1904-1905] Work in a Canadian Orchard. 191 



on which there is so much contradictory opinion. There are 

 three ways of dealing with the ground in the orchard. One is 

 to keep it in grass ; another is to keep it cultivated or well 

 tilled, and free from all vegetation ; and another is to grow 

 what are called cover crops. These cover crops are for the 

 purpose of keeping the frost out of the ground, or, as is often 

 necessary, to shade the stems of the trees from the hot sun, 

 and they are of much value in being a means of forming 

 humus and supplying nitrogen to the soil. 



Spraying is a most necessary part of a fruit-grower's work, 

 and the Government has set itself, through the Board of 

 Agriculture, to discover the best insecticides and fungicides, 

 and gives all necessary help and information on the subject to 

 the farmers. To keep the trees clean and healthy is a duty 

 which requires a watchful eye, besides considerable knowledge, 

 skill, and personal application. 



The principal crop of apples is ready to pick in October. 

 Picking should be done at that particular time when the fruit 

 is almost ripe — that is to say, not mellow, but just at the 

 time when the seeds are turning brown. With this in view, 

 the grower having a large orchard begins with those kinds 

 which ripen earliest, and arranges his work so as to be 

 finished with gathering the latest fruit just before being 

 stopped by winter frost. The fruit must be in all cases 

 handled with the utmost care if it is expected to reach the 

 distant destination in perfect condition. A bruised apple 

 deteriorates very rapidly, whereas an unbruised one remains 

 perfect for a long time. When the apple-picker ascends his 

 ladder, he takes with him a small basket with a hook on the 

 handle, by which he suspends his basket from one of the 

 branches, and so leaves both of his hands free. The basket 

 should be lined with some soft material. An important 

 thing, and yet one often neglected, is to take care not to 

 break the stem of the apple. When this is broken the fruit 

 is not only disfigured, but the keeping of the fruit is 

 endangered. Some growers sort their fruit and pack it 

 immediately, and I think that this is the best way, as I have 

 seen it done with great success. There is much less danger 

 of injury to the fruit when there is little handling ; and it 

 has also to be remembered that the fruit, after being picked, 



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