THE 



Canadian Horticulturist. 



Vol. XXI. Toronto, 



1898. 



March. 



No. 



THE ORCHARDS AND GARDENS OF ORILLIA, 



TTHIRTY years ago, the district 

 of country now known 

 as East Simcoe was a 

 terra incognita to most 

 of the rest of the world. 

 4-umbermen were aware that there was 

 still there a good deal of first-class pine, 

 white oak, and other valuable timber ; 

 but it was generally supposed that the 

 land was little fitted for agricultural, and 

 not at all for horticultural purposes ; 

 therefore when, a few years ago, the 

 Fruit Growers' Association annual meet- 

 ing was held in the town of Orillia, a 

 most agreeable surprise was awaiting 

 the officers and visiting members, in 

 the magnificent display of apples and 

 other fruits which had been provided 

 for the occasion by the local Horticul- 

 tural Society, a display which had never 

 before, nor has been since equalled at 

 any winter meeting of the Association. 

 There are now but few farmers in East 

 Simcoe without their orchard of apple 

 trees, varying in size from a half to five 

 acres in extent, whilst in the vicinity of 

 Orillia the apple crop has grown to be 



one of commercial importance, and is 

 yearly increasing in quantity and quality. 

 All but the most tender varieties of 

 apples are successfully grown, the har- 

 dier fall sorts, such as Duchess, always 

 yielding heavy crops of most excellent 

 fruit ; the Wealthy is also proving a 

 valuable variety, being hardy and pro- 

 ductive ; American Ciolden Russet, 

 Snow and Pewaukee are also hardy and 

 do well. 



Of course, all the early apples, such 

 such as Red Astrachan, Yellow Trans- 

 parent, etc., are suitable and give good 

 returns. 



A first-class hardy winter apple, to 

 follow the Wealthy, would be a great 

 boon. In some localities the Spy suc- 

 ceeds well, in others the Wagener (a 

 grand dessert apple). King of Tomp- 

 kins, etc. But none of them can be 

 entirely relied upon. The Wolf River, 

 lately introduced, has fruited pretty well 

 during 1897, is a very handsome and 

 fine apple, but belongs to a class already 

 well filled — fall or early winter. 



All the small fruits grow to perfection, 



81 



