done, while in many orchards used in table No. 1 the spraying was not done intelligently. Table No. 2 shows that the fifteen best sprayed orchards, for which figures were obtained, over a period of three years, gave an annual average income of $43.75 per acre, more than the fifteen best unsprayed orchards. TABLE 3.— Selling Price iof Sprayed and Unsprayed Fruit. 1907 1908 1909 No. of orchards. Sprayed .... Not sprayed $ c. 1 23 1 05 $ c. 1 35 1 16 $ c. 1 45 1 12 50 68 This table represents the prices paid per barrel on the tree, for apples from sprayed and unsprayed orchards. It shows that the fruit from the sprayed orchards brought 23 1-3 cents more per barrel on the average than the fruit from the unsprayed orchards. Note also that the difference in the price paid for sprayed and unsprayed fruit is gradually becoming greater each year. Every apple and pear orchard should be sprayed three times each year as follows : (1) Shortly before, or as the leaf buds are bursting. Use lime-sulphur, either commercial or home-made, corresponding to the strength of the commercial diluted one gallon to ten gallons with water. No poison is necessary. This ap- plication kills San Jose Scale, Oyster-shell Scale and Blister Mite, and helps ward off cankers, and apple and pear scab. (2) Just before the blossoms burst, use commercial lime-sulphur diluted one to thirty or thirty- five, or Bordeaux OVEixture (4.4.40) and two lbs. arsenate of lead to each forty gallons. This application is to destroy all early feeding cater- pillars, such as Tent Caterpillars, Oase-Bearers, Canker Worms, and Bud Moths, and to help against apple and pear scab and cankers. (3) Immediately after the blossoms fall, use the same mixtures as for No. 2, but the lime-sulphur need not be stronger than one to forty, nor the Bordeaux than (3.3.40). This application is chiefly to control Codling Moth and Apple and Pear Scab, but also helps greatly against Lesser Apple Worm and Plum Curculio. A fourth application may be given about three weeks after the blossoms fall, with the same mixture as in No. 3, but this is seldom necessary in Northumber- land County. Heading and Pruning. The method of heading and pruning practised by the fruit growers of Northumberland County is probably one of the first things which should be improved. The majority of growers prefer a very high headed tree, and in most cases all the pruning that is done to the young tree is the cutting off of the lower branches. 84 REPOET OF No. 33 By getting the tree young from the nursery, say one or two years old, and pruning regularly from the time of planting, one can shape and grow the tree to his own liking. Many of the best growers now prefer a low-headed tree. The advantages of low-headed trees may be stated to be, great ease in picking, thin- ning, pruning and spraying, and less damage to trees and fruit from winds. The low-headed tree is also more free from sun scald. Many young trees have died because of the long trunk exposed to the sun. They become sun-scalded on the south-west side and this gives an entrance for canker. Many growers object to low-headed trees because of greater difficulty in cul- tivating around them. Properly trained low-headed trees will develop ascending branches, so that the difficulty in cultivation is not what one would expect at first thought. The branches on the high-headed tree will often tend to grow down- ward, as there is as much light underneath as above; thus inhere is very little dif- ference in the actual cost of cultivation, and there is a great deal saved in the picking, thinning, pruning and spraying of low-headed orchards. Many of the fruit growers in this county do very little pruning until the tree is of bearing age. This generally results in having a large number of main branches. Then to get the tree fairly open the pruner cuts off nearly all the smaller branches on the lower part of the main limbs. This results in the fruit being borne on the ends of the main limbs; thus, all the weight is on the outer end^ and the branches very often break. It is also more difficult to harvest the crop. In some cases the grower, on finding that his old trees have too thick a top, has pruned all the centre out at once. This sudden opening of the centre has caused sun-scald and canker has entered with the resultant injury or death of the branches. Much of the pruning done at present is simply the cutting out of dead wood and suckers. Undoubtedly these should be cut out regularly, but it is a great mistake to think that this is the only pruning necessary. There are two seasons at which trees are generally pruned, in early spring when the trees are dormant, and in the summer shortly before the season of growth ends. One must become familiar with the fruiting habits of his trees before he is in a position to say which is the better time, as the spring pruning tends to make wood growth, while summer pruning tends to force the fruit buds. A large number of the orchardists in Northumberland County prefer June pruning and do not do any in the spring. Quite often many of these men have not time to get over nearly all the orchard in June, and thus much of it is left undone. It would be much better for these growers to do their pruning early, so that it would be completed before the busy season. Many growers claimed that they pruned "whenever the knife was sharp." The greatest trouble with this method seemed to be that the knife was not very often " sharp." It is a very good practice to cut out the small unnecessary branches at any time, but one should have a regular time to go over the whole orchard. Early spring is probably the best time to prune non-bearing trees. Older trees of a heavy bearing habit should also be pruned in early spring, while those of a very light bearing habit should be summer pruned. Thinning. The practice of thinning apples is practically unknown among the fniit growers of Northumberland County. The writer found only two growers in the county who were practicing it, and these were doing it on only a very small scale. Many of the growers think that it does not pay to thin ; others claim that 1911 FRUIT BRANCH. 85 they can dp all the thinning required by pruning. To a certain extent pruning is a method of thinning, but it will not take the place *of thinning entirely. Experi- enced orchardists have found that it pays to thin and pays well. They place the cost of thinning apples at five cents per barrel. Thinning not only increases the percentage of first-class fruit without les- sening the bulk, but also encourages more regular bearing; lessens the loss from the breaking of limbs, and gives the grower an opportunity to destroy insect-in- fested fruit, and thus check the spread of insects early in the season. The thinned tree does not need all its stored up material for the formation of fruit, and thus it is able to form fruit buds for the next year, so that we are more apt to get annual crops. The time is coming when fruit growers will be unable to produce strictly first-class fruit without thinning. A low-headed well formed apple tree. Harvesting. The manner of harvesting depends on the manner of sale. "WHien the fruit is sold on the tree, the harvesting is done by a gang of pickers in the employ of the buyer. Nearly all the early fruit and a large quantity of late fruit is packed in the orchard. Some is picked and put in barrels as tree-run and placed in storage houses, where it is later repacked. The buyers generally require a large number of men to harvest the apple crop in this county. In a few instances the growers are either picking and packing their own fruit, or picking and selling tree-run in barrels, the buyer doing the packing. Those who are doing this seem to be getting very good results. When growers are doing their own picking they are careful in handling the trees. In many cases where the picking has been done by the buyers gang, considerable damage has been done to the trees through rough usage of the branches. .If the grower has sufficient labor, he is usually in a better position to pick the fruit at the proper time, and can do it at less expense than the buyer. It has been 86 REPORT OF No. 33 proven that where the grower is picking and packing his own fruit properly, it is more advantageous to him, and more satisfactory to the buyer. Storing. The storing of the apple crop in this county is done mainly by the buyer, who generally has a storage warehouse near the railroad. These men usually ship as much as possible in the fall. The keeping quality of both the early and late fruit is improved by storing in a cool warehouse for at least a few days before packing for shipment. In this way the fruit is cool to a constant temperature before the final packing. On account of this pre-cooling the fruit is not apt to shrink and become loose in the barrels on the voyage. If there were a few cold storage plants in the county it would aid consider- ably in the storing of the apple crop and in putting it on the market in better condition. The only cold storage plant in the district is at Trenton. Selling. The methods of selling in Northumberland County are: — (1) To the apple buyer, either by bulk or by barrel on the tree. (2) To the buyer, packed or tree-run, in barrels. (3) Shipping direct to wholesalers at the point of consumption. (4) Through co-operative associations. The first method is the one usually adopted. In the last three years about eighty per cent, of the apple growers have sold this way. This year the apple buyers started out to buy as early as July 12th, when the fruit was only one-half grown. This method of sale has many disadvantages. It is simply a gamble with the buyer having a little better chance of coming out on the right side, as he is generally better informed about the markets . and prices and is usually a better judge of the amount on the trees than is the grower. Quite often it places the grower in a position where he has to take what they will give, while he should have some say in naming the price. Keen competition among the buyers often causes a flat rate to be paid. This is detrimental to the grower who is producing a good class of fruit, as he does not, in many cases, get any more per barrel than the man who is growing a poor quality of fruit. Thus there is very little encourage- ment to grow a good quality of fruit. If the buyer has bought by bulk on the tree and the price in the fall is not what he had expected, there is a danger that he will put in as many of the inferior apples as possible, and thus the industry suffers. On the other hand, if the crop is sold by the barrel on the tree, the grower sometimes suffers from not having the fruit picked in time, and thus considerable is lost on the ground. The buyer usually picks those he has bought by bulk first, and sometimes, if he has very much on his hands, those bought by the barrel are neglected. Often the grower expects the buyer to take everything, so that there is generally dissatisfaction one way or the other. Sometimes the fruit goes through the hands of several buyers before reaching the consumer. This naturally takes much of the profit which should rightly belong to the grower. This method of selling certainly has many objections, some of which have been mentioned above. However, all the trouble does not lie with the apple buy- ers. It is more in the system itself. Many of these men are doing a great deal for the industry, and honestly doing their best under the circumstances. Table 4 shows that the prices received under this method of sale are very low: 1911 FRUIT BRANCH. 87 Table 4.— Different Methods of Selling, 1909. Total Bbls. Total $. Aver, price paid per Bbl Total No.* orchards. Sold on tree to buyers Sold packed, or tree run in barrels Shipped individually Sold through Co-operative Association . . . 74,344 9,081 10,505 7,632 82,614 30 14,151 20 17,105 65 10,953 20 $ c. 1 11 1 55 1 62 1 43 391 35 27 28 The second method of sale, i.e., selling to the buyer packed or tree-run in barrels, is probably one of the best methods for the ordinary fruit grower where there is no good co-operative association. About 7 per cent, of the growers in this county sold by this method last year, and they realized on the average forty- four cents per barrel more than those who sold on the tree. If the grower will put up a good sample of fruit he generally makes more out of it, and, at the same time, the buyer is well satisfied. Many of the buyers would sooner buy this way, if the growers would pack and grade their fruit properly. The objection to this method of selling is that it is practically impossible to get a uniform pack in those places where the grower is packing his own fruit. In the case where the buyer is doing the packing this objection does not hold good. Third Method: In looking over Table 4 we see that in 1909 this method of selling netted the most per barrel on the average. At the present time only about 7 per cent, of the growers ship independently. It is one of the best methods of sale, wliere the grower has a large quantity of fruit, and enough capital to tide him over a bad year. Under the present conditions it is very difficult for the small producer to make a success of it. Fourth Method, i.e., Through Co-operative Associations: The associations idea is not thoroughly established in this county, there being only about 6 per cent, of the growers who sold through co-operative associations in 1909. There are at present three of these associations in the county, viz. : The Grafton Fruit Growers^ Association, Grafton, Ontario; The Oobourg Fruit Growers' Association, Cobourg, Ontario; and the Canadian Apple Exporters, Limited, Trenton, Ontario. The first two of these have only been running one year, so that it is hardly fair to compare their prices with those received by the shippers who have been in busi- ness for some time. However, the table shows that the price realized by the growers in these associations, although they have been running such a short time, is 32 cents per barrel more than the price realized by those who sold on the tree direct to the buyer. This is certainly a good start. It is true that the men who shipped independently last year realized a higher price than those who shipped through the associations, but we must remember that those men are only a small percentage of the total number of growers, mainly men of exceptional business ability who produce and command large quantities. The small growers found that they were at the mercy of the commission men in the Old Country, and that there was little chance of success, so they have stopped shipping individually. The advantage of co-operative associations may be summed up as follows: It turns the middleman's profits to the producer; sales can be made more directly to the consumer than can be done through the ordinary buyer. It brings the cost 88 EEPORT OF No. 33 of handling to the lowest possible rate. It induces better railroad, steamship, and other accommodations because the handling of several hundred cars is an item worth competing for. It gives a more even distribution of fruit, because the manager has a large amount under his control. Supplies of various kinds used on fruit farms can often be bought in large quantities, so that the prices to the grower are only slightly in excess of the actual cost. This is an advantage particularly in such items as spray and box, or barrel material. Associations are successful in maintaining a uniform pack, and by this means they establish a reputation for their goods. Their brand should be a guarantee for the quality. This securing of a uniform pack is one of the strongest points in favor of an association. It brings better prices. The most rigid grading should be practised, and the best grade will command the price that it deserves. This is a source of encouragement to the grower of good fruit. Some of the causes of failure are : — (1) A wrong start. An association should not start on too large a scale. It is impossible to get a large amount of evenly graded fruit the first year. It is much the best way to start on a small scale and gradually work up a reputation and a market for your fruit. ^Strict rules regarding spraying and grading should be enforced from the start. Otherwise the manager is sure to be called on to sell a large quantity of inferior fruit. This means low prices and dissatisfaction. (2) Petty jealousies and distrust on the part of the members. (3) Employment of Management. Men who are capable of handling large quantities of fruit at a good profit are not common, and when one is found every effort should be made to retain him. He should have a salary in proportion to the amount of business and responsibility that must be carried. The manager should be given a fair chance to work out his own ideas, and then if he fails try another. (4) Too much supervision by the directors and unjust criticism and fault- finding on the part of the members is often the cause of failure. There should be uniformity in the organization of different associations, so that they can work together in cases where just joint action would be desirable. Evaporators. Northumberland County is very well supplied with evapora- tors. Nearly every township has one or two, and these pay from twenty-five to forty cents per cwt. for the apples. They offer an easy market for the wind-falls, etc. No orchards were observed in this survey where the total crop was disposed of to the evaporator. Canneries. There are three canneries in the district, at Lakeport, Brighton and Trenton. They do quite a large business in tomatoes, corn and peas, and a small amount in apples and strawberries. Yields, Prices and Proj^its. In the various tables given the yields and prices received from the various methods of handling orchards and selling the apples are shown. These results are now brought under one head in the following table : 1911 FEUIT BEANCH. 89 Table 5.— Yields and Prices. Average per acre. 1907. 1908. 1909. Aver. Aver, in- yield in corae per Bbls. for acre for 3 years. 3 years. Aver. prices perBbl. fcr 3 yrs. Cultivated, fertilized and sprayed. (Best fifteen) . 116 acres Cultivated, fertilized and not sprayed. (Best fifteen) — 63 acres 50 Cultivated, fertilized and sprayed. — 486 acres 68 Cultivated, fertilized and not sprayed. — 344 acres 69 Cropped. — 844 acres . . . 9 Sod. —188 Bbls. 111.7 87.4 52.7 46.3 41.6 $ c. 150 10 101 55 92 15 55 60 47 20 43 60 Bbls. 65.6 52.6 43.3 32. 25.6 33. $ c. 94 20 62 70 58 80 37 15 31 15 30 60 Bbls. $ c. $ c. 82.3 131 00 86.5 125 10 62. 79 80 67.3 81 35 47. 68 10 55.1 73 00 38.1 35.8 39.2 42 75 39 45 42 28 40.9 35.9 37.9 45 16 39 25 38 82 $ c. 1 45 1 20 1 32 1 10 1 09 1 02 Note. — The incomes per acre and prices per barrel are in every case the value on the tree. In the case of the sod and cropped orchards there was very little spraying done, so that it was not taken into account. The figures in Table 5 show very plainly the yields and prices received by the j^orthumberland County fruit growers. 'Not only do proper methods of man- agement give increased 3delds, but it it is quite evident from the figures in this table that they also materially increase the price per barrel. Transportation Facilities. Th southern part of this county is very well supplied with transportation facilities. The Grand Trunk Railway affords means of transport either east or west. The boats on Lake Ontario carry what is shipped to the United States. The Canadian Northern Railway, which is now under construction, will prob- ably be in working order by next year. As a result of this competition the rail- roads will probably be more desirous of giving good service than they are at present. In the northern part of the county the growers have a long distance to haul the crops, and as apples are a heavy product, this takes off much of the profit. The roads are very hilly, so that it is impossible to take very much at a time. If there was more fruit grown along Rice Lake it could easily be handled by boat to Peterboro. This is not done to any extent at present, but the writer does not see any reason why it could not be done if there was a large enough quantity grown. Markets. Up to the present time the market has been mostly in Europe. Most of the apples go to Liverpool and Glasgow, and are sold through the ^' Re- ceivers " there. A small amount is shipped to the West, but this is a very small portion of the total apple crop. Many of the shippers claim that the freight rates to the West eat up all the profits. During the last season a few men have shipped to the United States, and report fair results. The pears grown in this locality are consumed locally. Cherries and raspberries are not grown to any extent. The local market takes all that are grown. Strawberries are grown in small quantities in a few sections of the county. These are sold on the local market or sent to the cannery. 90 EEPOET OF No. 33 Population. It is hard to acknowledge that the " Banner Apple County of Ontario " is steadily decreasing in population. Nevertheless, this is true, as the following figures prove. The present population is only 80 per cent, of the popu- lation in 1881. This decrease is due mostly to the westward movement. In the better fruit sections of the county we find that the population is not decreasing as rapidly as it is in those sections where the people go in more for mixed farm- ings, and Northumberland County is not decreasing as rapidly as some of the other counties in Ontario. The following table shows that there has been a gradual decrease in every township. The town of Cobourg decreased from 1881 to 1901, but has increased the last ten years. This is probably due to it having grown in favor as a summer resort. The increase in the case of Campbellford.is due to the construction work on the Trent Canal. Table 6.— Population of Northumberland Couj^ty. , 1881 1891 1901 1909 Increase. Decrease. Townships : Hamilton 5,155 5,401 3,481 3,470 3,560 3,783 3,768 1,471 1,148 4,957 1,079 1,547 1,418 885 4,313 4,484 2,995 3,017 3,303 3,509 3,388 1,321 1,093 4,829 1,068 1,479 2,424 812 3,623 3,946 2,556 2.774 2,993 3,261 3,216 1,247 929 4,239 1,017 1,378 2,485 815 3,495 3,484 2,434 2,101 2,558 2,675 2,690 872 869 5,265 955 1,375 2,818 775 1,660 Haldimand 1,917 Cramahe 1,047 Brighton 1,369 Murray 1,002 Seymour 1,108 Percy 1,078 Alnwick 599 South Monaghan 279 Town: Cobourg 308 Villages: Colborne 124 Brighton 172 Campbellford 1,400 Hastings 110 Total 41,123 38,035 34,479 32,366 1,708 10,465 Net decrease, 8,757. from 1881 t) 1909. Labor Conditions. The scarcity of labor is one of the first difficulties which confronts the fruit growers of this county. Many men of the laboring class have gone West or to the city, and the railroad construction, which is now being pushed forward, is using many of those at present in the county. The farmers themselves are somewhat to blame for the scarcity of labor. It is true that the widespread stories of the easily made money in the West, have ''enticed many away, but if the conditions of the laboring men on the farm were better, probably many of these men would have remained in the East. Most of the farmers expect the men to work very long hours for a wage which is much below that paid in other lines of business. Many of the farmers with one hundred acres of land are doing practi- cally all the work themselves. They would rather neglect the work than pay more than $25 and board per month. The more progressive fruit growers, however, find that it pays them to give good wages and treat their men well. The men who are doing this seem to have very little trouble in getting men. The farmers. 1911 FRUIT BEANCH. 91 as a rule, are getting a higher price for their produce than formerly, f.nd should be able to pay a higher wage. Land Values. Land values vary considerably in different sections of the county. The proximity to transportation facilities is probably the largest factor in deciding the value. Along the Kingston Road an ordinary farm with good build- ings would sell for $60 to $100 per acre, while three or four miles back, good- farms can be had for $30 to $80 per acre. Land suitable for fruit growing at such prices is very reasonable. The following table gives values and areas of the nine townships of jSTorthum- berland County: Table 7. Townships. Area in acres. Total. Cleared land. Assessment value. Average per acre. Total land. Hamilton Haldimand €ramahe Brighton Murray •Seymour Percy , Alnwick , South Monaghan Totals . . . , 62,280 76,355 46,470 48,100 48,593 67,292 51,417 17,754 18,088 436,349 57,945 62,062 38,893 36,693 35,758 44,076 36,194 13,600 14,438 339,659 $ c. 21 77 13 98 16 85 17 82 16 59 11 78 14 69 14 11 28 23 16 45 1,356,465 1,067,570 783,265 857,090 806,200 792,925 755,475 250,580 510,675 7,180 245 Development and Possibilities. It is only within the last forty or fifty years that the fruit industry has developed in Northumberland County. About 1860 a few commercial orchards were planted, but none of these were very large. In most instances these orchards were neglected, and did not prove very profitable. T'or the next twenty years there was very little commercial planting done, most of the farmers simply planting an acre or two for home use. In nearly every case the trees were placed too close together, twenty or twenty- five feet square being the average. These orchards, like the former ones, were neglected. Practically no pruning was done and the farmer seemed satisfied with an occasional plowing and manuring. In the early nineties there was a boom in the apple industry, and many commercial orchards were planted. Better orchard practices were- more common and the orchards were put more on a paying basis. Still there were very few that were given extra good care. It is only within the last ten years that the industry has received its greatest boom. About one-half of the trees now growing have been planted within this period. The good prices and fair crops have made, not only the farmers, but men in other lines of business, interested in fruit growing. Young orchards are now being planted out all over the county. The possibilities of Northumberland County as an apple-growing section can scarcely be exaggerated, if the fruit growers as a whole will wake up to the fact, that to grow fruit most successfully they must take the very best care of their orchards. Some are doing this, but the percentage is very small. One man told the writer that when he had to thin, spray and prune his orchard to get good apples he would go out of the business. The sooner such men get out of the busi- 92 EEPORT OF No. 33 ness, the better for the apple industry. It is the men who are thinning, pruning and spraying along with good cultivation and fertilizing that are making the most money out of the business and are upholding the reputation of the county as an apple producing section. In some sections drainage is essential to the best development of the industry, but this applies to a small portion, mainly along the lake front and the western part. Much of the best orchard land is on high ground with a good porous sub- soil. Peach and sweet cherry culture will probably never be a paying business to any extent in this county, as the winter is rather severe for these more tender fruits. Sour cherries are not grown in very large quantities, but what were noticed in this survey seemed to be doing very well indeed, and there is no reason why a sour cherry orchard should not be a paying proposition. There is a good market for them in Montreal and Toronto. A crop of hay and a crop of apples. The few strawberry beds visited were doing exceptionally well, and this in- dustry should be encouraged. The greatest opportunity in the fruit line in Northumberland County is un- doubtedly in the apple business. The writer sees no reason why this county should not be able to grow as good apples of the hardier varieties, as any section in the Province, if the growers would improve their methods. Nature has done her part and done it well. Here we have a rich soil, good climate, fine roads good transportation facilities, unlimited markets and in the near future, North- umberland County bids fair to become one of the chief apple producing sections of Canada. 1911 FRUIT BEANCH. 93 ORCHARD SURVEY OF THE EASTERN TOWNSHIPS OF THE NIAGARA DISTRICT. F. M. Clement and V. King. Orchard survey work was taken up first in the summer of 1909 by the Ontario Department of Agriculture and the Ontario Agricultural College, with the inten- tion of collecting definite information with regard to the Horticultural situation in different sections of the Province. The field work in the Niagara district was started by W. D. Jackson, B.S.A., in June of that year, who worked in the town- ships of Barton, Saltfleet, and Grimsby. This year, 1910, the work was continued and completed by the writers in the four townships, East Clinton, South Grant- ham, and Niagara, and is intended to supplement the work of the previous year. The plan employed was that of a farm-to-farm canvass with specially pre- pared blank forms on which were noted the owner's name and address, location and size of the farm, and the number of acres in fruit. If the grower was mak- ing a specialty of more than one kind of fruit, he was questioned on each with regard to acreage, bearing and non-bearing, the age of the trees and the distances of planting, and the soil on which it was growing, with the depth and drainage. Special attention was paid to methods of cultivation, to the cover crops and ferti- lizers used; pruning, thinning, spraying, with the kind of mixture used and the results obtained ; insect pests and fungus diseases, and the manner of selling were also given careful attention. Also, where possible, yields and prices were obtained, and in every case the writers went over the farms and noted their condition. This plan differed from that of the previous year only in that a separate blank was used for each fruit, where formerly a general blank was used. The change was a de- cided improvement. (Situation. The situation of the Niagara Peninsula is ideal for tender fruits. Lake Ontario extends westward about forty-four miles farther than the farthest point eastward of Lake Erie. This point is connected with Lake Ontario by the Niagara River, which flows due north, forming a strip of land three sides of which are bordered by water. At no point is this more than thirty miles wide. The highest contour, about nine hundred feet, is reached midway between the two lakes, and the slope being gradual each way never are the variations in temperature so extreme as in most other sections in the same latitude. But the Niagara district proper is not so extensive. The Niagara escarpment or mountain extends from Hamilton to Queenston. This is an abrupt rise of from seventy-five to one hun- dred feet. At Hamilton it extends back in varying distances until it reaches the extreme of seven miles at Queenston. The country lying between Lake Ontario and the escarpment includes the whole of the survey and is the Niagara district proper. The whole section slopes gently to the north, which gives it a free circulation of air and consequently frost injury is less extensive than in many parts of the tender fruit districts of the Province. Contour. Lake Ontario is two hundred and forty-six feet above sea level. The two hundred and seventy-five foot contour follows the lake in varying dis- tances from the shore, ranging from one-half mile at Beamsville to one and one-half miles at Niagara. The three hundred and fifty foot contour, however, follows very closely the Queenston Hamilton Stone Road, and may be said to mark the bottom of the first ledge of the escarpment. The four hundred foot contour is still farther 9i REPORT OF No. 33 from the shore, and marks the beginning of the abrupt rise of one hundred feet or more — the Niagara escarpment. This rise might appropriately be called the Ten Million Dollar Ridge, as it makes possible the production of the tenderer fruits. Again the rise is gradual until the highest point is reached near Fonthill, from which the waters of both Lakes Erie and Ontario are visible. But we are concern- ed with only the section below the escarpment. Thus the district surveyed is di- vided into two parts, the somewhat level though gradual sloping northward section bordering on the shore, and the somewhat rolling clay loam section of the first ledge. Climatic Variations. The extremes of temperature vary a little even on this area. The greater the distance from the shore, the less influence the water has. A number of residents claim that the temperature varies as much as one degree for each half mile for the first mile and one-half from the shore, with a gradually diminishing variation as the distance increases. That is, on a given day in winter, especially when it is very calm, it is often times three degrees colder one mile and a half from the shore than right at the shore, with even a little lower temperature two, three, and four miles from the shore. Just the opposite is true in summer, the inland districts then being warmer. The following tends to bear out these statements. The first Yellow St. John peaches were picked this year at Queenston, seven miles from the lake, on August the twenty-second; while in Louth, two miles from the shore, the first were picked on August the twenty-sixth, four days later; while again on the shore in Niagara Township the first were not picked until September the first, or more than a week after the earliest. The orchards were all in a good state of cultivation, and the fruit in the same stage of maturity as nearly as could be judged by the writer. Soils. We shall not here concern ourselves with geological details of the soil formation, except to state that evidence points to the fact that at one time the whole district was lake bottom and that the soil was deposited as the water receded. The surface soil and the subsoil as we find them to-day are of more interest, and we shall classify them according to what they are best fitted to produce, rather than according to their composition. As a general rule, the soil along the shore is of a sandy and loamy nature, but varies sometimes to the greatest extremes even on a few^ acres. This sand extends backs from the lake shore from one to two miles and sometimes more. Along the Niagara River is another strip of sand extending from the river bank westward about one mile and a half. It must be remembered that this is only a rough out- line, because often times narrow strips of clay extend to the water's edge and sand knolls crop out at various places in the heavy clays. The first ledge and some parts along the banks of the streams are of a clay loam nature. As a rule this is easily drained and will, when sand is no longer as cheap as it is to-day, be more largely used for peach culture than it is at present. As it lies to-day, it is well suited to grapes, plums, pears and apples. The central portions of the townships, especially farthest east, are of a clay or heavy black loam nature, with many variations. Except near streams this is difficult of drainage, because of the too gradual slope of the country. The largest areas of this soil are found in Grantham and Niagara. The subsoil is heavy and comparatively impervious to water. However, it is excellent grape soil and is giv- ing some of the highest yields of the best quality fruit. Plums, pears, and apples do fairly well on it also. 1811 FRUIT BRANCH. 95 The following table gives a fair estimate of the areas of the different soils surveyed, classified as above. Township. Sand soil easily or naturally drained. Clay loam, easily drained. Clay, black loam, etc., with heavy subsoil. Clinton Louth Grantham . Niagara . . . Total 4,160 6,800 7,600 8,280 26,840 1,600 2,880 5,320 2,920 12,720 4,480 3,360 5,280 7,280 20,400 Thrifty nursery stock in the^Niagara District. History. The peach and grape history of the Peninsula extends back more than fifty years, but neither industry was carried on, on a large commercial basis, until between 1885 and 1890. Before 1880 the graperies were few and very scattered, but with the introduc- tion of the Niagara at that time a new stimulus was given to the industry. Vines of this variety sold as high as $1.25 each, and the grower was obliged to return all cuttings to the nursery, but prices were very high and single vines often yielded as much as two or three dollars^ worth of fruit. In 1880 there were about four hundred acres of grapes, but in 1890 the acreage had grown to more than two- 96 REPORT OF Xo. 33 thousand acres. By 1901 the acreage had increased to 5,750, and to-day we have more than 10,000 acres under this crop, with prospects of a very steady increase for a number of years. The peach industry began with the introduction of natural fruit planted between the rows of apple trees, along the fences, or in the door yards. The first record of commercial planting that we have is from Mr. Dennis Woolverton, of Grimsby, who sold them in Hamilton market about the year 1820. In 1856 Mr. C. E. Woolverton, of Grimsby, planted the first large commercial orchard that we have any record of, five acres of such varreties as Barnard, Crawford, Oldmixon, and Mountain Rose. Mr. Woolverton was the first also to ship by express to different Ontario markets. From 1890 to 1898 the industry boomed and fell. Many growers did not understand peach culture, which resulted in a large quantity of poor grade fruit being thrown on the market. In many cases the fruit did not pay the express charges. Then came a very severe winter in 1897-98, and many trees were killed. This forced many out of business and discouraged others who then refused to replant. But the best men stuck to it and others came back slowly. In 1904, the first shipment was made, by frieght, to Winnipeg, and since that time, though plantings have increased largely, at no time has the market been over supplied. Several hundred cars were forwarded to the West this year. The first shipments were made to Europe in 1909 and were entirely successful. This year, 1910, several thousand cases were forwarded, and though the work is still in the experimental stage, it is expected that it is possible to develop there a large and profitable market. Also this year cherries, strawberries, currants, gooseberries, and a few rasp- berries were sent to the West. In no case was the experiment discouraging, and it is expected that a large quantity of these fruits will be forwarded next year. The market is there. It is simply a case of being able to land the goods in first- class condition. The Situation with Regard to Each Class o'P Fruit. Peaches. Peach production is the leading industry of the Peninsula, and it is increasing much more rapidly than any other. The plantings in the spring of 1907 and 1908 were exceptionally heavy. The plantings of 1909 and 1910 were heavy also, but owing to the scarcity of nursery stock were somewhat lighter than the two previous years. The following table shows the trees bearing and the non- bearing by townships. All trees three 3^ears old and younger in the spring of 1910 are considered non-bearing. Township. Bearing. Non-bearing. Clinton 37,253 57,887 48,913 103,564 66,078 Louth 78,867 Grantham 69,287 Niagara . . 133,854 Total. 247,617 348,086 4,495 acres From this it will be noticed that the non-bearing stock is considerably in ex- cess of the bearing stock, which would indicate that in four years' time, or when 1911 FliUIT BRANCH. 97 the young trees come into bearing, the production will be more than doubled. But before coming to such a conclusion, it might be well to take some other factors into consideration. A very large percentage, perhaps as high as twenty-five per cent, of the trees never produce a fruit that goes on the market, and there is an- other large percentage, perhaps as large as the above, that produces only second grade fruit. There are several reasons for this : ( 1 ) A great many are neglecting the cultivation, spraying, etc., of their trees; (2) Fungous diseases, insect pests, etc., claim many of them; (3) Little Peach and Yellows have to be reckoned with; (4) Many are planted on speculation, to sell the place, on soil too wet and heavy to produce in quantity; (5) Many trees now counted as bearing have passed their day of usefulness and will soon have to be removed. It must be remembered, too, that our markets are expanding rapidly, and that up to date we have not kept pace with this expansion in the production of fruit of first quality. A large number of growers, some buyers and companies are supplying the high-class trade and getting good returns. But even to-day and in the last few years when prices have been good some claim that their fruit has not paid them. And both classes of producers are likely to continue. The one with good quality goods will get good returns, while the other will handle his at a loss, the market is calling for the former, but it is overstocked with the latter. Grapes. The grape industry is making stea%, gradual growth. The prices received are only fair, but they are sufficiently remunerative to induce growers to keep pace with the gradual extension of market. Following are the figures for the surveyed area. Two years and under in 1910 are considered non-bearing. Township. Bearing. Non-bearing. Clinton 147,241 255,215 296,497 220,606 22,714 Louth 54,280 Grantham 53,547 Niagara , 31 012 Total. . 919,559 161 553 The figures do not by any means indicate excessive planting. There are a number of reasons for this, the principal of which are: (1) Peach growing offers greater remuneration; (2) Because of random distribution, the price for the past two seasons has been comparatively low. (3) The heavy cost of setting, posting, and wiring the young plantation. (4) Grapes are a staple article and there is less speculation in their production. There are still, however, many acres of excellent soil which would give better returns in grapes than in the crop it is now producing, whether that crop be hay, grain, pasture, or in some cases peaches. Many on the sand are removing their grapes and planting peaches, so that they can use the soil for the crop for w^hich it is best adapted. The same fact should apply to some orchards on poorly drained, shallow clay and clay loam. This will give an excellent quality of grapes in good quantity, with reasonable care and treatment, while peaches on it must be nursed to get profitable returns. A private trade is gradually springing up Avhich takes thousands of baskets. The grape juice or sweet wine industry drew from the general trade a large quan- tity this year. The wineries are taking large quantities each year. 7 ;F.B. 98 REPORT OF No. 33 The marketing of poor varieties, such as the Cliampion, has in times gone past done much to hurt the sale of first-class fruit. Campbell's Early and Moore's Early, fruits of better quality, are, however, gradually taking the place of the above, which is now scarcely planted at all. The habit of cutting the fruit before its season should be discouraged also. Poor, sour fruit is no advertisement for the good fruit that must follow. The grapery has a place on the average farm that no other fruit can take, un- less it be the winter apple. There are many fifty and one hundred acre farms that have on them no fruit at all, grown commercially, on which a grapery of eight or twelve acres would greatly increase the income. At present these farms are used entirely for grain and stock, but demonstration has proved that the soil is admir- ably adapted to this fruit. Grapes, with good care, produce profitably the third year, and must be considered a first-class investment on land worth from $100 to $150 per acre. They pay good interest on a much heavier investment. Apples. For a number of years the apple industry has been gradually on the wane. This is due principally to lack of interest coupled with the ravages of the San Jose scale. Before the value of lime-sulphur was fully demonstrated, many orchards were badly weakened. Prejudice seems to have played a large part also. The early experiments, principally those with crude oil and whale oil soap, were not successful, and the feeling grew that scale on an apple tree could not be con- trolled by spraying. That feeling is not yet fully dispelled, especially in a few sections. Also, until quite recently, the price for apples was very low, while the good price of other fruits, peaches, berries, etc., has attracted all the interest. As a consequence, seventy-five per cent., or perhaps more, of the apple orchards to-day are not paying interest and taxes on the ground on which they stand. The small number of trees of recent planting indicates quite clearly the feeling of the growers as a whole. But still a few are quite optimistic and are planting quite heavily of the fall varieties. Township. Bearing. Non-bearing. Clinton 12,574 12,825 10,453 13.828 20 515 797 80 - Louth Grantham Niagara Total 49,680 1.412 1.331 acres Clinton stands first in quantity and quality of winter apples produced, and in 1908 and 1909 sent out a considerable quantity of box fruit. Louth and Grantham are producing some fruit of fair quality, but it is very limited compared with what is possible from the trees now of bearing age. Niagara, though it has the largest number of trees, is producing practically nothing, scarcely an orchard is receiving even fair attention. Hundreds of trees were cut down and used for fire wood or the manufacture of tool handles during the last few years. The Jordan Harbor Experiment Station has been an incentive to some in the immediate vicinity to care for their orchards, but the enthusiasm does not seem to have become general. It must be remembered, though, that wherever an orchard of good varieties is being scientifically cared for, it is yielding good returns, demon- strating quite clearly the possibilities of the district. The trend of opinion to-day 1911 FKUIT BEANCH. 99 is the planting of summer varieties, such as Duchess and Astrachan, for the Western market. The former variety in particular is doing exceptionally well where cared for, and it is very probable that a large acreage will be planted in the next few years. The best apple orchards are close rivals of the best peach orchards, but gen- erally have been neglected, while the peaches have been nursed. Plums. All trees that have not borne a fair crop are considered non-bearing. Township. Bearing. Non-bearing. Clinton 17,075 12,933 13.797 21,841 7,360 2,775 5,031 4.008 Louth Grantham Niagara ?i77 fl^TAC Plums are not a leading crop in any section, but they have a place and many who are giving them good care and attention are being well repaid for the trouble. Distant markets are taking an increasing quantity each year, and the tendency is to plant certain varieties for this trade. A large number of orchards are badly neglected and contain many varieties, some of which are unsuited to the present trade. The fancy plums are coming more and more into favor. It cannot be said that plums are over-produced, especially for canning purposes, as some years small quantities are imported from New York State for this purpose. Pears. Pears, like plums, are, as a whole, a minor consideration, but are usually deserving of a better place. An excellent box trade is being worked up gradually near home as well is in the West. The Bartlett is the leading pear for this purpose, but owing to the ravages of the blight is not being planted exten- sively. The Duchess is coming slowly into increased favor. The Keiffer is being largely planted for canning purposes. Its good canning and heavy yielding prop- erties make it quite a favorite in spite of its poor quality. Township. Bearing. Non- bearing. Clinton 13,352 10,540 11,263 18,825 1,895 5,793 4,000 5,478 Louth Grantham Niagara 549 acres Cherries. It will be noticed that the young trees — those under four years of age — are about two-thirds the number of the bearing trees. This speaks for itself — good prices in the last few years have stimulated planting. Township. Bearing. Non-bearing. Louth 3,847 4,406 6,313 6,052 4,983 Clinton 1,941 Grantham 3,749 Niagara 3.802 100 EEPOET OF No. 33 Of this number, the great majority are sour varieties, only a few, 2,726 bear- ing and 846 non-bearing, being sweet. It is very difficult to obtain accurate information about cherries for the reason that they are often planted either in the garden or back yard or along the fence. But sweet cherries will stand much heavier planting. Many are experiencing trouble in getting the nursery stock to start. Also, many trees after reaching the age of eight or ten years weaken and die from the top downward. No reason is assigned for this. The heaviest plantings of sour cherries were made in the springs of 1907 and 1908. These, as a whole, are strong, healthy trees, making vigorous growth. The growers "are very optimistic with regard to markets and prices, but express no little concern over the labor for the picking season. ,^ tt nn M||Ai ^^. Mh 9 ^^^1 ^^^^^^^H ^^^^^^H ^^^. . " . " 9^H hI^^I ^^^^^HHI^l imij^^^i K" 4HH ^^y^^^H ^^HP^^^^'^'S^^B !liH|^^^^^^^r^^^^ ^^TT^^^^S^^^^^H ^fe '•^^^^B ^^^^^^^H L^HH^^[^H^ ^^^^^^1 ^^ A^3 hHB^b^b^I B^':;aPS<^« |&**';'^HH^^^|H^^ i^^^^^^^l ^■k^' .^ •.>! ^i' <^nB M|^g SW I^L- --?^sH^^^^' ^^a ■■■1 IIMh ^^^^^^w w^ s ^^^^iii^f^S^^&^ ^^^^^Mj^m ^^HH IHBR "w^^ fr'^^^ |W ^^Kg ^H^^^H H^ ^^5 teiS^ ^1 ^^'.— ' ^ ~'^^umI9 ^»t<^MM^^pBB^WW wSB^M ^SK^r^^f hBh^T; .^2 ^^2 '"- ""^^ISS^a te^r" ■ - '"^^^sHi H^SnygMn ^Iby V-^ ^l^''3 '^^ '^ ^£ lSE^*2^^\ -^ r ^ %^ '■ - -^pF^#«' - ^^M E^^^M " ' * * J^ at*" '^^^jsi^f- ^ ^-^ '.'".^^^5 BS^v^^^l ' .^; Jjr ^ J- " -'. '^'mt^^''- ^ Mr...--. "->•* ''*'^^^ hHHH A splendid block of 1 year sour cherries. Raspberries and Blackberries. Clinton, 97 acres; Loutli, 156 acres; Grantham, 184 acres; Niagara, 72 acres; total, 509 acres. Raspberry culture is of considerable importance in the whole peninsula, but more particularly so in the sections East of Jordan Harbor and Port Dalhousie. They are used much for interplanting and for fillers, especially on the smaller farms where the most intensive methods are practised. Those used as fillers are not taken into account in the above figures. Plantings in the last two years have been very heavy but not excessive, as far as the market is concerned. Black raspberries are planted only in limited acreage, there being not more than twenty-five acres in the four townships. Blackberries are of considerable importance in Louth and Niagara, these townships having respectively forty-nine and thirty-one acres. Clinton and Grantham have but a small area not exceeding forty acres between them. Here, as in the cherry industry, the labor problem in the picking season is the most important factor. The writer believes that the harvesting of those two fruits has almost reached its limit under present labor conditions. 1911 FEUIT BEANCH. 101 Currants and Gooseberries. (Currants are again slowly but surely assert- ing their right to a place on a fruit farm. Exceptionally high prices have led to increased plantings and the cultivation of the old plantations. They are used largely as a fiJler and as an intercrop. Township. Bed. Black. Goose- berries. Clinton . . Louth . . . Grantham Niagara . 17,130 10,000 (estimated) 9,095 9,435 45,660 12,975 10.000 5,747 775 29,497 4,525 2,850 4,297 3,110 14,782 Gooseberries, too, are gradually winning a place. Demand is increasing very rapidly, but a limited supply of nursery stock has somewhat curtailed the planting. It is at present impossible for the factories to get the required quantity. It is doubtful if the growers, as a whole, understand the requirements of the goose- berry, and as a consequence the returns are not as large as they might be. Strawberries. Strawberries are a very important crop, especially in the vicinity of Jordan, where conditions are almost ideal for their culture, but in no other section are they considered a leading industry. They are used largely as a Township. 1910 1911 Clinto n 76 188 98 41 65 Louth 189 Grantham 88 Niagara 52 398 394 filler or intercrop in the young orchard. The demand for early berries is increas- ing and the price for the first few shipments i's always exceptionally high. The price for the midseason and late fruit has been comparatively low the last two years, and the acreage has somewhat fallen 'off, but now that it has been clearly demonstrated that shipments can be made to the West successfully, it is expected that the acreage will increase and also that better attention will be given to the quality of the fruit. 102 REPORT OF >^o. 33 ORCHARD SURVEY OF THE WESTERN TOWNSHIPS OF THE NIAGARA DISTRICT. W. D. Jackson, B.S.A. This work was commenced by the writer on the first of June, 1909, under the direction of the Fruit Branch of the Ontario Department of Agriculture, Toronto, and the Horticultural Department of the Ontario Agricultural College, Guelph, the purpose of the work being to obtain more definite and accurate information regarding the present standing of the fruit industiy in the Niagara fruit belt. Being provided with note book and special blank forms every phase of the work as far as possible was reported on, such as the number of trees of the different varieties of fruit, their age, distance of planting, acres, type of soil, cultivation methods, pruning, fertilization, spraying, fungous diseases and insect pests, crop yields, markets, etc. Although the report form used was quite exhaustive it was not altogether suitable for a complete report of the farms in every case. All farms of four acres and over were visited and reported on, while smaller lots were fre- quently visited and their condition noted. The writer in every case went over each farm reported and made note of the present condition. During the season 450 farms were reported on and over 500 were visited. Physiography. From this standpoint the Niagara district requires but little comment at this time, the factors which make it famous for its tender fruits hav- ing been treated by writers on former occasions. However, the district in- cludes that part of the counties of Wentworth and Lincoln lying along the south shore of Lake Ontario and north of the Niagara escarpment — ^the mountain. This strip of land varies from one to three m_iles or more in width and the area covered in the survey of 1909 includes those parts of tlije townships of Barton, Saltfleet and North Grimsby lying north of the mountain, or the section extending from Hamil- ton east about 21 miles. The section indicated is rather flat with a more or less uniform slope from the base of the mountain north to the lake. In seveTal places a stream, gully or a more or less rolling nature of the land will make a slight devia- tion from the above general slope, but this does not materially affect the general contour or topography. This general northerly slope gives good atmospheric drainage, reducing the possibility of early frosts to a minimum. The northern slope also retards early spring growth to a greater or less degree, thus reducing the danger of late spring frosts. It also reduces winter injury to a minimum, due to the fact that there is less fluctuation in temperature, and the soil upon freezing in the fall remains frozen until spring, thus eliminating in a very marked degree the damage caused by alternate freezing and thawing during the winter. The large body of water, Lake Ontario, to the north, with its cool winds in summer and warm winds in winter, tends to moderate and unify tlie climate. The iseasonal influences of large bodies of water upon the surrounding country are too generally understood to require further comment. The iSoil. The soil of the Niagara district is of the Medina sandstone forma- tion. 'JTiis layer of rock from which the soil of the district has been built up forms the lower layer of rock of the silurian age, a geographical division in the rock crust of America. On the top of the Medina sandstone group of rocks comes a series of limestone shales known as the Clinton rock, and above this the Niagara limestone. The soil formed from this Medina sandstone, and to some extent from other 1911 FEUIT BRANCH. 103 rock formations, and also the deposits of the old lake bed, which the district is supposed to have been, is of a varying character. The soil ranges from a rather light sand to a heavy red clay, and the nature of the soils in the various sections of the district determines in a large measure the kinds of fruit grown in the par- ticular sections. In the vicinity of Hamilton and east through Barton township the soil is for the most part a daik loam well adapted to truck gardening, and in this section the farmers go in for truck gardening to a greater extent than they do fruit growing. A good many of them state that truck gardening is the more profitable, and what little fruit they have is to supply their customers in the fruit season. In divid- ing the district roughly we fmd from the Red Hill east to Stoney Creek the soil is of a sandy and clay loam nature, and the growers are more extensively into fruit growing, truck gardening being of little importance. General agriculture is, however, followed to a considerable extent in this section. Of the fruits grown Working in the Demonstration Orchards. possibly peaches and grapes are the most important, although plums and cherries are extensively grown, as are also the bush fruits. From Stoney Creek to Fruit- land the soil varies from a clay loam to a heavy red clay and in this section plums, pears, grapes and apples are most extensively grown, with peaches along the water front and in the shelter of the mountain where the soil is lighter and more sandy. From Fruitland to Winona the soil is lighter and deeper, being of a sandy or clay loam nature. On this soil peaches again predominate or at least form a greater part of the fruit grown than in the section west of it. 'Cherries and grapes are also prominent crops." Just in this connection it is worth noting the large number of cherry treps which have been planted in 1908 and 1909, the boom in cherries being due no doubt to the good yields and high prices of the last few years. There is another rather clayey section west of Winona, which is planted to a greater 01' less extent to those fruits which are more adapted to clay soils than the peach, es- pecially pears, plums and grapes. Deep sandy soil is again encountered. Some two miles west of Grimsby and from here to the eastern boundary of North 104 KEPOET OF No 33 Grimsby the soil is mostly a deep sand or sandy loam., which is especially adapted to peaches and this crop is by far the most important in this section of the district. Summarizing, the soil of the Niagara district varies greatly, ranging from a heavy red clay to a rather light deep sand or sandy loami. The heavy clay appears between Fruitland and Grimsby and also here and there in other sections where sandy and loam soils predominate. A dark clay and sandy loam is the character- istic soil in the vicinity of Bartonville. Sandy and clay loam soils are more or less the predominating soils of the Stoney Creek, Winona and Grimsby sections. The fruits grown on these different types of soil show to some extent the adapta- bility of certain fruits to certain soils. Thus the type of soil may in a measure be judged by the land of fruit grown or the kind of fruits may be determined by the type of soil. Table 1 shows the number of trees or vines of the different kinds of fruit in the three different townships surveyed, and also the total of the three townships. TABLE 1. Township. Apples. Pears. Peaches. Plums. Cherries. Grapes. Barton 3,145 27,527 12,624 3,806 55,992 15,819 20,256 218,620 140,664 7,675 148,297 61,255 2,502. 22,812 12,381 19 552 Saltfleet 703,446 Grimsby 284,940 Total 43,296 75,617 379,540 217,227 37,695 1,007,938 $0^ Table 2 shows the number of acres of trees and vines of the different kinds of fruit, in the different townships and also the total acreage of each. Table 2. Township. Apples. Pears. Peaches. Plums. Cherries. Grapes. Barton 66.1 571.15 269.75 26.30 281.36 212.00 129.25 1,081.45 1,001.50 44.50 828.55 360.30 18.05 142.35 73.50 41.50 Saltfleet 1 538.75 Grimsby 676.65 Total 907.00 519.66 2,212.20 1,233.35 233.90 2,256 90 Table 3 shows the average number of trees or vines per acre for the thrtee townships, and is based on the results of Tables 1 and 2. Table 3. Kind of fruit trees. Average No. trees per acre. Apples 47.7 Pears 145.7 Peaches 171.5 Plums 176.1 Cherries 161.1 ' Grapes 446.6 Distance of plantiiig of the different kinds of fruit. In connection with the distance between the different kinds of fruil trees there is considerable variation. Tables 4 to 9 will give an idea as to distances at which the trees of the different fruits are set. 1911 FEUIT BEANCH. 105 Table 4.- -DISTANCE BETWEEN Apple Trees. Distan ce apart. No. of orchards. Per cent. 40 ft. X 40 ft 14 5 8 14 124 5 7 5 14 7.142 36 " X 36 " 2.551 35 " X 35 " 4 081 32 " X 32 " 7.142 30 " X 30 " 63 265 30 " X 40 " 2 551 25 " X 25 " 3 571 20 " X 20 " 2 551 Other distances 7.142 Table 5— Distance between Pear Trees. Distance .apart. No. of orchards. Per cent. 20 ft. X 20 ft.. 26 9 22 79 52 12 16 9 16 59 8.666 20 " X 16 " 3.000 18 " X 18 '• 7.333 16 " xl6 " 15 " xl5 *' 26.333 17.333 14 " X 16 " 4.000 14 " X 14 " 5.333 12 " xl6 " 3.000 12 " xl2 " 5.333 Other distances 19.666 Table 6.- -Distance between Peach Trees. Distance apart. No. of orchards. Per cent. 20 ft. X 20 ft 32 40 14 45 26 80 69 15 14 7.209 20 " x 18 " 9.302 20 " x 16 " 3.255 18 " X 18 " 10.465 18 " X 16 '• 6.046 16 " X 16 ' 18.604 15 " X 15 " 16.046 14 •• X 14 " 3.484 12 " X 16 " 3.255 Other distances 21.950 Table 7.— Distance between Plum Trees. Distance apart. No. of orchards. 18 ft. 18 " 16 " 16 " 15 " 15 " 14 " 12 " 12 " Other Per cent. X 20 ft 10- 23 14 97 66 20 21 13 15 64 2.785 X 18 '• 6.685 X 20 " , 3.902 X 16 *' 27.019 xl5 " 18.387 xl2 '• 5.571 xl4 " 5.849 X 16 " 3.642 X 12 •' 4.178 distances 21.169 106 EEPORT OF Xo. 33 Table 8.— Distance between Cherry Trees. Distance apart. No. of orchards. Per cent. 20 ft. x20ft. X 18 " . X 18 " . X 16 " . X 16 " . X 15 " . X 14 " . r distanc 35 13 38 17 58 49 10 52 12.962 ^0 " 4.814 18 " 14.075 18 " 6.285 16 " 21.481 15 " 18.148 14 " 3.703 Othe ,es 18.518 Table 9.- -Distance between Grape Vines. Distance apart. No. of vineyards. Per cent. 10 ft X 10 ft. X 9 " X 8 ' X 9 " X 9 " X 8 " X 8 " r distan 93 45 118 27 11 19 11 44 25.271 10 " 12.228 10 " 32.065 q " 7.337 11 " 2.989 q " 5.163 8 " 2.989 Othp 3es 11.995 From these tables it will be obiserved that the majority of the apples, 63.265 per cent., are set 30 ft. apart each way, while there is an equal percentage of them set 32 ft. X 32 ft. and 40 ft. x 40 ft., namely, 7.132 per cent. In the case of all the other tree fruits the great majority of the orchards are planted 16 ft. apart each way. In the case of pears 26.3 per cent, of the orchards are .set 16 ft. x 16 ft., while 17.3 per cent, are set 15 ft. x 15 ft. and 8.6 per cent, are set 20 ft. x 20 ft. With the peaches 18.604 per cent, of the orchards are set 16 ft. X 15 ft., 16.046 per cent, are set 15 ft. x 15 ft. and 10.465 per cent, are set 18 ft. X 18 ft. In the plums 27.019 per cent, are ^et 16 ft. x 16^ ft., 18.287 ^er cent, are set 15 ft. x 15 ft. and 6.685 per cent, are set 18 ft. x 18 ft. In connection with the cherries 21.481 per cent, are set 16 ft. x 16 ft., 18.148 per cent, are sef 15 ft. X 15 ft., 14.075 per cent, are set 18 ft. x 18 ft. and 12.962 per cent, are set 20 ft. X 20 ft. Of the grapes 32.065 per cent, or almost one third are set 10 ft. x 8 ft., 25.271 per cent, are set 10 ft. x 10 ft. and 12.228 per cent, are set 10 ft. x 9 ft. The tendency lately, however, seems to be to set all varieties of fruit some- what farther apart than the majority of fruit trees have been planted previously. For instance the tendency seems to be to plant apples 40 ft. apart now while the majority of old orchards are 30 ft. apart. With the other fruits there is a growing tendency to set the trees 20 ft. x 20 ft. or 18 ft. x 18 ft. instead of 16 ft. x 16. ft. or 15 ft. X 15 ft. and with grapes the tendency to set them 10 ft. x 10 ft. instead of 8 ft. X 10 ft. This is noticeable by the fact that a good many of the young orchards being set -out are planted at the greater distances. Drainage. While drainage is a very important factor in connection with the fruit industry, and no variety will stand any great amount of surplus water, still at the same time it cannot be stated that the natural drainage of the section 1911 FEUIT BEANCH. 107 surveyed is bad. The natural surface drainage of the district for the most part is very good, with the exception of some small isolated areas. The accompanying Table JSTo. 10 shows that a little less than one half (47.9 per cent.)- of the farms have nothing but natural or surface drainage. Table 10.— Drainage. Kind of drainage. Farms. Per cent. Surface drained Underdrained Partly underdrained 47.9 27.69 24.33 A little more than one-quarter of the farms are wholly underdrained; that is, all the land set to fruit on one-quarter of the farms, while a little less than one- quarter of the farms are partly underdrained. In some places where there is a deep gravelly subsoil underdrainage is unnecessary. In one place west of Stoney Creek where posts were being set a distinct water current could be noted in the gravel subsoil, at the surface of the water table. Much of the undrained land could, however, be greatly benefited by the thorough underdrainage, although the area of land is small which is of little or no value unless underdrained. The season of 1909 being very dry during June, July and August, land which might under ordinary circumstances need underdraining, was in very good con- dition. In some orchards and with some varieties of fruit damage caused by lack of drainage was to be observed, but the extent of the damage could not be determined. Fektilizatiojs^ The district being devoted almost entirely to fruit growing it is difficult for the fruit grower to get sufficient quantities of farmyard manure. As a result a large number of the growers are using comraiercial fertilizers and other manures, with or without all the obtainable farmyard manure, as a means of keeping up the fertility of the land. Table 11 goes to show in a general way the extent to wdiich the different fertilizers are being used. The greater portion of the growers, 60 per cent., still use nothing but farmyard manure. To be more exact it would be better to apply the term stable manure instead of farmyard manure since the greater portion of it comes from city and nearby village stables. Table 11.— Fertilizers. Kind of fertilizer. No. farms. Per cent. Farmyard or stable manure 251 84 49 20 14 60.047 Stable manure and commercial fertilizer 20.095 11.720 Stable manure and ashes 4.784 Other fertilizers as sewage disposal, night soil, sludge, compost, cover 3.349 20.095 per cent, of the growers are using comanercial fertilizers along with the stable manure. 11.72 per cent, are using cover crops along with the manure, this method being most extensively followed on the heavier types of soil and in con- nection with apples, although to some extent with other crops. Ashes are recog- 108 KEPORT OF No. 33 nized as a valuable manure, and are used whenever obtainable, more growers recognizing their value than can obtain them. 4.784 per cent, of the growers use ashes as part of their regular fertilizers, while only 3.349 per cent, of the farms receive nourishment from fertilizers other than those mentioned. Of these sewage disposal, sludge, night soil and compost are m.ost eommo]i. In no case do the growers resort to one kind of fertilizer alone, except in the case of farmyard manure, but they do use special fertilizers for special crops, and invariably you will find that stable manure forms a part of the fertilizer applied to the farm as a whole. In only three or four cases do we find the fertility being kept up entirely without the use of farmyard manure, these cases being with cover crops, the cover crops used being clover or hairy vetch. The crops most frequently used for green manuring are clover, hairy vetch, peas, rye, rape and occasionally turnips sown thick. Ashes are valuable as a fertilizer and at the same timie they are an extremely scarce commodity. In one instance (Eeport Form 158) a fruit grower has used with great success ashes from an old soap factory which have been laying in an exposed heap for years, also air slaked and weathered lime from a lime kiln. The value of both the ashes and lime had been seriously depleted by exposure. but the low figures for which they were obtained rendered them very profitable fertilizers to use, and gave excellent results when liberally applied. Last season the results were especially noticeable on strawberries. The" farmyard manure made in the first section represents only a small portion of the manure used. Besides all the locally made manure large amounts are mauled from the villages and fromi Hamilton. Farther east where it is im- practicable to haul the manure from Hamilton it is shipped in by the car load, from Toronto chiefly. This trade in stable manure from Toronto is on the in- crease and fruit men are commencing to use mor.e or less extensively the Toronto compost and other stable manure. This manure shipped in costs the farmer in the neighborhood of thirty dollars per car load laid dovsm at the nearest station. Commercial fertilizers are being quite extensively used, and as the table in- dicates 20.095 per cent, of the fruit men are using it in somie form or other. Commercial fertilizers are used in connection with stable manure and for special crops, chiefly where quick returns from the manure are desired. As with all other commercial commjodities there are always a number of fruit men ready to give free information as to the uselessness of commercial fertilizers as a result of their own or their neighbors unsuccessful experiment with them. However, in most cases where commercial fertilizers have been used intelligently good results have been obtained. Results were especially noticeable with strawberries, raspberries and other simall fruits, and a number of growers had very striking results. Phosphoric acid, potash, and nitrate are being used separately and in various combinations as complete fertilizers. Among the fertilizers most extensively used are super phosphate, muriate of potash, nitrate of soda, bone meal, dried blood, bone and flesh and several forms of complete fertilizer. Some growers mix their own complete fertilizer in whatever proportions they desire from the special fer- tilizers. Tillage. Owing to the fact that the soil of the district varies from a heavy red clay to a light, deep, sandy soil with all the intermediate types, and that the fruits grown represent all the tender kinds as well as the apple, the treatment of the various types of soil differs with the soil and, to some extent, with the kind of fruit grown. Clay soil, for instance, requires quite different treatment than the 1911 FRUIT BRANCH. 109 sandy soil. It is unmistakably beyond the question of sod versus cultivation in the orchards. The question is what tillage methods will give the greatest returns for the labor applied. In a general way it may be stated that the heavier clay soils will require fall plowing in order to give the best results, while the li.rcht sandy soils give the best results when plowed in the spring. In both rnses the plowing is followed by thorough summer cultivation. From the informal Jon gathered no definite rule is applicable, but Table 12 will show the extent of tlie methods followed in regard to plowing: Table 12.— Timk of Plowing. When plowed. No. of farms. Per cent. Spring and Fall 285 90 44 8 66.743 Fall 21.077 Spring 10.304 Disc alone 1.850 Exactly two-thirds of the growers plow their fruit land both in the fall and spring. Twenty-one per cent, plow in the fall only, 10 per cent, plow in the spring only, and 1.85 per cent, use the disc harrow instead of the plow. This latter practice is followed only on the deep sandy land. In all cases, no matter when the land was plowed, the summer cultivation was much the same, being continuous surface cultivation throughout the season. If the grower used cover crops, cultivation usually ceased about the middle of July or first of August, and sometimes as early as the first of July. On the other hand, where clean cultiva- tion throughout the whole season is practised surface cultivation is continued somewhat latter. Some growers follow with more or less regularity the rule, cul- tivate until cultivation interferes with the crop. At any rate, the general practice is to cultivate regularly aijd cease before the thorough maturing of the new growth is interfered with. The frequency of cultivation during the summer will depend upon the ideas of the individual fruit grower, the type of soil, the extent of the weeds, etc. The number of times the land is cultivated will vary from three or four during the season to as often as twice weekly. In the majority of cases cultivation is continued until the end of July at least, and usually ceases before the first of September. Cover crops when used are sown between the first and last of July or first of August, depending on the season. The season of 1909 being dry, the destruction of weeds by cultivation was a comparatively easy matter, the result being that when the fruit grower found that the weeds would give no more trouble he ceased cultivation, instead of con- tinuing when cultivation was most essential for the conservation of soil moisture. A large number, but by no means all the growers, followed this method ; some going so far as to roll the land, making the surface compact, thus increasing evaporation and incurring upon themselves additional loss from drought. A striking example of the detrimental effects from plowing extremely light sandy peach land in the fall was shown in a peach orchard at Grimsby along the- lake shore. One-half of the orchard was fall plowed in 1908, and had no fruit whatever in 1909, while the other half not plowed in the fall of 1908, but in the spring of 19® 9 and exactly the same varieties, bore a heavy crop. 110 EEPOET OF Ko. 33 Pruning. The report form used was not adapted for reporting fully the cultural methods of the different kinds of fruit. Consequently in the case of pruning in particular the report had to be of a very general nature. In nnost cases, however, pruning is carried on more or less systematically and annually. A few fruit growers, however, such as those who have employment in the city and some others, neglect this important factor in the production of good fruit. As to the time of pruning, from late winter to early spring pruning is quite universal and necessarily so. June may be, and no doubt is, the best time to prune, but it is too busy a season for most growers even to consider pruning, and if left until June would be laid over for the year. Severity of pruning is so variable with the ideas and conceptions of th6 in- dividual fruit men that it is difficult to explain just what constitutes light, medium, or severe pruning. What one man considers heavy pruning another may consider it to be just medium or vice versa. The fact remains that good regular pruning is necessary for the best results, and while the greater number of the fruit men prune regularly, some of them do not prune thoroughly. From the information gathered it appears that the majority of the fruit men simply thin out their trees and head in or cut back when necessary to keep the tree within bounds. There are a number of fruit farms where the trees are exceptionally well pruned. Diseases and Insects. The codling moth, the worst enemy of the apple last season, was very numerous or scarce, depending upon the thoroughness and the extent of the spraying for its control. Those who made a study of this pest and sprayed thoroughly and at the proper time succeeded in controlling it, and in such cases the fruit was from 90 to 98 per cent, free from codling moth larvae, while in orchards where this pest was not closely watched or the spraying so thoroughly applied, as high as 80 per cent, of the fruit was affected. The codling moth larvae, although the worst pest of the apple, may be effec- tively controlled if closely observed and thoroughly sprayed for. Apple Scab. Owing to the dry season there was but little apple scab notice- able, and growers paid but little attention to its special control. Twig Blight. This disease affected a very large number of the bearing trees last year, and was in evidence to the greatest extent on trees which were carrying a crop rather than on trees for which 1909 was the off season. (See Bulletin 176, Ontario Department of Agriculture.) Pear Scab. Similar to the apple scab this disease was not as prevalent as in former seasons, but was quite frequently in evidence on the Flemish Beauty variety where spraying had been neglected. Pear Blight This is the most serious pest on the pear, works its ravages more or less regardless of seasons, and last season did a great deal of damage. (See Bui. 176, Ont. Dept. Agrl.) Plum Curculio. Although not so bad as previous seasons, the plum curculio did considerable damage in some places to the plums and apples. On the apple the fall work of the curculio was most in evidence, in some instances disfiguring large numbers of the fruits. Aphids. The unexpected outbreak of the aphids did considerable damage to all classes of fruit, and caused considerable alarm, but not sufficient to cause any radical steps to be taken. The aphids are seldom found in sufficient numbers to cause very serious damage, but are liable on certain favorable seasons to break out causing a good deal of damage. Last season the ravages of this pest were not 1911 FEUIT BEANCH. Ill confined to the fruit trees alone, but shrubs, ornamentals and forest trees, as well as fruit trees were alike attacked. A rainy season is usually an efficient check, and as last season was dry they seemed to develop unchecked. The damage done by the aphids was most noticeable on the apple, where it caused a great deal of the fruit to be woody, small and misshapen. It is doubtful, however, if there will be another outbreak of the aphids for some time. San Jose Scale. This scale insect, which is the most harmful insect we have, attacking all classes of fruit, is to be found to a greater or less extent in almost every part of the district surveyed. In most cases, however, it is being very effec- tively controlled. There are, however, a few cases where this pest is very bad, and is spreading almost unmolested within the orchards where it was noticed. In the vicinity of Stoney Creek the San Jose Scale is quite numerous, and in two or three cases practically nothing is being done to keep it in check, except the in- spector's axe, which might be used a little more effectively. Peach Leaf Curl. During last season peach leaf curl did a great deal of damage, and in connection with this disease some very convincing spraying results were to be observed. The spring of last year being wet and backward, rendered spraying at the proper time difficult. This gave the peach leaf curl a chance to develop, and it defoliated many orchards, causing a total loss of the crop. Where growers sprayed early and got their lime and sulphur applied before the wet weather set in, they succeeded in controlling the fungus diseases. These undisputable results will, no doubt, have their influence toward more thorough spraying in the future. Other diseases and insects, such as the Shot-hole Borer, Bud Moth, Oyster Shell Scale, 'Canker, Plum Eot, Peach Yellows, etc., were in evidence to a limited extent. Of these the peach yellows did the most damage, especially around Winona and Grimsby. In the vicinity of Orimsby the Yellows is spreading rapidly, and some of the fruit men fear a repetition of the outbreak of several years ago. In the case of the Yellows, as with the San Jose Scale, a more rigid enforcement of the law would be very beneficial. Spraying. The spring of 1909 was very unfavorable to thorough and effec- tive applications of the first spraying on the dormant wood. Spring opened with fine weather early, but before very much spraying was done the weather turned cold and wet, and continued for considerable time, or until it was too late to spray with lime and sulphur, or other dormant wood spray material. As a result a great many of the fruit growers did not get their first spraying done. The effect was to be observed in the enormous amount of peach leaf curl to which the Elberta variety seemed particularly susceptible. For the later sprayings on the foliage and the fruit the season was quite favorable, being dry after May 24th, and for the most part efficient results were obtained, especially with the codling moth larvae, and in fact all leaf eating in- sects and fungus diseases where the spraying was done thoroughly. Spraying Mixtures. The mixtures which may be considered as standard are lime and sulphur wash and Bordeaux mixture with a poison. Lime and sulphur wash is the mixture used almost exclusively on the dormant wood, either the commercial or the home-prepared being used. The home-prepared, self -boiled, and the commercial brands of lime and sulphur are becoming popular as mixtures for summer use. Experiments so far conducted have not proven conclusively their value, but they go to show that these preparations should and, no doubt, will be- come very effective preparations for summer spraying, against fungous diseases, 113 EEPOET OF No. 33 and with an arsenical added will make efficient insecticides as well. (For full study of lime and sulphur wash, see Bui. 177, Ontario Department of Agricul- ture.) The commercial brands of lime and sulphur which have been placed upon the market within the last few years are becoming quite popular and extensively used, due to the fact that they eliminate the dirty and rather laborious task of boiling the mixture. When properly applied these give quite satisfactory results, although to be as effective as the ordinary home-boiled mixture they usually have to be applied in a somewhat stronger solution than the manufacturers recommend, which makes the material cost considerably more than the home-prepared lime and sulphur wash. Bulletin 177 deals fully with these mixtures also. The chief brands of commercial lime and sulphur wash which are being used in Ontario are : Niagara, Vanco -and Eex. Bordeaux mixture, the standard summer spray, is too well understood to re- quire any comment here, except to state that a number of growers are using a great excess of lime over the amount ordinarily used. The poisons lead arsenate, calcium arsenite and Paris green, are all used as insecticides, lead arsenate being the most extensively used. Other spray mixtures, such as lead arsenate alone, Gillett's lye, tobacco water, whale oil soap and lye and other emulsions are being used to a very limited extent. Markets and Marketing. The fruits of the Niagara district go to a rather cosmopolitan market. A great deal of the fruit grown within handling distance of Hamilton is sold mpon the open market. During the fruit season buyers from Toronto and other cities purchase a good deal of fruit on the Hamilton market and have it shipped out, especially to Toronto by boat. The large portion of the fruit sold on the local market is for home consumption. Other markets which con- sume the output of the district are the commission markets in all the large cities of the Province and also Montreal, local fruit dealers and the private customers of the individual growers. Far too much of the annual output of the fruit finds its way to the com- mission market, which is not conducive to the best prices nor to the proper develop- ment of the industry. T.here is too great an opportunity for unfair dealings on the part of the commission merchant towards the producers who supply commis- sion markets. It is true that there are honest, reputable men in the commission business, and at the same time there are a few growers shipping fruit on commis- sion who have not suffered as a result of too great a trust in the commission busi- ness. There is little or nothing to commend the commission market to the fruit grower as an outlet for his fruit. It is absolutely impossible for him to tell whether he is receiving honest returns or not, and he has no means of finding out. On the other hand, the commission man has several ways in which he may outdo the fruit grower, such as reporting the fruit as arriving in bad condition. At best the system is a bad one, and the sooner tke growers co-operate in the marketing of their fruit- the sooner will these evils be reduced to a minimum. The dealer having his own private customers is possibly in the most desirable position. He is absolutely sure of his market, which is what he makes it, for he knows that he has to supply a first-class article, and as long as he does this his market will develop, but if he tries to pass off inferior goods on his customers it is himself that eventually suffers. The local dealers, as a rule, are supplying a similar trade to the grower with customers, but on a much larger scale, and they give better satisfaction to the 1911 FRUIT BRANCH. 113 grower than the commission market. The local dealer often buys more than he has a market for, and in this case he turns the surplus over to the present necessary evil^ the commission market. The western market is an ever increasing market which can consume all the tender fruit which the Ontario growers can place out there. The amount of fruit placed on that market is increasing annually, and when proper transportation is obtained there will be no excuse for the common complaint that the fruit business is being overdone. The most desirable condition and one which the growers are beginning to realize is an extensive co-operative system which would involve the whole district and absolutely control the entire output. Better markets could be obtained, better transportation facilities and shipping rates, a more staple and uniform grading which would result in uniformly better prices. Under such a system there would be less danger of a glut in the market as the output could be distributed more advantageously. The evil of the existing commission market would be overcome and also many other minor detrimental conditions which exist. To be convinced of this fact one only has to note the success of the co-operative societies already formed and the evils which the growers have to contend with in marketing their fruit where there are no united efforts. The Season of 1909. The season of 1909, we may say, broke in rather un- favorably, the spring being very wet and backward. Nevertheless, the crops for the most part were good. After the wet spring, June, July and part of August were very dry and some crops, such as plums,' were seriously interfered with. The plums dried up and dropped off in very large numbers, while the early peaches were inferior in size. The raspberry and strawberry crop was rather short as a result of the dry weather. Not only the dry summer, but also the wet spring, in- terfered somewhat with the peach crop, the wet season accounting partly for the enormous amount of peach leaf curl which was particularly bad on the Elbertas. On August 16th, when the dry weather was about to break, a severe rain and hailstorm swept over Grimsby ^dllage and vicinity, doing enormous damage to peaches and grapes in particular and also to the plums. The fruit was badly bruised, and in the case of peaches the whole side of the peach was often knocked off. Several growers estimated their loss at over the thousand dollar mark. Taking the season as a whole, crops were good throughout the entire district surveyed, except along the lake shore, from Stoney Creek west to Bartonville, a section where peaches have been a failure for a number of years. In conclusion the writer desires to thank the growers of the district for their hospitality and the courteous and willing manner in which they gave the informa- tion desired. ORCHARD SURVEY OF THE LAKE HURON SHORE. S. E. Todd and T. B. Faulds. PuRrosE. The purpose of this work was to make a general study of the hor- ticultural situation in the Lake Huron district; to examine the geographical, topographical, climatic conditions; to note in the different sections the extent of the industry, management and care given, advancement or retrogression shown in such things as acreage of fruit, interest in and profits derived from fruit culture ; 8 F.B. 114 EEPORT OF Xo. 33 and to note the causes of such advancement or retrogression; to study, in short, the district's horticultural conditions and more immediate necessities. Method. To obtain the desired information a farm-to-farm survey was planned and executed. A blank form, resembling those used for similar work in the various States of the Union which have prosecuted like studies, was used. This blank, when filled out, contained the following information : Name of owner, post oihce, county, location, site, township; acres in farm; varieties, number of trees, age and acreage of apples, pears, peaches, plums, cherries; acreage of bush fruits and distance of planting; type of soil, subsoil, drainage, tillage; if sod, kind and number of years so kept ; method of treatment ; spraying, fertilizers, pruning, with particulars of each, diseases and insects noted and present condition of orchards; yields, prices and income for three years back, also method of sale. Note was also made of any information regarding the section that could be gleaned while talk- ing to the farmer and fruit grower. Needless to say in many cases full informa- tion on all these points could not be obtained as farmers generally are poor book- keepers, but about fifty per cent, were able to supply fairly accurate information, so that the data gathered is fairly correct and can be relied on. No attempt was made to make a complete census of all the orchards in the district, but a sufficient number were visited in each section to give an accurate idea of conditions and to supply trustworthy information. In all about five hun- dred orchards were visited. In sections where little orcharding is done only suf- ficient time was spent there to ascertain the reasons for this and to study the topographical, soil and drainage conditions with a view to future possibilities. The figures for 1909, shown in the various tables, were obtained by correspondence. Comparatively few returns for 1909 were received from neglected orchards, and for this reason Table III. could not be completed for that year. Geographical Location. The geographical location of the district covered was what is known as the Lake Huron winter apple section, comprising those parts of the counties of Lambton, Middlesex, Huron and Bruce that border on, or approach. Lake Huron, and extending inland about fifteen to eighteen miles. The thick line on Map A indicates approximately the ground covered, but is not intended to denote the limit of the apple growing section, so far as climate is con- cerned. It would be a hopeless task to attempt to trace with any degree of accur- acy the limit of commercial apple growing eastward from the lake. The best part of the fruit section of Bruce 'County lies outside the line of the survey, but owing to lack of time could not be covered. Topographical Features. This district offers some very interesting studies in topography. Beginning at that point where Lake Huron narrows to the St. Clair Eiver and following eastward, the lake shore is low and mostly sandy till Perch, on the Chicago, Port Huron and Montreal line of the CT.R., is reached. From there a gradually rising bluff of stiff clay is found which extends to about the site of the old village of Hillsborough — now removed — a distance of eighteen miles. Against this bluff the restless waters of old Lake Huron beat remorselessly and continually wea,r away thq land and carry it out into the deep. At Hills- borough the bluff recedes inland gradually and the character of the land changes from clay to loam. The bluff recedes until at Mr. D. Johnson's, Forest, it is over a quarter of a mile from shore. The flat below at this point consists of a deep, rich, gravelly loam and clay with streaks of sand. Farther north, near Eavens- MAP A. [115] 116 REPOET OF No. 33 wood, the loamy bluff gives way to a strange formation indeed. Here the land becomes broken roughly into two parallel ranges of peculiar sand dunes. The peaks of many of these dunes rise to one hundred feet, and consist of drift sand which gleams brightly in the sun. This formation is about two miles wide and extends to Grand Bend, a distance of fourteen miles. At the lake shore, a short distance north of Grand Bend, the clay bluff begins agaiif and gradually rises until at Goderich it reaches a height of about 110 feet. The character of the bluff right at Goderich is gravelly, of which further note will be made. About a mile above the town the bluff changes to clay again and extends to within a miie of Kincardine, a distance of thirty- five miles, approximately sixty feet in height. Here the bluff recedes from shore again for nearly a mile — in places two miles — and becomes broken by many gullies. Much of the land below the bluff is broken and rocky. It is sandy around Kincardine, but stiff clay is again encountered farther north. The bluff is not so steep north of Kincardine, and presently becomes a hill 'which extends to Port Elgin, where the land is again loamy in character. Some miles inland is a gravel ridge which appears to be an ancient shore line extending, with only one or two breaks, continuously from a point about four miles from Sarnia, near Mandaumin, right through to Port Elgin. It would seem that the western base of this ridge is dead level for its entire length. From Mandaumin the ridge extends north-easterly, passing about a mile north of Wyoming, runs through Forest and on to Thedford. A little north of Thedford the character of the country changes suddenly. The eastern boundary of Lambton County at this point, is marked by the Aux Sables River, which flows northerly to the village of Grand Bend at the extreme north of the county. At this point and within eighty rods of the lake the river suddenly bends back and flows southerly, within a mile of the shore, down between the two great ranges of sand dunes noticed previously. The land lying within this great bend of the river is mostly low, flat and swampy, consisting of clay, black muck and sand. Beginning again near the northern boundary of Middlesex the gravel ridge runs northward, passes in the neighborhood of Dashwood, a little west of Zurich, and from there begins gradually to approach the shore until at Goderich the lake bluff itself consists of gravel and sand. This land immediately around Goderich would appear never to have been submerged. The ridge receding from the shore above (^oderich, passes northward through the eastern part of Ashfield Township and crosses into Bruce County, about a mile east of Lochalsh post office. From there northward the ridge becomes less marked, but appears gradually to approach the shore till at Port Elgin it again becomes a part of the lake bluff. It is a remarkable feature of the topography of this district that this gravel ridge is the division line between two soil types. East of this ridge the land is plainly glacial, while on thc^ west side it is just as plainly deposition soil. Here the land is mostly flat with a gentle slope to the lake, and in a great deal of this section the drainage problem is, or has been, acute. East of the ridge the land is gently undulating, but in the north-east part of "Warwick Township, and the south- east of Bosanquet in Lambton, and in the north-west corner of Middlesex, the undulations become more pronounced until they reach the dignity of hills. North of Thedford the land falls away abruptly to the river flats of the Aux Sables. The southern part of Huron County, east o^f the ridge, is gently undulating, the general trend being towards the lake. Farther north, however, in the central portion of the county the land becomes rolling, and in the Township of Wawanosh is very hilly. The greater part of the southern and western part of the County of Bruce MAP B. [117] 118 EEPOET OF No. 33 is flat, or gently rolling, but the Township of Kinloss resembles Wawanosh to the south of it. Soil. The character of the soil in the hilly regions east of the gravel ridge is exceedingly varied, consisting of glacial clay and gravel ridges with patches of loam and sand, notably in the region around Arkona in Lambton and Middlesex. The miore gently rolling and flat land is uniformly clay, or clay loam, with some patches of a lighter character. West of the ridge, with the exception of those patches below the bluff at the lake, the region of the sand dunes in Lambton around Goderich, Kincardine and Port Elgin, the soil is a clay or clay loam, for the most part overlaid with a deposition of varying depth and distance. In Lambton County and South Huron a great deal of the deposition is rich vegetable mould, while in Northern Huron a part is of the same nature and a part is of sand, which varies from a few inches to three or four feet in depth. Most of the latter land is called " Cold bottom land,'' because the clay subsoil holds the water, thus retarding pro- per drainage. That part of Bruce County west of the ridge is very like North Huron. Drainage. East of the ancient shore line in the glacial region the drainage problem is not great. Fruit trees in this region generally do not show any lack of drainage. West of the shore line, however, the case is very different. In many sections when the settlers in the early days planted a few trees they did not thrive because of poor drainage. In undrained or poorly drained land to-day the fruit trees there are very poor, flat-topped, scraggy and aifected with canker. The result. is that the people of these districts have grown away from the culture o«f fruit and have given their thoughts entirely to other lines of agriculture. How- ever, here and there are seen younger plantations on land that has been well drained, that are as fine as any in the whole district. In the flats west of Forest, extensive drainage work has been done, and here some of the healthiest and most remuner- ative orchards in the whole district are to be found. Plainly, drainage is the primary problem in fruit growing in these sections. Climate. The great area and depth of Lake Huron has a very marked effect on this whole district. So very marked is this effect that at Goderich, right at the lake shore, is to be found a block of about 500 peach trees ten years of age and looking well indeed considering the care they have received. At St. Josephs, Huron County, the thermometer seldom falls below minus 10 degrees F., while at the same time at Zurich about four miles inland, it registers about minus 18 degrees F. At Forest when the thermometer is at minus 10 degrees, at the lake shore northwestward below the bluff a distance of about seven miles, the thermometer registers 0 degrees, and, in fact seldom falls below this point. The district covered by the survey ;lies approximately betw'e'en latitude 43 degrees and 44 degrees 50 minutes. The altitudes vary from 582 feet at the shore line to 1080 feet at Blyth, Huron County. The temperature varies as per lines shown on mtap B. A temperature lower than minus 25 degrees F., is very exceptional in any part of the district covered, and the high humidity, particularly near the shore, is a powerful preventative of winter killing. There is practically no winter injury to apples south of Clinton. Extent and Present Condition of the Industry. Although apples have been grown in this district ever since the first settlers arrived, the industry is 1911 FEUIT BRAXCH. 119 still in its infancy. A fe\y sections are waking up to the immense possiTDilities of the country in which they are fortunate enough to be situated. In Lambton the people are beginning to have faith in their own county, and new plantations, both of apples and peaches, are being made. The older plantations are being better cared for, with the result that they are yielding and paying handsomely. In northwest Middlesex there is a section of loam land where considerable planting of fruit has been done, but which is very poorly cared for. In Huron County the most thickly planted apple section lies between Goderich and Bayfield, but only a few of these orchards are properly cared for. The central part of the county is also slowly growing into fruit, chiefly apples. That part of the County of Bruce included in this survey has only a few commercial orchards. The acre orchard, the usual size there, is generally poorly kept and very little new planting is being done. At one time quite extensive peacli plantations existed in Lambton, but when the "peach curl'^ hecame serious nothing was done to protect the trees which resulted in almost completely destroying not only all plantations there, but also the faith of the people in the business. If the apple trees of the County had died from the attack of scab, as did the peach trees of curl, it is quite probable that the apple industry would likewise have disappeared. About ten or twelve years ago, however, a few daring people planted again, and, with the aid of spraying, succeeded in overcoming the "curF'. These orchards are scattered over quite an area and denote fairly well what may be done in peach growing. The great freeze of 1904 did not seriously injure these plantations, and they are now bearing heavily. The result has been a revival of peach growing, and during the last two or three years thousands of tree® have been planted. There is quite a large area of "peach soiP^ in this county within the temperature limits of minus 10 degrees F. At St. Joseph, in Huron County, a small experimental peach orchard has been planted, and is now two years old and doing well. At Goderich, as already me^i-. tioned, there is a ten year old peach orchard now growing and bearing fairly well. What the possibilities of the future are can only be determined by further ex- periment. A glance at the accompanying map will show that practically all of Lambton County is south of the St. Catharines line and has a very similar situa- tion to the Niagara peach belt in relation to the lake. Here and there are found peach trees twenty-five years old still hale and hearty in spite of peach curl and bad pruning methods. Sour cherries are grown in various sections of the district covered, particularly in Colborne township, Huron County, and in parts of Lambton. The sour cherry prefers a sharp well drained soil. Sweet cherries are growing well in Colborne township, where the industry is increasing in importance. There are sweet cherries found here of considerable age and very thrifty appearance. The soil they grow best on there is a gritty glacial clay loam. The acreage of fruit set compared with the acreage available and suitable for planting is very small. In Lambton, the area set in fruit is increasing and the industry is attracting considerable attention. Orchards are receiving better care and the resulting increase in profits is attracting attention, and stimulating effort toward better cultural methods. Spraying is becoming general in this county, but much of it is poorly done. There is much need of improvement in spraying, cultivation and fertilizing. In north-west Middlesex there is a fine section of country with a considerable 120 REPOKT OF So. 33 acreage of apples, but little cultivation is done, and the apple industry is at a stand- still or going backwards. The causes seem to he poor selling methods and the general indisposition of the people to fight insects and fungus diseases. Scab and codling moth are very bad, but very little spraying is done. In south Huron very few conmnercial orchards are to be found, and those few are generally neglected. The people have given more attention to extensive grain and stock-farming, than to intensive fruit, dairy and poultry farming. However, even in this district the activity of the central part of the County is being felt, and a few young plantations of commercial size have been planted within the last five or six years. The great bulk of commercial orchards in Huron are found in the townships of Goderich and Colborne. A fair scattering is to be found in Stanley, north-west Tuckersmith, Hullett, Wawanosh, Ashfield, and Morris. In all these townships the acreage is increasing, quite a number of apple orchards being found, from one to six years old. The old orchards in this county are quite generally neglected and some con- tain many poor varieties. There is a general impression that an orchard forty years old is not worth taking care of. In contradiction of this impression some of the most remunerative orchards seen in the county are old, but are receiving proper care and management. It is very unfortunate that this impression has got so firm a hold in the minds of the people, as, where the varieties are good, there is no investment of money or time that will give such good results as that necessary to prune, spray, cultivate and fertilize these same old orchards. From results seen in Lambton County these old orchards will return 100 per cent, on the time and capital invested in them, but improved methods of culture and manage- ment must be adopted. The younger orchards are receiving somewhat better care, but even these are generally poorly managed. Spraying is anything but common and many orchards are cropped with grain while quite a percentage of orchards under twelve years old are in sod. However, there is an increasing interest in the industry, many orchardists reporting spraying this year for the first time. The outlook is hopeful and improving. In Goderich and Colborne Townships, interest is rapidly increasing, the difficulty which retards more thorough and intelligent orchard management being a lack of a proper selling system. With the adoption of co-operative selling methods, a great and immediate improvement in orcharding will undoubtedly take place. In that part of Bruce County covered by this survey the small orchards receive little care and are infested by insects and scab to a degree that makes better methods of management absolutely necessary if profits are ever to be realized from these orchards. The old orchards also have quite a large percentage of poor varieties. Very few young plantations are being made and the people generally do not recognize how much nature has favored them. Nursery Stock. Nursery stock is secured from various sources, both Can- adian and United States. Some of the stock is grown in Huron and Bruce Counties. Generally the apple stock is fairly good.. The peach stock, however, is poor. Big, overgrown, one and two year old trees are quite generally used which are headed very high. Some of the more experienced growers are finding how disastrous to success this class of stock is and are now buying trees three to four feet high, rather than five to six feet as previously. These are being headed about 16 inches from the ground with the result that fine young trees are being 1911 FRUIT BRANCH. 121 produced. Care should be exercised by prospective planters in securing suitable nursery stock, as the class of peach stock which has generally been planted in this section is considered worthless by experienced growers. Soil and Management. Of the orchards recorded about 70 per cent, were in sod and pastured. Of the remaining 30 per cent, about 12 per cent, were given clean cultivation and the remaining 18 per cent were cropped with grain, roots or hay. A study of the tables appended shows that cultivated orchards, given the same treatment as sod orchards, yielded in 1907, 12.5 barrels; in 1908, 13.5 barrels and in 1909, 13 barrels per acre in excess of orchards kept in sod. In the following tables neglected orchards were not reckoned. Table l. 1907. 1908. 1909. No. of • Bbls. per acre. $ per acre. Bbls. per acre. $ per acre. Bbls. per acre. $ per acre. Acres. Or- chards. Cultivated, sprayed, fertilized Sod, sprayed, fertilized, pastured Cultivated, cropped, fertilized 50 37.5 21 124 54 29 32 18.5 6 57 21.5 6 51 38 16 76 54 XB 147 238 64 29 36 11 These figures speak for themselves and need little comment. True, many good orchardists practise sod culture with fair results, and yet not only from the facts presented here, but also from observation during the summer, it is safe to say that it pays well to practise clean cultivation. Of those orchards receiving clean cultivation only a small per cent, are sowed to cover crop. The popular practice is to plow in spring, cultivate more or less thoroughly during the spring and summer until the middle of July or first of August and then let lie. If a cover crop of clover were sown when cultivation ceased a large amount of nitrogen and humus would be available to turn under in the spring, which would materially aid in solving the fertilizer problem in the orchard. The cropped orchards were not sprayed and therefore scarcely give a fair basis for comparison, but the average shows plainly that it does not pay to crop a bearing orchard. Insects and Disease. Of all the various elements that have entered into the conditions which of late years have discouraged orcharding in this district, insects perhaps are the most serious. Orchards that years ago gave aTDundant crops, have of late years become unproductive and unprofitable in a way that has been some- what of a mystery to the farmer and orchardist. Without a close examination the causes of this falling off in productiveness cannot be seen. The old unsprayed sod orchards of the district have become infested with bud moth, apple bucculatrix, cigar and pistol case bearers, to a degree that precludes all possibility of fruit- fulness. To the attacks of these insects have been added those of tent caterpillar, fall web worm and green apple aphis, the latter having this year in many cases almost ruined the crop. Against these minute creatures the farmer or orchardist who has not studied modern orcharding is utterly helpless. But by intelligent 122 EEPORT OF No. 33 application of the information given in the many bulletins on the subject not only can these insects be overcome but orchards that were thought to be past all use- fulness can be made to yield handsome profits. The better known enemies, scab and codling moth, are very destructive in all this district. These pests are especially bad in the southern part of the district and particular care should be given in Lambton and Middlesex to fighting these enemies. On the other hand, while oyster shell bark louse is found in the whole district, it is much worse in the northern sections where in many cases whole orchards are seriously affected by it. Apple canker is also becoming quite serious in some sections. It is not sufficiently bad, however, to give cause for alarm. In a short time, if neglected, its attacks may spread until it has become as serious as it is in the east. In the northern part of this territory where canker occurs it is found almost invariably in trees affected by sunscald. Now is the time to deal with this disease before it becomes serious. Sunscald is found almost entirely in trees having an open habit of growth or where they are headed very high and pruned out severely in the centre. Sunscald can be entirely overcome in this district by proper and reasonable methods of heading and pruning. Spraying. Spraying intelligently done, will certainly contrdl a;ll the orchard insects in the district. The many failures reported where spraying has been tried for a year or two and dropped, tell nothing of the value of spraying, but speak eloquently of the need of intellligent knowledge of spraying and thorough applica- tion of spraying mixtures as well as a knowledge of the insects and fungi, the orchardists are attempting to combat. Only a comparatively small number of those people who are practising spray- ing are doing the work just at the proper time, or doing it with sufficient thorough- ness. There is a proper time to spray, and one spraying done just at the right time does much more good than two or three sprayings done at other times. Doing the work at the right time is a splendid form of labour saving. In spite of the poor spraying practice so general in the district, the fdlowing tables give conclusive evidence that it pays to spray, even in a way far from being perfect. In compiling these tables it was found necessary to use sod orchards for comparison. An inter- esting fact may be noted here. The man who takes the trouble jtp practise clean cultivation in nearly all cases believes in and practises spraying. For this reason, a sufficient number of orchards subjected to clean cultivation and not sprayed could not be found to compare with those receiving clean cultivation and sprayed. The tables are a comparison, then, of orchards kept in sod, pastured, fertilized and sprayed against similar orchards not sprayed. Neglected orchards were not in- cluded in these computations. Table 2. Average per acre. 1907 1908 1909 Total No. of Sod sprayed Bbls. 38 32i $ 51 35 Bbls. 18 16 $ 22 11 Bbls. 40 50 $ 54 44 Acres 252 448 Orchards. 38 Sod unsprayed 119 1911 FKUIT BEANCH. 123 The coimparatively large number of orchards unsprayed indicates how much this method of increasing the profits from orchards is neglected, and the table shows plainly how much can be gained by spraying. Where spraying is thoroughly done at the right time the value of the crop can be very much increased in an ordinary year. Fertilizing. The man who has become suiEciently advanced in orcharding to cultivate his orchard, generally fertilizes as well as sprays, "but even he does not sufficiently recognize the value of some form of potash and phosphate mianures. For this purpose unleached wood ashes are perhaps the best and cheapest form of potash and phosphate fertilizers available. Several men report using commercial fertilizers with excellent results. A more thorough knowledge of the requirements of orchards in order to get the highest degree of f ruitfulness as well as a more com- plete knowledge of fertilizers generally is very much needed by orchardists. Barn- yard, manure, while being a good general manure, is too rich in nitrogen in proportion to the percentage of potash and phosphates, to give the best results obtainable in orcharding. This is especially true where clover is used as a cover crop, as it, too, is rich in nitrogen. , In cultivated orchards the growing of cover crops should be more generally practised as an easy way of securing a large amount of nitrogen annually. Then, by a judicious use of phosphate and potash fertilizers, along with barnyard manure a high degree of f ruitfulness may be obtained. Even in sod orchards fertilizing is more generally practised than is spraying. Barnyard manure is almost exclusively used. Many orchardists who practise pasturing calves, sheep or hogs in their orchards expect the droppings from these animals to be sufficient fertilizer. They forget that they are taking two crops off the land, i.e. one of calves, sheep or hogs, and the other of apples. It has been found that fields subjected to pasture for many years gradually become exhausted, although possibly richer at the surface. The grass in its effort to produce pasture for the animals, robs the orchard of much fertility. Surely then an orchard sub- jected to pasture requires regular applications of fertilizer. The appended tables were computed from a list of unsprayed orchards. As in previous tables badly neglected orchards were not reckoned. Table 3. Average per acre. 1907 1908 Total No. of Sod fertilized Bbls. 34 25 $ 35 28 Bbls. 12 18 $ 12 8 Acres 192 193 Orchards. 39 Sod unfertilized 46 In 1908 the number of barrels yielded by unfertilized orchards is in excess of the fertilized orchards, but even then the number of dollars received was greater in the fertilized orchards as in very many cases orchards unfertilized and un- sprayed are forced to market their product to the evaporator. Sufficiently accurate figures on this point were not obtainable to report for this year (1909). Headixg and Pruning. In heading an orchard two main objects should be kept in view: 1. Health of the trees. 2. Ease in handling, i.e., cultivating, pruning, spraying, harvesting. Grenerally speaking only one feature has been kept in view in 124 EEPORT OF No. 33 lieading orchards^, and that is, ease in cultivating. Trees have been pruned up and up with the object of bwng able to drive a team tinder them, leaving long bare trunks which in the more tender or " straggly " growing varieties have become sunscalded, cankered and finally killed outright. In many cases this extreme high heading has defeated the very object for which it was intended, as so much light was admitted below the lower limbs that lihe under limbs began to grow downwards towards the light. When to this method of heading is added a systemi of pruning that cuts all the centre out of the tree and forces all the fruit to be borne on the tips of the branches, a condition occurs the very reverse of what the orchardist aimed at, namely, ease in cultivating. The tips of the branches are all pulled down toward the ground in such a way as to make it impossible to cultivate. The common practice of pruning all the middle out of a tree has resulted in two very bad conditions. It has forced the trees to bear their fruit at the tips of limbs, that is at the weakest place. The result has been a breaking down of many trees; in others unnecessary dropping of the branches has been caused. Trees pruned very open in the centre are subject to sunscald with the resultant injur}^ or death of the tree. Peach trees depend very much for their fruitfulness on a proper system of heading back, and this should be studied by the peaCh growers of the district aa very few are pruning their trees in a proper manner. Thinning. A very few orchardists are thinning their fruit on the tree. This year (1909) owing to the bunching of the fruit on iLe trees as a result chiefly of apple-aphis injury, the need was especially great. Many orchards would easily have yielded double the amount of money to their owneis if a little time had been spent in thinning. A most remarkable difference could be seen in the orchards of those men who thinned this year as compared with the unthinned orchards. Thinned orchards this year sold at $1.75 per barrel on the tree, as compared with $1.00 for unthinned. Then, when the fact that a thinned orchard yields double the number of barrels of saleable apples, the great gain can easily be reckoned. The cost of thinning, as computed by experienced men is 5c. per barrel. Another important advantage gained by thinning is in securing annual crops. By removing a part of the crop this year, the tree in place of expending all its, energies in the attempt to mature its fruit, can expend a part of its energies in forming fruit buds for next year. This argument alone is a convincing proof of the usefulness of thinning. Harvesting. The manner of harvesting varies directly with the manner of sale. Where orchards are sold outright to the buyer the packing gang very often picks the fruit. In other cases the fruit is picked and piled on the ground from where it is again handled by the packers. The method of piling on the ground is very objectionable as rain or frost may seriously injure the crop before it is packed. When the picking is done by the packing gang in many cases con- siderable breaking of the trees occurs owing to rough handling. Selling. There are four systems of selling the apple crop. 1, To the apple buyer; 2, shipping direct to the wholesalers at the point of consumption; 3, to evaporators; 4, through co-operative associations. The first method is the one usually adoped. In some cases the apples are sold by the orchard on the trees, or are bought by the barrel either on the tree or picked. In either case the huyer usually does the packing. 1911 FRUIT BRANCH. 125 i There are many objections to selling to apple buyers. In many cases the apples pass through four or five handlers before they reach the consumer. This reduces the price of the apple to the producer to such an extent as to discourage the orchard industry generally. Another objection is that the seller is placed in the position of taking what he is offered by the buyer, whereas he should be in a position to place a fair price on his product, and get it. Still another objection is that comipetition, which is often keen among buyers, causes a flat rate to be paid for all kinds of apples. This discourages those inclined to do so from adopting more modern methods of culture and management. A word in defence of the apple buyer should be said right here. Many of these men are honestly trying to do their best under the circumstances, and the trouble really lies in the system itself rather than with the individual buyer. In spite of the discouragemients due to bad selling systems, quite a number of men are adopting modern orchard practice and have tried shipping direct to the point of consumption. A fair number of these report reasonable success. Where the grower is alone in his section this is probably the best method of sale. One of the chief objections to it is that unless the sales are made f.o.b. the commission man very often reaps nearly all the profits. A modification of this system is re- ported as working very well. The grower picks, packs, and stores his apples; then he places a price on them, and sometimes sells to a local apple buyer with fairly good results. The third method of sale, i.e., to the evaporators, has become quite common in those sections where orchards are generally neglected. This is perhaps the best possible method of selling the poor class of apples produced in such orchards. In some cases the owner of the evaporator ships a certain percentage of these apples and cures the rest. The trouble with this method is that it offers absolutely no encouragement to better methods of production. A flat price is paid for the whole crop, good and bad. The apples are shaken from the trees, and here again poor orchard practice is encouraged. As a means of marketing culls the apple evapor- ator certainly has a place. The fourth method, by co-operative associations, is the one that undoubtedly gives best results in marketing all kinds of fruit. In that part of Lambton County included in this survey there are two of these associations, working under the name of the Forest Fruit Growers' Association and the Arkona Fruit Growers' Association, respectively. A very marked difference is evident in the interest in, methods of mjanagement of, and profits received from, orchards whose owners are members of these societies as compared with many others. In those sections where the associations are strong, orcharding is rapidly increasing, and everyone, bankers, tradesmen of the towns, as well as farmers gen- erally, are awakening to the value of fruit-growing as a great wealth-producing factor in the county. A computation has been made of the yields and sales per acre from the better class of orchards sold to buyers as compared with orchards sold through associations. The remarkable difference in the yields shows how juuch co-operative sales stimulate increased production. Table 4. [ Average per acre. 1907. 1908. 1909. Total No. of Sold through Associations Sold to buyers Bbls. 53 26 $ 81 32 Bbls. 20 15 $ 42 13 Bbls. $ 51 80 35 35 Acres. 103 972 Orchards. 22 123 126 KEPORT OF Xo. 33 The advantages of co-operative sale are : A large quantity of fruit is placed on the market of a uniform quality and under one brand; an absolute guarantee of quality can be given, which gives the buyer confidence in the goods; sales can be made more directly to the consumer than can be done through the ordinary buyer; in many cases sales are made f.o.b. at the shipping station, thus throwing the risk of transportation on the buyer at the consumer's end; better transporta- tion rates can be secured by acting in concert; good orchard practice is encour- aged; even distribution is secured, as the manager has a large quantity of fruit directly under his control, and, by conferring with other co-operative managers, can regulate the flow of fruit into any one market. The seller is also placed in the desirable position of being able to fix a price for his fruit. A combination of all these advantages insures larger net returns to the growers, with the resulting rise in value of property occupied in orcharding. Evaporators. — Judging by the number in the district, the evaporator busi- ness must be a very profitable one. An evaporator is found in nearly every town and village in the whole district. These offer an easy but not very profitable mar- ket for the apple crop. In some sections a great many people market their whole crop to the evaporator. The price paid runs in the neighborhood of twenty-five cents per hundred pounds. Canneries. — ^There are no canneries in the whole district. The small acreage of canning crops have not been sufficient to induce the establishment of a factory. Of late years, however, the amount of canning crops grown in the district around Arkona in Lambton doubtlessly offer as good investment for capital in this enter- prise as does any other section of Ontario. The nearest cannery is eighteen miles east of Arkona, at Strathroy. There is no reason why certain sections of this dis- trict should not grow canning crops equal to the best in Ontario. Yields^ Prices and Profits. — In the various tables given the yields and prices received from various methods of handling orchards and selling the apples are shown. These results are now brought under one head in the following table: Table 5. 1907. 1908. 1909. Average yield in bbls. for 3 years. Average prices per acre for 3 years. Average prices per bbl. for 3 years. Total No. of Acres. Or- chard. Cultivated, sprayed and fertilized . . . Sod, fertilized, sprayed, pastured Cultivated, grain crop *Sod, sprayed, fer- tilized Sod, unsprayed and fertilized *Sod, fertilized, un- sprayed fSod, unfertilized, unsprayed Sold through asso- ciations Sold to buyers Bbls. $ 50 37.5 21 38 32 34 25 53 26 124 54 29 51 35 35 28 81 32 Bbls. 32 18.5 6 18 16 12 18 20 15 $ 57 21.5 6 22 11 12 8 42 13 Bbls. 51 38 16 40 50 51 35 76 54 16 54 44 80 35 44.5 31.3 14.3 32 32.66 23 21.5 41.3 25.3 $ c. 85 66 43 00 13 66 42 33 30 00 23 33 18 00 67 66 26 66 $ c. 1 93 1 38 0 95 1 32 0 92 1 01 0 84 1 64 1 06 147 238 64 252 448 192 193 103 972 29 36 11 38 119 39 22 123 * Different groups of orchards from the ones above. Compare the two. t Results for two years. 1911 FEUIT BRANCH. 127 The consistency of the above figures is remarkable. In working out the tables it was necessary in order to have a fair comparison to use different groups of orchards handled in the same manner. The close resemblance of these figures proves their truth in an undoubted manner. Take for instance the two groups of sod orchards, both sprayed and fertilized, and note the close relation existing between these figures throughout. Likewise in sod orchards unsprayed but fertil- ized the relation existing between the two groups is very remarkable, although there is a great difference in the acreage and number of orchards. This table brings out very clearly the effect on the price received per barrel through different methods of orchard management. These, arranged in order of price, give the following: Cultivated, sprayed and fertilized $1.90 per bbl. Sod, fertilized, sprayed and pastured 1.40-1.30 " " Sod, fertilized, unsprayed 1.00- .93 " " Cultivated, cropped, unsprayed, fertilized 93 " " Sod, unfertilized, unsprayed 88 " '' Not only do proper methods of management give increased yields, but it is evident from the above figures that they materially increase the price per barrel. Transportation. — A glance at the map will show that much of the best situated fruit land of this district is very poorly supplied with railways. Apples, being a bulky product, cost heavily for transportation, and where the distance from a railway is great the cost of hauling eats up the profits from the orchard. There is also a serious lack of really good harbors on the lake shore, thus making good land transportation absolutely necessary to rapid development in orcharding. That section of country from Port Elgin to Sarnia should offer excellent oppor- tunity for an electric power line. As this district develops into fruit, population must increase, with a resultant increase in railroad traffic. An electric power line is now being built from Kincardine to Goderich. The greatest acreage of orch- ards in a block in the County of Huron lies south of Goderich, and it must be only a question of time until this section is supplied with good transportation facili- ties. A few months ago a Goderich paper published a proposed plan of an electric line for the county. These proposals should receive the careful consideration of every landowner and fruit grower in the district, as there is no doubt that the low price of land and the lack of advancement in orcharding is largely due to poor transporta- tion facilities. Competing lines of railroad in this district would also make the railroads now in existence there a little more desirous of giving good service than they are at present. One large shipper made the following statement : " Cars of apples to be forwarded by boat, loaded at Tara, within twenty-five miles by rail of Owen Sound, were sent to Sarnia, and allowed to lie three weeks at the docks before being loaded on the boat.'' Many similar complaints have been made, and it would seem imperative that some steps should be taken to induce the railroad companies to give more prompt and direct service. It is surprising, with the large amount of fruit grown, the numbers of cattle, swine, horses, etc., raised, and the large and increasing popularity of many places on the shore line as summer resorts, that this district is so inadequately supplied with railways. Markets. — The district is favorably situated to reach the western and northern markets, as well as those of Europe and the Old World. The co-opera- tive associations and a few private individuals have shipped successfully for some years to Britain and the West. Peaches and tender fruits are usually shipped to 128 REPOET OF No. 33 such towns as Sarnia, London, Stratford, Chatham, Guelph, Toronto, and Sault Ste. Marie, and find there a fairly good market. There are, of course, unlimited opportunities in the distant markets. Population. — The movement westward has greatly affected this whole dis- trict. This is especially noticeable in those townships where little fruit has been planted. There the farms have increased in size so much that scarcely one-half of the houses are occupied. In some sections not more than forty per cent, of the population that existed twenty years ago is to be found to-day. On the other hand, in the sections where much fruit is planted, the increase in the size of farms is not nearly so noticeable, empty houses are fewer, and population generally is much more dense. It would seem that the movement westward began to take place about the same time that European markets became available for Canadian fruit, with the result that those sections which already had considerable fruit began to plant more and thus created conditions which vied in attractiveness with the in- ducements of the West. The following table shows population from 1880 to 1909. Note the continuous decrease in every case: Table 6. Lambton. Huron. Bruce. Dates. 1 s 1 < 1 i 1 i 1 s 1 ^1 II Total. 1881 3,451 3,079 2,585 2,430 2,429 2.493 2.517 2.389 1.573 1,284 1,187 997 1,101 1,059 943 996 3,704 3,380 3,445 2,892 2,979 2,352 2,485 2,418 2,192 1.890 1,647 1,342 1,281 1,326 1,446 1,451 1,700 1,430 1,213 1,097 1.042 976 1.010 1,010 2,205 1,643 1,342 1.142 1,102 1,063 1,140 1,028 2,975 3,287 3,698 3,722 3,834 3,780 3,732 3,532 2,546 2,341 2,095 1,632 1.657 1.649 1,598 1,903 598 555 652 668 681 760 769 845 **592' 645 647 21.044 18,889 17,864 15,922 16,106 16,050 16,285 16,221 1891 1901 1905 1906 1907 1908 1910 Decrease 4 823 Land Values. Land values vary in this township as well as in any other part of the country. They depend greatly upon the proximity of the land to a town or village, which is really the shipping point. At the present time the value of land along the main road between Picton and Wellington is in the neighborhood of one hundred dollars per acre. Passing out into the country from points along this road, the land may be obtained at different prices, all depending upon the dis- tance from town, nature of the land, and the condition of the buildings. On the whole, the price of land is not exorbitant throughout the township. Possibilities. Prince Edward County, like many other counties, is just awakening to the fact that it is capable of producing fruit of a first-class quality. The apple is the principal fruit grown, and when the orchards are looked after the results obtained are excellent. Pears and plums are grown in such small quanti- ties that they were not considered. Cherries are grown in small quantities, but with considerable success. Two orchards visited during the survey were doing fine, having made an excellent growth and looking well. Smaller fruit, such as strawberries and raspberries, are grown in small quantities, and their sale is largely to the canning factory. From the previous statement with regard to topography and transportation it may be seen that the county is well situated with regard to markets, and that the means of transportation both by water and land are on the whole fair, and will improve as time and necessity demand it. On the whole, the outlook for fruit growing in Prince Edward County is very favorable, and this important industry will without doubt increase in extent as the people awaken to the possi- bilities at hand. 1911 FEUIT BRANCH. 141 CANNING CEOPS OF HALLOWELL TOWNSHIP IN PRINCE EDWARD COUNTY. By J. E. Smith. Introductory. Prince Edward County has long enjoyed an enviable repu- tation for the production of canning crops on a commercial scale. Though with the smallest area of any of the counties, yet to-day it provides the raw material for fifteen out of the fifty-seven canning factories in this Province, with a cor- responding percentage of the total annual pack. That part of Prince Edward comprising Hallowell Township contributes approximately seventy-five per cent, of the total output for the county, and it is the purpose of this article to give as clearly as possible an insight mto the conditions of the industry as I have found them in that township. The field work for this report was carried out largely by W. H. Robertson, who in March last was appointed by the Fruit Division of the Ontario Depart- ment of Agriculture to make a farm to farm survey of the entire township. Dur- ing his investigation Mr. Robertson visited each of the 274 farms producing fac- tory crops. My connection with the Prince Edward branch of the Department of Agriculture at Picton, and the experimental work carried on by that office, kept me continually in close touch with the practical field work of the grower, so that the figures and estimates given are as accurate as was possible for us to obtain. In some instances, however, the growers for various reasons were unable to supply us with figures regarding acreage, yields, varieties, etc., for more than the past year. Of the canning crops grown for factory purposes, beans, peas, corn and toma- toes are by far the most important, and of these the three last named form the main crop. This investigation will be confined, therefore, chiefly to these three, and particularly to the last two, as the area devoted to the production of the corn and tomato crops greatly exceeds the total acreage in the other two. History. Both the corn and the tomato are natives of America. The order " Solanacese,^^ or Nightshade Family, to which the tomato belongs, contains over twelve hundred species, among which are three of our most wholesome and im- portant vegetables — the Irish potato, the tomato, and the egg-plant. This family also includes the red-pepper, and the narcotics, bitter-sweet, belladonna and the tobacco plant. The tomato was originally thought to be poisonous, but in 1781 we find it being grown for culinary use in Virginia. In the twenty years foUow- ^"ffj it gradually came into favor, and in 1812 we find it quoted on the New Orleans market. As a canned article of trade, tomatoes were first introduced at Easton, Pa., in 1848, by Harrison W. Crosby, Steward of the Lafayette College. The original cost per can was about five times that of the present. The canning of corn and tomatoes in Ontario on a commercial basis dates back some thirty years. In 1881 Messrs. Wellington Boulter and Gilbert Barker erected and started into operation canning factories at Picton and Bloom field, in Prince Edward County. To these two men, then, belongs the honor of pioneering an industry which to-day has assumed a remarkable magnitude. Regarding the recent growth of the tomato industry alone in Ontario, the total number of bushela paid for by the canneries has increased from 132,000 in 1891 to 1,400,000 in 1908; the cases packed, from 88,000 to 880,000; the cans, from 1,992,000 to 21,124,000; the value of the pack, from $190,000 to $1,672,000, and the price paid to tJie growers, fromi $26,400 to $386,600. The total output of the factories 142 KEPORT OF No. 33 of Hallowell Township in all canned vegetables during 1910 was about 500,000 cases, valued at $1,250,000. The following is a list of the canning factories in Hallowell Township : Consolidated (Dominion CannerSj Limited). Bloomfield Packing Co., Bloomfield. Farmer's Canning Co., Bloomifield. Old Homestead Canning Co., Picton. Lakeside Canning Co., Wellington. Boulter & Sons, W., Picton. Miller & Co., A. C, Picton. Wellington Packing Co., Wellington. Independent. Saylor Co., A. B., Bloomfield. i Hyatt & Sons, J. W., West Lake. Orser & Sons, J. B., Chisholm. I IMorden & Sons, A. A., Wellington. Soils of the Tov^nship. In regard to the soils of the township, a few words will not be amiss. As in most other districts of a rolling nature, we find here also a wide range in the character of the soils, variations being found all the way from heavy or gravelly clays to light sand, with clay or sandy loams as the predominating ones. As for subsoils, clays or gravelly clays are the prevailing types. Apart from its splendid harbor and beautiful location, Picton, the county town, possesses the advantage of being the centre of the canning industry. To the east of the town, along the south shore of the bay, the land rises sharply until, a half-mile back, an elevation of 150 feet is reached. This northwesterly slope of land, extending along the bay to the eastern limit of the township, is of a gravelly clay nature, with a heavy clay subsoil — rather cold for the production of canning crops unless well underdrained. Along the summit of this elevation the Trenton limestone outcrops, and from this line to the eastern limit, the soil, for the most part clay or clay-gravel and with little slope, is seldom found with sufficient depth to withstand a dry season. This elevation extends also away to the south of the town until, near the township line of Athol and Hallowell, it turns slowly to the east into South Marysburg. The land Ipng to the east and above this ridge is invariably a heavy clay, with Ifttle depth to the rock, similar to that above the ridge just east of Picton. Below this ridge the soil has much greater depth and is more suited to growing crops of any kind. Directly to the south-west of Picton and extending as far as Athol Township, the country is quite rolling, almost regular ridges varying from one-half to a mile apart, reaching in a north-east and south-westerly direction. These ridges are invariably of a sandy nature while the land between, always heavier, is for the most part clay or Hjlack' clay-loam with a heavy clay subsoil. That part of the township lying directly south of West Lake is peculiar in its formation. A light sandy soil is found for some distance back from the lake, with a sandy loam farther south and this again gradually blending into a deep clay before the town- ship line is reached. 1911 FRUIT BRANCH. 143 North and west of Picton the soil is mostly loamy clay with a deep imperv- ious clay subsoil. This extends both north and north-west to the limits of the township. The slightly rolling nature of this region affords fair natural drainage, though in many of the flat reaches, artificial drainage is greatly needed. Between Picton and the town of Bloomfield, and within a four-mile radius of the latter place, is to be found probably the finest agricultural section in the county. Ex- cellent drainage is afforded by the undulating nature of the district, while the soil — a rich clay loam with a gravelly subsoil, can scarcely be excelled in the production of the various canning crops. The land extending beyond this radius to the north of the township is also of excellent quality, though slightly heavier and hence a colder soil. Along the north shore of West Lake a gravelly sand ridge extends to the town of Wellington. North of this ridge, to the township line, the land is a pre- vailing gravelly lime stone clay loam, with here and there a heavier gravelly clay. The subsoil is invariably clay or gravelly clay except in a few instances nearer the lake where a marl subsoil was found. Only a portion of this district concerns itself in the production of canning crops, the remainder being engaged in orchard- ing and mixed farming. Climate. Being practically an island. Prince Edward County enjoys a climate less rigorous and fickle than that of its neighbors to the north. The winters are tempered by the proximity of Lake Ontario and extremes of summer heat are infrequent. There is also that protection from, late spring and early fall frosts, which only the proximity of a large body of water affords. During June, July, August and September, there are from 100 to 120 days reasonably free from frost, in which time a crop may be grown and matured. During this season the day temperature will average from 72 degrees to 90 degrees Fahr., with 15 degrees to 20 degrees lower at night. If to this length of season, a week of May be added, the season is amply long, if proper attention has been given to the crop. The following figures compiled from the Report of the Bureau of Industries give approximately the average monthly range for the past 28 years, and the monthly temperature for 1909. Highest. Lowest. Average per month. Average for past 28 years, 1882-1909. Highest. Lowest. Average, January . . February . March April May June July August . . . September October . . . November December . 56.8° -6.2° 46.0 —3.1 44.8 6.1 65.5 11.1 80.1 29.1 87.9 38.0 85.4 42.2 86.9 40.1 90.5 36.1 77.3 24.1 68.3 5.1 47.8 .9 24.3° 25.1 28.6 37.9 49.5 62.0 64.8 67.2 58.7 45.5 40.4 25.5 43.3° — 7.r 44.6 11.2 53.4 —3.0 72.6 15.1 80.0 28.4 85.5 37.5 87.2 43.4 1 86.1 41.8 84.8 34.2 74.3 24.8 60.9 13.9 49.3 —0.1 21.0° 19.2 26.6 40 51 60, 66 1 2 9 5 64.5 59.3 47.7 36.8 26.7 144 REPOET OF No. 33 Average temperature for June, July, Aug. and Sept., 1909, 63.1 degrees Fahr. Average Temperature for year 1909, 44.1 degrees. " " " past 28 years, 43.4 degrees. Total Precipitation for the year 1909, 36.21 inches. Average annual Rainfall, 26.87 inches. Increase in Acreage of Vegetable Crops. The production of canning crop within the township has shown a marked increase in the last few years. Un- fortunately we were unable to secure, for various reasons, accurate figures of the acreage and yield for more than the past two seasons. In 1909, the total area devoted to the production of canning crops, other than berries, was 2,461 acres. Last year, this was increased to 3,324 acres, or 34 per cent, more than the previous year. In the following tables will be found the number of growers, total acreage and average per grower for the years 1909 and 1910. Acreage in Peas. Year. Number of Growers. Total Acreage. Average Acreage per Grower. 1909 155 207 540^ 7431 3.48 1910 3.5 Increase 52 203i .02 ACREAGE IN CORN. 1909 192 236 l,390f l,855f 7.3 1910 7.86 Increase 44 465 .56 Acreage in Tomatoes. 1909 188 219 530 699 2.82 1910 3.19 31 169 .37 TOTAL Canning Crops. Year. No. of growers. Total acreage. Average acre- age per grower. 1909 248 273 2,461 3,324 9.97 1910 12.18 Increase 25 86 2.21 Only 25 acres of beans were grown for the factories in 1910 1911 FKUIT BRANCH. 145 The Growing of Tomatoes fue the Canning Factories. Varieties. There are a great number of varieties of the different canning crops grown ^vithin the township, but only certain varieties have given general satis- faction to both grower and canner. Of the tomatoes there are 15 varieties, of which the Worden, Baltimore, Chalk's Jewel, Bonnie Best and I.X.L. are the favorites. While scarcely as early as many of the others, tlie Worden commends itself in being a vigorous grower, a heavy yielder, and specially suitable for canning. The later pickings are much smoother and more uniform than the early ones. This variety is of local origin, though its exact source is not definitely known. It is the most popular variety in the whole county. The Baltimore is also one of the old favorities, late growing but a good cropper. Chalk^s Jewel is earlier than the Worden, but is inclined to run off in size. The Bonnie Best is an early variety lately introduced into the township. Like Chalk's Jewel it is a good cropper, fairly smooth, scarcely so luxuriant or late growing and has also a slight tendency to run small in the late pickings. Special seed selection with this variety promises much improvement to one that is already a good canner. The I.X.L. is our earliest variety of canning tomato. A trifle more delicate than other varieties, but it is a heavy yielder on rich soils and ranks first with the canner. It carries a low percentage of seed and thus a high percentage of flesh. The fruit is large and fairly smooth, but the variety tends to run down unless careful seed selection is practised. The Earliana, with its large round fruit, makes a good early shipper, but only a few selected strains are of much value to the canner, the others being too soft and juicy, and not ripening well on the stem end in the late pickings. The other varieties of tomatoes grown for the factory are : Perfection, Successs, Early Baltimore, Stone (very late). Matchless, Favorite, King of Early, Mammoth, Naturalist and Livingstone, none of which can be specially commended to the grower. Best Soils for Canning-crop Production. Large yields of canning crops can be and have been obtained from soils of varying composition — from the deep "hia^ck" clay, muck soils, clay loams, sandy loams and even in the light sandy soils provided the other conditions, such as drainage, tilth and fertility, are favorable. But a maximum crop can never, and a full crop very seldom, be produced on any soil, no matter what its composition, if it is poorly drained, sodden or sour, in a poor state of tilth or too leachy to hold sufficient moisture or available plant food. By the above statement, I do not mean to say that these crops can be produced as cheaply on one soil as on another. This could not be so as the cost of keeping some soils in good physical condition is much greater than with others. A clay sail requires much more cultivation and care than a lighter one, tends to " puddle " more readily in wet weather and to bake when dry. For these reasons, our choice of a soil for the production of tomatoes at the lowest cost per bushel and for maximum; yields, should be a rich deep sandy or light clay loam with a well- drained clay subsoil. In saying this I do not wish to discourage the man on the heavy clay or muck soil farm, who, although he will find his cost of production somewhat higher, can raise maximum yields from either of these soils by an adequate system of cultivation and crop rotation. In the case of corn and peas the types of soil best suited for the production of maximum or full crops at the lowest cost are almost identical with those for tomatoes. 10 F.B. ^46 REPOKT OF No. 33 Exposure and Location. In sections where there is danger of the plants being affected by early fall frosts before they have ripened their entire crop, ex- posure of the fields is usually of importance in determining the marketable yield. A gentle inclination to the south with a protection of higher land or timber on the side from which frost or high winds are likely to come is the best. It is frequently found that fields enclosed on all sides either by higher land or timber so as to form a dead air space, are much more readily affected By frosts than more ex- posed locations where there is a free air circulation. Our investigation gave us 51 per cent, of the vegetable crop of the township on practically level ground ; 18 per cent, on undulating land; 17 per cent, with a southern exposure; 8 per cent, with a slope to the north; 4% per cent, with a western exposure, while only 2 per cent, had an eastern aspect. Turning to our figures of the yields, we find that the first three exposures gave a slightly heavier average yield each than any of those obtained from the soils with other exposures. Much of this increase in yield is no doubt due to earlier maturing of the crops on these exposures. While exposure is in most cases a factor in determining the total yield per acre, and thus the cost of production, the location as regards distance from factory and the character of the roads between fields and factory are of equal, if not greater, importance in determining the cost of and profit on the crop. The nature of these factory crops is such that they must be marketed within a day or two of the time they are in prime condition, regardless of the condition of roads or weather. These conditions and the fact that one frequently has to wait for an hour or so for his team to unload, make it very important in securing a site, to have 'it within easy marketing distance of the factory. In Hallowell Township the average distance of the grower from the factory is 1% miles, and the cost of haul- ing tomatoes for this distance is estimated at 1% cts. per bushel and % cent per bushel for every extra mile beyond this. Thus the distance from the factory must be carefully considered in estimating the profit or loss in the growing of canning crops. Drainage. For the production of a maximum yield of corn or tomatoes, the water-table must be sufficiently low to allow of the greatest root development. Tomatoes, corn, and peas will resist drouth much better than supersaturation. A water-soaked soil is invariably a cold one. As before stated the land best adapted to these crops is rather light. Such soils usually give better natural drainage and proper air-circulation through the surface layer. In fields of a rolling nature we find an excellent yield on the slopes, wliile the plants in the lower places are small, stunted and unthrifty. Moreover, a percentage of the yield from these vines is lost through rotting of the fruit. The cause of these conditions is the lack otf: drainage and air-circulation in the soil. The excess of water causes "puddling" in wet weather and "baking" of the top layer in dry weather, both of which check root development, which results in the production of a dwarfed plant. The nature of the subsoil also directly influences the condition of the surface layer and where under-drainage is not practised, by its open and impervious nature and distance from the surface, the subsoil will determine the drainage accorded the top soil. Our investigation showed that where the soil was well drained, either naturally or by tile or open ditch, it gave a warm seed bed earlier in spring, secured a higher average yield, a crop freer from diseased fruit and shortened considerably the time from planting to harvesting. Whether secured by selecting a site where .natural drainage is afforded, by tile or open ditching, efficient drainage is always essential if maximum yields are to be obtained. 1911 FRUIT BRANCH. 147 Rotation of Crops. The choice of the tomato ground depends to a con- siderable extent upon the rotation of crops in vogue. While good yields have been produced after various crops, yet the consensus of opinion throughout the town- ship favors clover sod, and this is well substantiated by the experience of the best growers in other parts of the province. The best crops seen this summer were produced on clover sod. Occasionally we find a grower who, by thorough cultiva- tion and heavy fertilizing, produces tomatoes successfully year after year on the same piece of ground. These are invariably exceptions, where rotation is impos- sible either for lack of land or other reasons. The practice, from our experience ■of the past summer, is not to be commended, nor is it advisable to grow tomatoes on ground that was in potatoes the previous year. Both these crops are heavy consumers of potash and considerably reduce the available amount of that element in the soil. The most successful tomato grower in Hallowell township practised a three-year rotation as follows: Cereal, clover hay, tomatoes. He seeded to •clover with his grain crop, took one cutting of hay the following year and when the second growth had obtained a height of 6 to 8 inches, he gave it a light coat of manure and then plowed it under. In the spring he prepares this ground by ■thorough cultivation, thus securing an excellent seed bed in a soil rich in those elements required by the tomato. Such a rotation, together with good cultivation and the selection of good seed, has given this grower an average yield in the past five years of a little over 500 bushels per acre. There is no doubt but that clover «od leaves the land in better condition for tomatoes than any of the other commonly grown farm crops. Failing clover sod, however, the next best is the second crop after clover and of the other preceding crops, peas, beans, corn or wheat are to be preferred in the order named. While a large percentage of the growers raise their tomatoes on ground that was previously in some kind of sod, it is to be regretted that a large percentage practise no particular rotation, the tomato crop having been found succeeding every kind of crop grown in the township. Source of Seed. A rough estimiate places the total amount of tomato seed used -annually in Ontario at from twelve to sixteen hundred pounds. Thus the market ior seed here is very limited and accounts largely for the fact that much of this is imported. The cost of this seed varies from $1.00 to $10.00 a pound, the average price being about $3.00. J. Bolgiano & Son. of Baltimore; Livingstone Seed Co. of Columbus, Ohio ; The Burpee Co. ; Wm. Henry Maule Co. ; Henry A. Dreer and W. P. Stokes Companies of Philadelphia are some of the firms from whom the bulk of this seed is secured. The majority of the factories have, until recently, retained control of the seed, supplying the farmer at slightly above cost price/. In the past few years, however, the grower has been permitted to do his own seed selection or secure it from any source he may see fit. The reason given by the I'actorymen for retaining control of the seed supplied is that the grower was unable to do as good work in selection as the professional seed grower, and also that the amount of seed used by each is so small that it is cheaper to buy well-selected seed than produce it. The advisability of the grower selecting his own seed is perhaps questionable. Yet, notwithstanding the attitude factory men take toward this question, I am convinced that more of the seed used in this township should be grown here. Good seed is the foundation of a good crop and every grower would profit by selecting his own seed to suit his own particular locality. Two young plants, grown from the same seed under similar conditions, put out in different soils, may 148 REPOKT OF No. 33 show a striking difi'erence in crop. Hence I contend that each grower should raise and select his own seed and that a standard of straight seed selection by each is highly desirable and would materially increase the yield and profit. The small amount of seed selection carried on in the township leaves much room for improv- jnent. The indifferent manner in which many growers select for seed a few "good looking'^ specimens from the crates or from their neighbors^ fields, without giving any thought of the type of plant from which they may have been produced, is discouraging. Some of the better growers are, however, taking much care in their seed selection, and in the few years in which they have done so, have obtained con- siderable improvement in yield, size, smoothness and uniformity. A decided gain has also been made in early maturity, an important factor in escaping early fall frosts. The following outline for a schemie of improvement by seed selection should prove applicable to the case of the ordinary grower. From th(3 standpoint of soil, climate and market requirements, ascertain by observation and small test plots the type of plant best suitable to your requirements. Keep this type clearly and constantly before you. Otherwise you cannot hope for that success which should come from' careful plant and seed selection. Let us presume that you have a field of tomatoes, the seed of which is true to variety. Go through your field and stake out, say half a dozen plants, which in every respect approach nearest to the ideal in your mind. For it must be remembered that the character of the seed thus secured is determined largely by the plant and not by the individual fruit. Thus the selection of an almost perfect tomato from a vine varying in size and perfection is not advisable. In selecting these plants, then, observe carefully the following points : 1. Select from healthy and productive vines. By so doing you will in a few years greatly increase the productiveness of the variety. 2. Select fhe earliest fruit. 3. Select large fruit. 4. Select the smoothest and best shaped specimens. With reference to shape, the best is considered to be a tomato nearly flat at the stem end, very smooth, moderately full at the blossom' and in general nearly oval. 5. Do not pick the fruit until very ripe. The fruit should remain on the vines five or six days after all the green has disappeared. Having secured satisfactory specimens, thoroughly ripened, the next step is to extract and save the seed. Cut the tomato in two crosswise. Slip out the seed into a pail or small tub and cover an inch or two with water. Let this stand in the sun until the pulp is broken down by fermentation. This will take only a day or two. Then wash thoroughly until all the pulp is carried away and nothing remains but the clean seed. Drain the seed and take as much moisture from them as possible by pressing in a linen towel. They can then be spread on a paper and dried in a sheltered sunny spot or other warm place. It is well to stir occasionally during drying and when thoroughly dried, label the seed from each puvit and store in a dry, cool place free from mice, until they are to be used. The following spring some of the healtEiest plants from each package of seed should be set out on well prepared ground, entirely separate from the main crop and keeping plainly marked the block of vines derived from each of the plants originally selected. As these plants mature, select those from that block which most closely resemble the desired type and show the least variation. Such a course of selection should not be difficult to carry out and if judiciously and care- 1911 FRUIT BRANCH. 149 fully done should, in from three to five years, result in strains greatly superior to the original, and better adapted to one's own soil conditions than any which it might be possible to purchase. The seed from the discarded plants of each year's selection may be used for the main crop, as it will be preferable to that selected from the field crop. Many of the growers, however, do not take the trouble to handle the tomato seed at all, but secure their plants from greenhouse-men who make a business of starting the plants ready for the field. Others again select their own seed and arrange with the green houses to have their plants started. Still others purchase or select their own seed and grow their own plants. Prices and Quantities per Acre. Tomato plants purchased fromi a pro- fessional grower will cost on an average about $3 per thousand. The prices paid in Hallowell Township during the past season varied from $2.50 to $7.00, depend- ing upon the size, variety and method of growing. The cost of the seed also varies greatly and while 25 to 30 cts. per ounce is the usual price, even as high as 60 cts. is not exceptional. As good seed is the foundation for a good crop, it is well to select your own or purchase from reliable sources. The amount of seed or number of plants required per acre will depend upon the planting distance. One and one-half ounces of good seed should produce an abundance of good plants for each acre. The following table gives the number of plants required per acre for the different distances of setting, but in purchas- ing it is well to have a few extras to provide for losses from various causes. Number of Plants Required per Acre According to the Distance of Planting. Distance. No. of plants required. 4 ft. X 5 ft 2,100 ^ " X 4i " 2,350 4 " X 4 •• 2,600 3 " x5 •• 2,900 4 " x3| " 3,000 4 " x3 " 3,450 3^ " X 3i •' 3,500 3 " x3 " 4,600 Starting Tomato Plants. In the starting of the young plants lies one of the great causes of ill-success or failure in tomato growing. When the plants are grown by professional growers, they are often held back or suddenly forced to meet the demands of the trade and frequently through rush of business or lack of space, are improperly hardened off. This results in tender plants. Even in many cases where the farmer grows his own plants, through failure to realize the importance of starting a crop with the best of plants, he frequently fails to give them the care they should receive. It is an essential of profitable production that good, hardy plants be procured for setting. A stunted tomato, like a stunted pig, is a poor proposition on which to expend time and labor. Tomatoes will stand a lot of abuse but I am satisfied that abused or stunted plants will never ^^ive the results that thrifty ones do. Neither do we desire the tall, spindly kind with light-colored foliage. When ready for the final planting, the plants should be 7 to 9 inches 150 REPOET OF ^'o. 33 }iigh, foliage a deep green, a stem the size of a lead pencil and a well developed root systemi. The Hotbed. Where only a few plants are required for the farm garden^ they may be started in a shallow box or tray filled with rich black soil and placed on a slope in a south window. It is actually cheaper to buy than to raise them in such small numbers. Below, however, will be found a description of the hotbeds, cold frames, and other apparatus necessary for growing the plants on a much larger scale. The equipment described will be found most suitable for the farmer who grows from one to five acres for the factory and while general directions are given for the handling of the young plants, yet these of course must be modified to suit the conditions and requirements of the individual. In locating hotbeds, choose a warm sunny spot, dry and well drained, with as- good a protection as possible from the north and north-west winds. A southerly slope is desirable. The land selected should be about 30 yards long and 10 to 12 feet wide and running east and west. A hotbed of sufficient size to carry three 3x6 foot sash, that is, 9 x 6 ft., will enclose space enough in which to start the plants for a five acre field. In the middle of the strip of land selected, remove the soil to a depth of one foot for a* space of two feet larger each way than the size of the frames, that is 11 x 8 ft. Now build up this space squarely with manure to a height of two feet. Fresh horse manure from grain fed horses, without too much litter, will be found the be&t. Uniformity of composition and in heating must be secured if uniformity in growth is to be expected. This may be accomplished by shaking out and evenly spreading each forkful of manure and repeatedly and evenly tramping it down as the bed is being built up. The frame can now be placed on the bed of manure. It should be 10 inches high in front and 16 inches high at the back. If the back be made of two boards, let one of them be narrow and placed at the bottom so that the crack between them can be covered by banking up with manure or earth. Set the frame on the bed, first placing four short pieces of board under the corners to insure even setting of the manure. N"ow complete the hotbed by placing on a top layer, six inches deep, of light rich, friable soil. A soil composed of about three parts of garden loam, two parts well rotted stable manure and one part of an equal mixture of sand and leaf mould is desirable. The Cold Frames. The young plants started in the hotbeds are to be pricked out into these. They may be of the same dimensions as the hotbed frames and for convenience should be placed on either side of the hotbed and ex- tending either way for a distance of 36 feet, giving space enough to hold, pricked out to four inches apart, all the plants which can be started in the central hotbed. The soil underneath the cold frames for a depth of eight inches should be removed and a five inch layer of well rotted stable manure placed in, and this overlaid with four inches of the soil described above. Although thin cloth curtains often replace sash as a covering for these cold framies, yet the sash gives a little better results. The cloth covering is of course much the cheaper. Directions for Grov^ting the Plants. We now have a hotbed located cen- trally in the middle of the cold frames, and containing some 54 square feet, upon which we are to start plants enough to set five acres. First, thoroughly level off the soil upon which the seed is to be sown. About the first week in April sow the seed in drills one-half inch deep and 3 inches apart, seven or eight seed-s to the 1911 FKUIT BRANCH. 151 inch. Now scatter over the surface an equal mixture of leaf-mould and sand and press firmly and evenly over the seeds. This covering will not bake or crust, and the tender shoots of the germinating seeds can readily break through. If the soil is dry, sprinkle lightly ^vith tepid water and replace sash, partially shading the same. We now have some 36 rows 70 inches long and sown eight seeds to the inch, or a total sowing of over 20,000 seeds, which should give us enough good plants for our purpose. It will take from three to six days for the plants to break the soil, and the temperature during this period should be from 75 degrees to 85 degrees Fahr. in the day time and from 55 degrees to 65 degrees at night. When the plants have practically all broken through, remove the covering from the sash and reduce the temperature to from. 70 degrees to 80 degrees F. The temperature can be regulated by propping open the sash. After about ten days, reduce the tem- perature to from 65 degrees to 70 degrees F., and give more air. Dull, cloudy weather, too high a temperature, crowding of the plants and insufficient ventila- tion causes damping off. Great care must be taken not to over supply the young plants with water as this also causes damping off. Endeavor to keep them grow- ing thriftily with as little watering as possible. Some authorities favor two trans- plantings, others only one. The system here recommended is a combination of the two. As soon as the central bud is well started, prick out the plants to the cold frames, setting them two inches apart. Remove the plants as carefully as possible, preserving the root system intact, and set them a little deeper than they were in the hotbed, pressing the soil tightly around themi so that they cannot be easily pulled out. To prevent excessive wilting shade the young plants for the next few days. Don't apply any more water than necessary and be sure that it is tepid,. As soon as all the plants are well established in their new positions, admit as much light as possible, being careful that the temperature does not fall below 45 degrees F., and that the plants are not subjected to cold winds. As soon as the plants begin to crowd one another, transplant every other plant, setting them four inches apart; this will leave the whole lot four inches apart, half of them transplanted twice and the other half only once. When set in the field, those transplanted twice, will probably bear the first ripened fruits and those transplanted once will follow shortly. Be careful not to overwater the plants or expose them to unfavorable winds. Maintain a uniform temperature throughout the day of fromi 60 degrees to 75 degrees F. Observe these precautions and by the time it is safe to set in the open field, you should have good, hardy, stocky plants, which, with subsequent favorable attention and conditions, will produce a heavy crop. A very convenient article to have when transplanting is a spotting board. This may be about 5 feet 10 inches long, 1 foot wide, with round tapering fingers, about one inch thick at the base and 2% inches long. These should be fastened into the board, the distance apart the plants are to be set. It should also have narrow projections carrying a single peg nailed to the top of the board at each end, 80 that w'hen these pegs are placed in the end holes of the last row, the first row of pegs in the spotting board will be the right distance from the last row of holes or plants. By standing on the spotting board while setting plants in the last set of holes, the holes for another set are formed. The cost of the frames and sash recommended need not exceed seventy-five dollars, and might be considerably less if waste lumber were utilized. This could be turned to advantage in many ways when not occupied by the young tomato plants. Time of Planting. The time of planting or sowing canning crops is deter- mined largely by the locality and season. The time thus varies greatly. Sowing ^52 . REPORT OF No. 33 or planting is scarcely ever advisable until the land is sufficiently dried and warmed to insure early germination or no severe check to the young plants. For the past few years, the '^setting out" of the tomato crop has been done during the last two weeks of May and the first week of June. In 1910 almost the entire crop was planted between May 23 and June 3. The condition of the soil is of special im- portance when it comes to setting out. The worst condition is when the ground is wet or muddy and particularly so on clay fields. Wet soil, cold, dry air and strong wind, are the conditions which we should aim to avoid, while a moist soil, and a still, warm day are to be desired. There is as a rule a certain definite time in every season when the plants can be removed to the field with the least shock or 'set back.' Distance of Planting. The best distance for setting out tomato plants varies greatly with the soil, the variety, methods of cultivation and other condi- tions. Plants set as close in rich clay as would give best results in a warm sandy loam, or those of a luxuriant growing sort set as close as for dwarf varieties, would yield little but leaves and every inferior fruit. This probably explains the m^any differences of opinion as to the proper distance for planting. The following dis- tances were found in practice in the township in 1910. We also give the number of growers using each distance. Distance. Number of Growers. 4 ft. X 5 ft 3 4 " X 4 " 132 3 ft. 10 in. X 3 ft. 10 in 5 3 " 9 *' X 3 " 9 " 38 3 " 8 " x3 " 8 '• 15 3 " 6 " x3 •' 6 '• 21 3 ft. x 3 ft 5 From the above table and from close observation, we must infer that, to secure the best results, most varieties, under average conditions, should be placed in squares at least four feet apart. A few of the best growers contend that even a greater distance than this will tend to produce a heavier yield of superior quality. Free air-circulation and plenty of sunlight are essential for the fullest development of the plants and the production of a maximum yield. Methods of Planting. The first essential of successful transplanting is to have well-grown healthy plants; the second is that they be in good condition fon planting out. This latter can be secured through proper 'Tiardening,'' and by giving themi a few days before setting out a scant supply of water, fullest possible exposure to air and sun and a thorough wetting a few hours before they are to be set. The plants will then be ready for the field. The day before the plants are to be set out, the field is marked out with a corn marker into squares of the desired size. A still better plan is to set the plants in the fresh cross rows that can be marked out Just ahead of the setters. By means of a flattened shovel or spade, the plants may be divided into blocks, placed on a low flat waggon and removed to the field before the roots have scarcely been disturbed. The plants in the blocks are then cut apart, placed, and the soil pressed about each. Tf the soil is very dry, water is usually applied — about two 1911 FRUIT BRANCH. 153 quarts to each plant. Tlie spade system is the one invariably in use in the town- ehip, though a trowel or "dibble'' occasionally takes the place of the spade. The furrow system is not popular. In setting the plants, it must be borne in mdnd that, while sunshine on the leaves of the plant rarely does any injury, it is very injurious to the roots, and their exposure to the sun should be avoided in every possible way. It is wise to handle the plants in the shade of the body and see to it that the blocks of plants are sheltered while waiting to be planted. Such care usually distinguishes the grower whose plants usually do well from the one who has a great deal of re-setting to do. The Use of Barnyard Manure and Commercial Fertilizers. The ex- perience and opinions of many successful growers vary greatly as to the amount and kind of fertilizer necessary for the production of the m.ost profitable yields on different soils. These differences of opinion are due to the fact that the nature and amount of fertilizing elements to be applied to the soil is dependent upon such a number of local conditions, that no one individual can recommend a certain practice and guarantee success to all who follow it. The more growers one inter- views, the greater diversity of practices and differences of opinion are encountered. In general, the application of barnyard manure is not heavy, from eight to fifteen tons being the usual run per acre. The average application for the township on the canning crop ground was thirteen tons per acre for 1910. This is applied to the land either during the winter or early spring and worked in during the spring plowing or cultivation. A few apply the manure to sod in the fall and plow it under immediately. This is an excellent practice. Thorough cultivation of this in the spring secures an excellent rich seed bed, and particularly so if the sod was a clover one. The use of commercial fertilizers, while not at all general, is resorted to by a number of very successful growers. It is invariably used as a supplement to the barnyard manure at the rate of 200 to 500 pounds to an acre. It is usually applied broadcast or worked in about the plants at the time of setting. One grower used as much as 700 lbs. to the acre in the latter way, and claimed for it excellent results. The 2-8-10 Bradely mixture is one commonly used. With some, the liberal application of wood ashes has been found to give better results in increasing the yield than any other special fertilizer. As previously stated, no set sj^stem of fertilizing is applicable to all conditions. The grower will do well to experiment to determine what his soil requires for his particular crops and then supply that need. The requirements of his soil can be ascertained by setting aside five plots, each one rod by four rods. To these he can apply nitrate of soda, muriate of potash, phosphate and ordinary stable manure, alone and in combination. He should also have a check plot to which no fertilizer is applied. The yields of the crops from the different plots will suggest the fer- tilizer mixture he can use to his best advantage. The grower should also be acquainted with the types of soils to which various forms of fertilizers are most suited. For example, phosphoric acid, from its acidic nature, should be applied to limestone soils in the form of superphosphate, but to sour, swampy soils in the formi of basic slag or ground bone. The grower can also determine from these experiments the actual value of the fertilizers to his soil This can never be done by theory alone. The action of the various elements in the fertilizers will go far in deciding the amount to use. Thus, an excess of nitrogen will cause the plants to run to vine, throw soft, watery fruit, and to decrease the yield. The use of a large proportion of phosphate tends ^54 REPORT OF No. 33 to produce soft fruit with a less distinctly acid flavor ; of potash, to smaller growth of vine, linn and acidic fruit. If called upon to make a general recommendation of the quantity and kind of manure for a tomato crop, without any knowledge of the soil or its previous condition, I would say 12-14 tons of good stable manure worked into the soil as late as possible in the fall or in the early spring and 300-400 pounds of commercial fertilizer of such composition as to furnish 2 per cent, nitrogen, 6 per cent, phosphoric acid and 8 per cent, potash. This commercial fertilizer should be sown and harrowed into the soil just before the time of setting. Most growers who use the commercial fertilizer, apply part of all by putting a handful closely about each plant at setting and working it in with a hoe. If it is not desired to use a commercial fertilizer, the amount of stable manure should be increased. We can never afford to get away from a liberal use of the good old stand-by, farmyard manure. Apart from^ its actual fertilizing value, it has a physical action on every soil — light or heavy — which we usually greatly underestimate. Its application to light soils checks leaching and excessive evaporation. With heavy clay, on the other hand, the soil rendered more friable, less inclined to puddle and bake. The labor of cultivation is thus decreased. As a parting word on the use of fertilizers on all canning crops, I must say that our experience has proved that in the majority of cases, where the soil is reasonably rich, expenditures in either money or labor for putting the soil in the best possible state of tilth for the crop and keeping it so by thorough cultivation, will give larger returns than those for fertilizers (and particularly commercial fertilizers) in excess of that which the land should receive in the regular rotation for ordinary farm crops. CtJLTivATioisr. To no small degree, the success of the tomato crop depends upon good cultivation and proper handling of the soil. A large percentage of the tomato growers of Hallowell township realize this and have the reputation of being intensive cultivators. The object of this intensive summer cultivation is to prevent the soil moisture evaporating into the air. The nearer the condition of the surface soil to road dust, the better will be the results secured. The fine particles of soil act as a mulch on checking surface evaporation. Most growers aim to give their tomatoes the first cultivation the first or second day after setting^ and then once a week each way until the plants block the rows. One can scarcely cultivate too frequently during the first month. The first culti- vation should be 3 to 5 inches deep and fairly close to the plants. The depth and width of cultivation must be gradually decreased as the plants develop their root systems. One hoeing, and from seven to ten cultivations are advisable during the season. One very successful grower advocates cultivating until damage is appar- ently being done to the plants either by the horse or the cultivator. Harvest Time and Method. Harvesting of the tomato crop lasts from the middle of August to about October 15, depending much upon the particular season. The first pickings, very light, are gathered in baskets and afterwards placed in bushel crates. Later pickings, when ripe tomatoes are numerous, are gathered right into the crates. Roadways are made through the field for the waggons and the crates are placed thereon to be hauled to the factory. The number of crates hauled at a time depends largely on the proximity of the factory and the area under crop. Quite frequently the last pickings are so late that considerable damage is done by the first fall frosts. 1911 FEUIT BRANCH. 155 Yields. The multiplicity of conditions which influence the yield of canning crops frequently results in crops raised at a loss to one grower and again furnish a handsome profit to another. Many of these conditions are under the direct con- trol of the grower. With some tomato growers the cause of failure can be traced to poor cultivation; with others, to lack of fertility of the soil, poor drainage or careless handling of the plants or fruit. One grower, of whom I know, has an average yield for the past five years of only 165 bushels per acre. Another in the same district, on similiar kind of soil, has an average for the same time" of 508 per acre. Individual yields of from 600 to 800 busliels per acre under field con- ditions are not exceptional. From these figures it must seem that the success of the tomiato crop rests almost entirely in the hands of the individual grower. The maximum yield per acre in the township in 1909 was 825 bushels; the minimum 150 bushels. The average of the township for the same season was 285 bushels to the acre. Prices and Cost of Production. The prices for the various vegetable crops grown for canning purposes have been almost constant for the past few years. Tomatoes have regularly brought 25 cts. per bushel for three years in succession. This price is for the goods delivered at the factory in good condition. A large proportion of the canning crops are grown under contract by which the farmer agrees to deliver the entire yield fit for canning, which may be produced on the given area, at the constant price per bushel or ton. The canner is to judge what fruit is fit for canning, and this annually results in much dissatisfaction. It would seem to the grower that at times the quantity of acceptable fruit paid for was determined quite as much by the abundance or scarcity of the crop as by the weight hauled to the factory. The cost of the output from a well equipped factory is divided about as follows : Fruit 30% Handling, preparing, processing 1 S% Cans, labels, etc 43% Labelling, sellingj and other incidentals 0.1% Of all the foods used for human consumption, least is probably known of the cost of production of those produced on the ordinary farm. Canning crops are no exception to this fact. Few farmers there are who know at all accurately what it costs them to produce an acre of tomatoes. Fewer still are there, either among producers or writers who can agree as to the cost of production of such a crop. This is accounted for by the varied conditions of the business and individual cir- cumstances. And yet it must seem one of the first essentials of profitable produc- tion that we have some definite knowledge of the cost of producing any particular crop on which we depend for a profit. It is only in recent years, and even yet to a slight extent, that the farmer has begun to keep any reliable track of the cost of production of his various farm products. In the following table, secured through some of the best growers, will be found an estimated cost of producing a crop of tomatoes in Hallowell township. A number of these growers have kept very interesting records, which show that they study the different phases of crop production and have a keen grasp of the business. These estimates are made on a five acre basis — land that was previously in clean clover sod. The allowance for labor is as follows: Man, $1.50; man and^ team, $3.00; man and three-horse team, $•3.50 ; man and horse, $2.00. 156 EEPOKT OF No. 33 (5 acres). Rent of land, 5 acres at $5.00 $25 00 45 00 Manure, 12 loads per acre at 75 cts. a load Applying same 20 00 Plougihing, (2 1-5 acres per day), man and team 6 00 Cultivating, 3 times, man and 5-liorse team 5 25 Harrowing and rolling 2 00 Marking (4 ft. x 4 ft.) . • 1 50 Plants, 13,000 laid down in field at $3.50 M 45 50 Setting plants, $3.50 per acre 17 50 Cultivating, 5 times each way 20 00 Hoeing 1 50 Depreciation of equipment Incidentals (resetting, inseclticides) 3 00 4 00 Total cost of 5 acres $196 25 Average cost per acre 39 25 Profit According to Yield. Yield per acre 200 bushels. 300 bushels. 400 bushels. 500 bushels. 600 bushels. Initial cost per acre $ c. 39 25 6 00 4 00 $ c. 39 25 9 00 6 00 $ c. 39 25 12 00 8 00 $ c. 39 25 15 00 10 00 $ c. 39 25 Picking (3 cents per bushel) . Cost of hauling 18 00 12 00 Total cost per acre 49 25 50 00 54 25 75 00 59 25 100 00 64 25 125 00 69 25 Amount received at 25 cents per bushel 150 00 Profit per acre 0 75 20 75 40 75 60 75 80 75 Many growers will contend that the estimates on cost of labor, marketing, etc., are either too low or too high. The estimates given are not expected to fit into all particular conditions that may be found in different sections, but an aver- age of the whole. Value of land, soil conditions, location, labor, and distance from factory, all combine in rendering the cost of producing this crop very vari- able. Thus it is impossible to quote estimates fitting all conditions in the town- ship. In this case the most of the manure has been charged to the tomato crop alone. This of course should not be, but the low estimate on cost of labor tends to balance conditions. Fungus Diseases and Insects Affecting Tomatoes. The health of the canning crop is entirely dependent upon the conditions under which it is grown. The character and physical condition of the soil, the supply of moisture and plant food, humidity and sunlight, are all factors in influencing the health of the plants and their power to resist infection from fungus diseases. The effect of every dry or very damp seasons is noted in the prevalence during such seasons of the various wilts or insect pests. Nevertheless, the grower, by his methods of cultivation and a judicious use of insecticides and fungicides, can be very effective in controlling the ravages of both these troublesome pests. Hallowell Township has been fortunate in its freedom from the devastation of various insects and fungi, which are frequently prevalent with these crops. With but few exceptions, the poor, unthrifty fields or low yields met with during the past reason were due to causes other than the above. But do not think we are by any means entirely free from, their ravages. In several localities the yields 1911 FRUIT BRANCH. 157 were considerably decreased, and in a few instances the loss of almost the entire crop resulted. Fortunately, it is only in the past few years that damage to any extent has been done, and the growers are now alive to the problems of combatting much further mischief. Fungus Diseases. Tomato Blight (Bacillus solancearum) . This is a bacterial disease which turns the stems and leaves brown and black, and eventually spreads to the fruit. It runs a quite rapid course throughout the plant and spreads quickly fromi one plant to another, the stem and lower leaves being first affected. It is by far the worst tomato disease in the township and one that has increased rapidly during the past two years. Last summer fields severely attacked by this disease were found in the neighborhood of Wellington, Chisholm and West Lake. In a few cases the disease incurred the loss of a large percentage of crop. Its attacks are worst where the plants are in any way sheltered or the ground moist. The preva- lence of this blight in the township has caused much anxiety to the growers. Remedies. Thorough cultivation, including vigorous, healthy plants, to- gether with frequent changes of the tomato ground, would probably eliminate much trouble from this disease. Spraying with Bordeaux mixture (4-4-40) is effective. The times of spraying are as follows : 1st Spraying. — While the young plants are still in the seed bed, a few days before transplanting. 2nd Spraying. — A week after the plants are set in the field. 3rd and J/.th Sprayings. — Spray at intervals of two weeks. If done at all, the work should be thorough, every leaf and stem being covered with a fine spray. Leaf Spot (Septoria lycopersica) . This is also commonly called blight. It is a destructive disease, producing small grayish-brown angular spots, which bear the fruiting bodies for the spread of the disease. The lower leaves are first attacked and the disease spreads upwards, at times defoliating the young plants. The fruit is seldom affected. The disease frequently does not appear until the plants are well advanced and loaded with fruit, when it may spread quite rapidly, but too late in the season to do much real damage. The few leaves of which it may then rid the plant aid in ripening the fruit earlier. This disease is quite widespread in the township, but nowhere were its effects very severe. Treatment Spray with Bordeaux a week after transplanting, and repeat at intervals of ten days or two weeks. Rake up and burn the diseased tops after the crop has been harvested. Black Rot (Macrosporium tomato). This fungus attacks the stems, leaves and fruit. It is by the destruction of the fruit, however, that it causes the most serious loss. It occurs on the green fruit at various stages of development. The spores of this disease most frequently lodge at the blossom end of the young tomato, and in developing cause a brown sunken spot to appear. These spots in- crease in size, and sometimes the whole fruit is involved. It is most prevalent in dry weather and on light soils where moisture is lacking. Treatment. Spray early with Bordeaux, and repeat at intervals of ten days or two weeks. Destroy diseased fruit and burn the refuse fromi the field in the fall. A short rotation and intense cultivation will also help in its control. Ripe Rot. This disease occurs in ripe or nearly ripe fruit, causing a rapid softening and decay. Damp, rainy weather favors the spread of it, and it is more 168 EEPOET OF Xo. 33 common with varieties that produce a heavy, close vine. It is found chiefly on the crown fruits and those touching the ground. No great loss has been suffered from either this or the previous rot. Spraying as for " black rot ^' is the treat- ment. It is always advisable to collect and destroy all infected fruit during the first picking. Insect Pests. Cutworms (various species). These are the larvae or "grub-stage'^ of dull- colored, night-flying moths, and of all the insect pests they are to be most feared by the grower of canning crops, especially corn and tomatoes, and particularly the latter. Every grower is familiar with their habits of cutting off or partly destroy- ing the tender stalks of the young plants just below the ground surface. This, in the case of tomatoes, mean® resetting of the plants. The damage is always done at night. A great deAl of trouble and loss has been caused in the township by their ravages, and some years as high as fifty per cent, of the plants have had to be reset. During the past two years, however, the growers have awakened to the necessity of combatting their attacks, and have thus .reduced the loss to a small percentage. The remedy is a poisoned bait, and of such the "poisoned bran" is the most effective. It is made in the following manner : Place 25 lbs. T)ran in a soap box or other vessel and gently moisten with half a pail of water, thoroughly diffusing the moisture throughout the bran. Then add the same amount of water, in which 3 lbs. of sugar has been dissolved. Syrup may be used in place of sugar if so desired. The bran, if the right amount of water has been added, should crumble easily between the fingers. " Now take % lb. of Paris green and dust a part of it over the bran, and mix thoroughly. Eepeat until the whole half-pound has been added and mixed. The bait should be applied in the evening of the same day that the plants are set out, sprinkling just a small amount of the miash around each plant. If the field has been free of vegetation for a few weeks, the worms will greedily devour the poisoned bait during the night. Subsequent applications of the bait should be made at the grower's judgment. Fifty pounds of bran and one pound of Paris green are sufficient for an acre, and can be applied in two hours. Clean farming and good cultivation is helpful, by destroying many of the eggs and preventing the deposition of others. White Grubs (Lachnosterna) . These are the larvae of May beetles or " June bugs," which breed for the most part in old pastures. The larvae hatch m the ground, where they live for three years. When an old pasture is broken up, they live for a time on the grass and roots, and then attack whatever plant may be grown. Remedy. Late deep plowing is effective. Pigs and poultry devour them greedily. Tomato Worm (Protoparce celens). This is a large green worm, attaining very nearly four inches when fully grown, and correspondingly thick. They are very voracious feeders, and soon strip the foliage from a plant. They are seldom met with in numbers large enough to do serious damage. They have caused no serious loss to the tomato crop of the township. Hand-picking will keep them in check. Potato Beetle {Leptinotarsa decemlineata) . This beetle is so familiar to everyone that a description of it is unnecessary. Only seldom does it feed upon 1911 FRUIT BRANCH. 159 the tomato, and then just wJien other suitable foliage is scarce. Arsenate with Bordeaux is the remedy, applied early in June. Potato Flea-Beetle (Epitrix cucumeris) . This is a tiny black beetle, about one- twentieth of an inch long. Quite frequently we found growers complaining of the damage of this insect, which eats small holes all over the surface of the leaves and causes much injury to the young plants in this way. Moreover, these wounds provide a suitable entrance to the leaves of the spores of the tomato blight. Bordeaux mixture is a satisfactory remedy for both the insect and the blight. The Growing of Corn for the Canning Factories. Varieties, Soils and Cultivation. The following ten varieties of sweet corn are grown in the township for factory use : EaTly Evergreen, Crosby, Stowell's, Old Colony, Late Evergreen, Hickox, Pearce's Evergreen, Crosby's Improved, Im- proved Evergreen, and Pearce's Improved Evergreen. Most of these strains, and particularly the first five, have been greatly improved by judicious seed selection and by special breeding practised by a few of the best growers. One is fairly safe in selecting any of these five, all of which give good yields and general satisfaction to both the grower and canner. The soil best suited for the production of a maximum yield of corn at the lowest cost is identical with that for the tomato crop. Warm loam soils which afford good drainage and sufficient available plant food invariably give the best results. Com never yields well on heavy, poorly drained soil. Too much care cannot be given to the preparation of the ground for the com crop. It requires a slightly higher temperature for germination than our other grains, and thus the necessity for much care in preparing the seed bed. Clover sod, plowed under the previous fall and thoroughtly disked in the spring, can always be depended upon as the starting point for a good crop. Most growers endeavor to have their corn in the ground by June 1. During the past season over seventy-five per cent, of the corn crop was sown between May 24 and June 2. The corn is also planted in squares and the distances are almost identical with those for tomatoes, most growers using the same marker for each. Squares of 3 ft. 9 in. and 4 ft. to the sides are the most popular distances, although a great number of the growers plant in squares 3 ft. 6 in. in size. The canning corn is sown entirely with hand-planters and covered with the foot, the squares having been previously blocked out with the marker. The canning factories still retain control of the seed corn, most of which is also imported. Lately a considerable amount of this has been grown within the township, but still reaches the growers through the factory management. While most of the seed corn furnished to the contract growers is usually the best, it is always advisable for each farmer to test the vitality of the seed he is about to sow. This can readily be done by spreading a hundred kernels between wet linen cloths placed in the top of a box filled level with wet sawdust. Fasten the lid down tightly on the layer of corn, and place the box where it will keep warm. The com should be moistened by sprinkling once a day. In a few days all the good grains will have sprouted. Fromi these he can determine the percentage of good seed, and thus be guided in the amount to sow to the hill. The usual cost is $2.50 a bushel. Most of it, however, is purchased by the pound at from five to ten cents. ^60 " REPOET OF No. 33 The average price is seven cents. Seven to eight pounds are required to plant an acre, the exact amount depending upon the distance of planting and the number of grains to each hill. As previously stated, most growers prepare the ground for corn in a similar manner to that for tomatoes. The average amount of manure applied per acre is about eight tons. This low average results from many growers using no more than for the ordinary farm crop. Those who do make a practice of specially dress- ing their corn field apply about fifteen tons either in the fall or early spring. As a rule, this is applied to sod and turned under as soon as possible. Only a few growers use commercial fertilizers. The amounts used vary from 150 to 300 pounds to the acre. It is sown broadcast and harrowed in just before the marking is done. The cultivation of the corn commences as soon as the plants show above the ground and continues once a week until the height of the crop renders horse culti- vation harmful. Soils at all inclined to be heavy require more cultivation to keep them in good tilth than lighter ones. All soils should be cultivated after a rain to break up any crust that may have formed, and thus retain for the plants the moisture that has fallen. It is well to be careful, however, not to disturb the soil when too wet. One hoeing during a season is usually sufficient. Harvesting, Yields^ Prices. The harvesting of the com lasts for four or five weeks from the first of September. The ears are stripped by hand from the stand- ing corn, and thrown into waggons for hauling to the factory. An average load will weight about one and one-half tons. The price per ton is for the ears before husking. The cornstalks (stover) are used by the growers for silage, or fed as dried corn during the fall or winter. At one of the factories the husks and waste cobs are cut up and stored as silage. This is sold as fodder during the winter. The price of this silage varies according to the supply of cattle feed in the locality), but is usually from $4.00 to $5.00 a ton. Com yielded an average of 3 tons of ears per acre in 1909. The maximum yield was 5 tons; the minimum, 1 ton. For some years past the price per ton of the ear com delivered at the factory has been $7.00. It is nearly all grown under contract. Cost of Production. The following table from a prominent grower gives an estimate of the cost of production of factory com. The scale of wages is the same as for the tomato estimate, and the calculation is made on a five-acre field that was previously in clover sod. Cost of Production of Canning Corn. (5 acres as a basis). Rent of land (5 acres ait $5.00 per acre) $25 00 Manure (8 loads to the acre at 50 cts.) 20 00 Applying same 9 00 Plowing 6 00 Cultivating ( 3 times) 5 25 Harrowing and Rolling 2 00 Marking 1 50 Planting 1 50 Seed . . 3 00 Cultivating (8 times) 18 00 1911 FEUIT BRANCH. 161 Picking and delivery to factory, 15 tons at 1.50 per ton 22 50 Total cost $113 75 Cutting down stalks 5 00 Filling silo (60 tons silage) 20 00 Total cost $138 75 Average cost per acre $27 75 Or if corn is not silaged: Stooking $5 50 Hauling and storing dry sitalks in barn . 15 00 $20 50 This amounts to virtually the same as putting it into the silo. Cost of Growing Silo Corn from Field to Silo. (5 acres as a basis and a yield of 20 tons per acre). Rent of Land $25 00 Manure .• 20 00 Applying same 9 qo Plowing 6 00 Cultivating . . 5 25 Harrowing and rolling 2 00 Planting 3 ft. 6 in. by 3 ft. 6 in .'...*...' .' . .' .* .' ... 1 50 ^ecd 2 50 Cultivating (8 times) 18 00 Cutting ; ; 5 00 Filling silo: (a) 4 teams and 10 men 1 day 21 00 (b) Engine and blower (2 men attending) 12 00 Total cost $127 25 Cost per acre 25 45 Comparison per Acre. Sweet Corn: 3 tons ears at $7 $ 2100 12 tons silage stalks at $2 24 00 Total value $45 00 Cost of growing, picking and filling z'S 25 Balance per acre 21 75 Silage Corn: 20 tons Silage at $3 $60 OO Cost of growing and puittiug into silo 21 25 Balance per acre $33 75 Comparison as to above valuation: Sweet Corn: 3 tons ears to factory at $7 $21 00 12 tDns stalk to silo at $2 24 00 15 tons of total value $45 oo Value per ton 3 qo Silage Corn: 20 tons Silage worth $60 00 Value per ton , 3 00 [n reference to the?e tables it is interesting to note the comparative values of the crop produced for the factory and that grown for silage. The removal of the ears from sweet corn decreases its value as silage by about one dollar per ton. 11 F.B. 162 REPOET OF No. 33 Fungus Diseases and Insect Pests op the Corn Crop. Corn Smut {Ustilago zeoe). This is an exceedingly common disease^, familiar to every grower of corn. On stalks, leaves, tassels and ears appear peculiar growths, usually spoken of as ''smut boils." These are white and shiny in the early stage, but later turn dark, with a powdery filling of black spores, which re- produce the disease. The ear is the part most commionly affected. Very little of this disease was found on the corn crop of last season, though in different seasons past it has caused some loss. Treatment. liemove and burn all the smut growths as soon as they appear; practise rotation of crops. Seed treatment is not effective. KusT (Puccinia sorgi). This disease is seldom serious. The attacked leaves show elongated reddish or blackish pustules on both surfaces. Very little was met with during the past season. White Grubs (Lachnosterna) . These larvae frequently attack the roots and stems of the young plants, and thus prove very destructive. This is particularly so when corn is planted on old pasture land broken up a year or two before. The first or second crops usually suffer most. Clover is least affected by them. Treatment. Late and deep fall plowing will break up the winter quarters, exposing them to frost and various animals that prey upon them. Pigs and poultry will greedily devour them. Cutworms. These pests also feed upon the young blades of corn as soon as it is up. The damage is similar to that done on the tomato. The " poisoned bran " is the remedy. WiREwoRMS. These are the larva3 of click beetles, and have a hard, glassy skin. They breed in old pastures and feed upon the roots of any plants that may be convenient to themi. Corn planted on land in pasture the year previous usually suffers severely when they are present. Remedy. A short rotation of crops and clean cultivation, especially along the fences. The Growing of Canning Peas. Eighteen varieties of canning peas were sent to the factories of the township during the season of 1910. Many of these varieties are doubtful value to the farmer, being too low in yield to pay well for their production. The following varieties are the most popular with the growers: French Canner, Hasisford's Mar- ket Garden, Advancer, Admiral, Alaska and Eclipse. Peas require a warm, well-drained soil if the best returns are to be secured. Careful preparation of the seed bed is Just as essential to the success of this crop as with either tomatoes or corn. Last season the pea crop of the township was sown between April 1 and May 1. This wide range in the seeding time was due to the variable weather conditions. They are sown either broadcast or with the grain- drill, usually the latter. The amount -sown per acre is from three to four bushels, and the usual cost of the seed is $2.50 per bushel. The canneries still retain control of the seed and provide it to the growers according to the amount under contract. Few growers apply manure of any kind to the ground on which the pea crop is to be raised. The peas are usually sown on land that was previously in hay or pasture. [163] 164 REPORT OF No. 33 Harvesting Time and Method. The entire pea crop is harvested during the month of July. Several methods of harvesting are in vogue. The greater percentage of the crop is harvested with the scythe like field peas. The factory men prefer this method. Others first cut them with the mower and use the horse- rake in collecting into bundles. Others again use a special rake for this purpose, wliich does not require the use of the mower. The vines — not allowed to dry — are hauled direct to the factory, where the green peas are threshed out by machinery. The grower is paid by the ton for the shelled peas. The price last year was $35 for No. 1 and $30 for No. 2. Practically the entire yield is graded into the latter class. The grower receives back the green straw from his threshing. Vari- ous uses are made of this. Some growers pile it to rot for manure. Others feed it green or cure it for winter roughage. Still others unload it where the cattle may pick it over at will. Much of it has to be hauled from the factories as waste. Analysis of this material shows it to have a feeding value higher than any of the straw used on the farm. The following is an estimate of the cost of production of canning peas. Five acres are taken as a basis, with an average yield of 11/2 tons per acre: Cost of Production of Canning Peas. Rent of Land, 5 acres • $25 00 Plowing 6 00 Fertilizers and Cultivation 30 00 Seed, 3 bus. at $2.50. 37 00 Sow'ing and harrowing once after crop is up • • 5 00 Harvesting (by hand) 15 00 Marketing, $4 per acre 20i 00 Total cost of 5 acres $138 00 Cost per acre 27 60 Returns per acre 1 1-2 tons at $30.00 45 00 Profit per acre $17 40 Insects and Diseases. Aphids. Commonly called "plant lice." These are minute, pear-shaped, soft-bodied insects that may be found on almost every kind of plant. They feed by sucking the juices of their host. The 5^oung are born in great numbers during the warm season, and thus they increase rapidly, especially in damp, warm weather. These insects did much damage to the pea crop of 1910. In many cases the crop was a partial or total failure from their ravages. Cutting and destroying the patches of peas where the first outbreak is noted is partly effective in keeping them under control. Spraying is impracticable. Fortunately, severe attacks of aphids occur seldom, more than once every six or seven years. Pea Blight {Ascochyta pisi). This disease attacks stem, leaves and vine, originating with infected seed. The stems of attacked plants show discolored areas of dead tissue, extending completely around them and destroying the shoot. The leaves show round or oval discolored spots where attacked. Treatment Select seed free from the disease. Bordeaux is effective but impracticable for field conditions. [165J 1G6 REPOET OF No. 33 Green Beans eor the Canning Factory. The growing of beans in the township for canning green is still in its infancy. Of the few varieties grown, the Golden Wax, Yellow Refugee and Green Refugee have thus far produced the largest yield per acre. Beans require a soil warm and dry for the production of maximum yields at lowest cost. They will, however, thrive on quite heavy soils if the drainage and cultivation are good. The soil should have the same preparation as for the tomato c]-op. Liberal applications of farmyard manure invariably give profitable returns. The growers secure the seed either througli the factory or from whatever source they see fit. The beans are sown at the rate of one bushel per acre, and good seed for one acre costs $2. Most growers endeavor to have their beans in tlie ground by June 1. They are planted in rows three feet apart, and sown to have tlie plants come up about eighteen to twenty inches apart in these rows. The hand -planter is used for the planting, and several kernels dropped at each spot. The cultivation of the beans commences as soon as they appear above the ground. One cultivation should be given each week until the crop is harvested. The beans are harvested from the vines by hand as they reach the proper size. The harvest continues during the last half of August and up till the first week in -September. Cost of Production of Beans. 5 acres — Yield 2^2 tons per acre. Rent of Land, $5.00 per acre $25 00 Manure and applying same • • 15 00 Plowing 6 00 Cultivation • • 7 00 Seed : 10 00 Planting 1 50 Cultivating and hoeing 8 00 Harvesting and marketing 1 00 00 Total cost $182 50 Cost per acre 86 50 Value per acre, 2i^ tons at $30.00 75 00 Profit per acre $38 50 Diseases of Beans. Anthracnose oil Pod Spot (Colletotriclium Undemuthianum). This is tho commonest and worst disease to w^iich beans are liable. It attacks stems, leaves, pods, and seeds, beginning with the first leaves of the seedling plant. The " spots " of this disease are most conspicuous on the pods, and from these the fungus enters the seed, where it remains unactive until the seed is sown. Tho disease was found quite prevalent in several parts of the township, and consider- al)]e was noticed in the crates at the factories. Treatment. Since the disease winters in the seed, the most important point is to secure, if possible, clean seed. This can be done fairly accurately by selecting seed from pods showing no trace of the disease. Care should be taken not to work among the plants when they are wet. This spreads the disease. Rust (Uromyce.^ appendiculatis) . This appears as small, round, rusty brown spots on the leaves and even on the leaf-stalks and pods. Later these spots become darker in color. The disease is not often serious. Treatment Burn the remains of diseased plants. Select resistant varieties. Spray with 5-5-50 Bordeaux when the plants are small. Select clean seed. 1911 FRUIT BRANCH. 167 Value of Canning Crops as Compared with Farm Crops. Tlie following table gives a comparison of the value per acre of canning crops >\ith those of the ordinary grains, roots, etc. Crop. Fair field in bushels. Price. Value. Fail wheat 30 34 50 20 20 150 350 400 3 tons ears 12 tons silage IJ tons 2 J tons $ c. 88 55 35 85 1 75 65 10 25 7 00 2 00 30 00 30 00 $ c. 26 40 Barley 18 70 Oats 17 50 Field Peas 17 00 Field Beans 35 00 Potatoes 97 50 Turnips 35 00 Tomatoes 100 00 Sweet Corn 45 00 <( Canning Peas 45 00 " Beans 75 00 A comparison of profits cannot be made, as the cost of production of each of the farm crops is not definitely known. Prospects for Development of the Canning Industry. Hallowell Township is far from the limit of its productive capacity; in fact, it is only beginning to produce commercially. Both acreage and yield will see a rapid increase in the coniing few years. Growers are taking a greater interest in the selection of good seed, varieties, etc., in order that the yield per acre may be increased, and thus the cost of production reduced. Better methods of cultivation and rotation are rapidly gaining a hold on the growers. Not a few are realizing ihe advantage of underdraining for tlie growth of these crops. Much attention has recently been paid to the ravages of insect and fungus pests, so that the loss from this course has been greatly decreased. One of the great weaknesses among the gi'owers is their lack of organization. A co-operative association is needed for educational propaganda. A strong organ- ization would give greater influence with the factory managements, in whose hands the growers are at present quite plastic. Until some such organization work IS undertaken, the splendid returns that are possible from this business will not be realized. The total output of the Province of Ontario during 1909 was approximately 75,000,000 cans, or about 10 cans to each head of the population in the Dominion. 'J'his would seem to indicate room for an extension of the business. This exten- sion will depend to a great extent upon the quality of the goods placed upon the market. So far the market has never "glutted'' and thereby injured. The formation of the canning factory combine will in all probability prevent such an occurrence, by controlling the supply to meet market requirements. A few inde- pendent factories that have been putting up a "special brand" have found this a profitable business, and we may look for a much greater development along this line in the near future. From their value as a staple food, the demand for canned vegetables and corn must ever keep pace with the rapidly increasing population of the Dominion. DOC CA2 ON AGIO A59 1910 C. 1 I 3 9157 00282261 0 SPCL SJB 3SH^6 ex F79r3 ) <^ I O