IRISH GARDENING 



\Ol.lMK VII. 

 No. 74 



A MONTHLY JOURNAL DEVOTED TO THE 



ADVANCEMENT OF HORTICULTURE AND 



ARBORICULTURE IN IRELAND 



.AI'KII, .^•LW ,UKR. 



191j botanical 

 Garden 



Notes on (hardens and Orchard 

 Work in America. 



{( '(lllc/l/l/fl/.) 



By SiK !■'. \V. .M.poRK, M..A. 



IX antecedent portions ot thi> 

 paper I have attempted to give a 

 briel outline of gardening work 

 in liic Eastern portions of the United 



/J9QI States and of Canada. In this, the 

 -ilm^M concluding portion, I will summarise 

 my impressions of orchard \vori< and 

 fruit growing generally in the same 

 district. \\'e are apt to associate 

 with the name ".American .Apples" 

 vague impressions of huge orchards, 

 fruiting freely, giving little trouble, 

 and all in good order. Emigration 

 agencies portray in enticing terms 

 the many advantages of fruit growing 

 in .America, and the certain success 

 which is sure to follow the simple 

 process of planting apple trees, 

 which helps to confirm these impres- 

 sions. When dealing with li\ing 

 matter there is, and can be, no 

 certainty, although stalwart Men- 

 ilelians trv to persuade us the)' have 

 reachetl the ha\ en of certainty. There are 

 rocks and rude knocks ahead ot' all such 

 enthusiasts. 



In passing through the country, even b\ 

 train, one is impressed with the number ol 

 small orchards attached to the farmsteads, and 

 also with the age, size, and frequently state oi 

 neglect of the trees generally. In lea\ing the 

 beaten track and penetrating into remoter 

 districts, the same conditions prevail, so that it 

 is quite apparent that apple growing is no very 

 recent industr}- in the older states and provinces. 



•.■"ne finds exactly as in this countrv the good, 

 bad, and indifferent. \'oung and flourishing 

 orchards are to be found, and old and very 

 neglected orchards are also, unfortunately, 

 constantly in evidence— branches broken and 

 hanging, moss-covered stems, irregularly and 

 badly-shaped trees, unfilled gaps in the rows, 

 grass up to the trunks, and weeds abundant. 

 However, in other districts where, owing to 

 climate, soil, natural conditions, and not infre- 

 ijuently to the energy and enthusiasm of a few 

 sound, practical and intelligent men, fruit 

 growing as distinct from general farming, has 

 become a predominant factor, a very different 

 state of affairs prevails. The orchards are 

 clean, the trees are clean, they are planted in 

 regular order, and the heads of the trees are 

 nicely thinned and well balanced ; in fact it is 

 (.juite evident that the (.|uestion of profitable 

 fruit growing for commercial purposes is being 

 seriously and lhoLiglitfull\- worked out, and 

 f>racticall\ and scientilically handled, and 

 that it is proving successful. Such districts 

 are neither few nor small, and they are 

 extending. Good illustration examples occur 

 in the long stretch along the shores o( Lake 

 i.''ntario, almost from Toronto to Niagara, and 

 in the Hilton district near Rochester. From 

 these districts much ot the good quality fruit is 

 sliipped, not apples only, but pears, peaches, 

 plums, and grapes; in fact it is noteworthy that 

 Canadian peaches were placed in good condition 

 on the London markets last year. The same 

 difficulties beset the industry in .America as in 

 this countrv, and even more energv has been 



