REPORT OF THE HORTICULTURIST. 105 



APPLES. 



Trial packages of three varieties of these were sent to the storage warehouse from 

 the Central Farm, as they ripened. 



Tetofsky. — -Wrapped, packed in baskets, were in good condition with flavour unim- 

 paired up to November 15th, when they commenced to discolour and lose flavour. On 

 December 10th the greater proportion were decayed and unfit for use. There was a little 

 difference in favour of the wrapped fruit, but the improvement was not so marked as in 

 the case of the pears. 



Duchess. — Packed the same way, began to decay on December 10th ; the same 

 variety unwrapped showed 8 to 10 per cent of rotten fruit at this date. 



Wealthy and Colvert. — Both in boxes and barrels, unwrapped, are of course perfect 

 at this date, Dec. 31st. Summer apples, in common with other soft fruits, kept best 

 when wrapped in tissue paper and put up in wooden packages. 



GRAPES. 



Sample baskets of Lindley, Delaware and Niagara grapes stored on September 27th 

 are at this date, December 20th, in good condition. 



The deductions which may be drawn from the results of this preliminary trial in 

 the preservation of fruits by cold storage may be summarized as follows : — 



1. Fruit for storage should be picked when fully grown, but before it has thoroughly 

 matured. 



2. Early pears, peaches and the larger varieties of plums should be wrapped separ- 

 ately in tissue paper. 



3. Tight wooden boxes are the most satisfactory packages for storing and handling. 

 When baskets are used they should be provided with strong " veneer " covers. 



4. Stone fruits, such as peaches and plums, under ordinary circumstances should 

 not be held for a longer period than two or three weeks. 



5. The marketing season for early pears and apples may be extended from thirty to 

 sixty days, and under favourable circumstances for a longer period. 



6. The outcome of experiments with fall and early winter varieties of apples and 

 pears, including samples of grapes, yet remains to be developed. 



TOBACCO EXPERIMENTS. 



Some of the principal features of the experiments with tobacco, as outlined in my 

 report for 1893, were continued this year. A fewer number of varieties were grown, but 

 in greater quantity. 



The season was not as favourable for the growth of this plant as was last year, but 

 the results on the whole were very encouraging. As soon as information from a manu- 

 facturer's standpoint, with regard to the quality of the different varieties raised last year, 

 is secured, it will be given to the public, together with the results of experimental work 

 in 1894. 



TREATMENT OF FUNGOUS DISEASES. 



This branch of my work has entailed a large amount of correspondence during the 

 year, and is one of increasing public interest and importance. Fruit growers and pro- 

 prietors of small orchards and gardens are awakening to the fact that without taking 

 active measures for the prevention of fungous enemies, the profits from this industry are 

 each year greatly reduced. It is hoped that the important and convincing results of 

 the spraying experiments carried on in conjunction with the Fruit Growers' Association 

 of Ontario, detailed in the body of the report, will be of direct beneficial effect to 



