I 'J2 



THE CANADIAN HORTICULTURIST. 



Elberta — The best peach of its season 

 for all markets, and the only variety especi- 

 ally suited for export by reason of its ship- 

 ping- qualities. 



Origin — Georgia; across between Chinese 

 Cling and Crawford's Early. 



Tree — Vig-orous, hardy, and moderately 

 productive, carrying as many samples as a 

 tree should, and if a heavier cropper, would 

 need careful thinning-. The leaves are quite 

 subject to curl leaf; but this may be con- 

 trolled by spraying. 



Fruit — Medium large, round o\al, one 

 side somewhat larg-er than the other, suture 

 distinct ; skin, lemon yellow, with fine red 

 cheek ; stone free, deeply corrugated, point- 

 ed. Flesh — Yellow, tender, juicy, melting; 

 flavor rich, agreeable and very good. 



Season — September 20th to 25th, about a 

 week later than Crawford's Early. 



Quality — Dessert very good ; cooking- 

 best. 



Value — Home market ver\- good ; for- 

 eign market, best. 



PROGRESS, THE MOTTO IN FRUIT GROWING. 



E have often advocated improved 

 methods in fruit growing-, and no 

 doubt many of our readers have 

 themselves felt the importance of waking- up 

 to the new conditions of this era. New 

 markets require new packages, special 

 varieties, and special storag-e. Twenty- 

 five years ago, when we planted our 

 orchards, it was with the view of pleasing 

 our near markets, and we filled our order 

 with all the varieties in the nurseryman's 

 catalogue ; but now, for distant market, we 

 want just one or two special varieties — the 

 best of their kind, so that we may gain an 

 honorable name, and consequently high 

 prices. To do this we shall be compelled to 

 top graft our apple and pear orchards, and 

 replant our peach orchards, with a view to 

 the special demands now claiming our at- 

 tention. Perhaps no one man at the present 

 day has done more to gfive us higfh g-rade 

 varieties of fruits than Mr. Luther Burbank, 

 of California, and we quote what he says in 

 the American Ag-riculturist on the subject 

 before us. He says : 



The fruit grower of to-day must have the ability 

 to adapt himself to the new methods, new fruits 

 and new markets. By use of cold storage and 

 rapid transit the finest fruit from every land can 



be found in any large market, both in and out of 

 season, for while the fruits of one hemisphere are 

 first waking from their winter's sleep, on the other 

 the summer sun has done its work and the ripened 

 fruits are on their way to distant markets. With 

 the world as a market, competition is keen, and 

 only the best fruits in the best condition will pay. 

 Furthermore, it generally costs much less per ton 

 to produce large, first-class fruit than the poorest, 

 meanest specimens that are ever offered. Small 

 fruit exhausts the tree more rapidly than large 

 fruit. It will thus readily be seen that improved 

 varieties which prodvice uniformly large, fine Iruit 

 are the more economical manufacturers of fruit, 

 and also that the product is more salable. 



The tree which needs a good deal of pruning to 

 keep it in proper form and vigorous health should 

 be replaced by one that has a better habit of 

 growth, for every ton of wood taken unneces- 

 sarily from an orchard represents at least as much 

 weight of fruit. Many varieties have two or three 

 superior qualities, but woefully lack in many 

 others. The fruit grower of to-day is simply the 

 manufacturer, and should have the latest and best 

 improvements. Of course there never can be one 

 variety which will be best for all purposes, but it 

 is perfectly possible to produce varieties which for 

 their own special use can be relied upon to pro- 

 duce full crops of the best fruit without fail. All 

 this can be done by careful selection and breed- 

 ing. 



Better Prices. — PVuit growers have had 

 their seasons of discouragement, too many 

 of them, but now the indications are 

 brighter. Canners are already making- con- 

 tracts for fruit at higher prices, showing- 

 that their goods are on the advance. 



