4i8 



THE CANADIAN HORTICULTURIST 



The Windbreak and the Orchard 



iT has been a question, taking one year 

 with another, whether windbreaks do 

 the orchard more harm than good. If there 

 is not much wind during a season, a wind- 

 break may injure the orchard by preventing 

 circulation of air. There is nothing so 

 beneficial in an apple orchard as a full move- 

 ment of air and plenty of sunshine, Wind 

 breaks often shade the Adjoining row of 

 trees and in that way retard their growth, 

 and reduce their fruitfulness. These views 

 were expressed to The Horticulturist not 

 long since by Mr. William Rickard, M.L.A. 

 of NewQastle. 



" A windbreak," continued Mr Rickard, 

 "on an exposed side, if properly constructed, 

 is decidedly a benefit. In every case, the 

 windbreak should be so constructed that it 

 will not shade the trees. In a windy year, 

 a good windbreak will undoubtedly be of 

 great benefit. 



"The best place a Spy apple can be grown 

 is right out in the open, where it will get all 

 the air and sunshine possible. On the 

 whole, in the average apple orchard, I 

 believe the chances are that as good results 

 can be obtained without a windbreak as with 

 one." 



The Best Sized Box 



AT the last annual meeting of the On- 

 tario Fruit Growers' Association at 

 Leamington a resolution was passed favor- 

 ing the bushel box for packing apples. 

 Speaking on this subject to an editorial re- 

 presentative of The Horticulturist, who 

 visited his place, Mr. A. W. Peart, of Bur- 

 lington, recently said : 



" The minority opposed the motion on the 

 ground of scarcity of labor. The most 

 suitable box for the old country trade is 9 x 

 12 X 18 inches, inside measurement. 



" With these boxes women can sort, pack, 

 press, stencil and pile ready for shipment to 

 the station. If you increase the size you 

 increase the difficulty of women doing the 

 work. In fact, some women even object to 

 the weight of the small box. If we cannot 

 secure women, we must get men at double 

 the pay per aay, whereas women do the work 

 just as efficiently. 



" Some of those favoring the resolution 

 claimed that larger boxes can be shipped as 

 cheaply as smaller ones, but this is not so, 

 inasmuch as on the cars the box goes by 

 weight, and on the ship by cubical contents. 

 I find that the smialler box is best for ship- 

 ping apples and pears to the old country." 



The Exhibit of Pears at the Toronto Industrial Exhibition. 



The exhibit of fruit at the Toronto Industrial Exhiliiiion this year w; s rather disappointing as it was not as large or, on the 

 whole, of as good quality as usual of late yeais. This w;is in part due to the injury to orchards caused by the severe weather last 

 winter and to the ccol backward summed whi h had prevented much of the fruit maturing. A portion of the pear exhibit is herr shown. 

 Among a few of the more successful exh'.birois were Messrs. F. S. Ferminger and VV. S. Bunting, of St. Catharines; G. W. Wild, of 

 Hamiltjn, and F. G. Stewart, of Horner. A new builditig is greatly needed. 



