332 



THE CANADIAN HORTICULTURIST 



October, 191 1 



greater percentage will be given for the 

 year 191 1-12. 



It is the policy of the department to 

 encourage a type of packing that will 

 produce a remunerative pack for the 

 markets supplied by the district. We 

 have never, for instance, used a packer 

 from Hood River, because the Hood 

 River pack is put up in two distinct 

 grades. About fifty {)er cent, of their 

 fruit is destined for the high-priced mar- 

 kets of the great eastern cities. The 

 other fifty per cent goes to a low class 

 of trade in Texas, Oklahoma, and Coast 

 markets. 



The pack of British Columbia, on the 

 other hand, goes principally to the Can- 

 adian prairie markets, which will not pay 

 the price for the exceptionally fancy 

 quality which finds favor in the eastern 

 cities of the United States, but yet want 

 something better than do the central and 

 southern states. On this account, the 

 packers who come here are mostly from 

 the Yakima and Wenatchee Valleys, 

 which aim to supply fruit packed in 

 medium grades, to the profitable but not 

 fancy prairie markets. It is my own 

 opinion, from actual observation of the 

 fruit, the prices received, and other fac- 

 tors, that our grade in the Okanagan 

 Valley runs higher than that of the 

 Yakima, though possibly not equal to 

 the average high-class pack of the Wen- 

 atchee, which district has an advantage 

 in the exceptionally high color of ite 

 fruit. 



We aim for a Number One grade, 

 however, which is practically one hundred 

 per cent, free from defects of any kind. 

 There have been very few apples packed 

 in British Columbia under the designa- 

 tion "fancy," though a big percentage of 

 our Number One in consequence of our 

 standard could practically be ranked 

 under this head. 



In some districts the grading is not 

 so good, but our department is endea- 

 voring to raise the whole standard of the 

 province to the highest possible level 

 consistent with the best returns. It 

 speaks well for our fruit, that our higher- 

 class Okanagan brands have already an 

 assured market in the prairies. 



IMPROVEMENTS DESIRED 



The following are the principal im- 

 provements in packing being worked for 

 by the Department of Agriculture : 



The standardization ot the grades in 

 the various districts to make all equal to 

 the best ; the encouragement of the 

 wrapping of practically ' all grades .'f 

 winter fruit sent to market, and all sum- 

 mer fruit except the earliest and the 

 green cooking apples ; the standardiza- 

 tion of packages, other than the apple, 

 so as to simplify packing and popularize 

 our product in the market ; the adoption 

 of the most efficient packing tables and 

 general packing house equipment ; the 

 elimination of the straight and oflFset 



packs, and the adoption of the diagonal 

 packs altogether, in the long box ; the 

 reduction of the cost of grading, packing 

 and wrapping ; the most careful handling 

 at all stages ; the marking of the num- 

 ber of apples on the end of the box, as 

 well as the grade number ; and thts re- 

 duction of costs throughout by scientific 

 management, and high-grade, conscien- 

 tious work by every packer. 



The Department of Agriculture will 

 continue this work while the need for 

 it exists. The production in the province 

 is increasing so rapidly, and so Uiany 

 new districts are being opened, that the 

 packing school will be a popular insvitu- 

 tion for a number of years yet, and when 

 we have outgrown the packing school, 

 there will be other problems in connec- 

 tion with the handling and marketing of 

 our fruit which will call for continued 

 missionary work. 



This article is not intended to be cf 

 an educational character, but it is hoped 

 that it will indicate, to at least a small 

 extent, the spirit of strong enthusiasm 

 and high ambition behind the fruit in- 

 dustry of the province of British Col- 

 umbia. 



Marketing the Apple Crop 



P. J. Car«7, Dtmiaion Fruit htpector, Taronio, Ont. 



The branding of packages is not the 

 least important point in the art of pack- 

 ing. A striking brand gives a good im- 

 pression to the intending purchaser, and 

 often will make a difference in price of 

 twenty-five cents a box and fifty cents 

 a barrel. 



The Inspection and Sale Act calls for 

 the face or shown surface to be a fair 

 representation of the contents of the 

 package. This should be the aim of 

 every packer. A package can be neatly 

 and attractively faced with fruit of uni- 

 form size, and at the same time meet all 

 the requirements of the law. It is only 

 fair to the grower, as well as to the 

 different dealers through wht)se hands 

 the fruit passes before it reaches the 

 consumer, that it should be neat and 

 attractive in order to meet the competi- 

 tion which is becoming more keen every 

 day. 



It is in the hands of the growers of 

 Ontario to either mar or make the great 

 fruit trade of this province. Quality in 

 the fruit and proper packing are the two 

 great essentials to aim at. With com- 

 mon sense and careful application these 

 are easily within our reach. Having 

 accomplished this we need not fear com- 

 petition from any part of the world. 



Varieties of Grapes 



Wm. Wariock, Gadtticb 



With regard to the most suitable 

 varieties for this district, I would say 

 that I have had a fair experience with 

 over thirty varieties, and can recommend 

 a great number of them ; but I will only 

 name three of the very best : For black 

 (Rog. 4), for red (Vergennes), for white 

 (Moore's Diamond). These are sure 

 croppers, and of excellent quality. 



The three I recommend have the fol- 

 lowing qualities : Moore's Diamond, a 

 heavy cropper, a most beautiful grape, 

 and a little earlier than the Concord, and 

 quite as hardy in the vine. Rogers 4, 

 is more prolific than Concord, with a 

 larger and better flavored berry and a 

 longer keeper. Vergennes, apparently 

 as hardy as the others, producing regu- 

 lar crops of splendid fruit, which I can 

 keep till late in the spring by packing 

 in sawdust. The grape requires to be 

 planted in well drained land, deeply 

 worked. 



Celery should be dug before severe 

 frost. Store it in a cool, well-ventilated 

 place. The stalks should be packed up- 

 right with the roots bedded in good gar- 

 den soil. The roots should be kept 

 moist and the tops dry. — G. W. Hack, 

 Norwood, Man. 



Nursery Stock in the Fall 



Fr. M. Leopold, O.C.R., LtTnppe, Qac. 



It is usually good policy to purchase 

 trees in the fall. "Heel" them in, near 

 the proposed orchard and thus be ready 

 for instant action when the ground gets 

 in workable shape in the spring. The 

 fall buyer gets first choice of trees, and 

 runs no danger of delayed spring ship- 

 ments. Or, buy the trees in the fall, 

 and let the nurseryman keep them for 

 you until the winter is over. 



To "heel in" trees, dig a trench a foot 

 and a half deep, the same in width, and 

 as long as may be necessary. If pos- 

 sible, choose a high, sheltered, \rtell- 

 drained spot. Untie the bundles of trees 

 and place them loosely along the trench 

 — each variety by itself, properly labeled. 

 Half a dozen trees to a running foot is 

 close enough. Of course, put the roots 

 in the trench ; then incline the trees 

 backward, until they are "half lying 

 down" across the excavation. Now 

 shovel in fine dirt, carefully firm it into 

 place, and pile the remainder of the dirt 

 well up around the roots and lower por- 

 tion of the trunks. In Quebec, where 

 the winters are very cold, and mice are 

 often feared, earth can be piled still 

 higher up around the trunks. 



THE VARIETIES 



The right varieties to buy is a very 

 important matter. Even if it requires a 

 year of preliminary study and inquiry 

 to decide the matter rightly, it will be 

 time profitably sp)ent. The choice of 

 varieties depends upon whether you in- 

 tend to plant for market or family pur- 

 poses. Talk with practical fruit grow- 

 ers in your locality and consult with 

 your market buyers and with your 

 family's taste. 



In Quebec do not forget to plant 



