THE FRUIT PROSPECTS FOR 1904. 



Realizing that fruit growers at this season 

 are anxious to have some idea of the fruit pros- 

 pects, not only in Ontario, but throughout Can- 

 ada and the United States generally. The Horti- 

 culturist during August, wrote to some 900 

 correspondents and well known authorities all 

 over the continent to gain some idea of what 

 the total production of fruit is likely to be. 

 Owing to lack of space it has been found im- 

 possible to give this information nearly as full 

 as it was intended but fairly complete re- 



ports will here bfe found. 



The total apple crop this year is likely to be 

 somewhat less than last season. In Ontario 

 both fall and winter apples will be a medium 

 crop of fair quality. In Nova Scotia and Que- 

 bec the yield will be somewhat less than last 



Fall Apples a Moderate Crop 



The situation as regards the probable yield 

 of the various varieties of fall apples continues 

 practically the same as announced in the July 

 Horticulturist. Reports received from all over 

 Ontario show that the yield ef fall apples varies 

 considerably. Many growers report that they 

 will have light crops, while others anticipate a 

 full yield to a production excessive of last year's 

 by 25 to 30 per cent. On the whole, appear- 

 ances indicate that the crop will be a medium 

 one. Growers will do well to accept buyers' 

 statements of a heavy crop with caution. 



In the counties bordering on the northern 

 shore of Lake Ontario the majority of reports 

 received all go to indicate that the crop will be 

 a medium to full one. As regards the quality 

 it will undoubtedly be quite up to the average. 

 Growers in the Lake Huron and Georgian Bay 

 districts anticipate a light to full crop, the ma- 

 jority of the correspondents placing the yield 

 as a medium one. The same applies to the 

 Niagara district. Many growers state the in- 

 sect pests have not been as ibad this year as 

 last season, and that there has been very little 

 fungus growth. 



Less Winter Apples Than Last Year 



Although The Horticulturist has hear(i from 

 numerous correspondents in all the princip3,l 

 apple growing sections of the province, it has 

 been found to be a difficult matter to make any 

 definite estimate of the extent of the probable 

 yield of winter apples. Reports vary wid»ly, 

 some growers estimating the yield in their sec- 

 tions to be one-third to one-half less than last 

 year, while other growers in the same districts 

 estimate an increased yield of 25 to 50 per cent. 

 Some varieties whick are bearing heavily in 

 certain portions of the province are bearing 

 lightly in others. On the whole the indications 

 are that the supply of winter apples will be 

 quite a little less than last season. 



Running from the county of Halton to the 

 county of Frontenac, along the shore of Lake 

 Ontario, a light to medium and in some cases a 

 full yield is generally anticipated. The Bald- 

 win and Spy appear to exist in the counties 

 bordering on vjreorgian Bay and Lake Huron. 



year, while the quality will hardly be as good. 

 In New Brunswick and British Columbia full 

 crops are anticipated. In the United States 

 the total production of apples will be somewhat 

 below last year, but as the quality generally is 

 better the prospects are fair for a soijiewhat 

 larger volume of barrelling apples. This esti- 

 mate conflicts somewhat with the statements 

 the commission dealers make, but may be taken 

 as approximately correct. 



The plum crop throughout Canada generally 

 will be a very light one. In ,the United States 

 it will be a little larger but will not be heavy. 

 Pears throughout Canada will not be a full crop, 

 but a fair yield may be anticipated. The 

 quality generally is good. 



The Niagara district seems likely to produce 

 a medium crop of winter apples. Many or- 

 chards will produce lightly, w^hile some will be 

 almost a full crop, so that the total yield is 

 likely to be a medium one. There is very little 

 complaint of spot or damage to the crop in any 

 way, so that the quality, generally speaking, is 

 likely to be fair. 



Plum Crop Practically a Failure 



The Horticulturist was evidently well in- 

 jformed last month -when it announced that the 

 plum crop throughout Ontario would be almost 

 a failure. Reports received as late as August 

 25 from all parts of the province, indicate that 



The Horticulturist for 15 Months 



During the past few months sample copies of j 

 The Horticulturist have been sent to a large I 

 number of fruit growers. We want all Cana- 1 

 dian fruit growers who are not taking the, 

 paper to subscribe. The following special offer 

 is therefore made. If any fruit grower not now] 

 taking The Horticulturist will send us one dollar, 

 it will pay his subscription from October, 1904, 

 to January, 1906, or 15 months for only $1. Is( 

 the paper not well worth it ? Send us yourj 

 dollar and we will send you The Horticulturist, 

 the only fruit paper published in ^anada. Ad- 1 

 dress all communications to.|KThe Canadian j 

 Horticulturist, Toronto, Ont. '^ 



in no county will there be more than a light 

 yield, while in the great majority of counties 

 the crop is practically a failure. A majority 

 of correspondents in the counties of Halton, 

 Durham, Ontario, Victoria, Peterboro and Prince 

 Edward estimate the plum crop as a failure, 

 while in Hastings county correspondents place 

 the production at from a failure to a very light 

 yield. In Eastern Ontario the crop is a failure. 

 Bordering Lake Huron and in the Georgian 

 Bay district reports are to the same effect. 

 Five out of six growers heard from in. Lambton, 

 four out of six in Bruce, eight out c^ ten in 

 Grey, and eight out of ten in Simcoe counties 

 place the production as a failure. In the Nia- 



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