THIRTY-riFTH ANNUAL REPORT OP THE PRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION OP ONTARIO 1903 (PUBLISHED BY THE ONTARIO DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.) PRINTED BY ORDER OF THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF ONTARIO TORONTO : Printed and Published by L. K. Cameron Printer to the King's Most Excellent Majesty. 1904. TORONTO: Warwick Bros. & Rutter, Limited, Printers. CONTENTS. FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION OF ONTARIO. Report of the Executive : G. C. Creelman 5 Local Fruit Growers' Associations, 5 ; Orchard Meetings, 6 ; Fruit Experi- ment Stations, 10 ; Fruit Exhibits, 11 ; Co-operation with Local Councils, Boards of Trade, etc., 13; Fruit Packages, 14; Annual Report, 15; Horticultural Societies, 15; Lecture Courses, 17; Toronto Industrial Exhibition, 20; Canadian Horticulturist, 21. Report of Treasurer 24 Reports of Directors of Agricultural Divisions 25 Fruit Notes : C. L. Stevens -34 Report of Mr. Thos. Beall, Honorary Director. . . . .' 36 Directors' Meeting 37 President's Address : W. H. Bunting 41 Address : Dr. James Mills . , 44 The Canadian League for Civic Improvement : G. R. Pattullo. . 45 A Visit to the Old World : L. Woolverton 50 Nature Study : Dr. W. H. Muldrew 53 Co-operative Fruit Packing and Marketing : W. H. Owen 55 Report of the Transportation Committee : G. C. Caston. . . , 65 Report of the Committee on Resolutions 71 Ocean Transportaton : W. W. Moore 74 Fruit Packing : A. McNeill 79 Peach Growing in Michigan : Prof. L. R. Taft 84 Hardy Fruits for iNorthern Districts : W. T. Macoun 90 .Northern Fruit Growing : Dr. Wm. Saunders 97 Power Spraying : W. A. McKinnon 98 Observations in the Peach Orchards of Georgia : A. B. Cutting 107 Fire Blight : Prof. F. C. Harrison 113 New Fruits : Prof. H. L. Hutt 119 Report on New Fruits : W. T. Macoun 121 Review of the Work of the Ontario Fruit Stations 125 Grapes : Murray Pettit 126 Currants and Blackberries : A. W. Peart 128 Apples and Cherries : G. C. Caston 130 Apples : Harold Jones 131 Apples and Raspberries : A. E. Sherrington 133 Strawberries : E. B. Stevenson . . 134 Peaches : W. W. Hilborn 135 Planting, Pruning and Grafting : A. E. Sherrington 188 Report of Committee on Frait Exhibit at Leamington 139 HORTICULTURAL, SOCIETIES. Beautifying Home Grounds : H. L. Hutt 14i Winter Window Gardening : Wm. Hunt . . 146 The Coleus and other Foliage Plants : J. S. Scarff 152 Insects Affecting House Plants : Dr Jas. Fletcher , 155 Work of Horticultural Societies in Towns and Cities : A. K. Goodman 150 Palm Culture in our Homes : J. O. McCulloch 160 Deciduous Shrubs : Roderick Cameron 164 Hardy Perennial Plants : Roderick Cameron 169 The Hardy Perennial Border : A. Alexander 172 Digitalis Purpurea (Foxglove) : A. Alexander 175 Lilacs at the Central Experimental Farm : Dr. Wm. Saunders 177 Paeonies at the Central Experimental Farm : Dr. Wm. Saunders 181 Carnivorous Plants of Canada : D. W. Beadle 185 Shade Trees : Prof. Wm. Lochbead 190 [3] Fruit Growers' Association of Ontario. OFFICERS FOR 1904. F resident - Vice-Presideid - Secreta ry-Treasurer - Agricultural Division N€ ►. 1 2 i I 3 1 I 4 5 II 6 " 7 t( 8 u 9 a. 10 11 " 12 it 13 - W. H. Bunting, St. Catharines. Alex. McNeill, Walkerville. - P. W. Hodgetts, Parliament Buildings, Toronto. Directors. A. D. Harkness, Irena. R. B. Whyte, Ottawa. Harold Jones, Maitland. W. H. Dempsey, Trenton. W. Rickard, Newcastle. Elmer Lick, Oshawa. M. Pettit, Winona. E. Morris, Fonthill. J. S. Scarjf, Woodstock. A. E. Sherrington, Walkerton. T. H. Race, Mitchell. J. L. Hilborn, Leamington. G. C. Caston, Craighurst. Ontario Agricultural College: Prof. H. L. Hutt. Honorary Directors : Thos. Be all, Lindsay ; A. M. Smith, St, Catharines ; W. T. Macoun, C.E.F., Ottawa ; W. A. MacKinnon, Ottawa. Editor Canadian Horticulturist : L. Woolverton, Grimsby. Auditor: J. M. Duff, Guelph. REPRESENTATIVES TO FAIR BOARDS. London : T. H. Race, Mitchell; J. S. Scarff, Woodstock. ' : R. B. Whyte, Ottawa ; Harold Jones, Maitland. Toronto : W. E. Wellington, Toronto ; G. C. Creelman, Toronto. COMMITTEES. ■ fire : President, Vice-President and Secretary. Board of Control Fruit Experiment Stations : Elected by the Association : A. M. Smlth, Elmer Lick, W. T. Macoun ; (ex-officio) : G. C. Creelman, Chairman ; Prof. H. J Hutt, P. W. Hodgetts. New Fruits : Prof. H. L. Hutt, W. T. Macoun, L. Woolverton. Transportation : W. H. Bunting, R. J. Graham, H. W. Dawson, D. D. Wiison, W. L. Smith. D. J. MacKinnon, J. M. Shuttleworth. [4] Fruit Growers' Association of Ontario ANNUAL MEETING. The annual meeting was held in the Town Hall, Leamington, on Tuesday afternoon, November 24. The chair was taken by the President. Mr. W. H. Bunting, at 2.30 p.m. o'clock. ; REPORT OF THE EXECUTIVE. By G. C. Creelman, Secretary, Toronto. In presenting this, my second annual report as Secretary of the Ontario Fruit Grow ers' Association, I wish to thank the Directors for the support which they have given me in carrying out the details of the work of the Association. Where the mem- bers of the Board are located in so many different points of the Province, ancT where the fruit interests of the different localities are not the same, it is not practicable for the Board to deal with other than general questions. The detailed work of the Association has to be done by the Executive Committee, or by the Secretary dealing directly by correspondence or otherwise with the individual members of the Board. On the whole, I feel that we can report progress, and I have divided my report into sub-heads, that you may see exactly what has been accomplished in the different depart- ments of out work. (1) Local Fruit Growers' Associations. In my report last year, we made note of the fact that a number of Local Fruit Growers Associations had (been organized throughout the Province, under the direction of th* Executive Committee. At the time of organization, experts were sent to the dif- fer jnt localities to give instruction on orchard management. The object of these local organizations was stated to be, "to assist the farmers to produce more and better fruit." We realize now that this was not broad enough. In many instances more fruit was produced than could be profitably handled. I think, therefore, the time i? rip ;, taking these local organizations as a nucleus, to organize associations for the purpose of buying and selling ; buying packages, spraying materials, etc., and the sell- ing to the best advantage all of the products of the garden and orchard. In the Georgian Bay district the idea* of buying was put into practical effect last year, while this year we 'have the 'splendid example in the Lake Huron district of what might be accomplished in the way of disposing of our fruit by co-operative storing and selling. The following report from Mr. A. E. Sherrington will give you an idea of the work being clone and the advantages derived from co-operation : This Association was organized in the month of March, 1902, with a membership of twenty-four, under the auspices of the Fruit Growers' Association, and by direction of the Secretary, Mr. G. C. Creelman. The rules, as laid down by the Association as a guide for Local Association?, were adopted, and have been carried out as closely as it was ^possible to do so. The Association met monthly, and at these meetings the different subjects regarding fruit growing and co-operative work in connection with it were discussed. Untold good ha* been done along these lines, and it has caused a great deal more interest to be taken in the cultivation and care of the orchard. A new set of rules and by-laws is now being prepared, and incorporation applied for. I should like to mention the rule governing packing. Each member must pack and grade his own fruit, placing his name on each package with either stencil or rubber stamp, and stating the variety and grade of fruit. In this way every member becomes responsible for his pack. In 1892 the Association made their first trial in the co-operative [51 THE REPORT OF THE No. 16 work by putting up two cars of Duchess apples made up of i.oco boxes and ioo barrels. These were sold f.o.b., but forwarded to Manchester, England, and arrived in good condition. In addition to these, three cars of winter apples were packed and sold. Th s year the Association has prospered beyond all expectations. We now have be- tween fifty and sixty members, and shalf go in for co-operation in the shipping of apples. Up to the present time the Association has shipped fourteen car loads. Advantages of Co-operation. (i) We believe that the grower is the proper party to grade and pack his own fruit. By so doing he receives better prices, and better prices mean more money, and more money means more interest being taken in the care of the orchard and fruit. (2) By co-operation apples were not left lying on the ground waiting for the packers to ccmc and scramble over the piles for a few of the best speecimens, and wasting the rest, but are packed as gathered from the trees, thereby saving a larger percentage of the fruit. (3) Another advantage in co-operation is in the handling of early apples, as all the members can commence picking and packing the same day. In this way, only two or three days will be required to make up a car, and the fruit will be got away in a fresher tad bttter condition than by the other way of selling to the buyers. (4) By co-operation money can be saved by purchasing packages in large quantities. (5) There are no middlemen to pocket the larger share of the profits. (6) By co-operation, (better shipping facilities and lower rates may be obtained. (7) By co-operation more interest is taken in the markets and more intelligence applied to the business. (8) Co-operation not only increases the profits, but induces the members to take a deeper interest in the production of a better quality of goods, and the putting of them on the markets in a better condition. The consumer, also, in buying the goods will have a more friendly feeling for, and will take more interest in the producer, as a closer relationship will be established. (9) As to the possibilities of co-pperation, it is impossible to tell what the outcome wlil be, but in my opinion it is bound to grow and become a power in the country. In the case of the Lake Huron Fruit Growers' Association, the next move will be to build a store house where packages may be stored ready for use, and where they may be return- ed when filled and kept until the cars are made up. I have no doubt that in a shprt time other farm products will be added to the list of co-operative shipments, such as% butter, eggs, and poultry. These product? can all be handled by co-operation. (2) Orchard Meetings. Meetings in the orchard having proven most successful in 1902. it was decided to con- tinue the work during the present year, and to this effect the following letter was mailed to each of the local organizations, and to such other points in the different parts of Ontario as recommended by individual members of the board : "Toronto, Feb. 23, 1903. "Dear Sir,— Following the practice of last year, the Ontario Fruit Growers' Associa- tion has decided to hold a series of orchard meetings to demonstrate the pruning and management of orchard trees. Through the kindness of the , Dominion Department of Agriculture, we have been able to secure the services of some of the Fruit Inspectors, including Messrs. McNeill, Carey and Lick. The3e gentlemen will be available from the 9th till the 27th of March, and are prepared to give a practical demonstration in prun- ing, together with a talk leading to a general discussion on orchard cultivation and man- agement, and matters generally pertaining to the fruit business. "The idea is to assemble at a meeting-place at 1.30 p.m. for an hour's discussion on fruit matters. An adjournment will then be made to the orchard selected for the demonstration. In the evening another meeting will be held for the purpose of organiz- ing a local Fruit Growers' Association, or where already organized, to continue the good ▼ork. (903 FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION. "Please let me know at once whether you desire any of these meetings, and at what places you wish to hold the demonstrations. The circuits will have to be arranged be- for the close of next week, so that it will be necessary for you to reply promptly to secure the services of these gentlemen." After having heard from the different points where it was thought advisable to have meetings, we took the matter up with the Farmers' Institutes in each district, and secured their co-operation, good-will and financial support to the benefit of all concerned. The folowing is a copy of the letter mailed to the Institute Secretaries at that time : "Toronto, March 9, 1903. "Dear Sir, — 1 am pleased to announce to you that we have arranged to hold Fruit Institute Meetings in your district this spring. The Ontario Fruit Growers' Associa- tion, at its last meeting, decided to again co-operate with the Farmers' Institutes, and, as far as possible, hold meetings to assist the local fruit growers in their work. The meet- ings in your district will be held at , and the speakers will be "I shall expect you to advertise the meetings, arrange for halls, and pay for the same out of the Farmers' Institute funds, as it will be largely your members who will receive the benefit at this time. The speakers will not cost you anything. I will write a personal letter to each of your members in your district, naming the place of meeting and the date, and 1 would like you to bill the district as far as possible, so as to secure a good meeting. The idea is to call the meeting as usual at 1.30, and at 3.30 to adjourn to a local orchard for a practical demonstration in pruning, grafting, etc. In the evening a general meeting will be held for discussion and organization. You will please ar- range with some one near the hall for the use of his orchard. "I would like you to look after this matter personally, but if you find you cannot do so, please appoint one of your directors, or a member who is particularly interested in fruit, to act for you." While we realize that the officers of the Local Fruit Growers' Associations, and the officers of the Farmers' Institutes must be held largely responsible for the meet- ings, I have found that a personal letter to the farmers themselves will often bring them to the meetings, where they would pay no attention to an invitation from a local* man. To this end the following personal letter was sent to every farmer whose name could be secured in the neighborhood : "Toronto, March 13, 1903. "Dear Sir, — At the last Annual Meeting of the Ontario Fruit Growers' Association the Secretary was requested to arrange a series of Orchard Institute meetings, particu- larly through the apple districts of the Province of Ontario. Since the beginning of the year the Secretary has been corresponding with fruit growers throughout the Province in reference to the best places to hold these meetings, and has finally arranged the follow- ing schedule. It is intended, as far as possible, to hold a short meeting in the hall *n the afternoon at 1.30, and at 3.30 the meeting will adjourn to a neighboring orchard, where a practical demonstration will be given in pruning, grafting ,etc, as well as a talk on orchard cultivation and methods generally pertaining to fru;t growing. "It is expected that the members of the Farmers' Institutes and Horticultural So- cieties, as well as every farmer interested in the production of fruit, will be present and receive instruction and take part in the discussion. "In the evening a general meeting will be held for the purpose of organizing a local Fruit Growers' Association. The object of these associations shall be to foster the fruit industry. Such organizations already formed have done good work in discussing methods of cultivation, and picking, packing, grading and handling of fruit, co-operative shipping, co-operative buying of packages, etc." An Illustration. To give you an idea of what takes place at these meetings, I take the liberty of quoting here from the report of Mr. G. C. Caston, some of the questions asked and the answers given at the orchard meetings attended by him : Q. What is the main object to be aimed at in pruning ? A. First, symmetry of the tree, and if the orchard is to be cultivated, which it certainly should be, remove all branches that are inclined to droop, and keep trees well headed up ; second, to keep the top open enough to allow of a free circulation of air and sunshine through the branches ; third, an even distribution of the bearing wood (fruit spurs) all over the tree. Q. What are the common errors in pruning ? THE REPORT OF THE No. i6 A A i lowing the tree to grow lor years without any training at all, and then slashing and butchering it unmercifully. To open it up, they cut several large limbs out oi the head, leaving the top of the tree shaped like a vase, and the hot sun in mid- lummer blisters the bark on the exposed branches. Then the remaining limbs are stripped oi everything except a wisp on the end, only about the last two years' wood. The fruit spurs are nearly all gone, and the result is a big crop of suckers, and the usefulness of the tree is to a great extent destroyed. Seme trees of a spreading open habit of growth require very little pruning, while others, as for instance the Spy and Russet, require considerable, but it should be a thin- ning out of the small branches, rather than a cutting and a slashing of the large limbs. No man should attempt to prune without a stepladder, and most of the work should be done from the ladder in thinning out the small branches around the outside. A man shoull never attempt to prune a fruit tree who does not know a fruit bud from a leaf bud, and who does not recognize the fruit spurs, for in pruning the fruit, spurs1 should be left evenly distributed over the tree. In some varieties that have the habit of set- ting mere fruit than the tree can properly mature, a judicious thinning out of the fruit spurs is required. Then the tree will bear fruit of a marketable quality, where other- wise it would be too small. In other trees that are shy bearers, the average pruner cuts tbem away where they should be encouraged and developed. And here is where the pruner should understand his business. Many people's idea of pruning is simply to cut limbs out of a tree until it looks to be pretty well thinned out. They seem to have no- method ir. their work and they do not work intelligently. Q. Do you cut close ? A. Yes, cut close and smooth andi never leave any stubs, and if obliged to cut any limbs over an inch in diameter, paint the wound well as soon as it gets dry. Q. When is the best time to prune fruit trees ? ♦ A. The month of June is the best time. Q. Why is that the best time ? A. Because wood growth is going on then. The formation of hew wood tissue is most active then, and the wound immediately begins to heal around the edges. If the wound is made in the fall or winter, or too early in the spring, the delicate cambium' around the edge is weather-beaten and injured, and does not heal so readily as if cut in ihr- growing season. Q, But, if you cannot do it in June ? It is a most difficult matter for most peo- ple to attend to it at that time, owing to the press of work. A. Well, the next best thing is to do it as near that time as possible. Under no circumstances should it be done in the fall or winter. This is decidedly bad practice. Q. What effect has pruninsr upon bearing ? A. Where trees are making rapid wood growth anything that will check the growth has a tendency to the production of fruit buds'. A moderate pruning will often have this effect. But if it is overdone you will get a crop of suckers instead. The proper course is to prune regularly and keep the tree in proper shape, and if there is too much wood growth where there ought to be fruit, use a fertilizer with a large percentage of potash and phosphoric acid and less nitrogen, such as hardwood ashes. Q. Do you consider hardwood ashes a good fertilizer for the orchard ? A. Yes, decidedly. You cannot get potash and phosphoric acid as cheap in any commeicial fertilizer, and it is a great mistake to allow them to be shipped out of the country to be used by fruit growers in the United States, when many of our own orchards are starving for need of them. I believe the production of first-class fruit, is. after all, a matter of fertility more than anything else, although pruning, spraying, and cultivation are all very important and must be attended to. Q. What quantity flf ashes would be a good dressing for an orchard ? A. That depends somewhat upon the character of the soil. Clay or clay loam soil is not co likely to need potash' as sandy soil. If sandy or sandy loam, you are not likely to overdo it in the matter of potash. Forty bushels to the acre every second 1903 FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION. year would do, and I might add, a crop of clover plowed in between times. This would te vastly better treatment than most of our orchards receive. (J. What are ashes worth per bushel for orchard purposes ? A. Buy them as cheap as you can, but unleached hardwood ashes are worth 20 or 25 cents per bushel for fertilizing orchards, and that is cheaper than commercial fertilizers. Even leached ashes are worth the hauling if you can get them, for there is still a percentage of potash in them, and the phosphoric acid is not removed by leaching. Q. When is the best time to apply them ? A. In the fall. Q. When should scions be cut foi grafting ? A. When the wood is dormant late in the fall, or early in the spring. They should not be cut when the wood is frozen. Q. How should they be kept ? A. In sawdust. There is nothing better. It keeps them cool and moist. Q. When should grafting be done ? A. As soon as the sap begins to circulate and the growth begins, but if the scions are cut at the right time and kept dormant you can graft successfully until the leaf is half out However, the earliest ones usually do the best. Q. What is the proper formula for grafting wax ? A. About five ounces of tallow, eight ounces of beeswax, and one pound of resin. Melt over a slow fire. Do not allow it to boil, ibut simply to melt thoroughly, stir and pour into cold water, and pull it until it is nearly white. Q. In top-grafting, would you work the whole top over at once ? A. No, you must not do that, you might kill the tree. You must keep up a balance. Tak* about one-third at a time, and work the new top on gradually. In this way you do not check the growth, or disturb the balance between top and roots too much. Q. Do you consider top-grafting to be a good practice ? A. Yes, most decidedly. It is the best way to grow our best commercial apples. Q. What do you consider the best stock for grafting on ? A. Something hardy. There are many varieties that do very well, and they are classed as Ironclads ; but I consider the Talman Sweet one of the very best for that purpose. There is nothing better that I know of. Q. What do you consider the best varieties for the commercial orchard ? A. Spy, Baldwin, King, Greening, Wagner, Snow, Blenheim, Pippin, and perhaps a few Ben Davis. That would be a pretty fair list. It is a great mistake to have too many varieties. Most of these varieties should be top-grafted. In fact, all except the Snow and Blenheim. Q When is the proper time to spray ? A. The first time on the bare trees, with copper sulphate, 2 lbs. in 40 gals, of water. Then again just before the blossoms open, with bordeaux mixture, 4 lbs. blue- stone, 4 lbs. lime in 40 gals, of water. If there are tent caterpillars or any leaf-eating insects, this is the time to dose them, and add eight ounces of Paris green to the mix- ture if these insects are plentiful. There will be no damage to the foliage if plenty of lime is used. Q. Should the lime be fresh ? A. Yes, as fresh as you can get it. I always use the cyanide test, and 'would advise everyone else to do the same. Q. What is the test ? A. Get about five cents worth of ferro-cyanide of potassium and dissolve it in a half- pint of water. When the bordeaux mixture is made stir it well and drop a few drops of the cyanide solution in it If it turns purple on striking the mixture add more lime until it will give no color, and then it is safe to use and will not burn or injure the foliag". More than half the battle in spraying is gained by having a good pump. Never use anything else. 1(1 THE REPORT OF THE No. 1 6 Meetings were held as follows : Division I. Delegates : A. E. Sherrington, Walkerton ; P. J. Carey, Fruit Divi- sion, Ottawa. Chesley . . Tara Port Elgin Tiverton . . Pinkerton . Walkerton , March 23 Mildmay March HO 24 Teeswater " 31 25 Kincardine April 1 26 .Lucknow " 2 27 Brussels " 3 28 Blyth 4 4 Clinton April 6 Goderich " 7 Hensall " 8 Exeter " 9 Division 2. Ottawa. Randolph March 23 Midhurst " 24 Edgar " 25 Jarratt's Corners .. " 26 Rug-by " 27 Delegates : G. C. Caston, Craighurst ; A. McNeill, Fruit Division, Orillia March 28 Oro Station ' 30 Churchill " 31 Stayner April 1 Creemore " 2 Creemore . ..April 3 Collingwood . .. " 4 Clarksburg .... Meaf ord .... " 6 . .. " 7 Division 3. Winona, April Ottawa. Delegates : F. J. Barber, Georgetown, March 23-Aprii 2 j M. Pettit, 3-4 ; Harold Jones, Maitland, April 7 ; Elmer Lick, Fruit Division, Trenton . . Wicklow . Welcome . Newcastle Orono . . . March 23-24 " S5 " 26 " 27 " 28 Bowmanville March 30 Oshawa " 31 Myrtle April 1 Pickering " 2 Bronte " 3 Ancaster .. ..April 4 Belleville Frankford . . " 8 " 9 Division 4. Delegates : W. T. Macoun, Central Experimental Farm, Ottawa ; A. McNeil], Senior Fruit Inspector ; S. S. Cheetham, Dairy Instructor, Ottawi Vernon July 7 Fallowfield July 8 Metcalfe July 9 Division 5. Delegates : A. Harkness, Irena ; A. McNeill, Senior Fruit Inspector, Ot a.va. Morrisburg April 23 Lancaster April 24 Iroquois April 7 As you see, this Association is largely indebted to the Fruit Division of the Do- minion Department of Agriculture for speakers and demonstrators. I believe, candidly, that if the Ontario Fruit Growers' Association had done nothing during the year but conduct these meetings, they would not have labored in vain. (3) The Work of the Fruit Experiment Stations. We have been endeavoring for some years past to bring the work of the stations into touch with the farmers of the vicinity where such stations are located. We have had Farmers' Institutes hold summer meetings there with good success. So, following this up, we got the consent of the Department to send a copy of the report of the " Fruit Experiment Stations," including a description of the fruits of Ontario, to each member of each Local Fruit Growers' Association and to each farmer living in the vicinity of the stations. At the same time we mailed to each of these persons the folic wing letter, and where names were sent in as a result of it they were also fur- niihed with the report : 'Toronto, June 10, 1903. "Dear Sir, — The Annual Report of the Fruit Experiment Stations, published by the Department of Agriculture, is now ready for distribution, and we desire your co- operation in helping us to place this very valuable report in the hands of the fruit grow- ers of Ontario. As in former years, there is a continued description of the fruits of On- tario, including the Stark Apple; the Agawam, Minnewaski and Snyder Blackberries ; Late Duke and California Advance Cherries; Campbell's Early and Diamond Grapes ; Easter Beurre, Hoosac, Pitmaston, Seckel and Triumph Pears ; Abundance, Burbank, Bradshaw, Red June and Yellow Egg Plums, and fifteen varieties of Strawberries, each variety in every case splendidly illustrated. "The experiments also give very full notes for the past season on the varieties under cultivation at their respective stations. A very valuable addition this year is a catalogue of the values of the fruits and fruit trees of Ontario, also showing their ad- aptability to the various parts of the Province, designed to aid the planters in selecting suitable varieties. This catalogue, first published some years ago, has been thoroughly revised, and should prove of great value to all fruit growers. "We would ask you to kindly till in the enclosed blanks, with the names and the addresses of the members of your local Fruit Growers' Association, and of any other fruit men in your vicinity who would be likely to make use of this report." 1903 FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION. 11 As a result of this letter, we received the names of 1,047 persons, to each of whom a copy of this report was mailed. Of course, it is impossible to determine the good this educational work is doing, Farmers are reticent about their business. It is an indisputable fact that at Agricultural dinners held in our towns and villages most of the speech-making is done by lawyers, doctors, and other professional men present. The same is true in meetings of Farmers' Institutes. Very often our speakers are almost discouraged and say on returning from an institute campaign, that they do not believe they accomplished any good in certain districts. Later on, however, come letters from farmers who were present at the meetings, asking for fuller information in refer- ence to certain things that were discussed at these meetings. We realize, therefore, that msny farmers get information in orchard meetings, through our reports, and at our annual meetings, which they never acknowledge. But what matters it, so long as they put into practice the better methods ? (4) Fruit Exhibits. At the request of the Executive Committee of the Canadian Association of Fairs and Exhibitions, Mr. T. H. Race, of Mitchell, was invited to address the annual meeting on the subject of " Fruit Display at Our Exhibitions." Mr. Race implored the fair management to take away the barriers from in front of the fruit, and allow the people to see ami examine the exhibits. He also asked that someone be present to answer questions about the fruit exhibited, and the adaptability of certain varieties to tfcat par- ticular district, etc. This has had a good effect, as I have , noticed this year that many of our fair boards have adopted many of the suggestions brought out at that time. I am pleased to note also the general improvement in the fruit department in many of the prize lists. There is still, however, great room for improvement in this lins, and I would suggest that your Executive Committee be instructed to go carefully over the model prize list prepared last year, so that accurate information may be distributed to every fair board in the Province. Demonstrations in Apple Packing and Grading. The following report, by Mr. A. McNeill, will show something of the work being done. At your request I attended nine fall fairs, giving at each a demonstration in apple packing in barrels and boxes. Any want of interest that was noticeable at one or two places could be traced to want of proper advertising, or an unsuitable location, or both. Speaking generally, the interest was all that could be desired, and the arrangements fairly good. There is ample encouragement for extending the work another year. I look the opportunity afforded me of noting the fruit exhibit generally, and would submit that the time has come for a complete revision of the prize lists and a revolution in the methods of awarding the jmzes. The prizes for fruit and the judging of it at fall fairs should be done with the following objects in view : (1) To promote domestic trade. (2) To promote the export trade. (3) To encourage amateurs. (4) To add a decorative feature to the fairs. These objects are not of equal importance, but all should be kept in mind when frciming a prize list. If classes were made to correspond to these several objects, they would undoubtedly overlap, but this would not necessarily cause any confusion, as the classes would be clearly defined. The export class would consist of ft very few care- fully selected varieties shown on plates, and separate prizes for boxes and barrels of the same variety, taking into consideration the packing and package as well as the fruit. The domestic class would include such varieties as are not included in the export class and yet have been found profitable. Hy also met and conversed with a number of fni't growers in that vicinity. Among those present were Messrs. R. A. Lehmann, Secretary Farmers' Institute ; C. L. Stephens, Piesident of the Horticultural Society ; Jesse Ryerson, A. E. Dudenhoffer, John Keenan, Wellington Fisher, and others. The subject most discussed was top-grafting. The con- census of opinion was that the Talman Sweet made the best stock, though Duchess and Gideon were held to be good. In the evening Messrs. Creelman and McNeill held a conference with a few of the members of the Board of Trade, at which the possibilities of the fruit trade in that district were discussed. The President, Mr. R. O. Smith, presided, and explained that the object of the Board was to assist in developing the fruit industry around Orillia. In the past it was understood that the farmers had suffered much loss through lack of exaci information as to what varieties of apples were adapted to this climate, and it was hoped that the Commission would be able to make recommendations that would orevent such mistakes for the future. The members of the Board had no direct interest in fruit growing, but were simply inspired by a desire to aid in the general prosperity ■<:.{ the district. Mr. Creelman,. in replying, spoke of the great advances that had been made in cap- turing the British Markets for Canadian products, particularly in the case of cheese and pork. At the present time the Government was bending its efforts towards securing a similar development in the Canadian trade in apples and chickens. The British people were acquiring a taste for Canadian apples, and the object was to furnish them with fruit of good quality and in good condition. They believed the agitation had reached ?i s'ag.-1 where the only way to advance it further was by going around personally among the farmers and discussing the question with them in their orchards, and this was what they propose*! doing around Orillia. The trouble was that every farmer had been nm- iiing an experiment station of his own, and instead of growing large quantities of standard varieties they were turning out sample lots of all sorts of apples. The thing to do was to decide what varieties were best suited tc this district, and then grow them . in I;M*ge Quantities, so as to attract buyers. 'Mr. Creelman ended by saying that he and Mr. McNeill placed themselves at the services of the Board of Trade during their stay here. Mr. McNeill opened by complimenting the Board of Trade on its enterprise, and expressing pleasure in assisting them in the laudable work. He discussed the fruit que< lion from a dollars and cents standpoint, claiming that an average profit of $50.00 an acr? could be got from an orchard, and that in eight years after planting, lands worth $50 an acre to begin with, could be advanced to $500 an acre. He did not wish to anti- cipate the conclusions he would reach as a result of a more thorough investigation, but 14 THE REPORT OF THK No. | 6 so far as liis observation had gone, he believed this district was well suited to apple culture, though he would not recommend the planting of orchards on land that was sandy. He hoped to see the day when one 'hundred thousand barrels of apples would be slnpped out of Orillia — and if they were all of one variety, so much the better. Mr. McNeill cifcussed varieties, difficulties and suggestions for promoting the fruit industry, in an informal way, with those present. He promised more definite proposals at a later date. Messrs. Creelman and McNeill visited Rugby and Hawkestone yesterday, meeting some f the fruit growers at Mr. Robert Anderson's, Rugby, in the morning. To-day they will be at Mr. Ben Teskey's, Warminster, in the morning, and at Mr. Matthew Baird's, jarratt's Corners, in the afternoon. Mr. Creelman returns home to-day, but Mr. McNeU will go across the lake to-morrow (Friday),* to meet the fruit growers at Mara He will be at Mr. Robert Calderwood's, Atherley, at 9 a.m., and will go from there to the orchard of Mr. Geo. MeCormick, M.P., in the afternoon, and hopes to meet a number of those interested in the subject and discuss the situation with them. He will visit Ardtrea on Saturday morning, and be at Mr. Jas>. Kean's at 9 a.m. This will ; nclude the investigation for the present. (6) Fruit Packages. As a result of the discussion on apple boxes at the Walkerton meeting, quite a num- ber of inquiries were received during the season in reference to this kind of package. On March 19th I received the following letter from Mr. W. A. McKinnon, Chief Fruit D:v:sion, Ottawa : "Ottawa, March 19, 1903. "Dear Mr. Creelman. — It has been brought to my attention that there is a move- ment on foot to have certain packages adopted for the export trade in fancy fruit. 1 see by The Horticulturst that some sh-'ppers have adopted a certain size of box for this trade. "The matter of packages was discussed at the Nova Scotia Fruit Growers' meet- ings, and has been talked of informally at a number of meetings since. 1 therefore take this opportunity to impress on you, as Secretary of the Ontario Fruit Growers' Asso- ciation, the great desirability from the point of view of the British trade (as expressed by great numbers of them to me) of having uniform packages throughout Canada. This uniformity should extend only to the weight of the fruit to be put in the packages. It is in no way harmful, in fact 1 think it desirable, that each section of the country should have some distinctive mark, either in the shape of the box or in the branding of it, which will serve to identify it in all markets. "The trade in Great Britain asks for a uniform barrel, preferably one to hold 140 pounds net, of fruit, and for a uniform box, holding 40 pounds net, for apples, and a uni- form half case holding 20 pounds net, for pears. If it is possible, by communicating with the various Fruit Growers' Associations, to arrive at an understanding on this mat- ter, I think it would be infinitely better than to let the subject i>e taken up, and disposed of in different ways by different associations." I wrote Mr. McKinnon, asking him for his views on the box question, to which he replies a? fol'ows : "Ottawa, April 9, 1903. "Dear Mr. Creelman, — As requested by you, I send you a memo, of my views with regard to the box question. "The main essential, as stated by the trade :n Great Britain, is that there should be uniformity in the quantity of fruit contained in Canadian packages which are presum- ably of the same size. The trade asks for a pear half-case containing as nearly as pos- sible 20 lbs. net of fruit; and an apple case or box holding as nearly as possible 4 lbs. net of fruit. It is essential that both of these packages should be of strong ma- terial, and should not be flimsy. 1 should not recommend the use of a box, the ends of which were less than % of an inch or the sides less than % of an inch, though some have had success with a package the sides of which are only one-quarter inch. "Now, with regard to the adoption of a standard package by the Ontario Fruit Grow- ers' Association, 1 do not wish it to be thought that the Fruit Division is meddling with affairs which should be left entirely to the decision of the Association. Please con- sider any suggestions coming from this office as being intended for the good of the entire Canadian trade. Realizing that the box is going to be more used in the future, i 1903 FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION. 15 think it extremely desirable that all the Fruit Growers' Associations in Canada should agree upon the same box for the export trade. As I have written you before, it does not matter if the box varies iin shape, in height or length, so long as it may be de- pended upon to carry always approximately 40 lbs. of fruit. Very little packing ma- terial should be used; the trade does not take kindly to the handling of Canadian excel- sior in fruit packages. "I would suggest that your Association should consult with the other Fruit Growers' Associations, either by correspondence or by the holding of a conference at some cen- tral point, which delegates might attend. It is possible that correspondence might be a satisfactory method for dealing with the box question alone, but there are other im- portant problems affecting the entire Dominion, such as the transportation question, and if these subjects were ail considered together, it might be well worth the time and expense of a conference. In any case, it would be very regrettable if Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Ontario and British Columbia each adopted a distinctive pack- age of its own for the export trade, so that the British purchasers would need to be experts to know just what quantity of fruit they were being offered when a "box" of Can- adian apples is offered for sale. "I am enclosing for your consideration a memo, of the dimensions of various pack- ages already in use. 1 might add that one of the most prominent growers in Prince Edward Island uses a box wider and shallower than any of the others mentioned, and made of very heavy material. You will observe that there is not, apparently, such a thing as "California package," in the sense of there being one package of the same dimensions used throughout the State." -Commencing an inquiry, we found a great many different sizes of boxes in use, and fruit men differing as to the quantity that should be put into a box. People are pretty well agreed, however, on one of two boxes, either a bushel box, which would go three to the barrel, or a forty pound box, which is four to the barrel. With the scarcity of barrels this fall the question of boxes has come with more force than ever, and I think some recommendation should be presented by this Associa- tion in reference to a uniform box for the whole Province, and if practicable for the whole Dominion of Canada. (7) Our Annual Report. Our Annual Report this year was very late in coming from the press. It was pre- pared and sent down to the King's Printers at the usual time, but, owing to the pro- longed session of the Legislature, the printers gave as their excuse that they could not get out the report until the Legislature adjourned and the printing incident to it- had been cleared up. Personally, I am very much pleased with the appearance of the report, both the binding- /and subject matter. Published in one volume \vith 'our own are the reports of thr work of the Fruit Experiment Stations, New Fruits of Ontario, and the pro- ceedings of the Entomological Society. In our own report, I wish to call your special attention to the department devoted to the work of the Horticultural Societies, and par- ticularly to the seriesi of articles, written by Mr. Hunt, O.A.C., Guelph, divided as it is into the special work of the different months of the year. We were also enabled to use good paper and good cuts for this part of the report. (8) Horticultural Societies. Soon after our winter meeting last year, we began the work of helping the Horti- cultural Societies in our towns and cities. We believe this to be a very important work, and, while this Association has been criticized for having on its Board men who r.re more directly interested in flowers than fruit, I think that the result of their efforts in the beautifying of our towns has justified their re-election from year to year. On February 4th the following letter was sent out to our Horticultural Societies : • "Toronto, Feb. 4, 1903. "Dear Sir,— The past year marks an epoch in the advanced work of our Horticultural societies. The April meetings were reported to have been the best ever held in the his- tory of many societies. Our lecturers returned well pleased with the reception -thoy met everywhere, and expressed themselves as believing that the societies were doino- a good work. 16 THE REPORT OF THE No. | 6 "We write at this time to ask iif your society would like us to send you a speaker again this year. A number of good lecturers have promised us their services, and every- thing points to a splendid series of meetings in March or April. •For the past two years our lecturers have, under the auspices of your society, visited the schools in the afternoon, and i would suggest that this feature be continued. it is not only helpful to your schools, and beneficial to your children, but at the same time it advertises the meeting of your Horticultural Society, to be held the same night. "I am glad to say to you that the Fruit Growers at their last annual meeting at Walkerton, prepared a special programme for the delegates present who represented the Horticultural Societies. These special sessions were crowded to the doors each time, and it is the intention of the Association to hold .other sessions for those inter- ested in floriculture and home decoration at the time of the Annual Meeting in December. We hope your society will be represented at that meeting, and that your delegates may receive much inspiration at that time. •-1 have just been informed by the Minister of Agriculture that the Annual Report of the Fruit Growers' Association, the Ontario Entomological Society, and the Ontario Fruit Experiment Stations, will be bound in cloth and sent to each member of the Fruit Growers' Association. As this volume will contain the report of the papers read and addresses delivered on fioriculturai matters at the last Annual Meeting, together with the discussions following each topic, it should be of particular interest to your members. "I am pleased to say further that the 'Canadian Horticulturist' is steadly improv- ing, and that we are continually receiving many kind words from our subscribers in ref- erence to it. We ask for you continued support in the publication of this journal, and we would be glad to have any items of news from your society for publication in its pages. "In reference to the plant distribution, 1 would say that some of the societies have expressed a wish to purchase plants of their own selection, and where such a desire is expressed, the Executive Committee have decided that where a plant is not selected the affiliation fee for each member shall be 75c, instead of 80c, as heretofore. "We want to know at this time if our efforts are meeting with your personal ap- proval. We ask this because a circular has been received from the Cobourg society, in which charges are made against our Provincial Association, which, so far as we know, are groundless. We are trying to' help the Horticultural Societies in every way, but if our efforts in this direction do not meet with your approval, we should like to know in what way we can be of further service to you. "In the circular referred to above, it is also stated that a public meeting will be held in Toronto, February 13th, to form a Civic Improvement League, if such a League be formed, it will, I presume, be in affiliation with, and under the rules and guidance of, the American League for Civic Improvement. "1 should like an expression from you at this time in reference to the work of your own Horticultural Society, which is distinctly Canadian. 1 enclose a separate slip, which, if it suits your views, you might sign and return to me before the 13th. This action on your part will enable us to complete statistics re the working of the Horti- cultural Societies in Ontario, and would also be an indication to the Ontario Depart- ment of Agriculture that the distribution of the annual grants by the Department is justi- fiable. "Wishing you continued success, and hoping to hear from you in reference to the lecturer, 1 remain, yours truly." The following reply was received from forty-one Societies : "I beg leave at this time to testify to the good work being accomplished by our Hor- ticultural Society. Under the Agricultural and Arts Act, we are permitted to assist our town members in matters of civiic improvement, and our country members in the science of fruit-growing, gardening and lioriculture. We believe that it is in the best interests of the entire community thus to bring the town and country people together, and anything that would tend to divorce these elements would in my mind be a step in the wrong direction. I further believe that the lecturer sent to us each year is a help to us in our work, and we trust that the practice will be continued. "The 'Canadian Horticulturist,' while not perfect, I believe to be improving each year, and in my opinion it contains much information in each issue that should be help- ful to our members. "I feel that under our present conditioits, we are doing good work in the com- munity, and that there is nothing in 'The Act' nor in the constitution, rules or regula- tions to prevent us continuing the work of civic improvement or the improvement of our country homes and homesteads." It was very gratifying to read the replies from the officers of the Horticultural Societies throughout the Province, and I trust that this Association will see fit to con- tinue to help in the work so well carried out by these local organizationf : 1903 FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION 17 (9) Lecture Courses for Horticultural Societies. Division 1. Delegate : T. H. Race, Mitchell, Ont. Seaforth . . Kincardine Mt. Forest Walkerton March 10 " 17 " 18 19 Owen Sound Elora Elmira Waterloo March 20 " 21 " 23 " 24 Division 2. Delegate : Wm. Hunt, O.A.C., Guelph. Toronto Junction -Grimsby St. Catharines . . Niagara Falls . March 30 31 ..April 1 Hagersville, Tillsonburg Simcoe . . Port Dover Division 3. Delegate : T. H. Race, Mitchell. Bowmanville Millbrook . . Lindsay Peterboro' . . .March 31 . . .April 1 Stirling . . Picton Cardinal . . Orillia . . .April 3 " 6 " 7 " 8 April 4 " 0 " 8 " 16 Hespeler March 25 Brantford " 26 Paris " 27 Cayuga " 3i Stratford May 1 Toronto Aylmer Midland . . Woodstock ..April 9 April 17 •' 21 Wher arrangements were completed the following letter was sent to the Secre- te lies of the Societies : Lectures Before Horticultural Societies. "Toronto, March 4, 1903. '".Dear Sir, — Below will be found a list of the dates and places where arrangements have been made to hold meetings of the societies in your district during March and April. We have very carefully selected the speakers for these meetings, and trust that your members will not be afraid to ask questions and obtain as much information as possible from these gentlemen. "Last year the lecturers visited the schools in the afternoon and addressed the school children upon some topic connected with horticulture. Ihis seems to have been appreciated, for we have had many applications for similar instruction. We hope you will make arrangements, where possible, to have this feature of the work repeated, for, beside the interest the children may take m it, it will be a good advertisement for the evening meeting. "There seems to be a revival of interest in horticultural matters generally at this time. The Ontario Fruit Growers at their last Annual Meeting arranged special ses- sions for floriculture and town improvement topics. These meetings were crowded at each session, and a report, in full, of the proceedings, bound in cloth, will be mailed to each of our affiliated members as soon as published. '•Trusting that you may have a successful meeting and a prosperous year's work, 1 remain." - i As an example of the work done at the Horticultural Society meetings. I quote you here from the report of Wm. Hunt, O.A.C., Guelph : <- Meeting held at Toronto Junction March 30th. Attendance 50. Subject : Hardy Border Perennials. Audience very much interested. Q. How often should German Iris be planted, and at what season of the year ? A. About every third or fourth year. The Iris being early flowering, is best planted in the fa'l (September). Q. What size should the clumps be ? A. From five to ten crowns. Q. Do you consider the double white Lychnis a good border plant ? A. Yes. decidedly so The Lychnis Vespertina (double white) being quite hardy and Aery free flowering. Grimsby. 'March 31. Attendance J$. Subject : " Planning and Planting the Home Grounds " Audience large, very much interested. Apparently well pleaded. Q. My hardy roses are not doing very well, the soil is very sandy and gravelly. What do you recommend ? A. Either take your roses up entirely and take out the sand snd gravel to the depth of st least twelve inches, and fill in the bed with a compost of clay loam enriched with about one-third of well-rotted manure, then plant your rose bushes again. The 2f. G. 18 THE REPORT OF THE No. 16 roses it* taken up should be heeled in whilst the bed i? being prepared. It you cannot lift the roses, take out as much of the soil around them as you can without injuring, ihem and put the compost before mentioned in its place. (J. What would you recommend to keep down insects on roses ? A. For the rose slug or worm, sprinkle the bushes just before the buds appear with dry hellebore early in the morning when the dew is on the foliage, or just after a shcwc:. Repeat the operation once a week until the bushes are well in bloom. A weak solution of Paris green water, made by thoroughly dissolving about half a teaspoonfui of Paris green in a small quantity of water first, then add water sufficient to make a gallon ol the solution. Spray this on the bushes once or twice before the buds open. Apply ibis solution when the foliage is dry. Q. Are Tigridia bulbs hardy here ? A. No. Tigridias are not considered hardy here. Q. Do hardy roses succeed best in shady positions ? A. No. Not in the closely shaded positions, 'but partial shade for a iew hours on hot cays in the middle of the day is beneficial to the blooms, preserving ;hem longer. Q. Should outdoor bush roses be severely pruned ? A. Yes, the strong shoots of young or last season's wood should be cut back, leaving about four to six inches of young wood. Cut out altogether all small weak 9hoots. Q Shouli hardy climbing roses be severely pruned ? A. Not so severely as the 'bush roses. Select first of all the strong, vigorous cane'; you wish to leave, shorten these back to about four feet from the old wood, and trim out the verv small weak wood altogether. St. Catharines, April I. Attendance 40. Subject: "The Propagation and Care of Window Plants." Only a fair-sized audience, very interested throughout. Invited to return at some time in near future to deliver an address on "Civic Improvement" and " How to Beautify Public and Private Grounds," the Mayor and others being very rao:h interested in these matters. Q. Wrhat would you do with a pot of daffodils that have flowered in the window and have died down ? A. Leave the bulbs in the pot, and put the pot in a cool place in the shed and keep them dry, when you can plant them outside in the garden in September. They are no further use for window culture. Nii-gara Falls South. April 2. Addressed Public School scholars at 3 p.m. Gave pa-ticulars re culture of Asters, as the Horticultural Society is distributing 300 packets of Aster seed. Young people very enthusiastic. Meeting in evening at 8 p.m. About 50 present. Attentive audience. Q. How shall I treat a Calla Lily when it has done flowering ? A. Give it less and less water from now until June, when you can lay the pot on its side under the shade of a tree or fence, and give it no water until the end of July, when you can brinu the pot out into a partially shaded place, and start it into growth bf "catering it, or you can repot the tubers if they require repotting, but do not give it too large a pot, as that means a lot of leaves and no flowers. Q. What kind of Asters are the best to grow ? A. The various types and colors of the Victoria Aster are considered the best. The Semple's branching Aster is the strongest growing and blooms very freely, but the blossoms are not as nice, either in shape or color, as the Victoria Aster. I con- sider the latter the best type of Aster. Q. What do you do to increase the size of Aster blooms ? A. By pinching off the small lateral flowers on the sides of the stem you will in- crease the size of the terminal blossoms. Hagersville, April 3rd. Addressed pupils of Public Schools at 3 p.m., and gave address op " Culture of Asters," as the Horticultural Society is distributing Aster seeds to scholars for an exhibit in fall, at my request. Meeting of Horticultural Society in 1903 FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION. 19 evening. About 40 present. All very much interested. Gave composite lecture on "Window Plants," " Civic Improvement," and "Planning and Planting the Home Gnc unds." Q. Which variety of Begonia do you consider best for window culture ? A. The spotted leaf variety, Begonia Manicata Aurea, is the most enduring variety, and its foliage looks bright and pretty at all times. Q What strawberry do you considei tc be the best variety for home use ? A. The Clyde. < Q. What is the best time and 'method of pruning flowering shrubs ? A. By starting when the shrubs are young. Almost all of the flowering shrubs can be pruned when in flower by thinning out the most prominent shoots. The trim- mings can be used for indoor decorative purposes if cut when in flower. If shrubs are large and have been neglected prune in autumn or early spring. Never clip flower- ing shrubs with the shears. Lawn Hydrangeas require pruning back severely in fall or early spring, leaving as a rule only four or five inches of the young growth. Tillsonb:irg. April 6 Addressed Public School scholars, 200. High School 75. In- duced Horticultural Society to distribute Aster seeds. Gave talk on " Aster Culture." Children very much interested. Good meeting in evening in Town Hall. 75 present. Satject: "Window Plants, Civic Improvement, and Planning and Planting the Home Grounds." Q. When is the best time to prune Maple trees ? A. Hard or sugar maples are best pruned sometime during July and August. The soft n.aple? and sycamores are better pruned later on in the fall or very early in the spring. Q. Can tuberous-rooted Begonias be grown in the window during the summer ? A. Yes, by securing some tubers about this time and starting them in sandy soil in small, well-drained pots, and repotting them into larger pots when the growth is three or four inches in length. Good, rich, loamy soil should be given them when potted the second time. Do not give them too much water until the tubers have started well into growth. A too sunny position in the window is not advisable for tuberous Begonia?- Simcoe. April 7th. Addressed Public and High School scholars, abcuJ 300, and in- spected new park. Horticultural Society here will distribute Aster seeds or plants next year, perhaps this year. Meeting in Town Hall in evening. Good attendance. Com- posite lecture same as at Til! son burg. Great interest shown on remarks re "Civic Improv T-nent." Q. Why is it that so many coarse kinds of grasses are often seen on lawns, and finally kill out all the finer grasses ? A. Imperfect drainage, both of the surface and sub-soil of the kwn, is oftentimes responsible for the appearance of coarse weeds and grass and other noxious weeds on a lawn. An exhausted soil is often the cause of the finer grasses dying out. Drought in summer also allows the strong coarse weeds to overpower and kill out the finrr lawn grass. Q. What are the best grasses to use for seeding a lawn ? A. ^ A mixture composed of a pound each of the following varieties of grasses and clover' makes a good lawn mixture, viz., Agrostis Vulgaris, Agrostis Alba, Agrostis stolrnifera, Poa pratensis or Kentucky Blue-grass, one-half pound Dutch Clover. Port Dover. April 8. Addressed Ptfblic and High School scholars 3 p.m. Horti- cultural Society will probably make a distribution of Aster seeds to scholars. Meeting in Tcwn Hall, 8 p.m., about 75 present. Mixed subject for lecture same as Simcoe. Audience interested and pleased. Aylmer. April 9. Had splendid reception here. Was conducted by Mr. D. H. Price. Sec.-Tifas. County Fair, Reeve and others to the Public and High Schools. Addressed schclars on Floriculture, particularly Asters, as Horticultural Society is distributing seed to scholars flowers to be exhibited at County Fair in September. Good meeting. 75 ?« 20 THE REPORT OF THE No. J 6 evening. Composite lectures as before. Have since sent Mr. Price particulars to govern Aster exhibit. Q. When do you consider the best time to prune the hard maple ? A. From July to October. Q. Do you consider the Norway Spruce a good lawn tree ? A. Xo, not for small lawns. The Norway Spruce requires a great deal of space (25 to %;o feet) to develop their full beauty. They are then really beautiful trees. The miserable-looking clipped specimens we usually see on small lawns do this noble tree scant justice. As wind-breaks these sipruce are useful, or they will make noble, grace- , iul sp< cimens where they have plenty of room to grow and develop themselves. (10) Toronto Industrial Exhibition. As one of the representatives of this Association on the Fair Board of the Indus- trial Exhibition, I beg leave to make the following brief report : As in former years, the building was found to be unfitted for ^the needs of the fruit business, in fact, the entire building devoted to fruit and flowers would not be too large for either display by itself. As a result of the cramped space and the poor facilities for showing, a large number of 'the fruit men met in the Farmers' Institute tent, during the time of the .Exhibition, and appointed a committee to confer with the Industrial Board, with a view to improving the conditions at the fruit building. At the Directors' luncheon, also, the Scime day, Dr. Mills, of the Agricultural College, and Mr. T. H. Race, of Mitchell, made emphatic speeches showing the absolute necessity for the Fair Board taking some action in the very near future. As a result of all these objections, the Exhibition Board are at this time preparing a by-law to submit to the ratepayers of the City of Toronto, asking $25,000 to be voted for the purpose of erecting a new building for fruit on 1he exhibition grounds. In a conference with the Secretary of Toronto Exhibition a few days ago he in- formed me that extensive improvements were contemplated on the fair grounds during the coming season, and that the very first move would be in the direction of a new building for the exhibition of fruit. The Secretary also required me to bring the matter before this Association and asked that a committee be appointed, or the Executive instructed to consult with the Toronto Fair Board in reference to plans for the new bi ilding The Fruit Exhibit of 1903. On the whole, I think the fruit exhibit was fully up to that of other years in quan- tity and in many cases better in quality. In many classes the competition was quite keen. In the large collection of apples the first prize was taken by our director from the Quinte district, Mr. W. H. Dempsey. His exhibit was admired by everyone enter- ing the bui'dirg. The second prize, was also won by a Bay of Quinte man. and the third went to Hamilton. In all sections in the apple classes the competition was close, and an exhibit to take first prize had co be of the very highest quality. In apples and pears the bulk ot the prizes went to the Niagara district, while in peaches and plums the same district was also successful, although the exhibit- by Mr. W. W. Hilborn, of Leamington, showed plainly that had he been a cpmpetitor the Niagara people would not have won so easily. In grapes there was a grand exhibit, and if took the judges nearly the entire day to get through their work. Most of the prizes went to the Niagara district, IVIr. W. J. Stewart, of Homer, winning the silver medal for largest collection. St. Catharine? was secend and third, while the other prizes were distributed throughout the peninsula and Burlington district. In the district competition the Township of Niagara and the St. Catharines Horti- cultural Association were the competitors, the latter was awarded the prizes, not be- cause of the superiority of its exhibits, but for the reason that the Niagara people 1 903 FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION, 21 had not complied with the rules in reference to labelling their 'exhibits. This has caused a good deal of hard feeling, and I have been asked, as representative of this Association, on the Toronto Fair Board, to take the matter up and help sustain the protest made at the time by the Niagara people. I think the time has come when we should encourage the exhibit from districts. In this way the large number of visitors, who attend the exhibition every year, will be- come impressed with the suitability of districts for certain kinds of fruit growing, and those districts will soon become noted for the' kind of fruit best suited to their soil and conditions. English live stock men have for" years pursued this policy ; one county is noted for a certain kind of sheep, another county for breed of cattle, an- other district for heavy horses, etc., and people going in to buy stock in England move directly to one point and complete their business. If this could be done in Ontario with our fruit business it would cut out the necessity for so many middle men, and large buyers could be directed to one point and there secure car loads, and if necessary ship loads of a single variety. Fruit Stations. It would be like reading a catalogue to discuss the exhibits of our fruit stations. They were admired by everybody, and I would suggest that hereafter whoever may be employed as Superintendent of these exhibits be requested to prepare an accurate re- port of this part of the exhibition, that it may be published in the Report of the pro- ceedings of our annual meeting. . Practical Demonstrations. Mr. A. McNeill of the Dominion Fruit Department, and his associates were located in the Implement building, and disseminated an enormous amount of information in re- ference to the handling of fruit. Young ladies were constantly engaged in packing and unpacking boxes, answering questions, and giving information in reference to th^ grading and packing of fruit. All who saw this work commended it highly, but untortur-ately there was not room in the fruit building, and only those interested in 'farm machinery came in contact with Mr. McNeill and his assistants. In the new building this Board should recommend that provision be made for practical demonstra- tions on all important matters pertaining to fruit growing, and a large auditorium should be provided for lecturing and demonstration work along fruit lines during the pro- gress of the fair. (il) Canadian Horticulturist. On the subject of this publication, your Executive Committee have given a great deal of thought, and we think the time has arrived when something definite must be 6om to change the general style, appearance, and subject matter of this important magazine. Probably during the last twenty-six years, no one factor has done as much for improvement of fruit and flowers in Canada as the " Canadian Horticulturist." Fur- ther than this, there is no doubt that it is still an important factor in certain directions ; but at the same time, we find it almost impossible to get paying advertisements for the " Canadian Horticulturist " in its present form. I think there is room for an up-to- date horticultural journal containing many times the amount of reading matter which we publish. It should contain market reports ; the work of our Experiment Stations ; methods of co-operative buying, selling, and shipping ; prices of materials ; interviews with nurserymen, fruit growers, commission men, and transportation companies ; it should also have a strong department on the subject of "Fruit as Food," including cold storage, preserving, pickling, etc. Further, there should be a strong department de- voted to Horticultural Societies. This is now being done to some extent under the term of i: Civic Improvement," but nothing definite is being published from month to month as a guide to Societies in their work. It has also been suggested that the Do- minion and Ontario Departments of Forestry be asked to co-operate with us with a view to establishing a department in the journal on this subject. These are matters for your consideration, and I hope they will be thoroughly discussed at this time. THE REPORT OF THE No. 16 Wm. Rickard, M.P.P. : I have listened' with a great deal of interest to this very important report. In reference to the action taken in connection with the ex- hibition in Toronto, that was a splendid idea, and the way the Secretary brought it be- ore the exhibition authorities, and obtained the promise that there should be a certain amcunt of money expended and provision made for the proper display of fruit, is very comn.endable. A, McNeill : The Secretary has shown by his report that he has been at work in c< nnection with the Executive during the year, and I think the meeting should either con rntnd or criticize the work done. For my own part, I have worked in hearty ac- cord with Mr. Creelman on the Executive this year, and can specially commend his spirit and aims and the whole-hearted way in which he takes hold of things and carries then out. The report is so large that I can only select one or two of the vast number of sub- jects dealt with during the year. First, in the matter of local organization; I feel th'.it this is a most important work. If he had done nothing else than take up this work he would have earned laurels for it alone ;• it lies' at the base of successful fruit growing. It is the market end of the business in which re mast now interest ourselves. I think we should do less educational work at these conventions ; the day has passed for that here. I would continue that work with all the vigor we can put into it through the locil Associations, while for the next few years we devote our attention to the market end of the business.. I most heartily support him in his desire *to make this Association com- mercial. I use the term advisedly — commercial in its aims. This matter of buying, selling and securing markets and buying materials co-operatively is quite within the scope of the organization. I think we might even enlarge our scope and appoint an organizer to look after commercial matters, who would be a specialist ; an officer who would keep in close touch with the Secretary and Executive. It may be that the Secretary could do this work ; but there is need of an officer who, having surveyed the whole field, could be called upon to go and organize any particular section for a specific purpose. Suppose in some apple-growing sections the prices obtained by the growers have not been what they should be. In some districts, for example, this year the farm- ers received only 75 cents for good winter apples. In such instances it would be in the irttresl of the fruit-growing industry to get right into such districts and organize them. We have come to the point when we must regard the selling of our neighbors' fruit as of just as much importance as the selling of our own, and until we recognize that thoroughly we shall never have this thing on a real commercial basis. In districts where, say, twenty canning factories consolidate into one, what chance has the unorg; nized fruit grower ? K'egarding fall fairs, there are enormous opportunities for education at these fairs ; but we have got to systematize these things. We have had very good judges at these fairs, but there is need of a little education even among expert judges of fruit. The stock men have come to the conclusion that even the beist of them do not know it all, and that it is necessary to have schools in judging ; but we fruit growers do not seem as ready to adopt this idea. Expert judges should be instructed, if for no^other rea- son han that there may be uniformity in their decisions. I have observed the great- est diversity in this connection, which is simply the result of want of organization and lack of uniform standards. The report is, I consider, a most valuable one, and the only thing that will spoil it is to pass it oy,er and say nothing at all about it. The President : There are a large number of important matters in connection with it which ought to have fuller consideration before it is finally closed, but on account of the fact that a number of subjects touched upon in the report will be taken up more fully in connection with our general program, it is probably well to leave the matter in }Our minds for the present for consideration, and when those particular sub- jects ccme up, what you have heard in the report will probably throw more light upon them. 903 FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION. 23 Thos. Beall : Referring to the exhibit of fruit at the Toronto Industrial, I should like to ask whether it is wise to exhibit at that exhibition, which is held in August and September, cur best winter apples, as they are not mature at that time. G. C. Caston : With regard to the Fruit Experiment Stations' exhibits, I have maintained for some years that it is not the proper place for the Stations to exhibit at all. The local district shows, which are usually held late in October, would be the place for them to exhibit. They would then come into contact with the people for whom the stations are working. In the Northern part of Ontario the Northern Spy, for {instance, does not develop and color till the end of October. If you show it at Toronto in September, the people do not know what variety it is. There is nearly three weeks' difference between southern Ontario and North Simcoe, where I live, in this respect, so that when we come to exhibit these varieties side by side with speci- mens grown in the south, it is not a fair comparison, and does not do our apples justice. I think, therefore, that Toronto is the wrong place at which to make an exhibit from the stations. Q.: Why not exhibit at both? G C. Caston : If we are to exhibit at both, all right. J. L. Hilborn : I am entirely in sympathy with this view, and think there should be an exhibit in the county where the station is located so that it may be an education for the men in that locality. R. B. Whyte : Fruit should never be exhibited till it is mature ; it does nothing but harm otherwise. The President : I think there might be a revision of the prize list to cover that mat- ter. So far as the Experiment Stations' exhibit is concerned, immature varieties might be left out till the local fairs meet. G. C. Caston : Even our fall apples are not mature until the first week in September, except, perhaps, Duchess and Astrachan. A. D. Harknesfs1 : It is the first of October with us before the Fameuse varieties mature- and have their color developed. You will all bear me out in saying that apples grow more in proportion in the last two weeks before ripening than all the -re.st of the season put together. G. C. Creelman, Secretary : I think that the meeting ought to take some action in reference to the prize list at the Toronto Fair. When I was talking with the Secre- tary lately, I asked him what about the prize list. He said that this Association had never laken much interest in the prize list. I asked him if he wanted us to, and he replied that if we would have a committee appointed at our meeting to go over the prize list and say what we should. like, they would endeavor to meet our views as far as possible. In reference to exhibiting winter apples, while they may not be mature, we must no: overlook the fact that we have at Toronto an opportunity of exhibiting our fruit to many thousands of people, thus advertising the varieties Df fruit grown in Ontario. As the present Fair Board is going to prepare the prize list for next year, before Christ- mas if possible, it would be well for our committee to take the matter up with them at •once. Murray Pettit : Is it not better to exhibit these later varieties even if not fully developed rather than not exhibit them at all ? G. C. Creelman : It might look as though we did not have these late varieties in Can- ada if we did not exhibit them. It might be stated on the exhibit that the speci- mens were not mature. Alex. McNeill : There is no reason why we should not secure our fruit a year ahead for advertising and exhibition purposes, placing it in cold storage in the meantime. Wm. Rickard, M.P.P. : We have lots of fruit ready for exhibition at the time of the Toronto Fair, and I think it is a case where we should do the best we, can with the fruit we have at our command at the time. THK REPORT OF THE NO | 6 Harold Jones : As I understand it, the object of the exhibit is simply to demon- strate the capabilities of the various sections of the country, and it is not competitive. The prize list of the Toronto Fair is competitive, and at the date their fair is held we cannot compete with the southern growers. I do not think it is .vise to try to bring harmony between the two because the exhibits are made with a different object in view. I think we should exhibit immature varieties, stating on the label that they will' not reach maturity until such and such a date. This would give buyers a knowledge of vlier* sucb varieties could be obtained at a given date On the motion of J. S. Scarff, seconded by R. B. Whyte, the report of the Executive was then adopted. TREASURER'S REPORT, 1902-3. RECEIPTS. Balance on hand Dec. 1, 1902.$ 241.56 Members' fees 3,617.59 Government Grant 1,800.00 Advertisements 535.71 Binding 7.45 Books 43.99 Miscellaneous 11.10 $6,257.40 EXPENDITURE. Canadian Horticulturist $2,767.80> Salaries , 1,200.00 Annual Meeting 297.10 Commission 289.05 Reporting 50.00 Auditing 23.55 Illustrations 292.74 Affiliated Societies 14.60' Express and Freight 7.09 Postage and Telegrams . . 177.96 Collections 7.70' Committees 160.25 Binding 6.05 Printing and Stationery 33.45 Books 37.29 Premiums 237.31 Miscellaneous 13. 10* Balance on hand 642.36 $6,257.40* Details of Expenditure. Canadian Horticulturist : A. A. Plain (copying proof for editor), $5.40; Inde- pendent (stationery for editor), $5.00; Buntin, Gillies & Co. (wrappers), $3.68; W. L. Woolverton (mailing), $8.58; Wm. Forbes (postage on "Hor- ticulturist"), $10.56; Canadian Express Co., $3.58; Spectator Co., $2,713.85; L. Woolverton, $8.25; A. Torrey (stationery), $2.00; P. W. Hodgetts (ex- penses to Hamilton), $3.05; W. Mitchell (express, on cuts), $3.58 $2,767.80 Salaries : L. Woolverton, $1,000.00; G. C. Creelman, $200.00 1,200.0'* Annual Meeting : Walkerton Orchestra, $20.00; A. E. Sherrington, $8.55; John Craig, $44.35; C. Gripton (stamp), $1.25; H. Snelgrove, $17.60; Wm. Hunt, $4.95; R. B. Whyte, $26.95; A. M. Smith, $11.85; T. H. Race, $10.25; J. Tweedle, $8.55; W. Lochhead, $4.55; J. B. Reynolds, $5.10; C. L. Stephens, $16.55; W. W. Cox, $11.40; J. S. Scartf, $9.55; W. H. Bunting, $11.95; Bry- ant Press, $33.50; Walkerton Herald, $5.00; Walkerton Glocke, $17.45 ; Walkerton Telescope, $17.40; express on fruit, $9.70; telegrams, .45 297.10- Commissions : December, $24.80; January, $44.40; February, $72.85 ; March, $66.55; April, $40.40; May, $28.20; August, $10.00; September, $1.85 289.05 Reporting Annual Meeting : W. B. Varley 50.00' Auditing: A. H. Pettit, $13.55; W. M. Orr, $10.00 23.55 Illustrations : Grip, $283.94; Globe, $1.80; P. W. Hodgetts, $2.00; J. Buchanan, $3.00; F. Shutt, $2.00 292.74 Affiliated Societies : A. McNeill, $5.00; R. B. Whyte, $3.60 ; Walkerton Tele- scope, $8.00 H.0O- Express and Freight: Can. Exp. Co., $3.00; H. G. & B., $3.05; G.T.R.. $1.04.. 7.09> Postage: Stamps for office, $150.00; stamps for editor, $15.15; cash, $12.81 177.96 Collection : Bank of Commerce, $7.55; Wm. Forbes, Grimsby, .15 7.70 Committees: T. H Race. $52.75; L. Woolverton, $54.15; W. H. Bunting, $29.60; J. S. Scartf, $7.85; H. Jones, $15.90 160.25 I 903 FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION. Binding : Brown Bros $6.05 Printing and Stationery: A. Torrey, $1.95; Bryant Press, $31.50 33.45 Books : 37.29 Premiums : Evans Seed Co., $72.10; Morris, Stone & Wellington, $58.60; Webster Bros., $106.61 237.31 Miscellaneous : P. S. Mills, $3.00 ; P. W. Hodgetts, $8.60 ; C C. Creelman. $1.50 13.10 Examined and found correct this 20th day oi November.. 1903. (Signed) J., M. DUFF, Auditor. Mr. Race called attention to the greater cost of the Horticulturist this year as compared with last, and it was pointed out that the present year included thirteen months. The President : It must be a source of satisfaction to the Board that, notwith- standing the large amount of work done during the year as outlined in tne report ci the Executive, our finances are in such satisfactory shape at the present time, there being a balance of some six hundred dollars on hand, which is a considerable increase from last year. On motion of G. C. Caston, seconded by A. M. Smith, the report was adopted. The question of the salary of the Secretary-Treasurer then came up, and was fully discussed. In view of the work being done and the desire of the Board to retain the services of the Secretary, in view of inducements held out to go elsewhere, it was moved by T. H. Race, seconded by G. C. Caston, that the matter be re- ferred to the Board of 1904, with a recommendation that the salary of the Secretary be increased. (Carried.) R. B. Whyte asked why it was that no representative from this society was appcinted to attend the meeting of the American Pomologica! Society in Boston this year. This is the most important meeting of fruit growers in the world, and we had no exhibit there and no representation. There were large exhibits from different States, and the exhibition was visited by thousands of people. Th President : I think it was an oversight at the last meeting, which was some- what hurried. It was my intention to attend that meeting, but I was so busy that I could not do so. The point is well taken that we should be represented at this im- portant convention. DIRECTORS' REPORTS. It was moved by Mr. M. Pettit, seconded by Mr. Morris, that the Directors' Re- ports should be taken as read, and submitted to a committee before printing. Mr, Woolverton and seme others thought they should be read and dis- cussed by the meeting, as matters of importance might arise out of them. This view was taken by the meeting, which declared in favor of the reports being read. Division No. 1. — A. D. Harkness, Iroquois. With Mr, Lick, I attended a meeting at Iroquois on April 7th, Morrisburg, April 23rd, and at Lancaster on April 24th. At these meetings the process of making the Bordeaux mixture was explained and demonstrated, as well as a practical demonstration on pruning the orchards. In this district there are so few engaged in fruit growing from a commercial stand- point that it is a difficult matter to organize our Association, and then it is more dif- ficult to m£ke a success of it after it isi organized. If, in a district like this where there is not very much fruit grown, some arrangement could be made to have meetings, under the auspices of the Farmers' Institutes, for addresses and discussions on fruit growing, and demonstrations on pruning and spraying by persons who are acquainted with thft 26 THK REPORT OF THE No. (6 local conditions, I think much benefit might be derived from it and the Farmers' Institute would be benefited as well. Jn this district, I think, there are only three townships in which fruit is1 grown in auy quantity at all, and these border on the St. Lawrence River. In Glengarry there is scarcely any grown, even for local use. Prescott I do not know anything about as yet. In the Township of Osnabruck, in Stormont, there is considerable, but scarcely any in the rest of the county. In Williamst>urg and Matilda, in Dundas, there is consider- able, bat not much in the other townships. The apples that do best with us are of the Fameuse class, and can be and are successfully grown for commercial purposes, but from ni/ observations I do not think it will pay us to grow the later winter sorts, ex- cept for local use — that is, for the farmer to grow them for his own use. Plums. We cannot expect to grow the domestic, plums successfully, as about four years in live the fruit buds will be destroyed. I am trying the American class of plums. Last spring I planted eight Stoddard, eight Hawkeye, and eight Wolf. I got from Dunlop, of Outremont, four Raynes, two Mountain, and two Mount Royal to test them in our district. Small fruits, such as strawberries, currants, gooseberries, and rasp- berries can be grown successfully. Division No. 2. — R. B. Whyte, Ottawa. Th" principal item of Horticultural interest in district No. 2 during the past year was thi unprecedented drought that afflicted Eastern Ontario in the early part of the season. No rail fell from the middle of April till well into June; this, with late spring frosts, utterly ruined the strawberry crop, few growers having enough to be worth pick- ing. The prospect for the coming season is far from good, as practically all the plants put out last ispring died before the rain came in June. The later small fruits were not so badly injured. Raspberries were a good deal under the average. Currants and goose- berries were a fair crop, but undersized. The shortage in small fruits was more than made up for by the immense crop of apples, the largest on record in this district. The dry spring was evidently unfavorable to the spread of scab, codling moth, etc., as these enemies of the apples, usually so injurious, were almost unknown. Th*: splendid specimens of Wealthy, Fameuse, and Mcintosh exhibited at this meet- ing are evidence of the capabilites of this eastern section for growing this class of apples. This year for the first time the local grown fruit was an important factor in the Ottawa market. And it will not be long before our own growers will be able not only to supply the local market, but will have a surplus for export. There have been many thousands of tiees planted in the last few years, which are now coming into bearing. We hope that some of the large collection of winter apples exhibited at the Central Experimental Farm at this meeting will turn out to be commercially profitable and prove as well adapted to this district for late winter fruit as those above mentioned are for the early winter months, Again, our Horticultural Society has to report the most successful year in its history. An increase in membership of 38, in the attendance of 137, and in the entries at the different shows of several hundreds, which now average over two hundred per month, all show a very satisfactory growth in the influence of the Society. A new departure was made this year with the idea of interesting the children of the public schools in horticultural work, three packages of Aster seed each being given to one hundred Liid forty children, with simple instruction how to plant and care for them. Prizes in cash and Gladiolus bulbs were offered at the September show for the best flowers grown from this seed. The exhibit made by the children, not only in quantity, but in quality was very gratifying to the Society, and the experiment will be continued on a larger scale during the coming season. We also published our first bulletin this year, an eight-page pamphlet, giving lists of the best annuals, perennials and vegetables for the Ottawa district, with notes on their habit of growth and cultivation. It was so well re- ceived br our members that we hope to issue similar bulletins from time to time as required. I 903 FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION. Division No. 3. — Harold Jones, Maitland. Since making mj last report to this Association I have done some little work in the interest of the Society, and, I hope, of benefit to the fruit growers of my division. la December last I attended the annual meeting of the Quebec Pomological and Fruit Grovers' Association, held at Waterloo, as delegate from this Society. I find that there is more interest being taken in fruit topics from year to year. The attendance was very fair at all the sessions, and the subjects were well discussed by the public, and the fruit display would have been a credit to many of our fruit-growing centres in Ontario. In January I attended twelve meetings of the Farmers' Institute in my division, and gave practical talks on fruit growing, taking up the question of varieties, and giving illustrations in budding, grafting, pruning, etc.. and in preparing mixtures for spraying, which created much interest, and ted to animated discussions at most places1. These talks eventually led to quite a large correspondence with parties asking for hints and advice on location of orchards, drainage, varieties, etc., as well as many samples of fruit by mail for identification. I replied to all questions when possible in as plain a manner as I could, and I hop* it has started many in the right direction. The experimental fruit plot on my own farm affords an ocular demonstration of the success or failure of many varieties of fruit to many visitors during the summer. The unusually dry weather that prevailed during part of April, May and first half of June passed the fruit (apples) over the critical part of the season when the most dam- age is caused by spot ; and, although we had almost continuous rain since June 16th, the rruit is absolutely clean, even on orchards that were not sprayed at all. This fact gave me an opportunity of poir.ting out to many the vital importance of spraying early and often in seasons of normal rainfall in the spring months, for the season has shown us that if th : spot can be kept absolutely in check until the middle of June our crop is practically safe. In past seasons I have found that trees that I have sprayed every week from the bursting of the bud to the first of June, and then stopped, were freer from spot than those not sprayed so frequently and continued to the first of August. This point needs further 'careful study, for we must admit that we do not know all about spraying yet. Fameuse, Mcintosh and varieties of that group of family are standards for my division, and are the most profitable to grow from a commercial standpoint. For a later keeper we have nothing yet more profitable than Scott's Winter, Golden Russet, and possibly Canada Red, but Milwaukee gives promise of ;being profitable; though being of large isize, it has a tendency to drop during September gales, though not nearly ?o badly as Pewaukee, which makes that otherwise profitable apple very unsatisfactory to grow. We can grow Spys and Baldwins top grafted, also Kings : but why not leave these varieties to the lake counties where they excel us every time, and make more and more of a specialty of the Fameuse group, for we are in the great Snow-apple belt of the St. Lawrence valley, where the fruit grows to perfection, and will keep in ordinary cellars until February ? Among the Pears we have Clapp's Favorite, Flemish Beauty and Ritson, three pears that do well in this division, and are ol good quality. Intending planters would do well to stick to these varieties until other pears of good quality are found by the stations to grow successfully, for so many of the so-called ironclads are so poor in quality that there is very little use in planting either for home use or market. Plums of the domestic class are of very little value in this division. The most suc- cessfrl or promising are Lombard, Gueii. Yellow Egg, and Glass Seedling, but even these will only come through the winter without injury to the frui* buds about two years out of live. Japans are also proving unsatisfactory, being tender in fruit bud. Red Tune Bui bank, Ogon, and Abundance will bear on seasons that are favorable for Lombard. The most satisfactory plums are those of the American type, Wild Goose, Whitaker, Mil'.on, Hammer, Forest Rose, Col. Wilder, Hawkeye, Cherry. Stoddard being the most satisfactory of this class. These plums are fair for cooking, but are of very little THE REPORT OF THE No. 16 valu.? where European plums can be grown. However, they will be a boon to those in the Eastern counties when grown in gardens for family use. Among the cherries, Ovel and Oshtheim give splendid results, bearing good crops of fair -sized cherries. Montmorency is partially tender in bud, only bearing a scattered crop. May Duke is tender in bud, also Reine Hortense. E. Morello is hardy and bears well. Division No. 4.— W. H. Dempsey, Trenton. The heavy frost of last December did considerable injury to the buds of the move tender varieties of fruit. Hence the crop of the more choice varieties of plums and chtiries was very light; also some of the apples were injured. The early spring being cool and wet, no caterpillars showing, and seeding time being at hand, the farmers took it as an excuse not to spray as usual. If the season had not been unfavorable k>r the development of fungous diseases, the growers would have suffered a great loss. As it was, the fruit was almost quite free from fungus and insects, although in some sections a few pear trees suffered with blight. The pear-tree Psylla also made its appearance to quite an extent ; in a few orcfiards the trees were so badly infested that they were noticeable for some distance. The year has been a favorable one for all engaged in the fruit business in this district ; fair crops of clean, well-colored, good-sized apples brought fairly good prices in the orchard. Pickers, packers and coopens received high wages for their services, the on1y drawback in this business was the scarcity of help and barrels. The County of Prince Edward has again proved itself as being one of the best apple-producing counties in the Dominion, producing between 200,000 and 300,000 barrels of export apples this season, as well as a large quantity of Damson plums. Some of the growers had from 100 to 400 bushels of plums growing, you might say, wild, in fence corners, and sold from 75 cents to $1 per bushel to the buyers. There are not many pears growing in the county, but what trees existed were heavily loaded, especially Flemish Beauty, which were particularly fine, and sold for gool prices. There are also large quantities of small fruits grown, most of which are sold to canring factories and local markets at fair prices. In the Counties of Hastings, Lennox and Addington, apples have not been grown to any great extent till within the last ten or fifteen years, when large orchards have been planted, principally in the town/ships lying along the water fronts. Many have fru.i:ci well this year. • Th- apple growers in this district find the fruit houses a decided advantage to them for stcring their fruit, particularly the cold storage in Trenton, where the fruit is cooled down and held at a low temperature for but a trifle more cost than ordinary storage. Several orchard meetings were held in the early part of the season, and were fairly well attended by growers eager for information on fruit growing. Elmer Lick gave a practical talk on spraying and pruning, which was very much appreciated, also F. J. Barber, on the advantage of thinning fruit. Division No. 5. — Wm. Rickard, Newcastle. Ai Director for Division No. 5, I beg to report that the local Fruit Growers' As- scci; tions formerly organized at Bowmanville, Newcastle and Orono, in Durham County, have no* been active or in good working order during the past year. For a time there was considerable interest taken, especially by the membership in Bowmanville, where a nrmber of interesting and profitable metings were held. Among other things that received prominence was that of building a cold storage fruit house, but up to the present no definite action has been taken along this line. In speaking of fruit culture in Northumberland and Durham, I might properly confine myself mainly to apples. There are a few who .have to a limited extent gone into growing pears and plums and small fruits, with some measure of success, but the 1 903 FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION. 29 king of ail fruits, the apple, has been and is now receiving by far the greater part of th'i attention and work of the fruit growers of those united counties, and in my opinion very properly so ; for when we consider that the townships bordering on the north shore of Lake Ontario possess the natural conditions oi soil and climate for the grow- ing of apples, that cannot be surpassed on the North American Continent, and when we iurther consider the almost unlimited prospective markets for this inestimable heal.h-giving fruit, both in the east across the great Atlantic to the teeming millions of Europe, and also in our great and glorious West (I say our glorious West, for it is ours, th ' heritage of our forefathers), in the near future destined to be the home of many mil- lions of well-to-do people, surprising the world in the production of the greatest of cereals — wheat— making them prosperous to such a degree, that, while generally speaking they will not be able to grow fruit, they will have the purchasing power to buy — we say that as near as we are able to look into the future the prospects for growing apples in this favored district along the north shore of Lake Ontario are, to say the least, fairly good, and a considerable number of our most intelligent and progressive landowners arc acting on this ojtlook and planting quite largely young orchards of apple trees of very considerable extent. As an illustration, I may say we find in the second concession ( f the Tcwnship of Clarke, in less than one and a half miles square, some two hundred acres in apple orchards, three-fourths of which may be said to be young orchards, some of them just coming into bearing. As an example of the success that can be made in apple growing here by giving it careful, intelligent management, let me say that I picked and packed this season from thirty-five Ben Davis tiees just ten years planted one hundred barrels of apples. Notwithstanding the above iacts, there is, I am somewhat sorry to say, another side t"5 the question of apple growing in this district. Some of our farmers having or- chards are disposed to neglect them, allowing the trees to take their chances. If the orchard receives any attention at all it is after everything else is done. The in- evital:! * result is that we have too much poor fruit, and not enough of real good fruit, and herein lies the success or failure in the growing and marketing of apples. No better work can be done than to educate every man having an orchard up to a careful, intel- ligent management of the same. This will result in success, while neglect and inat- tention will result in failure ; and this will apply not only to the individual, but to a certain extent to the great and important apple business of this country. Th~ apple crop in this section for the present year has been very abundant and of excellent quality. As near as I am able to ascertain the shipments at the various rail- Way stations up to the present time considerably .exceed anything heretofore, except, possibly, in 1896, the year with a bumper crop. Summing up the shipments this season, together with what is in store^ I believe I am safe in saying that Northumberland and Durham have produced 300,000 barrels. But this great and important industry in this county is only in its infancy ; in a few years from now it bids fair to double and treble in this favored locality, the fruit Townships of Northumberland and Durham. I would suggest that in Another year at our Farmers' Institute meetings the cul- ture of fruit be thoroughly dealt with, in giving the fullest instructions in regard to handling fruit, more especially the apple. Division No. 6. — Elmer Lick, Oshawa. In making this report, I think that the most important statement that can be made is that Division No. 6 has never produced as much fruit of as great value in any pre- vious year. The apple crop, the greatest staple fruit in most of this division, was large, and exceedingly fine in quality. The abundant rainfall of the past three years gave the trees vigor, the favorable .vesther during blossoming favored fertilization, the condi- tions favorable to the development of scab did not exist to any great extent. The in- sect pests were not serious, and to finish up with the weather during the picking and packing season was the best since 1892. 30 THE RKPOKT OF THK No. 16 liven with a 1 these favorable conditions, and none of them could be better, thousands cf bariela oi the finest apples have been wasted. Several reasons have led to this : first, th«» scarcity of labor and its high price ; second, the greatest difficulty on record in Securing barreLs. The apple packers, in order to secure help, have had to pay up to 20 cents per hour for picking and packing, and in order to secure barrels have paid up to 75 cents. Th" cost of picking, packing and barreling has been exceptionally high, averaging somewhere about $i per barrel, in many cases even more. Under the usual condi- tions of heavy shipments week by week, the price in the English market would have fallen to such an extent that the apples would have scarcely paid for picking. If th3 English fruit crop had been heavy, the larger portion of the. apples in our -eciion might have better stayed on the trees. Nevertheless, the fact remains that apples of standard varieties, picked, packed and shipped in most careful and economical *ay, have netted from $1.25 to $1.50 per barrel for the apples on the tree. This, of course, is only where barrels were stored at 35 cents, and where picking and packing went on at the same time. Many sections sent complaints that there^ was no dealer buying there. Careful en- 1 quiry has shown that in such cases orchards were small, varieties numerous, conse- 1 ouently cost of packing high, and very great difficulty in securing cars of two or three varieties at one time. If the small orchardist is to get highest price for his apples, there must be more co-operation, either between the producers or between the producer and dealer. Barrels must be stored early and in a tlean place; producers must take more responsibility in regard to picking, packing and drawing to market. In some parts of the district plums were scarcely worth packing. In common with other sections, large quantities cf plums were allowed to rot for want of a market. Yet we believe that if the producer could have known where to 3end them that fair prices could have been obtained. The distribution of our fruit rroo is of vital im- portance Division No. 7. — M. Pettit, Winona. There has never been in Division No. 7 such an immense crop of fruit. Small fruits were good. Peaches a heavy crop, but not enough thinning done and too many small peaches grow. Fully one-half of the plum crop was not marketed on account of the Vow price and the rot. During showery weather it is impossible to control the rot by spraying with Bordeaux Mixture. Growers begin to realize that too many plum orchards have been planted. Grapes were a lighter crop than usual, but the quality was good and prices were very satisfactory. Pt-ars were exceptionally fine and free from fungus. Blight has been very destruc- tive, and many trees have been entirely destroyed. Close cutting out as fast as it ap- peared did not prevent it from spreading. Clapp's Favorite and Bartlett suffered the most. Keiffer, which could be most easily spared, suffered the least. This season convinces us that too many Keiffer orchards have been planted. Shipments to Great Britain have not sold nearly as well as previous yeires, and canning factories here have not have been able to hnadle this season's crop with not one-fourth of the trees planted in ;ull tearing. Many of them will be grafted with better kinds. Apples have been a full crop, and sprayed orchards have been far the most profit- aKe. Taking the season as a whole, fruit growers have had a profitable yeaT. Division No. 8.— E. Morris, Fonthfll. I have to report that the fruit crop of this season has been the most abundant of any year in the history of the Niagara District. Following a large crop the past year. , 9Q3 FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION. 31 under ordinary conditions we should have expected only, a moderate yield of the large fruits, but owing to freedom from storms during May all blossoms developed fruit, par- ticularly plums, peaches and cherries, the former being more than the market could take, and in "view of another such glut I would like to draw the attention of the Society to the fact that there are thousands of tons of plums being shipped annually from Ger- many and other European countries to England in the form of pulp to be manufac- tured into jam. I would suggest that steps be taken to ask for a grant from the Gov- ernment to experiment on this line. Peaches sold at a very low price, but being such a large crop proved fairly remuner- ativ; to the grower. Cherries were also a large crop, and sold proportionately higher in the market than any other fruit. Pears were a medium crop and prices fair. Apples were above the average crop, and usually free from scab and other fungous diseases. They proved a very profitable crop, and added considerably to the bank account of farmer®. All small fruits were the greatest crop known. Although there was great loss from too much rain during picking season of strawberries and raspberries, the market took all at good prices., the Township of Pelham easily leading in quantity of small fruits grown, one grower, Mr. Albert Railton, having shipped 375 tons, realizing a net profit of $3,000. I recommended last year that we should have some orchard meetings in the central and southern portion of the Niagara District. There has never been a meeting of that kind held in the section, and yet there is no section in Ontario where such meetings are more needed or where the people would appreciate them more. I therefore request that meetings be held in that section. Division No. 9. — J. S. Scarff, Woodstock. The year which has just closed has not been quite as favorable for the fruit growers ill this district as was anticipated in the early part of the spring. The season opened with great promise of a very large crop of fruit, and just about the time the buds were burs ing, on came a cold wave with heavy rains, lasting for several days. This, no doubt, was the cause for the light set of the apples. Notwithstanding this, the apple crop was a fairly good one. In many places the quality was very good, and in some places very poor, being very scabby. Northern Spy, a good sample and a good crop ; Greenings, rathnr light crop ; Baldwins, also good. Owing to the very great scarcity of barrels and boxes, 9 large quantity of the apples were not picked for marketing, but left on the trees and ground to rot. The pear crop was a 'little under the average, and in many places badly affected with scab, Keiffer. and Bartlett being badly injured. Plums, a very heavy crop, but rotted badly. Cherries were a light crop.The buds in the spring failed to come out *re41 ; the quality very good. Raspberries did well, and were a heavy crop ; also the blackberries. Peaches were not so good as last year. With regard to our local Horticultural Society in the City of Woodstock, it is doing gcxid work, continuing on the same lines as latst year in distributing shrubs, plants, trees and bulbs to its members, also to the scholars of the public schools. During the year the Society distributed to the members 90 Hydrangeas (Paniculata Grandiflora) as pre- miums from ths Fruit Growers Association, and from the local Society 185 rose bushes, 32 peach trees, 33 cherri:s, 66 currant bushes, 575 gladious bulbs, 100 cannas, 46 caladhims, and 2,826 tulip bulbs, and to the scholars of the schools .too »raniums, and 64 boxes THE KKPORT OF THE No. |6 of annua. s, also tulip bulbs to the children, who made an exhibit of flowers at the fall exhibition of the Horticultural Society. The Society continues to hold regular monthly meetings, and some very interesting papers were read at some of these meetings from the members. The visit we had in April from Mr, T. H. Race,, of Mitchell, who was sent by this Asicck-tion, was very much appreciated by those that heard him. Mr. Race's address was on " Roses and Their Culture," and was of unusual interest to the large number who t.-.rnec oui. to hear him. and was characterized as the best lecture on horticulture the Society had ever listened to. Division No. n. — T. H. Race, Mitchell. The only work worthy of notice done in this district during the year jui&t passed has been in connection with the Horticultural Societies. There has been very little orchard planting done, not enough, in my opinion, in view of what the near future promises in the way of a demand for good fruit. Generally speaking, there has been but little spraying done, and a few varieties cf apple* subiect to spot have been badly disfigured. On the whole, there has been a fair crop of winter apples, especially Spys, and they have been comparatively clean and well developed. It is gratifying to note that a respect tor the Fruit Marks Act is becoming more and more manifest, and its requirements have been pretty well observed this fail. But while the farmers are accepting the Act and approving its aims and purposes, they are, with few exceptions, not applying themselves to the requirements of their orchards to turn the Act to good account. Those few exceptions, however, when the orchard has been properly cared for, are sure in time to exemplify the influences of the school master in the community. A few farmers I know of have made their orchards pay this fall, and their example and experience must gradually work upon their neighbors. If not, then our labor is all in vain. In horticultural work the success of the London Society has been most marked. At the Western Fall Fair in that city in September, the special floral display made by that Society was one of the greatest attractions, in the horticultural building. All the annuals shown in that splendid exhibit were grown from seed distributed by the Society, and the flowers were contributed by the members gratuitously. The general admharion of the public seemed to be a sufficient reward for the labor expended. In the City of Stratford they have also a live and active Society, which, I regret to say, is not in affiliation with us. They are doing excellent work in giving prizes for the oest kept lawn and the best flower and vegetable garden. In the latter end of August they held a flower show in the City Hall, which was a splendid success, and left them t considerable surplus in cash after paying prizes and all expenses. ir our own town. Mitchell, we have a Society with a membership of about one hundred. Of course, I consider it the best and most enthusiastic in the Province. Any meeting held under its auspices is sure of a crowded house. Last spring we distributed nearly thirty dollars' worth of plants and gladiolus bulbs, and this fall about sixty dol- lars* worth of Parrot tulips and mixed hyacinths. The work is showing itself very con- spicuously throughout the town, in the school grounds, church grounds, public grounds, and especially about the homes. The infection, in fact, is being caught by many of the farmers, and the results are telling in the surroundings of many of the best farm homes. Discussion. Mr. Morris : I should like to endorse what Mr. Race has said with regard to inducing the planting of more of such stock as he speaks of — tulips, etc. Very few Icp.dw how cheaply they can be got when obtained in quantities — less than $i per hundred. Mr. Race : Yes, 70 cents. Mr. Morris : They make a greater show for the money and would create a greater interest in horticultural work than anything the Societies could do. 1903 FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION. 33 Division No. 12. — J. L. Hilborn, Leamington. In the district which I represent there are a number of Horticultural Societies, and they are doing good work, but there is not as much interest manifested in them as there should be. The greatest difficulty appears to be that many fruit growers and horticuh tcurists are not sufficiently alive to advantages to be gained by diligently attending meetings and co-operating for the advancement of our calling. One of the most important meetings held in this district was called at Kingsvidle in March for the purpose of discussing transportation grievances. There was a large gathering of fruit shippers. M. K. Cowan, M.P., occupied the chair, and displayed con- siderable interest in the welfare of the shippers. The express companies were repre- sented by their route agents, also by Mr. Spai ){ rig, Superintendent of the Canadian Company. As a result of this meeting we got a mi ch better service this season, but un- doubtedly the express rate on fruit is more than it mould be, especially to certain points. The Mersea Agricultural Society hold their fall fair at Leamington, and manifest considerable interest in the fruit department, and mnually have a fine display of fruits, in which much interest is taken, 'and considerable information is gained by the different exhibitors and the public generally in regard to the best varieties to grow and in the proper naming of odd and new varieties. I have for several years assisted in the judging of this department, and correcting names where wrong. The fruit crop of 1903 was a bountiful one, but prices as a rule were rather low. Strawberries were an immense crop, especially in Lambton County. Plums were a great crop everywhere, and so cheap that some of them were never gathered, as there seemed to be no sale for them. It appears to me that there should be sale for so good a fruit as the plum if properly canned or jammed and put upon the proper market. Per- haps there is room for the O.F.G.A. to do some good work aiong the line of investi- gating this matter, and encourage canners to handle more plums when they become so cheap, and thereby prevent a total glut in our markets. Peaches as a rule were a heavy crop, the exception being when varieties that are sus- ceptible to the curl leaf were not properly sprayed, and Crawford varieties that were growing on soils too sandy to be well adapted for them. Owing to so much rainy weather during the ripening period of peaches and plums there was considerable waste from rot. The flavor and keeping qualities of peaches especially were much affected by the same cause. Apples yielded well, but the fruit was much affected by the ravages of the scab and Codling moth. There should be much more attention given to the spraying of our apple orchards. Much good work is being done by the Farmers' Institute in the way of impressing growers wi h the importance of more thorough pruning and spraying of their orchards, but there still remains room for much missionary work along those lines. Division No. 13 — G. C. Caston, Craighurst. In the district comprising this division the present year has been a favorable one for most varieties of fruits Strawberries, though somewhat injured by the drought, were a fairly good crop. Raspberries, though not so good as in 1002, were yet an average crop. The blackberry ha® not been grown commercially in our district. With the ex- ception of my own plantation I know of none being grown in a commercial way. And the reason is not far to seek. Nursery agents have been selling varieties that were rot suited to the climatic conditions of the district. They would grow well in summer, but would lose near1}- all the bearing wood during the winter, and consequently this fruit has been neglected. After a trial of some twenty varieties, I have found two that exactly suit cur conditions, the Eldorado and Agawam, both of good size and qualfty, and pro- ducing magnificent crops, so that I have found the blackberry to be one of the most profitable of the small fruits. 3 F. 0-. U THE REPORT OF T11K Z'o. 16 Cherries wore next tiling to a failure this year, and plums, though plentiful and ccrrcfpcndingly cheap in the district near and around the Georgian Bay, were further inland tn h a very nn derate yield. Pears, which are not extensively grown as yet, wer- vzry good in quality. A pi les were good in both quantity and quality. That universal favorite, the Northern. Spy, wa«j more than usually prolific this year, and the quality was very fine. One mis- lake that has been made in our district is the planting of too many fall apples and of too many var'eties. Realizing this, planters are now confining their planting to winter varieties only, and only a few varieties of these. Some, acting on advice from experi- enced growers are taking the better plan of planting Talman Sweets and other hardy sort for the purpose of grafting them with the best winter sorts for commercial purpose,. the chie' 01 which is the Spy. An increased iiite: est is being 'taken in the growing of orchard fruits. As an instance of .his I may say that the Board of Trade of the town of Orillia asked the Department of Agriculture to send some one to investigate the capabilities of that immediate locality fur the (production of commercial apples. As a result of this action Messrs, Creelman and McNeill were sent to that locality in the early part of the summer, and I believe their investigation proved that the best commercial varieties can be grown successfully there, more especially by the system of top grafting on hardy stock. My district is a very large one. reaching from Lake Simcoe to the Lake of the Woods. It is larger than all the others put together, and I am pleased to say that apples are being grown away nonh in that District of Algcma where itfwas not thought possible a few years ago. In St. Joseph's and Manitoulin Islands, and in several places on the northern shore of Lake Huron, and even on Lake Superior, some of the hardy sorts are being grown, and I believe that there is a strip of country reaching the whole length of the north -1 ore of Lake Huron to Garden River a few miles wide that will grow a great many of the variet'es that we are growing in the more southerly sections. As the result of a meeting held in Toronto of the Board of Control and experimentalists, a move has been irade tcward having some experiments in fruit growing conducted in New Ontario, chiefly in the Temiscamingue country. I attended a number of orchard meetings in our c'isti ict in company with Mr. McNeill in April. These, where properly advertised, were well attended, and an interest manifested that will, I hope, lead to some practical and pro'itrble results, Mr. McNeill explained very fully at each meeting the commercial -de of fruit growing, and we quite hope that co-operative marketing will be one of the featt.us r>f the future industry in our section. FRUIT NOTES. By C. L. Stephens, Orillia. A 1. hough not having any official connection with your Society requiring that 1 mrke a report thereto, yet because of the very great interest which I take in the work carried on by the Association, and by virtue of my connection with the Horticultural Society of this town. I crave the liberty of hoping that what I have to say about fruit- growing in this district may be of some interest to your meeting. I, therefore, give a brief sketch of my experiences in fruit matters during the past years : — Early in the spring \\<- weire favored with a visit from Mr. A. McNeill, Vice-President, and Mr. G. C. Castori ex-Presk'ent. who held orchard meetings at several places in the district, and tbfir lectures and practical illustrations in pruning, etc., proved most acceptable. Later en Mr. T. H. Race, by invitation of the Horticultural Society, visited us .and an evening meet'ng was held for him at the residence of Mayor McCosh. Mr. and Mrs. MoCosli placed their commodious reception rooms entirely at our disposal, and were- 1 903 FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION. 35 most kind in promoting the success of the meeting Mr. Race was " himself," and spoke most instructively and entertainingly ifor nearly two hours, and the discussion which ensued showed that he had enlisted the sympathy of his hearers in the cause of civic improvements. It was regretted that many other attractions on the same night caused rather a small audience for Mr. Race, but amongst the ladies and gentlemen present were some of the most progressive and thoughtful of our citizens. Our local Board cf Trade has during the last year developed an interest in the apple growing industry, and on their invitation }rQur Vice-President and Secretary visited the district about blos- soming Lime, spending nearly a week here, and in company with myself or some other member ol the Board of Trade visited, by pre-arrangement, many of the orchards within ten or twelve miles of the town. A close arrangement was made as to the dif- ferent varieties of apples grown, the condition and hardiness of the trees, etc. A number of neighboring fruit growers were always assembled. All were glad to talk of apples, and the prospects of growing them on a commercial scale, with profit to themselves, and with the effect of broadening the vision of the visitors as to the area in which first-class commercial apples may be grown. Towards the end of September Mr. McNeill and myself spent another day amongst the orchards and saw the fruition of fhe h< pes of spring ; and I think Mr. McNeill was entirely confirmed in the favorable opin- ion hi® spring experience had given him. He has promised a report on the subject, which will be of much interest to the fruit growers up here. Mr. T. H. Race was at our F 1! Fair on Sept. I th. as judge cf fruits. The exhibit was large and very fine, and I think Mr. Race was duly impressed ; although, owing to the early season of the year, the apples had not then attained to nearly their full size and color. I am sending, to be-ip the exhibit at your meetings, a case of winter apples, whicn cover nearly all the varie- ties at present grown here, and which represent the average size and general appear- ance of these apples as we grow them ; not selected for extra size, but just average. During the past month I visited a good many orchards in this " Orillia District*" ami from observation have formed the opinion that all of the more valuable winter apples can be grown here, if not as procured from the nursery yet by top-grafting upon hard- ier stcck Thus I have seen heavy crops of very fine "Kings" grown upon "Duchess'* sto.k, and so far as I observed upon "Duchess," only. This, I think, is following out a suggestion thrown out by Mr. Caston at your annual meeting in this town some years ago. This has been so /ar successful, but I think some equally hardy stock, with a more vigorous growth would be better, as I find the "King" top has a tendency to outgrow the less vigorous stock. Indeed, in one orchard I found, chiefly from this cause, and a heavy load of fruit, fine trees had ibeen completely broken down and des- tioyed ; and had I not been careful to tie up the laden branches, my " King" or " Duch- ess " would have met a similar fate. I found that nearly every orchard had from one to a dozen or so " Northern Spy " trees growing on their own stock and doing well. some o' them as much as thirty years old. Several farmers claimed to have "Baldwins"'' and (> R. 1. Greenings," but I found none of the former, and but one -tree of the latter, and it was doing well and had a good crop of fine fruit. It might be well, notwith- standing, to recommend the top grafting of Spy, Baldwin, and R. I. Greening, as well as King, on some hardy, robust stock, the Talman Sweet would, I presume, answer :he purpose well. Just her? I might say that the farmers about here have great and just cause to complain of the manner in which they have been treated by nurserymen or their agents, or both ; against the agents for recommending varieties that will not grow, or if grown are of no value, and against the nurserymen for not sending trees according to name or order. By these means, I have no hesitation in saying that the drivers of this district have been defrauded of thousands of dollars, and the country now is fired up with a lot of utter trash in the shape of apple trees, thus foisted upon the farming community. Twenty years ago, I was fooled in this way myself, and I fnd the trouble still going on every year, young trees coming into bearing showing woithkss fruit: for instance, a neighbor asked me this fall to take a look at half a dozen young " stocks," which were bearing their first apples, and, as he said, doing THE REPORT OF THE No. 16 finely ; it needed but a glance to assure me that his "fine stocks" were but worthless Haas ; ana so on ; I could tel! many similar tales. Now, sir, is net this a question which your Society might well consider and deal with in some effectual manner, so as to prevent this continual cheating of the farmer by the nurserymen. I do not mean to infer that all nurserymejt carry on these disreputable practices, because I know, and everyone knows, that some of our nurserymen, and even their agents, are honorable in all their dealings. I find most of these mistakes (?) to occur with trees coming ::om the United States. To carry on many businesses' and professions in which the well-being and comfort and, I might say, well-doing, of the community is at sjtake, a license is necessary ; I think a license to sell fruit trees might fairly be a condition required for anyone engaging in the business. I was present at the Bracebridge Fall Fair and there, again. I found a very fine exhibit of apples, including Duchess, Wealthy. Ben Davis, several Russets, also some of the Russian Apples, and crabs in great variety. There were also several seedlings, some of which were doubtless of local value. The apple crop of Southern Muskoka fa yearly increasing in volume and value, and what- ever success has been attained in the matter is largely due to the efforts of Mr. J. P. Cockburn, of Gravenhurst, who has been for many years engaged in experimenting with r.amed apples and seedlings, and has freely given of his experience for the benefit of his neighbors ; I had the pleasure 'of meeting Mr. Cockburn for a few minutes when :*ssi-g through G: avenhur^t. I am afraid my brief remarks have spun out to rather "a length," but it's just a i ase of a man's pen running away with his sense of propriety. In conclusion, I regret • ery n uch that I am unable to be present at your meeting, but hope that if you meet in Toronto next : ear I shall be with you. REPORT OF MR. THOS. BEALL, LINDSAY, HON. DIRECTOR. I have the honor to submit herewith a brief report of some of the circumstances relating to 4the fruit industry in this northern portion of Division No. 5, and may l>e considered as iupilementary to Mr. Rickard's able report, which refers principally to the southern part of this Division. Th** success or non-success of horticulturists, — after exercising intelligently all the skill they posse s, — depends largely on the climatic conditions prevailing in their locality, especially during the six months from the middle o£ April to the middle of October: The variableness of the weather of the past season in this1 northern section of the dis- trict ha- made greater demands upon their store of knowledge and upon their skill in protecting their crops in changeable weather, than perhaps during any previous season for a generation. For about ten days before the middle of April the weather has been warmer and sed what the weekly papers could do for agriculture, and I suggested that my .office could supply them with a great deal of material that might be used in that way. They accordingly proposed to the Minister of Agriculture that someone should be 3>"?cel in the office who could undertake this work. We now have a suitable man in view, and the Minister would doubtless allow us to use part of his services in connection with the Horticulturist. I &m willing as Secretary to undertake to make these im- provement, knowing that the responsibility will, to a large extent, fall upon me, if you wiM give he Executive power to make such changes as they may see fit in the Horti- culturist" P. ^.'oolverton : I want -to support what Mr. Creelman has said. I think he has spoken in thi right direction. I know that it is v*rv hard to get advertising patronage, rn:l believe that paper? published in large -centres of pepubtion always appeal to THE REPORT OF THE ■ No. 16 the advertiser more than a journal thai is issued in a small place. I think on that account it might be wiser to publish it in Toronto rather than in Hamilton. I think that if Mr. Creelman's ideas were carried out, and the business management put into the hand* of someone who was working in that direction all the time, enough money could be made to make the journal pay for itself, including the salary of the man who is to be employed upon it. After some further discussion as to the style and size of the magazine, it was moved by Mr. Caston, seconded by Mr. Hilborn, that the matter be left with the Execu • tive, with power to do what they thought best, with the view of improving rhe journal. Carried. W. T. Macoun suggested that the Horticulturist should unite with the journal issued by the Dominion Forestry Association, and the Secretary read a letter he had recuved in that connection from the Forestry Association, as follows: Ottawa, Nov. 23, 1903. Dear Sir, — 1 beg to acknowledge the ie-ceipt of your letter of the 21st instant, in which you suggest the idea of our making some arrangement with the Fruit Growers'" Association to have a joint publication for the two Associations. In reply 1 beg to say that this matter would have to be considered by the Board of Directors of our Associa- tion before anything could be done, and as it would be impossible to have a meeting before your Leamington meeting, 1 am unable to say anything with reference to the proposal. In any case, 1 do not think that it would be possible to make an arrangement to com- mence at the beginning of the year. We have been considering the idea of publishing a quarterly periodical, and this was discussed at a meeting of the Directors held last week, but so far the matter has been referred to the annual meeting to be held in Tor- onto in March next. 1 need not say that the members of the Canadian Forestry Associ- ation look upon the Fruit Growers' Association as a kindred society, with which they should exchange views and give mutual assistance as far as possible; and they would be pleased to have representatives from your Association at the annual meeting. Yours truly, ( Signed) E. STEWART, Secretary. New Puilding and Prize List Committee for the Industrial Exhibition, Toronto. On the motion of 'Harold Jones, seconded by A. M. Smith, Messrs. Race, A. McNeill, President W. H. Bunting, and Secretary Greelman were appointed a committee to take up the question of the requirements, specifications, etc., of the new building for Fruit, which it was proposed to erect at the Dominion Industrial Exhibition, Toronto, with the representatives of the Exhibition Association, and also to revise the prize list in r.-gard to fruit. THE EVENING MEETING. In the evening a public meeting was held in the Town Hall. W. H. Bunting, Presi- dent of the Association, occupied the chair, and spoke a few words of welcome. The hall was crowded, among the audience being a great number of ladies. The Leamington orchestra contributed several selections that were much enjoyed. The platform was draped with Un:on Jacks and Stars and Stripes. Mayor Lewis Wigle extended the welcome of the town to the delegates. He spoke reminiscently of the olden days in Ontario, and said that the Association could not have held its first meeting 28 years ago in Leamington, because then there was no Leamington, nor weie there any railroads to reach the district. He referred at some length to the fruit industry of Ontario, of which the most important district was that 1933 FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION. 4L extending from Niagara to Essex. Leamington itself was the most southerly town of Ontario, and in his belief and that of his feHow-townsmen, the most favorably situated for fruit-growing. John Auld, M.P.P., of Amherst'burg, .welcomed' the fruit men on behalf of. the county. He explained that the Government were doing much to assist the farmers in fighting pests and express companies. Everyone admitted that Essex was the fruit gar- den of Canada. There were many other flourishing industries in Essex ; among these he motioned the oil, wine, tobacco and general farming. M. K. Cowan, M.P., of Windsor, spoke of the difficulty last summer between the fruit growers of Essex and the. express companies. The meeting between the express compsries and the growers, held to discuss this matter, had resulted in much good. Fruit had not long been the staple product of this country. Ontario was only a new fruit country. They must do the best they could, and when their product was increased they would be able to demand and exact a cheaper and better express service. Essex was probably the most favored part of Ontario. It was favored as the corn belt, the fruit belt and ths tobacco belt. There were more sunshiny days in Essex during the tobacco -growing 'season than in Kentucky. The farther north you could grow a fruit, mtrec\er, the better it would be, and lor this reason Ontario fruits were hardy and of splendid quality. I„ B. Rice, of Port Huron, Mich., a delegate from the iMichigan Horticultural Society : J. Elliott, M.A., Principal of the Leamington High School ; G. W. Cady. Presi- dent of the South Essex Horticultural Society, And J. L Hilborn, President of the Leamington Horticultural Society, added their words of welcome to those of the previous speakers. W. H. Rickard, M.P.P., of Newcastle, replied to the addresses of welcome, on b half of the Association. He laid stress upon the necessity for developing the British market for Canadian fruit • PRESIDENTS ADDRESS. By W. H. Bunting, St. Catharines. i desi e first of al! to express my appreciation of the honor conferred on me last December in my election to this responsible position, and to tender my hearty thanks to the officers and directors, and more especially to our energetic Secretary-Treasurer, for their hearty co-operation with me in the affairs of the Association during the year. In reviewing the course of events of the year just closing, I am free to confess, that it would have been quite easy to have entrusted this office to hands far better qualified and more competent than my own to discharge its duties creditably and in a satisfactory manner. However, as I was not responsible for the error in judgment in the selection made, and am not conscious of any culpable neglect of duty, I can now restore the trust without any vain regrets as to wasted opportunities or a wilful disregard of the interests of the Association. I am very glad to state to you in a general way what has been brought out more fully and in greater detail by the Secretary in his report ; that the year has been one of prog-ess ?n1 advancement upon lines of work laid out by the Executive and Directorate of the Association, in connection with ihe educational Campaign carried on throughout the various fruit-growing districts of the Province. I trust at this annual meeting some action of importance with reference to the general policy of the Association may be taken that will tend to maintain our position in the front rank of the Agricultural interests of this magnificent heritage of ours, the Province of Ontario. In the years that have gone by, it has been customary in this address at times to indulge in some reminiscences regarding the early struggles and triumphs of the Asso- 42 THE REPORT OF THE No. I 6 ciatioii. We arc approaching the haW-century mark of our existence as an Association, and have passed the quartcx-ccnt^ry mark in the history oi our magazine, and 1 believe ihar I am rigbft in stating that there is only one gentleman, who is with us to-night, that can claim to have taken an active part in the organization of this Association away back in the early sixties. I refer to our respected! friend and enthusiastic horticulturist, Hon- o a y Director A. M. Smith. While cur Association has had its vicissitudes and its struggles, its progress has been ever onward and upward, and it has stood during ill these years for whatever was for the greatest good of the fruit— grower, whether his acres be many, or only the mod- est town lot, and throughout our broad Dominion there is not a tiller of the soil, there if not an artisan or mechanic, there is not a merchant or manufacturer, there is not a single individual, no matter what his position in life, but to a greater or less extent, is under obligation to this Association for much that adds to the beauty of his home sur- rou ldings and to the comfort and health of his family life. The immense strides that have been made in the beautifying of town and country places, and in the vast increase in the production of th*- ,iiany and varied fruits, throughout this country, are largely due tc the earnest men 7'4v,omen whe have been* connected with this Association, and who have drawn inspirati ■«*; from the annual meetings held in the various parts of the Pro- vince iron: time to "vie, and who have gathered knowledge from a perusal of the re- p irts of the address* delivered at these meetings, from the work of our experimenters, and last, but not least, from the columns of the Canadian Horticulturist, so ably con- ducted by our editor, Mr. Woolverton. These facts are, however, known to most of you, and it is quite unnecessary that I should enlarge upon them at this time. Permit me, however, to express the hope that we may r.ot rest on the laurels and traditions of the past, but that, enthused by what has 1 een accomplished by those who have guided our Association so wisely and so well, we may be able to take higher vantage ground in the .future, and make our influence felt -not only in legislative halls, but also in the councils o/f the great transportation com- panies, and with the powerful consolidations of •capita! that are absorbing so many of the avenues for the disposition of the products of our orchards and vineyards, in such a way as will secure even-handed justice tc each and every member of this Association it? hi- but'ness relation; with the public. It will not be out of place here on behalf of the Association to tender to the Min- ister of Agriculture our appreciation of the kindly interest he and the officials of his Department have continually taken in every movement that has had for its object the advancement of horticulture in this Province, and the substantial manner in which that interes^ ha> been manifested from year to year as circumstances have warranted. We believe that we have in the Hon. Mr. Dryden a gentleman who is thoroughly in sympa- thy with the agriculture of the Province, and who is eminently well qualified for the position w':i.h he so abl/ fill-. Gov. Odell, of the State of New York, observed in his address at Niagara Falls before the Farmers' National Congress a few weeks ago that Government financial a sistance to the agricultural interests of the country was not paternalism, but tended to develop and encourage good citizenship in the broadest sense of the term, and was a proper and legitimate use of the public funds. Our Provincial Department of Agri- culture has fully realized this principle in the past, and it remains for us to provide propeT channels for development and progress and to lay our plans before the Depart- ment in a businesslike way, when I have no doubt our requests for further financial aid will receive careful consideration. Turing the past year a new horticultural organization has been formed, called the Canadian League for Civic Improvement. While this is a separate and distinct organi- zation, arrargements have been effected whereby this Association is represented on its Board of Management, the Canadian Horticulturist has been selected as the official organ of the I ,e ague, and a special departmert has been set aside for its use. We will be glirl to welcome their Hon. Field Secretary. Mr. G. R. Pattullo, to this annual meeting, 1903 FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION. 43 and wl no doubt listen with a great deal of pleasure to his address on the aim and work -of the League. The timt has come in the history oi the Province when a great deal more attention is being paid to the improvement and beautifying of our home surroundings and the public places in our towns and cities than heretofore, and in this good work every m.mber oi our Association is called upon to take a part. We have spent years in learning how to grow good fruit and to produce plenty >A it, in securing and disseminating the best and most profitable varieties of all kinds of fruit, and that we have succeeded in so doing goes without saying. Notwithstanding the many and varied obstacles that have stood in the way, and the many unforeseen discour- age nunts that have encompassed the path of the fruit-grower, the past season has again conclusively proven that we are able to produce under ordinary circumstances an abund- ance of fruit for all the demands of our broad Dominion. The Question of production is not now the one that confronts us, but prompt and efficient distribution to the various parts of the Dominion where needed, at a reasonable -cost and in a careful manner. To this problem our Transportation Committee in the past two or three years has given considerable attention and thought. The result of their efforts has been of considerable benefit to the large commercial grower, but not so much to the smaller producer. It is hoped, however, that with the appointment of a Rai'uay Commission, a step that this Association has strongly urged for several years, and through its Transportation Committee forcibly brought to the attention of the Gov- ernment last winter, that such representations may be made to the Commission as will lead to a very great improvement in the carriage of fruit, both as to rates charged and seni e rendered, which will result in Ontario fruits going in ever-increasing quantities to the important markets which are opening up in Manitoba and the Northwest, as well a? to the more northerly parts of our own Province, to say nothing of the large and im- portant export trade over the sea. Therj is perhaps no question of such interest to our members to-day as the great problems of distribution. How to organize and co-operate to accomplish this object is a live and burning question in the minds of hundreds of earnest practical growers at the present time. When, during the past season thousands of baskets of beautiful fruit have been left to hang and rot on the trees, from lack of proper facilities to place them n the hands of those who would gladly have purchased them at a fair price, and when thousan s of barrels of apples have also been wasted or disposed of at a fraction of their real \alue for want of suitable packages, while at the same time a Macedonian cry was h?ard from the mother country for all the fruit we could possibly send her, it is certainly time for this Association to be up and doing and to endeavor, in some way to elaborate a plan, whereby these unfortunate conditions may not continually recur. I am glad to say that the germs of co-operation have gained a foothold, and a good b?ginniig has been made in some sections. We have also with us to-night a gentleman from our cousins to the south, who has had considerable experience in co-operative organization, and who will no doubt be able to give p anything. to perfection, the finer the quality you will have. It is true that we have many fine orchards in this Province ; but any man who travels through the Province and looksi right and1 left, and thinks, will be forced to the conclu- sion that we ought to have ten orchards where we now have but one. I cannot under- stand how it' is that we have not more first-class orchards, considering the fact that vve can grow such excellent fruit, with even moderate care, in almost any part of the Pro- vince. How is it that we have not more first-class orchards ? If we had more our farmers would be better off. In conclusion, I wish to call attention to four or five of what I consider the most urgent needs in connection with the business of fruit-growing in this country : First, attention to the varieties of fruit that our farmers and fruit-growers are spend- ing their time on. The report comes from home and abroad that we have too many varieties of the various classes of fruit. The fruit inspectors at Liverpool are advising the shippers not to send so many varieties, but rather to keep to a few varieties of acknowledged merit. That is> what the markets everywhere seem to want. One may, of course, have two or three trees of several varieties for home use ; but if he is going to sell his fruit, he should confine his attention to five or six of the best varieties of auumn and winter fruit. I think there is need for a move in that direction. The second urgent need that I will mention is attention to packages. I was rather surprised to hea- your President say in his address that in the matter of providing the right kind of package, we are behind our neighbors across the line. I ask, why ? Have we not the industry and intelligence to devise a suitable package ? For every fact, there is a cause. The President said there were thousands of barrels of apples that rotted on the trees or were disposed of at a small fraction of their value this year, because of a lnck olf suitable packages. Is there not sufficient trade in this Province to war- rant anybody in manufacturing the right kind of box ? or have not the fruit-growers 1 903 FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION. 45 themselves come to any definite conclusion, so as to be able to say exactly what they want ? The matter wast discussed at your convention last year ; and there seemed to be a great cirTerence of opinion. I think it is time you came to a conclusion upon this iaipc rtant mater. Third, Spraying : There is the greatest need of more attention to spraying. It is •difficult, 1 find, to buy a barrel of Snow apples that are free from scab. I oought two barrels a li.tie while ago, after trying half a dozen places ; and three out of four apples in the barrels were badly affected. I give this as an illustration of the seriousness, of the trouble. If this Association can only do something to burn the need for proper spray- ing into the minds of the farmers, it will have done a great good. Much of the spray- ing is ^i raying only in name. Spraying has to be done well to accomplish the desired :ecuts. If farmers want to make anything out of their orchards, they must do more and better spraying. Fc urth; Transportation : This is the most important matter of all. Mr. Cowan said that ihe fruit-growers had " been fighting pests and express companies." I was struck with the expression ; and I think they will have to fight still more vigorously. If this Association has before it any one question that is of primary importance, it is the question of transportation. If what you say be true, — and you men ought to know, — that one-third to one-half of what you receive for your fruit is taken by the express and railway ccmpanies, it is indeed a very serious matter. Surely there are fruit-growers enough in this Province to present the case strongly and clearly to the transportation companies and make them understand that it is necessary that your fruit should be promptly carried, and carried at a reasonable rate. But you have got to wake up on this question. Not long ago I had some experience myself. I bought a basket of fruit in Hamilton, for which I paid thirty cents ; and what do you think I paid to have it delivered in Guelph, about 30 miles distant? — 35c. The time is at hand when you shorld say to the Government that you must have reasonable rates from express com- panies, or have an express department in connection with the postal system of the Do- minion. I have felt for some years that we ought to add a parcel department to our postal system. (Applause.) This matter of transportation is one that you should cal1 upon your representatives in Parliament to take up. The railway companies have enormous power ; but every man ent to Ottawa has a power also, and should make himself felt ; and personally I feel that I cannot impress upon you too strongly the necessity to deal promptly and directly v ill? 1 our representatives in Parliament. Compel them to take up the matter ; and let them feel that they have the people behind them in their demands. THE CANADIAN LEAGUE FOR CIVIC IMPROVEMENT- ITS PLANS AND PURPOSES. By the Hon. Field Secretary, Major George R. Pattullo, of Burnside, Woodstock. Civic improvement is a natural sequence and complement of educational material and municipal growth. The first public duty of our Canadian forefathers, a century ago, \ as to establish Municipal Institutes. These were essential to provide the common pi blic necessities cf pioneer life. The community must be organized. It was not enough that the settler should slash down a "clearing" for himself in the "Queen's Bush": hat he should build thereon a log house to shelter his family, and1 erect a rude "shack," or shed, in whteh to house his stock, but, as a citizen of a new community, he was also in duty bound to aid in general public improvement, to help blaze trails through the bush, ns a means of communication between settlers, and subsequently to organize Muni- cipal! Councils, school boards, churches, and agricultural societies, and through these agencies to levy taxes, make roads, build bridges, erect school houses, secure teachers and rrenchers for the schools and churches ; and thereby lay the foundation of general progress and prosperity. These were the very rudiments and essentials of early settle- ment. They constituted the topics for public discussion at the early "town meetings," 46 THE REPORT OF THE No. ( 6 ' 1 gging bees," "'barn railings, and elsewhere ; and they engaged the attention of Muni- cipal Legislators and local authorities generally. Grtal p:ogriss in many directions has been made in the meantime ; nevertheless, for over a hundred years from 1793, when what may be called the first Municipal Act was -sed, the people of Ontario have been chiefly engaged in providing for themselves the material necessities of life, establishing upon a firm and liberal basis Municipal and Parliamentary institutions, organizing and imp-roving an efficient system of education, and establishing and maintaining religious institutions, to meet the varied wants of a mixed community. Nor have we as their descendants much fault to find, with the way in which this work of our forefathers was done. All of them did not enjoy the edu- cational ?t vintages necessary to qualify them for efficient public services; but they were usually honest of heart and meant well. They made mistakes, but even if they had made none, the work done by them in the past would not suffice for the demands of to-da>. Time has wrought wondrous changes. Railways, telegraphs, telephones, gas, a: d electric lighting and an infinite number of labor-saving machines, on the farm and in the factory, together with the application of more skilful and scientific methods in our agricultural and industrial life, have united to fevolutionize economic and social con- d'tioi s, aid have brought us face to face with new duties and wider responsibilities. .We have enured upon a new century of progress. The limitations of the past will not meet the demands of the present, nor satisfy the aspirations for the future. New con- ditions impose new responsibilities. The Ontario of to-day is not the Upper Canada of iS-jq, nor is the Dominion of to-day the Canada of 1793. The civic horizon has been broc dened, and the civic spirit of the future must be alike higher and broader than was that of the past. In recognition of this changed condition, a recent meeting was held in Toronto at which prominent representatives from many parts of the Province were present, and there. w;s organized a ' Canadian League for Civic Improvement." The League is compo.ed of ladies and gentlemen, who are interested in civic reform and are willing to contribute of their means and time to promote it. The work of all its officers, di- rectors and members is done voluntarily and gratuitously. The chief objects of the League, in brief, are to promote a higher civic spirit and a \\id<-r interest in the improvement and beautifying of our cities, towns, villages and : ural districts. The League also seeks to secure the assistance of ladies and gentleman- end the co-operation of all organizations that are interested in the promotion of these objects. The League is anxious to be of service to all, and to antagonize or displace ro existing organizations that are efficient. It recognizes the splendid results that have followed the work of Ontario's Agricultural College in its several branches ; of the Dairymen's Association ; Farmers' Institutes ; Bee-keepers' Association : Agricul- tural and Horticultural Societies ; Fruit Growers' Association ; Stock Breeders' Asso- ciation, and many others, whose united work has given the Province its present pro- gressive, and, indeed, premier position. But while paying just tribute to all these organizations, whose objects chiefly concern the material progress of the Province, is it not lime that our attention should be turned occasionally and at least to some extent from the mere necessities to the aesthetic surroundings and comforts and it may be also the luxuries of life ? It is not enough that so progressive a Province anav 90 prosperous a people should have merely comfortable homes ; they should be homes of culture ;is we'l. The country, naturally beautiful, should be made still more beautiful — beautiful for all its peop1e— not less than fruitful. Nature has done much for it, but nature aided by art could do something more. There should be more out-door art and also more art within our homes. The field thus suggested is a very wide one, and may profitably engage the united efforts alike of Parliamentary and Municipal bodies', of Boaids of Trade. Boards of Health, Farmers' Institutes, Agricultural Societies, Dairymen's As- sociations. Horticultural Societies, Art Leagues, Landscape Gardeners, Park Com- missioners, Co'lege and School authorities, and, indeed, all other organizations that have for their object the betterment of society. All of these, supported by a sympa- 1903 FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION. 47 thetic people, should co-operate to the same end ; the creation of a higher civic spirit- the improvement of civic conditions, and the making of our Province and Country a more ileasant and attractive, not less than profitable, place in which to live. Something has already been done in thisi direction, but much yet remains. Let me suggest some of the directions in which such efforts may proceed. In Cities, Towns and Villages. Civic improvement in cities, towns and villages may include better streets, more tree planting, well-kept boulevards, more and better-kept parks and play grounds,. improvement oi public buildings', school houses and churches by more general use of \ines, ivy or climbers, more artistic grounds about all of these buildings, and a more general planting of shrubs, trees and flowers therein, the erection of statues, the pro- viding of fountains, public lavatories and closets, public gymnasiums and rest rooms, cemetery improvement, improvement of railway station grounds, planting of trees and flowers around factories, improvement of vacant lots, lanes and alleys, a greater at- tention to public sanitation, a perfecc sewage system, improved facilities for the dis- pos'tion of garbage, more artistic public advertising, simplicity in naming streets and nun.bcririf. houses, fruit and flower exhibitions, cleansing public buildings and public vehicles, a higher class of pictures- in our public halls and our various public institu- tions, improved municipal architecture, including all public buildings and bridges, com- positions and awarding of prizes to stimulate home-planting among the school children and citizens generally. In Rural Districts. Chic improvement in rural districts may also cover nearly as wide a field. It inclVes fet'er roads, more drainage, better fences, more general tree-planting, ever- greens and shrubs mo~e generally planted and better taken care of some flower-beds about every homestead, well-kept kitchen gardens, the shielding or covering of all un- sightly buildings by trees or vines, better sanitation within the homes, universal bath- rooms, lavatories and closets, the improvement of public buildings, school houses, school grounds, churches, manses, and glebes, by laying out artistically, planting therein trees, shrubs, Towers and vines, and providing well-kept lawns for each, also the es- tablishment and care of parks in every municipality according to size, population and convenience, improving the architecture, approaches and general appearance of bridges, the encc urgement of forestry, more particularly in the direction of planting copses of trees as ? shade for farm stock, or to replace native trees that should not have been cut down This may be more easily done on the banks of creeks, streams, lakes and rhers whose surroundings lend themselves easily to beautifying. Groves and all woods that conld be easily utilized for park purposes, and all evergreens that lend beauty to the landscape and other natural features, should be as far as possible preserved. Way- side springs should be preserved and made convenient for public use. Guide boards sVuld also be provided along the highways. An Inviting Field. The nbove are some, though not all, of the subjects included in the task of civic improvement. It is not possible, within the limits of a paper or address to discuss them at length. They are sufficiently numerous to invite the effort of all our citizens, young and old1, rich and poor. To the latter they offer a specially inviting field of profit and pleasure. The poorer sections of several European and American cities have been literally transformed from apparent squalor and wretchedness to beauty and comfort by the efforts of civic improvement reformers. Productive vegetable parders have replaced ash heaps and back-door debris, while well-kept boulevards and THE REPORT OF THE No. 16 lawns, flowering shrubs, vines and flowers have taken the place of bare yards and generally tumble-down surroundings. Those Unattractive School Houses. All who have travelled through our country districts must have noticed how unat- t: active are the rural school houses and their surroundings. The walls of the buildings are tare and unrelieved by a touch of green in the form of ivy, climbing roses or er vines. There are no trees or shrubs about the ground, nor are there flower-beds. The grass, if grass there be, is uncut, the fences are not always in good repair, and the outbuildings forbidding and offensive, are vulgarly exposed to the public gaze. And yet these are seats of learning ! Here is where our children receive their first impressions of education. " Like produces like " it is said ; if so, what must be the impressions made by surroundings so rude and repellant ? There is also noted an ab- sence of a flag-pole or flag, which every school section should have ; and such flag should fly on all appropriate occasions, familiarizing the children with our national emblem, and teaching them to love and honor* the dear old Union Jack, though it be " O: 1y an old bit o' bunting!" The Churches Also Neglected. Then our rural church buildings are little less unattractive than are the school 1 ov.ses. They, too, seem to be neglected and uncared far. One might easily imagine that they were seldom, if ever, visited, so cold, bare and uninviting do they appear. Ii si.rrounded by a cemetery, as they usually are, it, too, looks nfcgreeted and ragged in the extreme.. Respect for the dead if not for the living should suggest an improve- ment in this respect, and surely our places of public worship should be made as at- tractive in their exterior as are our own homes. The spirit of true worship is sacri- fice, and professing Christians should show, not only by the substantial character of their churches and attractive interior, but also by pleasant and picturesque surroundings. . that they are willing to sacrifice of both time and means to beautify the temples which they have erected for the worship of Almighty God. Railway Stations and Grounds. Another direction in which improvement may be made by vines, shrubs, flowers and ! kept lawns are our railway station houses and station grounds. This is becoming more important because of the building of electric iines of railway. The same improve- ments should be made, and, indeed, insisted upon by the public, upon the station houses and giounds of electric railways as are necessary on steam railway properties. These improvements should be made a condition of granting franchises to companies when they apply to municipalities for them. Another condition that should be insisted upon is that all land lying alongside electric railway tracks and belonging to the companies should be kept clear of noxious weeds, and in general 'be well cared for. Otherwise se reads may become eye-sores to the travelling public and a menace to the crops • f sdjaceni farmers. Shade Trees Along Highways. Tree-planting along the roadways would add greatly to their beauty, and if do if judiciously and the trees not planted too closely, while affording a plea-sant shad( wouW not necessarily injure the roadways by "holding the water, and thereby making them damp or wet, Beautifying Rural Homes. A strong effort should be made to induce our friends, the farmers, to pay more attention to beautifying the exterior of their homes and surrounding grounds. Farm 1903 FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION. 49 houses *re usually located advantageously for improvements1 such as are suggested. An ivy, a climbing rose or any creeping vine would relieve their bare appearance, while some pretty flowering shrubs, a few evergreens, and some flower-beds would add greatly to the beauty of the surroundings. But what is still more important, they would probably inspire some members of the household to take a special interest in thus beautifying the homestead, and thereby making all more contented with the home and its environment. Copses of Shade Trees. Then in the older part3 of Ontario., and the other Eastern Provinces where the larger part of the farms have been entirely denuded of trees, when the trees of the forest were felled, some attempt should be made to partially replace them by planting, in appro- pria •«-.• places, corpses of evergreens or shade trees. These are not only valuable as shades for the farm stock, but would greatly add to the beauty of the landscape. In the absence of hedges such as are in the old countries, and which serve the purpose of fences there, trees scattered here and there over a farm add much to its appearance. Rural Parks. Not only so, but every rural municipality should provide itself with one or more parks, which would become common and convenient resorts. Public gatherings, picnics, private or public, could be heid there. Nor would there be any difficulty in securing suitable and attractive locations — no township is without them. In many cases they are there ready to hand with forest trees, water convenient, and the general topography all that the landscape gardener could wish ; the cost of purchase would not be great nor would the expense of properly keeping them up. National and Provincial Parks. In this connection it is pleasant to note that the Governments of the Dominion and of Ontario have led the way in the establishment of National and Provincial Parks. The late Hon. Thomas White, when Minister of the Interior, established a magnificent park, in the Rocky Mountains, at Banff, on the line of the Canadian Pacific Railway ; the lat? Sir Oliver Mowat, the Queen Victoria Niagara Falls Park ; and the late Hon A. S. Hardy, the Algonquin and Rondeau Parks. There is yet room for the es- tablishment of many more such resorts of recreation, profit and pleasure for the Can- adian people. ) . Good Roacls and Civic Reform. The above suggested improvements are all in harmony with the general improve- ment of the highways of the country, which in recent years1 has made considerable advances, and has now reached the stage of Government and municipal control in the form of good roads improvement. A Canadian Paradise. With good roads to drive, wheel or walk over, with the highways tree-lined, the landscapes improved by replanting, the school and church properties which we pass beautified by well-kept lawns, shrubs and trees, vines and flowers, with a telephone in every house, an electric railway system covering every city, town and township, a rural mail delivery at every door, and an automobile, it may be, for both lighting and transportation purposes, in every homestead (for myself I prefer a good horse or spanking pair) ; then with the National Flag floating from a flag-pole at every scboJT house, from Dawson to Halifax, how much more pleasant it would be to travel in the -country, how much more patriotic we would feel, as Canadians, and how much more right we wouM have to be proud of our native land ! 4 F G. 50 THE REPORT OF THE No. 16 Urban Civic Reforms. This paper is necessarily too brief to permit me to enlarge upon even a tithe of what is aimed at by the Canadian League for Civic Improvement in the direction of fur- ther beautifying our cities, towns and villages. All of these should have parks, pic- turesquely 'situated, wherever possible, tastefully laid out and always well kept. There should be more boulevards, more planting of trees, better kept streets, more cleanly lanes and alleys, an improved garbage system, more official attention given to regu- lating architecture, building of sidewalks and landscape work. Fountains should be provided as conveniences, and all local historical events should be appropriately marked by monuments or memorial tablets. Necessary and Patriotic. But by some it may be said that these suggested reforms are comparatively unim- portant, and that the Canadian people cannot be sufficiently interested to carry them out. I deny both of these statements. They are not unimportant, for they tend to make happy homes, and they are urgently needed to meet the requirements of present con- ditions. Canadians are now beyond a primitive or primeval stage. Tihey are for the most part able to do more than merely exist. They can now live and enjoy life in pleasant, if not luxurious surroundings. Being well able to afford to do so, it is nationally important that they should not neglect their opportunities and responsi- bilities. Their sons and daughters are better off, better clothed and better educated than were their fathers and mothers, and the more comfortable and attractive the surroundings of young people are, the more happy est time to get the highest price, one Covent Garden salesman said bluntly : " If you are going to spend your money in cold storage, you should sneak a week where you got it yourself," and no doubt he said a truth. Messrs. Garcia, Jacobs & Co. have handled as many as 27,000 packages of fruit in one day. so it is evident they do a large trade, especially in apples and oranges. "We paid one firm in France," s.aid Mr. Garcia, " £5,000 in one week for consignments of plums, which will give you some idea of our business." Taking all things into consideration, we came away rather encouraged than other- wise with the prospects before the Canadian fruit growers, and see no reason for dis- couragement, when we consider how favorably our fruit and our packages compare with those of the European countries. In Edinburgh we called upon Messrs. James Lindsay & Sons, one of the largest app!e houses in the city. "We buy your Ontario apples at Glasgow," said Mr. Lindsay. " and find them prime stock. Your Ontario Duchess pears, too, please us very much. We bought a lot of them last year from Thomas Russell, Glasgow, and made some mon:v on them." 1903 FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION. 53 In Glasgow Mr. Russell showed us the apple salesrooms1, where we found the Dullness conducted in much the same manner as in Covent Garden. If a man's brand is reliable, he will soon become known, and his* fruit will command ready sale at top prices. I ears are in good demand in Glasgow, and our Canadian Bartletts would bring us excellent returns if we could get them carried at or near the freezing point, so that they would arrive in good condition. Since our return, we have given this market a gcol trial, having forwarded two carloads. The first, by the Lakonia, of the Donald- son Line, arrived in fairly good condition, and returned a net of $2 a bushel ; the sec- ond, by the Sicilian, of the Allan Line, arrived in an over-ripe and wasty condition, and brought little more than freight charges. Both carlots were packed in a perfectly green and hard condition. This shows that our ocean cold-storage for fruit is yet far from perfection. Altogether we returned to Canada, not only refreshed in mind and body, but vastly more ccntented with Canadian conditions of social life, and with the outlook for Canadian horticulture than when we sailed ; and we no longer wonder at the wonderful inflow of people to our fairyland, for we believe there is no better country on the face of the earth. NATURE STUDY. By Dr. W. H. Muldrew, O.A.C., Guelph. Very much is being said just now concerning Nature Study, Manual Training and related subjects in our schools — much that is vague and indefinite, and utterly unsat- isfactory, and much that is even false and contradictory. And the fact that we are asked to discuss these questions to-night seems an indication that plain, intelligent men and women are looking for light in this darkness and confusion. The naturalist will tell you that nature study consists in the study of animals and plants, with the aim of classifying them, and possibly recording their habits ; the scientist would say that it consists in the accumulation of facts and generalizations about the world we live in ; while the nature lover, the artist or the poet, will define it as the cultivation of a sympathetic attitude towards Nature. The practical man looks upon this a*s merely the latest fad of educational cranks, another wedge to crowd out what remains of value in our schools. And there is surely some ground for such art attitude, when we consider the number of exploded theories, each of which was once heralded as a cure for all our ills. I need only mention to teachers who are present such topics as object lessons, language lessons, temperance lessons, the word-method, the Grube method, or last, but not least, "vertical writing," to show that fine-spun theories are too often sadly disappointing in their result.5?. Finally, to the teacher on whom must depend very largely the success or failure of anv method or system, What is implied ? Very often I fear that these newer subjects must be suggestive merely of added burdens to be undertaken without adequate pre- parrtion or guidance. Now, if we had the necessary time, it wouV be well worth while to consider these varied opinions at length, and to sum up the truth and error contained in them. But, just now. let us hasten on to ask for the evidence of one more witness more important than any of these, because more interested and less biased. Let us ask the child himself what he has to say in the midst of all that is being said' about him. I am prepared, of course, to be told that such is the height of absurdity, and that my witness is not only ignorant as to his real needs, but is essentiallv oerverse and wilful in his whole nature. It is unnecessary for us here to discuss the moral question, but as regards the physi- cal and intel'ectual aspects, I am free to say that the child^s native tendencies are essentially right and necessary to his well-bein.fr. Without the aimless movements and babblings oif early infancy, the muscles would never be prepared for walking or 54 THE REPORT OF THE No. 16 for speech, and is it not true that under the guidance of such native tendencies more is learned during the first rive years of life than in any later period of equal length ? Nature takes abundant pains in the education of her offspring, but with none so much as -with her masterpiece — the human child. The young of the lower animals are guided by unfailing instincts, and surely man alone is not left without a witness. No one who has paid any attention to the development of a child can have failed to note his untiring interest in the world around him. The needs of men are knowledge and power, adapted to the society in which they live, and the child anticipates these needs in his insatiable desire to know his surroundings, to express himself in action, and to follow in the steps of his elders.- Thus, turning from the doctors who differ, to the child himself, we gain some idea of his real needs. From this point of view we can see the necessity for meeting the child on his own ground, and using the experiences of his daily life as a basis for all future education. Nature study aims to develop the child mind by appealing to the interests and activities of childhod. it is thus a method rather man a subject, and deals with nature as a means rather than as an end. Th2 most effective charge against our modern education is that it lifts the learner out of his surroundings, and seeks an artificial development quite out of relation to h's experience and his interests. The schools are credited with turning the tastes of the- people away from the farms and the simpler industries, while the universities are said to produce " impractical " graduates. Nature Study aims at schools' in living relation with the lives and experiences of the people, in which the most successful student will be in closest touch with the needs of the real world. Looked at in this way it is plain that Nature Study is no new thing in education. Every healthy child makes, and always has made, such the basis of his life's training. Hi? early years are spent in ceaseless endeavor to comprehend the world around him. To this end he examines all things, tries all things, and torments his elders with pitiless questiors as to the what, the why, and the how of every new experience. As a result the dullest child quickly masters a immense amount of practical information, and thus puts himself in harmony with his surroundings. For the later loss of interest of this enquiring spirit the blame must be shared by schools and parents. The schools are to blame in so far as they have insisted that their studies must be different in kind and method from the earlier experience of ihei'- children. Parents, on the other hand, have nowadays no time to guide further this healthful development of infancy, and thus the growing boy or girl too often suffers. The interests of the home life are crowded out or lost from disuse, while nothing ade- quate is supplied to take their place. Learning is divorced from doing, and the com- mon aim of both as a preparation for life is forgotten. Studies' which either in them- selves or in their teaching are unreal because unrelated to experience have been the banc- of elementary education. Th-e ap plication of this principle in our schools is plain. The vast majority of our people are, and must continue to be, engaged in agriculture or other productive indus- tries, and this fact must be recognized in the education of the future. In training the eye to see, the hand to do, and the mind to think in childhood, the best materials must always be found in commonplace experience, and the practical interests thus fostered muse continue to be those necessary to the very existence of society. I should like to call your attention for a moment to certain other aspects of our subject. I have the word of Mr. J. L. Hughes for the statement that horticulturists are one of the most moral classes of people in the world, and that gardeners are very rarely connected with any crime. This is no doubt due largely to the nature of their occupa- tion, and to the fact that they see the relation between cause and effect, between conduct and its rewards, in such a concrete form that they cannot forget it. Can we doubt that surroundings which affect thus the full-grown man will be much more powerful in their influence on the growing child ? A man's life is more than his possessions, and the thoughts that fill his mind are more than the fruits that hang on his trees. The 1903 FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION. 55 -eirotional side of man's nature depends very langely on the experience of his child- "hood. He who has never been a child and who does not continue to be a child until ne is old misses much of this1 life. The man who in his childhood has lost coiranitnim with nature must have all through life a terrible blank in -his mind, where he might have had something of constant value and influence as long as he might live. Such principles are not opposed to the highest ideals of a truly liberal education. .Ail experience goes to show that a mind trained to interpret the commonplace truths of nature gains' in this way a mastery over facts and methods of thought that will prove of equal value on the farm or in the university. It has been well said that the education -of the past has filtered down to the people from the universities, whose ideals were inherited from Greece and Rome. The education of the future will rise up from the people, based on the needs of life here and now, and will thus gain a vitality impossible to artificial systems'. To further such aims is the purpose of the Macdonald Institute at Guelph, which I have the honor to represent here. This institution has been built and equipped by Sir "William Macdonald as a college for the preparation of teachers fitted to apply in detail -the methods here broadly stated. In addition to this, however, there are provided thorough courses in practical household science, which are intended to be to our young women what the O A. C ha? alreadv become to our farmers' sons. In such ways *ve "hope to exert a healthy influence on the schools and the people by showing the unity vof Education end Life. CO-OPERATIVE FRUIT PACKING AND MARKETING By W. H. Owen, Catawb3 Island, Ohio. When the stockholders of an industry are meeting with successful results in the •disposal cf their products, little thought or attention is given to competitors along the I3tm lire, until competition, over-production or under-consumption depreciates the vaLte •of their products to little more than the actual cost price of same ; they then give their attention to methods that will better their conditions', and devise ways and means by -which they may reduce the ^ost price and competition. How is this change for the betterment of their conditions usually brought about? Inveiiably through the same channel, by organization, by trusts, and by co-operative associations. What is true of the manufacturer in this direction is also true with the farmc- and horticulturist, in the disposal of their products. The 'Californians were probably the first to co-operate in marketing their vast pro- duct of fruit, which was really the result of necessity, for their industry rapidly expanded, tinti' their local markets cruld not consume the enormous production, and they were ■obliged to seek other and more distant markets. This they found could not be accom- plished individually, but through powerful corporations they have succeeded in gaining low rates and improved methods in handling and shipping. How well they have suc- ceeded we are all familiar, and now we find their fruits in nearly every market of the rorntry — even competing with our own products in our local markets. Organizations, indie -ously managed, have placed the Californians in the lead in the way of distributing rnd marketing their fruits. Through their efforts, is due the credit of perfecting the «Drcsent refrigerator service, bv which thev are enabled t^ ship their more perishable fruit*, even to the great markets rn the Atlantic seaboard. Missouri is fast accepting the profitable teachings and examples of the Californians, -and he'* vast fruit products are now langely handled through companies and shipping •a«soc*a*v>ns. Mirliigan, having the greatest market in *he world at her very doors, had no occa- sion tr look elsewhere than Chicago or Milwaukeei for h^r markets. However, the Wolver'nes have discovered in recent years that the enormous contributions o-f fruit from Missouri, Southern Illinois and Indiana to these markets, has in a measure forced THE REPORT OF THE No. 16 them to look elsewhere for a portion of their markets. They now ship hundreds of ca- loads of peaches annually to Eastern markets and the Western and North-western States. This was not brought about, however, until co-operation among ihe growers in dit'ferent localities was instituted. The extreme Eastern peach-growing States — New Jersey, Maryland, Delaware, Penn- sylvai ia, and New York — are so favorably located in reference to so many large con- suming markets that organization to them has not been so paramount to their success as it is to the Middle and Western States. The mrther from market the greater need of getting together, as the risk increases with the distance. I will confine my discussion principally to the advantages in organization for handling one of the most perishable of the tree fruits, viz., peaches. Peach shipping associations have been operated with more or less success through- out the peach belt of Michigan and Ohio, but in shipping in carload lots, although complying with rigid rules laid down by the Association, there was an objectionable feature to the trade, and that was the lack of uniformity of grades and packing. To be more explicit on this point, you have all probably visited some of the various markets during the peach season, and have noticed the very great difference prevailing in grades of different packs. That is, some packers' B or XX grades were just as good as some other packers' A or XXX grade. Therefore, the grade marks of the general run of consigned fruit, where not put up by one set of hands, as a rule, are not of very great assistance to the purchaser, and he still is obliged to resort to his own judgment and eyc:ighr in his selections. Now, for a shipper to make up a carload of this indiscriminate packing of fruit, where it is packed by many growers, each contributor having a different way and idea of how peaches should be packed and the kind of packages used — conceding that they are all honestly packed — how is the shipper going to bill that indiscriminate lot of fruit, and can he warrant the packing ? This serious objection of lack of uni- formity confronted the Michigan fruit growers, and has resulted in the adoption of the central pricking house system by their principal associations'. This system was originated and established in the peach industry at Catawba Island, Ohio, in 1891, and it has resulted in untold savings and benefits to the peach grower wherever the system has been adopt ed. The mere shipping association, where each grower prepares his own fruit and de- livers it to the association, by which it is shipped with other packs and packages, either in carload lots or local shipments, is a step in advance over the old or individual method of shipment ; but the central packing house system is a much greater step in advance over the mere shipping association. The old adage of, " In union there is strength," is most aptly exemplified through the many advantages that may be attained through an organization of fruit growers, organized for the purpose of bettering their conditions in shipping and marketing their fruit. The many discouraging problems that confront the grower in the satisfactory marketing of his product, I believe, are. satisfactorily solved through the adoption of the central packing house system. At least, such has been my observation through the management of such a company for the past twelve years. Let us for a moment review further a few of the advantages to be attained through- such an organization. First, the grower can place his undivided attention to the proper picking of his fruit, which is a very important factor ; whereas, it is known, that if peaches are picked green or immature, or over-ripe, and delivered to the packing house in such condition, no amount of work that may be put upon it can make good prime fruit cf it. The great advantage of the central packing house is the superior advantages- and inducements it offers to purchasers of fruit in securing a uniform grade and pack. It affords a place where the buyer can select just the grade and kind of fruit that best suits his trade. When the fact is known to the trade that they can procure their supply direct and in any quantity desired, and every package guaranteed to contain freshly-picked- and uniformly-packed fruit, even the commission men will then come to your doors and 1903 FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION. buy. Buyers are looking for carloads of uniform fruit, and not for carloads that are not un.form. This system entirely eliminates the practice of deceptive packing, and gives buyers conf.dence that they are getting honestly packed fruit. Even were you obliged to con- sign largely, it will bring bettei prices on the market, and the commission firms are bound to take better care of your interests than of the individual shippers ; because there is more at stake, and the merchant realizes that iif he makes a mistake or misleads you m his advices, he will probably not have the opportunity of handling your account again. The labor saved at both ends, by dealing with one man or corporation instead of ten or fifty, becomes apparent, and the commission man can afford to handle a corporation account on a less percentage, and it really pays him better because of work and time s^ed. And again, buyers, after becoming acquainted with your grades, pack and manner of dcing business, can order their supply of fruit intelligently and without the necessity of retaining a representative at the shipping point. Another great and beneficial effect of such an organization is through its influence in broadening the field of distribution; it does to that extent disprove the "over-pro- duction " policy. We have found that in our own dealings with transportation companies, basket manu- factuiers, and even the commission men, they lend a more willing ear, and correct errors and abuses with greater promptitude when presented by the authorized representa- tive of 3 company than they will do for any individual or small grower presenting a case possessing equally as much merit. Transportation companies consider a well-organized fruit company, working upon sound business principles, in the same light as any other well-established business which contributes to their receipts. We as a company have found them disposed to grant favors and investigate corn- plain's fahly, while the lone individual, under the old plan of "every fellow for himself," would perhaps have remained unnoticed. L^s.ly, a recommendation that is appreciated by those that have had the experience in the central packing house system, b the fact that it relieves the home and good housew fe of that burden which is attendant through the care of the extra help that will now be dispensed with. Now as to the expense of organization under this system. Some may raise the ob- jection that it will cost too much to establish a plant, but you will find after careful investigation it will be far cheaper for each to contribute toward a general plant than for each individual to supply himself with a packing house, a grader, and other neces- sary equipments. In the establishment of a central packing house, make sure of one point, and that is, provide a building with ample room for receiving, grading and expe- ditious handling of the fruit. If the requisite amount of floor space is not provided, it will necessitate vexatious waiting of the members in taking their turn at unloading their fruit. Do not think that a room with no more space than would ordinarily be used by three or four of the! larger growers of the company and equipped1 with insufficient number of graders will properly take care of the fruit of twenty or thirty orchards, for it will rot, and such conditions will only result in loss, through failure in being able to get the fruit through promptly. As if or laying down defined rules for organizing, that is a matter which each locality will best work out for itself, as local requirements and conditions vary. Now, what is wrong with the present system, ox more properly, lack of system, outside of the already established organizations ? Can you name any industry wherein so many hundred's of thousands of dollars are invested, that is conducted so carelessly as the fruit business of this great fruit-producing country ? It is a great wonder to me that the average peach grower should even get the price of his packages in return for his labor. To make it plain, the average orchardist cannot afford himself the facili- ties for keeping in touch with the trade, and keep posted daily on the changing condi- THE KKPORT OF THE No. 16 tions of the various markets. He is too busy harvesting his crop to study out the test plans and inform himself of the best places to ship, in which he will meet the least competition. And right here I wish to emphasize that word "competition," for are we not each and every one of us placing our fruit in direct competition with each other ? Again, the orchardist individually is placed at disadvantage through his in- ability to properly distribute his fruit. I say inability, because he has no control over other shipments, and has no means of knowing but that 90 per cent, of the other ship- pers throughout his vicinity are shipping to the very market in which he expects to avoid a glut. There is surely a way out of this dilemma, and a practical and time-tried way, that I am confident, if universally adopted, would place the product of the orchard on a far more profitable basis than is now being realized. As long as the present careless methods are continued, we may expect to be the yictims of our own failure to protect cur imerests by the positive means within our reach. If we will carefully investigate the hundreds of unions and co-operative plans that are now in existence in nearly every branch of business, you will find they are all de- claring handsome dividends to their stockholders, while prior to their consolidation, in maty cases they were actually running at a loss. What has been true in other branches of business through result of co-operation to avoid competition, and reduce the cost of placing their products on the markets, can be made true of the fruit industry in the different fruit growing sections of the country. It is not a visionary and undemonstrative theory. It is the furtherance of a co-operative plan that is now in actual, practical and successful operation in several of the States : and the more universal this system may become adopted, in like proportion, better results will follow. If some of the fruit organizations have not proven entirely satisfactory to their mcrrbers, due to mismanagement, that should not prejudice or deter those interested from investigation of the plan ; for there are fruit companies that are thoroughly suc- cessful and making money for their members. The co-operative fruit company will suc- ceed if organized and managed upon a business basis, just the same as any other business enterprise requiring co-operation. It is- surely the best means in which to conserve the interests of the producer, and we know that the grower's interests can be best served through facilities which they may own and control. After thorough local organization has been effected throughout the various fruit- producing sections, let us for a moment see what further advantages might be attained in the way of uniting all these companies in each county or section into one powerful corporation. Ccunty consolidation could be successfully accomplished only through the central pad i- g-house system, and then not until local organizations had been established and per'ected at the shipping points throughout the county. After the establishment of com- panies at the different shipping points, then the consolidation of all, into one powerful union under one management, would place the fruit-growers in possession of the key to the situation of the avoidance of market gluts, competition and distribution. To accom- p'ish such an end of thorough organization it would mean for each locality to enter the work with a spirit of determination. We must be prepared to join our neighbors in correcting the existing wrongs and surmounting the obstacles and objections that may cot front us. We have the power, and we can do it if we see fit. As one of our western ho*t:cu'turist very aptly stated : " If I were compelled to use but one word in designat- ing the remedy for the many evils and disadvantages with which we have to contend, it would be ' organization.' " Orennization leads to co-operation, and organized co-operative effort is the power ?nd influence that is shaping and moulding the financial and commercial interests of the present time Look where we will at any business worthy of the name, and we find it comnactly united in some form of union that seeks to make the interests of Dne, the care ol ?ll and the prosperity of all the prime object of *ach individual. 1903 FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION. 59 CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS Of thr Island and Gypsum Fruit Company, incorporated under the laws of Ohio. Capital stock $5,000. Act amended June 13, 1900. Constitution. i ! 1 Section 1. This association of fruit growers, being incorporated under the laws of Ohio, shall be known as the Island and Gypsum Fruit Company. Its capital stock being in the sum of $5,000. Section 2. The oDjeet of its organization is for the sale of the fruits grown by its members, also to buy and sell such fruits during the season as opportunity presents. Section 3. The annual meeting of the stockholders of this company shall be on the first Saturday in December of each year. Special meetings of the stockholders may be held at any time upon call of the President, by written notice mailed to each stockholder of record. Seetion 4. At the annual meeting of the stockholders five Directors shall be elected. Section 5. At any meeting of the stockholders a two-thirds representation of the stock, either in person or by written proxy, shall constitute a quorum for the trans- action of business. Section 6. The officers of the company shall consist of a President, Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer. Section 7. Immediately after the annual meeting of the stockholders and the Direct- ors are elected, it shall be the duty of the Directors to elect the officers as named in Section 6. Section 8. All elections of this company shall be by ballot, plurality electing, con- ducted by two tellers, appointed by the President. 8ection 9. The President, or, in his absence, the Vice-President, shall preside at all meetings of the stockholders. In the absence of both, a presiding officer shall be chosen by the stockholders. Section 10. The Secretary shall keep a record of the proceedings of all the meetings of stockholders and directors, and shall receive as remuneration the sum of $ for each and every meeting, when such services shall be duly rendered by said Secre- tary. Section 11. The Treasurer shall keep a correct record of all the receipts and dis- bursements and report the condition of the finances annually, or as often as the Direct- ors shall desire. Section 12. The Directors may select not to exceed three of their number to act as an Executive Committee (the President to serve as Chairman of this Executive Com- mittee), to have general charge of the affairs of the corporation during the fruit sea- son. This committee shall order all purchases of supplies. The Directors shall regu- late the amount of compensation this committee shall receive. Section 13. Any fruit grower in Ottawa County, this State, shall be eligible to be- come a member by a two-thirds vote of the stockholders of record at the time the application is made, also a two-thirds vote of members shall determine the value of each share of the stock that such party shall pay into the treasury, if he or she shall be admitted as a member. Section 14. The Constitution or By-laws may be amended at any regular or special meeting upon a vote of two- thirds of the stockholders or stock in the affirmative. By-laws. Article 1. The Board of Directors, during any season when there is not a failure of fruit, shall meet in session semi-monthly, beginning such meetings not later than July 15th of each year. Article 2. The Executive Committee, during the fruit season of each year, shall meet at least once a week, or oftener if the interests of the company shall demand. Article 3. The President shall have a general supervision of the business of the com- pany. Article 4. On or before the first of May of each year, when the fruit crop is not a failure, the Directors shall meet and name their Manager for the season. GO THE REPOllT OF THE No. 16 Article 5. The Manager shall have charge of the business of the company in its detail, under the supervision of the President. Article 6. The Manager and Treasurer shall give bonds in such sum as shall be ac- ceptable to the Directors. Article 7. The Treasurer shall receive all moneys from the Manager and deposit the same in such bank to the credit of this company. Such depository of the funds to be designated by the Directors. The Treasurer shall check the same upon order Irora the President, countersigned by the Manager, or upon order from Manager, as may be directed by the Directors. Article 8. It shall be the duty of all officers to attend all regular or special meetings of the company, and to hold office until their successors shall have been -elected. Article 9. When a vacancy shall happen, either by death or resignation, in any of the offices established by the constitution or by-laws of the company, it shall be tilled at the next regular or special meeting. Article 10. At the annual meeting of the stockholders, each year, the Manager shall render a statement of the business for the season in full. Article 11. Any member of this company may withdraw at any time, between De cember or the first day of April. Such notice of. withdrawal must be given in writing to the President or any Director of this company. Thereafter it shall be the privilege of such retiring member to sell and dispose of his or her fruits as they shall elect, but this company shall not take or handle any of such member's fruit thereafter, during that sea- son, unless it shall be determined by a two- thirds vote of all members in the affirmative. Article 12. In consideration of the several assessments which have been placed upon the present stock of record, previous to 1900, to each and every member holding such stock there shall be issued (gratis) another share ($50.00) for every share so held. Every member shipping not more than S,000 bushels of fruit shall hold two shares ($100.00) of the capital stock, and shall take out additional stock for increased output,, as follows : — 1 3hare for all over 3,000 bushels up to 5,500. 1 share for all over 5,500 bushels up to 8,500. 1 share for all over 8.500 bushels up to 12,000. 1 share for all over 12,000 bushels up to 16,000. 1 share for all over 16,000 bushels up to 20,500. 1 share for all over 20,500 bushels up to 25,500. 1 share for all over 25,500 bushels up to 31,000. Article 13u The stock shall pay a dividend of 7 per centum, less incidental expenses,, as repairs, insurance on buildings and taxes. This 7 per centum shall be collected from each member's fruit account in proportion to the number of bushels of fruit with which each has been credited. Article 14. Dividends on stock, as provided for in preceding article, shall not apply in time of a failure of fruit crop. In such times dividends shall be void. Article 15. No transfer of stock shall be lawful unless duly recorded upon the books of the company. Article 16. All peaches, pears, plums and quinces grown by each and every member of this company shall be delivered to the company's packing house for grading, pack- ing and shipment. Grapes and other small fruits may be delivered to the company for sale or disposal,, and shall be disposed of for the grower on commission of one cent per basket. Article 17. Each and every member shall pick his fruit in prime condition and deliver same promptly to the company's packing house. In case green and immature fruit or overripe fruit, or windfalls, be delivered by any member, same may be accepted and said members shall be credited with average price such fruit may bring. Article 18. Each and every member shall have the right to give away such fruit of his own raising as he or she may elect; but shall not seek, solicit or make sale of fruit outside of the company, excepting windfalls and cull grades of any fruit that may not be accepted by the company. Any member so doing shall pay into the company's treas- ury the sum of fifty cents per bushel for all such fruits sold, excepting sales of afore- said grades. Article 19. All fruit delivered each day shall be credited to the person furnishing the same at the average price which fruit brought that day. i One- third of the amount so credited may be retained by the company until the close of the season for final settlement, and from the aggregate of the amount so retained from each person there shall be, at tne end of the season, before paying the same over 1903 FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION. 61 to #he respective members of the company, deducted all expenses and losses. All expenses of handling, packing and marketing fruit shall foe borne by the several mem- bers of the company, in proportion to the number of bushels of fruit with which each has been credited. All losses and rebates shall be deducted in proportion to the money credit of each member. * Article 20. Whenever, in the opinion of the Directors it is impossible for the com- pany to receive at its fruit house all the peaches grown by its members, they may permit individual members to grade and pack the same for shipment through the house, such period to be limited by the directors. Reasonable compensation will be allowed for such grading and packing. Article 21. Permanent or temporary additions, extensions or any new buildings from time to time that may be constructed by the company, including the present ice house, the cost of same shall be paid by the stock of issue by a fund sufficient to meet such costs by an assessment upon the said stock as it shall appear against each and every member, and not as an item of general expense. Article 22. The cost of ice and the cost of putting the same into the ice house as it now stands, and each and every season when the said ice house shall be filled, shall go into the general expense and paid for as named in Article 19 to the By-laws. Article 23. Before the annual meeting, as named in Section 3 of the Constitution, if there shall be available funds in the treasury after all debts shall have been paid, the Board of Directors then, if in their opinion it shall be deemed best, can order a cash dividend to be declared and paid to each stockholder of record up to the first day of De- cember of each year. .No. Date THE ISLAND & GYPSUM FRUIT CO. Received from Bushels Peaches ungraded. Other Fr uits Receiving Clerk. PEACHES GRADED. GRADE 1 CARRIERS i 1-2 1-4 TOTAL IN BUSHELS PRICE AMOUNT AA A * ■ B C TOTAL OF PEACHES Culls Other Fruit Orader No. TOTAL CREDIT, $ 82 THE REPORT OF THE No. 16 II. W. Dawson : Mr. Owen's paper is quite in accord with my own views on the subject I have always maintained that co-operation and a central packing house would' be a great benefit to the fruit growers. The most successful fruit and produce shippers- oil this continent are those that have adopted this principle, and where they also have- distributing agents to look after the distribution of their goods, so that they do not glut one particular market ; or, if a glut must come, as will be sometimes the case, they then arrange that it shall come in the one market only. It is not always possible to- prevent a glut, but co-operation makes its prevention easier by having an agent or agents watching the different markets and directing the supplies to the markets that will give the best returns. By adopting the central packing house, you are certain to get a uniform grade. I would sooner be a buyer than a commission merchant if I could' get grade and quality. It is then always a pleasure to handle the goods, and is easier to get good prices for them. The shippers of Texas and Florida have adopted this method with great success. When you get a package of their goods marked with a certain grade, you are certain that the goods will be up to that -grade, and we can buy by telegraph with all confidence. A man cannot get a car load of uniform peaches in Canada to-day ; we are often asked for them, but find that we cannot quote them, and* we have to sell the goods of individual shippers on the merits of that shipment alone. Sou king as a commission man, I would sooner handle the product of such an association' at a hss percentage than I would individual shipments at a higher percentage. President Bunting : Mr. Owen did not tell us anything about the method of opera- tion, or how they go about forming such associations. Q.: What is the usual size of packing houses, and the usual number of graders. Mr. Owen : It would depend entirely on the amount of fruit you expected to put through. We have a membership of 34 in our association and an acreage of over i,ooc acres of fruit. We have 155,000 peach trees, beside pears, plums; quinces and grapes^ Our packing house is 55 x 100 feet ; that is the main building. It is a two-story building. In the rear we have the basket house, about 30 x 40 feet, where we put our baskets, be- sides storing them on second floor of main muilding. We experimented considerably in the building of a packing house, and believe we have arrived at the proper way of constructing it so as to handle the fruit expeditiously. The buil'dng is located on the railroad track, and on the opposite side, where the fruit is delivered, along the length of the building is a raised platform, and the road is graded up to it so that top of wagon is on a level with floor. The platform is three feet higher than the floor of the building, and is about 25 feet wide. This is for the receiving of fruit When a grower drives up and delivers his fruit, he is given a receipt for the number of baskets delivered. His fruit is then ticketed and run through the graders separately. In a house of that kind we usually run about seven graders, the capacity of which is one hundred bushels per hour or a thousand bushels in ten hours. When we give the grower his receipt, we retain a duplicate with a stub attached with the dif- ferent grade? and the different sized packages we use. Whatever package his fruit is run into we give him credit for that, and he is given credit (for his fruit also according to grade. At the close of the day we pool our sales of the different grades for the day. In case we consign any of the fruit, we hold the average open until we get the returns- and then give the member his proper credit, so that each one has a credit for all he puts through. There is no pooling of the whole fruit. If a man grows better fruit than his neighbor, he gets credit for it. We have to consign very little fruit. We find that the commission man will come to us and buy, as he knows he can get what he wants from us. We can supply a car of any given grade of fruit. We have a demand for the cull grades, as well as for the better grades. They will come and buy of us and pay to the extent of twenty cents per bushel more than they will give the individual grower. The expense of operating is pro-rated at the close of the season among the growers in< accordance with what each one has contributed. In our case it ranges from seventeen to nineteen cents per bushel. That covers the whole expense, including packages, net- ting, telegraphing, telephoning (which sometimes amounts to $100 per month) and post- 1903 FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION. 63 age, which is quite an item, because we send out price lists every week to the trade, quoting prices for the coming week and stating what we shall have to offer. Then there are other incidental expenses, such as stationery, printing, the manager's salary, and wages for packing, grading and shipping. AH this is combined in that 17 to 19 cents per bushel. The larger the output the less the proportionate expense. In the matter of baskets, we can go to the basket manufacturer and buy our baskets by the carload, and, as we take a great quantity, we can get them much cheaper than the individual would get them. If we have any complaint to make to the railroad com- pany it is properly and promptly considered, and we have very little difficulty in getting claims through if there is any justice in them at all. Yon were speaking of the way of shipping here in Canada, and I was very much surprised at this resorting entirely to express shipments. We use express very little, — only 111 the early part of the season and for nearby markets ; but we have very moderate rales even then. If you people would come to the idea ui using refrigerator cars and get a good refrigerator service you would bring your express companies to terms quicker than in any other way, as you would have an alternate means of shipping and not be dependent upon them. In the matter of transportation in refrigerators, we load our own cars. They are iced previously by the railway company. We see that they are in proper condition when they leave the packing house. In that way we can ship to all the markets of the cc untry. Our greatest markets are the eastern markets — New York State, Pennsyl- vania and the eastern seaboard. We pay considerable attention to the smaller shipments to the retail grocery dealers throughout the States of Ohio and Pennsylvania, and also west into Indiana. We handle this trade very successfully, and growers will pay a bet- ter price for our goods, getting the fruit fresh, than they will to a commission man or jobber. In fact, we are doing the same business that the commission man is doing, but we are always on friendly terms with him, as we sell largely in carload lots to the jobber and commission man. Q. Do you have a cooling house ? Mr. Owen : No ; it is not practicable in handling peaches, to put them in cold stor- age, except putting them in the refrigerator cars and getting them to market as soon as we can. We aim at getting everything out the same day, but sometimes we have to work all night to accomplish it. Then we have a day and a night crew. In that way we clean up the floor ready for the next day. As a rule the farmer will pick his fruit and along towards evening will commence coming in, and when they are bringing in from three to five thousand bushels a day and the greater part of it in the latter part of the afternoon, we cannot get it disposed of till towards the following morning. Q, How many hands will it take to do that ? Mr. Owen : In handling three thousand bushels a day it will take about 30 hands in the different departments. Q. As to shipping by refrigerator in preference to express ; can you ship in small lots to the retail trade by refrigerator? Mr. Owen : Yes ; we can ship a ioo-bushel lot, which is our minimum, to move less than a car lot. In almost every small town there is a dealer who will take a ioo-bushel car. If it is a smaller amount, it usually goes by express. Q. What is the maximum distance of your growers from the packing house ? Mr. Owen : Some haul for a distance of seven and a half miles. Q. In what condition does the fruit reach you for re-packing ? Mr. Owen : In very good condition. I wfth to refer to our by-laws. In an organization of farmers you must have very binding- by-laws to hold them together. We stipulate in our by-laws that the fruit shall be picked in prime condition and delivered promptly. If it is green or over-ripe, or windfalls, or in any way objectionable, it goes into a pool by itself, and the grower will get the credit of it. Q. Does the manager decide as to this ? 64 THE REPORT OF THE No. 16 Mr. Owen : It is left to his discretion as a rule. The manager has entire charge of the whole system ; and, of course, he is backed up by the Board of Directors. They are at his call at any time. Speaking of the condition the fruit arrives in, we oblige the grower to pick his fruit in firm condition and of good color, and to bring it in spring wagons. They bring anywhere trom 10 bushels to 125 bushels to a load, and the fruit is usually delivered in bushel baskets. Q. Have you an Act of Incorporation ? Mr. Owen : Yes, under the laws of the State of Ohio. (J. Do the growers take any special means in packing to insure safe delivery ? Mr. Owen : No ; they do not do any packing. All they have to do is to pick the fruit and put it in bushel baskets and deliver it. We then run it through the graders and pack and ship it. Q. Can you tell us about what express rate you pay for 100 miles ? Mr. Owen : To a competing point where there are several railways or several ex- press companies we usually have a better rate than to an exclusive point. I can recall one place of probably a little more than 100 miles distance where we have a fifty-cent rate per hundred. They will take ten of our peck baskets, weighing twelve and a half pounds a piece for 100 pounds, which is very liberal, or they will take two bushels z>r four halves for 100 pounds. We allow our members to withdraw any time between Decemlber and 1st of April. During the rest of the season they are obliged to remain in the company. Any mem- ber who sells fruit outside is fined! fifty cents per bushel, so as to prevent members com- peting, with their company. Q Does the system cover dpples ? Mr. Owen : No, but I do not see why it should not operate in the apple industry, except that, as I understand it, you pack most of the .apples in your orchards, but under severe inspection, which you might establish, I see no reason why you should not handle the apph bus'ness in the same way and at less expense. A. E. Sherrington, Walkerton : I am very glad to have heard this paper, as I believ * it will entirely change the system of packing apples in this rountry. It will answer just as well for the packing of apples as for peaches, and perhaps better. The apples can be placed in a barrel in the orchard just tight enough to convey them suc- cessfully to the central packing house for repacking, and the brand placed upon them there. We are working co-operatively in our section ; we have between fifty and sixty members, and turn out between three and four thousand barrels of apples, but each membei packs and grades his own fruit. In that way we iget a diversified grade, and we have difference of opinion as to what grade the fruit should take, and also different qualities of apples in our orchards, which gives some difficulty. A central packing house would overcome that. I have been thinking along these lines myself, and am perfectly satisfied that we could so reorganize our Association that we should be able to run a central packing house. The people in our vicinity at the present time are just waiting to see how we close this season's business. If it is successful, as it will be, they will be ready to unite with us. The only fear I have is that it will grow beyond our management. There is a great advantage in co-operative work, especially in regard to handling apples. Large quantities of apples are grown in our district, but under the Old system, where the fruit was bought in the orchard by the buyers, it was picked and often left on the ground for weeks, where it deteriorated to a very great extent. This difficulty would be overcome. This year we found that through co-operation we had no apples going to waste upon our hands, but were able to place them all upon the maiket, and realize something for them, thus utilizing varieties that in other years had been allowed to go to waste. Wm. Rickard, M.P.P.: There are unquestionably great advantages to be gained from the co-operative packing of apples. But what strikes me is this, can we satisfy all the growers by having them bring their fruit to a central packing house to be packed and Graded ? If all had good orchards and lots of good fruit, it would not be so dif- j 903 FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION. 65 nctilt. As it is, one man's apples would be worth much more than another man's, and that might lead to dissatisfaction. Mr. Sherrington : There might be some difficulty in this* respect for the first year or two, but I don't think there would be after that. If we could put our apple-growing industry on a more paying basis, the men who now grow poor quality would become interested in their orchards and soon produce a better quality. There is no doubt that, at the present time, we have growers who are producing a better quality of fruit than their neighbors, but there will be a number of those in a district who are growing num- ber one apples. Their fruit will grade pretty nearly alike, and will be shipped alike as a certain grade. The men who are growing poorer fruit will have it graded as No. 2, and it will be sold together. Q. But they may not think as you do about it, and will not be satisfied ! Mr. Sherrington : But we shall have by-laws, and if they will not abide by them they must step down and out. W. A. MacKinnon : This brings us to consider a very important phase of the subject, and that is the limits of co-operation. Is there any reason why the movement should end with the shipment of the fruit ? Why should not an association of thisi kind instruct the grower in the cultivation, pruning and spraying of his trees, and so reduce to a minimum the poorer grades of fruit ? We have had during the past few years a great deal of correspondence in reference to the second grade of apples under the Fruit Marks Act. The second grade is not defined, and there is a demand for a definition. I think this Association should have a voice in deciding what a second grade apple is. If you are silent, others will probably get their way. I think this is a subject for a con mittee, and that one should be appointed to consider this definition. G. C. Caston : This will be a very difficult matter to settle. It will be a com- paratively easy matter to settle a No. 2 grade in some classes of apples, but it is very difficult in such varieties as the Fameuse, Northern Spy, Baldwin, etc., which vary very much in different sections of the country. But I agree that it ought to be done, as peo- ple all over the country are asking what a No. 2 apple is. At the request of the meeting, the President named the following a? a committee to consider the definition of a No. 2 grade, and to make a recommendation upon the sub- ject : Messrs. E. D. Smith, Elmer Lick, A. McNeill, W. EL Dempsey, A. E. Sherrington. REPORT OF THE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE. • By G. C. Caston, Craighurst. The transportation question is one of the most important that we as fruit growers he've to consider. The industry is constantly growing. This Association has done most valuable work in the past, and its energies could not be directed to any question in the future that would benefit the fruit growers more than a satisfactory solution of the trans- portation problem. As you are aware, a committee was appointed last year to take up this matter and to wait upon the transportation companies, and upon the Dominion Government, along with delegates from other Associations, with a view of securing the appointment of a commission to investigate this whole question. Your committee did its share, I think, in bringing influence to bear upon the Government and in pre- senting the grievances of their fruit growers in such a way as resulted in our receiving a promise that such a commission would be appointed. When that commission is ap- pointed the next step will be for us to make as strong a presentation of our case as possible. It is of no use going betore the commission unless we have a strong case. You will have noticed that within the past few weeks the Manufacturers' Association has appointed a railway expert to represent them before the Traffic Association. It has occurred to me that perhaps we might secure a share of this man's assistance. I think we might also obtain the co-operation of the local fruit growers' associations, some of which are doing good work in this direction. 5 F. G. THE KEPORT OF THE No. 16 At a meeting of fruit growers representing the Ontario Fruit Growers* Association, and the Niagara District United Fruit Growers' Association, held at St. Catharines on the sixth day of June, the following resolution was presented and unanimously endorsed by all present. Moved by S. M. Culp, Beamsville, and seconded by James Titterington, St. Cath- arines, and resolved : "That it is the opinion of this joint meeting of representative Fruit Growers of the Ontario Fruit Growers' Association and the Niagara District United Fruit Growers' Association, that, in view of the probable heavy output of fruits during the coming season, the time is opportune for a considerable reduction in the rates of carriage that are now charged by the express companies of this country; itlhat, in fact, if a reduction be not made, the shippers of this district will be forced to make more ex- tensive arrangements, whereby the large proportion of their shipments will be sent for- ward by the freight department under refrigeration, a system which in the past few years has proved very satisfactory. It is considered by this committee that a reduction of at least 25 per cent, on present rates should be made to equalize the express rates with those prevailing by freight. This would mean a rate of 10c per eleven-quart basket on shipments to Ottawa and Montreal ,as against a rate of 5y2c by freight. "It is submitted that a charge of 13y2 cents per basket on fruit selling around 25 cents and upwards per basket in Montreal is out of all proportion, and if not reduced will re- sult in a large amount of traffic being diverted to other channels, or in the fruit being left to rot in the orchards of the country. "It is also suggested that in case the express companies comply with the request of the meeting that there is no doubt that conditions will be such as to necessitate preparations being made for a largely increased business during the season of 1903." The question of a proper refrigerator car service is closely connected with that of transportation. Most of you know how the California fruit is handled. The growers there caii get whole trains made up which travel at express time through' the country and land shipments in distant countries in good condition. The following is a letter I have received from G. B. Robbins, with reference to the refrigerator car service in California : "Chicago, May 2, 1903. G. C. CreelmaH, Secretary, Toronto, Ont. : Dear Sir, — As you may be aware, we are large owners of combination ventilator-re- frigerator cars, and handle a large portion of the shipments of fresh fruits, berries, etc., of this country shipped under refrigeration. Our plan of operation is to furnish suitable cars and attend to the initial icing and reicing of same en route, for which refrigeration service we charge a reasonable profit, in addition to the cost of the ice. We also furnish to some extent cars for shipments of apples and other fruits, etc., under ventilation, but not requiring refrigeration, or, in cold weather, for shipments re- quiring protection from frost, our cars being built to withstand an outside temperature of zero or a little below. Such shipments under ventilation or for frost protection, how- ever, we only furnish equipment for in case the rums are of sufficient length or the ser- vice active enough that the cars will make good earnings for mileage, or upon pay- ment of some bonus by shippers for the use of the cars. We handle practically all of the summer green fruit from California and most of their oranges, as well as all the Florida berry, vegetable, orange and pineapple shipments, and practically all of the strawberry business from the Atlantic Coast .bine, Delaware, Tennessee, Missouri, Arkansas, etc. We understand you are most familiar with the business of this character originating in Ontario, and if there is a demand for a service such as above outlined, we will thank you very much to give us some particulars in regard thereto, including volume and nature of shipments under refrigeration, territory in which they originate and move to, and time of movement, and same information with respect to ventilated shipments or those requiring frost-proof equipment. Yours truly, Fruit Growers' Express, By G. B. Robbins. Chicago, May 28, 1903. Mr. W. H. Bunting, President Ontario Fruit Growers' Association, St. Catharines, Ont. : Dear Sir, — Yours of May 25th. Without more definite information, we do not see how we can go into the subject more definitely than explained in our letter of May 2nd, except, perhaps, to say that our charge for any highly perishable shipments under re- 1903 FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION frigeration would, be from $15 to $20 per car, in addition to the cost of the ice, and our cars take more ice than most railroad refrigerators. It is therefore plain that our serv- ice would be desirable only in case the service in the railroad cars has proven inade- quate or unsatisfactory, as in the case of shipments from most warm districts in this coun- try. Possibly we may not make much headway in the matter until we are able to send a representative to personally canvass the situation, which we may not be able to do until next winter, as our men are very busily employed in other shipping sections until that time. Yours truly, Fruit Growers Express, By G. B. R. President Bunting : It has struck me very frequently in connection with this question that we as growers speak in a general way of the difficulties under which we labor> but when it conies to getting down to actual facts and endeavoring to bring something tangible, something that will carry weight, before the people with whom we have to deal, I have found great difficulty in securing assistance and co-operation from my brother fruit-growers. We either have a grievance in connection with this matter or we hav-: not. If we are suffering under a disability, it seems to me that it is the bounden duty, not only of those officially appointed, but of every member of our Association, to do all he possibly can to strengthen the hands of those who are endeavoring to secure relief During the past two or three years I have had an opportunity of representing you before some of the railway corporations. I may say that we have always been received courteously, the representations we have made have been attentively listen- ed to, and we have secured some concessions. We have been able to make out a fairly strong case, but, owing to the fact that the fruit industry has always been looked upon by the transportation companies as one that deals in what they consider to be a luxury more than a necessity of every-day life, and, therefore, one upon which they have been accustomed to levy some of their most profitable rates, it is a difficult matter to dis- abuse the minds of these officials of that fact, and to bring them to look upon the com- modity in which we deal as one of the ordinary necessaries of life. They do not realize that during the last few years we, have been obliged to sell our fruit on a par with other agricultural products. Until we can make the transportation companies realize this, we shall not get the service and the rates which we feel we are entitled to. The Chan man of the Traffic Association, Mr. J. Earls, gave me to understand that the fruit business was an express business solely ; that it was something that required extreme care in handling and special accommodation, and in consequence necessitated a very much higher rate than almost any other commodity. This is not correct. It is true that we require our goods to be carefully handled, and we certainly require that they should be promptly handled ; but the railway men overlook the fact when they handle our goods promptly, they get the use of their rolling stock again so much the sooner. I may say that your committee felt that, in view of the negotiations that were under way for the appointment of the Railway Commission, perhaps very little could be done during the past year, so far as the transportation companies were concerned, but the time has now come when the case we ought to present should be got together and made as strong and forcible as possible. I trust that every member will add his quota to the information. In reference to the resolution which the Chairman of the committee read as to the effort made last year in connection with the express companies, I might say that the companies took no action whatever. I understand, however, that in some sections ar- rangements made by co-operation have succeeded to a large extent in doing away with some of the difficulties which wer«* met with in freight transportation. Through co- operation we have succeeded in St. Catharines, and at some other places, in securing better rates by assembling our fruit in carload lots. But the express rates are altogether out of proportion, and in that matter we must have relief. In connection with freight shipments, the volume is getting so large that I have no doubt representations can be made that will secure relief in that respect. 68 THE REPORT OF THE No. 16 L. U. Rice, Port Huron, Michigan : I should like to ask the committee if they, in locking ior transportation to the Northwest, have taken into consideration the line oi steamers that leave Sarnia every third; day, as a means of carrying their fruit in that direction. Our boats that bring down freight go back practically empty, and are only too glad to get ireight at almost ballast prices. I think that apples have been carried back as low as five cents a barrel from Port Huron to Duluth. These vessels go to the Canadian " Soo," Port Arthur and Fort William and then to Duluth. It seems to me that this would be a means iby which you could ship cheaply to the Canadian North-west, which ought not to be overlooked. G. C. Caston : Our Canadian boats mostly go back loaded up to Port Arthur. The difference in rates amounts to eighteen cents in favor of the lake and rail route, but then there is the double handling. Mr. Rice : They may say that they go back full, but I am inclined to doubt it. 1 would not think of suggesting it for^growers who have a long haul to the lake port, but ior the western part of Ontario I think it would be a good idea. Mr. McNeill : I think that the people of Essex County have here an opportunity of developing the fruit industry that they are not taking advantage of. This great North- west trade is practically ours. Speaking as an Essex man, I hope the fruit growers of the locality will appreciate that. Early apples have been a drug in the market in this country for a long time, but the time is coming when they will be a most profitable fruit, and in that case there will be no better shipping point than Windsor. In reference to the transportation question, we apparently have not done much, but it is only by pounding at it continuously that we can hope to succeed, and we must not relax our efforts simply because we haye no tangible results to show. Our grievances are perfectly definite, and I mention them so that it may not be said that we have not posi- tive grievances. We want, first and foremost, a change in the classification of several fruits. We want apples removed from class five and placed in class eight. ( Nothing could be more definite than that, and we can produce the best of reasons to show that we ought to have this reduction in classification. Second : We want different arrangements in regard to mixed cars. We want the privilege of consigning different fruits in the one car, if need be, and we have the best of reasons for wanting it. Third : We want better local rates. There is a good deal of moving of fruit for short distances, and the rates are extortionate. I have found instances of this every- where. For the ten miles, for example, from Creemore to Collingwood the rate on cull apples is fifteen cents per hundred. We want a lower rate on cull apples. We want a rate corresponding to the rate on sugar beets. I got a rate of forty cents a ton for almost any distance on my b^ets. I sent them to Rochester, Michigan. Why should not our cull apples get a corresponding rate ? They are no more trouble than beet s It would enable us to save some few of the hundreds of thousands of barrels that now gro to waste. Next, we want lower express rates to correspond with the rates they get on the othe- side of the line. There is no reason why they should be so high. I would simply mak^ a plain demand that these rates should be cut in two without beating about the bush. Next we want a better refrigerator car service. The scheme spoken of by Mr. Caston should be introduced here, and it would have been introduced if it had not been for the greed of the railway. The company operating in the States has thousands of cars and places them wherever they are wanted. There is, a central office that keeps a view cf the trade of the whole country. Where there are thousands of cars wanted in any given district they send their cars to that district. In this way they transport the fruit product of the district. They commence operations in the south, and as soon as that crop is moved, they move their cars farther north, and then farther north again. Then the return process begins, and they take the fruit crop from the north and move it 1903 FKUIT GKOWERS' ASSOCIATION. 69 south again. By doing this on a large scale they are able to give accommodation to the fruit men that no system oif railroads, operating independently of each other, could hope to give. We want the same system in operation here. They want the railway compan- ies to let in these cars, cars that are doing nothing at this particular time, and the com- pany owning them would be only too glad to give us the service. Next, we want better accommodation at our stations. That alone would very soon pay for the erection of freight sheds. 1 enquired of Mr. Sherrington whether they had such accommodation as their Association deserves. I went up there lately and found that they were obliged to load their cars right at the open platform. When dinner v/as called I had several barrels of apples open which I was inspecting. I asked the station master for accommodation for these barrels while I went to dinner, and hi could not or would not give it, and refused to be responsible for them. This is the case all over the country. I was at a station last year where there were three carloads of ai pies standing in the yards exposed to all the inclemency of the weather. These apples went to the old country, and no doubt the greater number of them were slack. That is the principal cause of so many slack apples in the old country. The fruit growers are blamed for it on the other side, and it injures trade. We also want some proper means of tracing cars. On most well equipped roads on the other side, if you despatch a carload of stuff, the officials can tell you just where that car is at any stated time, and you can inform yourself of the progress of the car from day to day ; but here we 'have not the slightest idea where a car is until it turns up at its destination. W. L. Smith, " Weekly Sun," Toronto : There is a National Farmers' Congress in the United States in which all farm organizations can be united for the purpose of se- curing united effort for the attainment of common ends. We have here, in the Farmers' Association, the nucleus of a like organization. Here is the germ of an idea which may b<> developed into a comprehensive scheme otf union. Why should not the Dairy- men's Associations, the Live Stock Associations, the Fruit Growers' Associations, and all other like organizations have accredited delegates to the Farmers' Association ? Such a union would be all powerful in regulating freight rates, in urging the carrying out of Dr. Mills' idea for the creation of a national express service, and in making the influence of farmers felt all along other lines in which there is union of interest. H. W. Dawson : I do not know that I can say any more than 1 have previously said upon this question. There is no commodity handled by the railroads that pays a higher rate than fruit, and none that gets less accommodation for the money paid, and there is no commodity for which the railways are having so much increased carrying. Mr. Smith strikes it tight when he says co-operation is needed. In the past you have presented your case, but have not followed it up. Take the Millers' Association ; when they want a cut in rates, they do not stop at the one interview, but follow it up uhtil they get it That is what the fruit men should do. E. D. Smith, M.P.: There is no doubt that the fruit growers have a great griev- ance. We find that other interests in the community can get redress, why should not the fruit growers ? Hitherto I have felt that we were to some extent helpless, and that it was more or less a waste of time to approach the railways in the matter, but now we are to have a Railway Commission, and, as Mr. Smith has suggested, if the different organizations could combine and send representatives to wait upon that commission, we shall be atle to present our grievances in such a way as to command attention. Now, as to the personnel of this commission. The commission is to consist of three men. If two of these men should be representatives of the railways, we shall not be in any better position than before. This is one of the great dangers, and I think that the first efi'ort of farmers and fruit growers should be to urge upon the Government the necessity of placing at least two men on the commission who represent the producers of the country. I think there will be at least one representative farmer. The farming interests of this country are the paramount interests. The railways make their pro- fits largely .bv carrying the products of the farms. Therefore, the farming interest-. THE REPORT OY THE No. \Q :\d important as it is, should be represented on that board by at least one man. This matter is not settled yet. and I think we should devote aur attention to it first of ail. Then let us send a strong delegation from the different farmers' organiza- t'ons to press our claims. There is no doubt that fruit is discriminated against. Some of the local charges are simply outrageous. I shipped ten barrels of apples the other day ironi Port Perry to Almonte, not over ioo miles, and it cost me seventy-five cents per barre'. It would only cost nineteen cents a barrel more to carry those apples to Liverpool. Mr. McNeill : I shipped two barrels this morning to Walkerville, thirty miles away, and paid just twice the. rate that 1 could ship to Montreal for. Mr. Smith : One of the greatest grievances we have is the inexcusably long time they take to deliver goods. I have known a car take thirty days to reach Winona from Owen Found with a load of baskets, and two weeks from my 'place to Nova Scotia. There is no real excuse for this. In England a freight train will start from any point at six o'clock at night and deliver its freight at Manchester before daylight next morn- ing. I have an agent in Manchester who tells me that for twelve months in succession that train had arrived within thirty minutes of the same time every morning. Their rates are little, if any, higher than ours, and they carry their goods by freight almost as fast as they are carried here by express. If I wish to ship goods from my place to Petrolia on the Michigan Central, where there is no express service, I ship in the afternoon, anft they are there on the following morning. This is the greatest grievance I have against the companies — the length of time they take in transportation. F. J. Barber, Georgetown : While we may not be able to afford to engage a fruit expert to assist us in our dealings with the railways, I think that if all the associa- tions wjre to unite on the plan outlined by Mr. Smith, the combined expense of employ- ing a i expert would not be great, and our interests would be properly looked after. Mr. Caston : Mr. Smith's remarks suggest another question, and that is the per- sonnel of the commission. Do you think that we as an Association should take action in that connection ? If so, it is not too late, but it is not any too early. A great deal will depend on that. Should we appoint a committee of men who are sufficiently well versed on the subject to make a strong enough case before the commission, and, if not, should we do as suggested and co-operate with other societies and have an expert re- pres. native ? The President : As to the composition of the commission, when it was first talked of, it was generally supposed that it would consist of five members, and efforts were made looking towards the representation of the fruit men on the commission. It was de- cided, howrever, to confine the commission to three, and under those circumstances, a representative of the fruit industry was no longer possible. The idea of co-operation brought out by Mr. W. L. Smith appears to me to be correct with the view of securing one, if not two, commissioners who shall be in touch with the farming interests of the counrry. A Member : There is very little use in telling our grievances ; we want to form- ul ite them and then see that the matter is properly presented to the commission by the best talent we can employ. Robert Thompson : I think we should be careful not to make any statements that can hardly be considered fair, as they only weaken our case. In referring to the cost of transportation to local points in comparison with Montreal, in one case the rate is for :ar lots and m the other for small lots. Mr McNeill : I think I am partly to blame for this, and I have to apologize. I only wished to show how absurdly high the local rate was. On the motion of A. McNeill, seconded by L. Wooiverton, the following were ap- pointed a Committee on Transportation : Messrs. W. H. Bunting, St. Catharines ; R. J. Graham, Belleville ; H. W. Dawson, Toront<~ ; D. D. Wilson, Seaforth ; W. L. Smith, Toronto ; D. J. MacKinnon, Toronto ; J. M. Shuttle worth, Brantford. 1903 FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION. 71 It was moved by F. J. Barber, seconded by R. L. Huggard, that Messrs. A .McNeill, W. H. Bunting and Murray Pettit be a committee to co-operate with delegates from other Agricultural Associations in the redressing of grievances common to th» agricultural interests of the country. Carried. REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON RESOLUTIONS. Mr. McNeill presented the following resolutions on behalf of the Committee on Re- fiolutiois : Growers' Co-operative Organizations. That in the opinion of this Association, the future development and continued prosperity oi the fruit growers of Ontario depends on the formation, in every fruit district, where such does not now exist, of a Growers' Co-operative Organization for the purpose c-t handling fruit and buying supplies in a co-operative way, and for the fnrther purpose of bringing the united influence of all to bear with a view of securing bettsr transportation facilities in the interests of all. 'That for the purpose of developing such organizations', a committee be formed charged with the duty, acting in unison with the local directors, of promoting the work of the organization during the coming winter, and that the President be charged with the special duty of attending meetings called by the local organizations for the purpose of assisting and completing the work of organizing. " That, the Organizing Committee shall consist of G. W. Cady, Leamington, for th* western district ; Robert Thompson, St. Catharines, for the Niagara district ; A. W. Peart, for the Burlington district ; A. E. Sherrington, for the northern district, and Wm. Rickard, M.P.P., for the eastern district. " And further, that the Executive be instructed to provide funds to meet the neces- sary expenses of those named while carrying on the work assigned to them." On the motion of Mr. McNeill, seconded by Mr. M. Pettit, the same was adopted by the Aisociation. Encouragement to Canning Industries. " That whereas, during the season just passed, thousands upon thousands of basket* of tender fruit rotted upon the ground, while in Great Britain, and even in our own country, an ample outlet, at profitable prices, could have been obtained for the same had sufficient means existed for the bringing together more closely producers and consumers. " That whereas^ to provide for this bringing together, it is necessary that the bulk of these tender fruits be reduced to preserved form as near the point of produc- tion as possible. " That, whereas, one of the main difficulties in the way of securing complete de- velopment of this canning and preserving industry lies in the cost of raw materials, other than fruit, the chief of these other raw materials being sugar and packages for holding the preserved article. " Therefore, be it resolved, that this Association respectfully but most strongly urges the Dominion Government to extend to the canning industry of this country the same system of aid already extended to other industries, by enabling them to buy their raw materials at the lowest possible cost, and that to this end the duty on sugar used in .canning, and on packages used for holding canned fruit be remitted. "And further, that the Dominion Government be petitioned to secure the en- actments of legislation compelling the labelling of all canned preserves in such a way as to show what the canned goods actually consist of, as demonstrated by official analysis ; and further, that such goods be distinctly labelled, "Made in Canada.'" THE REPORT OF THE No. 1 6 On motion of Mr. McNeill, seconded by Mr. Woolverton, the foregoing resohi' tion \va< adopted by the Association. Mr. Woolverton : Since Mr, Moore is here representing the Department at Ottawa, I think it would not be out of place for me to introduce the matter of ocean transportation in cold storage, so as to give him an opportunity of speaking. I have been making a good many shipments of Bartlett pears to the Old Country, and not altogether with success. We all want to know exactly where the difficulty is, whether with the refrigerator car service or with the refrigerator service on the ocean. I may say that in some instances the cars furnished us at Grimsby have been very excellent, and would, I am sure, transport the fruit safely; in other instances the cars have been very bad, and entirely unfit for such a service. In a recent issue of the Horticulturist I referred to a shipment of pears made on the S.S. Lakonia. On September 18 the consignee in Glasgow wrote me as follows : Glasgow, 18th Sept., 1903. L. Wociverton, Esq., Grimsby, Ontario: Dear Sir : I beg to sendi you herewith account sales for your consignments of pears ex S.S. " Lakonia," also statement of account and draft for £191 10s 8d sterling in payment of same, which please acknowledge. As I cabled you to-day, a percentage of these pears landed here in very bad condition, and this I understand was due en- tirely to the temperature having been kept too high while they were on board the stesmcr. It appears that the refrigerator chambers were packed full of fruit, and therefore, the cases in the centre of the chamber were blocked out from the air, and it was impossible for the engineer to keep the temperature down sufficiently. The pears were carried at a temperature of 44 degrees to 46 degrees, and I have asked Mr. Erown, the Government Inspector here, whom you saw while you were in Glasgow, to writ*: you on the subject, as he is making a full report thereon to the Government. Some of the cases of pears were in perfect order, and sold remarkably well, but others again were in ripe and over-ripe condition, and it was utterly impossible for us to check them all here, and after the cases were sold we had numerous complaints from cus- tomers as to their having got ripe pears instead of green, and we had, therefore, to make allowances to the buyers. You will see the different prices which we had to put the pears in to the purchasers, whereas had the fruit been all in green condition, an.l take your own consignment as an instance, the A No. 1 would have realized) 8s, and the No. 1 6s 6d, but, as explained above, those ripe and over-ripe had to be allowed ior. I can assure you we did our very best in your interest under the cir- cumstances, and feel confident that should your next consignment land here in green condition, we shall be able to do well for you. It is a great pity indeed that these pears were not carried at a lower temperature, say from 36 degrees to 38 degrees,, as then they would have been in good condition, and the result overhead would cer- tainly have been more satisfactory to all parties. I thought it better when cabling you to-day to let you have the information that the fruit was carried at a high tem- perature, so that you could fix the matter up with the steamship company, and arrange that future lots be carried at a right temperature. The fifteen boxes of peaches which you shipped were just a mass of decayed fruit, and could not be offered for sale at all. I have also to state that the pears would have looked better if they had been wrapped in paper, and I have no doubt your further shipments, if attended to in this- respect, and landed in good order, will turn out satisfactorily. I note from your favor of the 5th that you are shipping by steamer " Sicilian " two carloads, and you can de- pend on it we shall give these every care and attention, and do aH in our power to realize best prices therefor. I am also glad to learn from your favor of 3rd that you> have secured Mr. Vandyke as a shipper and that this gentleman has nearly 3,000* bairels which he will forward, and we trust that this is only one of the number of shippers which you will be able to secure. We are advised of a consignment from Messrs. A. H, Pettit & Sons, which they say is coming forward by steamer "Alcides/r 1903 FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION. 73 but we have no advice from you m regard thereto, and it is possible these apples wili be in the '"Sicilian" along with your other consignments. We had a letter from our Mr. Russell, wherein he mentions that there is a large quantity of third-class apples in your district, suitable, perhaps, tor preserving purposes here, and we have been making inquiries at all the preserve makers, and regret that they cannot do with these apples, as they have already contracted for nearly their full requirements for the sea- son. I cannot recommend you to ship this third-class grade of fruit, as there would be practically no demand for it, here, and if left to the mercies of the preserve makers on this market, they would be inclined to give very little for it, and I am certain it would not pay freight and expenses. I have only to add that there was a strong demand here for the pears ex " Lakonia,"and it is disappointing to a great extent that there was such a percentage of ripe and over-ripe fruit, and this may tend to have an adveise effect on next lots; but we shall, of course, examine and show the fruit to the purchasers in such a manner as to retain their confidence and secure their support throughout. I may add that i understand there were some California plums packed in the same chamber as these pears also landed here in bad condition, and the Donaldson Line people should not have put such a great quantity of fruit into one chan ber, and should have left air passages so that the temperature could have been kept at a right degree. Without more, meantime, and waiting your further valued favors, Yours faithfully, Thomas Russeli*. Aleut the middle of September I shipped a second consignment by the Allan Line steamship Sicilian. It arrived in such a state that very few of the pears could be. sold in Glasgow to bring any money back to me. The following is a copy of a comparison between the chief engineer's log and the thermograph record sent me by the consignee in Glasgow : Date. Chief Engineer's log. Sept. 16th 48 Sept. 17th Sept. IStli Sept. 19th Sept. 20th Sept. 21st Sept. 22nd Thermo- graph. 60 46 50 42 44 41 41 40 39 40 * 38 39 37 Date. Chief Thermo* Engineer's log. graph* Sept. 23rd 34 37 Sept. 24th 35 37 Sept. 25th 33 37 Sept. 26th 35 36 Sept. 27th 36 36 Sept. 28th 35 36 From this it appears that on the day the fruit was loaded the temperature in the chamber was 6o degrees F., and that it was four days before it got down to 41 degrees. I submit that the condition of affairs revealed by this statement makes the shipment- of 011- tender fruits entirely out of the questipn. In isolated instances, where the tem- perature has been kept at about 33 degrees, peaches and pears have been successfully shipped. A gentleman from this centre did succeed in getting a shipment over, and received a return of $3 per bushel. 1 had a similar result myself from one lot that crrried in good condition. They were sold at $3.75. This shows the possibilities of the trade and what an important matter it is to us fruit growers that we should have conditions, both on the railways, and on the steamship, to enable us to put our fruit wher° it will bring the most money. K there is any way by which the Department of Agriculture at Ottawa can help us, and make it possible for us to secure a certain temperature on the steamships, it would mean a great deal to us, and I shall be glad to learn what the possibilities are in this direction in the near future. It matters a great deal to us, because it must to a certain extent govern us in our planting, and it is a long time before we can adapt our orchards to export trade. We want to know, therefore, whether it is ever going to be possible for us to carry our tender fruits to the markets where they will bring us the most money. 74 THE REPORT OF THE No. 16 OCEAN TRANSPORTATION. By W. W. Moore, Government Inspector at Montreal. In tb«! case of the " Lakonia " shipment of the 3rd September last, there is no doubt that the fruit in her refrigerators was carried at a higher temperature than is desnable, the lowest temperature recorded by the thermographs during the voyage being 41 degrees. When her refrigerators were opened at Glasgow it was noted by our Irsptctor that the cases were very closely stowed, thus making it difficult for the cold air to penetrate to the centre of the chambers. He drew the attention of one of the members of the Donaldson S.S. Company to the close stowage, and urged upon him the importance of having dunnage between the tiers of packages in order to facili- tate the circulation of air within "the chambers. Upon receipt, by the Department, of our Glasgow Inspector's report, we at once took up with the Montreal agents the question of proper stowage of fruit in cold storage chambers, and as a result of the representation made by the Department, on both sides of the Atlantic, the "Lakonia" on her next voyage had the two after chambers specially fitted for the carriage of fruit. Battens were laid crosswise on the floors of the chambers, and strips 3-4 of an inch thick were placed between each tier of cases. Six ventilating trunks were also put up in different parts of each chamber. Thus fitted, she sailed from Montreal on October 15th with about 1,000 cases pears and about 3,000 cases boxed apples, all in cold storage. This fruit was landed in Glasgow in splendid condition ; but I want to emphasize the fact that it first went aboard the steamer at Montreal in excellent condition for shipment. The S.S. "Sicilian" Shipment. Ou the voyage in question this steamer left Montreal on Sept. 17th, with 2,000 rases California plums, 1,000 cases California pears, and 1,144 cases Canadian pears, all stowed on the port side refrigerator. The Canadian pears were from the following shipi ers : E. D. Smith, through Hart & Tuckwell, 402 cases ; L. Woolverton, 742 cates. Mr. Woolverton's shipment arrived at Montreal in refrigerator car on Sept. 9th (.eignt days before the steamer was advertised to sail), and was delivered on the iotn to the Union Cold Storage Co. Mr. Carey, Dominion Fruit Inspector, examined Mr. Smith's pears on the 15th, and reported re condition as follows : " I did not count fruit, but in my opinion about 50 per cent, were ripe or showing yellow color." Mr. Smith's shipment was also reported by Mr. Morrison, Cargo Inspector lor the Department of Agriculture, Mcntreal, and by Mr. Woodard, Official Referee, Butter and Cheese, Montreal. The former reported " about 50 per cent, ripe,*" while Mr. Woodard wrote : " There is no qutsiion but what Mr. Smith's* fruit was over-ripe before leaving this side, and should never have been sent.' Regarding Mr. Woolverton's shipment, Mr. Morrison reported that on the 15th the piars were in "fair condition, some over-ripe,' while Mr. Woodard' s report reads : " One lot marked ' L.W./ about 25 per cent, ripe ; another lot marked ' L. Wo civet ton/ about 45 pet cent ripe." The loading of the pears and plums into the port chamber was commenced about a p.m. on Sept. 15th, and was continued until the chamber was filled. The Depart- ment's thermograph was placed' in the chamber as soon as the fruit began to go in, and the chart shows a temperature of 47 degrees at 12 o'clock that night. Beginning with Wednesday, the 16th Sept., the highest and lowest temperatures in each 24 hoars during the voyage, as recorded on the chart, were as follows : 1903 FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION. 75 Highest. Lowest Wednesday, Sept. 16 46 deg. 39 deg. Thursday, Sept. 17 (sailed) 41 deg. 40 deg. Friday, Sept. 18 39 deg. 38 deg. Saturday, Sept. 19 39 deg. 38 deg. Sunday, Sept. 20 37 deg. 37 deg. Monday, Sept. 21 38 deg. 35 deg. Tuesday, Sept. 22 36 deg. 34 deg. Wednesday, Sept. 23 35 deg. 33 deg-. Thursday, Sept. 24 34 deg. 31 deg. Friday, Sept. 25 33 deg. 30 deg. Saturday, Sept. 20 '. 33 deg. 31 deg. Sunday, Sept. 27 .34 deg. 31 deg. Monday, Sept. 28 — vessel arrived at Glasgow. Considering the ripe condition of a large portion of the Canadian shipment, as est: blished by the reports of our Inspectors, and the consequent difficulty in cooling the iruit quickly, it must be said in all fairness to> the steamship company that the above record is a very creditable one indeed. When the cold storage fruit was discharged at Glasgow, it was examined by our Inspector, Mr. Brown, who reported as follows : " Nearly all the Bartlett pears were practically useless. They were carried along with 2,000 cases plums and 1,000 cases Californian pears. The plums were in splendid condition, and the Californian pears were also good, with the exception of some B. Hardy's, which were sleeping/ It should be noted that the Californian fruit turned out in good condition, although the Canadian fruit, carried in the same chamber and at the same temperature, turned out 111 a worthless condition. , In his details of each particular lot, Mr. Brown writes : " E. D. Smith — 'These were all Bartlett pears, all of which were nearly useless." " L. Woolverton — 742 cases pears and 147 cases apples, all in cold storage. The pears, principally Bartletts, were in a very wasty condition, the fruit evidently having been too ripe when shipped. Several small lots of Flemish Beauty arrived in good condition, fruit being firm and green. The apples in the cases were very good" Now, these reports from which I have quoted were made by men both competent and disinterested, and their evidence touching on the condition of the fruit, together with the thermographic record for the voyage, establishes conclusively, to my mind at all events, that the bad condition of the Canadian pears ex the " Sicilian " was not due either to faulty cold storage facilities on the steamer or to laclc of attention on the part of the ship's engineer. While I hold no brief from the steamship people, and am not here to defend, or apologize for, any of their sins, whether of omission or commission, yet facts are facts, and the only way in which those occasional failures in the shipping of tender fruits can be avoided is by first determining just where the fault really lies, in order that the proper remedy may be applied. Some people would have us believe that our ocean cold storage system is very defective. No doubt it can and will be improved, because every year great strides are being made in the science of mechanical refrigeration, but if the cold storage facilities on the St. Lawrence route are inadequate, how is it that American shippers send so much of their early fruit via Montreal, seeing that they have a choice of routes ? This year, up to Nov. 20th, the number of packages of tender fruit shipped from Montreal in cold storage was at follows : Car adian pears 9,337 cases, 27 half barrels. United States pears, plums and peaches 9,950 cases. Total . ... 19,287 cases, 27 half barrels. ] 76 THE REPORT OF THE No. 16 Mr. WooJverton : Can you explain why there is suoh a difference in our records, J have here the chief engineer's log and the thermograph record ? (Mr. Moore : Where did you get the thermograph record ? Mr. \\ oolverton : From the consignee. Mr. Mo^re : I have the official record taken from the machine. There is nearly always a difference between that and the chief engineer's thermograph, because it is in .• different part of the chamber, namely, about the centre of the ceiling, where it would be warmer. The readings I am giving are from the official chart. Q.: Were there not several thermographs on the ship ? Mr. Moore : One in each compartment. Q.: Is it not possible that Mr. Woolverton's record was taken from another ther- mogiaph? Mr. Moore : That may be. Mr. McNeill : Was this thernrograph unlocked in Great Britain ? Mr. Moore : No, it was not. Mr. McNeill : It would be impossible for the consignee to get the record then. Mr. Moore : Our agent over there has the keys, and he sometimes opens the box and looks at the charts, but never takes them off. M.\ Woolverton : Then, doubtless, it was obtained in this way. Mr. Wilson, London : I think I saw it stated in the Horticulturist that in these pear shipments the wrapping of the fruit was omitted. All delicate fruit should rrst be wrapped in thin wax paper, and then wrapped again in ordinary tissue or thin Manilla paper. The air between the papers will act as a non-conductor, pre- venting condensation taking place, or injurious gases or germs reaching the fruit. E. D. Smith, M.P.: In reference to these shipments of pears, it is only fair to- fij that my pears, as well as some of Mr. Woolverton's, were detained in Montreal. I think I know how to pack pears hard enough for the old country. I have shipped some cars with the greatest success. The shipment I refer to left in the best condition po?>:ble. but they arrived in Montreal, owing to the delay of the railway company, fc little too late for the boat. I had sold them to a man in Montreal, but he refused them on that account, as he did not want to take the risk of holding them over for another boat. I therefore ordered them to be sent at once to cold storage, where they were for three or four days. They were shipped from Montreal seven or eight days after they left my place. On hearing Mr. Moore's report, one would certainly think that the fault lay somewhere else than on the steamer for their not arriving in good condi- tion, especially as the inspector states that the pears when placed on the steamer were tfver-ripe. But I also have the report of my agent in Montreal, who examined the fruit when it was first taken from cold storage. I authorized him to examine the fruit, and do whatever he thought best with the shipment — to ship to the old country if they were in good condition, otherwise to sell the consignment in Montreal. If they had been sold in Montreal, the agent would have made a commission, but, not- withstanding this, he concluded to ship to the Old Country, consigning them to Thos. Rursell, a responsible firm, who sent their returns to me. My Montreal* agent reported that the fruit was hard and green, and in excellent condition, and I can see no object in his telling me this if it were not the case. It is possible that he examined different packages to those examined by the inspector. At any rate, the result of the shipment was a debit charge of twelve pounds. » If I had not got the thermograph record from the steamship people as well as fronr the Department, I might still think that my agents in Montreal were mistaken as to the condition of the fruit, but here I have not only the engineer's record, but the thermo- graph record kept by the steamship people. This was sent me in reply to a complaint and demand for damages. Now, the Department's thermograph record gives the temperature on the second day at about 40 degrees, but the engineer's log shows 48" degrees, and the company's record shows 60 degrees. On the next day the Government record ^hows from 40 degrees to 38 degrees ; the engineer's log gives 46 degrees, and J903 FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION. 77 iiu company's record 50 degrees. And so on, every day there is a discrepancy, there bein^ 1 difference of ten or fifteen degrees on some days, but gradually getting nearer until the ship reached the other side. That shows that these thermographs were placed in different parts of the compartment, and that an enormous differ- ence in temperature existed in different parts of the compartment. Now, we have records of 30 degrees, and as there is such a wide difference in the three records, it is quite possible that there were places in the chamber where the temperature went a good deal lower than 30 degrees. If the thermograph showed 30 degrees in the centre 2 x n}4 x 22. Now, no doubt, each of these thinks that his box possesses some special merit, but when you come to look at the measurements of capacity you will find that the Burlington shippers are giving 1,945 cu. inches of space, that Mr. Brennan is giving 2,656 cu. inches, which is nearly a fourth more. We find that Mr. R. j. Graham, of Belleville, is shipping very largely a box 11 x 11 x 22, that has about the same capacity as Mr. Brennan's box. His neighbors in Brockville are shipping a box icy? x 1 1^2 x 22, agreeing in capacity with Brennan's box. Mr. Brennan writes as follows : 'i am at present packing apples in cases and trying different sizes, and find that 22 x nJ/£ x ioj^ is the only size in which I can pack four sizes of apples cor- rectly graded, and have each box snugly packed without using excelsior. I have used 22 x 11^2 x 10^ for four years, and trust that any other size will not become legal, for after thorough study it is the only box. But against this you must place the following from Messrs. Stirling & Pitcairn : "We shall be reluctant to have once more to change the size (ioJ4 x 11^2 x 18^) of our boxes, as they have been changed so often during the past few years. One reason anyhow for our adopting the box we now use was that when we ship to the market in the Kootenay we ccnie into competition with apples shipped in from Washington and Oregon, and it is necessary to have a package similar to^what is used on the other side," and so it goes. It is evident that we must run contrary to the feelings of a number of indivi- duals if we propose a standard box. All things considered, the size that appears to m?et with most general approval is a medium between the smaller and the larger. The Smallest size which, as you see here, 9 x 12 x 13, has been condemned in the British market as containing too small a quantity of fruit. The largest size is not only awkward to hrndle, but contains more apples than the buyer will give the box credit for, and con- sequently the box that appears to meet the general needs of the case is the one sometimes called the '" Tasmanian," 10 x 11 x 20. Mr. Wm. Wilson, the proprietor and inventor of the Wilson case, has given a very great deal of attention to this matter of boxes, and his conclusions/ are worthy of respect. " One-quarter-barrel-case, 18 x 12 x 9, holds just- 28 quarts, or about 40 lbs. of apples, and is equal to one-quarter barrel of 112 quarts, the former size of barrels, and. while 1903 FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION. 83 18 x 12 x 9 is a very economical size case for packing apples, it has no exact proportion- ate relation, either to the standard bushel or barrel of to-day." " Onr standard bushel case can be made for 12 cents, whereas the quarter-barrel costj io cents." "The cost of dock dues in Britain is charged per package, within certain limits, so that brshe! cases would cost same as % barrels." " One bushel, being a standard measurement everywhere, as well as an exact pro- portion of a barrel, is, therefore, the only proper standard for a national package, where- as calculations made by the % barrel would only produce confusion and friction between! buyer and seller." "Half-bushel case* are also very convenient, and in exact proportion for the finer- fruits.'' " Bushel-cases have an advantage over barrels in ocean freight, for while 5 barrels are charged as one cubic ton, it takes about 24 bushel-cases to make 40 cubic feet." Mr. Brandrith's views are corroborated by Mr. Palmer, Freight Rate Commissioner for British Columbia, who writes : " So far as British Columbia alone is concerned, the 10 x 11 x 20 size would be satis- factory. I feel safe in stating that if this box is selected as the Canadian apple box, packers will soon adjust themselves to the situation and modify their mode of packing to suit. The present unsatisfactory state of affairs is due to the fact that there is no standard size. I favor this size, as it dispenses with fractional measurements. I reco.n- menl this for the standard Canadian apple box, and am convinced that it will give general satisfaction if adopted. The other size mentioned, 9 x 12 x 18. \s an impossible package for the Pacific coast trade." "I regret to state that no one size of box is universally used in British Columbia. The two sizes mentioned — 10^ x 11/2 x 18^2 and 10 x 11 x 20 — are mostly used, and you will note, have practically the same cubic capacity. The shorter and deeper box per- mits of the better packing with large-sized fruit, but it is not, in my judgment, so good a box for general use as the other one, which is also the box used by Oregon and Cali- fornia ipple packers for London shipments. All sixes of apples can be packed in the latter, but for fancy trade only four of five tier fruit is used." < Mr. Hunt, of the Ottawa Fruit Exchange, also touches upon this subject, and I woul 1 draw particular attention to his reference to the sale of apples in the United State . This is a la-ge and growing trade, and if the day should ever come when Canada and the Stites would have a common sense reciprocity treaty the United States would be our largest and best market for fancy apples. As the people of the States are showing evident symptoms of a strong desire to reciprocate in trade matters, it would become us to note the signs of the times, and be prepared for it. It will be a happy day, indeed for the Canadian grower when he can secure access to the southern markets. Summing the matter up. I would conclude that this Association could not do better than to join with the othei Provincial fruit growers' associations in recommending the size, 10 x 11 x 20. British Columbia, as will be seen from the letters of Mr. Palmer and Mr, Brandrith, has already adopted this size, and we have Mr. Parker's assurance that Nova Scfctia will adopt it. Mr. .MacKinnon has strongly recommended this size. I therefore move for the purpose of getting it before the Association that this size and capacity be adopted. Mr. Woolverton : I am glad to second the motion adopting that size. I have used about 6.000 boxes this year in shipping to the old country, and have been using 9 x 12 x 18, aiming to ship a forty-pound box, as I have understood from a good many of th? consignees that such a box would suit their trade, but in taking this box and weigh- ing it, I found it came a little short of the requirement, and is, therefore, not quite satis- factory. In many ways a box holding about a bushel would be more satisfactory. The size given would be the most satisfactory size 'to pack, fitting the size of the apples verv well. >4 THE REPORT OF THE No. 16 Mr. Smith : I do not think that this question ought to be decided off-hand ; it is too important, and ought to be discussed by a fairly large committee. I agree with the arguments in favor of a standard box ; it is ridiculous that we should have so many different sized boxes. The same arguments that applied to uniform baskets wiil apply to uniform boxes. My idea is to have a box with a capacity of a third of a barrel. The larger the box, so long as it is convenient to carry and liandle, the more ecorcmical it is. I should deprecate strongly any box smaller than this. Then the question is, which barrel is to be taken as the standard ? The box proposed would ccnti-in a third of the Nova Scotia barrel, but would have to be somewhat larger to contain a third ot the Ontario barrel, and we must, decide upon which to adopt. The arguments in favor of the large barrel are strong. We have the reputation in the Bri- tish market of having a big barrel, bigger than the American barrel. We sell to exper- ienced dealers who know the difference between the sizes and are willing to pay for the difference. Mr, Thompson : I think that the barrel question will settle itself. A great many of our packers are using a 28-inch stave barrel, and I think it is only a question of tin*; when all will be using the Nova Scotia barrel. Mr. McKinnon : That is our experience in observing the shipments going forward this year. There is no doubt that the Nova Scotia barrel will sell for just as much in Lcndon as wrill the Ontario barrel, and it looks as though Ontario shippers were be- ginning to think this. A committee, consisting of Messrs. Wilson, E. D. Smith, L. Woolverton, A. W. Peart, Robert Thompson, was appointed to consider the matter and report their decis- ion to the meeting. The Committee on Fruit Boxes presented the following report : Your Committee would recommend that the Canadian Commercial Apple Box be one of which the cubic contents are^about one-third of the Canadian commercial apple barrel, and measuring inside ten inches deep, eleven inches wide and twenty inches long ; and that the Canadian pear box be one-half the capacity and half the depth of the apple bcx ; and that the Secretary communicate with the Secretaries of the Fruit Growers' Assc ciations of other Provinces in reference to uniformity in this matter. On motion of E. D. Smith, M.P., seconded by Wm. Rickard, M.P.P., the report was adopted. PEACH GROWING IN MICHIGAN. B> Professor L. R. Taft, Agricultural College, Michigan. The expression " Michigan fruit belt," or " Michigan peach belt," is often heard, but many persons have an incorrect idea if they think that the only place in the State in which peaches can be grown successfully is in the tract to which the above terms are commonly applied, which is a strip from 'five to twenty miles in width extending along the east shore of Lake Michigan nearly to Mackinaw. Scattered all through the soithern portion of Michigan there are thousands of orchards, many of them of consid- erable size, which are nearly if not quite as productive as in the famed "peach belt." The difference is that, away from the influence of the lake, the peach can only be suc- cessfully grown upon ridges where good air drainage can be secured, while in the counties along Lake Michigan little attention need be paid to the elevation, provided the soil is not wet, and, hence, in the peach belt a large proportion of the land is given up to peaches. Location and Exposure. The prevailing cold winds are from the west, and, as they pass over the broad and deep waters of Lake Michigan, which never freeze, they are tempered, so that if forty degrees below zero in Wisconsin, it is seldom more than ten degrees below zero in Mich- 1903 * FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION. 85 igan within five miles of the lake. Even in that section it has been thought that only the more elevated portions should be used for peach orchards, but less attention is now gi\:n to the matter of elevation, as thousands of acres of comparatively low land and level land have during the last ten years been set to peaches, and the trees have been fully as productive as upon the higher land. In the interior counties of the State the mercury occasionally drops to twenty degrees below zero, and in selecting a site for a peach orchard the first thing to be considered is its elevation above the surrounding country. Good results are obtained in all exposures, but especially towards the northern limit for peach culture a northern slope is preferred. While there are objections to both eastern and western slopes, they are less serious than those against a southern exposure. The Soil for a Peach Orchard. The ideal soil for a peach orchard is either a heavy sandy-loam or a light clay loam. There are many orchards, however, on land that is quite light and sandy, but while the trees may have a fair growth, they do not bear as wrell, and the fruit is smaller and inferior in flavor to that grown upon heavier soils. A soil that is rich in humus is desirable fully as much for supplying moisture in dry seasons as for fur nishing plant food. When trees are planted upon land where a clover sod was turned urder the previous year, they are quite sure to make a good start. Selection of Trees and Distance of Planting. A tree of medium size is usually selected by experienced orchardists, as trees mors than five feet high and with a diameter of more than one inch are generally less hardy and do not start as well as those of a somewhat smaller size. Those from five-eighths to three-quarters of an inch in diameter and about four feet high are generally selected, although many have good success with whips from two to three feet high. A few years ago the usual distance for planting was sixteen to eighteen feet each way, but most orchards are now planted twenty feet square. It has been found, how- ever, that at this distance the trees, even though cut back severely, soon crowd above ground, while the struggle for existence between the roots is so severe that the trees suffer both in vigor and productiveness. In several instances the alternate rows of trees have been removed with marked benefit to those remaining, both in the appear- ance of the trees and in the quantity, size, color and quality of the fruit. By the re- moval of one-half of the trees the labor of cultivation has been decreased, and with but one-hali the number oc tree? to prune and spray the quantity of the fruit has been in- crease'!, while its value has been at least double. Forming the Head and Pruning the Trees. "When the trees are set, they are cut back to a height of about thirty inches, and if there are several strong buds on the trunk from twenty to thirty inches from the groind, all side shoots are cut off. In the case of large trees all of the buds have generally developed into branches, and in that case all except four are removed, and thes? are cut back to two buds. If all of the branches are cut away close to the trunks, adventitious buds would have to be depended upon for forming the head, and, as these might start out anywhere along the trunk, the top would not be as symmetrical as when four stubs are left as recommended. During the first season the trees will require little if any pruning, although if a tree is forming a poorly-shaped head a little judi- cious pruning will often be helpful. The following spring, as soon as severe freezing weather is over, the trees should be pruned and the head formed. All but three or four of the strongest branches, which are evenly distributed about the trunk at the point where the head is desired, should, be cut away, and these should be shortened from fourteen to eighteen inches. If THE REPORT OF THE No. 16 cut back shorter than this, it will make the centre of the tree too thick. There is a difference of opinion regarding the proper distance from the ground to the first branches, but twenty inches is high enough. As the trees develop, the pruning given is a combination of heading back and thin- : ins: out. The ends of the main branches and the side shoots that have made a grow:1.! of rite en inches or more, are headed back from one-third to two-thirds of the annual growth, and especially- during the first two years care is taken to remove all surrlus branches that will not be required in forming the framework of the trees. After the trees are five years old, about the only heading back required will be dhe ends of :he main shoots, but the thinning out of the trees should be continued, not only tc open up the heads and admit light and air, but it can be made to perform the same function as the laborious and costly removal by hand of surplus fruit, and be- sides being much cheaper it permits the trees to devote their full vigor to the de- velopment of fruit. Cultivation and Cover Crop. For the first two years after the orchard is planted the land can be used for the growir.g of some cultivated crop, but small grains should never be sown in a young orchard of any kind. Melons, tomatoes and other crops that can be planted some distance apart are best for this purpose, but, if care is taken that the hills are not too near the trees, potatoes, corn and other ordinary farm crops can be grown to advant- age. If the trees make a good growth during the first two years, it will be well to give up the land to them after that time, fn May, before the land begins to bake, it should be plowed or harrowed. An orchard gang plow which will turn furrows two or three inches deep answers very well, or some of the disc or cutaway harrows can be used. Upon an ideal orchard soil there is no occasion for using a turning plow after the trees .'.re two or three years old, and the work can be dorte fully as well and much cheaper with a harrow if taken at the proper time. Duiing the months of June and July it is advisable to go over the land with a har- row every week or ten days, or as soon as the soil is dry enough, after a heavy rain, so as to pre\ ent the drying out of the surface. About the first of August a cover crop should be sown. While red! and crimson clover answer well as cover crops, for the prrrose of supplying nitrogen, the ideal crops on other accounts are barley and or.ts, In ordinary seasons it is an easy matter to secure a catch, and the plants reach a height of fifteen to twenty-four inches before they are killed by frost. In the mean- time they have aided the ripening of the trees, and by holding the leaves and snow pre- vent the alternate freezing and lessen the depth to which the frost penetrates, and thus aid in carrying trees through the winter uninjured which might otherwise be killed. This treatment gives good results after th€ trees come into bearing, but if the weather is dry during early August, the sowing of the cover crop might be delayed until the middle of August, especially if the trees are carrying a heavy crop of fruit. Oats or barley are better adapted for late sowing than most of the other cover crops. An- other advantage in these crops is that they die in winter and act as a mulch in the spring, thus preventing the drying out and baking of the soil. While it is not ad- visable to delay the wrorking of the land until after the middle of May, a good cover cop of oats will generally keep the land moist until the first of June, while if clover or rye have been sown it is often baked a? hard as a brick by the first of May. Feeding the Trees. If the soil at the time of planting the trees contains a liberal amount of humus and plant food, the application of manure will not be necessary until the trees begin to bear, but it pays to keep the trees growing, as they can often be brought to a sfze that permits them to bear a full crop of fruit one or two years sooner if a liberal 1903 FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION. 87 supply of food is famished than if they are grown upon land that is deficient in plant n ut rime lit. While stable manure is valuable because it supplies humus, as well as the elcnants needed by the trees for their growth, there is danger if applied in too large quantities, as it causes a rank growth of the trees which may be injured by the win- ter. Ten to twenty tons per acre can generally be used upon bearing orchards with good results, when the soil is deficient in humus and nitrogen, and the danger of injury tJ the trees will be lessened if it is supplemented with 50 to 100. bushels of imlerched wood ashes and 300 to 500 pounds of ground bone or acid phosphate. If the ashes cannot be obtained, from 200 to 300 pounds of muriate of potash can be suL stinted. The manure can be applied at any time during the winter, and the fer- tilisers can be used then if there is no danger of washing, or early in the spring. Fighting Insects and Diseases. Peach trees are subject to. the attack of numerous insects and diseases, some of which are readily controlled, while others are more formidable. In Michigan the dis- eases known as "yellows" and "Tittle peach" have been quite destructive in some sec- tions, and they have baffled every effort to ascertain their nature. Both are con- tagious, but it is known that if trees attacked by " yellows " are removed, as soon as the disease appears, its spread can be prevented. The same treatment is being tested for "lilt'e peach," but, although it appears to be helpful, it is too soon to speak defi- nitely as to its efficacy. Borers in the trunks can be held in check by removing the soil to the depth of two inches, and, if any gum and chips appear on the bark at the end of a week, it is taker as an indication of the presence of a borer, and he is dug out with a knife. If the plum eurctdio is troublesome, the trees are jarred three or four times a week during the latter part of May and early June, and the insects are caught upon sheets spread upon the ground'. ■ If very troublesome, it is a good plan to spray the trees with Paris green and lime at the rate of 1 pound of the former and 5 of the latier in 2C0 gallons of water as soon as the fruit has set. By the addition of Bordeaux mixture, of about one-half the usual strength, the injury from brown rot, scab and other fungous diseases can be greatly lessened, although more can be done by the ren.oval and destruction of all diseased fruit and the working of the land before the fruit Has set. Another very destructive disease, in seasons when the weather in May is cold and wet, is commonly known as "leaf curl." This causes the new leaves to thicken and roll up. and if the attack is a severe one they drop from the trees. This often results in the dropping of the fruit also, and a severe check to the growth of the trees, al- though it is seldom fatal after the trees are one year old. For this disease a very cheap and effectual remedy has been found. If the trees are sprayed with a solution of sul- phate of copper, at the rate of 1 pound in 50 gallons of water, either in March or early April, the disease will be prevented from injuring the trees. Thoroughness and earliness are the only essentials. Thinning the Fruit. There is another operation that should not be overlooked if ' first-class fruit is desired, and that is the removal of the surplus fruit from the trees. This is generally done during the latter half of June and early July, after the dropping of the fruit from the work of curculio, leaf-curl and other causes is over. Just how much fruit should be left upon a tree depends upon a variety of conditions. If the trees are vigorous, well- cultivated and supplied with plant food, they can carry to maturity much more fruit than if neglected and unhealthy. Then, too, the thinning should be much more thorough in yea-s when a large crop is promised than in years when it is a partial failure, as THE REPORT OF THE No. 16 in years ot plenty, small and medium-sized fruit may hardly repay the expense of pick- ing anJ marketing, while large fruit can be handled at a profit. On the other hand, when there is a short crop, fruit of any size will bring a good price. By the removal of from one-lourth to three-fourths of the fruit, the size of that left upon the trees will often be so increased that there will be nearly if not quite as many bushels as if all of the fruit had been allowed to. develop, and, being large, well-colored and of good quality, it may bring three or four times as much per bushel as the unthinned fruit. By the thinning of the fruit the strain .upon the vitality of the trees has been lessened, and, while the trees that were not thinned may be so weakened that they will not bear the following year, the trees that were properly thinned may be able to pro- duce a crop of fruit each season. While no definite rule can be given as to the number of fruits that should be left upon a tree, it may be said that as a rule there should be no more than two fruits upon any twig, unless they are more than four inches apart. In the case of large varieties like Elberta, the distance between the fruits can often be inceased to six or eight inches with profit, and some growers, in seasons when there is likely to be a glut in the markets, increase the distance to ten inches if the trees hav~ been headed back so that the tops are rather thick. The cost of thinning the fruit is not large, and as, if left upon the trees, it will have to be picked when ripe,, many consider that it actually takes less time to pick off half of the fruit when small and drop it upon the ground than to pick all of it carefully when ripe and place it in baskets. Every person who has compared the results secured when the fruit has- been thoroughly pruned and the fruit has then been thinned, with those obtained when the trees were left unthinned, will be forced to admit that the only way to grow first- class fruit, in years when the trees have set a full crop, is to thin the trees, using, the pruning shears for this purpose in April, and then taking off all surplus specimens- in June. Marketing the Fruit. f - A large amount of the Michigan fruit is required to surplus the local demand, but theusends of carloads are shipped to other States each year. Some of this fruit is cor.Ligned to commission men in Chicago, Milwaukee and other cities, but a very pro- fitable trade has been built up by some of our best growers who ship on orders from day to day to the grocers in the surrounding States. In this way the profit that other- wise goes to the middleman is saved, and the grocers secure their fruit in a fresh condition. We also have a considerable number of co-operative shipping associations, which not only ship the products of the orchards of their members, but in some cases- handle the fruit of other growers. This fruit is delivered to the central packing houses, where it is graded and packed. The plan of selling the crop upon the trees is growing in favor in some sections. Sometimes a lump sum is taken for the fruit, and -the pur- chaser picks and packs the crop, taking all the risk, or the crop may be sold at so* much per bushel for the different grades. In this case it. is generally picked by the grower, and he may, or may not, grade and pack it, according to the contract. There are a considerable number of peach growers whose orchards are extensive enough to enable them to accept orders for carload lots, and these men often /sell their fruit to wholesale dealers in cities as far away as Boston, Mass. In several coun- ths which have important orchard interests markets for the sale of the crops have been established, and the fruit, after being graded and packed by the grower, is hauled to these markets upon large waggons carrying 80 to 100 bushels and sold. The most important market of this kind is at Grand Rapids, and as it is not uncommon to have- fifty cr sixty buyers there from all parts of the country, the competition is often an active factor in securing for the grower the highest market price. The railroads snd steamboat companies reaching these market points are doing what they can to favor the industry by giving reasonable freight rates and excellent service. 1903 FKUIT GKOWEKS' ASSOCIATION. 89 Varieties for Market. While the varieties grown in Michigan may not all of them be suited to the con- dit;ons in Ontario, a short list may be of interest. Although there is a limited de- mand for fancy white varieties, at good prices, few growers are planting anything ex- cept yellow sorts. The leading sorts are St. John, Conklin, Early Crawford, Engle, Elberta, Kalamazoo and New Prolific, Smock and Salway. Hill's Chili and Gold Drop are favorites where extremely hardy sorts are needed. Of the white kinds Lewis and Early Michigan are most grown. They ripen about the middle of August, and are among the best of the early sorts. Triumph is about the first of the yellow kinds, but Admiral Dewey promises to take its place, as it comes nearer to being a free- stone and appears to be less subject to brown-rot. Of the new sorts none are more premising than Oceana, which ripens about the middle of September, and seems to be quit* hardy and productive. The fruit is of good size, handsome in appearance ani of very good quality. It has been quite thoroughly tested and promises to be an ex- cellent market sort. Object Lessons. ] have somewhat hastily sketched the methods found most valuable by the leading peach-growers in Michigan, and, as the conditions in Southern Ontario are quite similar to those that are found in Michigan, I feel confident that they will be found reliable on this side of " the line." However, as the eyes are more useful than the ears when one wishes to obtain practical information, I trust that those of you who in- tend to engage in peach growing upon an extensive scale will not fail to take a trip through the Michigan " peach belt,", and although we shall be glad to welcome you as \isitors and will take pleasure in showing you the orchards, it will suit us even better, if, as a result of your visit, you may conclude to settle among us and thus per- mit us to practically " annex " you. Q.: Is the Gold Drop grown with you ? Prof. Taft : It has been largely grown in the past, but, although productive, and where well grown a good variety, too many of our growers do not properly thin the trees, and the result is the fruit is undersized. Where one requires a hardy variety and gives proper attention to thinning the trees, it is a good sort. The Fitzgerald came into favor five or six years ago and was largely planted, but I do not know of a single satisfactory orchard. It is less productive than Elberta and the Conklin, which take its place. The Garfield is not being used to any extent, and very few trees are being grown in the nurseries. Q.: We are growing the Fitzgerald largely, where we cannot grow the Craw- ford, and it is more attractive in the market. Prof. Taft : It has not been hardy with us, in fact the fruit buds of this variety are generally injured more than those of any other of the varieties that are commonly grown. Q.: Are you troubled with the rot? Prof Taft : Early kinds frequently rot badly. If you wish a medium early White peach, I would recommend the Early Michigan ; it ripens just about the middle of August, just before St. John, and except for the rotting, which in some seasons is serious, it is a very valuable peach. It is a freestone, and a very handsome white peach with a red cheek. For the last five years from onerthird to one-half of the trees put out have been the Elberta, on account of its shipping qualities Q.: Do you plant on the north side of a hill or of a grove of trees ? Prcf. Taft : The farther north you go the more reason we find for planting on the north side of a hill or grove, as it keeps the buds back, and there is less danger from 90 THE REPORT OF THE No. 16 frost. From the remarks I have heard, I judge you are looking for good shipping peaches. We led greatly the need of a good shipping peach that covers a different season from the Elberta. The Engle Mammoth is one of the best, but it is not equil to the Elberta. The Oceana is a Michigan seedling, which ripens just after the Elberta, is about the same size and shape, and is far superior in texture, appearance and flavor. It is yellow, and it is with us almost equal to the Elberta in shipping. The Oceana has been freely in Michigan. I have had it in fruit for six or seven years and esteem it very highly. It is handled by N. P. Husted of Lowell, Mich. Q.: Have you had any experience with the BanneT ? Prof. Taft : I have not fruited it to any extent, and I do not like to speak definitely legarding it. It has productiveness, quality and appearance, but the size thus far is against it. If as the trees get older the size of the fruit increases, it will be a very valu- able reach. It is a little smaller than the Kalamazoo. Q.: What soil do you prefer for it? Prof. Taft : We have it on a sandy loam, and it might do better on other soils. G. W. Cady : You will not get satisfaction from it till it is about seven years M. HARDY FRUITS FROM NORTHERN DISTRICTS. By W. T. Macoun, Central Experimental Farm, Ottawa. It one had been asked in the early years of the Ontario Fruit Growers' Association to prepare an address on Hardy Fruits for Northern Districts he would probably have considered that about twenty-five miles north of Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River would be the extreme limit thought of when the title was suggested. But now it is cxp*. cted, I believe, that the whole Province should be taken into consideration, reaching as it does, to James Bay in latitude 52 degrees in the north, and to the Province of Manitoba in latitude 50 degrees in the west. When it is remembered that at Leamington we arc very little north of latitude 42 degrees, and that commercial orchards of any size are not to be found at the present time much above latitude 45 degres, it will be seen thai there is an immense area between latitude 45 degrees and latitude 52 degrees of nearly 500 miles from south to north, and about 1,000 miles from east to west, which may be included at the present time, as far as the fruit industry is concerned in the northern districts cf Ontario. Over this large extent of country there are great dif- ferences in climatic conditions, brought about by the wide range of latitude, the large bedie* of water which are very numerous in it, the differences in elevation, and the venations in the soil. At the Central Experimental Farm, which is situated near Ottawa in latitude 45 degrees, experiments in fruit growing have been carried on for the past sixteen years, one cl the main objects of which is to determine what could be done in fruit growing in that latitude, and to endeavor to find the best methods of growing fruits where the- climate was so severe. There is not time here to review the great number of ex- periments which hav* been conducted with varieties, methods of cultivation, spraying, cover crops, cross-breeding and hybridizing, and other matters relating to fruit grow- ing. Suffice it to say that in the sixteen annual reports which have been published there will be found a vast amount of information which has proved extremely useful to the fruit grower in all parts of Canada. As all the important fruits should be discussed in an address of this kind, I take up ea. h one separately. 1903 FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION. 91 Apples. The apple has a wider range over Ontario than most large fruits, although the plum is still found over a wider area than the apple. Apples have been matured in the Province of Ontario as far north as Fort Frances, in the Rainy River District, and perhaps further, and as they have been produced at Winnipeg, in Manitoba, it is prob- able that they will be grown in favorable localities right up to the Manitoba boundary. There is also no apparent reason why they should not be' produced in favorable local- ises as far north as James' Bay. At the Central Experimental Farm, where the temperature occasionally falls to 30 degrees Fahrenheit below zero, we have now between 500 and 600 varieties of apples under test, exclusive of about 2,000 seedlings and cross-bred apples, of which 199 named varieties fruited this year. Out of this large number there are few varieties which kill back at the tips. "Why is it, then, that settlers in Muskoka, Parry Sound, and parts of Nipissing, where the conditions are not very different from those at Ottawa, have such difficulty often in getting trees to grow, and sometimes fail altogether ? There are two great dangers which fruit growers in the north have to guard against, namely, guikscald and root 'killing, and two others almost as bad, blight and mice. We have expeiienced them all at Ottawa, and hence can speak from personal knowledge. I re- cently wrote to a number of men in Northern Ontario, 'asking what was the chief cause of failure in growing apples,, and in nearly every instance it was the trunk which had gone wrong, and although the fruit grower did not know, in many cases, that it \v::s sunscald, the description of the trouble proved it to be such. Sunscald, as if oc- curs in the north, is now considered to be due to the thawing and freezing which tak-^s placj in the latter part of winter and early spring. The sun shining on the south and south-western sides of the trees thaws out the sap, and a severe frost following at night either causes a separation of the bark from the wood or destroys the cambium. The iniur> is often so severe that the tree dies the same season, or if it does not, disease sets in, the tree becomes sickly and eventually dies. The trouble can be pre- vented almost entirely if proper precautions are taken. Some varieties are much more subject to sunscald than others. Where sunscald is bad, special thought should be given f the selection of the site of the orchard and to varieties. Trees should be planted with short trunks, not more than three feet, and less if possible ; the less trunk exposed the less injury there will be. When planted trees should be leaned slighily towards the southwest, so that the sun's rays will not fall directly on the trunk the first year or two after the tree is planted. In the autumn the trunk should be pro- tected with a wooden veneer, or even white paper, and an air space should be left between the protector and the tree. This will prevent the thawing and freezing to a very larg? extent. If these precautions are taken and the proper varieties selected at the outset, there should be little injury from sunscald. Trees usually suffer most from surscald the first and second year after planting, and it appears to the writer that one reason they do so is that the bark ot trees imported from southern nurseries is not at first suited to more northern conditions, and must become hardened or acclimatized. Another reason may be that the tree has not become thoroughly established, and the sap is not yet in '.he right condition. If a tree has been injured by sunscald it should b-: headed back and the wound scraped clean, back to living wood, and the injured part painted with lead paint. I have referred to this matter at some length, as I consider pro- tection against sunscald one of the greatest factors in successful apple culture in North- ern Ontario. Root Killing. The winter killing of the roots of apple trees has discouraged many who have tried to grow this fruit commercially in the north, and in the early years before root-killing was as well understood as it is now, trees were killed in this way at the Experimental Farm. It is only occasionally, however, that there is a winter when 92 THE REPORT OF THE No. 16 root killing is likely to occur, but unless provision is made to prevent it every ye:'.rr there may be unexpected and disastrous results. It is very discouraging to have trees jus; coming into full bearing almost destroyed by root killing. Trees are most sub- ject to root killing during a winter with changeable weather, _when there are mid- winter thaws with the ground bare and when it freezes to a great depth. Sometimes tlie soil is thawed to several inches in depth, a sudden change occurs during the day and the temperature may drop to zero or below the following night. This is very trying on the roots of trees, and often apple trees are killed outright, but, as they leaf out and blossom in the spring, the grower is sometimes puzzled to know what has caused tli£ death of his trees. There are several ways in which root killing can be lessened, and if ail these are practiced, root killing should be very rare indeed. First of all, trees slould be grafted on hardy stocks, and the stocks ordinarily used by nurserymen are not suitable in the north, as their hardiness is very uncertain. At the Central Experi- mental Farm most of the trees planted in recent years have been grafted on seedlings of iMartha, Transcendent, and Dartmouth crabs, and the results so far have been very satisfactory. If a still hardier stock is desired, the wild Siberian crab — Pyrus baccata — will furnish it, and this crab has proven perfectly hardy everywhere in Manitoba and the Northwest Territories, where it has been tested, and trees grafted on it at Ottawa are doin,? well. I trust that our Ontario nurserymen will take pity on the people of North- ern Ontario and furnish them with trees on hardy stocks. In districts where apples 'have been tried and have failed, I would suggest that seed be sown of apples which have been ripened as near that district as they can be had. Experience has taught that seed- ling appl- trees will grow where grafted ones have failed, and I would strongly urge the growing of seedlings in northern districts. Another means by which root killing may be prevented is by the growing of cover crops in the orchard 'to protect the roots, hold the snow, and prevent the thawing and freezing of the ground. Much work has be^n dene at the Central Experimental^ Farm in testing various plants for cover ' crops and in growing them in different ways. A third way in which root killing may be prevented is by mulching the trees with manure, earth, or any other material which will protect the roots from thawing and freezing. Top Grafting. Some varieties of apples which will not prove satisfactory when grown as standard trees in the north are quite successful when top grafted on hardy and strong growing stocks. Among the best varieties for this purpose are the McMahon White and Haas, and among the extremely hardy varieties the Hibernal and Charlamoff. The Talman Sweet, which is recommended for some districts, is not as hardy as the above. Mice and R aib b i t s. Some winters mice are very numerous and do much in- jury, and in the outlying districts rabbits are also destructive. The depredations of mice can be prevented entirely, and even rabbits can be kept off. The most satisfactory pre- ventive of mice yet tested at Ottawa is the wooden veneer, which is also used to prevent sunscald. Ordinary building paper wrapped around the trunk has also been found per- fectly satisfactory, and a mound of beaten snow about the trees has 'likewise been found effective. Tar paper is not recommended, as sometimes injury results from the use of it, and ordinary building paper is perfectly satisfactory. The mice work along the ground underneath the snow and it is not difficult to turn them. Rabbits can be pre- vented from injuring trees by protecting them with wire netting; by painting the trunks, and by poisoning. Blight. The fourth great danger to apple trees in the north is the twig or fire blight. No satisfactory remedy has been found for this disease yet. Varieties of Rus- sian origin are most affected by it. At the Central Experimental Farm some trees have been killed outright, and some so badly injured that it has taken several years be- fore they regained symmetrical proportions. By choosing varieties which are not much 1903 FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION. 93 subject to blight, this obstacle to apple growing in the north can to a large extent be ob\:ated. Site and Soil. The further north one goes the more difficult it is,, as a rule, to obtain a suitable site for an orchard, and where there are so many other things to contend with, it is folly to attempt to. grow apples in an unsuitable place and in unsuit- able soil. The experience of northern fruit growers has been that the most satis- factory results are obtained by planting on a northern slope. It is very important to us? every means in our power to prevent sunscald. Trees on a northern or eastern slop* get less sun than those on a southern or western, and hence the change in the conditions of the sap is not so great. Buds are slower to develop on a northern or east- ern slope and danger from spring frost is hence not so great. The richness of the soil is not nearly as important as the warmth and drainage of it. A warm, sandy loam or a gravelly soil overlying limestone with good natural drainage is an ideal soil for a northern orchard. The results from growing trees in ground with a wet subsoil will not be at all satisfactory, and clay land should be avoided where possible. Varieties. From our own experience at the Central Experimental farm and from the experience of correspondents in various parts of Northern Ontario, the follow- ing varieties of apples are recommended for planting north of latitude 45 degrees : District 7. North of the Quebec boundary on the Ottawa River, and west to Pem- broke; and north through Muskoka, and the southern part of Nipissing, including also Manitoulin and St. Joseph Islands and Parry Sound district, within five or six miles of the Georgian Bay, the following varieties should prove satisfactory : Summer. Yellow Transparent, Duchess of Oldenburg. Autumn. Wealthy, Alexander. Early Winter. Mcintosh Red, Fameuse. Winter. Milwaukee, Scott's Winter, Windsor Chief, American Golden Russet, North Western Greening, Canada Red, and Northern Spy top-grafted. The Salome npple is also doing well in Muskoka, but the fruit has been uneven in size at the Experi- mental Farm. The Nora and Minto, two Muskoka seedlings, are also highly spoken of. This list of winter apples will need revision almost every year until some really first- class hardy dessert apples are found, as new and better varieties are constantly being brought to the front. The Windsor Chief is the most promising new hardy winter apple, being a variety of fine appearance and good quality, and a good bearer. District No. 13. This includes all of Ontario north and west of District 7. Only the very hardiest varieties are recommended in this list. Summer. Yellow Transparent, Blushed Colville, Charlamoff, and Duchess of Olden- burg, the two latter being autumn varieties in this district. The first variety is not as hardy as the latter, and if only two are planted I would recommend the Charlamoff and Duchess. Autumn. Longfield, Hibernal, Patten's Greening, Peerless, Autonovka and Wealthy apples and Whitney, Martha and Transcendent crabs. Also in the coldest parts the hybrids between the Siberian crab and apple originated at the Central Experimental Farm. It is a surprise to those who come from the more favored fruit districts of Ontario to find how well the trees bear in the north and what fine fruit is produced. Trees which are unshapely, sometimes without a real trunk, and growing more like bushes than trees, will be simply loaded down with fruit, and these trees bear earlier than they do further south, being more or less stunted in their growth by the severity of the climate. It may be interesting to know just how much trees of a few varieties have produced in one season at the Experimental Farm at Ottawa. 94 THE REPORT OF THE No. 16 Yield From One Tree in 1902. Varieties. Duehess of Oldenburg Wealthy >K-Mahon White Patten's Greening Long-field Hibernal Charlamori Mcintosh Red* Number of years planted. Yield. 14 94% gallons, or about 4 barreLs. 14 85 " 3% " 14 147 " 6 10 71 " 3 14 12 83% " 82 » 3 •'•' 14 12 102% " 71H " :: f " *The same trees of Mcintosh Red yielded 94 gallons, or nearly 4 barrels, in 1903. Wealthy trees have yielded over a barrel of fruit six years after planting. A correspon- dent in the Rainy River district, 190 miles west of Port Arthur, writes that an apple tree, probably Duchess, yielded eight bushels of apples six years after planting. P'or further particulars regarding apple culture in the north, see Bulletin No. 37 of the Central Experimental Farm series. Plums. The next important large fruit to the apple in the nxtiurn districts of Ontario is the plum. This fruit is found wild in almost every part of the Province, and is valued very highly by the people in some districts. North of latitude 45 degrees the European is, as a rule, very unsatisfactory, unless gro.vn near large bodies of water, which keep the air moist, as St. Joseph's and Mani- tcuhu Islands, for instance, where they appear to succeed fairly well. It is not the number of degrees of cold which makes it difficult to grow these plums, but the dry, cold atmosphere inland has the effect of drying out the buds, and they appear to be killed in this way. Seedlings have, however, been originated in Ontario and Quebec, which are hardier in fruit bud than the standard kinds, and the time may come when som- vaiieties will be available which will bear almost ever\ year. Among some of these hardy seedlings may be mentioned the Raynes and (Mount Royal, two Montreal plums, which seem hardier than most others. Among the hardiest of the standard European kinds are the Richland, Lombard, Gueii, Arctic, Montmorency and Quacken- boi or Glass Seedling, which would be worth testing anywhere between latitudes 45 de- grees and 47 degrees near large bodies of water. At present the great dependence in the north must be on the native plum;-, and the improved vari.ties of wild plum of the northwestern States, of which there are now more than 20c named varieties, which, with the varieties of the native plum, give a rip- ening season from the 1st of August to early in October, or more than two months ; qu'te as long as the season of the European plum. Although the quality of these varieties is not equal to the European, the best of th rn a e quite good, and when eaten out of hand some people like them better. When canned or preserved, however, they are not as good, although there is a great vJifference in varieties. By removing the skin when preserving, the quality of the preserves is very much improved. Of the varieties which can be obtained from nurserymen, the follow- ing arc the best, in order of ripening : Aitkin, Odegard, Bixby, Mankato, Cheney, Hawk- eye, Stoddard. The last two would probably be too late where early autumn frosts occu:\ It is probable that earlier local seedlings may be found, and the best of these should be transplanted to the orchard. The Compass cherry, which is a hybrid between the wild plum and the sand cherry, is a low-growing bush, which yields good crops of fruit of fair quality. 1903 FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION. 95 Plum trees, like apple trees, should be planted in well drained soil, and, if possible, on a northern slope, as spring frdsts often injure the blossoms. They require less care than apple trees, and when once established usually do well. The blight of the native plum is the worst enemy to this fruit in Northwestern Ontario. This destroys the fruit when it is about three-fourths grown, causing the plums to wither and drop. Thorough spraying will prevent this. In Bulletin No. 43, on Plum Culture., by the writer, special attention has been g'ven to the American native plums, as there is such an immense tract of country where only these can be grown. Pears. Pears are not satisfactory north of latitude 45 degrees in Ontario. In a few places they can be grown, but the number of pear trees now living is very small. Blight and winter killing both destroy these trees. Many of the standard varieties have been tested at Ottawa, and among these the Flemish Beauty has been found to be the hardiest and least subject to blight. Fine Flemish Beauty pears are grown along the Ottawa River between Ot awa and Montreal, and they can be grown in some localities in Ontario north of lat'tude 45 degrees. The Longworth pear, though not of good quality, is less sub- ject to blight than many others and is hardy at Ottawa. The Russian pears are quite un atisfactory, as they bight badly, and are of indifferent quality and decay rapidly. Peaches. Peaches have 'been produced in the open air at Orillia, but this can hardly be con- sidered a northern district. It is possible, however, that the northern limit of the peach will not stop at Orillia. Cherries. Cherries, like European plums, are not satisfactory north of latitude 45 degrees un- less grown near a large body of water, as the buds dry out in winter and do not open. Spring trosts often compl te the destruction of the fruit buds if the winter leaves some untouched. We have not had a full crop of cherries at Ottawa since 1898, while down the St. Lawrence River, 70 miles below the City of Quebec, where the temperature falls as low in winter as it does at Ottawa there is a regular crop of cherries. The moist air from the river .preserves the buds. The hardiest cherries in the flower bud tested at Ot- tawa are : Ore! 25, Vladimir, and Minnesota Ostheim. Also a dwarf cherry called Kos- lov Morello, which is protected by the snow in winter. We are working to obtain a satisfactory dwarf cherry for the north, as we believe this to be the solution of growing cherries successfully inland. Grapes. More grapes should be grown in northern districts than there are at present, es- pecially between latitude 45 degrees and 47 degrees. At Ottawa 101 varieties ripened thoroughly this yea', and even in the worst years we can depend upon ten or twelve varie- ties at 1 ast. Among the varieties which are almost certain to ripen unless injured by spring frost are : Moore's Early, Camp-bell's Early, Moyer, Canada, Brant and Pea- body. The Champion, which is earlier than any of those mentioned, might be included, but the quality is so inferior that I hesitate to recommend it. A new variety, the Manito, is very promising as an extra early grape of good quality. To grow grapes successfully in the north, they should be planted in high, warm, wel drnined, light soil, and on a southern slope, where they will get all the heat possi- ble. The vines should be grown on a wire trellif so that the canes may be spread in such a way as to admit sunlight and air to the fruit. As the vines have to be covered THE REPORT OF THE No. 16 with soil in winter, it is necessary to adopt a system of pruning, which will make this h.bor as light as possible. A vine with two arms, and) having the crown near the ground, has been found the most satisfactory method thus far. These arms are removed and reph ced by new ones occasionally. The arms should be spread out within eighteen inches of the ground, and the crop of fruit should not be more than two feet from the ground. By growing the vines in this way, the fruit will get the reflected heat from the groun-1 and will ripen better. Some parts of Northern Ontario are very rocky. Grow- ing among and over rocks, grapes should ripen even better than when grown as al- ready described, as the heat would be greater, and good soil is not necessary to grape growing. Vines should be left covered as late in the spring as possible without danger of rot- ting, as grapes are very susceptible to the spring frosts. Raspberries. Raspberries grow wild so abundantly all through the northern districts that settlers are not quick to try the cultivated kinds. Among the hardiest varieties may be men- tioned ikarlboro, Turner, Clarke, Herbert, Sarah, Louden and Dr. Reider, the last named variety having been found among the. hardiest in Manitoba and the Northwest. Where the cares are injured by winter, they should be bent over and held down with earth, so that the snow will cover them, thus protecting the canes from being winter killed. The haidiest Blackcaps are : Older and Hilborn, and of Blackberries : Agawam and Snyder. Currants. Currants succeed admirably in the north, and there should be no trouble in growing this fruit. The Wilder, Pomona, and Cherry, are three of the best all-around varieties, but ft r eating out of hand there is nothing superior to the Moore's Ruby, as it is not as acid as the others. Gooseberries. The gooseberry is also a hardy fruit, and, being a lower grower, is covered with •now, which makes the chances for a good crop still better. Of American varieties, Downing and Pearl are the most satisfactory, though the Whitesmith, Industry and other European kinds succeed well under some conditions. Strawberries. There should be no difficulty in getting the best cultivated' varieties of strawberries all through the northern districts, with the exception of those parts where late spring fronts occur, when it will be more difficult to procure a crop, but by Judicious manage- ment the plants can be protected from such frosts. At Ottawa the following varieties are among ;he most satisfactory : Bubach, Buster, Lovett, Glen Mary, Greenville, Beder Wood, Sample, and Warfield. During last spring there was a good opportunity of learning which were hardiest in the flower, as frosts occurred during the latter part of May which lessened the crop very much, and destroyed practically every blossom of some varieties. From our experience, we would recommend! : Beder Wood, Warfield, Lovett, Sample, Buster, Williams, and Crescent as being among those most likely to suffer least from spring frosts. The Crescent appears to. be about the most hardy. Strawberries should always be lightly mulched with straw in the autumn, and even if there is abundant snow in winter, the plants, unless covered, may start to grow early in the spring and then suffer from frost. The mulch should be left on as late in the spring as possible without injury to the plants, as the longer they can be kept dormant the better chances of success there will be. Only a light mulch is necessary. 1903 FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION. 97 a heavy one may smother the plants and prove worse than none. One correspondent says that he gets best results by growing his- plants in sod like wild berries. The grass in his case acts as a mulch. Owing to the heavy snowfall in the north, there is no doubt that many things will be grown there which will surprise us. One great drawback at present is the spring (rests, but as the country opens up these will probably occur less frequently, and, further- more, methods will be devised for protecting plants against them. In the past, fruit culture has advanced northward with civilization, and it is likely to do so in the future. Severe climatic conditions will, however, have to be met, under- stood, and conquered before success is assured, and this takes time. The fruit growers of the north will be greater thinkers than those of the south, as greater difficulties will have tc be overcome, special methods of culture adopted and new varieties produced which will suit the new climatic conditions. In the north, the best wheat is produced, and the best hone)-, cheese, and butter, and when the same high standard of quality is demanded for fruit as for these articles, the men of the north will be able to furnish their share of fruit of the highest color and fin- est quality. DISCUSSION. Dr. W. Saunders, Director, Central Experimental Farm, Ottawa. You who live in this favored1 section of the country can form little idea of the dif- ficulties that surround the growing of fruit in the northern districts. Districts such as Leamington and Niagara, while highly important in themselves, are small in compari- son to the vast extent of country to the north and west, to people which, earnest efforts are being made. We cannot all live in these favored spots, and hence should be willing to do what we can to help those who are less1 favored. To show you to what an extent the extieme north sections of the country are unacquainted with fruit, I was once travel- ing in the north with a memberof the Geographical Survey, whe had brought down a boy from the Hudson Bay Territory. When they approached1 civilization, they came to a 'urn:p ft Id, and my friend informed the boy that turnips were a nice kind of fruit. The boy gathered one and ate it, thinking it was one of the finest things he had ever tasted. On another occasion I met a family at Edmonton, who had come from the Mackenzie River, near Fort Peel. None of the children 'had ever seen an apple. I bought a few end handed them to them. They looked at the apples, but did not know what to do with them. Finally the youngest put his teeth in one of the specimens, and found it ex- ceedingly good and began to eat it, the rest following suit. We have, coming into this country, thousiands of persons who have little acquaintance with the fruits grown here. WTe want to educate these people to use fruit. We had last year between thirty and forty thousand people land in Canada from the northern countries of Europe, Galicians, T<:e1ai;ders, Swedes and Norwegians, and a large proportion of whom known very little nbout fruit. One of the best ways to create in these people a taste for fruit is to place in iheir hands fruit trees of such varieties as they can grow for themselves. The more fruit a family consumes the more it wants. With this in view, early in the history of the operimental farms, earnest efforts were made to secure varieties hardy enough to be grown in Manitoba and the Northwest Territories. Every variety that promised to be hardy was tested at Brandon and Indian Head. This testing has been going on for sixteen years, but, although hundreds of varieties have been tried there, we have not yet grown an apple on either of these farms, until last year when we had a few Transcen- dent crabs. In 1886 we secured samples of the wild Siberian crab, with the expectation of having it as an ornamental shrub. Finding that it was perfectly hardy and gave crops cf fruit every year in considerable quantities, the idea occurred to cross it with some of our best and hardiest sorts, of apples and raise seedlings from these crosses pnd 7 F. G. 98 THK REPOBT OF THE No. 16 test them in that country. 1 his work has been going on for eight or nine years. Two years ago i brought to this Association some of the results of this work and exhibited specimens of the fruit that had been obtained. The total number of crosses to date is about boo, of which about 150 have fruited. A large proportion of these are compara- tively worthless, but in one case perhaps out of ten we get a fruit large enough and good enough to warrant its propagation for further test in the Northwest. These varieties, although grown in Ottawa, have been tested at Indian Head and Brandon and found perfi ctly hardy. Last year young trees of the best sorts were sent to points in the Northwest for co-operative tests, the places selected being arranged so as to cover the widest differences in altitude. As the farm at Indian Head is only 2,000 feet above sea level, it remains to be seen whether these fruits will be found hardy at higher altitudes. 1: is expected that they will, because the female plant has been found hardy throughout all the settled parts of the Northwest. We have hacl several excellent sorts added to the list which have fruited since I last spoke on this subject. This year we had two new varieties which fruited for the first time. These are larger and better than anything we have hitherto had. The best sorts are being propagated, and will be distributed as far as possible, and I hope we shall be able to get some of our leading nurserymen sufficiently interested to propagate and distribute them, as this is a work rather belonging to them than to the Experimental Farms. In this way we hope to help the fruit growers of Ontario and the fruit growers living in other parts of the Dominion, by awakening a love for fruit among the large number of persons now settling in the Northwest, thus creating a demand for the better varieties which you will be able to send them. "We are earning on experimental work with other fruits, but none are so im- portant as the cross-bred apples, which are being produced for the North-West. I believe that in another ten years we shall be able to furnish fruits of such hardiness and quality as will permit of the growing of apples all through Northern Ontario up to James' Bay, and through Manitoba, Assiniboia, Alberta, and Saskatchewan. Whether we shall be able to carry them still further north remains to be seen. The outlook is very hopeful ; the people who have come from fruit-growing countries are very anxious to get these fruits, so that they may be able to grow for themselves some part of the fruit they want to consume ; but , they will still be large customers for the better fruits of the east POWER SPRAYING. By W. A. Mackinnon, Chief Fruit Division, Ottawa. It should be clearly understood that at the present stage of horticultural develop- ment, the question no longer is whether spraying pays ; spraying is admittedly /es- sential if we are to have clean crops, and what we have now to consider is how best to acccmplish the operation. Supposing that with all the advertising and discussi >n o: past years, the public had become acquainted with the proper methods of spraying, that everv farmer who had a small orchard understood properly how to spray — even supposing that state oi affairs — difficulties would still remain. The farmer who has only a small orcnard feels that it is rather too much to ask him to purchase a spray- ing outfit, or if Be has an outfit, he often finds when he should use it that he is very busy, and puts it. Ofr. Many who have learned to believe in the operation and have pur- chased outfits do not use them properly, either because they do not use them at the right time, or becatfse they hand them over to men who care nothing about the details of the operation — who do not know that accuracy counts for everything, and that thoroughness is th-i onlv road to success. In such cases there are no results, and it is worse than if 1903 FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION. 99 THE YEARLY FIGHT FOR THE FRUIT ' CROP. Now that spraying has come to be generally recognized as a necessity in successful fruit growing, the question what sprayer to buy is a serious one for many growers. The illustration shows a Power Sprayer at work in a peach or- chard. This sprayer is highly spoken cf by many growers. It is comparatively cheap, secures its power from the rear wheel, does not have to be recharged, re- quires no fuel, is not too heavy, and is reliable and not expensive to operate. they had not sprayed «t all, because the operation is discredited. These are some of the difficulties < tnac occur in connection with ordinary spraying-. Considering and accepting the fact that mere education to induce spraying was & thing of the past, the Minister of Agriculture last spring authorized the Fruit, Divis- ion to conduct a demonstration in power spraying, in order that the growers i might LOO THE REPORT OF THE No. |6 see that by that method they can spray more efficiently and economically than, by the old method, especially when labor is dear. In order to test the method, , gasoline power outfits ncrc sent to Woodstock and to Montreal. The spraying was not to, be a mere demonstration ol tne use ol the power pump, but a scientific experiment, continued throughout the season. The orchards were to be sprayed at least four times, and the farmers interested agreed to pay for the operation, the amount being fixed in advance. In the case of Montreal, it happened that this year they had ,,no fungous disease or Codling moth, and, therefore, we have nothing to show as the result of our work there. The greatest number of "trees covered in one day was 800, the trees being of medium size and the son not such as would facilitate quick work. In the neighborhood of Woodstock some twenty orchards were accepted. These extended in a long, irregular Fine irom Ingersoll to Woodstock, the total distance be- ing about ten miles irom end to end, and the route was, therefore, not best adapted to economic operation. The orchards were of t all sizes and descriptions, so that the work was done under all sorts of conditions. The spraying outfit consisted of a two- and-a-half horsepower gasoline 1 engine, two lines of hose with six nozzles each, and a tank containing 250 gallons. We used 1-4-inch hose for lightness. The size commonly used is half-inch ; three-eights or a quarter is much better ; >it is about £ight times: lighter when filled with liquid than half-inch. We used a wide-tired wagon, with low wheels in front to facilitate turning. Altogether we had 8,790 " tree sprayings," and the average cost per tree for each spraying was rather over four cents. We had a most unsuitable route to follow, and had no thought from the first that we could make it an economic success. Then, our men were quite inexperienced with gasoline outfits, and time was lost and expense in- curred, which will not be necessary another year. Q.: Is that a3 in tne lour cents ? Mr. Mackinnon : Yes. I am not at all sure that I can say that power spraying will always De done at four cents. Some of the rspray-pump catalogues will lead one to suppose that a fraction over two cents would do the work with hand power. I think this is very doubtful, and I should not care ,to promise that spraying will be done on an average at less than five cents for each application. Q.: Are you referring to mature apple trees ? Mr. Mackinnon : Yes ; peaches, plums and pears would take less time and material. You get a >very hne spray with a power outfit. The spray is produced by 100 pounds of p'fessure 'constantly on the hose, and is, in fact, a mist, which will cover every part oT trTe tree. As regards results, I may say that in the sprayed orchards we had very great difficulty in finding scab or defective fruit. We had some remarkable examples of the way spraying benefited the crop. On one side of the road, in an orchard we sprayed, it was difficult to find -defective fruit ; on the other side of the road, where the orchard had not been sprayed, it was difficult to find clean, perfect fruit. In the orchard of Mr?' SbTTell, Woodstock, which we sprayed, the results were very marked. Close to this orcTTafd in a kitchen garden was a solitary nee, which could not be ap- proached by"The outfit owing to its location. The fruit from that tree was scabby and small, .and lacked color. We cannot attribute all that to lack of spraying, but the operation undoubtedly prevented scab on the neighboring trees. In another instance the tre* was situated very close to the house, so that one side of it was sprayed and the other untouched. The difference in the quality of the fruit on the opposite sides of the tree was most remarkable. Mr. Schell has given me a letter containing his opinion on the results of the oper- ation, which reads as follows : Extract from letter from M. & W. Schell, Woodstock. Ont.: " (1) Whf n the one outfit is used for a number of orchards we would favor the use of a gasoline engine. We do not think the work is anv more efficiently done than 1903 FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION. 101 coulu be done by hand. It is simply a matter of economy in the saving of labor. To do a reasonably-sized orchard we would consider two men necessary on the pump to make proper headway and to keep up sufficient force, " (2) My own crop of apples was certainly as clean as anyone could reasonably wish. It was necessary in most cases to look to find spotted apples. The Northern Spies, which are usually liable to spot, were exceptionally clean and bright, and far superior to anything in the neighborhood that was unspraved. " (3) I have no doubt it paid to have spraying done. It is almost sure death •to the Codling moth." Q.: How many times do you consider it necessary to spray ? iMr. Mackinnon : That will depend on the season. If you had cold and wet weather, the spraying should be continued frequently, as under such conditions the scab is iate in developing. Four sprayings should be plenty in ordinary seasons. Q.: At what dates ? Mr. Mackinnon : Before the buds open, just before the blossoms open, shortly after they fall, and ten days or two weeks later. My object in addressing you is not merely to lay before you the results of some of the work of the Fruit Division, but it is chiefly with the hope that you will do something yourselves towards encouraging the use of power spraying. We all know that people who belong to Horticultural Societies do attend to these things fairly 'well, but there is a vast army of farmers who have small orchards, and it is from those orchards that a large quantity of our export fruit comes. My thought is that the members of this Asssociation should become missionaries, and induce these small owners t° spray their orchards so that they will be able to market clean fruit. We shall never glut the market with good fruit, but the trouble is that we put upon the market along with out good fruit large quantities of inferior stuff. If the spraying operation is performed "rive times and costs five cents per tree, you have invested twenty-five cents in each tree. If the trees are fully grown, what is a fair average crop ? Suppose it is only one barrel, can you make 25 cents by having that fruit clean ? What is the difference between No. 1 fruit and inferior fruit in the market ? Fifty cents, seven! v-five cents, or a dollar. Will the members or directors of this Association constitute themselves missionaries 01 supervisors of their less well-in- formed brethren, each in his own district, and urge tb adoption of methods that will lead to the production of clean fruit ? Tnduce the farmers to unite to purchase power outfits, which cost about $350, including the wagon, and to employ one man to each out- fit who understands or will study the proper methods of spraying — who will know how to mix and properly apply the compounds, so that instead of each farmer having to face the problem of getting a skilled man or throwing his money away by doing the work improperly, one skilled man will act for a group of them. I hope the As- sociation will adopt this suggestion in some form. We have got past the day when we have to instruct our growers what varieties to plant. We know what to grow and how to "grow it, and what we require Is to get rid of the culls, which are eating up our profits, and then to place our fruit on the market in an attractive form. Mr. Barber : This is a question that has. interested, me for a number of yoars. My trees are coming more and more into bearing. I have a good hand-power sprayer ; shall I continue with it for a year or two, with the prospect that at the end 01 that time the power method will be mure perfect than at present ? Mr. Ma:kinnon : I cannot say we h.ave arrived at perfection in power spraying, but it is not new on the other side of the line. No doubt, improvements will be made from time to time. My opinion is that it would pay you to dispose of the hand-power and substitute a power sprayer, if you have the requisite number of trees. Mr. Barber : I have about three thousand trees. Mr. MacKinnon : I would think that would keep an outfit busy. LOS THE REPORT OV THE No. 16 44 3 « c fl 2 o rt R-rHtd 0 4)^ r-J 0) be be be! fl or: .a o |||!|g h ^ 5 •- o cu 3*2 153 2wUtf cu ^ oj +-1 , * 5 •' ol^^ ^ 0) o cd gs Ki ^-m . cu o . ^.Sm^cd"* P. , rt cci > f*-' 0,^0 « rt cd 2 .5 o 1903 FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION. 103 Mr. Owen, Catawba Island, Ohio : Early last spring I introduced a compressed air outfit, and to me it has solved the problem of spraying to a great extent, and has taken the bugaboo away from it. Such an outfit consists only of an air compressor and two tanks for the waggon and a storage air tank. The outfit is very simple. You go into the orchard with two tanks on the wagon, and no expensive, bulky machinery to get out ot order. One man does all the work. I operate a cluster nozzle and spraying spar. They are operated from a platform at the back of the wagon, where the operator stands. The tank holds 130 gallons. My remarks apply particularly to the spraying of peach trees. A peach tree of the ordinary size can be sprayed thoroughly from one side with a strong wind with about three passes at it with a cluster nozzle. To do away with some of the labor, I got up a spray spar with twelve nozzles distributed at intervals up the spar. I use a Niagara nozzle with a flat spray, and thus obtain with this apparatus a solid bank of spray. In this way we are able to spray as rapidly as the horse can walk, and with a strong wind one man can spray twenty acres of peaches per day without difficulty with a single rig. With me it was a question of labor, and I had to get something to help me to do the work, from the fact that we have to pay twenty cents per hour for a good practical sprayer, and it came to a point this spring when we could scarcely get them at any price. This system has proved so successful that seven or eight central stations have started up. These co-operative associations are getting the plants and doing the spraying for their members. You need only one man at the pumping station ; he pumps up the compressor and does the mixing ; and one man in the orchard who will keep three rigs going and spray out a wonderful lot of mixture. He will do more than twelve men, or four rigs which employ three men each, and do better work. The spraying spar will not miss one small twig, and will not waste the material, while with the individual nozzle you often go over the same Tmbs two or three times: Q.: How far do the nozzles extend from the spar ? Mr. Owen : They are right on the spar. Q : What is the cost? Mr. Owen : I have had to fight the San Jose Scale, using the lime, sukhur and sa1t solution. For that I have used a steam boiler and engine rather than gasoline. You can run the air compressor with a gasoline engine. I have a steam boiler and air compressor, and can keep as many rigs going as we want ; I should recommend three rigs for large commercial orchards. Many of our people are taking up spraying as a business. With the lime, sulphur and salt mixture they charge about three cents a gallon made and applied. The outlay for such a plant, including steam boiler, rigs and all, would probably be from $600 to $800. My plant has cost me a little over a thous- and dollars, but I went to a lot of expense in experimenting which you could probably avoid. INSECTS AND FUNGOUS DISEASES OF igo^. By Dr. James Fletcher, Ottawa. The subject of my address to-night, ladies and gentlemen, and boys and girls, is the insect and fungous diseases which every year cost this country a great deal of money. Ol every crop that grows the farmer loses, every year, nearly one-fifth of the profit, frcm causes which can be largely prevented, but which are not to the extent they ought to be. This year has been a particular exception to this rule. It is not ad- visable to-night to go into any great detail, but I must speak in rather a general way. The losses during the past year to the fruit grower were chiefly due to old and well-known pests, which, unfortunately for them, many of our fruit growers think they know all about. The most important of these was the San Jose Scale. Do not let any Ontario farmer allow the wool to be pulled over his eyes by the statement, too 104 T11K REPORT OF THE No. 16 frequently made, that " we can manage that all right." Do not believe that you have any cause to feel that you can deal with the San Jose Scale without a great deal of ' 'e. From all we know, and we know more than we ever did before, the San Jose Scale is a scourge that is robbing Ontario of many thousands of dollars every year. Within the last week I saw the statement that half the fruit trees in the United States would eventually be destroyed by the scale. Let us ask, then, have we a remedy ? I answer decidedly, yes. We have a good, practical remedy, if farmers will only use it. We began a discussion this afternoon as to the way to spray, and as to whether it paid to spray or not. There is not a successful fruit grower in this Association but knows that it does pay, and pays enormously, and makes exactly the difference be- tween profit and loss in the Ontario orchards. It is worth the while of the members of this Association, and every one dependent on this industry in which such enormous sums are invested, to know that the San Jose Scale can be controlled if people do what they know they ought to do for their own sakes. Should the fruit grower not spray when he knows that he will lose money by not doing so ? Should he be so" foolish as to say he has not time to do it ? Is there any man in business who will say that he has not time to make money? That is exactly a parallel case with a fruit grower, when he can urove to himself that he can save money if he does this and all other parts of his work in the best way. But all will see that the man who will plant an orchard and cultivate it and prune it for years is not a good business man if he neglects two or three days' work in the spring spraying at the crucial time which determines whether his labor is to return him any profit or not for that year at least. We discussed to- day v. lather it was four or five cents per tree that the cost of the treatment came to. That should not have been the discussion, for even if it costs fifty cents1 per tree, we could make one hundred and fifty per cent, by the investment. Dr. Mills, in his address last evening, drew your attention to four or five matters that were of great importance to fruit growers, and among them he pointed out the importance of the work of spraying being thoroughly done. Most people who spray do rot spray at all. What is a spray ? It is mist — liquid broken into such minute- particles that it falls as an actual spray or mist, and yet the farmer who is going to spray, in many instances gets the cheapest pump that will throw liquid in any sort of way on to his trees, and then expects to get the best results. He must get the best hr.plcments in the market, and get the best men, or see to it himself that it is properly done. It must be done well and thoroughly, so that the whole tree is covered. Then,, spraying is not a general panacea which will cure all ills. There are different kinds o{ pests and different kinds of materials to be used, and these must be understood by the fruit grower before he can get the best results. We have different kinds of fungi„ those that work from the inside and those that work from the outside, and different remedies are necessary for each. Some insects eat up the substance of the foliage, and: require special remedies ; others suck up the sap, and the tree may be said to die for want of its blood. All must be treated in their own special way. Fortunately for the farmers there are many general remedies that may be used' for several of these pests at the same time. In speaking of the San Jose Scale, I will say that the one remedy that up to the present has, on the whole, given the best results is the lime and sulphur wash. This is the most practical remedy to use for the reason that it not only destroys the San Jos« Scale and many kinds of insects, but at the same time many kinds of fungous, diseases as well. It is rather troublesome to make, but with improved machinery and' the knowledge which has been distributed all through the Province by the officials of" both Governments, the men most concerned are learning more and more every day about this work. A recent discovery has been made that the long and tedious opera- tion of boiling this mixture for two or three hours to dissolve the sulphur has been obviated by the use of caustic soda when making the wash. For a few minutes let me refer to that great advance in education which has recently come so much to the front, namely, what i§ known as "nature study." Nature study is the training of boys and 1903 FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION. 105 girls to be useful men and women — good citizens — 'by teaching them to use their eyes and their minds at the same time — to look at a thing and to see it when they are look- ing at it ; teaching them not about natural history, but to see that things differ from one another ; to sharpen up their eyes -and their minds so that they can think for themselves about every problem that comes before them in their ordinary lives ; teach- ing boys and girls to be wide awake, and therefore to be more useful men and women. The object of nature study is not to train scientists, but to lay the foundation for making good, strong men and women, whether they are to be parsons, .lawyers, doctors, far- mers, or merchants, all who engage in the ordinary vocations of life. The boys and girls of to-day have a better chance than their fathers and mothers had to be useful Canadians. With these increased opportunities they must not forget that they have greater responsibilities. You as fruit growers wiho attend this convention have some- thing demanded of you. You were appealed to or grades that make three layers in a basket or " cup" of the carrier, a 2-2, a 3-2, or a 3-3 pack may be used. For four layers, a 4-3 or a 4-4 pack can be used, but it seldom rays to systematically pack peaches of this size. For two layers (usually first grade) it is best and necessary in most cases to use a 2-1 pack, although sometimes to make the. cup high enough it is .necessary to place the bottom layer on end. With seme varieties and grades it is often necessary to use a different pack in the' bottom rcw thrn is used in the upper cups ; e.g.. X Fancy Hiley. Picking Baskets and Carrier of second grade Elbertas, showing a 2-1 pack. (Photo, by G. H. Powell, Department of Agriculture, Washington.) Bottom row, 2-2 pack, 3 layers, peaches packed flat. Upper row, 2-1 pack, 2 layers, under on end, upper on side. Th? car.iers used for grades Nos. 1 and 2 are neatly labelled. No. 3 goes into plain crates, having no mark other than the name of the variety. In all of them the peaches are firmly packed to prevent change of position and bruising while in transit. 1 he rosy cheek of the peach is placed uppermost, and the peaches are all pointed the same way in the cup. When the carrier is filled, the packer puts a ticket on it and sends it to the nailing table, where it is inspected. If found satisfactory the cover is nailed on immediately and It is carried to the car ; if not packed to suit the inspector, Tt is sent back to be repacked by the packer, whose number corresponds to the number found on th? ticket. S me growers use what is termed a "spring" pack ; i.e., a full layer on the bottom of the cup, a partial layer in the centre and another full one on top. In reality, it is a false pack, and one that iis unsatisfactory, as it is liable to become loose Lefore it reaches the market. Other growers use a two-layer pack, with both layers on end. Peaches packed in this manner are apt to become crushed through pressure of the crate top on the tender end of the peach. 1903 FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION. Ill The Georgia Carrier. In Georgia they use a light carrier containing six baskets holding four quarts each. It is a very strong package, gives good ventilation, iis neat in appearance, and costs only twelve cents with the divider, six baskets and cover. It is put together with strong v\ire staples well clinched on the inside. The panel heads afford a sure grip to the hands, and carnage from breakage rarely occurs. When loaded in cars, the shape cf the package permits a perfect fit ; the tiers are separated for ventilation by means of inch slats tacked across the ends of the packages. Yesterday Prof. Taft. referred to this carrier in connection with his- remarks on the packing 01* fancy peaches in Michigan. Nearly all the southern States have adopted it. Texas, a coming peach State, and where to-day thousands of acres are being planted, adopted it at the outset. I intend to introduce it in the Argentine Republic, where in a few months I expect to direct the planting of a large orchard. In Canada, where no uniform peach and plum package has yet been adopted, it should receive the closest examination and the consideration of each and every grower. Even though it would cost more to make it in the north than in Georgia, the package would be cheap at twice th? price men ioned. ■ „.™ i Hf "P * I ) * ~4 i 4 v A M - f v *~ < V « WGm V * ■ 4 i -4 4 %^ 4 If JM ^k Peaches wrapped for Export. (Photo, by G. H. Powell, Department of Agriculture, Washington.) Wrapping Peaches. Experience is teaching the Georgia grower that it pays> to wrap peaches. It pre- vents bruising and the spread of Monilia (brown rot), adds to the appearance of the package, and, abo\e all, it increases the profits. Trial shipments repeatedly have brought fifty cents per carrier more than for unwrapped. This is worth considering, when the extra cost to wrap a carrier amounts to no more than six cents. Fairly heavy paper has given better results than light; One report from New York last season stated that in carriers that contained unwrap- ped peaches, io to 15 per cent, were bad, while only 3 per cent, were bad in carriers that were wrapped. Wrapping seems to add or bring out the color. Mr. Hale says : " Wrapping is de- cidedly the test caper for soundness and color." Next season he expects to wrap a large portion of his output. Other growers in middle Georgia and most of those in the northern part of the State are planning to do the same. L12 THE REPORT OF THE No. 16 In cold storage, the effect of wrapping is not so noticeable on peaches as on other SSes of iruit. mainly because peaches as a rule are not stored long enough for any ad- vantages to be well marked. Experiments show, however, that wrapped peaches re- tain iluir firmness and brightness longer, and are less apt to show a discoloration of their compressed sides when removed. Shipping. A: the Hale orchards the carriers are loaded into the cars at the packing house, and through trains carry them to New York and all points in the north. A fast sche- dule is arranged for these trains to deliver the fruit on the market in the best possible condition The cars are iced three times between Fort Valley and New York. Cars .0 feet long loaded about two-thirds full carry 560 carriers 5 tiers high ; in wet seasons, one tier Lss. There are many different types of refrigerator cars now in use, some with the ice chambers on the end, some iced overhead and others iced in various ways ; none are en- tirely satisfactory. The objection to them lies not in the method of icing alone, but in the lack of proper ventilation, and, as a consequence, it is difficult to maintain an even temperature. Investigations show that different temperatures are found in different styles of cars and in cars of the same style. As a rule, the temperature at the top of the car ranges ten degrees higher than that at the bottom. This, aided by the moisture thrown oft* from the fresh peaches, is favorable to the spread of brown rot, and; should be remedied. , Quick refrigeration is essential to prevent the spread of this fungus, which can c.o so much damage in twenty-four hours. No refrigerator car yet constructed, whether in Canada or the United States, can give quick refrigeration. For this reason, it is advis- able, when possible, to have the fruit cooled before it enters the car. Furthermore, the fruit can be picked in better condition, riper and more mature. A local cold storage plant adjoining packing house into which the fruit could be placed and cooled before it goes into the car should be considered a part of the equipment of our up-to-date orchards. Such is feasible, however, only on large plantations or in connection with Mr. Owen's suggested co-operative central packing house. ; .Marketing. Mr. Hale ships to only one commission house in the same market. By doing so, he does not compete against himself, and, by careful grading and honest packing, his fruit is; often sold before it reaches the market. He keeps in close touch with his com- m'ssion man and with the market generally. He uses a private te.legraph code to make con munication secret and to lessen the expense of telegraphing. Srme markets prefer a yeHow-fleshed peach to a white, and vice versa ; e.g., New York favors the yellow, while Philadelphia prefers the white. Large peaches do not always bring the most money ; as a rule, they bring less. On many occasions I have known second-grade Elbertas to sell for twenty-five cents and more per carrier over the came day's quotation for first grade. Georgia peaches always bring top prices in all markets. The Surplus and By-Products. The question of handling to advantage the surplus' and by-products of the peach in- dustry is a most important one to all orchardists. There is no necessity for the grower to srffe- loss in seasons of abundant crops when there are so many ways in which the surp'us fruit, both good and bad. may be saved from the hog pen and the compost. Num- erous and varied methods are resorted to in Georgia and elsewhere. I have time only for a list, which it as fo'lows : Commercial canning, home canning; peach pulp, jelly, jam and "butter"; evaporat- ing and drying ; crystallized peaches ; distilling, peach brandy, wine and vinegar ; pits «o'd to nurserymen. 1903 FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION. 113 FIRE BLIGHT. By b. C. Harrison, Professor of Bacteriology, Agricultural College, Guelph. "That < pedes of blight which is sometimes called the 'fire blight' frequently de- stroys trees in the fullest apparent vigor and health, in a few hours turning the leaves suddenly brown as if they had passed through a hot flame, and causing a morbid matter to exude fr< m the pores of the bark of a black, ferruginous appearance. This happens thr ughout the whole course of the warm season. More frequently in weather both hot and moist." So wrote William Coxe in a book on the "Cultivation of Fruit Trees," published in 1817, which is said to be the oddest American book on fruit culture. Nearly forty years before this we have a record of the disease mentioned in a let- ter written by one, William Denning, who first saw the disease in the Highlands of the Hudson, in 1770. He described the disease fairly well and thought it was due to a borer in the trunk of the tree. From 1817 almost to the present time, we find in horticultural literature many thecries as to the cause of the blight. It would be tedious to give an account of all the different theories put forward by various writers during this period. The most diverse views were entertained as to the cause of the disease and it was a constant topic for discussion in the horticultural journals and societies. These discussions were so wearisome and so barren of results that the Western New York Society resolved that the subject should not be discussed at their meetings unless some one had some- thing entirely new concerning the disease to communicate. Amcngst the numerous theories put forward to explain the cause of pear blight, we may mention the following : 1. Insects. 2. Rays of the -sun passing through vapors. 3. Poor or deleterious soil. 4. Violent changes of the temperature of the air, or the moisture in the soil. 5. Sudden change from sod to high tillage resulting in surfeit or over plus of sap. 6. The effects of age ; old varieties being most subject to it. 7. Autumn freezing of unripe wood, which engendered a poison that destroyed the shoots and branches in the following season. 8. Ekctidty, or atmospheric influence. 9. Freezing of the sap, or fr'eezing of the bark. 10. The heat of the sun assisted by raindrops acting as lenses causing the scald- ing of the sap and bursting of the cells. Ii. Fermentation of the sap. 12. The absence of certain mineral matters in the soil. 13. An epidemic transmitted from place to place by the air. 14. Fungi. Each of the above theories was sustained by various writers, and it may be of interest to note that Henry Ward Beeoher was an advocate of the theory that the cause of blight was due to the autumn freezing of unripe wood. A. J. Downing, the distinguished author of "Fruits and Fruit Trees of America, " applied the name "Frozen-sap Might" to the disease. His theory was that the disease was due to the freezing and thawing of sap. The sap thus lost its vitality, became dark and discolored and poisonous to the plant. Thomas Meehan, editor of the "Gardeners' Monthly," supported the idea that fungi were the cause of the disease ; but no tests were applied to prove that the inoculation of these fungi into healthy trees would cause the disease. It was not until the year 1878, when W. T. Burrill, the Professor of Botany in the University of Illinois, announced to the State Horticultural Society the discovery of bacteria apparently connected with the disease. Burrill also proved that the disease £ F.G 114 THE REPORT OF THE No. 16 was infectious and could be communicated to healthy limbs by inoculation, using the gummy exudation from an affected tree as a virus. Not only was he able to produce the disease in pears, but also in apples and quinces. Dr. J. C. Arthur, Botanist of the New York Experiment Station, subsequently confirmed Prof. Burrill's results and thor- oughly established the fact that a certain species of micro-organism, named by the dis- coverer Bacterium amylovorum or the starch-destroying bacterium, was the sole cause oi the disease. Geographical Distribution. This cisease is peculiar to North America. So far it has never been recognized in Europe. Prof. Budd, of Iowa, who is familiar with the disease as it occurs in North America, has inspected the orchards of Europe, and states that no trace of fire blight of pea: or apple trees can be seen in Europe. It is also known in New Zealand, .and Australia. In North America the blight extends from New York to California, and from the northern counties of Ontario to Texas. Dr. Beadle, in a sketch of the his- tory of the disease in Ontario, states that, "In the early days of fruit-growing in the Niagara district we had no pear tree blight nor apple blight. With the advent of what people termed grafted fruit there came, after a few years, 'blight' on the pear tree . . . By the year 1840 it had spread considerably." N. J. Clinton, of Essex County; S. Hunter, of Oxford; E. D. Smith, of Wentworth; Stone and Wellington, of Welland; R. Hamilton, Argenteuil, reported its presence in their respective counties about 35 years ago. The colder parts of the Province have suffered as severely from the disease as the more favored districts. The orchard of the Dominion Experimental Farm at Ottawa has been attacked, and the 140 Russian varieties of apples cultivated there have suffered severely. In warmer districts, how- ever, the disease has been much more severe. Whole orchards have been completely destroyed in the State of Texas, and certain pear-growing districts in that State have be n pract'cally ruined by this parasite. Losses. No statistics are available to give us an idea as to the amount of loss to fruit growers from pear blight, but a few references to losses by this destructive disease will help to give us an appreciation of the subject. Coxe in 1817 reported that he had lost upwards of fifty trees in twenty years. In the years 1826, 1832 and 1844 there was an increased prevalence of the disease and few pear orchards escaped without partial or total loss oi many trees, and some orchards were quite destroyed. Downing 'called it the "monstrous malady of the pear." Lyons stated, as the opinion of many cultivators in the- State of Michigan, that "The pear tree cannot be grown with financial success on account of the blight." Hallam in 1882 reported that, "In Southern Illinois pears have failed — utterly failed, so that none are now cultivated for market. The blight has de- s'.ro; el 'he trees, branch and root." While A. Noice, of the same State, doubted "if one- t nth of the rear trees that are planted lived ten years on account of this destructive agent." E. H. S. Dart stated thst the severities of winter were not so much to be dreaded as the ravages of blight. He had in 1874 one to two thousand trees affected. Dr. P. A. Jewell in 1876 lost 10,000 Tetofsky apple trees by it. Bailey, of Cornell, de- clared that fire blight was undoubtedly the most serious disease with which the quince grower has to contend. It was the same disease which was so destructive to pear or- chards in certain years and to certain varieties of apples, particularly the crabs. Selby, of Ohio, reported that the disease ranked among the most destructive known to the orchardist in his State. Chester, of Delaware, announced that pear blight was of unusual sevf rity during the season of inoi and caused much alarm because of its rapid spread through the orchards of the State. In 1805 its ravages were most severe on apple trees in the vicinity of Hamilton and Burlington Bay. J. Craig gathered information as to 1903 FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION. 115 the character of injury of the disease from fruit growers throughout this Province, and a number of these stated that the injury was very severe. These citations are enough to show that the disease is of special economic import- ance and greatly dreaded by many fruit growers. Symptoms. The first indication of fire blight is seen either in the browning and subsequent b1ack(ming of the 'eaves or of the young twigs or of young tender shoots. When th- twigs or shoots are the principal parts affected, the disease is spoken of as twig blight. Pears shew the presence of the disease more frequently by the blighting and blackening cf the leafy tufts of the spurs, and show it especially by the darkening of the blossom clusters on the larger branches ; while later, the branches' themselves become blackened. The progress of the disease is always downward; an inch or more each day, ifeA > Fig. 1. — Showing the result of inoculating a terminal shoot with a pure culture of the Fire Blight organism by punc- ture at the point A. Fig. 2. — Showing the blighting of a ter- minal shoot by inoculation of the ter- minal bud with a pure culture of the Fire Blight organism. (After Chester). depending upon the season, until the larger limbs are infected. In the more susceptible varieties it spreads more quickly, involving the whole tree ; but in the more resistant varieties the progress of the disease is not so fast. When the disease is active the bark of the diseased branches cracks, and a thick, blackish, gummy fluid exudes, and later the affected bark becomes hardened, dry and shrunken. The disease occasionally appears on the larger branches and trunks of fruit trees, when these have been bruised or otherwise injured, when its appearance is similar to the injury known as "sun-burn" or "sun-scald." This disease of the trunks or larger branches is sometimes spoken of as "body blight" or "rough bark." The inner bark and cambium layer of the limbs and trunks are the most important parts of the tree killed by the blight. Instances are known of its lit* THE KEPORT OF THE No. 16 attacking the fruit, producing watery ulcers accompanied by brown discoloration and decay. The disease may be known by its peculiar odor, said by "some writers to resemble put e action. When the disease is in progress, the discolored blighted portion blends gradually into the color of the normal bark; but when the disease has stopped there is a sharp line of d^marcat on be. ween the diseased and healthy portions. (Waite.) .Microscopic Appearance of thk Diseased Tissues. The most conspicuous change in the tissues affected with the blight, is the dis- appearance of the stcred starch, and on .account of this peculiarity the organism has been named the "starch destroying bacterium" (Bacterium amylovofum). The germ pene- trates from one cell to another and produces a gummy or mucilaginous matter which is found on the exterior of the affected parts. The microbe is found, as a rule only on the inner bark and in the actively growing tissues (called the cambium, which pro- duces wood on the inner -side and bark on the outer side). The organism is unable to grow in tissues that are lignified or woody. S9 • 0 *, I Fig. 3. — Fire Blight bacteria amylovorum). x2000. (B. Fig. 4. — Cross section of a one and two year old stem. Fire blight bacteria grow in the cambium (c) and inner bark (F). E— epidermis. Co — Corky lay- er, B — Bast fibres, P — Parenchyma, C — . Cambium. X — Xylem or woody tissue. M— Medulla or pith. Life History of the Pear Blight Germ. The organism which produces the disease is a small motile bacillus which increases with great rapidity in the succulent parts of affected trees. The microbe is of micro- scopic size, so small that 25,000 placed end to end would only measure an inch. They are able to live and multiply in the nectar of the blossoms from whence they are carried to other flowers by bees and insects which visit the blossoms for honey and pollen. From this locality the germs extend into the tissues, and then downward into the braiches by way of the inner bark, girdling the limbs and causing a large amount of damage. The blight germ also gains entrance to the plant through the tips of growing shoots, thus producing twig blight. The organism is not killed by the winter frosts but lives in the bark in a dormant condition until spring. As soon as the plant tissues become gorged with sap in the spring the microbes, which have remained alive all through the winter, start tc grow and extend into the new bark. This new blight 1903 FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION. 117 which develops in the spring can be recognized by its moist and fresh appearance from the 'blighted, dead and dried bark of the previous summer. A large amount of gum is exuded from the affected bark and runs down the tree and attracts to it bees and other insecti which carry the microbes to the early blossoms, and from these first flowers it is carried to others, and thus the disease extends. The germ has never been discovered in the soil, although careful search has been made, hence the importance of recognizing the winter form of the disease, for if these affected portions of the tree are cut out and destroyed, the pear blight question is solved, for without the microbes there can be no disease. Conditions Affecting the Spread of the Disease. Fire blight differs in severity in different localities, and there are a number of con- ditions which affect the character and progress of the disease. Every tree of the pome family is subject to the blight, but pears and; quinces are more suseepiible than plums *md apples. The mountain ash, service berry and hawthorn are frequently ciseased, but not to such an extent as the first named trees. There is a difference in the susceptibility of varieties. Thus among pears, Clapp's Favorite, Flemish Beauty, and Bartlett, are more liable to the disease than Keiffer and Duchess, and amongst apples, the crab varieties are the least resistant. C imatic con di ions influence the disease, warm, moist weather with much rain iavor it. whilst 'bright, dry, sunny weather tends to check it. High cultivation, rich soil, heavy manuring, free use of fertilizers, heavy pruning, or any other treatment which has a tendency to induce new and succulent growth, favors the disease, as the bacteria grow with greater rapidity and penetrate more quickly from cell to cell when the tissues are gorged with sap. Insects are more par- t'al to young succulent shoots and leaves, and the bites and punctures of such insects whose mouth parts may be contaminated with pear blight germs often serve to infect the tree. It is thus manifest that healthy, thrifty, vigorous, well-fed and well-cultivated trees are more liable to the disease than others, and hence the severity of an attack of fire blight may bz lessened by conditions which are under the control of the grower. Treatment. Th.; treatment of fire blight is of two kinds — that which is designed to put the tree in a condtion to withstand the attack of the blight microbe, and those methods which aim at the extermination of the causa] bacterium. Unfortunately all methods which are used for hindering the attack of the microbe consist of restraining the full development c£ the tree, and hence any such system of procedure should not be followed, unless an oreha d is very badly attacked. High cultivation, winter pruning and the other conditions already mentioned, as predisposing trees to blight should be avoided, but the trees should be allowed to ripen the wood, and in order to do this the fruit grower must use any method which will check the amount of moisture in the soil, for instance, by the growth of a clover crop. The fire blight organism cannot be exterminated by spraying, as the microbe lives in the tissues beneath the outer bark, and it is impossible to reach it with any spraying srlution, for urless the bacteria come into contact with the germicide, spraying is inef- fectual. There is, therefore, but one remedy, to cut out and burn the affected parts of the tree. It is very necessary when cutting out a diseased branch or twig to cut well below the di-colored portion, as the bacteria are in most cases far below the discolored por- tion, th* discoloration not being produced immediately upon the appearance of a few bacteria, so that if only the discolored portion were cut off, numbers of bacteria would! still be left in the stump, and these would continue to multiply, and the disease would. soon be evident again. IIS llli: RKPOKT OF THE No. 16 Cutting of affected parts may be clone at any time in the winter and spring, but it is not advisable to cut in the growing season, as fresh cases may be constantly occurring, and these, owing to lack of sufficient development, would not bo seen. Th-: best time lor cutting out affected branches is towards the fall, or when the trees have stopped forming new wood, when most of the blight has developed, and when the contrast between the discolored leaves and branches and healthy tissus is easilv seen. Trees should be carefully inspected for blight during the winter, and in spring before the blossoms come out, in order to destroy any affected parts that have been missed at previous inspection. All wild trees of the pome family in the vicinity should be examined as well, as these, if blighted, may serve to reinfect an orchard which has been carefully treated. In cases where the bark of the trunk is affected, it can be cut out and the wound covered with a lead and oil paint. The cut surface of branches over one-half inch in diameter should be paintel. Fig. 5. — A pear orchard badly infected with Fire Blight. NEW FRUITS By Prof. H. L. Hutt, Guelph. Your Commit ee m New Fruits, which is composed -of Mr. W. T. Macoun, Mr. L. Woolverton and myself, have to report upon the new and seedling fruits which ap- pear from year to year. Most of these are sent in to the different members of the com- mittee from all parts of the country. Tn the past I have always presented the report 1903 FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION. 119 fo the committee as a whole, but this year Prof. Macoun has had so many interesting seedlings to fruit with him at the Central Experimental Farm at Ottawa that I have re- quested him to present that part of the report himself. I have to report, therefore, upon the new fruits which have come before Mr. Woolverton and myself. Quite a large numbjr of samples have been received and examined, but as a rule with chance seedlings it is only one in a thousand that is equal to, or shows any improvement upon its parents. This year more really promising seedlings were received than usual, and as we believe it is a mistake to encourage the introduction of new varieties unless they are really .superior to those already in cultivation, we shall call attention only to some of the most promis- ing. Needling Apples. I. From John Bertram, Dundas. Received Sept. ist. Size medium to large, oblate (3x2*4), wide shallow basin, calyx -open, cavity broad, shallow ; stem medium ; skin yellow and prettily covered with light red; flesh white, mealy, fair quality and a pretty red apple about reason of Duchess 2 From W. T. Waller, Napanee. Received Sept. 12th. A beautiful red apple, something lik? Wealthy or Western Beauty. A chance seedling which grew- up beside a building. Has borne regularly for the past two or three years. Is now about six inches in diameter and about three bushels of fruit this year. This is certainly one of the most attractive apples we have seen in some time, but it so nearly resembles Wealthy in s'ze, shape, appearance, quality, and season, that it is doubtful if it would be advisable to propagate it as a new variety, unless upon further trial it proves superior to Wea'tby. 3. From George P. McNish, Lyn. Ont., shown at Toronto Exhibition and reported upon last year. A large conical white fall apple, with bright red blush, and dotted red on sunny side. Flesh white, crisp, juicy, with pleasant sub-acid flavor. Would make a pretty d-ssert apple for home use, but too white in the skin to be of value commercially. Might be valuable for the north. 4. From Prof. Campbell, Yoho Island. Lake Joseph. Received Sept. 19th. A small to medium-sized apple, roundish oblate, shallow basin and cavity, closed calyx and short stem. Beautiful dark red with white dots on a yellow skin. A good winter variety, hardy enough to stand the rigors of that climate, is just what the people of that northern section are in need of. and it is possible this seedling may be valuable for that purpose. 5. From E. E. Anderson, Wyoming, Lambton County. Received Sept. 25th. Medium sized, oblong conic, oblique, handsome bright red, something like a Brockville Beauty : fl:sh whitish, crisp, juicy, brisk sub-acid, good quality: a good apple, but would not take the place of Gravenstein, which is about the same season. 6. From G. G. White, Paris. Seedling Apple, ten or twelve years old, second crop this year. Tree vigorous and thrifty. Two bushels this year, two dozen last year. Medium to large, showy red apple, yellow flesh, coarse-grained, fair dessert quality and said to be an excellent cooker. Season, October and November. A very good apple, but not enough better than others of the same season to make it worthy our. In localities where the Qataw'ba ripens, I would plant it. Vergennes is an- o:her good grape, but no better than Rogers 15. Q.: What p-oportion of Concords and Niagaras would you put in ? Mr. Pettit : Nearly two-thirds of these two varieties. Q.: In equal quantises ? Mr. Pettit : Yes. The difficulty with the Niagara is that so many are sent to market but half ripe, which is due to the grower trying to get early prices. Another cause is that growers do not prune them close enough and allow the vines to bear too heavily, and the grapes are very poor in flavor. Q.: In our locality grapes grown on clay are considered to make better wine, being sweet :r. Mr. Smith : We have not got a good grape in Canada ; there is immense room for improvement. My suggestion is that the men who experiment with grapes o:' some of the experimenters should sow seed on an enormous scale and make a very exh us:ive and thorough attempt to secure a really good grape. Q.: What is the matter with Catawba? Mr. Smith : It is too late. Q.: The Concord ? Mr. Smith : It bruises, and is, therefore, a poor shipper. A quarter of the berries are cracked and get mouldy in the basket. Professor Fletcher : With regard to black rot, Bordeaux Mixture is the best remedy. Mix 1 pound of copper sulphate with 24 gallons of water. Spray this on be'or* the buds burst, and follow this with Bordeaux Mixture. Bordeaux Mixture may be cleaned from the grapes by dipping them in vinegar and water. CURRANTS AND BLACKBERRIES. By A. W. Peart, Burlington. So far as currants are concerned, my experience is that the acreage devoted to this crop in this Province is about large enough for present requirements. I do not think I grow any fruit that pays me as poorly, and I grow all the fruits except straw- berries. However, the question is as to the best varieties. I have found in my rxp'. ri nee that there is no fruit that responds more quickly to good treatment than the currant. It will stand a good deal of neglect, but if we want large currants and productive bushes, we must take good care of them. In planting currants, there is some variation in the .size of the bushes, but the average distance apart is six feet each way, which will give 1,200 bushes to the acre. Do the planting deeply. Growers do not, as a rule, plant currants deeply enough ; and this is true of other fruits as well. I aim to plant the trees a little deeper than they 1903 11XTT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION. 129 were ill the nursery, as indicated .by the sand line at the base of the trunk. I also believe in root pruning. When the bushes and trees come to us from the nursery, the ends of the roots are often bruised and torn. That portion of the root should be cut off with a clean under oblique cut, so that it will impact closely with the soil. 1 have pulled up trees two or three months after planting and found that the ends of the roots, where cut, had thrown out a soft granular formation, through which were protruding tiny rootlets. I make this a practice with all roots and trees except blackberries and raspberries. In regard to cultivating : I plow my currants in the fall, and cultivate in the spring. I do not cultivate after the middle .of July, as it is apt to promote late fall growth, and to make the plant tender. In regard to pruning red currants, these bear the bulk of the fruit on spurs two years old and upwards. My practice is to thin out the old wood, leaving six or eight main branches, and cutting back the more vigorous shoots. I do not cut back to a single stem or trunk, tree fashion, for if I did, in our district I should probably lose many oi the bushes from the currant borer. If, on the other hand, I prune so as to develop a bush growth, if one 'branch is attacked, 1 still have a currant bush left. In regard to varieties : I do not think I have experimented long enough to be positivt or definite on this subject. There are four or five varieties which I like very much. Of these, among red currants, I would still plant the Cherry. It is as good a currant and as profitable commercially as any I grow. I would plant a few Fay's Prolific, but it is not as productive with me as the Cherry. I am a great believer in the Wilder, which is one of the new varieties. It is as large as the Cherry — three- eighths to half an inch in diameter — hangs well on the bushes, is very productive, and of fine quality. It is slightly later than the Cherry. Another variety that is promising well is the Pomona. I think it has the highest quality of any red currant I have. It is fairly productive, is a vigorous grower, and is promising well. Q.: What would you consider the best commercial red currant in your experience ? Mr. Peart : If I were planting, I would plant largely of Cherry and Wilder, and also some of the Old Red Victoria. I would not plant white currants for commercial pui poses, as they do not bring the price. Mr. Macoun : We have no varieties on test at the Experimental Farm, and I would recommend the three that Mr. Peart has mentioned, but I place the Wilder first Mr. Peart : Black currants bear chiefly on wood of the previous year's growth. My method of pruning is to prune in the spring. Thin out the old wood and do not cut back the young wood to any extent. The tendency is not to prune out enough wcod and the consequence is that a great deal of the fruit is small. Q : Will you name the best varieties of black currants ? Mr. Peart : The Naples, Saunders, Collins' Prolific. Mr. Macoun : Would an early black currant be profitable ? Would there be any place for it ? Mr. Peart : I do not see any object in it. I think that as the season advances I get a better price for black currants. Q.: Why do you reject Lee's Prolific? Mr. Peart : It is not so productive with me ; it seems to require especial care. In the Burlington district, blackberries do best on a sandy or gravelly loam with a quicksand bottom. I make the rows seven feet apart, and the plants from two to three feet apart in the row. In regard to pruning, I go through them about the first week in July and cut back the young suckers from two and a half feet to three and a half feet from the ground. I do this to make the plants more vigorous and stocky so as to resist high winds. I then prune asrain in march, cutting off the laterals, leaving a foot to two feet, according to the variety. 0 FG. 130 THE KEPORT OF THE No. 16 Q.: Can you give us the length of laterals according to variety, roughly? Mr. Peart : With the Taylor, the Kittatinny and the Agawam, the laterals should be kit lung. The Snyder, Western Triumph, and Lovett should be pruned shorter. The Hafckberry that is grown most extensively in my district, and makes the most money, is the Snyder. It is a moderately vigorous grower and thoroughly hardy. ..Q.: Have you tried the Eldorado? Mr. Peart : Yes ; it is a light cropper, of good quality. Mr. Sherrington : It is a heavy cropper with me. Mr. Peart : If I were setting out a plantation, I would plant the Snider, Agawam, seme Western Triumph, and some Kittatinny. Q.: What about the Gainor ? Mr. Peart : Very promising ; the only reason I have left it out is, that I have tried it only four or five years. It is productive and an exceptionally large berry. The Ohmer is pi omising well, is large, hardy, productive and of good quality, Q.: What about the Ancient Briton ? Mr. Peart : It has shown signs of tenderness, is only of medium size and relatively unj roductive. APPLES AND CHERRIES. By G. C. Caston, Craighurst. I think there is a possibility that some varieties of apples are gradually adapting then selves to climatic conditions, as I observe that varieties which were tender twenty years ago in our district seem perfectly hardy to-day. There are too many varieties in this country from a commercial standpoint, and we should be very careful about recommending new ones unless they have particular merit. Even though they may promise well to start with, sometimes a tree wilf flourish well for a number of years and then begin to fail. This is particularly the case with the plum. On the other hand, sometimes, the older the tree, the better fruit it will bear. If you asked me what I considered the best commercial apple in Canada, I would say the Northern Spy. It is the apple that is wanted in our own local market and also in the northern States of the Union. It has the quality to recommend it, either for cook- ing or dessert. In the Northwest and in New Ontario the men who deaL in apples all want the Spy. One of the principal objections to it is that it takes so long before bearing — anywhere from 13 to 17 years before it comes into full bearing. It is also Inclined to rot in the trunk. The wet gets into the crotches and the tree falls apart. This is rerre-'ied by top-grafting, but the principal point in top grafting is that we get tha fruit much earlier. Q : How far up the tree would you top graft ? Mr. Canton : In the limbs. As soon as the tree is large enough for cleft grafting, you can begin to top graft. The new top should not be worked on all at once, but by degrc e:. In late winter apples, Cooper's Market is said to keep even longer than the Ben Davi-. I do not know how it is as a bearer, as I have not had long enough experience with it yet, but I think it is a very promising variety. It is of better quality than the Ben Davis. Another variety that will keep as well as the Ben Davis is the Salome. It grows to a fair size, is a nice cooker, an excellent keeper, and of fair quality. Tha Gano resembles the Ben Davis, but it is decidedly superior to it. It is just as long a keeper, a better cooker. T planted two trees in 1895 which yielded two barrels each rf first-class apples this year. If apples of the Ben Davis type are to continue to be good market apples, I would recommend the Gano in preference to the Ben PavK 1903 FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION. 131 Mr. McNeill : In the Cobourg district they were planted quite extensively, and itfiey would just as soon have the Ben Davis. Mr. Caston : The Windsor Chief is an excellent apple for sections where they cannot grow the Northern Spy. Possibly it will fill the bill as a good winter apple. It seems to fee clean and hardy, and very promising. The Mann is also a very good apple, but it is inclined to be tender, and would be better for top grafting. It will keep tjill May. The Ontario is a cross between the Northern Spy and the Wagener, and has some of the characteristics of both. With us it is one of the most promising apples. The tree partakes a little of the nature of the Wagener, being rather scraggy in the trunk. I think it would be better top grafted. It is an early and abundant bearer ; is clean, free from scab, and while it does not come up to either of its parents in quality, it is an excellent apple and a good cooker, and will keep till May. Mr. Thos. Beall : It is a far better cooking apple than the Spy. Mr. Caston : In my opinion there is nothing better for cooking than the Spy. Mr. Smith : If you were planting a permanent orchard, is there anything 'better to plant as a filler. Mr. Caston : I do not know of anything better. Mr. McNeill : Apple packers have not spoken highly of the Ontario. They say it is not a variety that they can ship with confidence during the later winter months. Mr. Caston : With us it is an excellent keeper, but, of course, we do not store apples. Mr. McNeill : Then you are scarcely in a position to judge ? Mr. Caston : Of course, the packers look for the Ben Davis and Coopers. Mr. Beall : That apple will keep first-class till the middle of June. Mr. Caston : That is our experience in a small way, and we can get nothing better for the Northwest trade. Where you cannot grow the Rhode Island Greening, the Northwest Greening will take its place in the northern home market. It is a fairly good dessert apple, and a gcod keeper. The Stark does not begin to bear early, like the Ontario, which will pay for itself before the Stark begins. I am favorably impressed with that apple in our section, and think it will succeed over the greater part of the Province. It is a fine, healthy growing tree, and is one of the commercial sorts that can fairly be recommended. It is not of very high quality, and is not very well colored, but is a fairly good apple. Possibly there is no old well-known variety in the country whose seedlings grow to resemble itself as much as the Snow. The Shiawassee Beauty is a seedling of the Snow. It has the advantage of being clean, which makes it a great exception to most of the Fameuse varieties. In fall apples, the Peerless is early bearing, but I do not know whether it is prolific. It is a slow-growing tree, but very hardy. The fruit is always clean, and of a very handsome color. I think it should capture the old country market at that par- ticular time of year, and that it is worthy of trial. Cherries. The nearer you are to large bodies of water, the better will cherries succeed. Tn Russian varieties, the best I have experimented with is Oral No. 24. The fruit is very dark, and of better quality than the Ostheim. Oral 25 is said to be still hardier in the Vud. APPLES. By Harold Jones, Maitland. Many of the varieties referred to by the last two speakers I have at my station. Among the most promising of those -mentioned with me is the Northwest Greening. It grows a little larger with me than with Mr. Caston. The tree I have was planted 182 THE REPORT OF THE No. 16 in 1897, and this year yielded about 2 1-2 bushels of fruit. The most promising of all the new varieties we have so far is the Milwaukee. It is a seedling of the Duchess, and originated in Wisconsin, and the character of the tree is very similar. It is a business tree right from the start ; requires little pruning, bears, young, and bears annually, and the only defect it has is that, being a heavy apple, it is a little inclined to drop in September, but is not nearly as bad in that respect as the Pewaukee. I have kept it until April in perfect condition. I consider it a good, all round apple, and with me it stands first among th* new varieties. Of the other varieties mentioned, the following have proved undesirable with me, namely : Salome, Winesap, Roman Stem, Sutton's Beauty, and the Mann, which sunscalds badly. Q.- What do you think of the Ontario ? Mr Tones : It is subject to canker and frost injury to a large extent. It is going to be short-lived, and possibly I should 'have put it in the undesirable class. I have 1 6a or 170 trees. They are beginning young, and next year we shall have quite a crop on trees four years planted ; but they are going to break off and be short-lived, and the orchard will be a wreck at the time it ought to be in full bearing. 1 think the reports from experimenters would be more valuable to those living in the locality, .and to the Province iat 'large, if we were to give a list of the most pro- fitabl • varieties for the district from the commercial point of view. In the St. Lawrence valley, for instance, the Fameuse group is undoubtedly the most profitable. We can grow these apples to greater perfection than in any other section of the Province, and we should recognize that. They will give us more money, tree for tree, for the fall market, that is, from September till the end of November, than any other variety, yielding as high as twelve barrels to the tree on 22-year-old trees, and they will sell for nearly as much money per barrel on the open market as the Spy. I have kept a close record of my orchard of Fameuse since 1894, JUSlt to find out what an orchard wiii give for a succession r three years. Our pradxe used to be to draw straw to the patch and cover the ground just as the fruit c( mmenced to ripen. This mulch held the moisture, and kept the fruit clean and free from sand. But it has this fault : it induces the roots to come too near the surface. r.nJ we have discontinued it on that account We now draw in well-rotted barnyard mamnc, and scatter it over the surface in the f.ill, and cultivate in the spring. Q.: Where do you classify the Craig? A.: It is tender with us, and has not sufficient constitution. Cultivation. Raspberries are planted in rows six feet apart, and the rows about thirty inches wide, like a hedge ; shallow cultivation is practiced, that is, they are kept clean by frecuent and shallow cultivation. For fertilizing, well-rotted manure is spread over the ent're ground in the fall ; wood ashes is applied at the rate of forty or fifty bushels per acre every alternate year. The pruning is done by cutting out all the old and wak canes either in the fall or spring, and all fruiting canes of strong growing var- ieties have eight or ten inches of the late growth removed in the early spring. By this method we get a better quality of fruit. Blackcaps are planted in rows six feet rpart and three feet in the row, and are cultivated the same as the red ones. Thf* pruning of the blackcaps is done by pinching off twe or three inches of the young canes when about twenty or twenty-four inches high. This causes them to throw out their laterals near the ground, making a strong plant. The laterals qvent but shallow cultivation should be prpr+i'sed, so as to retain the moisture which are Cut back in the following spring to about twenty to twenty-four inches. Fre- ff necessary in the growing of raspberries. 134 THE REPORT OF THE No. 16 STRAWBERRIES. By E. B. Stevenson, Jordan, I believe there is nothing more important in strawberry growing- than a careful preparation of the soil, if you wish to be successful. There is no fruit that is more unsatisfactory and more unprofitable when neglected, and no fruit that will more readily respond tc good care. None but those who know what the strawberry can produce under proper conditions can be made to believe what you can get off an acre of strawberries. I believe that the up-to-date grower,, who gives the straw- berry all the favorable conditions, will clear one year with another from $225 to $275 per acre ; in some years they will produce even more. Last year I gave some specific instances of this. The best early variety in the neighborhood of Jordan is the Michael, but strange to say, it is not successful anywhere else that I know of. Other good early varieties are the Van Deman, Johnson's Early, and the Beder Wood. Next in rota- tion is the Clyde. In the early new varieties the Monitor has done well. It is a large bright, clean berry, a heavy cropper, and firm. Also the Palmer's Early. Q : What is the season of the Monitor"? Mr. Stevenson : Early to medium ; it is a mid-season berry. I should also men- tion the Haverland, and Tennessee Prolific. The Tennessee Prolific is one of the best market berries grown, and it is not as extensively grown as it deserves to be. It is a large 'berry. Next come the Saunders and the Williams. The latter is not as good as the Saunders. It is largely grown in the Jordan .section, and shipped to Mani- toba and the Northwest. They pick it too green in my opinion. The berries will color a little on the lor, but hardy and of good size. The Kalamazoo is another of the same type, but it is a few days later. The Banner is a local variety which promised well, but has been rather disappointing. It has been planted largely, and early in its history it produced some fine fruit, but last year and the year before, it was disappoint- ing to many. This year the fruit was of good size and of fine quality, and I think will stand shipping equally with the Smock. It ripens in advance of the Smock, and has better color and better quality, and the trees bear young and very heavily. The Law- rence is the latest of anything we can ripen here. It is not quite large enough, but the fruit is of good color and quality and fair size. 136 THE REPORT OF THE No. 16 Q.: Is it superior to the Salway ? Mr. Hilborn : It is freer from spots, and, if anything, of better form. It is about ihe same size as Salway ; perhaps not quite as large. Le: ving out the early clingstones, the variet&es I would recommend for early planting are as follows : Yellow St. John, Garfield, Early Crawford, Fitzgerald, Engle Mammoth, New Prolific, Elberta, Bronson, Kalamazoo, Late Crawford; Banner, Smock, Salway. Q.: What about the Lemon Free ? Mr. Hilborn : It has shown a tendency to drop its fruit. Q.: Would you recommend planting any of the smaller varieties that have not much cclor ? Mr. Hilborn : Yes, for the reason that we want something to cover the entire season. Another reason is that these varieties are a little hardier in fruit bud, and will give fruit in years when some of the finer sorts will not, and we want fruit every year. Besides that, they are among the finest canning peaches we have. Q.: How do you class Steven's Rare Ripe ? Mr. Hilborn : It is one of the best shippers we have among the white varieties, ami a fine peach when properly grown, but if not properly grown the fruit does not color properly. Q.: Is the Champion a clingstone ? Mr. Hilborn : Yes, the Champion we have here. Mr. A. M. Smith : I got it from the originator in Ohio, and it is the finest white- fleshed peach we have. The genuine Champion is a freestone. Preparing Lime, Salt and Sulphur Mixture. I procured a small steam boiler (one made for steaming hog feed) and two coal oil barrels. Fill one barrel with water, turn in the steam, when hot put steam pipe in barrel No. 2, in which four or five pails of water has been placed, when this water has been heated to nearly the boiling point add 15 lbs. fresh lump stone lime, stir constantly while .clrking. As soon as possible add 15 lbs. sulphur, rubbing it through a sieve and stir thor-oughy. It is best at this time to add five or six pails of hot water from barrel No. 1 ; boil one hour, add 10 lbs. salt, boil 15 minutes longer, then -strain into the spraying barrel and add sufficient hot water from barrel No. 1 to fill the barrel and apply as soon as possible, while hot. Never make up this preparation until ready to US3 it. Q.: Do you slake your lime in hot water ? A.: Yes, and get the sulphur in as soon as possible, and then boil for one hour. I be il for an hour to make sure, and then add the salt and boil for fifteen minutes longer Three of us were able to prepare and apply five barrels per day. Q.: Do you apply hot ? >. A.: Yes ; just as soon as possible, while hot. Q.: Do you strain the lime ? A.: Y<-s ; after it is boiled. I strain it through an ordinary sack. Q.: Does the lint off the sack get into the pump ? A.: Y's somet:mes. Mr. Tweddle : Why not use a brass strainer ? Mr. Hilborn : Yes, but it seems to clog. Mr Tweddle : If ycu do not allow it to dry it will not clog. Q.: What is the idea of boiling the lime and sulphur for so long?. Mr. Hilborn : That is the direction, and I suppose it is to insure thorough boiling. As soon as you have one batch of material prepared and put into the pump barrel, yon want to start in on the next batch. It makes quite a difference how you put the si lphur into the mixture ; do not dump it in in lumps, but stir in slowly, and it will dis?olve well drained, if not naturally, then artificially, for trees will not thrive if the roots are standing in water. The soil that I prefer is a clay loam mixed with limestone, as this makes a strong, warm soil. The land should be well manured before planting and worked deep. A very common mistake when planting an orchard is to plant the trees too close. No standard apple tree should be planted nearer than forty feet each way. Bush trees or early bearing varieties of apples may be grown in between the rows, until such time as the standard trees will need the room, and then they should be removed. The farmer should decide, before planting, whether his orchard is to be a commercial orchard or one merely for family use, and should avoid the mistake, made by many of planting a great many varieties. Do not put in more than five or six at the most, and let these be of the good commercial kinds. When the trees arrive from the nursery, prune off, with a sharp knife, all the broken or bruised roots, giving a sloping cut from the under side ; make a trench in the ground, placing the roots of the trees in it, and cover with clay and water until a mortar is formed, cover well, and leave them there for two or three days before pkn'.ing. By this method they freshen up considerably, the moist clay adhering to the roots when they are removed to plant, causes the dry clay to cling closely to them, and mrkes the conditions favorable ifor an early growth. In setting the trees dig the holes large and considerably deeper than is required for the trees ; fill up the holes with surface soil, so that the trees will stand about three inches deeper than when in the nursery ; place the roots straight and natural, and use the surface soil for filling in, packing it firmly around the roots Leave no vacant places for the air to get in and dry out the roots. Pack the soil firmly to within two inches of the surface, leaving the top mellow and loose, so as to retain the moisture. The reason s'o many young trees have failed to grow is because all of the top has been left on, just as when grown in the nursery. It must be remembered that more than half of the roots are left in the ground when dug, so that the top should be thinned and cut back to correspond with the roots. This should be done immediately 1903 FEUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION. 139 after planting. Leave three or four limbs to form the head of the tree, and thin out and cut back the rest just above the bud. It also must be remembered that the tree can take no nourishment from the soil until the new roots are formed, and if , the •whole top is allowed to remain it is too great a drain on the material stored up in the plant. This is one great reason why so miany trees die the first or second year after planting. The success of the orchard depends largely upon the care that it receives wheti( young. It should be well cultivated and fertilized ; corn or roots should be grown in the orchard, but do not plant too close to the trees, and allow room for cultivation. Keep the young treesi growing vigorously. Clover may be grown for one year, and then pk;wed under, and this will add nitrogen and humus to the soil. Cultivate intelligently, prune annually and spray faithfully, and you will be well repaid. Now, to those who are contemplating planting an orchard, I would recommend the planting of such hardy varieties as the Talman Sweet, Pewaukee, and McMahon's White, the Talman preferred. Cut the head as directed above, and when grown two years, or the limbs have made a growth of three-quarters of an inch in diameter, top- graft them to the variety wanted. By this method you will know just what you have in your orchard, and this is not always the case when getting your trees from the nursery. Another advantage is that you will have a stronger and better tree, and one that will come into bearing earlier. This fs especially the case with the Spy and King. We know that there is individuality m trees as well as in animals, so some attention should be paid to the trees from which the sicions are taken, and be sure that they are taken from trees that give good annual crops of apples of fine quality. Under these- circumstances you may expect that your orchard will be Just like the orchard from which the scions are taken. In grafting trees the limbs should be cut at from three to four inches from the forks! of the tree, as this* method Insures a strong, vigorous stalk, with well knit forks. This is especially true of the Talman Sweet. REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON FRUIT EXHIBIT AT LEAMINGTON. Simcoe Station, G. f the grass and the trees growing over it. The Green Sward. There are two ways of clothing the ground with grass, either by sodding or by sowing grass seed. On small plots or steep banks and along borders, sodding is the quickest and most satisfactory method, but on large areas seeding is not only the cheapest, but the best. In preparing the ground for seeding it should be plow ed, harrowed, rolled and made as fine as possible, and as a final preparation nothing is better than going over it carefully with a garden rake. The kind of seed to sow is a matter of importance. Coarse grasses, such as timothy, are not suitable for lawn making. Many of the finer and more delicate grasses may be obtained in ' lawn grass mixtures," but the most satisfactory mixture we have found is made up of equal parts by weight of Kentucky blue grass, red top grasis, and white Dutch clover. All of these are hardy and stand well the extremes of our climate. The seeding should be done on a still day when there is no wind to carry the lighter seeds. Thick seeding should be the rule. Three or four bushels) per acre is none too much for seeding down a lawn. In fact, the grass should come up as thick as the hair on a dog's back. After the seed is sown it should be lightly raked in ,. and if the weather is dry it is well to go over the ground with a hand roller. The work of making a lawn may be done at almost any time of the year, but where much levelling and filling is necessary it is well to do the grading in the fall, so that the ground will have finished settling by the spring, and then the surface may be raked over as soon as it is dry enough to work, and the seeds sown as early as possible. A lawn sown early in the spring should be nice and green by the middle of the summer, or seed sown early in the fall should give a good grassy carpet early next spring. Keeping a Lawn. To keep a lawn in prime velvety condition it should be mow- ed frequently, particularly during the season of rapid growth. The mowings should be so :'requent that none of the grass should have to be raked off. This is the practice follow- ed on well-kept city lawns where men, money and mowers are available. On the farm, where these articles are not so plentiful, and where the area to be gone over is usually greater, it may be kept in very respectable condition si with the ordinary farm mower, 1903 FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION. 143 the cutter bar of which should be set low and the knives kept siharp. On the farm the front yard and back yard, the lanes and the roadsides should be levelled, seeded and put in such condition that they can all be gone over with the farm mower, and if the mowing is done as often as the grass isi high enough for the knives to cut nicely, the improvement made in the appearance of a place would ku many cases add nearly 50 per cent, tc ihe value of the property. To maintain a luxuriant growth and) a rich dark green in the color of the grass, the lawn should occasionally receive a top dressing of stable manure in the fall. The solu- ble portion of this is washed into the ground by the fall and spring rains, and early in the spring the coarsest portion of the manure should be raked off. Trees and! Shrubs. In the trees and shrubs we have some of the finest forms of natural beauty. They present a great variety of ornamental qualities, in habit of grewth, in size, in color of bark and foliage, and in their flowers. Taking the trees first, they may naturally be divided into two classes, the deciduous and the evergreen trees. If space permitted we could give a lengtlhy list and mention the special claim of each to a place on the lawn,, but we must be content with mention- ing only a few of the most aesirable. Among the maples we have the sugar maples; the soft maples, and Weir's cut-leaved variety of the same, the Sycamore maple, and the Box elder, sometimes called the Manitoba maple, which is particularly valuable on new places on account of its rapid growth, but along with it should be planted some of the more durable trees, which will come in and last long after the Box elder 'has served its purpose. As a successor to it we know of none better than our native American elm. In its finest form, with feathered trunk, high spreading arms and long, pendulous branch- es, this is, in our opinion, the most stately and graceful of our native trees. On large grounds-, where there is room for variety, some of the rugged oaks and fragrant linden? add a charm to the scene. The cut-leaf weeping white birch is very ornamental in both summer and winter, and shows a striking color contrast,, particularly when placed •so as to have for a background a group of evergreens or a dark-colored building. Among the evergreens the pines and spruces occupy a first rank. The Austrian and Scotch pines make handsome specimens, although when young our native white pine is equal, if not superior to,' any of the foreigners. The same might also be said of our native white spruce, as compared with its more vigorous relative from Norway. But for a handsome specimen of nature's coloring let us 'have the dainty little blue spruce of Colorado. Among the arbor vitaes, junipers and retinosperas there are some very beautiful forms, such as the pyramidal and globose arbor vitae, the tall Irish juniper, and the plumose retinospera, but those last mentioned are less hardy than the arbor vitaes and require protection for a few years in the colder sections of Ontario. Ornamental Shrubs. For a list of some of tihe most desirable and hardy orna- mental shrubs adapted to our northern section, I cannot do better than refer intend- ing planters to the valuable list given in Mr Macoun's report in the Central Experi- mental Farm Report for 1807. One hundred species and varieties are there mentioned, with twenty-five of the most desirable marked. If we were compelled to reduce the list to half of that number, we would from our own experience select the following : The Caragana or Siberian pea tree. Hydranga paniculata, the Tartarian bush honeysuckle, the mock orange or Philadelphus, the golden currant, Spirea Van Houteii, the Weigelia, ihe purple fringe, the old-fashioned lilacs in variety, the snowball or Viburnum, and last but not least, roses in variety. A rr an gem ent of Trees and Shr u bs. To artistically arrange and distri- bute a collection of trees and shrubs on the lawn requires much more skill and judg- ment than to set out trees in a straight line in an orchard. The following rules should be observed in lawn planting: t. Follow the Natural Order of Arrangement. Nature does not plant in stiff and formal geometrical lines, but rather in irregular profusion, in too much profusion. It is 144 THE REPORT OF THE No 16 often necessary, therefore, to modify the natural arrangement to meet the needs of the case. One has said that " the aim should be to exhibit nature idealized rather than nature real. A prominent American landscape gardener tells us that ior his first lesson in arranging trees on the lawn he was told to take in his hands' as many stones as he had trees to plant; to stand by the house and throw them in the direction he wished the trees to stand, then plant wherever the stones fell. He says that with a few slight modifications the effect was all that could be desired. 2. Arrange to Give an Air of Breadth and Expanse to the Place. This is a most desirable effect, and is secured by preserving a more or less open lawn in front of the house, by scattering and grouping the larger trees at the outside of the grounds so as to more or less hide the boundaries. This suggests an unlimited extent, beyond what the eye can see at any point. Another means is by opening vistas between the trees, looking out upon distant scenes beyond . the boundaries. In this way we may shut out undesirable objects, and we may appropriate to ourselves desirable scenes, such as a wooded hillside, a stretch of river, or a church spire, and thus make our little grounds seem like part of an extensive park. 3. Arrange for Trees to Give Comfort as Well as Ornament. One of the first considerations should be to shade the buildings from the neat of the sun and to shelter them from the sweep of the prevailing winds. On the south and west should be planted a few of the largest trees, such as elms or maples, not so close as to exclude the light from any of the windows, nor so that any of the branches, when the trees are full grown will overhang the housie, but close enough that their shade will fall upon it. In all planting the effect should be watched from the principal windows, and we must take into consideration what the results will be when the trees are. full grown. As a protection against the sweeping winds of winter some of the strong growing evergreens, such as pines and spruces, are most useful. Thick belts or clumps of these should be planted on the most exposed quarters, and along with them may be planted a few of the light-colored deciduous trees. In winter the evergreens give a cosy ap- pearance to the place, and in summer their sombre darkness is relieved by the bright green of the deciduous trees. In arranging the smaller trees and flowering shrubs, these may be grouped into ornamental groups, or occasionally fine specimens may stand out by themselves. When grouping into clumps the tallest-growing specimens sihould be placed in the centre, and along the border, the smallest shrubs should come to the front so as to blend the grass with the taller trees in the background. Beautiful color combinations and contrasts, both in flower and foilage, may often be arranged if the planter understands his work. For instance, a beautiful color con- trast is obtained by planting a purple-leaved barberry near a golden-leaved spiraea or a dark Austrian pine as a background for one of the light-colored Colorado spruces. V i n e s and Climbers. Among the vines and climbers we have a number of beautiful species which may be made veiy effective in many ways in beautifying the home surroundings. They are particularly valuable on small grounds and town lots, as they take up so little room, but they are also quite as valuable in beautifying a country home. One of the most hardy and vigorous is the common Virginia creeper. This is excellent for covering a summer house or an unsightly wooden wall. As a covering for a brick or stone wall the Boston Ivy (Ampelopsis Veitohii) is one of the hand- somest. In northern sections it requires winter protection for the first few winters. but when once established it grows1 rapidly, and will soon convert a brown or red from into a wall of living green. For a handsome, hardy-flowering climber we (have nothing to eciual Clematis Jackmanni, with its large purple flowers; and Clematis paniculata, with its innumerable small white flowers late in the fall. Hall's climbing honeysuckle and tlu Chinese Wisteria are beautiful climbers, well adapted to climbing verandah posts or festooning a balcony, but they will not stand our winters without protection except in th ■-. southern pa"ts of the Province. 1903 FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION, 145 Walks and Drives. These are not in themselves very ornamental, but they are necessary and have an important effect in the appearance of a place. When properly located1 they convey the idea that the piace is inhabited, and they seem to impart an air of welcome. As the walks and drives are artificial, and not dn themselves ornamental, there should be as few as possible. Business roads should as a rule be straight, but pleasure drives give more pleasure if they are laid out in graceful curves. The curves give variety and help to relieve the angular outlines of the buildings. They should not, however, be introduced at the expense of utility, and should offer no temptation to take short cuts across the grass. Whenever a curve is introduced there should be trees, or some ob- ject in the road to make the curve appear necessary. If such are not there when the drive is laid out, they may be planted afterwards. A curve without some apparent cause for it looks meaningless and affected. The drive, whenever possible, should enter at the side of the lawn, and curve gently around towards the buildings as though it /were the nearest and most natural way of approach. It should be dotted here and there along the side with trees and shrubbery, which partly screen the building from sight, so that we keep getting a different view of the house as we approach. This gives variety and pleasure, and always leaves just enough unseen to make us feel like following it up to see where it leads to. The width of drives and walks should vary according to their length and the amount of travel upon them. If long and much travelled the drive must be wide enough for two rigs to pass easily, but if short and not so much used, 8 to 10 feet, or room for one wagon, is enough. Walks or footpaths will vary from 3 to 5 feet. The drive and walks should be properly graded and made slightly crowning from the centre to the sides so as to give good drainage. If good gravel is obtainable they should be covered with gravel, raked smooth and rolled hard. Fences. As a rule fences enter largely into most landscapes, and are worthy of note. They are artificial materials, and at best they are necessary eyesores, but in the majority of cases their necessity is only imaginary. If all of the really unnecessary fences were removed, and the ground which they occupy levelled and seeded down or put under crop it would make a wonderful difference in the appearance of the country. It would remove a great harbor for weeds and insects; it would effect a great saving of labor and expense, and it would remove one of the most striking features which adver- tise the slovenly farmers all over the country. The only fences necessary, or which should be necessary, are those for the purpose of fencing in stock, and not fencing out that of our neighbors. Fences, in many cases, might be movable or temporary. Road- side fences in many sections might be dispensed with, the ground levelled and seeded and the grass kept mowed from the boundary to the roadbed. Bill Nye says that "the farm without a fence in front of it looks as if the owner were honest and thought his neighbors the same." If a permanent fence is necessary let it be as inconspicuous as possible, or let it be an ornamental hedge. Some of the other artificial materials sometimes used in landscape gardening are trees, trimmed into fantastic shape, fountains and statuary, flower beds of geometrical designs. All these are artificial and should be used with as much discretion as one should use in wearing fine jewellery. The more the artificial prevails in the general surroundings the more these can be used without giving offence. In proximity to large and expensive buildings, or in extensive parks, they may have their place, but on the farmer's lawn, where most of the surroundings are natural, and where the buildings are not elaborate and costly, they would be altogether out of place. Q.: Does not the elevation of the lawn depend on the relation to the street,, and the position ? A.: Very often it does, to a certain extent. Q.: Is there any possibility of ridding a lawn of dandelions ? 10 F.G. 140 THE REPORT OF THE No. \6 A.- \i the lawn is given a top dressing of manure in the winter, the grass comes up so quickly that it crowds out the dandelions. Q. : Is it any advantage to leave the clippings on a lawn ? A.: They may be left if the grass is kept short, but if the grass is allowed to grow too long it is injurious to leave the clippings, and they should be raked off. Q.: Is potash good to use on a lawn ? A.: An ordinary application of potash is good. A Member : Tobacco dust is very good on lawns. It is excellent to drive away ants and insects, and to brighten the color of the grass'. Q.: Should the elm be left in its natural state, with branches right at the trunk? A.: Yes; feathered up the trunk with little short branches. Leave the little branch- es along the trunk if they are there. I like to see the elm in its natural state. Q.: How high should the Colorado Spruce grow?^ A.: I have seen specimens about 18 to 20 feet;high. They very seldom grow more. They are very hardy and of more striking beauty than the others. Q.: Is there any variety of lilac that will not sucker ? A.: That is the great objection to any of the lilac family. Still I would not try to prevent them. They get into a clump. It is not necessary, however, to let them spread too far. 1 Q : Should the Clematis be cut down each fall? A.- It is not necessary. I would not like to cut them down too much. They can be cut back to some extent, but not too far. Leave most of the old cane on. If you wish to cover a large surface, leave the old vine on, but if not cut some of it off. Q.: Professor Hurt did not mention the Schiwedleri maple. I would like to ask if he likes that ? A • I do I think it is a very striking maple. We have fifteen or sixteen varieties of maples on the lawn, and in the spring that is the most striking one of the lot, with its copper-colored or blood-colored leaves. Q. : Is the purple beech a hardy tree ? A • Verv hardy, but hard to transplant, and very slow in growing. For a purple tree, however, Prunus Pissardii, or purple plum, will hold its color better than anything I know of. It holds its color the whole season. Mr Race : I am surprised that some of you did not ask Mr. Hutt what kind of a maple he would have you grow on your streets. He could answer it very truthfully by saving, any kind of maple rather than none at all. Nature has done much for your town,' but you have not done much for yourselves. In our town every street is paved below and shaded above. WINTER WINDOW GARDENING. By Wm. Hunt, Ontario Agricultural College, Guelph. The most important feature necessary for success in winter window gardening is the window itself. A window in a bright sunny position where a temperature of about 50 to 55 degrees can be maintained at night with a day temperature of from 60 to 70 degrees', will furnish the most desirable surroundings in which to grow successfully a collection of window plants in winter. Many plants can, however, be grown under less favorable circumstances. Ferns, selaginellas or exotic mosses, aspidistras, Ficus Elastica or Rubber plant, Cyperus al- temifolia (Umbrella plant) or even the Arum, or Calla Lily, as it is usually termed, are some of the plants that can be grown in windows having a more northerly aspect, where the direct rays of the sun never 'reach in winter time. But for flowering plants a more southerly aspect is necessary to secure good flowering results; a window facing the southeast being perhaps preferable, as it escapes the direct rays of the sun at noon, I9Q3 FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION. 147 that sometimes even in- winter time strikes much too warm in a south window for the well-being of many window plants. It is desirable on very bright days, especially in late winter or early spring, to shade plants in windows having a southerly aspect, by pulling aown the blinds or' by partially closing the shutters for an hour or two during the hottest part of the day. A very nigh temperature at midday and perhaps an equally low temperature at night is not beneficial to the growth of plants, and often induces an attack of insect pests, or of disease, that prove disastrous to a whole collection of plants. An ordinary equable house temperature, such as I first mentioned, with as moist an atmosphere as possible maintained around and about the plants, will be found the most desirable conditions for the successful winter culture of window plants. T.c secure the1 last mentioned condition in ordinary windows is) often a difficult prob- lem, as the surroundings are not adapted for using much water around and about the plants. Much can, however, be done by spraying) or sprinkling the foliage of the plants on fine sunny, days, more especially the smooth or glossy-leaved varieties ; or by sponging the leaves of these with a sponge and some clear tepid water. About once in every two weeks will suffice for this sprinkling or sponging. The plants can perhaps be removed to the kitchen sink occasionally, where no damage can be done the sur- roundings by sprinkling. Hirsute or hairy-leaved plants should not be sponged a't all, Rex begonias objecting most decidedly to this procedure. Geraniums, heliotrope, coleus, etc., do not require much, if any, syringing or dampening of the foliage; whilst Calla lilies, Fuchsias, Roses, Rubbe: plants, Cordylines, and other smooth foliage plants delight in a sprinkle or spenging with clear water very frequently. Always choose a sunny warm day for this operation, and at a time when the thermometer registers about 65 degress in the window, or wherever the operation of sponging or syringing is performed. Much might be said as to the construction and planning of a suitable window and fitting.-, in which a collection of window plants could be successfully grown, but time will not permit. I feel quite justified, however, in saying that with the increasing interest shown by our people in the culture and growth of plants and flowers around the home, that architects and home builders might well make this matter of suitable window building a much more prominent feature in their building plans than they have hitherto done. There is no reason why even the smallest villa or cottage could not have & window so constructed, that the necessary overhead light and the necessary heat could be obtained, without adding but very little additional expense to the building es- timates of a residence. Watering Plants. This is a matter that often troubles the plant grower consid- erably. No set rule can be given to suit all kinds of plants and their condition, but it is always safe to give any plant that is in a good growing condition a good supply of water at the roots whenever the top portion of the soil shows signs of dryness. Giving the plant a small quantity of water at stated times or at regular intervals, is not the right method to adopt in watering plants. Ascertain first by closely observing the top of the soil in the pot, whether the plant requires water or not. If the soil appears dry, give sufficient water to thoroughly moisten (not sodden) all the soil in the pot, and do not water the plant again until the soil shoiw signs of dryness again. It may be one day, or it may be a week or even a longer time before it requires more water, but when water is given the plant, see that it gets sufficient to wel! moisten all the soil in the pot. , Another method of ascertaining whether pot plants require water, is to tap slightly the side of the pot with the knuckles. If the pot when struck emits a ringing sound, the plant requires water. If on the contrary only a dull thud'-likei sound is given out when the pot is tapped, water had better be withheld from the plant for a short time. Over-watering, over-potting, and insufficient drainage are often the main causes of failure in the culture of window plants. I 148 THE REPORT OF THE No. 1 6 Over -potting is a term used when a plant is potted into a pot two or three sizes larger than the plant requires. For drainage in pots there is nothing better than small pieces of broken flower pot. About an inch in depth of broken pot can be usually used for six-inch pots and larger sizes, whilst half that quantity can be used for smaller-siized pots than four-inch. Use small pieces of broken pot for the small pots, half an inch square being a good average; whilst larger pieces should be used for the larger-sized pots. Coal cinders1 or coarse gravel can also be used for drainage, but these are more liable to clog and choke than broken pieces of pot. This matter of drainage is one of the most essential points necessary to success with almost all pot plants, more especially window plants. The insect pests that are all too common to .bouse and window plants, have been very ably described to you by Dr. Fletcher, as well as preventives and remedies recom- mended for the .attacks of these troublesome and destructive visitors, so that it is un- necessary for me to speak on this matter. Suffice it to say that much can be done to prevent the attacks of insect pests by endeavoring to give window plants as nearly as possible the conditions I have mentioned, as extremes of heat, drought, or moisture are the main inducements for insects or disease to attack plant life at any time. To succeed with a collection, or even a few window plants, they must be closely watched, always keeping in mind the old adage : "That an ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure." To secure a bright healthy-looking collection of plants during the winter, it is neces- sary to commence preparations during the preceding summer and autumn months. It is useless and unnatural to expect plants that have been doing duty as decorative plants on the lawn or in the flower border all the summer, to continue in their brightness and beauty in the winter as well. Plant life of all kinds, demands more or less of a rest- ing period at some season of the year, no matter whether they are plants from a trop- ical or a more temperate zone. The all-enduring geranium even, will not meet the exacting demands* for continuous flowering that is sometimes made on it by plant lovers. If geraniums are wanted for the window in iwinter and give good results, they must be grown specially during the summer for that purpose. By striking a few cuttings early in the summer and growing them on in pots out of doors, nice plants! can be hart by autumn to take into the house. Small plants at planting out time in early June, potted into six or seven inch pots, and the pots plunged to the rim in the ground until fall, will make nice plants for the window, in winter. The tips of the growth should be pinched back until August, and all bloom buds as soon as they are seen kept pinched off until September. By plunging the pots in the ground they require less water and make better plants, than if they are left standing above the ground. Many so-called spring flowering bulbs make ideal pot plants for the window in winter, in fact, I know of no class of plants that give such good results with so little skill and care required to bring them to perfection. The one great point to be gained to be thoroughly successful in growing these bulbs is to secure a good root growth before top growth commences. The only way to do this is to give the bulbs as nearly as possible the same con- ditions for a time, as they receive when planted in the open ground. By potting a few of the various kinds of bulbs suitable for pot culture at intervals from the end of August to early in December and burying the pots in coal ashes, sand, or light soil a few inches deep, for a month or six weeks or even longer, a good supply of roots will be obtained, when the pots can be brought in at intervals to the window as required. When the bulbs are first potted the soil should be thoroughly watered. If well packed and covered with ashes, etc., as before mentioned, they will require no more water until they are 'brought out into the window. After this the soil must never be allowed to become quite dry in the pot. A damp, cool place suits bulbs best to make roots in. 1 903 FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION. 149 Roman Hyacinths can be potted in August and plunged out of doors until October when they will be ready for bringing into the window as required. There is no bulb that will give more satisfaction than the Roman Hyacinth — the white variety being pre- ferable, if treated as I have described, as they give such a plentiful supply of their sweet- scented- waxy white flowers in return for the small amount of care they require, and besides) they are not very particular about the kind of soil they grow in, provided it is not of too heavy a nature. This remark as regards soil will apply to almost all kinds of bulbs used for pot culture. I Dutch Hyacinths and several varieties of Narcissi-Von Scion, Poeticus, and the Trumpet Narcissi, are among the best and easiest varieties of bulbs to grow in a win- dow, although the Jonquils and other types of Narcissi than those mentioned succeed splendidly as window plants. These last mentioned species of bulbs are later flower- ing than the Roman Hyacinths and do not usually come into flower until February or later. When potting these later flowering bulbs, it would be advisable to bury the pots in the cellar, or plunge them inj some position where they could be protected from very severe frost. A certain amount of freezing will not hurt them, but it is difficult to remove the pots without injury when they are frozen too hard. All potted bulbs require plently of water after they are brought out to the light, that is the soil should never become really dry at any time. In potting bulbs, the top or apex of the bulb should be barely showing above the surface of the soil. Three Roman Hyacinths and three or four bulbs of Narcissi can usually be planted in a four or five inch pot In the case of Dutch Hyacinths one bulb to a four-inch pot is usually sufficient. The Freesiia is another useful and easily-grown winter flowering bulb. Plant five or six bulbs in a four or five inch pot in the manner described for Hyacinths, etc., but do not bury the pots under ashes or soil. Stand the pots in a fairly sunny position in a temperature of about 50 degrees or 60 degrees, and water sparingly after the first watering until growth has well commenced. The first Freesia bulbs can be potted in August, and as often as required afterwards until November. The delicious odor from only a single spray of these flowers will perfume a large house. Late-planted Freesias should be started in the window. The Arum or Calla Lily should be kept nearly or quite dry during the summer mcnths. The best place for these lilies during the summer is to lay the pots; on their sides about the first of June or as soon as they are out of flower. A shaded position under trees or in the shade of a building or fence is a good place for them whilst dor- mant. Re-pot them in August, if necessary, but do not over-pot them, as too large a pot often means a lot of leaves iand no lilies. Give the plants lots of water whilst they are in a growing condition, never allow the soil to become quite dry. Some drainage placed at the bottom of tht pot when re-potting is advisable. Use light, rich sril for CaCas. Many varieties of Begonia make splendid window plants for winter. Among the most satisfactory is the beautiful golden blotehed-teaf variety, Begonia manicata turea, this is, in my opinion, the best window Begonia we have for winter time. Begonia ar- g'ntea guttata Is also another useful variety, also the Pau4 Bruant variety. The Beg- onia incarnata rosea, with its pretty pale, pink blossoms, that it produces so freely at Christmas time is another that should not be overlooked, but it is rather more deKcate than those first mentioned. The Rex or ornamental-leaved Begonia? make pretty window .plants. Many people fail with these Begonias from placing them in a srunny position in the window, and by over-potting them. All Begonias Hike a light soil to grow in. One-third of fine sharp sand and two- thirds of fairly rich, loamy, potting soil makes a good admixture of soil for Begonias. A little weli rotted leaf soil mixed in will be beneficial. Use nearly an inch of drainage in the bottom of the pots when potting Begonias. Begonias dike a temperature of 65 to 150 THE REPORT OF THE No. 16 70 degrees, but do not like very much real hot sun, prefering partial shade, at noon- day especially. Many more varieties of Begonias could be mentioned, but those I have named, are amoiiji the b«frt for windows in winter. , A very easily grown and effective window plant is the Anthericum picturatum. Its pretty striped foliage makes it a bright conspicuous feature at any season of the year, more particularly in winter, its .silvery ribbon^like leaves contrasting very prettily with the almost universal green of the foliage of winter window plants. These plants like a temperature of about 65 degrees, and require a rather shaded position in the window. Plenty of water should be given them, as a very dry condition of the soil often results in serious injury, and perhaps the total loss of the plant, if the drought is of long duration. There are many other species of plants suitable and comparatively easy of culture in windows, but time will only allow of a few being mentioned. Amongst them is the Cyperu:. alternifolia or Umbrella plant, that delights in a warm partially-shaded window, where the sun does not strike at noonday. Given this position with plenty of water at the roots, and its foliage also given a dip once or twice a week in water, its whorls of delicate green leaves will retain their freshness much longer than if they are kept in a dry overheated atmosphere. Many varieties of Cactus ajso help to relieve the sameness that a collection of win- dow plants often present in winter. Cactus like plenty of drainage in the pot, plenty of sand (nearly half) in the potting soil, and not too frequent watering. The Lobster cactus ( Epiphyllum trancatum) as well as ,a few of the quicker growing cactus of the Phylocactus type may like a little richer and heavier soil, but there is danger even to these unless plenty of drainage isi given, as well as care in watering, as they are very liable to rot at the base of the growth, especially if over-potted. The Farfugium grande, (Leopard plant) is also a good window plant, its thick leath- ery gold- spotted leaves being particularly noticeable in a window. It delights in a rather cool, shaded wTindow, requiring plenty of moisture at the roots. This is one among the few plants that succeed better in a window than sin most greenhouses. It is seldom a good specimen is seen in a greenhouse, whilst handsome specimens a foov or two in diameter are often seen in dwelling house windows, as well as on veran- dahs in summer. The Ficus elastica (Rubber plant"4 is a good, enduring window plant. Its leave- require sponging frequently to increase and preserve the glossy green of its fol- iage, the latter, together with its power of resisting gas and the had effect of a dry atmo.-phere. being its chief points of recommendation a? a window plant, as it is not of a very graceful appearance, even under the very best conditions. Amongst climbing or trailing plants the several varieties of Tradescantia or Wand- ering Tew. as well as the variegated Japanese Vincas or Periwinkles, cannot be omit- ted. The Saxifraga sarmentosa (Spider Wort or Mother of Thousands) is also a splendid plant for a hanging pot or basket in a window. The rampant growing plant known as the German or Cape Ivy is a grand climber for the window, a single plant often covering the entire window. During the address practical illustrations were given by the lecturer of the methods of propagating most of the plants mentioned.' The method of propagating the Ficus O" Rubber plant by mossing partially severed cuttings whilst the branch or cutting is still left on the plant, was most interesting. Cutting up the leaves of the Rex Begonia into disc and sectional cuttings from the leaves of these plants was also fully illustrat- ed and described, as well as the best methods and seasons of the year for propagating them. Propagation from terminal cuttings from plants such as the fuchsias, geraniums, begonias, etc., was fully illustrated and explained, as well as sectional stem cuttings and raising plants from root cuttings, natural specimens being used in different demon- strations made during the progress of the address. 1903 FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION. 151 It was also explained that clean, sharp, fine sand placed in well-drained pots or shal- low boxes was the best material for rooting cuttings of most window plants-, the summer time being the season when success was most likely to crown the efforts of the amsteur in increasing his stock of window plants from cuttings of any kind. The best kind of soil to furnish the 'basis of a good potting compost for window plants is obtained from cutting sod from a pasture field, where the soil is1 of a loamy nature, and like grass kept fed down. Cut the sod about four inches thick .and the size over of a spade. Make a pile of sufficient size of this sod by first laying two thicknesses of sod, with the grass side downward, then put about the depth of one sod, three or four inches', of cow manure. Continue this succession of sod and manure until the pile is large enough. Make the pile outside, in any corner of the garden, away from chicken :■» and animals. In six months it will be ready for use. The compost can be tempered with sand or leaf soil as required, for plants that require very light soil, such as Begonias, Fuchsias, Ferns, etc., but for Geraniums, Roses, Bulbs, and the majority of window plants, the sod compost will suit splendidly, especially if the sod is taken from a sundy, loamy soil. Q.: When your tulips are done blooming, do you take them up every year ? A.: No ; I take them up every third year. Your soil up here is much better than our soil for growing tulips-. If I were in your soil I would put my tulips in at least six inches. As soon as they are done blooming, I take a very sharp hoe and take them off right close to the ground, and the stem that extends from the surface is quite suffi- cient to develop that bulb. Do not pull it, because if you do you will break the bulb. I leave mine three years,, and take them up every third year. It is not at all necessary to take them up every year. Q.: Is it allowable to give them a shady site, or is it necessary to give them a soi'thern or western exposure ? A.: You will probabl} get a more brilliant display from a sunny situation, but tulips will do well even in the shade, or partial shade, and, the tulip being early, the trees are never in full leaf when they are blooming, and the shade is never very heavy at that time. I know of a case at home where on the north side of a house the tulips wer^ mere than two weeks later. They grow a little later, and a little more delicate in the stock when given a shady position. You can retain flowers much longer in the shade than in the sun. Q.: Tell us how to cut them for bouquets. A.: Those cut when they are shut up keep much longer. As with all flowers, the proper time to cut is in the morning. Take, for example, the rose. As soon as the sun comes up early in the day it opens up. But if you cut it early in the morning, it will remain all day. It is better to cut all flowers in the morning, especially the gladiolus. Q.: I would like some information regarding the Wisteria. I have a large plant that makes a great deal of growth, but does not bloom. Would it be possible to trans- plant it, and what care would need to be exercised in trying to transplant it ? A.: With regard to the Wisteria, like all clinging plants, when they get very large they are very hard to transplant. In this case it seems to me that it would not be wise to transplant after it has grown to a large size. I had one for over twenty years, and it flowered regularly, though it was a great many years before it started bloom- ing : very often that is the way with the Wisteria. Q.: Would it be possible to train these on to a trellis ? Each one is near a veran- dah, but not on a trellis. A.: I do not think that would have any effect. Q.: What is the proper method of pruning the Wisteria ? A.: Thin out the young saplings so as not to let them grow too thick. I saw a Wisteria between forty and fifty feet thick. It was a great age. I bought a Wisteria about fifteen years ago, and planted it. and it was nine or ten years before it showed any signs- of flowering at all, and when it did, it was a very poor blossom. I am inclined •to think that some are not true to the original type of Wisteria, the Chinese Wisteria. 152 THE REPORT OF THE No. 16 Q.: But this was much smaller than the Chinese variety, a different variety and differem growth. A.: It is quite possible that you may have one of that kind. It is very similar to th.it kind of Wisteria. If you can, get it when it has leaves on and compare it with the Chinese Wisteria. You can soon tell. There was a question asked in Toronto lately on the same subject, and I tried to answer it as best I could. The Chinese. Wisteria takes several years to flower. I would not advise you to transplant aft I would rather leave it ; just partially sever the growth, peg it to the ground, and allow it to root there, and transplant it to the east side of the house. Q.: And just destroy the old plant ? A.: Of course, it is just a matter of whether you feel like giving it place or not. Some I know leave it. Q. : What would you consider the best half dozen varieties of roses to have ? Mr. T. H. Race, Mitchell : I would advise something different here to what I would have in my own district. I have given special study to the rose, and have also specially studied our own country. You could produce roses here that I could not. We will start with the darkest rose. Take the Baron de Bonstetten to begin with. Next take the Jacque, the General Jacqueminot. The next in color would be tilt Alfred Colomb. Then take the Francois Levet, a beautiful thing, and a strong grower. Next, the Mrs. J. H Laing, then the Magna Charta. Paul Neyron comes next! ; then another beautiful rose, the Madame Gabriel Luizet. Again, I do not like to leave out the Mrs. Sherman Crawford, a magnificent rose. There is no white rose that seems perfect. I think that will be enough for you to start out on. Q.: Do you think it possible to winter the tea rose outdoors ? J/met a gentleman from Ingersoll who said he had been wintering them for several years by putting a layer of earth and then boards over them. A.: In my own town I grow very healthy tea roses in the air. I wTould hardly recommend tea roses, however, as you are liable to disappointments, and it is far better to cultivate a taste in people by a few really hardy roses than to start on these. Mr. Hunt : I think that is just the right plan. In regard to tea roses, I grew the tea roses .planted out in greenhouses on a bench, and after they had stood there a winter in the greenhouse temperature, and were through flowering, they were taken off thi benches, and planted in a sheltered quarter outside with an eastern exposure. It U a very favorable site, and they nave stood there for two yearsi, and last Septem- ber I had the pleasure of picking some roses from these same plants.' At the same time, I consider that an exception. These succeeded well, though unprotected, but I do not consider them hardy, and do not advise to plant them. Down 5n that section of the country sometimes tea roses will come through, but we have had very mild winters, and this is the exception rather than the role. Q.,: Would a man get good results by planting tea roses each year, like any other plant ? A.: Yes, under certain conditions, but it would be necessary to have very large plants, and this would be very expensive. You would n^td them about two years old to gtt good results, and these are aJbout 75 cents a plant. I would not advise this, un- less you want to make a specialty along that line. THE COLEUS AND OTHER FOLIAGE PLANTS. By J. S. Scarff, Woodstock. ~u* J I am afraid that our Chairman has led you to believe that you will receive some- thing from me that I cannot give. Before beginning my address, I would like to say that we have a live Horticul- tural Society in Woodstock. I regret very much that citizens of your town have not taken more interest in horticulture than they have, I expected to come here and see 1 9Q3 FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION. 153 a large display of house plants and foliage which would surprise the most of us people. 1 am somewhat disappointed in that respect. Our Horticultural Society in Woodstock has done a great deal there. It takes a very active part in our municipal affairs. Anything that we think is required; for the beautifying of our city is easily supplied by our society. Anything that we think is going to be to the interest of the city in decorating any public grounds, the request is laid before the School Board or Council. By that means we have our public buildings and schools very nicely de- corated with shrubs, plants and flowers. We also offer a very great inducement to our scholars at the schools. We distribute amongst the scholars a great many plants in the spring of the year,^ and bulbs in the fall. This last spring we distributed a great many plants and flower seeds to the scholars, and they were requested to bring plants and flowers to the fall fair, where we have an exhibition of flowers and plants, and they are awarded premiums in the shape of bulbs This fall we have distributed a lot of bulbs to our scholars for the exhibits which they made at our show. We also distribute very largely to the members of our Horticultural Society. A short time ago we distributed nearly five thousand tulip bulbs to our members free of cost to them. So we are working along this line. Anyone who has visited Woodstock will observe that wc have no fences there. Everything is open to the public. That all originated with our Horticultural Society. If we are not able to succeed! in carrying out our Schemes that we proposed to the Municipal Council, we make it very warm for them at the next municipal election. By this means we have been able to do a very great deal of good in the way of making our town beautiful. I feel like congratulating ourselves upon the very favorable auspices under which we have met here this year, and to find so much enthusiasm manifested here in this meeting. Also to see so many ladies in the audience, which is very gratifying to us. It is our desire to cultivate those features in our meetngs which will reach the ladies and interest them in the beauties of nature. The subject of "The Coleus and other Foliage Plants" which has been assigned to me is one of great importance to all lovers of Floriculture. It may be regarded from so many different points of view, that it is difficult to say which should have priority of consideration. It must not be expected that I am going to enter upon) this subject very fully, but will confine myself mostly to the Coleus and a few of the fancy-leaved and decorative plants and their treatment. And if my paper shall be the means of oromoting one admirer of the beautiful and good to greater effort to make home more attractive by beautifying his or her home with a few Coleus ancf other foliage plants distributed here and there about the grounds surrounding the borne, I shall consider myself well paid for my effort. No greater evidence of progress in fine arts can be produced than such careful attention to our home approaches as will make them most attractive. A large percentage of our men consider flowers am! plants as only for the pleasure of women and children. But in the new order of things it is going to be" different Already men are waking up to a realization of the fact that they hare lost a great deal by not having given more attention to flori- culture. It is a good sign when we see a man helping his wife with the flower beds* We know that in a little while, he wil! take as much interest in them as she does. Formerly the idea prevailed among florists, both professional and amateur, that each kind of plant required a special kind of soil, and many amateurs were prevented from making an attempt to grow plants because of the amount of labor which seem- ed necessary in preparation of the different kinds of soils. But of late years there has) been a change of opinion ; that one land of soil properly prepared is sufficient to supply the needs of the majority of plants that can be grown in the house or conser- vatory. Sand is a most important factor in successful floriculture, and the coarser and sharper the sand is, the better it is adapted to the purpose. For the majority of house plants, a mixture of leaf mould, or some good substitute, with garden loam is advisable, L54 THK REPORT OF THE No. 16 because the vegetable matter of which it is composed is an important element of plant growth not to be found in clear loam. An excellent combination for the ma- jonty of pot plants is this : One-half loam, one-quarter leaf mould, one-quarter sand. By mixing these together well, you have a soil which nine-tenths of the plants adapt- ed to house culture will thrive in. For fine-rooted plants leave out half of the loam, and double the amount of leaf mould or its substitute. So much for the preparation for pot culture. If to be planted in the garden, well prepared beds with good drainage is all that is necessary. Having prepared the soil, etc., now the obtaining of plants. Everything must have a beginning, and domestic rloriculture is not an exception to the rule. Plants must be procured. Full-grown plants can be purchased from the florists or accepted from friends, but it is far more satisfactory to have grown your own plants from seeds or cuttings. There is a fascination in growing Coleus from seed. These showy plants are grown extensively for their brilliant-hued foliage, and used extensively in our large parks and lawns. Some of the new varieties are very beautiful, large, broad leaves of deep velvety coloring. These leaves will average six to seven inches in length, and nearly the same in breadth. In the new Sunset strain the surface of the leaves is heavily crimped, and the coloring is of a rich purplish tone, brightened by crimson veir.ings. The diversity of shades and combinations of color are so varied that it is hardly possible to find two plants exactly alike. The New Gigantic Copper-leaved is a grand new variety, and comes so entirely uniform that the home gardener as well as the florist can grow a supply of plants for setting out a bed of these beautiful foliage plants to produce a solid color effect. The growth of the plant in this variety is strong and vigorous, with extremely large leaves. The ground color of the broad leaves is a deep golden yellow, heavily over- laid with rich reddish brown, almost as bright and velvety as the well-known Verscha- felt variety. The rich, yellow ground coloring shows out clearly at the base of the leaves, and in a narrow margin around the edge, as well as in the under side of the leaf, it tones and enlivens the richer and darker coloring, and gives the distinct cop- pery tint from which the variety takes its name. They are so easily grown from seed, the seeds germinating rapidly, and the plants being of quick growth, can be easily raisecT in a small box with a pane of glass covering it, placed in a gunny window of a warm room in the month of March, or in a hot bed. In a few days the little seedlings come to the surface, and from day to day are changing color. What a delight it is watching them develop and wondering what colors each day will bring forth. When a plant begins to wiltl, and the foliage has a flabby, half-wilted look, and* shows signs of .ill-health, which cannot he attributed to lack of moisture in the soil, or too much heat and sunshine, it is safe to conclude that the trouble is at tki roots, and an examination will generally show that some of the roots are diseased. The unhealthy condition may come- from too much or too little water, or from worms, which often attack the young roots and sap them of their vitality. These generally com.-, irom using barnyard manure. Watering with lime water will drive out the worms, and will usually get rid of this trouble. Apply enough to each plant to wet the soil all through, and repeat if necessary. The soil being too heavy and without proper drainage might be the cause of the trouble. One of the most troublesome pests the grower of Coleus has to contend with is what is known as the mealy bug. Tt is a flat, tender, yellowish insect,, and is cover- ed with a white, mealy substance, from which the common name is derived. It is very troublesome to Coleus, and many soft-nvuoded plants. Picking off the bugs with a -mall, sharp-pointed stick is the best and safest method of keeping down these pests, or spraying the plants two or three times a week with soap suds, to which has been added a little kerosene, say, two table spoonfuls to a gallon of suds. A very effective way is by spraying with a little alcohol. 1903 FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION. 155 Coleus do better in cold frames, made specially for such purposes as getting quantities of young plants ready for bedding, as all of one growth can then be had. It is well known that many tropical plants are extremely beautiful, and they invariably prove in the highest degree attractive. Those of the tropics excel in mag- nificence, and they are not, as a rule, difficult of cultivation. Croton s. Nothing can excel the beauty and richness of coloring that is found in this class of plants. They are beautiful as pot plants for the conservatory, making handsome specimens for decorative and exhibition purposes, and are used as ex- tensively as bedding plants. They should be planted in full sun, in a position where they can be liberally supplied with water, which develops the most wonderful color- ings in the foliage. These plants should be grown rapidly, and confined to a single stem. The soil best adapted for them is peat and leaf mould in about equal parts, with the addition of a small portion of rich loam and some sharp sand. The Caladium of late years has become one of the most effective tropical plants in cultivation for the flower border or for planting out upon the lawn. They also make grand plants in pots for the conservatory or greenhouse, and are becoming more popular every year. They will grow in any good garden soil, and are of the easiest cul.ure. Caladium Esculentum (Elephant's Ear) is a grand tropical-looking plant, a favor- ite for specimens on the lawn, or for show purposes, or for bordering large sub- tropical groups, growing from six to ten feet high, and bearing immense leaves three to tour feet long by two and a half feet wide. To obtain the best results, it should be placed where it will get plenty of water and an abundance of rich compost. The fancy- Laved Caladiums have, in recent years, grown very rapidly in popular favor, not only for the decoration of the conservatory, greenhouse, and window boxes, but nearly all of these varieties succeed well if planted out of doors, when the ground has become warm, in partly-shaded, sheltered borders, in well-enriched, light soil. Their beautiful-shaped and glossy foliage is elegantly variegated in the most telling man- ner. Some are regularly dotted with round, raised spots of white. Others are rib- bed and veined with pink, scarlet or yellow, while others again are splashed and marbled with white, or shaded almost black. The Ricinus (or Castor Oil Bean). Large, luxuriant, rapid-growing annuals, with palm like leaves ; much used for sub-tropical effects on the lawn or for centres of beds of foliage plants. This summer I saw some Ricinus growing on Mr. P. Patter- son's grounds in Woodstock measuring from the ground to the top sixteen feet ten inches. INSECTS AFFECTING HOUSE PLANTS. By Dr. James Fletcher, Dominion Entomologist, Ottawa. It was announced that I would speak on Window Gardening, but, t>y a different and better -arrangement, Mr. Hunt is to speak on that subject this afternoon. He is to follow me, so I shall not overrun my proper time. The subject which I "have to bring before you is a very simple one, and a very short one, but one which may be explained to any extent. There are only three or four classes of insects which attack house plants. Those who grow roses, think that tjie aphis is the very worst insect they have to contend with, but all will not agree with them that this is the worst insect, because those who grow foliage plants of the genus Coleus and Cacti have more trouble with the mealy bug ; so they say that that is the worst insect. In short, the worst ins.ect is the one which gives each individual the most trouble, and there art several kinds of insects which attack house plants, each of which must be considered by itself. Now, all 156 THE REPORT OF THE No. 16 oi these different kinds of insects can be treated with comparative ease, if their habit* are studied a little. House plants are a good dead like children, and the growing of house plants is much like the training of children. They have to be disciplined, fed, and kept clean. Ihere is nothing which will keep children in better health than feeding them regularly and washing their hands and faces; often; and plants are the same. Ws shing them at short intervals will keep them free of nearly all the insects which attack them indoors. No one can grow flowers who does not like them well enough, and does not get a good deal of pleasure out of taking trouble with them, which in a very short time will bear fruit in a knowledge of how to do things in the best way. Now, roses are considered by most people as very difficult to manage in the house, but cur friend Mr. Race here is so fond of roses and has made such a success of growing them for a great many years, that he will tell us that there is no difficulty whatever in growing roses. This simply means that he knows how to do it. He will tell us that his greatest insect enemy is the Rose Aphis, and this is certainly a bad enemy, unless it is attended to. One of the first things to consider when we decide to grow J! >wcrs in a window of an ordinary house is the extent of our window room; for, those who grow house plants most successfully, find that it is better to confine their efforts to a few plants and let those do their best, than to fill a window up with a great many plants, none of winch have sufficient room to develop properly. The soil in which plants are grown must, of course, be considered. With proper conditions of room, soil, and moisture, anyone who is fond of plants, can get flowers at almost any time of the year ; and. wit.'i liu- added knowledge of what to do when they become infested b> injurious insects, he v.iil have much more satisfaction in his labors Le*. ns sup- p"Se that we are giowing roses, and some fine morning discover that thev a. e infested with plant-lice. What shall we do to get rid of these enemies ? There are for every kind of insect several different kinds of remedies, and what we want to find out in every instance is what is the simplest remedy for us to apply. Plant-lice are sucking insects, that is, they live upon the sap of plant's, which they such up through a hol- low tube with which they have pierced the tissues of the plant, causing it to wither ana die, because the sap is its blood. From a lack of knowledge of the structure of insects, many people use the wrong remedies when an insect appears. One of the commonest mistakes is for people to use Paris green as a remedy for plant-lice. Knowing that this material is very destructive to the Colorado Potato Beetle, they suppose that it will kill all insects ; but this is not the case. The potato beetle is a biting insect, which devours the whole substance of the leaves ; but a plant-louse lives only on sap, which it draws c- cask nally, you will probably never find more than half a dozen or so, which may be removed with a little piece of stick, or anything else that comes handy. Never apply kerosene emulsion or anything else of that nature to your palms ; it may kill the scale, but will certainly injure the plant. 1903 FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION. 163 And now, we may consider the soil and method of potting. I have grown palms with some measure of success in soils of widely varying nature; for instance, in rotted clay sod, then in leaf mould, and again in a mixture of the two, and I have found but one soil so far in which they would not grow, and that was rotted sod and manure. The lesson to be learned from this is, avoid manure in any shape for palms. Whatever soil you use, make leaf mould -the basis of it. All my palms but one or two are growing in pure leaf mould, and the one or two are in leaf mould with the addition of about 25 per cent, fine beach sand. This latter soil is the better of the two ; but I think the substitution of light rotted sod for the sand would be still better, provided there was no manure mixed with the sod. In case that any of you do not understand what is meant by leaf mould, I may say that it is simply thoroughly decomposed leaves, and can be found in any woods. Scrape away the rough leaves on top, and you will find your leaf mould from two to four inches in depth under- neath. In using it, don't sift it or throw out the fibrous parts or little pieces of stick : let it all go into the potting soil. Another thing, So not take your leaf mould from a depn ssion, where water might lie ; select a spot that is well drained, otherwise your soil will be sour ; in fact, it would be better to throw the leaf mould in a little heap, in cellar or outhouse, and turn it over a couple of times, to make sure it is perfectly sweet before using. In potting, the first thing to be considered is drainage, and this must be perfect. To Mtain this end, I know of nothing equal to the method described by our Pre- sident in his talk about bulbs. If you remember, he covered the hole in the pot with a piece of broken flower pot, then put in half an inch of beach gravel, and over this some moss or leaves torn to shreds. This is an improvement on any method I have used so far, and I intend to use it in future. Having provided the drainage, put in some soil, and then your plant, and remember one thing, pot tightly; take a flat stick and ram the soil down around the side of the pot ; you will hardly get it too tight. Be sure the pots you use are perfectly clean, and use a pot an inch larger than the one the palm is already in. In some cases it may be desirable to put the plant back in the same pot that it is growing in. To do this take the plant out of the pot and stand it in a pail of water, washing all the earth from the roots ; then put it back in the pot, and with the fingers ram the new soil in between the toots until the pot is full. This is rather a delicate operation, and I would not advise anyone to try it extensively without first experimenting, though it proved a success with me in the case of two plants last spring. The best time for an ama- teur to pot palms is in spring, probably the latter end of May, and one shift a year is plenty for all palms, though some of them may not require potting as often. It all depends on how the plant is growing. Learn to< turn a plant out of the pot with- out disturbing the soil, and keep track of the condition of the roots ; in health, the tips should be light in color ; if black and soft, something is wrong. The trouble may be too much or too little water, the one who' waters the plant is the only one who can determine which. When turning out the plant if you see a worm take it out, but it is doubtful whether they do any harm or not. Should you wish, however, to get rid of them, try watering with lime water, or stick half a dozen matches in the pot, sulphur end down, and leave them there through two or three waterings, and the worms will come to the surface. Palms will probably be the better for staying out of doors in warm weather. Cerfainiy they are more easily looked after, but they must not be fully exposed to e't.her sun or wind ; the sun will burn, the wind thrash and split the leaves. The ideal spot is one with the wall to the south and west ; in such a position the plants get three or four hours sun in the morning, and are protected from the prevailing winds. An< ther good place in summer would be a sunny position, where they could be pro- tected by cotton stretched along the sides and over the top of them. In this position they would make a more rapid growth, but would require careful watching ; the 164 THE REPORT OF THE TNor 16 slightest drying out would result in injury. In summer I have always watered my palms with the hose. There is no doubt that tepid water would be better, but the hose was so much the handier that it outweighed all other considerations. Take your plants in when the nights get cool, and put them out during the day. You can give them all the sun they can get at this time of year without fear of injury, but beware of the wind. In recommending varieties of palms, I have confined myself to personal experience,. and there are no doubt many others of which I know nothing that would do equally well in the house. There are also some other plants which cannot be classed as palms,. but which are of the same decorative nature. Chief among them stands Pandanus Utilis. the screw pine, which does well in the house, but should not be subjected to as low a temperature as palms will endure, and will come a much better color if grown entirely in the shade. Pandanus Veitehii is a variegated form, green an'? white, but seems to run to a solid light green, and is not so desirable as the ot^er. Ficus elastica, Cordyline indivisa, Araucaria excelsa and many greenhouse ferns make fine decorative plants, and will grow well in the house. One word, in conclusion, to those among you who may have bought palms and seen them die or become so unsightly as to be an eyesore rather than an ornament. Do not be dis- couraged and conclude that palms will not grow in the house, rather try and find out wherein you have gone astray, and thus get the benefit of the experience that has cost jou so dear. Remember one thing, look your plants over every day. It will take but a moment or two, and you will be surprised to find how their needs vary with the varying conditions surrounding them. That palms can be grown in ordinary li\ing rooms as well as in greenhouses I know to be a fact. I venture to state that T can find many palms that have not been in a greenhouse in years, that, size for size, will hold their own with any plants grown under glass. • DECIDUOUS SHRUBS. By Roderick Cameron, Niagara Falls. I have often considered the want of a reliable list of the best, most floriferous, useful and hardy deciduous shrubs a great drawback to the general planter of such stock'; hence my reason for compiling this list, trusting it may serve a good purpose. It will certainly save busy people from turning up hundreds of varieties in the different catalogues and journals when if not familiar with the varieties, they are very apt to be led astray by the glowing descriptions given, and those unfamiliar with shrubs are apt to be confused with their great number, so many of them being so alike in appearance. Another mistake too often made in catalogues is their silence as to the hardiness of plants, and the silence of our journals- in not condemning such, so saving the unwary from spending their money in useless stock. Farmers are generally ridiculed for not planting trees, shrubs and hardy plants about their houses ; they are not all bred gardeners, why then not tell them the varieties to plant ? Why not give good prizes at our large exhibitions for collections of such stock, and have them named ? I think that a prize offered by the government for the best named collection of trees, shrubs and herbaceous flowering plants would be of untold value to the country by educating the farmer and the mechanic as to what to plant. I hope the following list will be found to fill the bill, and as to the names there is nothing here mentioned that will not do well in WellancT or Lincoln counties. 1. Berberis ThAinbergii. From Japan, about 3 feet high, one of the best dwarf shrubs in cultivation ; flowers yellow, in drooping racemes followed by red berries in the fall and con- tinuing well through the winter ; no collection should be without the Japanese berberry. 1903 FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION. 565 2. Berberis var. purpurea. A purple-leaved variety of our native Berberis vulgaris ; will grow to 8 feet high and is a beautiful object as a specimen plant on the lawn or as a hedge plant ; a hedge of this plant looks well throughout the summer, and well into the winter after the leaves fall, with its quantities of berries, particularly if planted on poor sandy soil. The fruit is much prized by the partridges, and is equal if not better than cranberries to eat with turkey at Christmas if canned before getting frozen. My experience is that the purple variety does not fruit as freely as the native variety B. vulgaris. 3. Caryopterls mistacanthus, or Verbena Shrub. About 3 feet high, blooms from Septem- ber until cut down by frost. This shrub is a grand acquisition ; it is one of the prettiest ELEAGNUS LONGIPES. 'flowering shrubs that I know of, the flowers resemble heliotrope ; it blooms in the axils of the leaves and all along the stem ; the leaves are very pretty light green above and very silvery on the under side ; the whole plant has a beautiful odor. If this plant proves to be hardy, there is no plant will give as much pleasure ; there are two colors, blue and white. 166 THE REPORT OF THE No. 16 4. Chionanthu* Virginica (White Fringe). This will grow from 5 to 8 feet high in rich deep soil ; is also a hardy gem, producing racemes of white fringe-like flowers about the first of June, followed by purple clusters of fruit, like grapes in the fall. 5. Corylus var. purpurea — (Purple-leaved hazel). This plant is by all odds the best purple foliage plant for general purposes we have and very hardy ; it is very showy at a distance. It will grow to 10 feet high, but can be kept dwarf by trimming. 6. Daphne mesereum (rubrum and album). This should be in our collection of shrubs from the fact that they are the earliest flowering shrubs that we have, and of very sweet perfume. This plant is a native of Niagara Falls and is very hardy ; flowers before leafing out ; it grows* to a height of 5 feet. /^hPv ' k PN L**sJn?m£j£&& ll m^fW^^^ sm^i ^*j HS3l*. ■* v-^ttt ()iSS8WjB|HH| A3R ^mm ■ m^ ■ -:-CV I 9p ^^pp' «l ij ExOCHORDA GRANDIFLORA. 7. Deutzia crenata, single white. Will grow to 7 feet high : all the deutzias are beautiful! shrubs, and we cannot afford to leave all of them out of the list. 8. I), crenata flore pleno. Double pink flowers in racemes in the month of June, 8 feet high. 9. D. (Pride of Rochester). Double white tinged with pink, a very beautiful variety, but I think it a little tenderer than the last. This one is useful for florists' work, to cut from. 10. I), gracilis. This one is of a dwarf bushy habit, very hardy, pure white, single flowers. in racemes completely covering the plant, good to force in the greenhouse, also good to cut for florists' work, will flower in May ; about 4 feet high ; will flower at Easter when forced. 11. Eleagnua longipes. Silver thorn of which there are several varieties ; this one has the most beautiful foliage of a greenish white above and a silvery white on the under side, which shines in the sun. 12. Eleagnus umbellata. The female plants of this variety are a grand sight to see when in fruit, the leaves are silvery white like the rest of its class ; the fruit is eatable, of a reddish 1903 FRULT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION. 167 amber color about like currants in size ; flowers small and yellowish, not showy. Plants can be kept down by trimming to 7 or 8 feet in height. 13. Euonymus Europoeus (European strawberry tree). This shrub will grow to about 10 feet in height ; should be kept as a single specimen plant, which makes it more attractive when bare of leaves in the fall ; about the first frosts the seed podsbegin to open, exhibiting their strawberry-colored seeds which remain on the plants all winter, making them pretty objects standing among the snow ; flowers small, chocolate color. 14. Exochorda grandiflora. From China, hardy here, a most beautiful shrub, bearing white flowers in clusters, very showy, about 6 feet high — one of the best. 15. Forsythia Forbunei, var. suspensa, and var viridissima (Golden Bells). From China ; the three varieties are hardy here, in bloom end of April or first of May ; a grand shrub covered with bright golden bells before leafing out ; blooms here the second time in the fall. 16. Balesia diptera, and H. tetraptera (Silver Bells). This plant becomes a mass of white bell-like flowers, will grow to small-sized trees, 10 or 12 feet high ; there is no plant prettier when in bloom about the middle of May; blooms ; before the leaves expand; belongs to Southern States. 17. Hibiscus syriacus — Althcea (Rose of Sharon), j It'will grow to lO^feet high ; extremely useful on account of their late flowering : they bloom \ profusely at' a season of the year when but few shrubs are in bloom, 1st Aug- ust. There are double and single flowering varieties. The following will be found as good as any . — H. var. Carnation, double white striped red ; H. var. Coerula, double blue ; H. var. Lady Stanley, double white, Mock Orange. tinged pink ; H. var. Variegatus, leaves beautifully variegated. 18. Hydrangea paniculata grandi- flora, grows from 5 to 6 feet, but should be kept cut back to within 4 or 6 inches of the old stem or trunk each spring, and only leave four or five of these short stems to have large panicles of bloom ; a long- lived healthy plant, blooming in August and September ; from Japan. 19. Hypericum Moserianum (St. John's Wort). Grows to about 3 feet in height, a very desirable hardy shrub, producing yellow flowers 2 inches across from July to fall ; native of America. 20. Ilex. Vert'cillatus (Deciduous Holly). 5 to 6 feet high. I met with a plot of these shrubs lately in our own woods, and I thought them one of the most beautiful sights I had seen for a long time, the plants were literally covered with bright L68 THE REPORT OF THE No. 16 red berries, the ground being covered with snow make them look all the brighter ; they last all winter : tiowers small, white in July. 21. Liipistnim, oar. tricolor (Privet). This variety I would recommend on account of its beautiful variegated foliage, a very pretty sport of the common Privet. 22. Lonicera (Bush Honeysuckle). Turkestan. L. var. Candida, 8 to 10 feet, white flowera in end of May. 23. L. var. fragrantissima. This a Chinese variety, greatly admired for its very sweet- scented pinkish white flowers which appear early in spring. 24. L. var. grandiilora is probably one of the best of all, much larger pink flowers than the type, blooms in May. 25. Pa "itia Mout oh (Tree Poeony). 3 to 4 feet high; slow growing, but when matured will agreeably surprise the owner by the large rosy pink double flowers it produces in pro- fusion ; requires rich soil. 26. Philadelphus (Mock orange). Southern United States. Philadelphus grandiflorus is one of the best, 10 feet. 27. PJiiladelphus var. aurea. Is a golden leaved variety of the preceding one, and of a dwarf er habit, good. 28. Prunvs Pissardi. 8 to 10 feet, a grand purple-leaved large shrub or small tree, retains its color until the fall, a valuable plant for color. 29. Pyrus Japonica (Cydonia Japonica). Japanese Quince, or Burning Bush, too well known to need description, 5 or 6 feet high. 30. Rhus cutinus (Mist or Smoke Tree). 8 to 10 feet, bears large panicles of mist-like flowers in June from which it derives its name, native of United States. 31. Sambucus (Elder) var. aurea. A golden leaved variety of the common elder, a showy plant for color effects ; 6 feet high. 32. Spiraea. The spiraeas are very desirable shrubs in all shades of color, double and single flowers. They grow from 2 to 6 feet high ; there are about 49 varieties that I am acquainted with. The following are about the best : 33. S. bumalda. 2 to 3 feet, one of the best of the newer sorts, flat heads of rosy pink flowers. 31. S. Anthony Watere?\ 2 to 3 feet, a continuous bloomer all summer; a sport of the preceding one, crimson flowers. 35. S. callosa. 3 feet, pink flowers, and continues in bloom a long time, hence its value. 36. S. callosa variety. A white variety the same as the preceding one. 37. S. punifolia (Bridal Wreath). Too well known to need description; 5 feet high, double white flower. 38. S. Reevesii, var. flore pleno. 3 to 4 feet high ; a very beautiful variety bearing double white flowers about the size of daisies, one of the best ; in bloom about first of June. 39. S. Jhunbergii. 4 feet ; this one has single white flowers in two to four all along the young wood and preceding the leaves, very pretty ; in flower about the first of May. 40. S. Van Houttei. This one when in bloom would mind one of banks of snow ; a grand variety ; also makes a pretty hedge, 4 feet high. 41. Syrnphoric xrpus. (Snowberry) var. vulgaris. This one bears red berries ; very pretty in the fall. 42. S. racemosus. Bears white berries, otherwise like the preceding one, both are nice planted together. 43. Syringa or lilac. The lilac3 are too well known to make any comment upon them, suffice it to give the name3 of a few of the best, and will begin with the Persian varieties, which are dwarf, growing to about 8 feet high ; they have small leaves and are profuse bloomers ; Syringa Persica (Persian lilac) flowers light purple. 1903 FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION. 169 44. S. persica var. alba. The white form of the preceding ; both are good to plant among some of the larger varieties. 45. S. vulgaris. This is the common garden lilac, 10 feet high, purple flowers. 46. S. alba. A white form of the above. Both are as reliable as any of the newer ones, of which there are a great number. 47. S. var. Comte Horace de Choiseul. Reddish lilac, and double flowers. 48. S. Charles the 10th. 7 feet, very good purple. 49. S. vulgaris Marie Legrange. 4 feet, a dwarf form, with large white panicles, very good. 50. Tamarix Africana. Grows to 8 feet high has small pink flowers, in slen- der racemes, which appear towards the end of May or the first of June ; the foliage is small and heath-like ; makes a good green for bouquets. 51. Tamarix Indica. 6 feet high ; blooms at the end of August or first of September, of a brighter rose color than the above variety, A few plants planted together of the tamarisk makes a fine display of which the bees are very fond. 52. Viburnum Plicatum. 6 to 7 feet, Japanese snow ball ; this is one of the best shrubs in cultivation. 53. Weigtlia or Diervilla. (var. rosea). One of the best, and flowers the second time in the fall. 54. Weigelia Candida. Pure white variety of the above. 55. Weigelia Desboisii. Dark rose color. 56. Weigelia variegata. A varia- gated- leaved sort, all are grand shrubs African Tamarisk. for any lawn, grows to 7 feet high. HARDY PERENNIAL PLANTS OF THE BEST AND MOST USEFUL VARIETIES FOR ALL PURPOSES. By Roderick Cameron, Niagara Falls. My intention for making up this list is that any person may choose varieties suitable in height, color of bloom, etc., to suit any situation, large or small. All of the journals and catalogues of perennials are very confusing to the inexperienced lovers of these beautiful flowers. It has been well said that the earth wears a crown of floral beauty, aud among the brightest, richest, and sweetest are the hardy perennials ; they fill a place in our gardens and in our hearts which nothing else can supply ; like flowering shrubs when once planted they are a, thing of beauty for a life time. What is more cheerful or more beautiful than the clumps of Phlox, Lilies, Irises or Pseonies that our fathers, mothers or perhaps our grandmothers planted. If people owning their own homes would only buy of the following assorted varieties of perennials, in place of wasting their money year after year in annuals, the same money that 170 THE REPORT OF THE No. 16 is spent in these flowers that only last a season and are gone, would, if put to the buying of the following perennials, secure this full collection in a few years, and, if properly planted, would be an everlasting beauty to any home and the community in which they were planted. A list of this sort by some person familiar with the best of our hardy perennials, hardiest and best shrubs, and most decorative trees, and I may add our fruiting trees, has been a long felt want. What do we rind i In all our journals there are hundreds of varieties of perennials, shrubs and fruiting trees that are of no value, some have never been of any value. Our fruit catalogues- seem to be vieing with each other as to which can supply the greatest number of names, such lists particularly in fruits has been to a great extent very detrimental to the well being of the most of our orchardists, and we can see the bad effects of these lists in our orchards all over the Province. The beauty of a good collection of perennials is unexcelled by any other flowers; they have cheered many persons through dark hours of life ; they were loved and planted by dear ones whose voices and presence are no more ; their blooming calls to our minds happy days and faces that are gone not to return. There are many cheerless looking homes in our rural districts that could be made ideal abodes, with very little money, by judicious planting of the commonest of herbaceous plants and shrubs from the woods, if the few dollars could not be- spared to buy of the list named below. Let us plant of these old friends of our forefathers, that I am glad to say are fast becoming great favorites with the flower-loving people of the world. There cannot be mistakes made in selecting from the following list, as every one of those mentioned is first class, chosen from among hundreds of varieties. Achillea ptermica flore pleno. Double sneezewort (northern hemisphere), height, one foot -t in bloom all summer ; flowers small, white and double. Anthemis tinctoria. Kelway's hardy golden Marguerite (Europe), height, eighteen inches ; blooms in end of June ; flowers large yellow. Aquilegia or Columbines. There are many of these in cultivation in every shade of colorr and in doubles and singles, short and long spurred ; there is also the well known native variety Canadensis. They range from eighteen inches to three feet in height, and are indispensable for the hardy border, ranging in bloom from June to September. Aster amellus. (From Russia), height, eighteen inches ; blooms from July to fall ; flowers- large and purple ; very good for cut flowers. Ctirysanthemum uliginosum (Pyrethrum). Showy white flowers two inches across, four feet high, in bloom August to September, fine to cut. Coreopsis lanceolata and Grandiflora. Leaved tick seed (United States), height, two feet ; flowers large yellow ; in bloom all summer if the seed pods are kept off. -^Delphiniums or Larkspurs. There are many shades of color and varieties of this most beautiful and useful plant. No garden should be without some of them ; they vary in height from two to six feet. Doronticnm Caucasicum. Caucasian Leopard's bane (Europe). Height, one foot ; in bloom in May and June ; a grand early perennial ; flowers large yellow. Gaillardia grandiflora, or Blanket Flower. (North America), height, eighteen inches ; flowers large violet blue and yellow, they can be had in several varieties, flowers good to cut ; very desirable plants. Gypsophilea paniculata. Infants Breath, (Europe). Height, eighteen inches ; in bloom July and August ; it bears myriads of small white single flowers, if cut and dried will last for a long time, good for bouquets. Helemum grandicephalum striatum. Flowers striped, yellow and white variety. Autumn- al;* is a native of Canada, the same height as above variety, two feet. Variety grandiflora grows to the height of six feet ; the last two named varieties have yello.v single flowers in the greatest abundance ; the threi are good border plants and good to cut for large bouquets. 1903 FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION. 171 Helianthusmultiflorusflorepleno. (Dahlia Sunflower). Native of United States ; height four feet ; blooms in'August ; flowers large yellow and double, a very useful perennial. Heuchera sanguinea. Alum root. Native ot Mexico ; height, eighteen inches ; blooms in June ; flowers scarlet, very showy and useful to cut. This is one of the brightest perennials in. cultivation. There is'also a white variety. Hemerocalis Dumortieri. Japan day lily ; height, two feet ; a gem for the border or for cutting ; soft rich yellow, exterior bronzy yellow or orange. Hemerocalis flava. Golden yellow, fragrant day lily, (Europe), good for cutting, about three feet high, one of the best. Hemerocalis Thunbergii. Bright yellow, three feet high ; very fragrant ; as this one- blooms long after all the other day lilies have finished, it adds much to its value as a cut flower. There are two double varieties, and one variegated foliage ; all are worthy of trial in the herb- aceous border, (Europe). Hibiscus Moscheutos. (Ontario Rose Mallow) height, three feet ; bloom3 in August. The hybrids cilled Crimson-eye are magnificent plants ; flowers nine inches in diameter, white with large crimson eye, and all pink in others ; from two to five feet high ; August and September, very fine. Iberis semper virens.} Evergreen candytuft, (Candia), height, one foot ; in bloom in June ;: white, a little fragrant in large clusters and flat, good to cut. Iris germanica. German Iris, (Europe), height, two to three feet ; there are many shades- of color in the Iris; they are large, showy, very, desirable plants. Iris Kaempferi. Japanese Iris (Japan), height, two to three feet ; the flowers of this iris- are equal to the most beautiful orchids in many colors and varieties. Lilium auratum. (Japan), height, four feet ; blooms in July, is better of some protec- tion in the winter, this is a very large and the most beautiful of all the colored lilies. Lilium speciosum. Var. rubrum and var. album, are hardier than the above and are very fine lilies, bloom in August. (Japan). Lilium longiflorum. A grand long, white, bell-flowered lily, increases fast, one of the best ; height two feet. Lilium candidum. (Japan), pure white; height three feet; very hardy and free blooming; variety, grand to cut, all perfumed. Lychnis splendens. Double Red, London pride, (Europe). Lychnis semperflore. Pink, small flowers in abundance. Lychnis vespertina. Double white; about two feet high; the above three varieties are the- pink of perfection of what a perennial should be ; grand to cut. Paeonia officinalis. (Europe), height, three feet; I have about sixty varieties of the preonia growing in all shades of color, in bloom June and July; one of the best border plants, grand to cut, very showy, requires deep rich loam soil. Papaver nudicaule. Iceland poppy, (northern hemisphere), eighteen inches; color orange yellow and white; double and single, bloom in June. The Oriental variety is very beautiful, nine inches in diameter, scarlet with black eye, grand if planted in deep rich damp soil (Asia)* three feet high. Phlox decussata. Hybrid perpetual phlox (United States), height, three to four feet; in- many colors, grand perennials, in bloom July and August. Plat tcodon grandiflo rum. (Chinese Campanula), China and Japan, height, two feet; in bloom July and August; there is a white variety, alba, also double; both are first class perennials; Pyrethrum uliginosum. S >metimes called chrysanthemum uliginosum. Great Ox-eye,, (Russia), height, four feet; in bloom August and September, makes a grand display, white. Rudbeckia laciniata. Golden Glow, (United States), height, six to eight feet; blooms in August and September; flowers yellow, double and in great abundance, a grand plant for the back of the border and for cutting. 172 THE REPORT OF THE No. 16 Spirtea. There is a number of varieties of the herbaceous spireas, and there are no plants more beautiful when in bloom, grand to cut for any purpo3e; there should be more of these plants used when they become better known; the following are probably the best: Spiraea ■ani.nciis — Three to four feet long, feathery panicles of white flowers, a grand variety. Spircea 4M&Uboides — This one is also a grand perennial, a good bloomer; height, three feet; feathery white flowers, useful for forcing. Spiraea astilboides floribunda — A superb variety, dwarferand blooms white. Spiraea chinensis — " Astilbe" (China), a grand aquisition for the border, arobust grower: three feet high; white triangular plumes, tinted with pink, excellent. Spircea Japonica — Good for the border or for pots to force; two feet; white. Spircea Japonica aure % data — A variegated form of the ordinary variety, green leaved, veined with yellow, very pretty; two feet ; white flowers. Spircea compacta midti flora — A splendid variety for pots and the border; immense white plumes, robust grower; three feet. Spircea filipendi da plena — A beautiful double-flowering variety, very neat fern-like foliage, one of the best and neatest of this class; eighteen inches. There is also a single flowering variety of the last. Spircea pal- metto— (The Crimson Meadow Sweet) Flowers crimson, very showy large panicles; three to four feet; one of the best. Spircea palmata alba — A snow-white variety, very fine; three feet. Spir>> :i polmata elegens — This variety has pale rose-colored flowers, very fine; three to four feet; -one of the best. Note. — All the above are deserving of cultivation ; they are very easily grown and grand to cut for bouquets; most of them were raised in Europe. Stcdice latifolia. Sea lavender, (Bulgaria) fifteen inches; good to cut, will last a long time if dried; blue; very fine herbaceous plant. Yucca filamentosa. Adam's Needle, this variety is hardy, and flowers beautifully iu the -counties of Welland and Lincoln. They are imposing objects, they grow from six to seven feet high when in bloom; flowers white, lily like. Lythrum Salicaria. (Spiked Loosestrife). Niagara Falls native plant, very gocd perennial; three feet high; blooms all summer, flowers reddish purple. Anemone Japonica — or Wind Flower. Height three feet, (Japan). There is a number of varieties of this beautiful late flowering plant, but this one which is white and its sister variety rubra, red, is the best for common cultivation ; flowers in September and until cut down by frost : the red one is only two feet high. •Ctiel.one coccinea. A charming plant ; two feet ; red flower ; very showy, good to cut. THE HARDY PERENNIAL BORDER. By A. Alexander, Hamilton. The subject of hardy herbaceous plants and their use in the ornamentation of private •grounds and public pirks has received *a good deal of attention during the past fsw years, and the numbers of new species and varieties of these plants suitable for the hardy perennial border are being multiplied at a rapid rate. The earliest and sunniest recollections I have in connection with flowers, hover over the borders and beds of my childhood home, which were filled exclusively with old-fashioned perennials. There were lilies stately and tall in large groups, great masses of Sweet William, primulas in end'ess variety, scarlet lychnis, saxifraga, phlox, pseonies, hollyhocks and lots of others too numerous to mention. These were all interesting as they one by one opened their blossoms in the floral procession, but to me there was and is still in the yearly miracle of their re-awakening, in watching the tips piercing the soil, in their varied modes of unfolding thei first leaves with such a variety of colour too, from the tenderes1: green to deep crimson, an 1903 FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION. 173 added pleasure not derived from ordinary bedding plants. I consider this a strong argument in favour of the cultivation of these hardy flowers that they afford so much joy in watching their yearly appearance as soon as the icy grasp of winter is relaxed. While I do not say that hardy perennials will ever take the place of ordinary bedding plants for the decoration of public or private parks or grounds, or can be used so as to secure the striking colour effects secured by the geranium or coleus and others, still I assert that any one possessed only of a small garden or whose acres are filled with beautiful flowers of the hardy sort, can have from early spring to autumn frosts, a continuous succession of bloom. We can have thein suited to every situation, sunshine or shade, and to nearlj every kind of soil. Not only so, but when once established in our gardens they stay with us forever if we are fairly good to them, increasing in bulk and beauty from year to to year. We have them gay as the oriental poppy, and showy as the pseonies ; while many of them are excellent as cut flowers, as the sir gle and double ftoweringpy ret hrums, so many beautiful hybrids of which are being introduced. Need I name the Iris family with its varied classes all exquisitely beautiful ; the aquilegias in infinite variety, from our own native variety to the Rocky Mountain one with its heavenly blue and immaculate white, so blue and so white, as if it had been painted when gazing into the azure from its Rocky Mountain home ; the campanulas, all dainty and general favorites; the larkspurs too, giving us color and stately growth from pure white through every grada- tion of color from blue to red. Many of these hardy plants 'are very fragrant, such as the sweet valerian and many others quite as hardy. DlCENTRA CaNADENSE, AT Mr. ALEXANDER'S. White Campanula, in Mr. Alexander's Garden. I have no intention of wearying you with lists of names of these hardy plants. The best and most useful list that I have seen is that issued by the Experimental Farm at Ottawa, consisting of 100 varieties and compiled by Mr. Macoun, the horticul- turist there in 1897. Just a word about the border itself. Hardy perennials I find thrive best in good ground with lots of rotted leaves worked into it. The thrift of the plants in such soil is so marked as to well warrant them getting it. These plants, many of them ab least, increase 'so fast and spread so much that 174 THE REPORT OF THE No. 16 they require to be lifted, divided and replanted every three or four years. Some of them, such as the perennial phlox, so exhaust the soil in their immediate neighbor- hood that they are better if their position is changed every two years. The pseonies and some others are better not to be moved. Every fourth year I trench my perennial borders. I proceed as follows : I take out a trench two spades deep and two spades wide, wheeling the soil to the other end where the operation will finish. I then mark off another space equal in width to the trench made and with my spade I take off about two inches of the top soil and throw it into the bottom of the trench ; on this I put a good coating of fresh manure, tree Iberis Gilbratic, (Candytuft.) Hardy Flower Border, at Mr. Alexander's. inches and enriched with two layers manure, one near the bottom one and one midway up. The reason of putting the fresh and unrotted manure in the bottom and the other higher up is that the plants when replanted will find out and get the benefit of the higher layer of manure the first year, and by the time the roots get down to the lower it will be so decayed that they can appropriate it to their strengthen- ing and beauty, and can bid defiance to hot summers and other adverse surroundings for they are feeding on unseen supplies of food and moisture. Planting is best done in the early spring. It is better to have good clumps or masses of the best of these perennials than to have leaves or the product of a rubbish heap of vegetable matter of any kind, then I throw upon this a spade deep of the earth from the second trench, on the top of this I spread some well rotted manure or humus of any kind, then on this I throw up another spade deep of the soil left in the trer.ch ; when this is done we have a second trench, the same depth and width as the first, and so I proceed until I reach the end of the border, where I find the earth taken out of the first trench to fill up the last with, its two layers of manure or other enriching material sandwiched twice. You will see that this really means the turning upside down of the whole border to the depth of about 18 Hardy Flower Border in Garden of Mr. A. Alexander, Hamilton. 1903 FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION. 175 little bits of everything you can lay hands on if the ground is limited in extent. I would recommend a very liberal planting of the hardy bulbs, not lilies only, but the scillas and chionodoxa, the snowdrop and crocus, and the Narcissus family should be fully represented. The scillas and the Glory of the Snow, are most satisfactory and never fail to cheer the border, for they increase and improve from year to year. I make a liberal use of many of our native plants. What more satisfactory than the trilliums, the hepatica and the blood-root to brighten the border with their pure white and azure blossoms, and the phlox divar!cata makes a fine mass of purple lasting for weeks, and many others. Many species of asters are invaluable in the fall months. We sometimes hear the complaint that a perennial border is an unkempt and unsightly affair as compared with the trim beds filled with greenhouse plants. It is, if Dot cared for. Plants needing support should have it early, and all flowers that are done blooming should be removed and the soil between the plants kept stirred from time to time. I hope to see some of the commercial horticulturists of Canada go into this business and present us with a catalogue of these hardy plants as extensive as those issued on the other side of the line. And it would be well, if the commissioners of public paiks gave this matter some attention jmd planted borders of these perennials all labelled so that the public could see for themselves and choose for their own gardens and be instructed as well as interested. Much Rocket, (Very Fragrant), Showing a he effect of masses, as COMPARED WITH SlNGLE FLOWERS, AT Mr. ALEXANDER'S. more might be said on this subject, but I must close. 1 therefore urge the more general cultivation of hardy plants. It is interesting to watch their development, because there is a touch of home in the coming of the truly hardy varieties of flowers that seems to defy all kinds of abuse and quickly respond to good care, and we watch for them as eagerly as the seasons come and go ; because the first cost of them is less than the tenderer and more aristocratic bedding plants ; because of the greater variety and the longer flowering period we can have e^ah year by their use ; and they are less trouble than the more tender sorts and increase from year to year. DIGITALIS PURPUREA (FOXGLOVE). By A. Alexander, Hamilton. " An empty sky— a world of heather, Purple of Foxglove — yellow of broom."— Je an Imgelow. Thus the gifted 'poetess quaintly but truthfnlly paints the moorlands in many parts of the Motherland. No tree to break the skyline — the beautiful heather everywhere, only broken 17*3 THE REPORT OF THE No. 16 here and there by patches of the yellow broom. It is there that the stately foxglove, the- subject of this brief sketch, is found and seen to advantage, standing upright as a sentry on guard, in gorgeous uniform, perhaps in the shelter of a broom or gorse bush, or surrounding some huge granite boulder, sometimes gently swayed in the sweet breezes wafted over the heath, vocal with the hum of bees, and laden with the fragrance of the moorland flowers. It was in the shadow of a large rock not far from Dunsinane Hill where Macbeth's castle of historic fame stood, that I first made my acquaintance with the foxglove. Years afterward, I found the descendants of the same sentries keeping watch over the same rock, reminding one Digitalis Purpurea. of the customs of times gone by, when certain posts of honor were hereditary in the familyT handed down from father to son. It is not only on the heaths and moorlands that this most stately and beautiful of herbaceous plants is found, but in Scotland and some'parts of England many a hillside, and dry, sandy bank, or moorland margin, is made gay with the large purple flowers of the Digitalis. It belongs, botanically, to the order Scrophtdariaccta. In Britain, its native country, it grows to the height of from two to four feet perfectly upright, bearing from 50 to 100 beautiful purple (rarely white) campanulate flowers marked inside with yellow eye-like spots. lOO.'i FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION. 177 The flowers are in shape like the fingers of a glove, hence the name, and hang on one side £>f the stem. It is found distributed very widely in Britain from Lands End to the Orkney Islands, and also in Western and Central Europe, where there are also found two other species : J), lutea and D. grandiflora. The digitalis had from early times a great reputation as a medical plant, being applied .externally to ulcers and scrofulous tumours, and taken internally for diseases of the heart and for dropsy. For these purposes the leaves are used, being gathered when the plant is in bloom. It thrives best in a gravelly or sandy soil. The common name is from the Anglo-Saxon foxes- .clife or foxes' glove. It is known by a great variety of names in Britain. In the south of Scotland it is called lt Bloody Fingers," further north " Deadman's Bells," and on the eastern borders "Ladies' Thimbles," "Wild Mercury," and "Scotch Mercury." In Wales the •synonyms are " Elve's Gloves," " Foxes' Gloves," " Red Fingers," and " Dogs' Fingers." The German name of Thimble suggests to the botanist Fuchs, in 1542, the Latin adjective digitalis as a designation for the plant, which it has retained ever since. The earliest known description of the plant is that by the botanist just named about the middle of the sixteenth century, though it is certain that it was known to herbalists at a much remoter period, for it is mentioned in two distinct MSS. written before the Norman Century. However, I must remember that my purpose in writing this article was not so much to give the history of the foxglove as to call attention to its usefulness in the herbaceous border of our grounds, or as a foreground of a shrubbery or margin of a lawn. It will thrive in odd corners. Its own dignified bearing, when in flower, seems to be communicated to all around it. I have grown it for many years in great abundance and in great luxuriance, for it seems to like the sandy soil of my garden. It comes up everywhere. The illustration will give some idea of how they grow when self sown. This is from a photograph of part of a patch of fox-glove which .came up where some odd seed stems had been thrown down. In a wild state, in their native land, we seldom find more than two or three flower stems to one plant, but as I grow them, I Jiave sometimes as many as eighteen or twenty with from 100 to 125 flowers on each were cut from this plant. I find that a cedar or spruce hedge forms a fine background to show them to good advantage. They seem to like a partial shade, at least, so as to be spared the glare of the midday sun in this climate. They require no care and no protection in the winter with me. I can see the seedlings by the tens of thousands now in my garden coming up around the old plants. Through the agency of the bees I have •every conceivable shade of color from the purest white to the crimson-purple. Seed sown late in the fall or very early in the spring will flower the following summer in June or July. The seed is very fine and evidently needs no covering but a little shade. The seed is produced in great quantities. I made a calculation about a year ago of how many seeds one plant of digi- talis produced by counting the seeds in one capsule or seed vessel. I found it contained 250, a second one 310 seeds. Taking the average number of capsules on each flower stem of fifteen to be one hundred, there would be at least 375,000 seeds produced by one plant, a wonderful illustration of the generous provision made by nature for the propagation and continuance of her " Earthborn Blossoms." All I need add to this already too lengthy and discursive article, is to say, that in moving the plants from one place to another, say from the seed patch, as much earth as possible should be retained about the roots. LILACS AT THE CENTRAL EXPERIMENTAL FARM. By Dr. Wm. Saunders, C. E. F., Ottawa. The lilacs or syringas are among the most valued of all shrubs for the garden. They are favorites everywhere and almost universally grown. Their hardiness commends them, for they thrive not only in Eastern Canada but many of them endure the colder winters of the North - 12 F .G 178 THE REPORT OF THE No. 16 West plains without injury. They are easily grown and the beauty and fragrance of their flowers, so freely produced in the early spring, and the richness of their foliage throughout the season, are qualities which make the lilacs deservedly popular. This useful group of ornamental shrubs contains about ten species, seven or eight of which, with many splendid varieties which have been produced from some of them, are now more or less generally available for the decoration of our gardens. The common lilac, Syringa vulgaris, was introduced to cultivation in 1597 and has, hence, Deen an object of admiration among lovers of flowers for more than 300 years. It is a native of Persia and Hungary, and when planted in good soil grows to a height of 10 to 15 and some- times 20 feet. Although it suckers freely, if the suckers are persistently cut away it may be trained to a handsome tree-like form. Lilacs may be propagated from suckers, also by budding. They are sometimes grafted on the privet, but this stock is undesirable on account of its tenderness and lack of vigour. Of late years many of the best varieties have been grown from cuttings which, when placed under suitable conditions, are said to root without much difficulty. Lilacs on their own roots are much to be preferred since when grafted on the common stock the suckers thrown up from the roots are sometimes so numerous and vigorous as to crowd out or weaken the graft. Among the earliest recorded varieties of the common lilac is the single white form S. vulgaris alba, and a reddish known as rubramajor or Syringa deMarley. The first of the double forms, which are now so numerous and popular, was brought out in 1870, and since tt>en most of the very best sorts now so much ad admired have been produced. More than fifty varieties of Syringa. vulgaris are included in the collection at the Central Experimental Farm embracing all the newest and finest sorts. As yet only a tew of these have bio med, and every season re- veals new attractions in this wonderfully interesting group. Among those which have bloomed are some superb varieties a few of which will be referred to The illustrations given are all from specimens grown at the Central Farm. S. v. Charles 10th. A speci- men bush of this fine sort is shown above. This is one of the freest bloomers of] all the varieties thus far tested ; the flowers are of a rich reddish purple hue, are highly fragrant and are most freely produced in large trusses. A bush of this sort when in full bloom becomes a striking and most interesting Syringa vulgaris, Chas. Xth. 1903 FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION. 179 object. This variety has been thoroughly tested in the most exposed situations and is thoroughly hardy. S. v. Emile Lemoine. In this form the flowers are of a reddish lilac, very full J and double, a handsome and valuable sort and a free bloomer ; one of the best. S. v. Frau Damman. This is a pure while single lilac of great beauty. The flowers are produced in large trusses which are loose and graceful. The bush is also a very free bloomer* A single cluster of bloom is shown on next page. S. v. Alphonse Lavelle. A flower truss of this variety is shown on page 181. It is a very handsome form, the flowers are of a beautiful bluish violet color and are produced in abun- dance in very large panicles. S. v. President Carnot. This is an excellent sort which pro- duces fine trusses of large single reddish lilac flowers, clusters of this variety are shown in the illustration. S. v. Madame Abel Chateau S. vulgaris President Carnot. This is perhaps the finest of all the flowers yet produced at Ottawa in this wonderful group of lilacs. The panicles are large and the individual flowers of unusual size, of a pure white, very double and of great substance. It is also a free bloomer. Syringa Josikea, Josika's Lilac. This is a robust growing species, a native of Hungary, which was introduced into cultivation in 1588 and is now very widely distributed. Its leaves are large, glossy and of great substance, of a deep green color above and paler below. Thit shrub is well worth growing fonts foliage alone. The flowers, which appear from ten days te a fortnight later than Syringa vulgaris, are of a bluish purple, the clusters are smaller than those of the common lilac, they also lack perfume. When well established, this variety blooms very freely and attains a height of from 6 to 10 feet. It makes a beautiful hedge, its rigid habit and glossy laurel-like leaves produce a fine effect. For this purpose young plants should be chosen and put out in a single row about 15 inches apart. Syringa Persica, Persian Lilac. This species is a native of Persia and was introduced m 1640. It is a shrub smaller in size and less robust in habit than most of the other species, growing usually from four to six feet in height. The flowers, which are borne freely in good sized clusters, are bluish purple ; another variety of the Persian lilac produces white flowers ; both these forms are common in cultivation. This species is not quite so hardy as most of the other lilacs. A cut leaved from £. P. laciniata has also been produced. ISO THE REPORT OF THE No. 16 • ■^•'■■^ ^■■B i-.r.-.t ■/*■.'£. ' ... HSL. * - ' tBk* i v">:«| ^^fofl Si r^ri ^W**' JmBWt M MflHfliHI ip^'ji K * i i^Mr^*JfX ^IBwi ^nHt^"(i *'*»vHl<7W "■111* ■iifrf VfiB ittyv Syringa Chinensis known also under the name of S. Rotham- gensis or Rouen lilac. This is a very desirable shrub, well known and much appreciated. It was introduced into cultivation in 1795, and is said to be a hybrid between S. vulgaris and S. per- sica which was raised at Rouen by Mr. Varin then director of the botanic garden there. This variety is loose and graceful in habit, the foliage is interme- diate in size and form between the common lilac and the Per- sian, the flowers which are of an intense purplish violet color are borne in large clusters pro- duced in abundance . A form of S. Chinensis is also in cultivation kngwn a S. C. Saugeana, the flowers of which are of a reddish purple color. Syringa Emodi — From Mount Emodus in the Himalaya moun- tains. This species was intro- duced to cultivation in 1840, and is quite distinct in its cha- racter. It grows to a height of about six feet, and is somewhat S. VULGARIS FuAU DAMMAN. rigid ^ form The leaves are considerably larger than those of the common lilac, with the underside more prominently veined, and the flowers, which are purplish or white, are arranged in longer and looser panicles. A form of Emodi with variegated leaves has been introduced, which is quite attractive. Both of these have been found less hardy than the common lilac at Ottawa. Syringa villosa, is a native of the northern parts of China of quite recent introduction, having first been brought into notice in 1880. It is lower growing than many of the other sorts of lilac, varying in height from three to six feet. The leaves are of medium size, ovate in form and rather obtuse, the flowers are of an attractive shade of pale bluish- rose, less fragrant than those of the common lilac. This shrub is a free bloomer, but the flower clusters are not so large as in some of the other varieties. Its time of blooming is about two weeks later than the common lilac, it has been tested for four or five years at Ottawa and found to be perfectly hardy. Syringa oblata. This handsome variety has not yet found its way into very general culti- vation. It is a native of China and was introduced in 1859. The leaves are large and wide, oblate or heart-shaped, and rather thick and fleshy. The flowers are purple, larger than those of the common lilac, and produced in large and handsome clusters, which are very attractive. 1403 FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION. 181 In its habit of growth this species much resembles the common lilac. There is a form of oblata which produces white flowers. The purple variety has been tested for sevei al years at the Central Farm at Ottawa, and has been found quite hardy. Syringa Amurensis is a native of Manchuria, China and Japan, and is common in the valley of the Amour It was introduced in 1863. The shrub has a somewhat spreiding habit and a graceful form, and grows to a height of from six to eight feet. The flowers are small, creamy- white, and produced in panicles of varied form, some being short and compact, others long and sparsely flowered. It usually blooms dur- ing the third week in June. This is a hardy and desirable species. Syringa Japonica. This is a native of Japan and was introduced to cultivation in 1885. It is the latest in blooming of all the lilacs and does not usually flower in Ottawa until the first week in July. The flowers are small, creamy- white, and are produced in large dense clusters. They have a frag- rance quite distinct from the or- dinary lilac, reminding one of the hawthorne or the privet. The leaves are large and of a dark green colorT' This species grows taller than Syringa vulgaris and forms an attractive tree-like specimen. With a judicious selection of the vulgaris Alphonse Lavalle. species, and varieties referred to, one may have a succession to five weeks. of lilacs in bloom for from four PAEONIES AT THE CENTRAL EXPERIMENTAL FARM, OTTAWA, ONT. By Dr. Wai. Saunders, Di hector. The paeony which is said to derive its name from Pseon, a Greek physician, who first employed the plant medicinally, may be conveniently divided into two groups, the herbaceous paeony and the tree paeony. The herbaceous paeonies have tuberous roots something like those of the dahlia which send up stout flower stems every year, which at the close of the season die down. The new growth the following spring is made from strong buds or crowns which form on the tubers. These herbaceous species have been derived mainly from two wild forms, one a native of Switzerland, Paeonia officinalis, which is said to have been in cultivation for more than three centuries, the other a Siberian species, Paeonia albiflora, which was first introduced in 1734. The shrubby forms of the paeony known also as the tree paeony have been derived from an Asiatic species known to botanists as Paeonia moutan. . The tree paeony is much grown in Japan, China, and in the milder climates in Europe. In Eastern Canada it is more or less tender and unless well protected is liable to be killed to the ground during the L82 THE REPORT OF THE N». 16 winter, and even where protection is afforded during the severe weather, the tender shoots sometimes sutler injury from spring frosts. Where the tree paeony can be successfully grown it is a very desirable shrub ; it blooms earlier than the herbaceous species and the individual flowers are wonderfully large and fine. About 20 varieties of the tree paeony have been tested at the Central Experimental Farm, but none ot them have b^en found Entirely hardy. When the snow comes early and covers the ground well during the winter they pa3s through this trying period without much injury, but in seasons where the snow covering is insufficient \hey are usually killed back nearly to the ground and not unfrequentlyjulled^outright. *>OS FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION. 183 The herbaceous paeony, with which in this communication we are chiefly concerned is one of the hardiest and best known of all perennials, and owing largely to the recent introduction of many new and beautiful varieties its popularity is steadily increasing. It is hardy not only in the eastern provinces of Canada but also in the north-west portions where the winter climate is much more severe. At the branch experimental farms, at Brandon, in Manitoba, and at Indian Head, in Eastern Assiniboia, a number of varieties have been tested during the past five or six years and most of them have proven quite hardy and have borne flowers very freely for the past two years. The paeony succeeds well under almost every condition, and will thrive .even in the gardens of the negligent and careless, but when well cared for, it responds to good treatment by producing a wealth of magnificent flowers of a most attractive character. The tubers as supplied by the dealers, especially of the newer sorts, are comparatively small, and do not usually flower the first year, but they grow rapidly and if left undisturbed for three or four years they form extensive clumps which produce flowers in great number and of large size. The plant is propagated by division of the roots, but where fine flowers Are desired the parent plants should be disturbed as little as possible. The flowers are very varied in color, assuming every hue and shade from the deepest crimson through all tints of red and pink to pure white. Of the herbaceous paeonies, there are now in the collection at Ottawa 141 named varieties, consisting mainly of those sorts which have been produced within the past thirty or forty years by florists in Europe. Most of these were planted in 1895, with a more recent addition of about thirty varieties from Japan. They are arranged in three large beds, each containing three rows of plants put out three feet apart each way, and are planted so as to have the plants in the second row alternate, and those in the third row opposite those in the first row. A part of one jo these beds is shown in bloom on page 182. The mass of flowers produced under these circumstances, when the plants are well established, is very effective, and the beds are much Admired when at their best in the latter part of June and early in July. With so many beautiful varieties to choose from, selection becomes somewhat difficult. 1 shall, however, venture to name a few which appear to be among the most desirable of these which have yet been tested at the Experimental Farm. In the group we have a single flower of a variety known as Madame d'Hour. This was planted in 1895, bloomed well in 1897, and mag- nificently in 1898 and is certainly one of the best in the collection. The flowers are very large and .double, the petals nearly white with a delicate rosy tint becoming deeper in color towards the •base. The specimen measured seven inches across and the blooms were produced in great profusion. Berlioz, is another good sort. The flowers are large to very large, very double, of a deep rose color with paler shadings on the margins of the petals. This also was planted in 18y5, made strong growth, bloomed freely in 1897, and very freely in 1898. Arnbroise verschaffelt is a charming flower of medium size, a deep crimson- color, and is very full and double and well formed, it also bloomed well. Berlioz. 184 THE REPORT OF THE No. 16 Decaisxe.' Deeaisne. This is a strong grower and free bloomer. The flowers are large, full and double, of a blush-pink color, paler in the centre. In ad- dition to its other attractions this variety exhales » pleasant rosy odor. Purpurea superba produces flowers which de serve to rank with the best. This variety is a strong grower and very free bloomer. The flowers are of a very deep rose- color finely formed and very attractive. Papaveri 'flora is an elegant flower of good form and very double. Its color is white with a faint yellowish tint. The outer petals are wide, while those forming the inner part of the flower are much narrower, making a very handsome combination. Solfaterre is not very double, but is very loose and graceful in form, the outer petals are wide and of a pale rose-color, while the centre is made up of much narrower petals which are almost pure white. This is a very free bloomer and is one of the sweet- scented sort. The Japanese varieties were planted in 1897 and 1898, and all those which have bloomed have shown much grace and delicacy of form with strik- ing combinations of color. Most of them have only one or two rows of outside petals which are wide and the cencre is filled with a cluster or rosette of very narrow petals, delicate in form and hue, usually tinted with shades of yellow margined with pink. The Japanese appear to prefer these chaste and loose semi-double forms to the larger, stifter and more fully double sorts ; some of their flowers are of great beauty of form with wonderful deli- cacy in their tints. Some-gauoko is a good representative variety of this class. The flower is of medium size, the outer petals of a deep blush rose with paler markings, the centre being filled with a lovely rosette of very nar- row yellow petals neatly arranged, each with a thread-like base and tinted above with pink. Kame-no-Kegoromo is a large, handsome, loose- ly double flower of a deep carmine-red color with a number of narrow petals distributed about the base of the wider petals, the former being crimped and twisted, yellow in color, margined with red. Tatsu-gashira is also a very beautiful flower. In this variety there is a single row of wide petals nearly white, with the centre partly filled with a loose cluster of very narrow yellow petals tinted with rose. Pa paveriflora. 1903 FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION. 185 Paeonia tenui folia, which is shown in the front of the bed seen in frontispiece, is very striking on account of its finely cut foliage. It is a distinct species from the other sorts referred to of which there are two varieties in common cultivation, one of which is single, the other double, and both of a deep crimson-red color. This is a native of Siberia, is very hardy and i» the earliest variety to bloom. CARNIVOROUS PLANTS OF CANADA. By D. W. Beadle, Toronto. Although to the horticulurist as a commercial grower, flesh-consuming plants may not be of special interest, yet, as a student of plant life, a brief account of how some plants obtain nitrogen may be to him both interesting and valuable. Those that will be mentioned fall naturally into two groups, the one composed of those that capture b> means of closed chambers, or open pitfalls, so contrived that animals entering may not be able to get out. In some instances the pitfalls are made attractive by a display of brilliant color, and the downward way alluring by a spread of sweets. It is in a more enticing way the old story : " Walk into my parlor," said the spider to the fly, " I've the prettiest little parlor ever you did spy." The other groups consist of those that perform certain movements specially designed to- secure their prey. There is a third group, to it belong plants, the leaves of which are provided with glands that secrete a sticky substance to capture insects and fluids to digest them. Some Canadian' plants have sticky foliage, but the writer is not aware that it has been ascertained that any of them can digest the insects that may chance to adhere to the leaves. The first group is represented in Canada by five species of bladderworts, which illustrate the closed chamber contrivance, and one species of pitcher plant which uses the pit- fall method. Of the bladderworts, four species live in ponds or pools, in bogs, one roots in mud. The aqua- tic species have no roots, they float just below the surface of the. water, throwing up only flower stalks with their yellow flowers into the air- See figure 1, copied, as are all illustrations in this paper, from the "Natural History of Plants," by Anton Kerner, Professor of Botany in the University of Vienna. The life history of these plants is as fol- lows : — In the autumn spherical buds are formed at the ends of the branches, the leaves and old parts die, become saturated with water, sink to the bottom, taking of necessity these buds with them, where they remain all winter. On the return of growing weather these buds increase in size, become separated from the old decaying 186 THE REPORT OF THE No. 16 branches, ascend to near the surface and soon develop into a plant similar to that shown in Figure 1, with leaves and bladders. In some of the species all the branches are supplied with leaves, the bladders being distributed among them; other species have the foliage and bladders on separate branches. The bladders are constructed in such a manner that each is a trap especially designed to catch small animals. Their form and general appearance is shown in Figure 2, considerably magnified. The opening into the bladder is at the base of the stiff tapering bristles, which are so placed around it as effectually to prevent any other than animals small enough to enter the orifice from even approaching. The entrance is formed with four rounded angles, nearly square in outline. The underside or threshold is strongly thickened, from which a solid cushion projects inward. To the upper side, or lintel, is fastened a thin transparent valve, which closes upon the cushion completely shutting the aperature. The valve is so elastic that it can be easily pushed up by the tiniest animal on the outside and so get within ; as soon as it has entered, the valve instantly springs back to its normal position, and the venturesome prisoner is a captive for life. Over the entrance might truly be written — " Who enters here leaves hope behind." Sooner or later the captives die and decay. Lining the interior surface of this prison house are cells especially designed to absorb the products of this decay, which thus become a source of nitrogen to the plant. We learn from Kerner that the number of animals thus captured is compar- atively large, that most ot them are small crustaceans, supplemented by larvae of gnats and other small insects. That they must needs be small is evident from the fact that the bladders themselves do not exceed five milli- meters in diameter, about one-fifth down to one-twelfth of an inch. What is it that induces these tiny members of the animal kingdom to press open the door, as it were, and force an entrance into this death trap, is as yet an unsolved riddle. Mr. Kerner suggests that it may be to escape being drowned by larger predaceous inhabitants of the pool. Certainly none ever come back to warn their fellows. Fig. 2. We give, for hoset who may desire to examine these curious plants, a brief account of the few species indigenous -in Canada : Flowers yellow, one petaled, two lipped. Ultricularia vulgaris, the greatest bladder wort ; bears numerous bladders interspersed among the leaves, from three to twenty flowers, found from the Atlantic to the Pacific. U. intermedia. Flat leaved bladderwort ; the bladders with rare exceptions are borne on leafless branches ; flowers one to five, reported from Newfoundland, New Zea^nd, Quebec, in Ontario, from Ottawa west to London and northward at Lake Huron, Lake Superior and Lake Nipigon, also in Manitoba and the Rocky Mountains. U. gibba. Humped bladderwort ; few very small bladders scattered among the leaves and only one or two flowers ; found at the eastern part of Lake Partridge, Addington County, Ontario (Macoun) and near Westminster, London, Ont. (Dearness). U. clandestina. Hidden fruited bladderwort. This species, like our wild violets, has two kinds of flowers ; one kind, like those of the other specios, in number three to five ; the others very numerous, and borne among the bladders under water, strictly cleistogamous, that is, fertilized in the bud, reported from Kent and Albert Counties, N.B. U. minor. Lesser bladderwort. The bladders of this species are very small, about one- iwelfth of an inch in diameter and not numerous, sometimes not any ; the flowers from one to 1903 FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION. 187 ten, flower stalk from two to six inches high. In a marsh at Mount Stewart, Prince Edward Island (Macoun), Labrador to British Columbia (Britton). U. Cornuta. Horned bladderwort ; grows in the mud at the margin of small lakes and ponds, flowers one to six ; very abundant along Gulf River, between Big and Little Bushkong Lakes ; Lake Nipigon (Macoun) ; reported from Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Quebec. The writer has seen it in bloom on the borders of small lakes near Gravenhurst in the month of July, but could not find any bearing bladders. Pitcher Plants. The pitfall contrivance is formed by the metamorphosis on the leaves of the pitcher plants into sacs. There is one member of this family common in Canada, from the Maritime Provinces to the Rocky Mountains, growing in mossy bogs and marshes. Sarra- tenia purpurea, Pitcher Plant,) Huntsman's Cup. See Fig. 3, showing the rosette of leaves and flowers borne single upon the upright stalk. As will be seen by the engrav- ing, the leaves, arranged in the form of a rosette upon the ground, instead of the usual flat leaf blade, and narrow leaf stock, has been changed, stalk and blade into lengthy sacs, resting upon their backs inflated about the middle, somewhat contracted about the mouth, which is raised up from vthe grouod and bordered with a collar or sort of hood. This hood is streaked with red veins, often of a vermillion brightness, and holds its concave surface in a position to catch the rain drops and conduct them into the cavity below. Near the mouth the pitcher is provided on the inside with glands, which .exude a sweet fluid that is spread thinly over what may be termed the throat. Below this the interior is lined with long, thin, sharp-pointed bristles. See Fig. 4, a section through the wall of the sac, showing the long, spinous bristles greatly magnified. The bright colors and sweets allure the insects, many glide down over the smooth slippery spines ; after vainly endeavoring to climb the bristle-lined wall they sink exhausted into the water below and perish. When a number are decaying the water becomes turbid, resembling manure water. It is not yet known whether the fluid is mere rain water or whether the gland-like cells at the bottom exude a secretion which modifies its character. It is in this way that the Pitcher Plants obtain more or less of their required nitrogen. These comprise all of the Canadian plants embraced in the first group. Turning now to the consideration of the second group, those plants that exhibit movements in capturing their prey, we find that the Canadian members are confined to two plant fami.ies, one also belonging to the Bladderwort family and four to the Sundew family. This one, which is placed by botanists in Bladderwort family, has no bladders, does not live in water, captures in- sects by the involution of its leaf margins. It may be briefly described as follows : — Pinguicula vulgaris, Butter wort. The leaves are entire, arranged in a rosette at the base of the leafless flower stalk, flower violet-purple, one-petaled, two-lipped, upper lip two cleft, under three Fig. 3. 188 THE REPORT OF THE No. 16 cleft, nearly straight nectar-bearing spur varying from one-sixth to one-third of an inch in length. Its range is from Newfoundland and Quebec through Ontario to the Rocky Mountains. In Ontario at Red Bay, Lake Huron, along the coast of Lake Superior from Michipicotin to- Red Rock, on St. Ignace Island and on the east coast of Lake Nipigon (Macoun). Figure 5 represents a flourishing plant. The upper surface of the leaves is covered with the numerous glands which secrete a sticky fluid that is poured out profusely whenever an insect or other nitrogenous body is brought continuously in contact with them ; to this, at such times only, is added another fluid similar to the gastric juice of animals. When small insects alight upon the leaf they are detained by the sticky substance already presented ; struggling to extricate themselves only makes matters worse by exciting the glands to a more abundant discharge. If they alight near the edge where the glands are less numerous, this part of the Fig. 4. Fig. 5. leaf gradually rolls inward to cover its prey. If the creature be too large to admit of that, it is pushed into the middle where the glands are abundant. The only movement is that made by the leaf margin, it is not rapid, it is slow ; if it folds over the insect it will remain in that position until its prey has been digested and absorbed, which is usually completed in twenty-four hours, when it will forthwith move back to its normal position. There is something almost startling when told that a member of the vegetable kingdom is endowed with sensation, a seemingly voluntarily power of motion, and digestion through the secretion of a digestive fluid like that of animals. What becomes of the vanishing line between the animal and the vegetable kingdom ? Doubtless our; Piwjuicula vulgaris received its name of Butterwort from being greasy to the touch, but far more than a century ago its leaves were used in dairy farming to produce the ame changes in milk that are now brought about by the use of rennet, so that its association with dairy products is more than fanciful. 1903 FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION. 189 The movements made by the members of the Sundew family are more striking, especially those of the leaves of Venus Flytrap, Dionoea muscipula, which are not found north of North Carolina. Nevertheless, the process of capturing small animals by those members growing in Canada are very interesting. Upon the upper surface of the leaves of these plants are numerous delicate wine-red filaments, tipped with a tiny round knob, bearing a fluid droplet. These filaments are of unequal length, resembling a number of small pins thrust into a cushion to unequal depths, the shorter in the centre, the longer at the margin. Each leaf is said to contain about two hundred. The ball-shaped knob is a gland that secrets the tiny droplet which is transparent and sticky, sufficiently cohesive to be easily drawn out into threads. This droplet, glittering brightly in the sunlight much resembles a dewdrop, hence the name Sundew. When an insect or other organic nitrogenous body touches any of these glands they at once begin to dis- charge a true digesting fluid such as is secreted by the leaf glands of the Butterwort, and having the same properties as the gastric juice of the animal stomach. Doubtless, many insects are deceived by the glittering droplets, mistaking them for honey, become entangled among them by reason of their adhesiveness, and in endeavoring to escape cause the glands to give out a more copious effusion and set the filaments in motion. The filaments to which the insects adhere begin to bend inward, much as we bend a finger into the palm of the hand. When this has bent down so that the prey is brought to the surface of the leaf, the filaments nearest to it will bend in the same manner, and when these touch the surface others adjoining follow, and this sort of movement by detachments is kept up until all the filaments are bent down. Fig. 6. Figure 7 shows a leaf with 'half of the filaments bent over the captive. This is magnified, and illustrates the movement when the insect has been captured by one of the filaments on the margin of the leaf of the round- leaved series, by which it is t necessarily brought into the centre. It must often occur that the capture is made by a filament other than one on the margin, but, whatever the position, the incurving filaments never fail in their aim. If two are captured at the same time the filaments divide into two groups. Indeed, all these move- ments vary according to the needs of the movement, so that the purpose to immerse the prey in an abundance of digesting fluid never fails of accomplishment. The filaments are also en- dowed with discrimination, for if grains of sand, or other non- nitrogenous bodies come in contact with the glands, though secretion is increased, no pepsin is discharged and no bending takes place. As soon as the prey has been digested the fila- ments resume their former position, the time occupied in absorbing the nutrient portions vary- ing with the size of the captive. It is surprising to find that they capture so many and so large 190 THE REPORT OF THE No. 16 insects, not midges only, but ants, flies, small butterflies, dragon flies, these larger being secured by the co-operation of two or three leaves. The remains of thirteen different insects have been found upon a single leaf. A brief mention of the several Canadian species of Sundew will close this paper. Droaera rotundifolia. Round-leaved Sundew, grows in bogs and marshes from the Atlantic to the Pacific. See figure 6, natural size. D. intermedia, Spatulate Sundew, in bogs and margins of lakes throughout Quebec and northern Ontario to Manitoba. Both of these are abundant in mossy beds bordering Holland River west of Newmarket. D. longifolia, Oblong-leaved Sundew, in boggy ground along the shores of Lake Huron, Bruce Peninsula, Manitoba and British Columbia (Macoun). D. linearis, Slender-leaved Sundew, in marshes of Lake Simcoe, Chicken Bay, McLeod's Harbor and Cockburn Island. Lake Huron to Manitoba and Rocky Mountains. SHADE TREES. By Prof. W. Lochhead, 0. A. C, Guelph. Many inquiries were made this year regarding the treatment of shade trees which were showing signs of lack of vitality. In some cases the cause of the unhealthy condition of the trees was plainly due to insects, in other cases to fungi, but most frequently the cause was due to purely physiological conditions, such as unfavorable conditions of the soil, or atmosphere. The towns and cities of Ontario can point with pride to their beautiful avenues of trees which not only furnish a grateful shade from the sun's rays during the hot days of summer, and cause refreshing breezes to blow along the pavements, but also give shelter from the winds and storms of winter. The larger the town or city the more attractive these trees become by way of contrast with the long walks of naked brick and stone. The value of shade trees lies not only in the shelter and shade they furnish, but they also conduce to healthiness, and their value in this connection can scarcely be estimated. Part I. — Care of Trees. That many of these valuable trees are dying, or are in an unhealthy condition due to physiological conditions, is a fact that requires attention on the part of their owners, and it is the purpose of this article to point out the remedies that may be applied to invigorate these trees, and the causes which bring about these undesirable conditions. (1). Trees, like animals, require food, and if the supply runs out they must inevitably starve. One of the chief causes for the unhealthy, dying condition of so many trees is this lack of food supply. It is true that a tree makes use of the almost inexhaustible reservoir of carbonic acid gas in the atmosphere, and the water in the soil, but it should not be forgotten that a tree requires inorganic food which is absorbed by the roots. A farmer does not expect a crop from soil which contains no nourishment, but somehow or other many persons entertain the very erroneous idea that a tree ought to grow and thrive for years upon the food which happens to be in the soil in the immediate neighborhood of the roots. Very frequently when a tree is planted, the earth which has been thrown out in making the hole is^thrown back again and packed about the roots. The amount of food in such a case will not suffice for any length of time. Sometimes the tree will live and thrive for several years ; then it is because the soil has been richer than usual. Every year the ground 1903 FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION. 191 for a yard or more should be padded dee| ]y, and a dressing of v\ ell-routed manure or compost applied. In doing so a constant supply of food will be maintained, and the tree will grow and thrive. (2). A second cause for the disease of vitality in many shade trees is the lack of perfect circulation of air in the soil. The vital processes in the roots demand a supply of oxygen, and if this gas is excluded the roots die of asphyxia, or root rot. Oxygen is required, not only for growth, but also for the formation of reserve materials. A good florist knows how to provide for drainage in potted plants ; he knows that a liard clay bottom is unsuitable. Too much water and soil of too close a texture will prevent the circulation among the roots and root- hairs, and a free interchange of the atmospheric and soil gases. The best foresters advocate drainage for every tree. Too often the water which is given the tree, lodges in the hole made for the tree, so that the soil becomes saturated and aeration is prevented. When trees are planted along the sides of cement pavements and paved streets, as is the case in many of our towns and cities, they suffer from an imperfect supply of air among the roots. $£' %, .v^ - all |M ■ r~ IIs Us %$J9 '-.8101 mm :P3H? i|K^|^jigg SEE pi '__ Fig. 1. Maple Tree affected with Stag Head. Suffering from Jack of proper drainage. Fig. 2. Maple Tree suffering from Stag Head. (Due to Jack or proper nourishment.) The hard impervious pavement prevents, not only a proper supply of oxygen, but also proper evaporation from the soil beneath. A common form of disease arising from the diminution of the supplies of food and water, is Stag Head—" when the top branches become leafless, dry off and remain as dry sticks, like antlers projecting from the foliage." The lower branches remain green, but make but little growth. 192 THE REPORT OF THE No. 16 In the treatment of Stag Head, the sod should be removed from a space two or three feet in radius about the tree. This circular area should be frequently stirred by the spade and kept raked, as this process will tend to promote aeration ; but unless provision has been made for proper drainage when the tree is planted, aeration will be perceptibly checked whenever i prolonged wet period occurs. The young rootlets decay, the tree is weakened, and becomes more liable to attacks of fungi, which prey upon the roots. (3). Another cause for the death of many trees in Sun Scald, which produces a wilting of ihe tissues by a too rapid evaporation from the leaves. The tender young shoots are very liable to injury from such a source, especially if they are subjected to a hot sun after a period £>f rapid growth in moist weather. The edges of the leaves turn reddi-jh yellow, wilt and dry tip. Fig. 3. Work of Borers on Maple Shade Trees. (4). A cause which produces practically the same results as Sun Scald is known as Winter flight. The tissues wilt, owing to too rapid evaporation during fine, warm days in winter, when the soil about the roots is frozen, or when drj oold winds prevail. It is very difficult to provide remedial treatment for Sun Scald and Winter Blight. Per- haps a liberal mulching with manure or straw would be as efficacious a remedy as any that could be devised. (5). Other causes occasionally produce serious results but only under peculiar circum- stances. Sometimes the air of cities and towns becomes poisoned with harmful gases to such an extent that whole avenues of trees are seriously affected. There is of course no remedy available in such a case. 1903 FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION. 193 A few words may be said as to the treatment of old trees which are showing signs of lack •of vitality. Growth may often be stimulated by assisting nature when the roots have become sluggish. The branches should be pruned so that the demand upon the roots may not be exceeded by the transpiration from the leaves. The turf, moreover, should be removed and the soil given a top dressing of compact earth before replacing the sods, so as to allow the nutrient salts to be washed down to the rootlets by the rain. All decaying patches or holes should be mended by clearing off all rotten wood, and the place finally closed up with pitch or coal tar to prevent the entrance of fungi. Part II. — Insect Enemies. , The insects which attack trees may be divided into three groups, viz., Borers, Leaf-eaters, and Sap-suckers. The Borers are chiefly the grubs of beetles ; the Leaf-eaters are chiefly lamellicorn beetle?, and the caterpillars of certain moths, and the Sap-suckers are hemipterous, or half- winged insects. A knowledge of the life history of these injurious forms is of great service in the fight against them, and can readily be obtained by a reading of the standard works on insects. Fig. 4. Work of Borers en Maple Shade Trees. 1. The chief borers are the Round-Headed and the Flat-Headed Borers. The Round- Headed Borer (Saperda Candida) is, perhaps, well known to many of the readers of this maga- zine ; but for the benefit of those who are not yet acquainted with the pest, I shall give a few facts about its life history and general appearance. The beetle is about an inch in length, and has a broad, white stripe running lengthwise along each wing cover. The general color of its upper surface is light brown. Its feelers are quite long and jointed. The grub is over an inch in length when full grown and has a peculiarly shaped head, which is quite characteristic, being rounded, and much greater in dia- meter than the body. The pupal condition is seldom seen because it does not remain a pupa for any length of time. 13 F. G. 104 THE REPORT OF THE No 16 Near the end of June the beetle lays her eggs close to the ground on the trunk of the tree, under some loose bark. The young grub or larva eats its way through the bark into the sap- wood, where it remains usually a year, then it bores up into the hardwood whence it emerges aa a beetle after a sojourn of nearly three years. The last month prior to emergence from the tree is spent as a pupa at the upper end of the burrow. The tunnel in the sap-wood is flat, and is usually nearly filled with saw-dust castings. The beetle emerges about the middle of June, and proceeds with all dispatch to prepare for the laying of the eggs. Figures 3 and 4 show very clearly the characteristic markings these beetles make upon trees. The owner of the trees tried; to cut out the grubs, but this method produced the big, ugly scars which made the trees unsightly. The adoption of this method of treatment supposes that an ugly shade tree is preferable to a dead or dying one. The best remedy is a combination of preventive and destructive measures. In the fall the trees should be carefully examined and wherever there are indications of saw-dust, the tunnels should be probed with a stout wire so as to kill the grub. Again in June, the trunks of the trees should be treated with a mixture, which will prevent the deposition of the eggs. A car- bolic soap mixture, made by adding a pint of crude carbolic acid to a quart of soft soap dis_ solved in two gallons of boiling water, applied with an old scrubbing brush, has been found very effective. A whitewash applied on the trunk and well up into the branches is also to be recommended. The Flat-Headed Borer (Chrysobothris femorata) is almost as destructive as the Round-Headed Borer, and has a very similar life history. In appearance, however, it is quite different, the beetle is about half an inch long, flattened and of a dark green bronzy color. (Fig. 5). The grub, or larva is light green in color, about an inch in length, and with a very conspicuous head which is flat, and very broad compared v . r with the body. Usually, it does not take so long for this insect to pass through the various stages of its life history as is the case with the Round-Headed Borer. The period varies from one to three years, generally one year. As in the case of the Round. Headed, the beetle deposits her eggs about the end of June. The young grubs bore into the sap wood where they tunnel out flat channels, sometimes girdling the tree. These tunnels are not so regular, and do not penetrate so far into the hardwood as do the tunnels of the Round" Headed Borer. As a rule the eggs are deposited on the trunk a few feet from the ground. The same remedies may be used against these pests as have been found effective with the Round-Headed Borer. Prof. Comstock advises the placing of one or two cakes of soap in the forks of the trees, so that the rains will dissolve the soap and wash it down over the trunks. It may be said here that these two borers are not only destructive to shade trees, but to apple, quince and pear trees. There are other borers which also do much harm. The Locust Borer (Cyllene robinice) is destructive to locusts income localities. The beetles of these maybe collected quite readily on Golden Rod in the fall. They are black with many yellow bands crossing the wing covers. • Many locust trees can ba found whose trunks are perforated by holes made by the grubs of these beetles. The holes extend through the bark into the hardwood, injuring the trees so badly that death soon follows. The grubs complete their full growth in one year. Much can be done in the winter to rid the trees of these and like borers by cutting off all dead and dying branches, and burning them before the insects have a chance to escape. 1903 FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION. 195 Maple trees are often troubled with borers (Plagionoy-is speclosus) which are closely allied to the Locust Borer. This beetle is a very pretty creature, being marked with yellow and black stripes. The eggs are laid in summer, and the grubs bore into the wood where they may be destroyed by a stout wire in the spring. Sift <^%-i,\!, illli Fig. 7. Fig. 0. 2. The chief Leaf-Eaters which infest shade trees are the Tent and Tentless caterpillars the Tussock caterpillar, the FallWebworms, and the Bag-worms, all of which arelarv;e of moths The American Tent and Forest Tentless Caterpillars {Clisiocampa Americana and disstria) are doubtless familiar to most readers. The accompanying figures (Figures 6 and 7) show the characteristic features of the eggmasses, larv;e, tent and moths. Much may be done to lessen the ravages of the Tent caterpillars by the destruction of the egg masses in the fall, winter and spring and by burning the tents as soon as they appear in the spring, but there seems no practicable method of dealing with the Tentless caterpillar, which soon comes from the woods to the orchards and lawns. These make their homes primarily in the forests, where it is impossible to clear off the egg masses. All shade trees should be sprayed, as soon as leaves are opened, with arsenate of lead solution, made by dissolving in a wooden pail three ounces of acetate of lead in one quart of water, and in another wooden pail dissolve one ounce of arsenate of soda in one pint of water ; empty the THE REPORT OF THE No. 16 contents of each of the pails into a barrel of water (40 gallons). Stir well and add one quart of glucose. Tar bands, moreover, should be placed around the trunks, and pyrethrum powder may be used to advantage about the tree. The Tussock caterpillar (Orgyia leucostigma) is very destructive some years, but with care the trees may be kept free from its ravages. The white, froth-like masses of eggs, which remain over winter on the trunks and larger branches, and even on buildings and fences near by, may be scraped off and destroyed during the winter. If a few survive this treatment to show themselves as larvae, spraying with Paris Green will kill most of them. The bands of tar brushed on the trunks three or four feet from the ground will prevent the wingless female from ascending the trees to lay her eggs. The Fall Web worm {Hyphautria Guneu) is an- other serious pest of shade trees. (Fig. 9.) The moth is either pure white or white spotted with black and is a very pretty creature. It lays a cluster of 300 or 400 eggs on the leaves. The caterpillars leave the web and crawl down the trunk to the ground to spin their cocoons, within which they pass the winter as pupae. Several methods may be adopted to rid the , trees ot the pest. The collection of the cocoons, and the spraying with Paris Green are both effective: but, Fig. 9. perhaps, the most effective mode of treatment is to burn the webs and the contained caterpillars. A long pole, to the end of which a swab satur- ated with coal oil is fastened, makes a good toreh for burning the webs. The Bag-worm (Thyrid 'opteryx ephemerae- formi a) although rare with us on shade trees, is a pest in son e cities to the south of us. During the winter silken bags, to which bits of leaves and sticks are attached, may frequently be found on the twigs of conifers and other trees. These bags contain eggs which hatch in the spring, the little caterpillars emerging from the bags and feeding upon the leaves. They become mature or full grown, in late summer, when the bags, which they have constructed and carried about with them, are fastened securely to branches or sometimes to fences near by. Within the bags the caterpillars change to pupae The male moths soon emerge but the female moths, being wingless and passive, never leave the bags, where they lay large masses of eggs. The surest r< mcdy for the bag worm is to pick the bags during the winter and destroy them. If the lags are destioyed no catt rpillars can make their appearance unless they come from some outside source. 3. The chief Sap-suckers are the Woolly Maple Bark Louse, or the Cottony Maple Scale, the Spruce Gall Louse and several kinds of arrr.oured Scale-insects. These all have mouth- parts adapted for sucking the juices of the plants they infest. The Cottony Maple Scale (Pnlvwiaria innvmerabilis) is very frequently injurious to maples (Fig. 10). These scales attract attention in the spring by the large cottony masses which envelop them. Within the cottony masses are the eggs, from which in a short time the young lice hatch and spread over the branches and twigs. They soon settle on suitable spots, and begin feeding by sucking the sap. Full growth is reached about the beginning of September when the winged males appear. The females, however, remain under the scale all winter, and in the early spring the eggs are deposited in the fluffy, cottony masses. The application of water by hose connected with the city or town waterworks has been found effective in dislodging the eggs, and in brushing off the lice while moving about. The Spruce Gall Louse (CJiermes abietis) is, undoubtedly, a serious pest of the white, and other varieties of Fpruce. During the last few years, it has done much damage throughout 1903 FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION. 197 the Province. In the early spring about the first week of May, woolly, fluffy masses may be seen on the terminal twigs of the spruce, and if these be examined large numbers of eggs may be found. In another week the lice hatch, and settle at the bases of the young shoots, which soon show the characteristic curl. (Fig. 11). The base of every infested leaf becomes enlarged and gall-like. The larvae are safe from insecticides as they now live within the base of the leaf. About August 10th, the winged female adults appear, and prepare to lay eggs for a second brood. Lice soon hatch, and spread over the limbs, but those that survive the first winter seek shelter at the base of buds. The second brood of adults appear at the beginning of May, when the fluffy, wooly egg masses are seen. If the trees are sprayed thoroughly with a mixture of soap solution and tobacco solution soon after the eggs are observed most of the young will be killed. The operation should be repeated in August, when the second brood of lice make their appearance. Although several armored scales were observed on shade bees during the past season, and perhaps some damage done to the trees, yet no general complaint has been made against their work. Fio. 11. FUNGUS DISEASES OF SHADE TREES. By Pbofs. W. Lochhead and M. W. Doheiity, O.A.C., Guelph. It is a matter of common observation that fungi play a very important part in the life of many trees, and frequently the most serious disturbances of their vital processes are brought about by the action of these lowly organized plants. It must not be supposed, however, that w THE REPORT < >F THE No. 10 all the fungi, living in vital connection with trees, are harmful, for recent studies show that many of our common trees, such as pine, spruce, tamarack, beech, oak, ha/el, hornbeam and "heli, have their tine rootlets covered with a sheath of fungous threads by means of which the feeding processes are accomplished. These fungous threads, or mycelium, take the place of the root-hairs of ordinary plants, and absorb the food materials from the soil. There are other examples of the fungi and roots living in intimate vital connection, and for their mutual welfare. Most of the members of the heath family, most of the perennial plants living in meadows on peaty and humus soils, and the members of the legume family, have fungi living symbiotically with the roots. Inasmuch as fungi are incapable of manufacturing plant-food out of inorganic food- materials, and must feed upon the already prepared food in the decaying vegetable matter of the soil, it becomes highly necessary that the supply of humus be maintained in the form of litter and forest mould in our parks and woods. The fungi affecting shade trees may, very conveniently, be divided into three classes* according to the parts of the trees they affect : 1. Fungi affecting the roots and base of trunk ; 2. Fungi affecting the stems ; and 3. Fungi affecting the leaves. 1. Fungi affecting the Roots and Base of Trunk. The entrance of fungi into the roots of trees is determined to a large extent by the conditions of situation and climate. Where the tree has been weakened by any of the physiological causes discussed in the February number of this magazine, the roots are unable to prevent the development of those fungi which find an entrance into the tissues. Pig.12. Tramete.8 radiciperda (Root-Hot of Conifers), a, part of a fungus showing the crust following the irregularities of the bark, and the two projecting shelves ; Canker, Spruce Canker, Larch Canker, and the Coral Spot Canker. (1) The Apple Tree Canker (Nectria. dltissima) is very frequently found on the com- mon forest and shade trees. Gaining an entrance through a wound, the mycelium attacks the bark, which it destroys in a characteristic manner. As the bark cracks concentrically, the area of diseased portion gradun y enlarges, so that sometimes the trunk is completely girdled. Usually the diseased Fie. 15. Nectria ditissima (Apple-tree . , , , ,, . , , Canker); (1) a branch recently attacked, area 1S surrounded by a thick, irregular margin, the disease entered at the axil of the small which is also quite characteristic In late fall whitish branch, a perithecia ; (2) a branch diseased ,. - ,. ,, c -, for some time, showing the rugged, raised cushions of mycejium come to the surface, and pro- margin about the wound; (6) conidia spores; duce minute spores, while in spring bright red cavities rminating condiumspore ; (8) aseus cont ai ni the asci and B (Fig. 15). containing spores the asci arc contained u ' to l . in the perithecia. (After Massee.) (2.) The Spruce Canker, (Nectria cncurbitul a), is chiefly found on the spruce. The fungus gains an entrance through a wound, and attacks the tissues of the cortex and to some extent the wood. When the bark becomes moist the mycliunv may come to the surface and produce minute spores, and later in the season red perithecia are formed, and spores are liberated from asci. 1 9 1 K & 1903 FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION. 201 (3.) The Coral Spot Canker, (Nectria Cinnabarina), is often seen on maples, horse-chestnuts, and red currants. This fungus is most commonly found on dead twigs and branches, where- the bright coral-like warts are frequently very conspicuous. Like the spruce- canker the spores germinate on being brought to a wound, and the mycelium makes its way into the tissues- beneath. The coral warts are not observed until the death of the twig. (4.) The Larch Canker (Peziza willkommii). (Fig. 16). In low-lying regions the larch is- frequently attacked by this fungus, which has found an entrance through some wound. The presence of resin on the diseased twigs, oozing from cracks in the bark, and yellow, wilted leaves, reveal the progress of the disease. The spores are formed in asci sunken in the- infested spots. Year after year the canker spot enlarges, and soon giHles the tree. The fungus may be readily recognized by the saucer-shaped fruiting area ; the nternal part of the- saucer being orange-red, and the outside white and downy. Fig. 16. Peziza willkommii (Larch Canker), (1) showing a portion of a branch diseased';. (2) two apothecia slightly magnified, (3) an ascus containing eight spores, (4) a section of an apothecium greatly magnified, showing the asci and spores in them (b). (1, 2, 3 after Massee, 4 original.) Remedies. Since all these cankers are wound parasites, it is necessary to keep a strict watch on all ur shade trees for wounds. Whenever they are found they should be dressed with a solution of green vitriol, and afterwards with a coating of tar. It is also very essential that diseased twigs be removed as soon as seen, and that the fungus be not allowed to produce spores. (c) The Pine Fungus (Trametes pini.) (Fig. 17). When fully developed this fungus is readily recognized as one of the shelf -fungi (Polyporids). The shelf is irregularly triangular in form, two or more inches across, of a reddish brown color, and with the cap concentrically grooved. As ordinarily observed the fungus is characterized by white blotches or expansions on the bark, and by the reddibh-brown color of the diseased wood. Inasmuch as the mycelium gains access to the tree through wounds, and the external portion does not make its appearance until the mycelial threads are very numerous within the tissues of the tree, it is the duty of the owner to treat all wounds immediately on discovery^ and to remove all trees which show any outward signs of disease. ' 21 12 THE REPORT OF THE No. 1<> (d) Pine Conk Fungus (Peridermium pint) (Fig. 18). This fungus is quite a common thing on pines in Ontario. A characteristic feature of the diseased condition of the tree affected is the " resin top," caused by the death of the upper branches through the stoppage of the up- ward current of sap in the wood. The mycelium is perennial, i.e., growing on from year to year. Cells which are attacked lose their normal content, and secrete turpentine to such an extent that resin frequently overflows from cracks in the bark. Much irregularity in the growth of the trunk of the tree results from the destruction of the cambium. The stage of the fungus which is found on pines is the " aecidial " or cluster-cup stage, appearing in early summer as sausage-shaped swellings filled with spores. (Fig. 18). Remedy. The only available remedy is the destruction of the tree, so that the disease may not spread to other trees. Fig. 17. Trametes pint (Pine Fungus). A section of diseased wood, (a) the pores in which the spores are produced, (b) the affected tissue which is saturated with resin and partially decom- posed, i Original). (e) Cedar Apple and Apple Rust (Gymnosporangium and Eoestelia). (Fig. 19). It is well known that certain stages in the life of the rust of wheat (Puccinea graminis) are passed on the wheat and the other stage on the barberry. The parasite which causes " apple rust " passes part of its life on apple leaves as Eoestelia, and the other stage on the cedar or juniper aa Gymnosporangvum. Nine species are known in this genus : two on white cedar only, three on red cedar only, two on both white and red cedars, one on the common juniper, and one on the western juniper (./. occidentalis). The mycelium is perennial in most species, and the ab- normal growths depend to a certain extent on the part affected, and the rate of growth of the fungal threads. Growths on the affected leaves are called "cedar apples." (Fig. 19). Distorted branches are very common forms of the disease, and are known as " witches broom." The resting spores produced on the cedars and junipers, under favorable conditions, germinate and soon liberate spores of a slightly different nature. These, falling on the leaves of the apple, produce the "apple rust." (f) Lichens. Lichens are extremely common on all kinds of trees. They form incrusta- is on the bark, and may be either leathery or semi-gelatinous in texture. It is conceded 1903 FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION. 203 by most authorities that the lichens do not get their nourishment from bhe trees they incrust, but use their position on the bark as a means of getting a better livelihood from the air. The surface of the lichen is specially adapted for absorbing dew, rain or mists very quickly, and their food materials are obtained from the air and the moisture which reaches the plant. Mineral salts are brought to the lichen by the dust in the air, and probably also by the dead Fig. 18. Peridermium pini (Pine Cone Fungus), (a) Leaves of pine affected with this disease. The cluster cups occur as orange yellow blisters and contain the spores. Spermo- gonia (b) appear as black spots. (B) shows a branch which has been killed and which bears cluster cups. (After Massee.) bark or the decaying leaves on the bark. Lichens are really dual plants, composed of fungi and algae — the fungi holding the algae as slaves in the mesh-work of the hyphae. The algae, containing chlorophyll, can make organic food out of the inorganic materials at their command, while the fungus can feed upon the organic food thus prepared. (Fig. 20). It is very evident that the lichens which incrust the bark of a tree do much harm, in that the breathing pores 204 THE REPORT OF THE No. 16 of bark are closed and oxygen is unable to get access to the interior cells. This loss of oxygen is of vital importance to the healthy working of the tree, and all shade and fruit trees should 19. A, Roesttlia pirata on apple leaf; (1) aecidia or cluster cups containing aecidiospores. B, Gymnosporanyium macropus (1) the cedar apple showing the yellow horns containing the teleutospores or winter spores. be kept well cleaned. Careful scraping wil do much good, but perhaps the beat remedy is the application of some strong caustic, 'such as whale oil soap (2 lbs. to a gallon of water in winter) or fungicide, as Bordeaux mixture. 3. Fungi affecting the Leaves. (a) Maple Leaf Blotch (Rhytisma aceriniim.) (Fig. 21.) Frequently the upper surfaces of the leaves of maples con- tain large black patches of a fungus nature. These patches make their appearance in June, and are then yellowish in color, but a little later they turn black and thick, forming a sort of scab, due to the fact that the mycelium becomes hard and dense. During the winter, spores are produced in cavities called asoi, and in the spring they Fig. 20. Lichens. become mature and are liberated. In this way the infection is carried to trees in the neighborhood. The only practicable method of preventing the spread of this fungus is to gather up and burn the leaves before the spores are set free in the spring. 1903 FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION. 205 (b) Pine Leaf-Cast (Lophode rmium pinastri). (Fig. 22.) Sometimes the leaves of young, seeding pines fall prematurely, and, if the leaves are examined, small, oval, black spots , may be seen. These are the masses of asci, vMjv each containing eight spores, which rupture only after long-continued wet weather. In some of the islands of the Muskoka lakes large areas of young pine trees were completely defoliated during the summer of 1899 by this fungus. No remedial treatment can be suggested for this disease, especially after the mycelium has gained an entrance to the inner tissues. Summary. Fig. 21. Rhytisma acerinum (Maple Leaf Blotch) showing the sclerotium spots, (a) on a maple leaf. The3e sclerotia become wrinkled and contain the apothe- cia with the asci and spores. (Original). Shade trees are liable to attacks from many quarters. Not only are insect enemies plenti- ful, but fungus enemies are even more abund- ant, and await the first favorable opportunity to make the attack. These opportunities come quite freq ently during the life of an ordinary shade tree. They come when outside condi- tions are unfavorable to the healthy working of the organs of the tree, when, for examp'e, the food supply is inadequate, the drainage poor, or the water supply extreme. The tree becomes weakened, and in its weakened state cannot ward off the host of invaders. Wounds brought on by storms of wind or hail, when portions of the bark are bruised, or branches torn off, form very suitable places for the entrance of both fungi and insects. In every case the old adage, " a stitch in time saves nine," holds true, and frequently a little labor at the outbreak will not only save a great amount of labor later on, but also, perhaps, the life of the tree. The chief t insect and fungus enemies of shade trees have been discussed as fully as space would permit, and it must be inferred that the enemies are numerous. The owner who takes great care of his trees — along the lines laid down in these articles — will be abundantly rewarded in see- ing his trees " things of beauty and joys forever, " while his careless neighbor will probably be lament- ing his " hard luck. ;' Shade trees must be treated as living, organic beings — fed with abundant nutritious food, and cared for by attending to their wounds — if they are to furnish that refreshing shade in summer, that peculiar beauty all their own, and that protection from the blasts of winter, which are so much to be desired. Fig. 2. Lophodermium pinastri (Pine- Leaf Cast (1) leaves with the fun- gus. Within the apothecia are the club-shaped asci which contain the spores. (After Massee). INDEX. Alexander, A., 172, 175. Apple, 22, 23, 35,52, 91, 119, 130, 131, 133, 140. Apple Rust, 202. Asters, 18. Beadle, P. W., 185. Beall, Thos., 36. Begonias, 19. Blackberries, 128. Bladderworts, 185. Border Plants, 17, 172. Borers, 192. Bunting, W. H., 40. Cactus, 150. Callas, 18. Cameron, Roderick, 164, 169. Canadian Horticulturist. 21, 39. Canadian League of Civic Improvement, 45. Canker, Trep, 200. Canning Industries, 71. Carnivorous Plants of Canada, 185. Caston, G. C, 7, 33, 130. Cberrips, 95, 130. Civic Improvement, 45. Coleus, 152. Commission, Fruit, 13. Co operation, Advantages of, 6, 13. Co-opera t ve Fruit Packing and Marketing, 55, 71. Creeliran, Gr. C, 5. Currant?, 96, 128. Cutting, A. B., 107 Deciduous Shrub', 164. Dempsey, W. H., 28. Digitalis Purpurea, 175. Directors' Meeting, 37. Directors' Report, 25. Doherty, M. W., 197. East Central Fruit Station, 137. Executive Report, 5. Fences, 145. Fire Blight, 113. Fletcher, Dr. James, 103, 155. Foliaee Plants, 152. Foxglove, 175. Fruit Commission, 13. Fruit Exhibits, 11. Fruit Experiment Stations, 10, 125. Fungus Diseases, 103, 197. Georgia P*ach Growing, 107. German Iris, 17. Goodman, A. K., 159. Gooseberries, 96, 120. Grading and Packing, 11.. Grafting, 138. Grapes, 95, 122, 126. Hardy Fruits, 90. Hardy Perennials, 169, 172. Harkness, A. D., 25. Harrison, Prof- F. C, 113. Hilborn, J. L., 33. Hilborn, W. W., 135. Home Grounds, Beautifying, 141. Horticultural Societies, 15, 141, 159. Huggard, R. L., 137. Hunt, W., 146. Hutt, Prof. H. L., 119, 141. Insects, 87, 103, 155. Jones, Harold, 26, 131. Lawns, 19, 142. Leaf Eaters, 195. Lichens, 203. Lick, Elmer, 2S. Lilacs. 177. Local Fruit Growers' Associations, 5* Lochhead, Prof. W., 190, 197. Lychnis, 17. McCullocb, J. O., 160. McKinnon, W. A, 98. McNeill, A., 79. Macoun, W. T., 90, 121. Maple L'af Botch, 204. Marketing Peaches, 88. Mpaly Bug, 157. Mice, 92. Michigan Fruit Growing, 84. Mills, Dr. James, 41. Moore, W. W., 74. Morris, E., 31. Muldrew, W. H., 53. Nature Study, 52. New Fruits, 119, 121. Norway Spruce, 20. Officers for 1904, 4. Orchard Meetings, 6. Owen, W. H., 55. Packages for Fruit, 14, 79. Packing and Grading, 11, 124. Pseonies, 181. Palms, 160 Peaches, 84, 95, 107, 120, 122, 135. Pears, 95, 122. [207] 208 REPORT OF FRT1T GROWERS' ASSOCIATION. No. 16 INDEX.— Continued. Peart, A. W., 128. Perennial Plants, Hardy, 169. Pettit, Murray, 30, 126. Pine Cone Fungus, 201, 208. Pitcher Plants, 189. Plums, 94, 120, 122. Power Spraying, 98. Pruning, 19, 13S. Rabbits, 92. Race. T. H.,32. Raspberries, 96, 122, 133. Rickard, Wm, 28. Root Rot of Trees, 198. Roses, 17, 152. Sap Suckers, 196. Saunders, Dr. Wm., 97, 177, 181. Scarff, J. S., 31, 152. Shade Trees, 190, 197. Sherrington, A. E. 133, 138. Shrubs, 143, 164. Spraying, 98. Stag Head, 191. Stevenson, E. B., 134 Strawberries, 96, 134. Sundew Plants, 187, 189. Sun Scald, 192. Taft, Prof. L. R., 84. Toronto Industrial Exhibition, 21. Transportation, 65, 72, 74. Treasurer's Report, 24. Tulips, 151. Walks and Drives, 145. Whitby Fruit Station, 137. Whyte, R. B , 26. Window Plants, 18, 146. Wisteria, 151. Woolverton, L„ 50, 72, 125. Tenth Annual Report OF THE Fruit Experiment Stations of Ontario UNDER THE JOINT CONTROL OF THE ONTARIO AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE, GUELPH. AND THE FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION OF ONTARIO. 1903. PUBLISHED BY THE ONTARIO DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, TORONTO. PRINTED BY ORDER OF THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF ONTARIO. TORONTO : Printed and Published by L. K. CAMERON, Printer to the King's Most Excellent Majesty, 1904- TO RON fO: Warwick Bros. & Rutter, Limited, Printers. BOARD OF CONTROL, 1904. G. C. Creelman, B. S.A., President of Agricultural College Chairman. H. L. Hutt, B. S.A., Professor of Horticulture Guelph. W. T. Macoun, Horticulturist at Central Experimental Farm Ottawa. Elmer Lick Oshawa. A. M. Smith St. Catharines. P.W. Hodgetts, Secretary of the Ontario Fruit Growers' Association, Toronto. Linus Woolverton, M. A., Grimsby Secretary. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. G. C. Creelman Chairman. Prof. Hutt [ Inspectc P. W. Hodgetts Sec. 0. F. G,rA, pOI s. L. Woolverton THE ONTARIO FRUIT STATIONS. Name. Fruit. Experimenter. 1. Southwestern Peaches W. W. Hilborn, Leamington. 2. Wentworth Grapes Murray Pettit, Winona. 3. Burlington Blackberries and Currants . . A. W. Peart, Freeman. 4. Lake Huron Raspberries A. E. Sherrington, Walkerton. 5. Georgian Bay . . . .Plums J. G. Mitchell, Clarksburg. 6. Simcoe Hardy Apples and Hardy Cherries G. C. Caston, Craighurst. 7. Bay of Quinte .... Apples W. H. Dempsey, Trenton. 8. St. Lawrence . . . .Hardy Plums & Hardy Pears.. Harold Jones, Maitland. 9. Strawberry Station E. B. Stevenson, Arkwright. 10. Maplehurst General collection of all kinds of fruits for descriptive work for " Fruits of Ontario." . . .L. Woolverton. 11. Algoma Hardy Fruits C. Young, Richard's Land'g. 12. Wabigoon Hardy Fruits A. E. Annis, Dryden. [3] FRUITS OF ONTARIO. Described and Illustrated by Mr. L. Woolverton, Secretary of the Board of Control of the Ontario Fruit Experiment Stations. Fruit growing has become so important an industry in the Province of Ontario, that it deserves every encouragement at the hands of the Department of Agriculture. The Canadian farmer who contemplates growing fruit asks for information on two points in particular, viz., (i) What fruits shall I plant, and (2) How shall I culti- vate them ? The latter of these questions it is the province of the Ontario Fruit Growers' Association to answer through the "Canadian Horticulturist " and the Annual Report:, while the former question is one that can be solved only by years of patient expe*imental work by our fruit experiment stations. Of equal importance is some means of identifying all varieties now grown in our Province, and of knowing with some degree of exactness the size, color, general ap- pearance and real value of these varieties aside from the catalogues of the nurserymen. To meet this latter need, the Secretary, with the advice and approval of the Board of Control ha> begun the work of illustrating and describing the fruits of Ontario; and in this work he desires to acknowledge the valuable aid of the various fruit experi- menters. The illustrations are all new and original, having been engraved from photo- graphs made the exact size of the fruit samples, except where otherwise specified, and in this way there will in time be made accessible to the Ontario fruit growers a complete guide to all the' fruits grown in the Province. Such a work necessarily must be slow and tedious, but it is all important that it should be characterized by scientific accuracy, and the writer invites notes or criticism from pomologists generally. [4] APPLES TRANSCENDENT. An excellent early autumn variety of the hybrid crabs. Origin : United States. Tree : Of moderate slender growth, hardy, somewhat subject to twig blight. Fruit : Size i$4 inches long by i 7-8 broad, which is medium for its class ; form roundish oblong, flattened at ends, ribbed ; color of skin golden yellow, with crimson cheek k distinct near the stem ; color dull ;,ellow, changing to deep yellow, marked with crimson dots and covered with pale bluish, grey bloom; stem three-quarters of an inch long, set in ,a wide, shallow Cavity. Flesh : Yellow : texture firm ; flavor rich, sweet and luscious, Quality : Dessert, very good ; cooking, very good Value : Home market, first-class, Season : End of August. RASPBERRIES SMITH'S GIANT. A very promising black raspberry for the commercial plantation. Origin : With A. M. Smith, fruit grower, St. Catharines, Out. Plant : Vigorous, 'fairly hardy and quite productive. Fruit : Very large, black, with heavy bloom. ■$f Smith's Giant. Quality : Dessert or cooking, very good. Value : Market, one of the best. Season : Late, July 15th to August 1st. Adaptation: Tested at Burlington, Walkerton, Guelph, and Craighurst, and found hardy. FRUIT RECOHMENDED TO ONTARIO PLANTERS. APPLES. List of the Most Valuable Varieties. Summer. Red Astrachan : Adapted to all sections except the extreme north. Duchess :Adapted to all sections. Fall. Gravenstein : Adapted to all sections except the St. Lawrence River district and other northerly portions of the Province. Wealthy: Particularly valuable for northern sections. Alexander : For northern sections. >McIntosh : Adapted especially to the St. Lawrence River district, but can be grown over a much wider area. Fameuse : Adapted especially to the St. Lawrence River district, but succeeds well over a much wider area. Blenheim : Adapted to all sections except the St. Lawrence River district and other northerly portions of the Province. Winter. King : Adapted only to the best apple sections, and succeeds best when top grafted O'l hardy stocks. Hubbardston : Adapted to the best apple sections. Greening : Adapted to the best apple sections. Cranberry : Requires good soil and is adapted to the (best apple districts, but especially southern Ontario. Baldwin : Succeeds best on clay land, and is adapted to the best apple districts. Northern Spy : Adapted to the best apple districts, but can be grown with success further north by top grafting on hardy stocks. This is also a good method of bringing it into early bearing.) Ontario : An early and abundant 'bearer, but short lived. Recommended as a filler among longer lived trees. Adapted to same districts as Northern Spy, which it some- what resembles. Stark : Adapted to best apple districts. Varieties Especially Adapted to Home Use. Summer. Yellow Transparent : Adapted to all sections. Primate : Adapted to best apple sections. Sweet Bough : Adapted to best apple sections. Duchess : Adapted to all sections. Fall. Chenango : Adapted to best apple sections. Gravenstein : Adapted to best apple sections. Wealthy : Especially adapted to northerly sections. Mcintosh : Especially .adapted to northerly sections. Fameuse : Especially adapted to northerly sections. Blenheim : Adapted to best apple sections. [23] 24 THE REPORT OF THE FRUIT EXPERIMENT STATIONS. No. 17 Winter. King : Adapted to best apple sections. Should be top grafted. Wagener : Adapted to best apple sections. Swayzie Pomme Grise : Adapted to all sections except most northerly. Greening : Adapted to best apple districts. Talman Sweet: Adapted to best apple districts. Northern Spy : Adapted to best apple districts, but will succeed further north if top grafted. Mann : Adapted to best apple districts, but will succeed further north if top grafted. Summer : Yellow Transparent, Gharlamoff. Hardy Varieties Recommended for Sections North of Latitude 46 degrees. Summer : Yellow Transparent, (JharlamofL Fall and Winter : Duchess, Wealthy, Hibernal, Longfield, Patten's Greening, Whit- ney Crab, Hyslop Crab. Fruit Experiment Stations J REPORT OF THE INSPECTOR. By Prof. H. L. Hutt, Ontario Agricultural College, Guelph. I have the honor of presenting my tenth annual report of the work of the Fruit Experiment Stations. ( In the first place, I may say I am pleased to report good work on the part of the stations. We have been fortunate in securing in our experimenters a number of the best informed fruit growers of the Province, nearly every man of whom is a sprc a ist in some particular line; therefore the reports which they are making from year to year are of inestimable value to the farmers and fruit growers of this country. All of the stations were visited this year with the exception of the " Pioneer Farm," at Wabigoon, where the fruit plantation is only nicely being started. Each station was visited as nearly as possible at the most opportune time for seeing the fruits especially under test. I was thus on the go at various times throughout the summer from the time the strawberries were ripe in June till the apple harvest in October. - .-. -. ... Ufe Pp^^f^fll ■ • ■ .. f £&£■($ ■"-' Sk 5 't^- ■" "'■ ' /*" ^itMB . < -. V ' \ •'. ■ . / - i Bird's eye view of W. H. Dempsey's orchard and home, Trenton, Ont. For my own information, I took notes of the leading varieties as grown at each station, but as this' is information which should come directly from the experimenters, I have left it to be dealt with in their reports. By the use of my camera during the past two seasons, I have been able to get a number of excellent photographs at each of the stations' which may be of use to illustrate the reports of the experimenters. A liberal use of these in our annual report should add much to its value, for often a good photograph conveys as much to the average reader as a page of print. The past season was, on the whole, an excellent one for fruit, and most of our experimenters were favored with abundant crops. At a number of stations many new varieties are coming into bearing, which will afford interesting material to report upon. One of the difficulties which many of our experimenters are experiencing is to be sure that the trees or plants1 of these new varieties are true to name. Already I have com- upon quite a number which were not what they were obtained for. In Mr. [ 25 ] 26 THE REPORT OF THE No. 17 Dempsey's collection of apples, where he lias already 400 varieties on his list, and is adding new ones every year, this is a matter which requires much careful atten- tion. The authorities in connection with the Department of Agriculture ait Washington have kindly ( ffered assistance in matters of this kind, which we are pleased to ac- cept. This fall Mr. Dempsey and I collected samples of about fifty new varieties which have lately begun fruiting there, and forwarded them to Washington for verification, but as yet I have not heard from Mr. Dempsey as1 to their report upon them. In reporting this season I have thought it hardly necessary to go into details of the work of each station, as that has been done repeatedly in previous reports, so I shall refer to those only which call for special mention. One ol the most 'remarkable apple crops seen in my travels this year was in Harold Tones' orchard at Maitland. Many of his Snow and Scarlet Pippin trees were literally crushed "to the ground with the weight of fruit, notwithstanding all his efforts to keep them up with ropes and props. The quality of the fruit was exceptionally fine. Nowhere else have I seen such fine Snows as are grown in that section. In this connection I may say that the more I travel the more I am convinced that the ques- tion of varieties is very much a local one after all. In proof of this I need only refer to the particular adaptability of the Ontario apple as seen in Trenton, the Blenheim at Burlington, the Cranberry at Grimsby, the Baldwin in Essex, and the Duchess in Simcoe and the North. There are, of course, some varieties which have a much wider range than others, but to meet the demand for the best quality we must as- certain as definitely as possible the particular varieties best adapted to each section. I Srf View in M. Pettit's Vineyard, Winona. Grape rows half a mile long. | The question as to how long it is advisable to continue testing varieties which show no particular signs of promise is one we should come to some definite con- clusion upon and advise our experimenters1 accordingly. For instance, at our goose- berry station aF^Mantyr, it has now been pretty well settled by five or six years' re- peated tests that the English varieties of gooseberries, which are so much prized wherevei they can be grown free from mildew, are almost a complete failure there, notwithstanding all Mr. Spillett's efforts to keep them free of mildew. Would it not now be advisable to try a few of the leading English and) American varieties at some of the other stations where the conditions are quite different, as at Burlington, Walkerton, and St. Joseph Island ? 1903 FKU1T EXPERIMENT STATIONS. •11 In Mr. Pettit's experimental vineyard at Winona, where over a hundred new vaiieties of grapes have been under test for several years, it is quite evident that \e:y few of these much-lauded new kinds are worthy of further trial there or anywhere else in Ontario. It would be as well now to root out these worthless kinds to make room for more extensive planting of those kinds which have proved their value, and fo other new ones which should be given a trial. The excellent results which have been obtained with various kinds of fruits at the Algoma Station on St. Joseph Island have been a surprise to many. At that particular point the soil is very fertile, the atmosphere quite humid, and the rainfall frequent, all of which contribute to make this the "Emerald Isle of the North." The strawberry finds there the ideal conditions for growth, and because of the few grown it i? a most profitable crop. From .a little patch of about a quarter of an acre Mr. Young cleared this year .about $200. The berries were so large that eighteen filled a box, and they all sold for 10c per box right in his own village. The cherries were an abundant crop. Most of the apple trees also were heavily loaded, and some of the plums are quite promising. So far the codling moth and plum curculio have not yet made their appearance on the island. The surprising results already obtained at this station tend to show what can be grown in sections of Al gonna and Muskoka wherever the local conditions are favor- able. There are, however, many sections in that northern country where the climatic conditions are not nearly so favorable as on St. Joseph's Island, and for this reason 1 think it would be advisable to establish another 'station where further tests could be made under more trying conditions. A station in the Temiskaming District, where so many new settlers are now going in, would probably afford the other extreme, and if start d at once would no doubt prove a great saving of time, money and effort to the people of that rapidly growing section. Agawam and Eldorado Blackberries as grown at G. C. Gaston's, Craigihurst, Ont. FRUIT CONDITIONS IN NEW ONTARIO. At a meeting of the Board of Control, held at the Industrial Fair grounds on Wed- nesday, September 9th, 1903, it was agreed that it is desirable that a fruit testing Stat on be opened in the district above North Bay, possibly at New Liskeard, and 28 rill'. REPORT OF THE No. 17 it was ordered that the Secretary of the Board, Mr. L. Woolverton, and the Secre- tary of the Ontario Fruit Growers' Association, Mr. G. C. Creelman, be a com- mittee tc investigate the whole question. Subsequently it was decided to send Mr. Harold Jones of M.aitland, to this north- ern country to examine fruit conditions there and report to this Board. The fol- lo\ ing is his report : Maitland, Sept. 30th, 1903* T^ ihj i- Control. Gentlemen: Following instruct'ons form the Board of Control of the Fruit Experiment Sta- tions to study the conditions and possibilities of fruit growing in New Ontario, with the object in view of establishing an experiment station in that section, I arrived at North Bay on September 21st. The next morning I went directly north for a distance of 28 miles, on the Government railroad, now being constructed. Beyond the first two or three miles north of North Bay, the road passes through an unbroken forest of Spruce, Balsam, Cedar, Pine, Birch, Maple, and a little' Basswood. Ou this railway, at Trout Lake, Sturgeon River, and on the south side of Moose Lake, wild plums grow successfully, also pin- cherries, chokecherries, raspberries, blue- berries, gooseberries, elderberries, strawberries, and high bush cranberries. in'g-'s experimental apple orchard at Richard's Landing, St. Joseph's Island, Algoma. Th* land varies greatly, from rocky ridges (granite) to sand, gravelly loam and clay lc am. The most of this section, as far as soil conditions are. concerned, will un- doibtedly be adapted to fruit growing when the forest is cleared away. This section of the country is at a high elevation. Sturgeon Lake, about 25 mihs north of North Bay, is about 1,200 feet above sea level, and 600 feet above North Bay. I understand that portions of this 'forest I have just mentioned are reserved by the Government as a timber reserve, and so will not be open to settlement for some lime. iao3 FRUIT EXPERIMENT STATIONS. 29 On September 22nd 1 tuuk the train to dvlattawa, a point on the Ottawa River, cast of North Bay. From there I went by rail 39 miles up the banks of the Ottawa, to the i't.ot of Lake Temiskaming, from which point I went to New Liskeard, a distance of 85 miles, on or.e of the Lumsden Company's steamers. The banks of the Ottawa and of Lake Temiskaming, as seen from the train and steamer, are abrupt cliffs, mostly of a rocky formation, covered with Soft Maple, Silver Birch, Poplar, Balsam, Spruce, and Pine, with some Burr Otak. These cliffs are rich in scenic gradeur, but very little, if any, fit for cultivation. At H?ileyibury, six miles south of New Liskeard, the rocky formation abruptly stops, and we enter into the great clay belt of the north, which is said to be 600 miles long, of about 200 miles wide, and of unknown depth. I slopped over night at New Liskeard, a thriving little town of 1,000 or 1,200 in- h,ab:tan's, who have great expectations. The next morning, September 24th, I drove out on the East Road, along the north end of the lake, for a distance of six miles. I found the land here all clay, with the exception of two limestone ridges. Northern! Spy Tree at W. H. Dempsey's, Trenton. My first stop was at S. S. Ritchie's, five miles east of Liskeard, whose land is on the banks of the lake. This farm is a rather high elevation above the lake, and upon examining the soil in a cellar, that had been dug for a dwelling, I found it sandy for a few inches, witfi a clay to gravelly sub-soil, which would give good natural drainage. At this place I found a Hyslop Crab, and what was evidently a Duchess about four years old, in a healthy, thriving condition. The natural forest on this farm is deep- rooted, and there was no evidence of root-killing, even in varieties of apples that he had planted that were not hardy in wood and branch in that' northern country. I also visited C. W. Tucker, adjoining Ritchie, with soil conditions similar to those just mentioned. Here I found a Hyslop Crab, a good-sized apple of Russian origin bearing fruit, and Concord and Niagara grapes. Concord were ripe, Niagara green. I also found two native plums' of excellent quality in fuld bearing. THE REPORT OF THE No. 17 I returned to New Liskeard for dinner, and after dinner drove towards White Stiver and Tomstowm, on what is known as the North Road. With the exception of two ravines, this country is a flat bed of solid clay, covered with a forest of small growth of Spruce, Balsam, and Celar. The clay is covered to a depth of from three to un inches with muck and decaying vegetable matter. The forest is growing with its root system spread out in this surface soil, and when the roots are turned the clay is left beneath as smooth as a slate. Ten miles north I visited a gardener, by the name of Mackewen. I found him with a very good showing in potatoes, roots and grain, but he had not attempted any trees. I examined his well, and found the water level only 17 inches below the sur- which condition is very general along this road. The next morning I drove out on the West Road to Milberta, a distance of 13 miles from New Liskeard, passing through the same clay, with the exception of one lime-tone ridge. On this road, however, I found more ravines, which gave better facilities for draining. I walked down one ravine about one hundred feet deep, with a small creek in the bottom, and looked in the riffles in the creek bottom for evidences of sand, and found none. The banks were the same fine clay all the way down. There are no trees planted by the settlers' in this section, with the exception of a few on two farms set out this spring. Orchard and home of J. G. Mitchell, Clarksburg. A man named Doughty, on the road to Spring Lake from the West Road to Lis- keard, had two Mcintosh apple trees root-killed last winter. His soil is sand from eight inches to a foot, sub-soil, clay. Tetofsky blossomed and bore fruit. Mcintosh blossomed and died in July. John Martin, nine miles on the West Road, has planted -apple and cherry trees, but his land i's such that the trees will have no chance to make a root system. Frank Atkinson, Milberta P.O., has a high location between two ravines. Condi- tions are favorable here for success with artificial drainage. S. E. Bisby (postofnee New Liskeard), Henwood Township, 22 miles northwest of New Liskeard, who has a high location, soil a little sand, over loamy clay, no heavy clay down for two feet, has some birch, deep rooted. Possibly this land will give good natural drainage, and Bisby is an enthusiast, and feels sure that he can succeed with fruit. 1903 FRUIT EXPERIMENT STATIONS. 31 On the Haileybury Road, south from New Liskeard, on the lake shore, a man by the name of Hawksworth has some apple and plum trees, and had one Wealthy in bearing. Weather conditions seem favorable for the growing of all kinds of crops, and there is no evidence of severe frosts up to this date, corn being still green in most sections. In the winter months the thermometer foils as low as 40 degrees below zero, with the usual snowfall of about 2 1-2 feet, the ground often freezing to a depth of 2 feet. This country is evidently north of the belt of heavy snowfalls, such as they have along the north shore of lakes Superior and Huron. Picking Cuthibert Raspberries at A. E. Sherrington's, Walkerton, Ont. Taking into consideration the limited amount of clearing done, I think the wisest course your Board can adopt is to start a system of co-operative experiments in fruit, sending a few trees of varieties, hardy at Ottawa, to the men I have mentioned above, with instructions as to the planting and care, asking them to report results from year to year to the Board. Then in two or three years' time, if the Board sees fit to send their representative again to the country, he will be able to judge intelligently as to fhe best 'locality for an experiment station, and also as to the fitness of the man for the work who may be chosen as experimenter. All of which I humbly submit. Harold Jones. INDUSTRIAL FAIR. The usual large and instructive exhibit of fruit was made at the Industrial Fair during the past season. Each experimenter set up his own exhibit, but the whole was under the charge of Mr. W. M. Orr, of Fruitland ; while Mr. A. M. Smith, an honorary director of the Ontario Fruit Growers' Association, and one of our best pomolo gists, was engaged to identify varieties and discard those which were incorrectly named. Mr. Smith reported as follows : R. L. Huggard, Whitby : 67 plates apples, 61 plates pears1, 10 plates plums, 1 plate peaches; total 139. Many inferior samples, and 9 or 10 wrongly named. Harold Jones, Maitland : 47 varieties of apples and crabs, 7 varieties of pears. A good many poor varieties shown. THE REPORT OF THE No. 17 W. ii. Dcmpsey, Trenton : 153 varieties of apples : mostly good samples, and good varieties, and true to name. M. Pettit, \\ inona : 66 varieties of grapes ; mostly good samples, all true to name. A. E. Sherrington, Walkerton : 66 varieties of apples and plums ; true to name, and mostly good samples. W. W. Hilborn, Leamington : 6 varieties of plums, 26 of peaches, 40 plates in all ; some duplicates. John S. Mitchell, Clarksburg : no varieties of plums and apples, some of them duplicates ; 120 plates in all. Kinds true to name. A. M. Smith. At a meeting of the Board of Control, held on the Fair grounds on the oth of September,, 1903, it was resolved that in future the experimental exhibit from each station be subdivided into at least two classes : (1) Those desirable for planting in the section represented, and (2) those proved to be undesirable ; and that these two divis- ions be plainly labelled. At the same meeting of the Board it was ordered that Messrs. Creelman, Orr and Hutt be a committee from this Board to advise with the committee from the On- tario Fruit Growers' Association, with regard to a special building for the use of the experiment stations ; (1) for demonstrations in horticultural methods ; (2) for an edu- cational exhibit of varieties, and (3) for lectures on horticultural topics. Ordered that this Board advise a continuous exhibit of fruit from the stations, providing proper installation, can be obtained, and that provision be made for de- monstrations in packing and in other horticultural methods. Also ordered that a limited number of glass jars be provided/ for preserving tender fruit* for this exhibition. GENERAL NOTES BY EXPERIMENTERS. G. C. Caston (Simcoe Station). This season has been a favorable one for nearly all kinds of fruits, the excep- tions here being cherries and plums, and to some extent strawberries, which were injured in the early part of the season by dry weather. Raspberries did fairly well, and blackberries bore an abundant crop. Early apples, such as Duchess, were not as good as last year, this being their off year ; fall apples were plentiful, and of first-rate quality. Winter apples were a good crop, and of better quality than usual. The fungus scab was conspicuous by its absence this year. Nearly all apples, with- the exception of Snows, which were slight- ly affected, were clean and bright. Even in orchards where no spraying is ever at- tempted, the fruit this year was clean. I attribute this to the dry, cool weather that prevailed through the early part of the summer. And just here a question arises that is often discussed, viz., What weather conditions are the most conducive to the propaga- tion and spread of the fusicladium, or fungus scab ? Different opinions are held as to this matter, as also with reference to the rust on wheat, which is a fungus of a similar nature. In my opinion precisely the same conditions apply to both, viz., the presence of excessive moisture and heat, without wind or any air currents. We find that trees that are well pruned, far apart, and more especially on rolling land, bear the cleanest fruit, which goes to prove the truth of this assertion ; also the opposite conditions p'evailing this year resulting in a clean, bright crop of apples. AH this seems to me conclusive proof that my opinion is correct. And the lesson to be learned is that to have the finest apples, we must plant trees farther apart, and on rolling land, if possible. Also that we must prune regularly, and spray early and per- sistently, keeping the surface of bark and leaves and fruit covered with Bordeaux mixture until the danger is past. Thus we may secure fruit of good quality in an un- favorable season. 1903 FRUIT EXPEKIMENT STATIONS 33 A much larger percentage of apples^ were of higher grade than perhaps ever be- fore, but great difficulty was experienced in getting a supply of barrels and these Were sold ar famine prices, which becomes a serious charge in the way of expenses, and reducing the net price of the fruit considerably. This year goes to show that the question of fruit packages is a live one, and the fruit growers are — to use a common phrase — up against it. It was a fine year for spiaying, there being .no rains to interfere, and although unsprayed orchards appar- ently had as clean fruit as those that were sprayed, yet the check trees in my own orchard showed a very decided difference. We must continue to spray if we are to have good fruit. A season like this comes but seldom. The old favorite, the Northern Spy, fairly excelled itself this year in this section. Wherever there was [a Spy tree it was loaded with fruit, and the quality was first-class. We can never have too many Spys. They are all wanted, and more than we can supply. A. W. Peart (Burington Station). The fruit crop here has been heavy. Quality, too, has been above the average. In- sects and fungi were not so troublesome as usual. The season has been somewhat peculiar — a 'dry, warm May, followed by a cool, damp summer, and an autumn of high temperature, with little moisture. The general result was large fruit, and a good growth of wood. The wood of vines, bushes, and trees appears to be going into winter well ripened. Apples probably gave as heavy a yield as in 1902. The quality, however, was bet- ter— fewer worms and less spot. It is difficult to account for the comparative absence of worms. Perhaps the presence of more parasitic insects, the more general use of burlap bands, and the heavy crop for two years in succession — all these may have been contributing factors in breaking the heart of the Codling moth; and while the sum- mer conditions were rather favorable to the development of apple spot, those of the fall were contrary. A fungous parasite friendly to the apple grower appears to have worked silently, covering many of the black spots with bronze-like formations, thus destr03nng their growth, and rendering them harmless. This was very noticeable in the Greening, Baldwin, and K2ng. It seemed, however, to have little affinity for the Snow, as it is as spotted as usual. Owing to the difficulty in securing barrels, boxes have been used much more freely than in past years. The best commercial varieties for this district appear to foe the Duchess, Ribston ; Blenheim. King, Greening, Baldwin, and Spy. Pears, with the exception of the Anjou and Sheldon, were a good crop, of fine quality. Their size was exceptional ; the Bartlett, Flemish Beauty, Easter Beurre, Josephine, and1 Winter Ne'lis, being especially large and handsome. The Duchess was slightly spotted1. Winter Nelis, Josephine, Easter Beurre, and Wilder are promising. For commercial planting, Clapp's Favorite, Bartlett, Duchess, and Anjou take the lead. Plums were a heavy crop. The curculio did little damage, but there was consider- able rot in some varieties. Of the domestic kinds, Lombard. Quackenbos, Bradshaw, Niagara and Reine Claude are the most grown ; while the Abundance, Bur bank, and Satsuma stand at the head of the Japans. The plum acreage, however, appears to be too wide for present conditions, the crop being handled this year with little, if any, profit. Peaches were also a good crop. There was little or no leaf curl. The varieties chiefly grown are the Champion, Crosby, Elberta, Early and Late Crawfords, Smock and Tyhurst. Cherries were only a moderate crop. Trees have made a good growth, the reason being much more favorable than last year, when several young iMontmoremcys sud- denly blighted and died during July. Early Richmond, Montmorency, English Morello, May Duke, and Windsor are the most largely grown. 3 F.E.«. 84 THE REPORT OF THE No. 17 Grapes were a fair crop, of excellent quality. All varieties carried their leaves well save the Agawam and Wilder. There was no mildew of any account. Owing to some occult cause the Brightons set but very little fruit. All varieties ripened well, even the Catawba, which is tardy some seasons. Prices were good. Taking one year with another, it is doubtful whether any fruit pays better than the grape. The more profitable varieties grown here are the Worden and Concord for black, the Niagara and Moore's Diamond for white, and for red the Delaware and Lindley. In a general wiy grapes require more severe pruning than they generally get. I use a mixed sys- tem, that is, the spur and renewal combined, which insures fine fruit, and also saves a lot of time in tying. Wherever it is possible I get rid of an old branch and train up .a new one to take its place. I also spur the young laterals of the older branches to one oi two buds. Raspberries were a fair crop. The slug did little or no damage. The leading varieties here are : red, Marlboro and iMiller for early ; Cuthbert and Loudon for late varieties ; black, Kansas, Older, .and Smith's Giant ; white, the Golden Queen. The Harris raspberry, planted in 1901, does not promise well. It. lacks vigor and grewthiness. John G. Mitchell (Georgian Bay Station). The past season, as regards weather, has been one which leaves little to be de-^ •ired. Winter was unusually steady and mild ; the thermometer only occasionally go- ing below zero, and the coldest about ten degrees below. Spring opened fine and bright, but not too warm — just what* Is wanted in this section to hold back the buds until all danger of frost is past. Not a twig or bud seemed to burst. But, notwithstanding the fact that everything seemed just right, we have had a very light crop of cherries and app-es. caused, doubtless, by the superabundance of moisture of the previous season, which, I think, predisposed the trees to take on wood growth rather than fruit, as they have made a great growth of wood this summer. However, the fruit was very larg? and fine, and filled many more barrels than we expected. We practice clean cultivation until about the middle of July or first of August, when orchards are sown to red or crimson clover, which gave us a heavy stand this spring. There are few more beautiful sights than an orchard covered with crimson clover, with all its varying shades. It is a delight for the artistic eye. We plow it in at blossoming time, and also apply all the stable manure and other manure we can Spare or readily secure. From experience and observation I have come to the conclusion that trees must be fed a balanced ration, the same as an animal. Ninety per cent, of the total success 'depends on cultivation and teed. A. E. Sherrington (Lake Huron Station). The season just closing has been a fairly satisfactory one as to quantity and quality of fruit1. The winter of 1902-3 was, on the whole, a model one, the lowest tempera- ture being 13 degrees below zero ; but even at that temperature the peach buds, and even some of the trees, were killed. This was owing, no doubt to the condition the trees were in at the time. The spring opened up very early, with summer-like weather in the month of March, which brought vegetation on, only to be injured later by frost. On May the 1st there were twelve degrees of frost. Currants and gooseberries were in full bloom. Currants and cherries suffered the worst, black currants being a total failure. Two varieties of pears were sent by the Department, for planting at this station the past spring, the experimenter adding four varieties of plums. All of the stock is i^oing very well. All small fruits, with the exception of currants, were a splendid Crop, especially the raspberries, which were exceedingly fine. Cherries were very light, with the exception of English Morello and Ostheim, and, as usual the birds took the bulk of the crop. Plums were a fair crop, and of good quality. Pears were 1903 FRUIT EXPERIMENT STATIONS. 35 good, and a number of (the trees in the experimental plots commenced to bear this season. Apples were a very good crop, and of -fair quality. The most of this crop in this section was handled by the Lake Huron Fruit Growers' Association, and shipped under the co-operative system, fourteen carloads being shipped in this way. Fungus was not so prevalent as last year, but better spraying must be done if we wish to produce No. I fruit ; more power will have to be used, and more attention paid to the spray- ing of the tops of the trees. Insects were not numerous this season, with the ex- ception of the black and green aphis, which attacked the cherry, plum, and apple trees in large numbers. To control those pests, our plums and cherries were sprayed twice With whale oil soap. ^ j Chas. Young (Algoma Station). ..,^,„~. The past season has been a peculiar one here in Algoma in many respects — cold and wet, so much so since early summer that the use of the cultivator was impossible for weeks at a time ; nevertheless we have had a very good crop of fruit, especially of fall and early winter varieties, and the trees have ripened up their new wood well. I have noticed among those who do not spray more scab than formerly, which per- haps, may be accounted for by the moist weather during the growing season. The only insect pest which has caused any trouble was the aphis on the apple, and it was a struggle between them and the grower which would win. When taken in time, I did not find much difficulty, but with those who only have a few trees they were apt to be ovei looked, when the job of getting clear of them was much more difficult. At the fall show of the Western Agricultural Society, held in the Town of Sauk Stc. Marie, the more prominent fruit growers in Algoma seem by instinct to have met for several years past to compare notes and exhibit new varieties. Something like 30 different varieties were shown in collections by each exhibitor. I am aware that this is not quite in accordance with the required rule as laid down for exhibitors, but so far it has served our purpose well and given many of us an opportunity of seeing samples of which we only had heard the names of before. Of fall apples, we had plenty to choose from. The same may be said of early winter varieties. What we wanted, and what we have long been trying to get, is an apple of first-class quality that would keep into spring. Spys, Kings, and Baldwins we cannot for some reason or other grow, and although all these have been top grafted on hardy stock, I have never heard of an apple "being produced. Last year, however, indeed, for several years, I have had some very good Wageners, and last year some excellent specimens of Ontario have been shown. Should these varieties succeed further back from the influence of the lake, we have probably got just what we have been looking for. Why these have produced such fine fruit when Spys have been so unsuccessful I cannot say, for I have always considered Ontario and Spy as belonging to the same family. Mann also, an apple which I have always considered not quite hardy, was on exhibition. Indeed, from present experience, it may just be possible that the fruit belt, dike the wheat belt', is moving westward. I am very much pleased to notice that there is a probability of a fruit station for the Temiskaming district. Thfc is just as it ought to be, for there is a vast field for ex^erin-e^tal work north and west of the Georgian Bay, and if there had been any re- liable information for this District of Algoma twenty years ago, it would have saved the settlers many thousands of dollars, and we would not have such statements made as "I planted an orchard of Greenings eighteen years ago and never got an appfc." Last summer I made inquiry of a man who had planted quite extensively two years before and reported failure. I asked him what kinds he had planted. He said, all Baldwins The agent recommended them as being the biggest-priced apples in Eng- land, and backed up his recommendation with a clipping from some horticultural journal tfiat It was a mistake to plant many varieties. THE REPORT OF THE No. 17 I do not know that we have many members of the Fruit Growers' Association in To ml ska man g, but a few ideas gathered from experience and observation may not be out of place to the new settlers. First, do not wait for any experiment station ; be- gin right now. Avoid low, flat, heavy clay if possible, but df suitable soil near the house cannot be had, ridge up the iland 30 feet wide and plant 25 feet apart on the ridge Do not plaint deep ; there is no danger of root-freezing in Temiskaming, as the snow falls early and deep. Second, shelter is desirable, but not absolutely neces- sary ; a f:ee circulation of air is better than a closely confined orchard. Third, give cl^an cultivation for three or four years by growing roots. There is no need for any cover crop; the snow is better than anything you can grow; in fact, I have seen it a harbor tor field mice in winter. Fourth, give protection to the trunks of the young trees by wrapping with a piece of building paper, a barrel stave, or a strip of bark on the south side to prevent sunscald in the spring. Fifth, have three limbs branching out about four feet from the ground. Any lower than this the tops are liable to broken by the weight of soft snow in the spring, while high trunks are more likely to suffer from sunscald. Plant Duchess, Longfield, and Wealthy ; these will give you fruit from 1 st September to 1st March in the north. For anything further, wait for results from your nearest .station. If success is assured, make a personal visit to your station ; it is far more satisfactory than any amount of writing to those who contemplate plant- ing. All small fruit will grow there, many of them better than in the old townships of Ontario, except blackberries and grapes. Do not bother with them ; they will not succeed. Do not cover your strawberries before winter sets in, or possibly you may find them partly smothered in the spring. This is not in accordance with the advice of horticultural journals, but our conditions are different. Finally, plant a few trees, make a resolution to give each of them at least as much attention as you would a hill of potatoes. Harold Jones (St. Lawrence Station). 1 The season just past has been one of the most favorable for the production of a perfect crop of apples that we have had in years. FYom early April to June i6tifr we had not a drop of rain, and during that time ti was cocl, but no frosts m .May. The trees 'blossomed in weather of perfect sunshine, and fcrtil zation of the blossoms was perfect. All trees that blossomed set a full crop, and all so perfect and healthy that tfhere was very little June dropping. On June 16th we had a heavy rain set in that 'lasted two days and a night, and about 4 inches of water fell, that was taken up by the soil as though it was a sponge ; and following this rain we had more or less continual showers all summer until the middle of No- vember. ' Orchards were singularly free of all insect pests, and fungi hardly made an appear- ance. Fameuse and kindred varieties that usually spot badly, where not sprayed, came through perfectly clean, even where not sprayed at all. This season's observations ' on the development of " spots " helps to impress upon all earnest thinkers the necessity of eatly and frequent sprayings in years of normal rainfall. Through April, May, and the first half of June, there was no moisture to develop fungi, but from June 16th to Hate fall, conditions were very favorable for its growth. (Still, the fruit remained clean. For some years I have found that trees that I sprayed every week or ten days from the 1st of May to the middle of June, and then stopped, were cleaner than those only sprayed two or three times before that date, but continued into August. Further work and thought along this line will likely demonstrate to a certainty that if the spot "is kept under absolute control for the first month and a half of the growing season the crop is practically safe. The experimental orchard was under clean cultivation, with a cover crop of clover plowed down in the plum and pear blocks ; in the apples a cover crop was plowed down, barnyard manure applied, and planted to corn. 1903 FRUIT EXPERIMENT STATIONS. All! ithe apple trees have done well, and made good growth, except Blenheim Orange. This tree was injured by the winter, all the Himbs dying, but they sent out a new growth of suckers, which are going into winter in a green, sappy state, and will prob- ably be dead in the spring. The European and Japanese plums are showing further weakness and unsuitability for this section, which shows that we must look to the American type for thrifty and uardy trees that will blossom and bear fruit. In pears many of the standards for Western Ontario are proving tender here, but Flemish Beauty, Clapp, Ribston, and Keiffer are varieties that will succeed and give us fruit of good quality. W. W. Hilborn (Southwestern Station). The season has been on the whole a favorable one for the fruit grower. Peaches were rather above an average "crop, and on account oif plenty of rain the fruit was larger than usual. Fruit rot was quite prevalent at several periods during the ripening season on account of an excess of rain. This disease caused more injury than it has done previously for many years. Or- chards that were not sprayed lost a large part of their foliage ; quite a number of trees died from this cause. Spraying to be effectual must be done early in spring. The earlier the better, and certainly must be done before the buds start, otherwise but pcor or indifferent results will be obtained. Lime, salt and sulphur, or Bordeaux mixture will control this disease if properly done at the right time. P'lums were the most abundant crop ever known in this locality. Reasonable price, were obtained for the first early varieties ; of these the Japans took the lead ; Red June, Satsuma, Abundance, and Burbank were most profitable of. the older or well tested kinds. Cherries are coming into more prominence as a market fruit, and the supply at present does not equal the demand. The great drawback in cherry culture is the difficulty in getting the fruit picked on account of the scarcity of suitable help, and also on account of fruit rot, which often destroys a large portion of most of the sweet varieties. Among the most profitable sorts in my orchard are the following : Windsor, Smith's Biggarreau, Yellow Spanish, Napoleon, and Gov. Wood, of the sweet cherries ; Early Richmond, and Montmorency, of the sour or Morello type. While pruning last spring, I discovered San Jose scale in two of the experimental blocks. The first was on Japan plum trees, the second on a peach tree. The scale was very numerous on two trees in each locality. In the plum block quite a large number of trees contained more or less scale. The trees in both cases were six or seven years planted. When I 'discovered the scale, my first impulse was to take out and burn all infested trees and those in their immediate vicinity. This would, however, have destroyed quite a number of valuable trees, some of which could not be replaced. As it was early in the season, and no danger of the scale spreading for some weeks, I concluded that before pulling the trees out, I would wait a. few days for more mature judgment. In the meantime I wrote Prof. Locbhead at the O.A.C., Guelph, who advised me to spray with lime and sulphur mixture. The usual method of boiling this mixture for four hours in a kettle deterred me from making it that way for want of time for the operation. I succeeded, however, in getting a small steam boiler (a kind made in Leamington for steaming hog feed), which answered the purpose admirably. This, with two coal oil barrels, one for heating water in, the other for boiling the mixture, makes a very satisfactory outfit with which to manufacture the lime, salt and sulphur preparation. The formula I use is 15 pounds lime, 15 pounds sulphur, and 10 pounds salt. In making I proceed about as follows : Fill one barrel with water, turn in the steam until hot ; then turn the steam into barrel No. 2, in which four or five pals of water have been placed. When this has been heated nearly to the boiling point put in 15 pounds good1, fresh, lump stone lime, stir constantly while slaking to pre- - THE REPORT OF THE No. 17 yen: lime from burning. As soon as the slaking has advanced sufficiently to admit, add 15 pounds sulphur by rubbing through a sieve made oif door screen wire netting. Stir constantly while adding the sulphur. It is well at this time to add four or five more pails of hot water from barrel No. 1. Boil one hour, then add 10 pounds salt, and boil 15 minutes longer, when it is ready to put into the spraying barrel. It must be put through a strainer. I use a short linen sack, stretched over a form made of wood or wire to hold the mouth of the bag open. As soon as the mixture is cooked turn the steam into barrel No. 1, and heat the water as nearly to the boiling point as p .>*ible while the mixture is being strained. They add sufficient water (as hot as possible) to nil the spray barrel, and proceed to use it at once. If left to get cold it is not effectual. With my two boys I made and applied 16 barrels in three days. The result has been that at this writing (November 10th), after diligent search, I have not been able to find one living scale in my orchard. I have heard and seen so much about the destructive powers of the San Jose scale that when I first discovered it in my orchard I must confess that I was afraid it was the beginning of the end of fruit growing for profit with me. I can now state, how- ever, that the scale does not give one an anxious thought. I am not sure but there is some truth in the statement made by a noted American fruit grower, " that the San Jose scale was like weeds — a blessing in disguise." The trees that were thoroughly sprayed with this mixture have been more healthy and less injured by insect enemies and fungous diseases. I am convinced from this one season's trial that it will pay well to give an annual spraying with this mixture, even where there is no scale, for the general cleaning up it gives the trees. A. E. Annis (Wabigoon Station). > 1 W CO T3 > 1 > i % ffl 3 a> O-rt ' r008EBERRIE8. 4 2 4 8 6 9 9 9 4 2 4 8 8 10 10 8 4 2 4 9 6 9 9 10 Raspberries. Older 2 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 2 6 7 6 6 7 5 6 2 Pearl Columbian 8 Red Jacket Cuthbert 7 Miller 6 4 Marlboro 7 C'herrv Strawberries. Clvde Fay's Saunders 7 White G rape 8 This climate, I think, is too severe for apples (standard). I have a number of trees now about 4 1-2 feet high, grown from seed, which are alive to the top bud year a:tei year. I have three crabs, but they have not fruited yet ; some of their branches kill back in the winter. One Ostheim cherry is making very slow growth ; it kills back almost to the main trunk every winter. NOTES ON APPLES. G. C. Caston (Simcoe Station). There was added only one variety to the list this year, " Wismer's Dessert," said to be an excellent dessert apple. Of the new varieties fruiting there were one or two Russians, early varieties, of such a short season and poor quality as to be not worth any description. In speaking ol the Russian apples, I might make one 1903 FRUIT EXPERIMENT STATIONS. 39 .exception among the varieties. It is one that was sent here from the Experimental Farm, Ottawa, before I began experimental work at all. It was sent under the name of Lode/ though Prof. Macoun thinks it is not the proper name for it. It is an excellent dessert apple, of about the same season as the Duchess of Oldenburg, End the tree is very hardy, healthy .and vigorous. In fact, those Russians, so far as my experience of them goes, are only to be recommended for northern sections, where only tho most hardy varieties will succeed. Their hardiness is their principal merit, and I certainly would not) recommend any of them for this locality, where we can grow so many better varieties. Their principal use here would be as stock for top grafting upon, and even for that purpose I would much prefer the Talman Sweet. Of the other new varieties fruited two are worthy of special mention, which I think will, on further acquaintance, prove worthy of recommendation : Dominie. A large green apple, over three inches in diameter, with a brownish red tinge on one side. In shape like the Blenheim Pippin, with a short, thick stem, set in a wide, moderately deep cavity, and a large, open calyx in a wide, deep basin. As only one specimen was grown, it has not been tested as to quality of flesh, or flavor, but is evidently a long keeper. It is clean, and apparently not likely to be affected by scab. North-West Greening. This is a green apple of large size, conical .'n shape, medium stem, set in a narrow, deep cavity ; calyx closed in a very small, shallow basin ; skin green, turning to a yellowish tinge at maturity, showing on one side very minute brown dots. It is evidently a good keeper, being at this time hard in texture, Fk-sii yellow, crisp, juicy, with a pleasant, aromatic flavor. North Star. A large, green fall apple, coarse flesh, but of fairly good flavor. In the presence of so many better ones of the same season, I would not recommend it. We have too many of its class now for the good of the trade. Hamilton. A handsome, clean-skinned apple, of rich yellow color when ripe, but a short keeper ; inclined to water core ; not recommended for general planting. Montreal Peach. A large, yellow fall apple, with nothing particular to recom- mend it. Windsor Chief. A fine-looking, 'hard winter apple, evidently a long keeper ; above medium size, dark red in color, and in shape somewhat resembling the Baldwin ; a promising variety, but as the tree only bore one specimen, it will be necessary to wait until it bears a crop before recommending it. Cooper's Market. This variety is famous as a long keeping variety. The trees here are just beginning to bear, and it certainly is a hard, firm apple. Very conical in shape ; stem medium, set in a deep, narrow cavity ; calyx closed in a very small, shallow basin ; skin green, overspread with dark red, somewhat streaked ; flesh firm, juicy, rather acid ; flavor will no doubt improve toward spring ; season from October to May. Salome. A 'bright red, handsome apple, of medium size ; conical shape. A late, long keeper, of fair quality. Tree healthy and hardy. Winter Maiden's Blush. This variety has fruited two years, and, as it seems to show good qualities, it may be safe to recommend it. It will be a good shipper and keeper here. The apple is large, much larger than the fall variety of that name, and cf a different shape, being quite conical and somewhat ribbed, with a very short, thick stem, set in a wide shallow cavity ; calyx open and small, in a very small, shallow, plaited basin ; skin green, turning to yellow at! maturity, showing minute green dots, and overspread on one side with pale red, lacking the bright, handsome coloring of the fall variety ; flesh white, crisp, juicy, acid; a good cooker ; season proibaoly from October to February. Peter. This variety, sent out some years ago under this name, is, in my opinion, simply the Wealthy under another name. We have far too many of that sort in this country now, and it would be a difficult task for a nursery agent to sell Wealthy trees to any experienced grower here, 40 THE REPORT OF THE No. 17 Mcintosh Red. This variety has excelled itself this year, being free from scab, and nearly twice as large as usual. If it can be kept free from scab by persistent spraying it will no doubt prove a profitable variety to grow as a dessert apple, and will take the place of the Snow, which is not entirely satisfactory here. The Snow, when large and clean, is a very salable apple, but so 'few people spray their orchards that it is only in years like the present that it is marketable condition. The trees are also inclined to overbear, and then the fruit is too small. One way oT overcoming this difficulty is by severe pruning, and if ever a variety calls for a thorough pruning and spraying that variety is the Snow. Ontario. This apple has been in 'bearing for three years, both top grafted and on the nursery tree, and I have no hesitation in recommending it as a valuable addition to the commercial list for the district. Though in point of quality it does not come up to the Spy, yet its fine size, clean skin, productiveness, and early bearing commend it as a valuable variety. Baxter. There is nothing new about this variety, except that this year it has suddenly become famous by making a record price for itself in the British market, the highest probably ever recorded for a Canadian apple. It is not a big yielder, but bears pretty regular crops, and, like the Snow, is very susceptible to the attack of scab It requires strong, rich soil, and does best on high table land or land that is rolling, and should be thoroughly sprayed. It has the peculiar habit of bearing its fruit on the ends of the small twigs, and is more liable to damage from high winds on th it account when fruit is near maturity. The flesh is coarse, but withal has a rather pleasant flavor when ripe, and is a splendid cooker. But its large size, and bright, handsome color is what makes it a good seller, when free from scab, as it is this year. Gano. This variety still maintains1 its good reputation here as a profitable apple. Two trees, planted in 1895, bore two barrels each of first-class apples this year. I consider it in all respects superior to the Ben Davis. Shackleford. A green winter apple, has born a few specimens for the last two or three years, 'but unless it shows evidence of bearing better qualities as it grows older it w'll scarcely find a place in the recommended list. < The Secretary. Hubbardston. On the model prize list which has been issued by the Association of Fairs, in their first annual report, we note the name of Hubbardston, a variety of apple which is less known and less cultivated in Ontario than its merits deserve. It is really one of our best early winter apples, being higher colored than King and more pro- ductive that Ribston. In those sections where it has been found to succeed, this apple should rank high for planting in the commercial orchard, but we hear so little about it at our meetings,, and so seldom see it at our fairs, that wc conclude it has not been tried in many parts of our Province. Some years ago we received some samples from a subscriber at 'Beamsville, which were very fine and beautifully colored, and the grower said he counted them among his most valuable market apples. Mr. A. A. Wright, M.P., of 'Renfrew, speaks most highly of the apple for a retail trade, and says that it is the favorite variety called for by his customers. The Hubbardston originated fn Hubbardston, Mass., whence, of course, it takefr its name. The following notes on this apple from various fruit growers will be of interest : E. Morris, Fonthill : The Hubbardstone apple is not grown extensively in this section, just a few odd trees. The apple as grown here is a very productive one, and of good quality, but ripens a little too early for profitable shipping. A. E. Sherrington, Walkerton : The Hubbardston does well here with Mr. Shaw. The tree is a vigorous grower and an annual bearer, and the fruit does not spot. I think it wouH be profitable. 1903 FRUIT EXPERIMENT STATIONS. 41 A. M. Smith, St. Catharines : Hubbardston Nonsuch is not much grown in this* section, but among our packers it is highly esteemed. Titterington & Co. say it is one of the best of the late fall for market. I have never fruited it myself. Some have comounded it with the Blenheim Pippin, which it somewhat resembles, but is smaller in size and a little better keeper, being classed by Downing as an early winter. Ben Davis. Mr. Dempsey says : It always pays me well, 'but it has its own season in the market, and that is toward spring, after the Baldwin and Spy have been well cleared out. Nobody wants to eat a Ben Davis in fall or early winter ; it is not ready so early. My own family use more Ben Davis than Baldwin, because in Baldwin season they prefer to use Spy; but when these are over, say in April, 'then they call for Ben Davis, and by that time it is good for all purposes. ' I. have great confidence in Ben Davis for top grafting upon," says Mr. Shourds of Wellington, Prince Edward County. "A Spy tree is apt to split at the crotch, but Ben Davis is tough and does not break down ; besides Spy, top grafted on Ben Davis, bears fairly early. I have an instance where I top grafted Spy on the branches of a Ben Davis at three years after planting, and at seven years it began fruiting. I am planting twenty acres to Ben Davis trees, and if I want Spy I will have first-class stock upon which to top graft it." Phoenix. This is grown to a considerable extent in Northumberland County, and some growers value it highly. Mr. Solomon, of Brighton, a packer at Butler's storage, Isaid he found it quite as productive as Baldwin, as good a shipper and seller ; but Mr. C. W. Crandall, of Colborne, thought it inferior to Baldwin, and all owned it wa-; not as good a keeper, and should be shipped before January or it would discolor. The samples given us on January 20th, however, were still bright in color and in excellent condition. Stark. In response to our inquiries regarding the 'behavior of the Stark apple in Ontario, we have received the following : W. H. Dempsey, Trenton, Oiit.: The tree has made very rapid growth ; the foli; ge is large, dark green in color, and somewhat subject to fungus; very productive every alternate year ; the fruit is large, clean, dull in color, and not so attractive in appearance as many other varieties, and it is a first-class commercial apple only for this fault. In seme localities it has been shipped under the name of Baldwin. Sam Nesbitt, Brighton, Out', : In respect to the Stark apple I have always found it to be an exceedingly good shipper for export, as it apparently stood the passage over better than most any other apple in the months of February and March. There was one other point in it's favor, and that is that it never discolored. Whether this will' hold good after it has been as long a time as the Baldwins is a question that only the future will decide. The tree is a most prolific bearer, and the only objection that I have to the apples (and fhe same thing applies to buyers in the United Kingdom) is the fact that they are not the right shade of red, making it difficult for the people who sell fancy apples to polish them and make the display that is necessary to catch the eye of the consumer. Harold Jones, Maitland : In this section, where Spys and Baldwins cannot be suc- cessfully grown, the Stark has come to stay. It is perfectly hardy and a heavy bearer. The fruit keeps well info April. The color is a little dull, but the size and other good qualities mentioned places it near the top of the list as a desirable winter apple for the St. Lawrence valley. When attending the Fruit Institute meetings last winter I included Stark in a short list of best winters for planting in the commercial orchard. Red Astr.achan. This was introduced into England from Sweden in 1816, and since the Early Harvest has become so ,badly affected with scab, the Astrachan has been largely planted in Ontario as an early summer apple. The tree grows to be a large sizp. and is very productive ; one at Maplehurst, forty years planted, gave a yield of ten barrels in 1895, which is not unusual, so that when prices are good this apple is- very .remunerative. The quality is only fair, and very tart; but the large size of the 4-2 THE REPORT OF THE No. 17 fruit, and its deep crimson color, often covered with a thin whitish hloom, makes it very salable. During :he last four years New York State and Ontario have been producing this appl.* in such quantity that after the rirst two or three pickings the price has been very low, and we have been compelled to seek for a distant market. The apple is .-o Lender that it is impossible to land it, in the British markets in good condition except by cold storage, held at a temperature of about 33 degrees F., a condition which it has hiih.rto been difficult to ensure. King. The King is one of the favorite varieties in the market, but unfortunately it is so shy a bearer on its own roots that it is not very profitable. It has, however, frequently been noted that by top-grafting it on any vigorous stock it becomes much more prolific. The Fruit Division, Ottawa, invited correspondence upon this subject, and has received some valuable information. Mr. C L. Stephens, of Orrllia, has the King top- graited on Duchess, and finds that its bearing qualities are quite satisfactory. Mr Win. Read of Jarrat's Corners, has twelve King trees grafted on Duchess, and reports equally good results. Mr. Judson Harris, of Ingersoll, has an orchard of two and a half acres, the crop from which the past eight years has never brought him less than $500. Many of these trees are Kings grafted on Russets. Mr. (Robert Murray of A veiling, has a number of King trees on their own roots and others grafted on Talman Sweets, and notes that the top-grafted trees are the only ones that give him paying crops. The experience of these growers and many others goes to show that it would be a very profitable business to top-graift at least some of the early apples to be found all over Ontario with Kings. The King is an apple that exactly fills the bill as a fan:y market variety, as it is of excellent quality, color and size, and well known in the English market. If its only defect, want of productiveness, can be cured by the simple method of top-grafting, it should prove a boon to many people who have vig- orous trees of undesirable varieties. John G. Mitchell (Georgian Bay Station). In apples the well-tried old varieties still hold the lead. For export we find Baldwin, Greening, Ben Davis, Spy, and King the most profitable. The latter variety seems to require top-grafting on to some hardy stock, such as Talman or Russet. I know a great many King trees good bearers grafted on these stocks. The only new variety which seems worthy of planting largely here is Ontario. The more experience I have wih it, the more I am impressed with it and1 the better I like it. It is large and showy, a good keeper; not as good quality as Spy, but a good apple if kept till maturity ; a fairly good grower, and an early and abundant bearer. Several young trees six years old in a neighbor's orchard produced a barrel each of fine clean fruit this fall. R. L. Huggard (East Central "Station). We have no trees injured by last winter ; all came out in leaf, and later in full bloom, except Ealdwin, King, and Pewaukee, most of which had no bloom. Greening, Canada Red. Ben Davis, Mann, Baxter, and several others had light bloom ; while Spy, Minkler, Salome, Boston Star, Stark, all the Russians, Astrachan, Duchess and many others, were well loaded with blossoms and fruit. Of the newest varieties, Stark yiel led the largest quantity, nearly 4 bushels per tree, Gideon, Northern Beauty coming next, with over 3 bushels per tree ; Duchess and Transparent, about 2^ bushels per tree. Wolf River and Alexander were about equal, il/2 bushels per tree each ; Mcintosh Red is not a success, as the fruit is* so deformed, not over 30 per cent, being uniform and perfect. Winter Maiden Blush was fine, large, and handsome; Russets are very fine, clean, and large. Pippins were large and 'clean, but a light crop ; and Salome was well laden with beautiful fruit. 1903 FRUIT EXPERIMENT STATIONS. 43 Varieties that promised to be productive, judging by yield in 1903 : YelJow Transparent, Duchess, Fameuse, Wealthy (or Gideon, or Western Beauty). For export : Stark, Salome, Shackleford, Wolf River, Bismark. Charles Young (Algoma Station). In making my report for 1903, I may begin by stating that there are iiOm' s^e 60 or 65 varieties of apples under test here, all of which are healthy and) making satis- factory growth. With a few exceptions, all of those planted in 1899, have fruited this year. Sweet Bough is the only one not able to withstand the climate. A special selection of hardy varieties only were at first started with me; later some new, untested varieties have been added. I have top-grafted on old stock almost everything I have seen recom- mended. Two of the later planted, viz., Pewaukee and Ontario, planted three years ago, did not leaf until the middle of July, and have this year made a fine growth. I have ials3 serveral varieties of Russian apples, now generally propagated, large, handsome fruit, but all fall apples, and with nothing much to recommend them. Two of the best are Basil the Great, and Orel. Among those that so far have not been satisfactory here I may mention Ben Davis. The color, which goes a long way in selling it in other localities, is wanting when grown here ; I might call it a dirty brown, and it looks unmatured. Scott's Winter, often recommended for_ the north, unless under very high cultivation is too small ; it takes too many to fill a barrel, although the keeping qualities are all right ; ft will not be a profitable apple to grow. For a sweet ,apple Talman is all right, the trunk is freer from sunscald than any other, not except- ing the Duchess, which so far has been the money-maker. We cannot begin to supply tlu local demand at 25 cents a 10-quart basket.! A- E. Sherrington (Lake Huron Station). Barry ; A small, worthless apple, will top-graft in the spring. Bismarck : A medium to large apple ; color, skin yellow ; nearly covered with a rich red ; quality fair, subject to scab. Gano . Nothing but a Ben Davis with me. Peter : Resembles the Wealthy very much ; early and annual bearer ; about the saz-; and quality of the Wealthy. S.alomc : Tree a fine grower, but fruit small to medium ; rather uneven in size ; need- further trial. Wine Sap : A very nice apple, but too small to be profitable. Harold Jones, (St. Lawrence Station). Chenango Strawberry : A healthy and hardy tree ; moderately vigorous ; bears in from three to four years from planting. Fruit medium-sized, oblong, conical ; an attrcictive-looking apple, and good quality for dessert; .season September, but wiM keep in fair condition in cold storage until December. Gideon : A healthy, vigorous, hardy tree, comes /into bearing two or three years after planting. Fruit 21-2 to 23-4, conical; skin waxy white, blushed with pink; a handsome apple, of good quality for cooking in its season ; season September and first half of October, after which date it shows decay at the core, and is utterly worthless long before it shows any defects at the surface ; growing in disfavor among buyers, and not desirable to plant in large numbers. Longfield : A very hardy, vigorous tree, of drooping habit ; commences to bear fruit in two years after planting, and trees of five years of age will produce heavy crops. Fruit medium to small ; shows finger marks and bruises, and is hard to handle for packing ; season September, October. This would be very desirable for planting one or two trees in ,a garden for home use, but is useless as a commercial apple. This tree hns been largely advertised by nurserymen, and sales pushed by travelling agents. So 44 THE REPORT OF THE No. 17 there is, no doubt, a large number of these trees just -coming into bearing, which will be a disappointment to the owners, as they were sold, in many cases as winter apples. However, they have got a capital stock ior top working, and can easily change the head to some desirable and profitable variety. > Ontario : I have looked upon this as a very promising apple, one that would take the place of the Spy, but the tree is proving not healthy, subject to canker in the trunk, and will be short lived ; it bears in three or four years after planting ; fruit resembles the Spy in appearance, but is not so good in quaV.ty. Salome : A hardy, healthy tree, with a close, round head ; vigorous grower. The :r.e.- 1 have planted are on clay loam, and the fruit is absolutely worthless, not much larger than good crabs, and does not reach maturity ; third year of fruiting. Good reports are received on this apple from the counties in the vicinity of Toronto, but I have never seen a good specimen in the St. Lawrence counties yet. Blenheim Orange. Proving tender in this section, and cannot be recommended for planting. l eter : In every way seems identical with Wealthy ; an early and heavy bearer, of medium to large, handsome fruit ; desirable for planting, as it is a good com- mercial apple, and ships well to the European market. Pewaukee : A hardy and vigorous tree ; an early and heavy bearer ; fruit of fair to good quality, both for cooking and dessert ; does not show up well in the package on account of its peculiar formation and dull colorings, but is a good February apple, and commands fair prices. Its chief fault is dropping before maturity, which is a very serious one in a winter apple. Si-tton Beauty : A slow, weak grower with me, and is not proving hardy. Milwaukee : A strong, vigorous grower, very hardy ; very much the character of the Duchess in growth ; needs very little trimming, and is a business tree, com- mencing to bear in two or three years after planting, and gives' good crops of fruit of large size, 3 to 3 1-2 inches across the core ; rather coarse in flesh, but brisk acid, and a good cooker ; a good February apple. I have kept it in good condition till April. This tree would pay well planted close, say, 15 x 25 feet, and thinned out as they get age, leaving them 25 x 30 feet, as they come into bearing early, and make fruit rather than wood as they get age ; a valuable addition to our small list of good winter apples. North-West Greening : A vigorous, hardy tree, forming a close, round head, requiring rather severe pruning ; an early bearer and a heavy cropper ; fruit of large size ; greenish yellow, sometimes with a dash of pink on the sunny side ; quality not equal to Rhode Island Greening, but more attractive in appearance ; season winter ; desirable. Switzer: A hardy, vigorous, spreading tree ; fruit of medium size ; skin white, almost covered with bright red ; flesh tender, juicy, melting ; ripe in August and first week in September ; drops as soon as ripe ; not valuable for general planting. ■Shackleford : A hardy, spreading, moderately vigorous tree ; an early bearer and heavy cropper ; fruit of igood quality, but unattractive in appearance ; skin greasy, which gives the fruit a soiled appearance when handled. Canada Baldwin : A very hardy, vigorous tree ; comes into bearing slowly, six or seven years after planting ; gives promise of being a valuable apple. A. W. Peart (Burlington Station). Of the 39 varieties of Southern State apples top grafted on Roxbury Russet trees in 1901, 7 have borne fruit this year : Hanseley's Winesap : 15 apples, mottled red ; small to medium, conic, round ; stem merfirm length ; very few spots ; basin shallow, moderate. Eighfield : 1 apple, medium, roundish flat, red spotted. Ozark : 3 apples, medium dark, handsome, roundish flat, badly spotted. 1903 FKUIT EXPERIMENT STATIONS. 45 Rebel : 4 apples, large red, handsome, roundish flat, no spots ; the most prom- ising sc far of the lot. Red Belleflower: 1 apple, small, oblong, conical, dark red, spotted. Wandering Spy : 2 apples, medium to large, roundish flat, red, some spots. All of the above appear to be late varieties, as they are now (November 10th) quite firm. The seven varieties of Southern apple trees, as well as the dwarfs, Alexander and -M'dntosb, and the standard Bismarck, have grown well. Stanley Spillet, Nantyr, Ont. My Princess Louise, obtained from the Association, gave two 'barrels of magni- ficient fruit. Scores of people have sampled it, and all declare it to be away .'.head of Snow in size, color, flavor, and freedom from scab. Grafts from the tree are in demand here. W. H. Dempsey (Bay of Quinte). Downing's Winter Maiden's Blush (Syn. of Greenville) : Planted in 1896 ; seems to be very backward about fruiting, only a few apples on the trees, while the ones top grafted were well loaded with fine, large, handsome apples ; fruit hung well to the trees until November 1st ; quite free from apple scab, although on the same tree with Winter Fameuse. which always has more or less scab on it. Western Beauty : Planted 1896, and Peter, planted 1897 (which are both identical with Wealthy), bore 3 bushels to the tree of fine, large, highly-colored apples, of which 90 per cent, were No. 1. Wallbridge : Planted in 1896; fruited' this year for the first time, four bushels ; 40 per cent. No. 1 ; very uneven in size ; tree good grower. • Longfield : Planted in 1895 ; has been fruiting more or less since '98 ; sets more apples that it can carry to a marketable size ; therefore of no value unless very carefully thinned ; ripens in September ; fruit very tender, showing the least mark in handling. Beauty of Bath : Planted in 1896 ; not very productive, 1 peck to the tree ; fruit handsome in appearance, but flesh very dry and mealy ; season, August ; not worth g*rc\\i"ig in this district. Sutton Beauty : Planted in 1896 ; has been slow in coming into bearing, only a few samples each year. Barry : Planted 1896 ; bore a few apples of no value for anything. Starr : Planted 1896, from Wm. Perry ; 3 trees, which bore a few small, worthless apples, not of the same form as produced by scions received from the same source at the same time, which are of large size, very similar to Primate, and of the same season ; valuable to the amateur grower as an early apple. Milding : Planted in 1897, making a good growth ; bore a few fine specimens this y«*r. Newtown Pippin: Planted 1897 : trees have made medium growth ; bore two apples this year. Dudley's Winter : Planted in 1896 ; fruiting three years ; September and October apple, of no particular value. G.ano : Planted in 1898, commenced fruiting the second year after planting ; bore one-half bushel this year of handsome red apples, very similar to Ben D.avis m exery rcspe. t, .-•n,y e little darker in color. Shcckleford : Planted 1896 ; bore three pecks of fair-sized apples ; very similar in coloring to Spy. Many of the varieties which were top grafted on bearing trees, bore heavily this year, of which the Windsor Chief (which bore very heavily for the amount of top), Downing's Maiden Blush, Boiken, Winter Banana and Roman Beauty are among the most promising of the winter varieties. The worst pests we had to contend with this year were green aphis and pear-tree psylla. 46 THE REPORT OF THE No. 17 NOTES ON BLACKBERRIES. A. W. Peart (Burlington Station). ■ Blackberries were an expectionally heavy crop. Owing to the continued warm, dry weather during May they began to 'blossom about a week earlier .than usual. The cool weather, however, of June and July delayed their ripening beyond the normal period. Occasional showers during August prolonged their season, and prevented many of some varities from drying on the ibushes. In the new plantation, let out m 1901. all varities thus far, appear hardy. This plot will serve not only as a double test, but also as a check on the old plantation, and will, we hope, help us to dig up wider and deeper facts in relation to the different varieties. The weather conditions have been favorable to a very good growth, yet the dry fall promises well-ripened canes. They have been very free from insect and fungous diseases. The following varieties are considered too unproductive for this section : Maxwell, Childs' Tree, Dorchester, El Dorado, Wachusetts, Wilson's Junior, Ancient Briton, Ea;-!y Cluster, and Minnewaski. Lovett's Best, Gainor, Early King, Humbolt, and Wilson's Early deserve further trial. These appear to be the most desirable for a commercial plantation : Agawam, Kittatinny, Erie, Ohmer, Snyder, Taylor, and Western Triumph. Should the Early Harvest prove hardy, it would be a desirable acquisition, on account of its earliness. Varieties which bear heavy loads should be pruned severely. Agawam : Cane dark red, vigorous, upright grower, hardy, and productive ; berry roundish oblong, medium size 7-8 x 3-4 inches, sweet, Ibut rather insipid ; season medium, July 25-August 20 ; a good commercial variety ; resists drouth very well. Ancient Briton: Cane dull red, moderately vigorous, upright, not productive; berry oblong, conical, medium, 7-8 x 3-4 inch, of good flavor ; season medium, July 25- August 20. Dorchester : Cane brownish red, vigorous, upright, spreading, hardy, but a poor cropper ; berry large to very large, 1 1-8 x 3-4 inch, roundish, oblong, firm, of fine quality ; season medium, July 25-August 20. Early Cluster : Cane dull red, vigorous, upright, spreading, not productive ; berry roundish, oblong, medium, 7-8 x 3-4 inch, sweet, of good quality ; season early to medium, July 20-August 20. ! Early Harvest : Cane greenish, medium, vigorous, stiff and upright, retains foliage late in season, very productive, and requires close pruning ; berry medium to large, 1 x 3-4 inch, oblong, conical, of fair quality; season early, July 15-August 5 ; hardy thti> far in new plantation. Early King : Cane dull red, moderately vigorous, upright, spreading, productive ; berry small to medium ; 3-4 x 5-8 inch, roundish, oblong, of excellent quality ; season early to medium, July 18-August 10. El Dorado : Cane brownish red, upright, spreading, , medium vigor, hardy, not very productive ; berry medium to large, 1 x 3-4 inch, oblong, conical, sprightly, of excellent quality ; season medium, July 25-August 20. Erie : Cane greenish red, moderate vigor, spreading, retains leaves late, hardy and productive ; berry of good quality ; medium, 7-8 x 3-4, roundish, conical ; season medium. July 25-August 20. Gainor : Cane reddish green, very strong, spreading grower, retains foliage late, hardy and productive ; berry very large, 1 1-4 x 7-8, roundish, oblong, of fine quality ; season medium, July 25-August 20 ; promising. Humboldt : Cane reddish green, upright, hardy, of moderate vigor ; a new bush, not sufficiently established to report upon fruit. Kittatinny : Cane dark red, with greenish patches, very vigorous, upright, spreading, late foliage, hardy, moderately productive, will stand long pruning, very 1903 FKUIT EXPERIMENT STATIONS. 47 resistive of drouth ; berry large to very large, i 1-8 x 3-4 inch, oblong-ovate, sub-acid, rich and juicy ; season late, July 30- August 30 ; one of the best. Lovett's Best : Cane dark red, a strong, very stiff, upright grower, hardy and productive ; berry oblong-round, medium, 7-8 x 3-4 inch, of fair quality ; season late, July 30- August 30. Maxwell: Cane reddish green, retains leaves late ; very weak, light grower, very spreading, hardy, poor cropper ; berry oblong-round, large to very large, 1 1-8 x 3-4 inch, of excellent quality ; season medium, July 25-August 20. Minnewaski : Cane reddish green, retains leaves late, strong, upright, spreading, not productive ; 'berry medium, 7-8 x 3-4 inch, roundish-oblong, of good quality ; season early to medium, July 20-August 15. Ohmer : Cane reddish green, vigorous, spreading, retains leaves late, hardy and productive ; berry very large, 1 1-4 x 7-8 inch, coreless, oblong-oval, of good quality ; season medium, July 25-August 20. Snyder : Cane dark red, strong, upright, hardy and very productive ; berry medium, 7-8 x 3-4 inch, oblong-oval, of fair quality ; season early to medium, July 20- August 15 ; requires a rich soil, with damp sub-soil, very close pruning ; a good market variety. Stone's Hardy: Cane 'brownish red, strong, upright, hardy and productive; berry oblong-oval, somewhat soft, small to medium, 3-4 x 5-8 inch, of good quality ; season medium, July 25-August 20 ; rather small for profit. Taylor : Cane reddish green, medium vigor, upright, spreading, hardy and pro- ductive ; berry medium, 7-8 x 3-4 inch, oblong-oval, rich, of good quality ; season medium to late, July 25-August 25 ; a good commercial variety. Wachusetts : Cane dull red; medium vigor, upright, hardy, not productive ; very few thorns ; berry of fine quality, medium size, 7-8 x 3-4 inch ; oblong-round ; season July 25-August 25. "Western Triumph:- Cane dull red, strong, upright, hardy and very productive; berry medium, 7-8 x 3-4, oblong-round, of good quality ; season medium, July 25-Augast 20 ; like the Snyder, it requires a damp bottom and close pruning. Wilson's Early : Cane dark red, strong, upright, spreading, hardy and fairly pro- ductive ; berry large, 1 x 3-4. oblong-round, sprightly, rich, of good quality ; season medium, July 25-August 20. Wilson's Junior : Cane reddish green, moderately strong grower, very spreading, vine-like, trailing, hardy and not productive ; propagates by tips or suckers' ; berry medium, 7-8 x 3-4, oblong-oval, sweet ; season medium, July 25-August 20 ; without use to the commercial grower. Charles Young (Algoma Station). The hardiest that I have tested are the El Dorado and Agawam, but the amount of fiuit obtained is so small that they are not worth growing. Blackcap raspberries are nearly as bad, besides no one cares1 for them, preferring the red and white raspberries, which have done very well. Loudon, on account of its extra hardiness, I prefer to any others I have tried, but it is a poor berry when compared with Brinckle's Orange for the table. G. C. Caston, Craighursi (Simcoe Station). Agawam and El Dorado are the two varieties for this section, and they have given excellent results. They have borne excellent crops of fine fruit every year, so that in my experience they are by far the most profitable of the small fruits grown here. I tested some 16 varieties before I got the right ones ,for this section, and I can confi- dently recommend these two. Nursery agents have been selling blackberry plants through this section for years, but none of them ever seemed to succeed, for the simple reason that they were not 48 THE REPORT OF THE No* 17 «>uitd to the locality. Now, since I have succeeded in producing large crops of these beiries, there is a great demand for plants of these two varieties, and yet there are people who say that a fruit experiment station is of no use. NOTES ON CHERRIES. L. Woolverton (Maplehurst Fruit Farm). On the whole, the season has been an encouraging one for cherry growers, for although some varieties of sweet cherries have given a short crop, there has been an aburdant yield of sour kinds, and the price of these has been unusually high. Yields. The following varieties have given a very poor yield during the past season, viz., Black Tartarian (almost a total failure), Elkhorn (rotted), Windsor (rotted). A very good crop was harvested from Knight's Early, Rockport, Wood, Cleveland, Napoleon, Montmorency, May Duke, California Advance, Olivet, Purity, and Reine Horrense. Growth. The growth of the trees throughout the whole of the cherry plot has been unusua/iv rapid up to August 15th, the best, indeed, that we have observed for years, due to such favoring conditions as abundant summer rains, thorough cultivation, free- dom of the trees from "the -aphis, which some seasons is so abundant that the trees are much stunted thereby. The Season. The first cherries of the season were Early Purple, of which the first picking was on the 12th of June ; the last cherries of the season were English Morello, gathered on the 22nd of July, so that the whole cherry season lasted nearly six weekly It is evident that by a judicious planting of varieties one might continue regular shipments of cherries to the markets during the vvhole of jthis period, .and that the amateur could so select for his garden that his fruit dish could be constantly supplied Muring the whole cherry season. The Rot. This fungus is the most serious obstacle in the way of the cherry grower, more especially of the Bigarreaus, which are especially subject. During the past reason it has proved very disastrous, especially toward the end of June, on account of favoring climatic conditions. Rains were frequent, keeping the trees almost con- stantly wetJ, while at the same time there was much heat. On one occasion a heavy rain was immediately succeeded by a hot sun, and the rot spread with great rapidity among the Tartarians and Napoleons. One variety, however, seemed to be almost proof against rot, viz., the Knight's Early Black, a remarkable good 'cherry, and one which is most regular in its bearing habits, and of which the fruit seems never to need culling. Insed enemies have been very few during the past season. The curculio was bad in the Belle Magnifique, which was almost worthless on this account, as, indeed, it has been for two years previous, but other varieties were remarkably free and perfect. The aphis did not show itself at all until the fruiting season was over, owing, no doubt, to careful spraying with whale oil soap, 20 pounds to the barrel. The kind used was sent us as a sample from New York City. This was more effective than the crude petroleum usea* in 1902 and much safer. In 1002 we used the latter, applying it very carefully with a fine spray. It did not entirely rout the aphis, and some injury .to the trees was traceable to it. Rep©rt on Varieties Fruiting, 1903, Trees 7 to 8 Years of Age, Unless Otherwise Speci- fied. Early Purple : Gathered June 12th; yield 15 qts. An enormous drop was set, and the trees were black with fruit, but the birds were most destructive, taking a great part of the fruit. The ten pound basket of these cherries sold for 60 cents each. May Duke : Gathered June 17th; yield 21 qts.; ripened prettily and evenly, but birds took nearly one-third of the fruit. 1903 FRUIT EXPERIMENT STATIONS. 4) Governor Wood : Gathered June 22nd; yield 5 qts.; from small sized tree ; crop not heavy, about two-thirds; some rot; sold for about 60 cents per 9-qt. basket. Cleveland : Gathered June 22nd, yield 5 qts.; no rot; more highly colored, a little sweeter, and a trifle softer than Governor Woods, in our opinion superior ; an early and abundant bearer. Rockport: Gathered June 23rd; yield of tree 40 years old, 65 qts.; usually badly affected with rot, but this year quite -free, perhaps due to spraying with Bordeaux. Olhio : Gathered June 23rd; yield 6 qts.; no rot; same season as Elton, smaller but si erior. Elton : Gathered June 23rd; yield 5 qts.; half rotted; birds took a large part. Knight : Gathered June 25th; yield of tree 40 years old, 198 qts.; one of the best this season of all varieties; always profitable: a regular and abundant bearer; the fruit not subject to birds, rot, or Curculio. Tartarian : Gathered June 26th ; yield 3 qts.; a failure this season owing to rot and birds, giving less than one-quarter of a crop ; the poorest cropper of all this season. Reine Hortense : Gathered July 1st; yield 17 qts.; a fine crop of larger cherries than usual; in great demand a'bout home, so many want it for domestic use, whether for canning, for pies, or, when dead ripe, excellent for eating with cream and sugar. Royal Duke : Gathered July 2nd; yield 10 qts.; did not ripen evenly, and conse- quently it was necessary to make two pickings, at the second of which those left from the first were wonderfully improved ; still, this uneven ripening is a serious objection in the commercial orchard. Napoleon : Gathered July 23rd ; yield of a 30-year-old tree, 135 quarts ; fruit rotted very badly, fully two-thirds of the cherries being worthless; otherwise a 'large, fine cherry. Empress Eugenie : Gathered July 4th; yield 18 qts.; a heavy crop of fine fruit, not subject to rot or to birds, and consequently valuable for the commercial orchard. Olivet: Gathered July 4th; yield 17 qts.; usually .rather a shy bearer, but quite productive this season ; a favorite canning cherry. Orel, No. 28 : Gathered July 5th ; yield 5 qts.; tree an early and abundant bearer, but a slow grower. Black Eagle : Gathered July 5th; usually a very shy bearer, and therefore scarcely worth gathering, but this year it yielded about quarter of a full crop. The fruit was very fine and sold in the orchard at 75 cents for a nine-quart basket. Yellow Spanish : Gathered July 6th; yield 3 qts.; a fair quality for the variety, for the cherries are usually thin on the trees, though the individual samples are very fine. Early Richmond : Gathered July 6th; yield very good, but not equal to Mont- morency, because cherry is smaller ; tree not as vigorous as Montmorency, and needs good care and cultivation. Purity : Gathered July 6th ; yield 7 qts. from tree about four years planted. A fine cherry though a little softer than Montmorency ; a good, regular bearer, and very promising. Straus Weichsel : Gathered July 7th ; yield 3 qts.; not productive enough to be profitable; fruits singly. Red May : Gathered July 8th; yield ,2 qts.; a promising variety, but rather small. Black Knight: Gathered July 8th; yield 1 pt. ; an improved Mazzard; a young tree, and its first crop. King's Amarelle : Gathered July 8th ; yield 9 qts. off five-year-old tree; a fine late Kentish cherry, but not so rich a red as Montmorency ; very productive; one of the finest of its class. Downer's Red Lane : Gathered July 9th ; yield 7 qts. off a tree nine years old. Does not fruit in clusters, and therefore not as productive as some varieties. . Lntovka : Gathered July 15th; yield 5 qts.; one of the finest, largest, and richest colored of all the sour cherries ; the fruit reminds1 one of red plums ; flesh firm, and th* variety is, therefore, a good' shipper. 4 FE.S. 50 THE REPORT OF THE No. if Montmorency Ordinaire : Same as Montmorency. Montmorency : Gathered July 16th; yield 36 qts. from an eight year old tree. Thf best of all the sour cherries for the commercial orchard ; color fine rich red. This season we had the finest crop of this cherry we ever had, the cherries were so large, and the trees were just red with the fruit, presenting a beautiful sight. These cherries sold unusually high this season. Ostheim : Gathered July 7th ; yield 18 qts. from a six year old tree ; color too dark a red to sell at best prices. English Morello : Gathered July 21st; yield 17 qts.; very productive, hut did not take in the market as well as Montmorency; the dark red does' not seem so attractive as the bright red to buyers of pie cherries. California Advance : The finest Duke cherry in our collection at Maplehurst ; the samples this year were very fine. The tree has proved an excellent bearer, beginning to crop after two years planting, and has not failed to produce a crop every year since. G. C. Caston (Simcoe Fruit Station). Of some forty varieties tested here, the one that stands pre-eminent so far is the Orel 24. It is a dark red cherry, nearly black when ripe; of fairly good size; of better quality than Ostheim, which it resembles in color; and a splendid canning variety. Most of the varieties under test did well, and appeared healthy for the past few years. But now many of them show sings of failure. Last year, as1 described in my report, a peculiar blight, or sporadic fungus, attacked the cherries, causing the leaves to turn yellow and fall off. Several trees died from the effects of this. Those were English Morello and Wragg, which is the Morello under another name. The other affected trees have recovered under a vigorous treatment with Bordeaux mixture, and have now apparently regained their normal condition; but they bore no fruit this year. The ones least affected, or immune from this attack, were Orel 24. which bore a crop this year; Ostheim, which also fruited a light crop; Bessarabian, Griotte du Nord, Brusseler Braun, and Litham. Orel 24 is the one most highly recommended. It is one of the first planted in the experimental plot, in 1894, and, though not a vigorous grower, it remains sound and healthy, is not as liabie to black knot as many of the others, and the fruit is better in quality than any I have yet tasted. The Montmorency is yet to he tried, being only planted this year. There is a rather difficult investigation required in the case of the different varieties of cherries here, and that is to what degree of temperature the fruit buds of each variety will stand without injury. Charles Young (Algoma Fruit Station). Cherries have been very satisfactory, except sweet cherries, of which I have only two Early Purple and one Yellow Spanish. The first is healthy, apparently, but no fruit yet; of the latter, the tree is tender, and this winter will, I think, finish it. It may be possible to find something among the Dukes to take their place. In the meantime sweet cherries are not a success here. Sour cherries, 12 varieties by name, although I cannot distinguish that many by the fruit, have done extra well, planted in 1890 and later ; they have had full crops this year. The three best are : E. Richmond, Mont- morency, and English Morello. These are given in their order of ripening, and it takes them all to lengthen out the season. It is between Montmorency and Morello. which is most productive. I prefer the former, as the fruit is larger. Ostheim I cannot find a place iur ; it is j. half dwarf, a shy bearer, and T see nothing t-i recommend it, unless it is to eat out of hand when fully ripe. It is then the nearest approach to a swpet cherry that I know of. 1903 FRUIT EXPERIMENT STATIONS. 51 Harold Jones (St. Lawrence Station). May Duke : A vigorous, upright grower, planted in 1897. Fruit buds tender ; practically all of them being destroyed every year ; useless for this section. Montmorency : Planted in 1897 ; a very vigorous, spreading, handsome tree ; fruit buds somewhat injured every year, but the tree produces a scattered crop of excei- ent nuu. If the fruit buds do not show better resistance as the tree attains age, it wili have to be classed with varieties " not hardy " in this section. Rcine Hortense : Planted 1897 ; a vigorous, upright grower ; fruit buds tender ; not hardy. Ostheim : Planted in 1897 ; a vigorous, spreading grower, inclined to droop ; wood and fruit buds hardy ; not a very heavy yielder, but moderate crops of fine fruit ; a good cherry for pies and canning ; desirable for this section, in fact, can be classed as very desirable. Orel : Planted 1897 ; a moderately vigorous, spreading to drooping grower ; very hardy in wood and fruit ibud; has regularly borne crops since 1900 of medium to large sized fruit ; bright red; very handsome , a first-rate canning and pie cherry. The best all round cherry yet tested. Olivet : Planted 1897 ; a vigorous, upright to spreading grower, resembling Mont- morency somewhat ; not hardy in fruit bud ; not desirable for this section. Early Richmond and English Morello : Hardy in wood and bud for this- section, and yield good crops, but are not as desirable as Orel and Ostheim when planted on clay soils ; on sandy loams they are desirable varieties. Select List of Cherries for Market. Prepared by Mr. L. Woolverton. Black Tartarian, Cleveland, Early Richmond, Elkhorn, English Morello, Governor Wood, Knight's Early Black, Late Duke, May Duke, Montmorency, Napoleon, Reine Hortense. Windsor, CURRANTS. A. W. Peart (Burlington Station). Currants were a good crop, the black varieties doing especially well. No disease nor insect cut any particular figure, save the currant worm, which is always with us, but which is easily controlled by timely spraying. Blooming was about a week earlier thati usual, while picking, owing to the cool summer weather, was somewhat later. The leaf blight, which last year affected such varieties as the North Star and White Imperial, did little damage this season. These appear to be the best varieties for the planter : Red — Wilder, Cherry, Pomona, Red Victoria, Prince Albert, and North Star ; black — Saunders, Naples, and Collins' Prolific ; white — the Grape for yield, and the Imperial for quality. We are disposed to omit the following from a commercial list : Belle de St. Giles, Xtaby Castle, Red Dutch, Versailles, and Champion. The first and last varieties are not sufficiently productive, while the other three are too small. All the described varieties have reached bearing age. Belle de St. Giles : Bush, weak, spreading; hardy, but not productive; leaves dark green; bunch long, compact; berry dark red, acid, large to very large, 1-2 to 5-8 inch, of fair quality ; season, medium, July 10th to August 5th; large and showy, but a very poor cropper; yield per bush, 1903, 2 lbs. Black Victoria : Bush, weak, spreading, hardy and productive; leaves, dark green ; berry large, 1-2 inch, firm, sweet, of excellent quality ; season, medium, July 15th to August 10th; yield, 6 lbs. 52 THE REPORT Oh L'HK No. 17 Brayley's Seedling : Bush of moderate vigor, upright, spreading, hardy and fairly productive; leaves, light green; bunch of medium length, loose and straggling; berry, dark red. medium size, 3-8 inch, very acid, sprightly flavor; season, medium, July 10th to August 15th; yield, 5 lbs. Champion : Origin. England ; bush, upright, vigorous, hardy, and moderately productive ; leaves dark green; berry very large, 5-8 inch, 'black, sub-acid; season, late, July 25th to August 15th. Like Collins7 Prolific, is a valuable cropper (from year to year; yield, 5 lbs. Cherry : Origin, Europe ; bush, upright-spreading, vigorous, hardy, and very pro- drctive ; leaves, dark green; bunch, short and compact ; berry, dark, red, large, 1-2 inch, acid; season medium, July 10th to August 5th. Still a standard commercial cur- rant ; yield, 7 lbs. Collins' Prolific : Bush very vigorous, upright, hardy, variable in yield ; leaves, dark green ; berry black, Large to very large, 1-2 to 5-8 inch ; sweet, sub-acid and firm ; season, medium to late, July 20th to August 10th ; yield 7 lbs. Crandall : Bush, upright-spreading, very strong, vigorous, rampant, hardy, and moderately productive ; leaves, very light green ; bunch, short, compact; berry, variable in size 3-8 to 3-4 inch, bluish-black, thick skin, sweet, sub-acid ; ripens unevenly, some of the later berries hanging until frost; season, July 20th to October; yield, 6 lbs. Said to be excellent for canning. Fay's Prolific : Origin, New York ; probably a cross between Cherry and Victoria ; bush of moderate vigor, spreading, hardy, and fairly productive ; leaves, dark green : bunch, long and loose ; berry, large to very large, 1-2 to 5-8 inch, red, firm, and sub-acid ; season, medium, July 10th to August 5th ; yield, 5 lbs. Lee's Prolific : Origin, England ; bush spreading, moderately vigorous, hardy and moderately productive ; berry, black, large to very large, 1-2 to 5-8 inch, sub-acid ; season, mediumjuly 15th to August 10th. This currant, like Fay's Prolific, requires careful cultivation ; yield, 4^2 lbs. Naples : Origin, Europe ; bush, upright-spreading, hardy, and very productive ; leaves, dirk green ; berry, large, 1-2 inch, iblack, sub-acid ; season medium, July 15th to August 10th. An old, reliable kind ; yield, 5 1-2 lbs. New Victoria : Bush spreading, very vigorous, hardy, and productive ; leaves, green ; 'bunch, long and loose ; berry, red, small to medium, 3-8 inch, sub-acid, agreeable ; season, medium, July 10th to August 5th ; yield, 7 lbs. North Star : Origin, Minnesota ; bush strong, upright, hardy, and productive ; leaves green ; bunch, medium long, compact ; berry red, medium to large, 3-8 to 1-2 inch, .acid, sprightly ; season, medium to late, July 15th to August 10th ; a- good late variety ; yield, 7 lbs. Pomona : Bush, medium vigor, upright, spreading, hardy and productive ; leaves, dark green ; bunch, long and compact ; berry, medium to large, 3-8 to 1-2 inch, sub- acid, of fine quality ; season, medium, July 10th to August 5th ; very promising ; yield,. 5 lbs. Prince Albert: Bush, strong, spreading, hardy, and productive ; leaves, dark green, k-rgc, and deeply serrated; bunch, short to medium; berry, small to medium, 3-8 inch, light red, very acid ; season, late, July 15th to September 1st ; yield, 6 lbs. Raby Castle : Origin, Canada ; bush, upright, very vigorous, hardy, and very prodrctive ; leaves, light green ; bush, short, compact ; berry,' light red, small to medium ; 3-8 inch, firm, .acid ; season, medium, July 10th to August 5th ; yield 7 1-2 lbs. Red Cross: Origin, New York ; likely a cross between Cherry and White Grape ; bush, spreading, vigorous, hardy and productive ; leaves, green ; bunch, short and compact; berry rod. irfoiuiri to large, 3-8 to 1-2 inch, firm, sprightly, subacid; season, medium, July 15th to August 10th ; yield, 6 lbs. Red Dutch : Origin, Europe ; bush, spreading, moderately vigorous, hardy and very productive ; leaves, normal green ; bunch, medium length, loose ; berry, red. small. 1903 FRUIT EXPERIMENT STATIONS. 53 I_3 to 3-8 inch, acid, of fine flavor ; season, early to medium, July 10th to August 5th ; yield, 9 lbs. Red Victoria : Bush, upright-spreading, very vigorous, hardy and. very productive; haves, light green; bunch, Long and loose; berry, medium to large, 3-8 to 1-2 inch, red, tenacious, firm and acid ; season, medium, July 10th to August 5th ; a good commercial v< riety ; yield, 9 lbs. Saunders : Origin, Ontario ; bush, vigorous, upright-spreading, hardy and produc- tive ; berry, 'black, large, 1-2 inch, sub-acid to sweet, fine flavor ; season, medium, July 15th to August 10th ; yield, 6 lbs.; an excellent variety. Versailles : Origin. France ; bush, of medium vigor, upright grower, hardy, and moderately productive ; leaves, dark green ; bunch, medium length, rather compact ; berry, red, medium, 3-8 inch, acid ; season, early to medium, July 10th to August 5th ; yield, 5 lbs. White Grape : Origin. Europe; bush, strong, upright-spreading, hardy, and produc- tive ; leaves, green ; bunch, long and loose ; berry, white, large, 1-2 inch, sub-acid, pleasant flavor ; 'season, medium to late, July 15th to August 10th ; yield, 7 1 bs . # White Imperial : Bush moderately strong, upright-spreading ; leaves, green; bunch, long and loose ; 'berry, white, medium to large, 3-8 to 1-2 inch, very sweet, fine quality ; season, medium, July 10th to August 5th ; yield, 5 lbs. Wilder : Origin, New York ; bush, strong, upright grower, hardy, healthy, and productive ; leaves, dark green ; bunch, medium length, compact ; berry, red, tenacious, medium to large, 3-8 to 1-2 inch, sub-acid, of excellent quality ; season, medium, July 10th to August 5th ; promises well ; yield, 7 libs. A. E. Sherrington (Lake Huron Station), The currant crop was very poor the past season ; in fact, the black currants were a total failure, owing to the frost at the time of blooming ; reds were only half a crop, but the demand was good, and prices quite satisfactory. Black Victoria : Bush, strong, vigorous, and hardy ; yield, none. ■Cherry : Bush, a slow grower, not as vigorous as Fays ; fruit, large ; color, red ; quality, good ; ripe July 14th ; yielded 17 oz. per bush. Champion : Bush, a strong, ^vigorous grower ; fruit, large, black ; color, red ; yield, none. Fay? : Bush, strong and vigorous, hardy ; fruit, large, resembles Cherry ; color, red; quality, good; ripe July 14th; yield, 34 oz.; one of the best. Naples : A very strong and vigorous grower, very hardy ; fruit largo, black ; quality, best ; yield, none. North Star : Bush, slender and spreading ; fruit, small ; color, red ; quality, poor ; ripe, July 14th ; yield, 37 oz. ; too small to be profitable. Pomona : Bush, a compact grower, only partly recovered ifrom the blight of last year ; fruit, medium to large ; color, red ; quality, best ; the sweetest currant grown ; npe July 15th ; yield, 16 oz. Prince Albert : A strong, compact grower, with beautiful foliage; hardy and healthy; fruit, medium to large ; color, red ; quality good ; ripe July 18th ; yield. 87 oz. Red Cross : Bush, a good grower, apparently hardy; fruit large; color, red; quality good ; ripe July 14th ; yield, 10 oz.; first year of fruiting. Raby Castle : Bush, very vigorous and hardy ; fruit, small and very tart ; color, red; ripe July 15th; yield, 15 oz.; very productive. Versailles : Bush, vigorous and hardy ; fruit, large ; color, red ; quality, good ; ripe July 14th ; yield, 58 oz. White Grape : Bush a good grower, and hardy : fruit, large, color, white ; quality good; yield, 27 oz.; first year of fruiting. THE REPORT OF THE No. 17 Notes by Chas. Young, Richards' Landing (Algoma Station). Currants rind their ideal climate here, and I cannot say that any of those I have tried are superior to any others ; the only requirement seems to be a fair amount of cutting out the old wood, and plenty of manure. Perhaps White Grape, if the color is not against it, will yield more fruit than any other. Gooseberries, which were cut out very severely last spring, gave 39 qts. to the it is not as good as its appearance would indicate ; on this account it has greatly injured the trade in early peaches. It is a mistake for any grower to plant largely of any variety that will not give satisfaction to the consumer, as this will undoubtedly lower the price of any good sort that follows just after. Greensboro : Perhaps the best of the first early kinds. It ripens a little earlier than Rivers, is as large, and less liable to rot. Triumph : The first yellow-fleshed peach to ripen ; when well grown it is of good size and fine appearance. It suffers considerably from rot. It must be thinned severely, otherwise it is too small. It cannot be recommended for general planting to any great extent in commercial orchards. 'St. John : This is the first really first-class variety to ripen that I have grown. It is as fine in appearance as Early Crawford, and of as good or better quality. My first shipment of it was made this season, August 21st, a. week in advance of Early Crawford. TJie tree is about >as hardy and productive as the above standard variety. One of the most valuable for the commercial orchard. Fitzgerald : A few days later than Early Crawford ; hardier in fruit bud ; of better quality, and, taking all things into consideration, one of the most profitable sorts grown in this district for either home use or for market. Brigden, or Garfield : Of the Early Crawford type ; ripens a little in advance, and in some respects is an improvement on the old variety. New Prolific : A peach that succeeds well on sandy soil, but not >as satisfactory on clay loam. It is very hardy and productive ; fruit of the Crawford type ; ripens a week later than the above, and is very profitable for the commercial orchard when grown on suitable soil. Elbcrta : No peach of recent introduction has 'been planted to such an extent as this sort. The tree is not as vigorous and hardy as many other varieties ; is more subject to leaf curl than most kinds, and the fruit sometimes spot badly. When 60 THE REPORT OF THE No. 17 well grown it has the best shipping qualities of any of its season, which is between the two Crawfords. Engo] Mammoth : Another peach of the Early Crawford type, that ripens before the middle of September. It has been one of the most profitable sorts I have fruited. It is of good quality, large size, and less liable to rot than most varieties. On this account it is valuable for shipping to distant markets. It is one of our best market peaches for all purposes. Banner : This ripens just before, or with, the Smock. It is a new variety that orig- inated in this county (Essex), and has been very largely planted by many of the leading fruit growers. The tree is very hardy and productive. Fruit medium to large, of very fine appearance : yellow, with red cheek. It colors up 'better than most late peaches ; also of better quality. Should it continue as profitable on further trial than this, its first season in fruiting on a large scale, it will become a standard variety of more value than any other sort we have ripening at the same time. Bronson : This ripens about the middle of September, or a little later. It is of good size, yellow, with slight blush- on the sunny side ; a splendid variety for canning purposes Tree very productive, vigorous and hardy. Golden Drop : Similar to the above, but a few days later. Kalamazoo : Another of the same type, that ripens with, or just following, Golden Drop. The three last named are all valuable for the commercial" orchard, on account of their hardiness in both tree and fruit bud, and the large crops they produce annually. Smock : An old variety, which has not been displaced by any of the newer introduc- tions, and is to-day the most popular late peach we have. Salway : This is the latest sort we can plant, with any assurance «that its fruit will ripen in this district, It does not always come to full maturity. It will ripen about four years out of every five. It has produced some of the most profitable crops- ever grown in this locality. It sometimes cracks and spots quite badly. John G. Mitchell, Clarksburg (Georgian Bay Fruit Station). We have had most signal success with our peaches, both this .and the previous- year Every tree on the station grounds was loaded full, and brought to maturity a fin 2 crop of fruit. The varieties are : Red 'Canada, Fitzgerald, Tyhurst, Triumph, Bowslaugh's Late, Crosby, Champion, Capt. Ede, and Wonderful. A. W. Peart, Freeman (Burlington Fruit Station). Champion : Tree strong, vigorous grower, as well as productive ; fruit, large to very large ; flesh white, semi-cling ; quality good ; season, last of August. Greensboro : Tree a moderate grower ; fruit, medium, white flesh, cling, of fair quality ; season, eariy August. Longhurst : Tree, a moderate grower ; fruit, medium, yellow flesh, sfcm yellowish pink ; freestone ; of good quality ; season, middle of September. Sneed : Tree, a moderate grower; fruit, small to medium, white flesh, cling ; of poor quality ; season, late July. Triumph : Tree, moderate grower ; fruit small, skin very red, flesh yellow, cling 'f season, middle of August. Tyhurst : Tree, a moderate grower ; fruit, small, yellow flesh and skin ; quality, good : a freestone. Varieties recommended for planting mentioned in order of ripening. i (Prepared by Prof. H. L. Hutt.) i. Alexander, white-fleshed ; clingstone. 2. Early Rivers, white-fleshed, semi-cling; for home ase or near market. 1903 FEUIT EXPERIMENT STATIONS. 61 3. Hynes, white-fleshed ; semi-clingstone. 4. Triumph, yellow-fleshed ; semi-clingstone. 5. St. John, yellow-fleshed : freestone ; good quality. 6. Champion, yellow-fleshed ; freestone ; for home use or near market ; good quality. 7. Brigden, yellow-fleshed; freestone ; good quality. 9. Fitzgerald, yellow-fleshed ; freestone ; good quality. 10. Reeve's Favorite, yellow-fleshed1 ; freestone ; large size ; fair quality. 11. Elberta, yellow-fleshed ; freestone ; fair quality ; good shipper, but subject to leaf curl. 12. Old Mixon, white-fleshed : freestone : good quality. 13. Late Crawford, yellow-fleshed ; freestone : good quality. 14. Stevens, white-fleshed ; freestone ; good quality. 15. Smock, yellow-fleshed ; freestone ; very late ; 'fair quality ; good shipper. PEARS. R. L. Huggard (East Central Station). Bartletts were a light crop, and ripened prematurely, and began to decay very soon after gathering, largely owing to the very hot and sultry weather just at the time of maturity. Clapps did fairly well ; Louise bore a light crop of fine fruit ; Seckel yielded well and sold for highest price ; Kieffers yielded best of all, but are not sold yet ; those that were thinned are very fine and large ; it pays to thin Kieffers ; Anjou bore no fruit this season; Angouleme, Precoce, Clairgeau, Tyson, Howell, Jules Guyot, Compte de Paris, Rutter, Lecounte and several more varieties yielded excellent crops of fine sample sof fruit. I followed clean cultivation throughout the season, and ridged up the ground for winter. AH the trees made a vigorous growth, and have ripened their fruit buds well. Them was no spotted or scabby fruit this season, but the codling moth got in its work and quite a number of wormy apples are the result ; although every tree was carefully sprayed four times, and some of them five times. We applied barnyard manure, with ashes as top dressing, with good results. Pruning ■was commenced in March and finished April 20th. Fruit of all kinds has been good in this section, and prices have kept low, and labor scarce and wages higher than usual. In the new varieties of pears I find the following equal to, or surpassing, most of the older varieties, viz.: Compte de Paris, larger and better than Bartlett ; Cornice, Dr. Jules Guyot, Duchess, Precoce, Dorset, Worden, Seckel. A. W. Peart (Burlington Station). Trees have been very free from blight this season; neither has the scab done much damage. Owing to the scarcity of labor, infrequent cultivation here, may, in a measure, account for this. / Easter Beurre : Planted 1897 ; tree a spreading, stocky, sturdy grower, with branches somewhat straggling and wild ; fruit large, 31-2x3 inches, and often larger, roundish ovate ; green, thick skin, with russet dots, fine in grain, rich, juicy, solid and heavy ; stem medium length, deep basin, deep, narrow cavity ; season late winter, keeps until April under ordinary conditions. Its cropping qualities are yet to be seen. It seems to blow off rather early. Josephine de Malines : Planted 1896 ; tree spreading, moderately vigorous, hardy and productive; fruit conic obovate; green skin, sometimes showing russet, medium size, 21-2x2 1-2 inches, melting and sweet ; stem long, basin deep and cavity light ; begins to fruit young ; season, early winter. 62 THE REPORT OF THE No. 17 Lawson : Plained 1896 ; tree upright, moderately vigorous ; fruit medium size, 3 x a i-2 inches, roundish, pyriform, yellow skin, with bright red cheek ; quality fair ; season early August. Sudduth : Planted 1897 ; tree spreading, vigorous ; fruit small to medium, 2 1-4 x 2 1-4 round, with thick skin ; flesh soft, coarse, of poor quality ; basin and cavity shallow ; stem long ; season November ; little to recommend this pear. Wilder : Planted 1896 ; tree an upright vigorous grower ; fruit obtuse, pyriform, medium size, 3x21-2 inches ; skin splashed with red ; flesh fine in grain, tender, juicy melting, rich and sweet ; not so productive, but of better quality than the Giffard ; season middle of August. Winter Nelis : Planted 1896 ; tree a spreading, straggling, short-pointed, stock grower ; begins to bear young, and is very productive ; fruit medium ; size 2 1-2 x 2 1-2, roundish, obovate, russet; skin fine grained, juicy, rich, and very sweet; basin medium ; cavity light ; season December. Bourgeat Quince : Planted 1896 ; tree a light, spreading grower ; fruit large, 2 1-2 x 3 1-4, yellowish orange, pyriform ; basin and cavity deep ; quality good ; season November. The French pears planted in 1900 are all living and growing well, but thus far have borne no fruit. Charles Voung (Algoma Station). Pears are better this year than formerly, but I do not think they will ever be a sr.cccss commercially in the North. Keiffer bore a large crop of undersized fruit ; Flemish Beauty a very few ; both were planted in 1899. Bessemianka, planted two years ago, had a few specimens of poor fruit, which began to rot at the core before the fruit ripened. There are some varieties under test here. The wood of all seems hardy enough. Perhaps they may do better in time in the way of fruit. G. C. Gaston (Simcoe Station). The ugh not one of my specialties, I have several varieties of pears on trial. The Flemish Beauty is quite at home here, but of late years has been so affected by the scab, that Bordeaux mixture failed to prevent it. This year, however, it is clean and good, and I am of the opinion that when you get it free from scab there are few better pears either for canning or dessert. I am using it, however, as a stock for top workng other varieties on such as Bartlett, Anjou, Glairgeau, Duchess, and others. This experiment is working satisfactorily so far. I consider it a waste of money and time to buy and plant dwarf pears in this locality ; they are almost sure to fail. I recommend planting hardy standards, such as Flemish Beauty or some of the Rus- sian varieties, and to top graft on those the varieties you wish to ' grow. Keiffer flourishes almost anywhere through this country, but I consider it a sort of an outcast, only wanted when no others are available. When you see it quoted at $2 per barrel, and at the same time other varieties are quoted from $4 to $6, there is something seriously wrong with the quality. Trees of Clapp's Bartlett, Anjou, Idaho, Vermont Beauty, and others, are doing well at this station, and it is possible we can grow almost any variety of standard pear as well as they can be grown further south. The French pears received three years ago are all growing and doing well. One of them bore a few specimens this year, but they were small and of poor quality. There was added to the list this year two varieties, the Hoosic and Wilder. John G. Mitohell (Georgian Bay Station). All varieties of bearing age have done well this season. Some trees of Anjou, Clapp's Favorite. Duchess, Bartlett. and Clairgeau were a pretty sight, bending and 1903 FRUIT EXPERIMENT STATIONS. 63 drooping with their loads of large, clean fruit. Quite a large number of young trees iii the experimental plot are showing fruit ; amongst them are Boussock, Malines, Souvenir de Congress, Dempsey, and Winter Nelis. The young trees received from France are now set out in the orchard, and all are living and doing well In a few year;* they will make a most interesting collection. Harold Jones (St. Lawrence Station). Clapp's Favorite : Planted 1896 ; a vigorous, strong grower, and very healthy so far. This is the second year of fruiting ; fruit is Jarge size and very handsome, quality excellent ; gives promise of being desirable for this section. Clairgeau : Planted 1896 ; has made a feeble growth, but is now dying with blight ; top grafted on Bessemianka it is doing well, and" has fruited once; not desirable on its own roots ; promising top grafted on hardy stock. Flemish Beauty : Has Again produced fruit of excellent quality and appearance, This pear is undoubtedly the best pear grown in this district, notwithstanding reports to the contrary, I find no difficulty in keeping this fruit free from spot by spraying with Bordeaux mixture ; early and. frequent sprayings .\re essential. If .he fruit and foliage is kept absolutely clean up to June 15th, there is no further trouble, but late sprayings avail very little if the early spraying is neglected. Hamell : Planted 1896 ; gave a crop of large handsome fruit in 1902, but the trees are now dying with blight. Rits'on : Planted 1856 ; a strong, viogrous, upright grower ; healthy ; a small crop of medium-sized fruit of good quality. This variety gives promise of being a suc- cess here, and may be recommended for general planting for home use. Keiffer : A hardy, annual bearer, that succeeds well here ; the fruit does not attain the same size and perfection as in Western Ontario, but may be grown successfully for home use as a cooking pear. If picked about the 10th of October and allowed to ripen in a dark place, they will put on a handsome coloring, and are fair as a /dessert pear. Sudduth : Planted 1897 ; this pear came to me under seal ; &. strong moderate grower ; healthy ; fruit medium size, pale yellow ; quality poor ; of very little value. Koonce : Planted 1897; has produced a few samples each year, fruit large, similar in form to Bartlett ; of very poor quality. Lincoln : Planted in 1895; fruited three years; yield this year was three pecks to the tree ; fruit medium size and of fair quality. -Dr. Jules Guyot : Planted 1895; commenced fruiting second year and has borne a fair crop every year since, of large handsome fruit, similar in form to Bartlett, quality onV medium. White Doyenne : Planted in 1895; Has made good growth, but produced very little fruit. Keiffer : Planted 1895; has made the most vigorous growth of any variety of pear in the plot ; oroduced three bushels to the tree; 75 per cent. No. 1. Summer Doyenne : Planted in 1895 " fruiting for three years ; average, one peck- to the tree this year ; ripened early. Beurre Giff.ard' : Planted 1895 ; has fruited for some years ; had a few specimens this year ; ripened last of August. Winter Nelis : Planted 1895 ; has fruited sparingly for four years ; one peck this year ; medium size ; tree drooping; has made good growth. Margaret : Planted 1895; fruited two years; requires to be picked very early; decays at core if left on the tree to ripen. Xdafio : Top grafted 1895; lo,ads sparingly each year; similar in form to Sheldon, but with less russett color: of good quality. M THE REPORT OF THE No. 17 PLUMS. John G. Mitchell (Georgian Bay Station). The object of this report is to answer desired information for the general benefit .of planters, rather than to give detailed descriptions of individual varieties. Plums have been an enormous crop throughout this district, so much so, that many thous- ands of baskets were not gathered at all, but left to spoil in the orchards. On the :i grounds alone 'fully one thousand baskets were allowed to go to waste, not salable at prices which would pay expenses, and the strangest thing about it was that there were less plums shipped from here than in many a former year. Now, there must .be some reason for this. During the summer I went to a great deal of trouble to find out, if possible, what the great buying public most demands and appreciates. I inter- viewed dealers, traders and canners, and they all with one accord condemn the Japin plums on account of their poor qualitv. The dealers do not want them, because when know i they will not sell. Our traders, who distribute thousands of baskets along the north snore of Georgian Bay and Lake Huron, as far as Sault Ste. Marie, do not. want them, and some of them won't buy them at all The canners say they are of poor quality, and put up a very poor class of goods, and as a canning firm's reputation stands on his brand, they must have plums of good quality. They pay ten to fifteen cent? more per bushel for -the yellow European varieties than for the -colored blue and red plums. Now, the reason :t against the sale of something better. This has been my own opinion. I always said, Go slow with Japan plums. If I were planting a plum orchard' again, and I likely will, I would not put a Japan variety in it, unless it would be Red June, and then very sparingly. European Plums. After several year's test, these seem without doubt destined to be the plums for the commercial orchards of Ontario. The following have been thoroughly tested here : they are sufficiently hardy, "good growers and bearers, and of admirably quality : Washington, Imperial Gage, Brashaw, Quackenbos or Glass, Prune d'Agen, Arch Duke, Diamond, Monarch, Montreal, Yellow Egg, Pond's Seedling, Coe's Golden Drop, Reine Claude, Whitby, German, ar*d Baker Prunes. These are the cream of all our 170 or more varities, so far as we know at present. Red June, a Japan, on account of its earliness, may be added to this list. Japan Plums. There already seems to be too many Japan plums planted. Although quite hardy, rapid growers, good bearers, and of most attractive appearance, their quality, as com- pared with the best Europeans, is so poor that there is not much demand for them where they are well known. The following are the best quality and most desirable of all we have in test : Bur- bank, Chabot, Red June, and Satsuma or blood. Wickson, the best in quality of all the Japan, is apparently too tender. I am told that it does not succeed well even in Southern Ontario. American or Native Plums of which we have quite a number, are of no practical value for the commercial orchard. We occasionally ship & few baskets to try how they sell. They were invariably not sold, or sold for less than expenses. Stoddard, Milton, Cheney, Chas. Down- 1903 FRUIT EXPERIMENT STATIONS 65 ing, Forest Rose, and Wolf appear to be about the best we have, and might be of som: use where it might be too cold for the Domestica to succeed. W. W. Hilborn (Southwestern Station). Varieties of Japan Plums. Willard : This was the first to ripen, but the fruit is of such poor quality that it is of no value. Red June : This is the earliest good sort, perhaps the most profitable, on account of its early ripening, fine appearance, and of rather good quality. Abundance : Ripens soon after the above, of some value for dessert, but of no value for canning. Burbank : Several days later than Abundance ; of little value for dessert, but good for canning purposes. Satsuma : This is my choice of all the Japan plums I have seen. It is gaining in popularity where best known. For canning purposes it has few equals. This season I found it easier to sell this sort at 25 cents per 12-quart basket than to give away Lombards, which were ripe at the same time. Wickson : A variety of some promise on account of its fine appearance and large size. Climax : This is the most promising of all the newer Japans I have tested. On young trees it produced a he»avy crop of fruit that ripened with the Abundance; of about the siz-.' and form of Wickson, but much darker in color. Chabot : This resembles Abundance, ripens later, not of as good quality. Hale : A plum of fine appearance and rather nice in flavor ; has some value for dessert ; rots badly ; of no value for market. Juicy : A very strong grower ; produces but little fruit ; of no value. Bcrkmans : Tree and fruit resembles Burbank, but not of as good quality, and ripens later. A number of other varieties h,ave ripened a few specimens, but none of them gave promise of any special value. In my opinion, it will be easy to overdo the planting of Japan plums. My choice for market purposes are : Red June, Burbank, Satsuma, and Wickson, of .he older varieties, and Climax of the later introduction. THE JAPAN PLUMS. L. Woolverton (Maplehurst Fruit Farm). Although only introduced into America some thirty years, these plums have become very widely disseminated, receiving probably a larger place in our orchards than their real merit deserves. Many varieties of them have been introduced and pushed upon the attention of the unsuspecting fruit grower, who has too often found them a sad disappointment. The Wickson, for example, has been much boomed, and truly is a large, fine variety ; but alas ! so far in our orchard, and we have planted about 100 trees, it has proved itself most unproductive. Some of us were discussing the Japan plums at the Industrial, where Mr. John Mitchell, of Clarksburg, Ont, showed a fine collection, and the general agreement was that the following four varieties were the choice of all the Japans to cover the season, viz., Red June, Abundance, Burbank, and Chabot. . Mr. S. D. Willard, of Geneva, New York, speaking before the Western New York Fruit Growers, said of these Japans, that owing to their early blossoming his crop 5 F.E.s. THE REPORT OF THE No. 17 of Abundance was nearly ruined by spring frosts, when, hearing of the Burbank, he had them all top-worked to the latter variety. "I like," he said, "the Abundance to eat out of hand, but I do not think it as good a handler and shipper as the Burbank and some of the others. We have a good many Burbanks. Some seasons we have had four or five thousand baskets. A few years ago, when looking up something better, if we could, we ran on to the Red June, and in conference with a man from Lake Michigan. I learned that side by side with the Burbank, when the spring frost had d >ne injury to the Burbank, the Red Jane would come out in good shape. Following up the idea in connection with the fact that it is the earliest of all plums to ripen that I know of, we have planted and fruited them quite largely. We have had them ripe and in good shipping condition on the 21st of July. I made up my mind that it was a good plum for the orchard man, and we have found it so. We had something over a thousand baskets of them last year (1901), and they brought a higher price per basket than any other plums we shipped, except some of the old varieties that came on the market after the other varieties were out of the way." Red June. Red June : We have received the following replies to inquiries regarding the behavior of the Red June in various sections of Ontario : T. H. Race, Mitchell : The only varieties among the Japan plums that I have tried on my grounds here are the Prunus Simoni, Wickson, Abundance, and Burbank. The first two I have discarded ; the third I have planted in where I threw all my Lombards out, and I value it very highly. The Burbank is my second favorite, though in some respects it is a better plum than the Abundance. Like the Abundance tree, the Burbank must be cut back very severely in order to get a good, shapely tree. This is especially important with the Burbank, as the yearly growth is very great, and the tree is of a sprawling nature. It should be cut back to one foot every year if a good, solitl top is to be secured. It will take more years to get a good tree, but it will last all the more years, and bears its fruit better after it his been secured. On the properly pruned tree the Burbank is a beautiful plum, A. E. Sherrington, Walkerton : In my opinion the Red June is going to be one of the most valuable plums for either home uses or market, chiefly owing to its esrliness. It is a good keeper, and consequently an excellent shipper. M. Pettit, Winona : I have fruited the Red June plum for years. The trees grow well, and bear regular crops from the third year of planting. In quality it is not quite as good as Lombard, which it resembles somewhat in appearance, though a little smaller in size. It ripens about the first of August, and being the first plum to ripen, it is valuable for market, brining about double the price of ordinary plums. As soon, however, as this plum is planted in large quantities, it is a question if it will bring any higher price than the other varieties. It should be valuable for the family garden, because it extends the season for using fresh plums. W. W. Hilborn, Leamington : I have been very favorably inpressed with this variety. The tree is rather more spreading in habit than the Abundance, and seems to be quite productive. The fruit is roundish conical, with a distinct point, and rather above medium size. The color is quite dark when fully ripe ; the quality is good. It ripens just before Abundance, and on this account it promises to be valuable for market. I have not tested it long enough to know if it has any special weakness. R L. Huggard, Whitby : I consider the Red June a profitable early plum. Its color will always attract buyers. The fruit is especially vaTuable for canning, as the flesh remain firm in cooking and retains the flavor. G. C. Caston, Craighurst : I reply to your enquiry about the Red June plum, I think very highly of it. It began to bear the second year after planting, and, with the 1903 FRUIT EXPERIMENT STATIONS. ,67 exception of this year, bore regularly. It comes early. I have only one that comes in ahead of it (the Early Botan), and it 'bears a heavy crop. I always include the Red June wher recommending a list of plums for this section. The quality is, I think, very good. It is large in size, and quite handsome. I have no hesitation in recommend- ing it for this section. Charles Young, Richards' Landing : My Red June plum tree bore a few fruits last year, and if I were planting out a plum orchard I would not hesitate to include the Red June. The trees here 'St. Joseph's Island) have proved perfectly hardy. I measured some of last year's growth to-day (December 23rd), and it was five feet in kngth. The trees promise fruit next year. J. G. Mitchell, Clarksburg : 1 can unhesitatingly endorse the Red June as one of the most desirable of the Japan plums, not so much for its quality, which is only fair as compared with the best Europeans, but for the season in which it ripens. It is th'* earliest good plum we have. The tree is a strong grower, forming a beautiful symmetrical top, and begins to. bear the third or fourth year. . The fruit is medium to large ; color a bright vermillion red, not ripening all at once, but covering about *two weeks ; season, with us, last of July to middle of August ; hardy. It is only about twenty years since the Japan plums began to be propagated in America for commercial purposes, and it is wonderful how quick they have become distributed throughout the United States and Canada, while still almost unknown in Europe. Perhaps this is because the European varieties succeed so well there that the Japan varieties are not sought after in that country, while here the former class arc subject to many drawbacks, such as black knot, plum rot, etc.. from which the J^pan varieties are apparently more or less exempt. Chabot. The Chabot first fruited at Maplehurst in 1902, and at once attracted our attention as being exceptionally beautiful in appearance and delicious for eating. It was import- ed from Japan by Mr. Chabot, of Berkely, California, and afterwards sold to Mr. Burbank, who introduced it to the trade in the year 1886. It has borne several names, as, for example, Yellow Japan, Bailey, etc., but in justice to the importer, it is now gene* ally known as the Chabot. A good many are puzzled over the pronunciation, so we may as well state that the accent is upon the last syllable ; phonetically written it is "Shabbot." This plum has been tested at our Georgian Bay station by Mr. John Mitchell, of Clarksburg, and described as follows : "A very strong grower, of a large, beautiful and stately top ; bears the third year * fruit about the same size and shape as the Red June, but not quite so conical ; skin amber, and nearly covered with red spots and markings ; very attractive ; season, late in September ; very hardy." At Maplehurst our record of its season is the first half of September, but perhaps it would be ten days later at Clarksburg. It did not bear the third year after plant- ing with us, indeed, it was about the fifth year before we had any samples. No doubt early bearing depends a good deal upon the soil ; and our deep, rich sandy loam encourages the production of too much wood and too little fruit. In respect to size also, it was larger with us than Red June, indeed, almost equal to Washington ; but with us the crop was light, while with Mr. Mitchell probably it was heavy. Every one who has fruited it gives the Chabot credit for 'being the best Japan of its season, which is about two weeks later than Burbank. The flesh is yellow, and the flavor very pleasant, though inclined to cling to the stone. Green Gage. The Green Gage is a good representative of a very important group of domestic plum?;, which is both very ancient and very desirable. Other well-known varieties of 6S THE REPORT OF THE No. 17 th^ Green Gage group are Reine Claude, Imperial Gage, McLaughlin, Jefferson, Wash- ing: on, General Hand, Peter's Gage, Golden Gage, etc. In Ontario the most popular variety of the Green Gage group or plums, especially for cooking purposes, is the Reine Gaude de Bavay, commonly known among us as Reine Claude, but in the catalogue of the American Pomological Society caled Bavay. The fruit of this plum is larger than that of the Green Gage ; the tree is a stronger grov er, and hence, perhaps, better suited to the commercial orchard, but in quality no one of the group excels the old typical kind, the Green Gage. Dr. Robert Hogg, author of the " Fruit Manual " of Great Britain, gives the following history of the origin of this plum : This universally known and highly esteemed fruit has been longer in this country (England) than has been generally supposed. It is said to have been introduced at the beginning of the last century by Sir Thomas Gage, of Hengrave Hall, near Bury St. Edmunds, -who procured it from his brother, the Rev. John Gage, a Roman Catholic priest, then resident in Paris. In course of time it became known as the Green Gage p)I/um|.j In France, although it has many names, that by which it is 'best known is Grosse Reine Claude, to distinguish it from a smaller and much inferior, plum called Reine Claude Petite. The Green Gage is supposed to be a native of Greece, and to have been introduced at an early period from Italy, Where it is called Verdochia. From Italy it has passed into France, during the reign of Francis L, and was named in honor of his consort, Queen Claude. Shortly afterwards it found its way into England under its original Italian name, Verdochia, from Which we may infer that it was brcught direct from Italy. It is mentioned by Parkinson in 1629 under the name of Verdoch, and from the way in which he speaks of it, it seems to have been not at all rare, nor even new. Even so late as the middle of the last century, after it had been reintroduced and extensively grown under the name of Green Gage, it continued to bear its original title, and to be regarded as a distinct sort from the Green Gage. If any one is making a selection of plums for his home garden, we would advise him not to omit a tree of the Green Gage for kitchen uses ; or, if he wishes to combine both kitchen and market purposes, then let him plant the Reine Claude. Tho Green Gage tree is not a rapid grower, but it is healthy and fairly productive. The fruit is smaller than Reine Claude, and must be thinned to make it fcreach a proper size. The skin is greenish, yellowing toward maturity ; the flesh is pale green in color, and the texture melting and juicvy ; the flavor is rich, sweet, and agreeable. In season it is earlier than Reine Claude, coming in about the middle of August. Harold Jones, Maitland (St. Lawrence District) : The Green Gage plum has not proved generally satisfactory in this section. Trees that I planted in 1897 are partly dead and have never blossomed. They suffered during the winter of 1002. I know of two trees that are protected by buildings from the north wind that have given good crops of fruit in favorable years, but. generally speaking, the Green Gage is an uncertain cropper here and not profitable. My experience and observation teach that European plums are generally unsatis- factory in this latitude, but some plums of the native American class are of good quality ar.d succeed well. A. E. Sherrington, Walkerton : The Green Gage plum is hardy and productive here, but in my opinion not as valuable as the Imperial Gage. J. G. Mitchell, Clarksburg : The market demands large and showy fruit, and the Green Gage, being rather small, has always sold at a low price here. Where the Reine Claude succeeds, which is really a large Green Gage, I think there is little use in gre.wing the small Green Gage. W. M. Orr, Fruitland : We do not grow the Green Gage. Although the quality of the fruit is good, I consider it too small, and the tree is a poor grower. I prefer the Imperial Gage, of which the fruit is large and of good quality, and the tree vigorous and productive. 1903 FRUIT EXPERIMENT STATIONS. 69 ■Charles Ellis, Meaford : Very few Green Gage plums are grown about here. The Reine Claude is often sold under that name, but the true Green Gage is small, not very productive, so far as I have seen it, but is very good for home use. Ch&rles Lowry, Queenston : The Green Gage is highly esteemed, both as to productiveness of tree and quality of fruit, but the sale is limited. Every year I think the price of plums grow less, and unless some foreign market opens for them there is little hope for plum growers. F. G. Stewart, Homers : The Green Gage is considered the best canning plum, and we get more for it" at the factories than for any other. For home use it is superseded by the Reine Claude. A. W. Peart, Freeman (Burlington Station). Blood No. 2 : Planted in 1898 ; tree upright, spreading, vigorous ; fruit, medium, conical, round, dark red with purple bloom, very firm ; flesh red to stone ; season, middle of September. Abundance : Planted 1896 ; tree upright, spreading, vigorous, hardy and pro- ductive ; fruit yellow, with crimson flesh, large, oblong-round ; fruits young; quality fair ; season middle of August. Burbank : Planted 1896 ; tree very spreading, vigorous, straggling grower, but by annually cutting away lower horizontal branches may be kept in fair shape ; too productive every other year ; requires thinning ; bears very young ; fruit mdium to large, oblong-round, yellow, mantled with crimson ; quality fair ; season late August. Berckmans : Planted 1898 ; tree spreading, medium vigor ; fruit medium to large, oblon^-oval, dark red ; flesh very soft, juicy, of poor quality ; season late July. Normands : Planted 1898 ; tree spreading, vigorous, and moderately productive ; fruit medium, roundish-oval, yellow flesh, fairly firm, rich, juicy, sweet and aromatic, very fine flavor. Srtsuma : Planted 1896 ; tree upright, spreading, stocky, vigorous and productive with age. Three trees this year gave 15 twelve-quart baskets. Fruit medium to large, conic, round, dark red, with purple bloom ; flesh very firm, red to the pit ; excellent for earning ; season middle of September. Blood No. 4 : Resembles tmV varietv verv much. G. C. Caston (Simcoe Station). In the spring of 1895 I planted 14 varieties of plums of the European class. These all flourished nicely for a few years, and bore a few fine crops, but there is only one variety of that fourteen that is sound and thrifty to-day, and that variety is the Staunton. Northwest of here a few miles, near the Georgian Bay, all kinds of plums flourish, and continue to bear until they are large, old trees. The climatic conditions r< quired for successful plum culture is close proximity to large bodies of water. Some of the Japan varieties seem to thrive here, though many of them, such as Shensi, Ogon, Satsuma, and several others, have failed. Howe's, Burbank, Abundance, and Red June, are doing fairly well. I have tested here some forty varieties of plums, and the results may be summed up thus : Of the European class, the only one that has succeeded well is the Staunton, and of the Japans the three above mentioned are the best. A number of the American class have been tested, and those that have fruited are not worth growing. It is not advisable for anyone living a distance inland from the great lakes to go extensively into plum culture, and, further, the failure to grow plums on a large scale is not a serious disadvantage in fruit culture, as the growing of plums is now overdone to such an extent that the market is overstocked, and the prices go so low there can be little or no profit in them." 70 THE REPORT OF THE No. 17 M. Pettit (Wentworth Station). The immense plum crop of this season has convinced the growers that too many plum orchards have been planted. Not more than two-thirds of the crop was mar- keted, en account of rot and low prices. One-half of the plum orchards planted have not attained full bearing .age. We have found it impossible to control the rot by spraying 'with Bordeaux mixture this season, on account of the showery weather during August. All varieties suffered, the very early kinds, such as Red June and Red Nagate, the least. They were gathered July 31st, and sold at 40 cents per basket. We think there would be a limited demand for plums of such inferior quality at that season. Charles Young (Algoma Station). Plums have done very well considering the age o;f the trees, but I must moderate my praise of the Japans somewhat this year. They have made any amount of wood, but given very little fruit. Perhaps I have manured too freely. The Europeans have not made so much wood, but have yielded more fruit, Lombard especially; Moore's Arctic and Reine Claude, a full crop. It is a pity the native Americana plums have such brittle tops ; if the wood was only tougher they might be valuable in the north ; but I have found just as good fruit and tougher wood among our Canadian natives in the woods, and with a deeper, richer color than any on the experimental grounds. Of all the varieties I have tested in plums, some fifteen, all are apparently hardy, except America, which freezes on the south side of the top every year. My trees now are all one-sided, and no amount of pruning can get them into proper shape. They have not had any fruit, and at this date we may set them down as curnberers of the groLind. A. E. Sherrington (Lake Huron Station). There are now nearly fifty varieties planted, and all doing well, with the exception of Wickson. The crop was not large this season, with the exception of Burbank, Victoria, and Lombard. The crop was all disposed of at very good prices and very few wasted. Abundance : Tree, vigorous and hardy; fruit large; color, reddish purple ; quality, good; yield per tree, three b.askets, last year two baskets ; bloomed May the 9th ; ripe August 10th ; eight years old. Burbank : Tree, spreading, vigorous and hardy ; fruit medium to large ; color, red ; quality, good ; yield per tree, seventeen baskets, none last year ; bloomed May 9th; ripe August the 27th ; eight years old. . Bradshaw : Tree, upright to spreading, hardy and vigorous ; fruit, very large ; color, purple ; quality, good ; did not fruit this year, last year two baskets. Cole's Golden Drop : Tree, strong, vigorous and hardy ; fruit, large ; quality, medium to good ; color, yellow to light green ; yield, two baskets, last year six; bloomed May the 10th ; ripe September 4th. Duane's Purple : Tree, upright, spreading, vigorous and hardy ; fruit, large ; color, dark purple ; quality, good ; bloomed May the 10th ; ripe September 20th ; yield, one- quarter of a basket, last year three-quarters of a basket. Field : Tree, an upright grower, vigorous and hardy ; fruit, medium to large ; color, purple ; quality, good ; yield, none, last year one-half basket. Geuii : Tree, upright to spreading, vigorous and hardy; fruit, large; color, purple; quality, first rate ; bloomed May 10th ; ripe August 27th ; yield seven baskets, 1ast year one and three-quarters ; this is a first-class plum. Grand Duke : Tree, a strong grower, upright to spreading, hardy, and a persistent bearer ; fruit, large, with a heavy bloom ; quality, good ; makes a first-class shipper ; 1903 FRUIT EXPERIMENT STATIONS. 71 yield, one basket, last year three baskets ; bloomed May ioth ; ripe September 25th ; a xery profitable variety. Hale : Tree, upright to spreading, vigorous and hardy ; fruit, liarge ; color, yellow ; quality, first-class as a dessert plum ; yield, eight baskets, last year three baskets ; blocmed May 8th ; ripe August 24th. Hugh's Seedling : Tree, a good grower, and hardy; fruit, medium to large ; color, yellow, resembles Yellow Egg ; yield, none, last year one basket. Imperial Gage : Tree, a vigorous and compact grower, hardy ; fruit, medium size ; color, yellow; quality, ibest ; bloomed May ioth; ripe August 27th; yield, three baskets, last yeiar five and two-thirds baskets ; a very fine plum. Lombard : This variety is of long standing, and considered to be a reliable plum for commercial purposes, as well as for home use; but the tree is liable to over-bear, and in such case the fruit will be small ; it requires to be thinned to give best results; tree, hardy an:l vigorous ; fruit, medium to large ; color, reddish purple ; quality, good ; bloomed May ioth ; ripe September 1st ; yield, six baskets, last year two and a half baskets. Monarch : Tree, vigorous and hardy ; an early bearer ; very profitable; fruit, large; color, purple, with heiavy bloom ; quality, good; flesh, firm, making a splendid shipper ; bloomed May ioth ; ripe September 20th; yield, one basket, last year four. Moore's Arctic : Tree, a fair grower, and hardy ; an early and annual bearer ; fruit, small to medium ; color, dark purple, with bloom ; quality, very good ; bloomed May 7th ; ripe August 24th ; yield, seven baskets, last year six baskets ; should Le lef. on tree until fully ripe to give best results. McLaughlin ; tree, a vigorous grower ; early and annual bearer ; fruit, large ; color, yeliow, mottled with red ; quality, first-class ; bloomed May ioth ; ripe August 26th ; yield, half basket, last year two baskets. Pond's Seedling: Tree, an upright grower ; fruit, very large ; color, red ; quality fair ; yield, none, last year one and a quarter baskets ; not profitable owing to its being so subject to rot, Purple Egg : Tree, a fine grower, and hardy ; fruit, large ; color, purple ; qualit}r, good ; bloomed May ioth ; ripe September 20th ; yield one basket, last year two and a half baskets ; a fine shipping variety. Quackenbos: Tree, hardy, vigorous, upright, spreading; fruit, very large ; color, purple, with bloom ; quality, good when fully ripe ; bloomed May ioth ; ripe September 10th ; yield, four baskets, last year two ; a very fine plum. Red June : Tree, a strong, vigorous grower, of the Japanese variety, hardy, an •early bearer, as all this class are ; fruit, large ; color, dark red ; quality, very good ; bloomed May 8th ; ripe August ioth ; yield, one basket, last year only a few ; four years old. Spaulding : Tree, a strong grower, spreading, hardy ; fruit, medium ; color, y«ilow ; quality, good ; flavor, very sweet ; bloomed May 9th ; ripe August 27th ; yield, six baskets, last year five baskets. Shipper's Pride: Tree, upright, strong and vigorous grower, hardy ; fruit, medium to large ; color purple ; quality, very good ; flesh, firm, a good shipper ; bloomed May ioth ; ripe September 4th ; yield, six baskets, last year two baskets. Satsuma : Tree, a strong, vigorous grower, and hardy, of the Japanese class ; fruit, large ; quality, good for cooking ; color, dark red, with colored flesh, firm, making it a good shipper ; bloomed (May 9th ; ripe, September 15th ; yield, two baskets, last year seven. Smith's Orleans : Tree, a strong, vigorous grower, hardy ; fruit, large ; color, purple ; quality, good ; bloomed May ioth ; ripe August 27th ; yield, four baskets. Saunders : Tree, rather poor grower, appears to be hardy ; fruit, medium ; color, yellow ; quality, very good ; o No. 403 (perfect) : A good plant, and productive; berry, medium to large in size ; conical ; good, scarlet, with yellow seeds ; flesh, pink ; medium in firmness, and of good quality ; a very promising one. % List for Growers and Seasons of Fruiting. Early and Extra Early Varieties : Van Deman, Texas, Vandevere, Michel, August Luther, Palmer, Monitor, Johnston, Excelsior, Smith, Success, Lord Sheffield, Beder- wood, Clyde, Sampson. Mid Season to Late : Haverland, Lyon, Splendid, Bubach, Tennessee Prolific, Honest, Charlie, Marie, Bismark, Ruby, Glen Mary, Saunders, Sample, Williams LoveU ; Senator Dunlap ; Brandywine, Nick Ohmer, Emperor. Late to Extra Late : Aroma, Gandy, Klondike, Joe, Nettie, Robbie, Lester Lovett, Midnight, Timbrell No. 18. The above is a list of the best varieties as proved by trial over an extended area. Growers cannot go wrong in choosing from the above list for trial on their own grounds. i ! 1 Charles Young (Algoma Station). Strawberries have simply been a tremendous crop. I am gradually increasing the patch each year. We plant just more than we think can be disposed of in our local market, but at picking time find the demand far exceeds the supply. One quart to the bush was gathered last season from what I would call standard berries. Williams and Saunders I will discard altogether ; the same may be said of Greens' big berry ; it certainly is a big berry, but with me it begins to rot before it is ripe. Clyde, which in former years did so well, came in second this year. I allowed too many runners to* set. Haverland did best ; the pickers like them ; they are easily hulled, and though lacking in color as individual berries, have a fine appearance in the box. In our local market here they all sold at 10c a box. The season lasted a little over a month. This was by far the best paying crop I raised in 1903, and about the only trouble was in getting pickers. SPCL 5 8 35^,6 C2 F7B-S HO 5