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Tous les autres exemplaires originaux sont film6s en commen^ant par la premiere page qui comporte une empreinte d'impression ou d'illustration et en termi.iant par la dernidre page qui comporte une telle empreinte. Un des symboies suivants apparaitra sur la dernidre image de cheque microfiche, selon le cas: ie symbols '-^ signifie "A SUiVRE", le symbols V signifie "FIN". Les cartes, planches, tableaux, etc., peuvent 6tre filmis A des taux de reduction diffirents. Lorsque le document est trop grand pour dtre reproduit en un seul clich6, il est film* A partir de Tangle sup6rieur gauche, de gauche d droite, et de haut en bas, en prenant le nombre d'images n^cessaire. Les diagrammes suivants illustrent la m^thode. 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 0 V X YEAR \M()\(; Till-; ORCHARDS OF NOVA SCOTIA HY .MI{. CECIL II II(h>1'I:K. M.II.A.C., F.S.I. l;('|)lillti (I flulli the ^ouin.Tl of the IRoxjal (l.toiticultural Socicto ii.v jic'Miiissiuii tif till t ouiiL-il ■ ..^ Aqriculture please return |W Canada priered^e^JLO^u^^I^ Lent to - Prete a ' '^ fLer ooia-32 3 Priiilri) fov thf \\o\r.i\ '*iiottitultur:il ^otictj} si'uTTiswdoDi; .V CO.. N i:\v.sTin; I ;i >(,ii ahi;. r,o\i.oN IS! I!) {Sf ii : ■■-«.< ■■^ iv^ LAND-AGENT SURVEYOR & VALUER • //-/■-//// // KENT, [It, /I lint id horn thr IdlllNAI, iiH Till; ItoV Al, UliKTIcn.TIUAI. .SoCIKTV, Vol. XXIII. I'.irt 1.1 A YEAH AMONG THK ORCHAIIDS OF NOVA SCOTIA. liyMr. Ckcii. II. Hoopkh, M.R.A.C, F.S.I. Rend .lamiuiy IJl, IH'.t'.l.; Thk poninsiilti of Nova Scotia U situated on tlu' eastern side of the Doninion of Canada and south of the cntmnce of the (lulf of St. Lawrence. The cUmate is very pleasant, in spite of a long and rather severe winter ; the frost is of <,'reat advantage in pulverising the soil. The country is remarkahly well supplied with water hy its oonntlcss little springs and its numerous lakes, as well as liy the heavy falls of snow in winter and frecjuent and heavy showers during the sunnner months, the latter generally falling at night, leaving the days hright, warm, and cloudless. The growth of vegetation is very rapid after the snow has disappeared. The scenery is heautiful, the abundance of native trees rendering it particularly attractive. The most common of these are spruce, fir, pine, larch, birch, maple, ash, alder, and oak. The acacia tree is often seen, and also in some parts the French willow and English elm have lieen introduced and thrive well. Nova Scotia is said to have the largest variety of flowers, mosses, and ferns of any country. Wild eatable berries are also very plentiful ; they include strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, huckleberries, hlackberrici--, and cranberries. Thk Counwalms anp Annapolis Vai.lev. The Cornwallis and Annapolis Valley is the principal fruitgrowing district of Nova Scotia. It is one continuous valley of about 100 miles in length, and varying in width from six to eleven miles, situated between two nearly parallel ranges of hills of about GOO feet in height. The North Mountain shelters the valley on the north-west, and from the strong winds off the Bay of Fundy ; the South Mountain, which is a little higher, bounds it on the easttrn and southern side, and runs N.K. to S.W. In the middle of the valley there is a watershed, the Annapolis River running S.W., the rivers of the Cornwallis district running N.K. These rivers are small ; but owing to the great rise and fiill of the tide (GO feet), the salt water runs \ip far inland, carrying with it enormous deposits of alluvial iinid or silt, and allowing ships to go several miles inland. 2 Near the mouths of tlie rivers there are salt marshes which are over- flowed hy the tide, and grow salt hay, whicli is oaten hy the cattle during winter. Higher up are the dyked marsh lands r(>clainied from the sea, forming very rich meadow land. (Irand Pre, the district rendertd famous hy Longfellow's " Evangeline," the scene (»f the expulsion of the Acadians, lies in the eastern part of the vaHey, on the shores of 'hcHasin of Minas, across which Cape liloniodin, tlie termination of the North Mountain, is clearly seen. Owing to the heauty of the country, its historic interest, and the cooler temperature, it attracts many visitors from the United States during the summer months. Apples and plums are grown throughout the valley, and in the centre, near the towns of Middleton, Aylesford, and Berwick, raspberries, blackberries, and straw- berries are grown, also some peaches and u few grapes. One farm I visited had (5 acres of strawberries. Mosi of the soft fruit is sent to Ilahfax and Boston, hut the market for these fruits is at present rather limited. In the centre of the valley there is a large area of bog land, which, it has been found, is well adapted to cranbi'rry-growing, an indus- try that is rapidly increasing. The greater part of the valley was originally covered by forest, which has been cleared, save at the foot and sides of the mountains. Thr Soil. The soil of the valley is partly formed by the disintegration of the Trap rock of the N(U'th Mountain, partly from the syenitic granite of the South Mountain, together with the red loam and coarse-grained sand of the New Rod Sandstone in the valley, which abounds in oxide of iron, lime, and gypsum, forming a fertile soil admirably adapted to the cultiva- tion of apples, plums, and various fruits, as well as of potatoes, swede turnips, oats, maize, pumpkins, beans, &c. Wheat growing and beef production have lately decreased, owing to the competition of the western provinces. The dairying industries are, however, increasing. Thk Faums. The farms are, almost without exception, occupied by their owners, most of them small compared with the average sizi; of English farms, and still smaller, of course, compared with many farms in the West of Canada and the United States. The labour is largely performed by the farmer and his sons, with but little hired help. The farmhouses and buildmgs, for the most part, are neat, comfortable, and give the impres- sion of prosperity. They are almost all constructed of wood, painted white. They are generally situated near the high road ; and, as the farms are long and narrow, extending often back into the wood and down through the marsh land to the river, the farmhouses are many of them within a quarter of a mile of one another, which enables life to be of a sociable nature, if desired. Prohibition of intoxicating drinks is rigidly enforced throughout Nova Scotia, with the exception of a few R towns. There is coiiHoqiiPnfly vorv little () or more aeres of orchard, hut a hir^'e propoition of this hasheen planted witliin the hist ten years, and is not yet in full hearing. Many orchards are fifty years old, and a few apple trees remain which were planted hy the French more than l')!) years a^o. The apple tree certainly thrives here, and the orchards are generally neatly laid out and well cared for ; the f^rowth of the trees is more rapid, and they attain a lar^'er si/e than is common in I'Jiglnnd. The fruit is usually large, well coloured and ahuiidant, and of pleasant Mavour, particularly Mie • (iravenstein." Owin^'. no douht, to (piicker fi;rowth and shorter season, the llavoiir f,'enerally is not quite as nice as that of good Knglish apples. Although tlie shape of the trees, the cultiva- tion, and the fruit in the hest English orchards eipial, I think, anything I saw in this valley, the average of the two countries is much in favour of Nova Scotia. Througliout the valley there is a telephone system which comiecta railway stations, shops, doctors" dwellings, and many of the farmers' houses. The charge is t.'i for installation ; 1 2. lO.s. yearly. On oiu' occa- sion 1 sent a cahle to Knglaiid from the sitting-room of the farnu'r'a house in which I was staying, and received one hack. Co-operative cheese and hutter factories stud the valley every few miles. The.se encourage the keeping of dairy cattle, wliich industry profitahly accompanies fruit-growing. The local agricultural societies own pedigree cattle for the improvement of native stock. At Canning, in the Cornwallis Valley, there is a vegetahle evaporating factory (Kerr's), which was husy drying vegetahles for the soup of the miners at Klondyke. It has in former years fultilled contracts to the satisfaction of the l-'.nglish Government for naval and military supplies, its only dilViculty heing sudden large orders, with very limited time for mamifacture. PlUMNfi \M) Tl!.\lNIN(i. The trees are. as a rule, well-shaped, as the farmers hegin early in the life of the tree to shape it. They like their trees to have a central leader, with the main hranches distrihutcd evenly ahout it, tlier(> being thus less risk of the tree splitting. The height of the hranches from the ground is regulated so as to allow horse culti\ ation under them. It is found by experience that it is best to saw oO" the branches as close against the trunk as possible. If it is necessary to remove a large limb they commence by sawing in a short distance from below upwards, in order to avoid splitting the wood and tearing the baik. Large wounds grow over best when the edge is smootlutl olV with a knife, and tlu'ii covered with some substance to exclude moistin'e and thereby prevent decay. Gum shellac dissolved in wood alcohol is found to be the hest substance for this purpose, though white leail paint oi' grafting wax are both good. A 2 (ionoriilly spcftkiiiR, sumiiior pninijif,', of wliicli n yood deal is (\nno, promotes fniilfulnuHH ; winter pruniiif,' Unnh more to wood growth. Pruning' in Nova Scotia Ih cliit'llv (loiic iit tlie fiid of winter, whilst snow is still on till) f,'i'l connnon use are tineiy ^'roiind joni' meal, at the rato of •') to H cwtn. per acre, to supply piiosphoric acid I'JH per cent.) and ritro^'en (H per cent.), nnd muriate or chloride of potash, at 1 to iJ c\vt3. per acre, to supply potash ( 'lO per ct'nt.). Sulphate of potash is more rarely used : it contains about the same amount ot potash. In the adjoining valley of the (iaspareau there is a bone mill, to which farmers take bones to be tj;round. Nitrate of soda is not, from what 1 noticed, much u.sed in the Nova Scotian orchards, save sometimes to j^'ive youni; or old trees increased vigour. In a paper on Fertilisers for Orchards in Nova Scotia, published in 'J'hr l'\uinrrii' Ailrncatc, the following' ill^'redients wi're recom- mended : — Kor small fruits (strawberries, raspberries), per acre : — l.".(» lbs. nitrate of soda = 2;J lbs. nitrogen. '2.jO lbs. nnniale of potash = \2'i lbs. potash. uru^ 11 I I / '^ l'>^- nitro-,'en. 800 lbs. bone meal ='^,..,11 1 1 1 I IHI lbs. phosphoric acid. For apple orchards : — 100 lbs. nitrate ot soda = l-""*'. lbs. nitroijen. 200 lbs. muriate of potash = loolbs. potash. _ f K;.'. lbs.nitrof,'eii. ;>yO lbs. bone meal = ]. ] 2(; lbs. phosphoric acid. For orchards with clover : — 200 lbs. muriate of potash = 100 lbs. potash. 250 lbs." Thomas" phos- phate (liasie slaf,')ial If. percent. [ihnsi)horic acid = II lbs. K. B. Voorhes. of till' New Jersey l'',xperiment Station, said : — "To provide vej,'etable matter and to improve the physical (piality of poor soils, apply yard manure once in four years, in fall or winter, at the rate of from five to ten tons per acre. To aid in the decomposition of vej^etable matter, and to ensure a sufViciency of lime as plant food, apply lime at the rate of twenty-live bushels per acre once in five years. To provide, in addition, an abundance of all forms of available plant food at 6 llir UIIICM llCf.ltd fnllllr .l.V. I«)|.mrllt <.t ill.' tlV( llll.l IVllil . ll |i|ily MiiimiiUy cliciiiiciil rcililisci'n ill llir I'lilluwiiit,' iHiiporlioiiH : — KM) lbs. nilmtc of S(m1ii = l.V, lb . iiiirr.K.n. 100 lbs. Sdiilb ('iii'oliiiu rni'li Sliprl'|ill..--l)luitf = l"'i ll'^- I'linspboric iiri.l. I' (1 lbs. iiitroi^'i II. '200 lbs. -n.iiii.l 1m,iu' =111 lbs. pbosplioric iieili = 100 lbs. iiotiish. "TIh! aniniints to be iippliLd ibpcnd upon ilif c-lianicUr of the soils, the kind of fniit. itn.l ibf a^'.• an.l vigour of the livr ; these Kivcn perhaps mark tlie ininiuniin. In a iiuinbrr of best orchards the qiianlilies applied are very nmcb larfj.r ibiiii those beiv iiidicate.l. and the lar-er application is believed by tlie ^'lowers to be proporlioiialel>' jirotitable." Frank T. Sliiitt. I'bief Clieiiii^l of the D inioii l'.\periiiiintal i-anns, wroti' : - " Assniiiiiik' the leaves of II full -rowii npple tier to wei.u'b .'lO lbs., and reckoiiiii.i,' forty trees per acre, llie iii;iiMirial value contained in the le>ives is e(|Uiil to ; Nitroireii • ■ ■ .17 71 Ilis. I'liosplioric acid 'oiasn :'.-Ks lbs. 7 -Si lbs. "The leaves are returned to the soil, but ibe fruit is exported; this, in the ease of an orchard tsviity-liv.. years old. prodiiein,!,' ICO barrels of I 10 lbs. 10 tons per acre, is n loss to the soil of approxi- mately ; Nitro,L,'en . . . . • Phosphoric acid . . • • Potash H-!l lbs. .'.•:; lbs. . :i2-H lbs." Professor Shutt reconmieiids for apple orchards : - I :! lbs. nitrogen. 100 lbs. bone meal = [ ._,., n,^ |,hosphorie acid. 100 lbs. superphosphate = ].") to 20 lbs. ,. „ 7.") lbs. muriate of jiotash = ;{7 lbs. potash. Professor l'.. I".. Faville, the late professor of the N.S. Scho(d of Horti- culture, ill a piiper on Fertilisers for Fruit Plants, ^'ave as the yield and composition of fruit per acri' : - 'I'olH. NilKiyrll. Apples . 1.') :i<»lbs. Pears 10 12 lbs. Plums 2 1() lbs. 1 Jerries . 11.' Trace |'(ilii-li. I'iiiis. aciil. l.-i lbs. ;{ lbs. :m; lbs. 10 lbs. .s lbs. 2 lbs. 7 lbs. 2', lbs. The following i> ;,'ivni iin another nsifiil forinnlii for inannrinR orclianlH : (iood rotten i>iirn yard nianiirc . 10 to I.") tons per acre. (1 ton = 1*2 llts. nitroj^'en, I'2 lli;. |»ilatili, r> lit-.. |i|ioH|)lioricut'i(l.) Kainit (l:t per ci'iit. potasln . :IIM) t<>7(N) lliH. ; or Muriate of potash ('lO per cent, potash) .... |(N)to*2'<)unili . llNlto '2y the more pt'il'ect pulverisation of tiie soil. The ploughing is done either in the fall or enrly spring. In Canaila fall ploughing is not reconimendecl for clay land, as it tends to puddle it and make it become hard and stiO'; the frost conse(|uently enters to a greater depth, and root injury may result. In ploughing. one aim is to obtain a lovel surface. Thus one year the soil is ploughed from the trees, the next towards them; one year east i'.nd west, the following north and south. Most of the farmers whose land runs down to the river bank, dig and haul the salt marsh nmd on .'leds during winter, and ■ spread it on the orchard land ; this is disintegrated by frost and more carefully s})read in s|)ring. This mud has numurial value, and also the salt in it probably aids in keeping the land moist. Marly tillage saves the moisture accumulated during winter and early spring, and puts the soil into fiiu' condition to warm up and get the trees c, mill iiciiic. It" llic wood ^rowlli ol tjic trees is too liixiiriiiiil, it may he ciiecked liy k'sscniii^' liie tilla;^'e ami \>y witii lioldiiiLT nili'o^'ciious iiianiire. As tlio ondianl trees sto|i j^Towiiij^' iilioiii iiiidsiiiiiiiicr, vi<^'(tid;i.H tilla^^'c llieii eeasds, so lliat the new ;^'ro\vth may ripen siillicieiitly to staml the colli of winter; and as the tri i > can iniw spiire consideiiihli; nioisttn'i', catch crops are with advuntai'i; -own, sncii as tiires and hiicliwli( at. Till: Ciaii'i'iMi ol Oiaii \i;ii IjWIi. Voun.Lj orcliards, say for the lir>t twiKe years, ^'eiicrally have i-onie crop 1,'rowii in tlum. ^udi a- early polatos, inai/.e, heaiis, and other hoed crops. These crops m ed ciihi\ation during' the early part of the season, and are removed ainnil the miildle of July or tir>t we(di of .\ii;^'iist. limdiwheat iiml oats are also ;^'rowii, hui are not as satis- factory, as the land cannot he thoron^dily woiKed. iSoiiie space is allowed iiroiind tile trees, so a> nol to ^'I'ow crops directly over the roots of the trees, i'or these ciops hone me;il and miniate of potasii ai'e fieipieiitly sown in the iirill>. in the older ondiards the land is ^^eiieraliy uncro)i[)ed, hiii fiei|iiently harrowed. I have seen orchards almost weedless. due to tliis freipieiit cultivation. In some cases, after tie trees are aiioiit twelve years old, clover is sown and left down for three or four years and mown for hay. This is, however, exhaustive unless some fertilisei- is used. OnriiAKi) (DvKi; Ciaii's iiii (1i;i;i;n M\m dim.. Tile ohject ol cover crops or i^o'iMii manuring' i- to ^'ather and return ve^'etaide matter to the soil, and to protect the roots of the trees from the elTects of severe frosts, especially when unprotected hy snow. I'or this pur))ose the orchards are very lliorouf^dily (ulti\ated durin;,' the early part of the season, and alter the close of active growth, ahoiit July or Au^Mist, the sui'face is sown iviih some crop whicdiwill lmow quickly and he lar;.,'e eiion.L^di to protect tin soil during; winter. Crimson (dover ( 7V/ /"//'»)// iiii'iinniliin/), in parts of Canada and tin- liiited States where it stands the winter, is I'ound adniiraldy adapted to supply nitroi^'Oiioiis ve^'itahle matter to orchards at little co-t. it is, however, rather a risky crop in Nova, Scotia. Mammoth clover is found to he tlie next hc^t, sowiiii,' I 1 Ihs. per acre, 'i'ares. lucerne, common red (lover, pi as. hnckwlieat, rye, and oat'^ aii' also employed for this puijiose. .\ fair L'rowth will he ohtaiiied the same season, wliicdi is plou^died in early the follow in;/ sprin.t,', in oiilei- not to retard the sprint' ^'rowth of the tree-. The-e crops help to keep down wei (Is, and, where successfully <.'rovv n, em .v\\ tiie soil at le is not coiniiioii, iiml il is siiid to liiivc conic from il iiropc aiid tliat i'.iiropc diil iioi, derive it from Amcrii-ii. i'or iiorticidtiii'id piiriioses insects miiy lio divided into two classes : < I) tiiose that, chew their I'ood, sucii as caterpilhiis ; and '2) those lliat feed iiy sucliiii!^' the juices, such as locale insects and apliides. Tlie ciiewiii^' insert ^ may he (h'>troy((l hy di-lriiiiitin'_' poison over tliose parts of tlie plant upon which tiiey feed. In Canada siirayin" is almost nnivcrsally practisi'd. I selul pumps ai'c manufactured foi' the purpose, provided will: a paddle to ai^'itate the liquid. The pump is usually fitted inlip a paralVni Ihirril : tin liose-pipe is 1M(,. 1. ()|;ill\l;|. SmiAVIM; in Ni'V \ ^'"^l^. 10 to 1.", feet lon^', often len^'lhemd hy a liu'ln ha: I'oo tulic rod f. to 10 feet lonj,', in order to reach hi<.di up into the ii.i-; the spravinu no/zles are mostly of ihr Vermorel ]iatleni. Tin hmiil is mounted (Ui a carl or low watri^'oii (" sloven "j, and drawn hy a lior.-e throu'_di the orchard, takiii-.,' two or three persoir-; to dii\o, pump, and direct the spray. The rei)r()iluction of a photoi,n-aph (fi.ir. 1) illustrates this. In somi' cases orchards are -piaycd ipiile early in -print,' to clean tlie liark ol' the trees from si-ah^ and moss, usint: { to 1 Ih. cau-tic rock potash to i <,'alloii of water, or this may he applied to the trunks witii a ve^ntahle lihre (not hair) lime-wash hriish either tit this time or in ■lunc. for sprayim,' with the stronL,'er potash solution nun sometimes wear old macintosheH, riihher j^doves, and -trap a macintosh over the horse. Powdered caustic potash is sold at nio-t <,M'ocery shops in Canada, as it is iL'^ed for soap-makin;^'. A 1 Ih. tin costs ahout •"'/.; this is a very convenient form for spraying' purposes. 10 Spraying for fiiiit,'i, l)lack spot, or scab on api)lt'S {Fusiclddiiim iiutculatnm) may be done before tlie blossom or foliaj^e opens in order to kill the spores. For this copper gnlphate alone (8 ll)s. to 40 f,'allons of water; can be used without lime, as there is no f()lia,u;e to burn. The first spraying jointly for fungi and insects, caterpillars of the Codlin moth (Carji'M-ajisd pimwncU(i\, 'lent or Lackey moth [Clisucainjni Ameri- cana), Canker or Winter moth (Anisopteii.r pomctnria),is done when the fruit buds begin to unfold, but before tbeilowers expand ; the second time just as the last blossoms fall ; and if caterpillars are numerous or l)lack spot shows on young fruit or leaf, the spraying should be repeated, say once every two or three weeks. The mixture in common use is the Bordeaux mixture as the fungicide, Paris green as the insecticide. To save time for the former, stock solutions of sulphate of copper and lime are made separately ; the Paris green is added direct. The formula commonly adopted is : — For Apple. Vov I'lum and Peach. Copper sulphate 4 lbs. 8 lbs. Quicklime 4 lbs. H lbs. Water . 40 gallons. 40 gallons Paris green 4 ozs. 3 ozs. Copper sulphate is soluble in cold water, but more readily so in hot. The solution is made by hanging the crystals, contained in a sack or basket, in a barrel of water near the surface, so that it is partly or just covered by the water. Vessels of wood or earthenware should be used for dissolving the sulphate ; dissolve 1 lb. of copper sulphate per gallon of V ater for a stock solution. Thus take 40 lbs. for a 40-gallon barrel. Take, say, one bushel of lime, which is the better for being freshly burnt ; place it in another barrel, and pour about 10 gallons of water on it to slake it ; afterwards add enough to make it into a creamy mixture like putty pour on a little more water to exclude the air and prevent change in character ; then cover the mouth of the barrel to prevent evaporation. For making up a 40-gall(m barrelful of the spraying mixture, fill the barrel, say, one-third full of water, then add 4 gallons of the copper sulphate solution. Then take some of the lime putty, mix it with water and add it to the solution, straining it through a funnel-shaped box with a fine copper wire mesh strainer at bottom. In order not to add an unnecessary amount of lime, thereby risking the clogging of the machinery, it is advisable to test the mixture so as to ascertain whetlur the sulphuric acid has been neutralised by the lime. For this purpose a solution of ferrocyanide of potassium (1 o/. in 1 pint of water) is used. After stirring, take a small (luantity of the mixture fi'om the barrel in a white saucer or a glass, and add a iew drops of the ferrocyanide solution. If a brown colour appears, the mixture needs more lime ; if there Is sufficient lime no discoloration takes place. Next weigh or measure out about \ lb. of Paris green, put it into a cup and make it into a paste with water ; add this to the mixture in the barrel. In Nova Scotia, Paris green is sold at most of the hardware stores in 11 cardboard boxes, coiitainiu-,' 1 lb., costiiif,' about 9(1. It may be tostod for its purity by aninioniii, which should dissolve it complftoly, producing a deep blue liquid. When Paris green is used alone without the Bordeaux mixture it is always advisable to add an ecjual quantity, or twice the (luantity, of liuie, for the purpose of taking up the soluble arsenic which may exist and might injure the foliage. To spray twenty-year-old trees, planted 10 to the acre, costs about 2,s-. to l.s. per acre per application for materials, and takes about 1), to ;5 gallons per tree to spray tlioroughly on both sides. It takes nearly double the quantity to spray when in full leaf that it does before the blossoms open. About four to six applications are generally needed. Professor ]5ailey tells us that with a ;!0()-gallon tank drawn by two hor.ses with three men, one driving and piunping, the other two standing on the rear platform two or tlu-e<" feet al)Ove the tank, directing the spray, each with a hose-pipe, the pump having an automatic stirrer— with this rig five acres of full-grown apple trees can be thoroughly sprayed in a day. All the working parts of the pump should occasionally bo oiled, also the nozzles. In using both copper sulphate and potash, iron vessels should be avoided, preferably using wooden pails. 1 before working with these liquids it is a good plan to rub the hands over with mutton or some other fat not containing salt. Avoid spraying work when the hands have open cuts or .sores, and wash the hands well after work. For spraying it is advisable to wear one's worst clothes. A broad-brimmed (straw or rush) hat is of advantage in shielding the face from spray. Spray from the windward side, and only when calm. I'or currant and gooseberry caterpillar, freshly ground white hellebore is used, either as powder, or if used as a liquid, 1 oz. to H gallons of water is reconnuended. The trunks of old apple trees are sometimes scraped with a short- handled triangular hoe or box scraper to clean oil' loose bark and moss, the dwelling-places of the bark lice, and the winter (quarters of the C'odlin moth ; this is usually done in Canada about April. Insects, the food of which consists only of the sap or juice of the plant, and which thrust their beaks through the epidermis of the plant before they begin to suck in their food, are unharmed by any poison on the outside of the plant. This class of insect, to which scale and aphis belong, can only be destroyed by some substance which is applied to the insect itself, which either burns or stops the breathing pores of the l)ody, and so kills it. For apple bark scale (.l//////a.s7(/.s jKnnorniin the following mixture is used, either in winter or about the middle of -lune, when the young lice are hatching out : — 2 gallons. Pa r a 111 n llain water Hard soap Soft soap , 1 gallon. ], 11). ; or 1 quart. 12 The soap and water are boiled together, thou paraftin is added. The mixture is well stirred or agitated with a garden syringe. For use, 1 part of the mixture is added to 9 of water, and applied to the bark either as a spray before the leaf opens or with a brush in summer. Dr. Fletcher n^commends a solution of washing soda so strong that no more will dissolve in the water, then dilute the soap to the proper consistency. To counteract mildew on the leaves of gooseberry bushes, potassium sulphide, H ozs. to 25 gallons of water, is employed. Fia-iT Tkkk ]>.\ni)in(;. The placing of bands of sticky material to prevent the ascent of the female Winter moth, in America called the ('anker moth, is practised to sonic extent in Nova Scotia, though it is generally considered that if spraying is thoroughly done at the right periods grease banding is not necessary. 'J'lic aubstances chielly used are bands of tarred rooting paper painted with printers' ink, or castor oil and resin applied direct to the tree. Professor Craig recommended, for winter use. 2 lbs. castor oil to H lbs. of resin warnu'd together, but not iioiled, applied warm with a 2-in. paint brush; and for spring use, 2 lbs. castor oil to 4 lbs. resin. These mixtures are applied after scrai)ing oiV loose bark, either direct or on tlie surface of paper. The band is placed about 2 feet from the ground, is about (5 in. wide, and is put on at the end of October or early in November. (irease banding seems specially useful in tiie case of large trees, which it is dillicult to spray thoroughly. Al'l'l,!; I'lCKINti AND I'ACKINC. The kind of ladder connnonly used for apple picking is one fairly broad at tlie i>ase, but the sides of whicli at the upper end terminate in a point ; this constructitm is liked, as the ladder can be so conveniently placed among the branches. The baskets used are of a rounded shape, with swing handle, holding a little more than a peck. These are con- venient for emptying the fruit gently into the barrels, in which they are removed from the orchard without sorting. Fallen apples are picked up and sent to Halifax. The barrels of apples are placed either in a special apple-packing house, or more generally in the cellar under the barn or house, ready for sorting and repacking. The apples are sent over to England chiefly between the end of September and the end of March. For sorting, the apples are poured out of the barrels on to a table, usually about 5 feet long and H feet v;ide, with a ledge all round 1 or 5 inches high, covered with carpet, felt, or sacking. The sorting divides the apples into : — 1st. Of good size and quality ; 2nd. Smaller, but of gocd quality, both shipped to England ; Hrd. Scrubs, which are sound, but scabbed, ill-formed, or other- wise defective, sent to local market ; and 4th. Rotten, for pigs. Sometimes the extra good apples are picked out as specially " selected." 18 The Imn-L'l most coimnonly nscil in Nova Scotiii i> iiuulc of tir rftuvcs with bireh hoops, holuiii- \'n') to 1 10 lbs. fniit, aiul costin- 10-/. Barn Is with stavus ot mai.lc or chu. witli chii hooj.s, aiv iis.d lo a it-siT cxtriil. but are commonly US...1 in Ontario an.l iho I .S..\. ; th.'sc liold 1 10 to \'A) lbs. ol' ap|)lt'S. and i-n-.L Is. In packing, the bottom and bil,L,'c hoops arc tirsi nailed, then a tinn layer of \vood°wool. called " I'.xc.lsior,'- is placed at the bottom, n.\t a sheet of while paper the same si/.e as the end of the barrel. A layer ot •'headers" is then laid: these are apples of average sizr. those best coloured bein- chosen. Tiiese are [.laced stem downwanls, The l)arril is then iilled by carefully emi.tyiii^ in ih.' fruit, usin- hin-e handle.l baskets. The barrel is -eiitly shaken . acli time fruit is added, .so as tc pack the fruit closely. It is tilled 1 or 2 inches above the rim. In order to j^'et the apples ti^'htly pa.died, >o that they do not move after packm,;,' and become " slack " in travellin,!,'. a round board lined with sacknig or saddlers' f(dt is i.laced, padded siile downwards, on the top of the apples ; the barrel is rocked on the floor, if of cement, or. if not. on a heavy plank. The apples, thus shaken and pressed, sink to about the K vel of the rim : anv spaces are filled with small apples. Then another piece of white paper is placed on the apples, the chin.' hoops are knocked up to loosen them, to allow the lid to enter the nuiuth of the barrel : then the lid is laid on, and the screw or lever-press is applied to the barrel to press the lid into position, followed by the tightening of the chine hoops and the nailhig of the head and hoops. The name of the apple, togi'ther with the owner's nanu' and address, are stencilled on the top of the barrel ; the name of the salesman on the bottom. r • 1 f The cost of sending over to Kngland-Lcmdon or I.iverpool -trom the Annapolis Vallev, (/(( Halifax, is about ; s. ,1. Rail (CO to 1(50 miles) . . . 1 H Steamer (3,000 miles) . . . 2 (i \ '1 rer barrel. The salesnum's commissicm in London is usually ■'. pir cent. Mr. S. C. Parker tells me the average net price received by the grower was, per barrel, for the crop of IS'IC,. about U. 2./. (,^1 ) ; for that of lHi)7, K.s. 1'/.; and for iKi)S, (i.s. :'.-/. The grower considers s.s. per barrel, clear of t'xixnses iliarrtd, freight, and commission), a very good price, but occasioiuilly they do not pay expenses, due to inferior fruit. l>ad pacl.MiL'. or glutted market. The apples are s.unetimes InHigbt on the tr.es at so umch a barrel throughout the orchard: and ii j-acked by the grower, Is. per barrel is paid for pickiii-, packing, and haulint,' to the station. There are several large apple buyers who liave large .stores and packing sheds, capalil.' <.f holding several thousand barrels. These are g..neraUy situated close to a railway >talion, to enable the barrels to be loaded dinsct into the cars. T\ni London Citii. by which I returned, carried 1 I, O.'.O barrels : tlie 14 Fiirness Lin", to which this iioat hcloii^'s, roeoivcs a suhsidy from the Ciinadian Govcrninent to nin a fortni^'htly service of steamers. Cli AMlintlUHS. Arouml lierwic'k, W'iitervilh'. Auburn, Ayh'sford, and Cambridge, in the middle of thc! valley, eninberry-Ljrowing is fast increasing. Here the soil is moist, but not sta,i,'nant ; it consists generally of one or more feet of peaty soil over sand. In 1H!)(> there were about 200 acres of cranberry bog, and in 1H!)7 about 2,r»0O barrels were raised. They keep well in barrels for fully nine months ; when re(juired for shipment they are sorted and cleaned by hand or luiichini rv, and sell in London at 2i>s. to Hon. per barrel. The cranberry beds take four years to come into bearing, and are said to Fi(i. 'i. — " NoNi'AUKii. " Aiii.i. 'I'i;i:i:, Cdiinwai.i.is l{i:ciniiY, Nova Scotia. l'i;niiAiii.v l")!* Yi;ai!s Oi.n. last about forty years. The crop is said to average about forty barrels per acre. The rows are pUmted L'j to 21 in. apart ; plants 1 or ;"» in. apart. Once in three years the bogs are sanded about I in. deep, taking fifty two-horse loads per acre. During the winter the plantations are in many cases flooded, in order to destroy insects. One company owning a large area of cranberry bog which had been badly infested with "fire-worm," a', the reconnnendation of the Ciinadian Department of Agriculture, sprayed the plantation with arsenate of lead (.', oz. arsenate of soda in 1 quart water, ;J oz, acetate of lead in 1 (piart, pouring the two together iind adding 5 gallons water). This insecticide hns been found very etVective, and may take the place of Paris green in orchards, as in a trial at the Central Experimental Farm, Ottawa, in IHfl'), the percentage of wormy apples (Codlin moth) was even less than where Paris green was used. 15 F„r useful information iis to onmbrrry ciltuiT, I woul.l ivconnnoiul purchi.si,!- tiio llci.ofl of thoNova Scoiia I'luil ( ir(nv..rs' AssocuUion tor 1H')7 1 iK'lirvo cr.nil.ornos would W a n.nuuuraiivc cmp on moor ami hoathcr Inn.l in Kn-lan.l and Scollaud. as I ronsi.lrr tl... lam! is ot similar cliarartor to tlial of Nova S.-olia. in wln.-h .•ranhcrrirs thrive so well. Mr. S. ('. Parker writer to mo that, on the recommemlation ol .Messr>. Notiianl.v Lowe ( Tool.v Stiv. t, London ). eranberries have heon f,'ene rally shippcMUhis s..ason in iu.x..s hol.lin- 1<» Hw. ; ihis paeka-e -avo goo.l results, nettiuf^ nltout 2^. »1-/. pi^r ho\. Noriis (II iiii; ^■|l:l.l>^> o|- l-'i;i lis. At rornwaliis Kectorv there is an oM French ' Nonpareil ' apple tree, probahlvir,Ovearsoia, measuring,' 10 ft. ,t,'irth 1 ft. fr.,m iho -round. The Rector, the Rev. F. -I. U. Axford, told me that durin- the twenty years he has been th.'re the amount ot fruit from it has varied from two barrels up to sixteen, the avera-e hein- nine barrels. A photograph ot this tree ^Fiv^ 2), taken by his dau^diter. is ,i,'iven. At Wolfville, in iH'.tC. from Mr. KUiot Sniith's orchard twenty barrels were "alhered fnnii three ' (iravenstein ' tree-- twenty live years .dd. In the >anie vear. fr.nu the farms on Canard Street. .-.O.lHK) barrels ..I apples were -withered within a distance of :'..', miles alon- the road. In"the(iaspareau Valley. l,7(Hllu.rrels were -athered from thirteen acres of orchard belongin.i,' to Mr. (Inrlridge. Strawberries: lOU iuishels, or a.'iOD quarts, per acre i> said to be an average yield, r,,00() bein- exceptionally -ood. Price, usually '"/. to , !,l. per Muart, hut sometimes as low as 2\s., according to season. Vakiktiks Ol- Fklmt (Hill i.v C.kown in Nova Scotia. Ai'i'i,i:s. 'draveiisteiir and -P.anks- Re.l (irav. nsuin ' are til for shipping about the middh^ of September. ' I'.aldwin ' and • King of Tomkins County. 'Noiipareir commands a high price, and .s in its prime in the iollow- in- May and .luiie,an.lit is mostly grown in Annapohs County. ' Ribston Pippin.- tile best apple of Knglish origin. ' (ioMen Ibisset. • P.en Davis and • Northern Spv.' • The P.ishop Pippin ' or ' lUlle FU'iir,' introduced by Bishop Inglis, tl.e iirst bishop of Nova Scotia, is much grown for home use, but does not stand shipping. ' P.leiiheim Orange," ' Fallawater, and ' Khode Island Greening.' 16 i'i;Aiis. 'IJartletf or •Williams' lion {"ImHicn,' ' Clapps" Favonritc.' • Flemish Ucaiity,' as standartls. (in Ontario, ' Diichcssii (VAnars. The scliool consists of a class-room, with a j,'ood collection of l'',n<,'lish. Canadian, and American books on horticulture, liorticultural journals, aliout twelve fjood microscopes, and a collection of pressed wild plants. Iieneath tlio class-room is a pottinij shed ov workshop, and, adjoininir. a M'lass house with economic and ornamental plants and llowers, in which grafting', budding, and propagatinj,' are tauj,dit duiiuLr winter. There is also a rool cellar, in which apple stocks for root ifraftint,' durin^,' winter are kept. Surroundin.u: the school are ornamental grounds, with a nursery of youuL,' fruit and other ti'ces and plants close by. The borticultural coui'se is at jn'osent confined mostly to the propa- gation of plants and to fruit-growing -dealiiiL; with wind-breaks, protec- tion from frost, setting out and planting, tillage, mnnnring, cover crops, niiovation of (dd oi'chards. grafting, budding, the life bistoiies of fungi and insects, spraying, harvesting, and packing of the fruit, cold storage, \c. The School of Horticulture is attached to the Wolfville I'niversity. The classes are held during the winter months, from the beginning of 1!) Noveinl)cr to the end of April. Iliivinj,' myself iitttinldl the (•ouisc, I cannot speak too bi^'lily of it. Tln' course is free, and fanners are invited to coinc and look round at any time, attend any lecture, and lirini,' any (|ii(stions. .\ltlioii<»h there are such exceptional advanta,L,'es, there are hut few who attend rej^'ulm ly. l-"l(.. I. " Ki:i;iiwM 11; " Si'ii \vi:K. Fill! !\ll\l\ll \Mi SinvVlNll I'aIIAI TIN AMi \V\II I!. The Ibllowini,' were the text-books used at the School of llorticidture in winter IH!)" s. They are exci'Uent hooks ; "The Principles of Fruit-drowin.i,'." hy I'rof. L. II. Hailey, of Cornell University. '>.s. "The Sprayinc; of Plants," by 1'. (1. Lodenian. Is. " The Nursery P.ook," by Prof. P.ailey. Is. "The Pruning,' P.ook." by Prof. P.ailey. as. All published by Macniillan i^ Co., London and Now York. Till-; Nova Scotia Oi'I'kk of AdiiU L'l/riiiH In 1897 issued free to all farnier> and others inlei'ested in the subject, a useful pamphlet. '' Practical Hints to I'l'uit Gi'owers," upon insects, funfi;i, spray machinery, insecticides, and fungicides. The Provincial (ioverimient has an a,i;ricnltural and dairy school with model farm at Truro, which deals also with the i^rowtb and care of fruit. Lectin'es on agriculture, dairying, and horticulture are given throughout the province, with field demonstrations which appeal- to l:e well attended, •20 jiidginL,' from llif mic on s|iiii>iiii,' which I iittciicltMl on Mr, Uiilpli I'.iiton'H fiinn, near Keiitvillo. Till, CwMiiw HKi'MiTAtrN r or Aukk ri.ri iii; I>-;n('< lit fnM|iirnL inti rviiN vnlinililc Imllctiiis on MU'iiiMilliiral ami lioi'ticiiltiinil siilijcct-^, Mint fnc to farnnTM. It has an t'\iu'iiiii( iitnl station in • acli iJrovincr I'oi" trial nj' dilVcicnl varieties of corn, vo^'ctiilili-*, and fniit>. Tliai of Nova Scotia is iii Nappan. The ciiitral i\|K'riiii(nliil Htalion is near Ottawa, where soils and fertilisers are analysed hee to farnierH, insects are iiientilieil. and ailviee ;,'iven on matters eonnecled with aufrieiiltiire and iiorticultinc. In |H!I7 it ^eiit over an ex|ierl. Mr. -1. Iv Starr (liinis(df a lari^'e apple j^jrower). to report on tiie condition of the fruit arriving' in I'.nijland and Scotland from various parts of Canada, to see whether any impi'oveinentH in packin.L,', cold st()rnf,'e itbr f,'nipoH, phnus, i^c), steamer accommodation, niarketiiiL,'. could he siitrfjested, or new markets found. In conclusion. I can recommend Nova Scotia as a pleasant country to farm in, and as a doli.Lrhtlul holiday resort, where a irood deal may he learnt in af^'ricultiiral methods. The people are very kind and sociahle, and williiii,' to jjive information. .\nd, linally, 1 would here like to record my hest thanks to my h'iends across the Atlantic, and to my wife for the two photo^'iaphs illustrating' the paper; also to the ( iould"s Manufactiirim,' Company for the use of electrotype.^ illustratinij; two of tlieii' puni[ia, the " I'omona " and the " Kcrowater." This latter has only recently hi'cn introduced and patented this year. It mixes and sprays a cond)iue(l spray «f water and iiarairin : the proportion of the latter can he regulated from ") to '!'> per cent. Sj,olih .,/. d- V: I'l .Vi ir-'iiei ' >'i:i /."H'lOh. 'i .*•