FRUIT AT THE INDUSTRIAL. 



THE growth of our work is well 

 shown by our exhibit at the Indus- 

 trial. In glass we showed nearly 

 200 bottles of early tender fruit 

 put up in preservatives, and of fresh fruit 

 about 1000 plates, Mr W. H. Dempsey 

 alone showing over 100 varieties of 

 apples, and Mr. M. Pettit about 130 va- 

 rieties of grapes 



This is but a beginning, for when all 

 the varieties under test at our stations 

 come into bearing, the importance of 

 the exhibit can scarcely be estimated. 



Therefore, by the year 19 10, we might 

 easily exhibit thousands of varieties of 

 fruits, many of them of very special 

 interest. 



Mr. W. W. Hilborn, of Leamington, of 

 our south-western station, showed a fine 

 pyramid of the Fitzgerald peach, which, 

 in his opinion, is a desirable variety for 

 a near market. Though a little more 

 tender in flesh than the Early Crawford, 

 it is a trifle later in season, more pro- 

 ductive because hardier in fruit bud, 

 and finer in flavor. 



The Brigdon was also in Mr. Hil- 

 born's collection ; a peach of the same 

 season as the Early Crawford, but a 

 better shipping variety, being firmer in 

 flesh. He has 100 trees of this variety 

 in their first year of bearing, and he 

 estimates his crop at four baskets to a tree. 



We asked him his opinion of the El- 

 berta peach, and he replied that he was 

 afraid the wood is a little tender, and 

 that it is too badly subject to the leaf 

 curl to become a leading peach in On- 

 tario. 



Mr. Hillborn has 150 varieties of 

 peaches in his orchard, and when these 

 all bear fruit, we should know which 

 varieties to recommend. 



Mr. J. Mitchell of Clarksburg, brought 

 his first exhibit, and in it we noticed a 

 good sample of the Wickson, quite firm, 

 September 8. His Clairgeau, Flemish 

 Beauty and Goodale pears cannot be 

 excelled, nor his Duchess and Alexander 

 apples. 



Mr. H. Jones, our experimenter near 

 the St. Lawrence river, made an exhibit 

 of fine fruit, among which we noticed es- 

 pecially fine Crimson Pippins and Red 

 Bietigheimers. 



Mr. W. H. Dempsey, of Prince Ed- 

 ward Co., said that his apple crop is so 

 poor he hesitated to send in a collec- 

 tion, but, notwithstanding this, he show- 

 ed about 100 varieties which were an 

 interesting study to the student of po- 

 mology. 



His crop of the Ontario apple is 

 abundant, and almost perfect, a great 

 point in its favor as one of the best com- 

 mercial apples for export, for this season 

 most varieties are imperfect in form and 

 more or less blemished. 



His Ladyapplesare agreatfavoritewith 

 the children, but their small size makes 

 the variety unprofitable for market pur- 

 poses, although in time past special 

 markets have been known for this apple 

 where it brought high prices. The same 

 is true of the Seckel pear which once 

 brought as much as $20 per barrel in 

 New York and Philadelphia, but is now 

 thought too small to grow in the com- 

 mercial orchard, notwithstanding its high 

 quality. 



Mr. M. Pettit had about 130 plates of 

 grapes grown on his experimental farm 

 at Winona. His immense Niagaras at- 

 tracted much attention. The Moyer 

 grape is a fine sample this year, but not 



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