The Canadian Horticulturist. 317 



late enough to begin picking the earher winter varieties, such as Kings, Cran- 

 berry Pippins, Greenings, etc. Pick very carefully, handling the fruit as though 

 they were eggs ; there is far too much rough tumble work done amongst apples. 

 There are two ways of packing the crop — either pick and pack right in the 

 orchard, or pick, place in barrels or bushel crates, draw into a store-house and 

 pack at leisure. The writer prefers the latter system, unless the apples are to 

 be sold immediately, or are all hard, late keeping varieties. In either case, to 

 pack properly, a movable sorting table is required. It should be about the 

 following dimensions, viz., seven to nine feet long, three and a-half to four feet 

 wide, with a rim all round it five to six inches high ; the legs at one end should 

 be three or four inches longer than at the other, so as to allow the apples to roll 

 down towards the sorter : wheels can be attached to the legs if used in the 

 orchard. Three ordinary grades of apples should be made : No. i, all first-class 

 perfect apples ; No. 2, good cooking apples, but imperfect ; No. 3, apples for 

 cider or stock. Besides this, a fourth grade should be made of choice varieties, 

 such as Blenheim Pippins, Kings, Spys, etc., containing the choicest highly- 

 colored specimens ; these, if carefully packed in half-barrels, will usually com- 

 mand a high price in the Old Country, Grade very carefully and honestly, and 

 let each brand be exactly what it professes to be. In packing, use a lever or 

 screw press ; the former will, I think, give more satisfaction and is more generally 

 used. Stand the barrel on a block or plank, so that the ends of the press can 

 get easily under it ; lay the first layer in by hand, afterwards empty gently from 

 a basket, and as each basket is emptied in give the barrel a shake ; heap the 

 barrel slightly and press down till it is perfectly tight ; then nail the hoops, fasten 

 in the head securely, and brand the variety, quality, shipper's name, and the 

 address of the consignee upon the head distinctly. Ship as soon as possible 

 ater packing, unless intended for storing. As a rule, in shipping to the Old 

 Country it is a mistake to ship on consignment, except to one of the large dis 

 tributing centres, such as London, Liverpool or Glasgow ; and when shipping 

 to London it is advisable to ship via Liverpool, as, if sent direct, the fruit is apt 

 to be tampered with on its way up the Thames and at the London docks. The 

 commission houses on the other side are not very satisfactory, but some are 

 better than others, and it is advisable for beginners before shipping to obtain 

 advice from an experienced hand, as to whom to send their fruit to, as other- 

 wise the result may be disappointment. In conclusion, the writer would say, 

 that if sufficient care and trouble be taken, the results of sending apples to the 

 Old Country are fairly remunerative, taking good and bad seasons together. — 

 F. S. H. Pattison, Grimsby, in Farmers' Advocate. 



Mills' Peach. — According to the Leamington Post, Mr. Cieorge H. Mills, 

 of that town, has raised three seedling peaches of great promise, all ripening the 

 first week in August. 



