The Canadian Horticulturist, 355 



each (cheap enough in themselves to the cooper, no doubt, since the evapora- 

 tion of the barrel-flour trade) — could be advantageously replaced by three plain, 

 square wicker baskets or crates, containing say 40 to 45 pounds each, and 

 costing less money than a barrel. Such packages would be more convenient to 

 the contractor, costing no more freight and transitage, less liable to heat- 

 ing and waste in respect of less bulk (the normal moisture of the ripe apple 

 being about the same as that of the potato) ; but, over and above all, such pack- 

 ages would be more convenient for family purchase and use, and the broker, 

 ■dealer and consumer could all see and guarantee what they were dealing in ; and 

 the trade would then become a household word and the fruit a household 

 article beyond limited consumption, because every family can eat cooked apples, 

 and every land lessee in Ontario would grow apples, and find better financial 

 results than by growing wheat. 



Of course, there are diversity of trees and fruit upon them in every orchard, 

 but the careful selection and appropriation of these would depend upon the 

 honesty and skill of the contractor's inspector, under, say, three designations : of 

 table, cooking and boiling apples ; and were these packages thus carefully man- 

 ipulated and marked by an inspector or contractor's name or trade-mark, they 

 •would soon be well known and eagerly sought after on arrival at any port, with 

 full remunerative advantage alike to shippers, consignees and the general public. 



The bazar merchants and brokers would do well to turn their usually 

 ■energetic attention to these suggestions ; because if they supinely overlook the 

 "wants of the public, there are others who shortly will not overlook them. I 

 believe there are one or two enterprising persons already in Canada this season 

 educating the packers for this or other markets, and thus this great trade, for 

 which Glasgow might be the chief center, may pass away from it, notwithstand- 

 ing its superb steamship and other advantages, to Southampton, Liverpool, or 

 elsewhere. I am, etc., 



Glasgmv John Maclean. 



Pruning' Trefts at Tpansplanting-. — It should not be forgotten that 

 the branches of trees have varying degrees of vital power. Strong, vigorous, 

 healthy branches would endure unfavorable circumstances when the weaker ones 

 would give way. In growing trees, it is always the weaker wood which we find 

 among the dead branches. In transplanting a tree, we want all the branches 

 that are full of life and vigor, and not those that are already half-dead. The 

 practice generally followed, therefore, of shortening back the strong, vigorous 

 branches, and leaving the half-dead ones, is a mistaken course. If all the half- 

 dead branches were cut away, and the stronger ones left without any shortening, 

 transplanting would often be more successful than it is. — Meehans' Monthly for 

 October. 



