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Bearing Capabilities of Certain Apples. 



cl9S. Sir, — Compared with such regular bearers as the Greening, what are the bear- 

 ing capabilities of the Peewaukee, VValbridge, Sutton Beauty, Grimes' Golden, American 

 Golden Russet, King and Ontario, when grown under favorable conditions ? I ask this 

 because I see myself that the Spitzenburg, which does well here, only bears one-third the 

 weight of apples which the Winesap does, and, though better in quality, brings no more in 

 the market. 



J. L. Webster, Vernon^ B.C. 



The varieties named by our correspondent are none of them heavy bearers ; 

 indeed, the King is proverbial for being a scant cropper. The American 

 Golden Russet produces a fair crop, but when fully loaded does, not yield one 

 half as many barrels as the Greening. However, the fact that an apple tree is a 

 light bearer does not condemn it. The King apple brings twice the price in the 

 British market that the Greening does and, therefore, is more profitable, even if 

 it yields less than one-half the quantity of fruit ; and the same remarks will apply 

 to the other varieties. 



The following is the experience of other growers with these varieties : — 



Prof. John Craig, of Ottawa, writes : — "I have found that on rather poor and 

 gravelly soil Pewaukee does not bear heavily. Twenty trees of this variety, 

 at Abbotsford, P. Q., now i8 years old, have not borne as much fruit as half that 

 number of Wealthy growing alongside. Wallbridge, except on sandy soil, in my 

 experience, has proved a very light bearer, and the fruit quite too small to compete 

 with such apples as Peewaukee and Ontario. Mcintosh Red does not bear as 

 heavily as the Fameuse, but usually with satisfactory regularity. A?nerican Golden 

 Russet t has not proved as reliable in Eastern Ontario and the Province of 

 Quebec as the English Golden Russett, which, after it has attained some size, 

 say : in eight or ten years after planting, bears moderate and regular crops 

 annually. 



The fact that the Ontario apple is given to bearing young and very heavily 

 was brous;ht out at the Ontario Fruit Growers' Association, and on this account 

 was likely to be a short-lived tree, unless cultivated highly. 



I know of no instance where King^ although a very desirable apple jn 

 many respects, can be called a profitable variety when grown on its own stock. 

 While everywhere a favorite yet, it bears so lightly and is so uncertain, that returns 

 are usually unsatisfactory," 



Mr. Nicol, of Cataraqui, writes : — I would state that the Peewaukee was 

 introduced to this district only fifteen years ago. Hence, there are no large 

 bearing trees of it hereabout, but from what I know of it, I am led to believe it 

 is one of the most suitable kinds for this part of our country. The tree is hardy 

 as the Duchess, bears early, fairly good crops of fruit, of good size, good quality, 

 and which keep well ; valuable for shipping. 



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