192 Journal of Agriculture. [10 March, 1909. 



THE ORCHARD. 



/. Lang, llarcoiirt. 



During the last week in February a good soaking rain was experienced 

 all over the State, an inch and a halt being recorded in a great many 

 places. This will be of great benefit to the fruit crop, and the late apples 

 should swell out to a good size. It is possible that further rains may be 

 received as the summer seems now to be completelv broken ; with a few 

 more showers it will be the best autumn experienced for many \ears. 



Fruit export is now in full swing, picking and packing taking up most 

 of the orchardists' time. Care should be exercised in picking the fruit. 

 Careful handling is necessary, and all brui-sed and blemished fruit should 

 be rejected. Where apples are of unequal size they should be graded into 

 two grades — Nos. i and 2. The cases of apples always open up better 

 when the apples are all fairly of the one size, and the smaller apples 

 sometimes carry better than the larger ones and realize as good a price 

 as No. I grade. The apples that have been shipped so far are reported, 

 on the whole, to be of good quality and likely to carry well. 



Bitter pit has again made its appearance this season. The apples most 

 affected are Cleopatra and Annie Elizabeth. 



The season in London is likel}- to be much better than last vear, as 

 the market is now getting bare of American apples. The speculators who 

 cool stored a large quantitv of apples last vear are not likely to repeat 

 the experiment this year, as they all suffered severe financial loss over the 

 business. 



Pears should be shipped to a moderate extent, as they always realize 

 a good price when they arrive in good condition. As much as 30s. per 

 case was realized last vear for Winter Nelis pears. This variety alwavs 

 seems to carry best, and is also one of the finest flavoured pears grown. 

 Josephine d'Malines is also good; so is Beurre d'Anjou, and Beurre 

 Clairgeau. These are all good qualitv pears, and realize top prices when 

 they arrive in good condition. Broomi)ark and Vicar of Winkfield are 

 pears of second qualitv and will not realize as much as those named alxDve ; 

 still, it is always advisable to send a few of them. 



Quinces as a fruit are not much known in the London market, but there 

 should be sale for a moderate quantit\ . Some of our quince growers 

 .should make a few small shipments to test the market. 



When time permits, a start should be made in April to sow down the 

 orchard in peas for the purpose of green manuring. They require to be 

 sown early, so that thev may get a good start before the cold weather 

 sets in ; if sown late, they never make satisfactory progress and there is 

 but a poor crop to plough under in the spring. 



