76 The Canadian Horticulturist. 



Mr. A. McD. Allan writes : — " The Gravenstein is our best all-round apple 

 for its season, either for dessert, cooking, local or export, and is hardy enough 

 to be successfully grown well north of Toronto. There is money in it, being 

 one of the highest priced in any market ; a thrifty grower, early and regular 

 bearer." 



In Southern Ontario, however, the Gravenstein is perfectly hardy. At 

 Maplehurst we have four large trees, thirty years planted, which produce an 

 annual crop of the largest and finest samples of Gravenstein that can be grown 

 anywhere. We have gathered them in September and forwarded them to 

 London, where they sold at the top of the market. There is no doubt it would 

 pay well for growers in the Niagara district to plant this apple freely for export 

 purposes. We ought at least to agree together upon those varieties which are 

 the best and most profitable of their respective seasons, and then produce those 

 kinds in larger quantities, in order that our district may become famous in the 

 markets of the world for certain apples of high quality, for each season. Already 

 our King, as a mid-winter apple, brings us a high reputation, and Nova Scotia 

 has become famous for her Gravensteins ; so much so, that the Boston and New 

 York buyers compete with the buyers for the British markets in the very 

 orchards, for these famous apples. It was the fine showing of a dozen barrels of 

 beautiful Gravensteins at one time that gave the Nova Scotia fruit exhibit such 

 prominence at the World's Fair, under the careful management of President 

 Bigelow. 



The Ribston Pippin is one of the finest apples that grows, but not equal 

 to either of the above in showiness, and the tree with us, at Maplehurst, does 

 not attain more than half the size of the Gravenstein. It lacks its vigor, and 

 consequently is unable to carry an equal load of fruit. 



The Gravenstein apple originated in Gravenstein in Holstein, Germany, 

 and is counted one of the finest apples of Northern Europe. We append 

 Downing's description : — Tree very vigorous, spreading, forming a large, broad 

 head. Very productive. An early bearer. Young wood reddish brown. Fruit 

 large, rather flattened, and a little one-sided or angular, broadest at the base. 

 Stalk quite short and strong, deeply set. Calyx large, closed, in a wide, deep, 

 rather irregular basin. Segments long, irregular, recurved. Skin greenish 

 yellow at first, but becoming bright yellow and beautifully dashed and pencilled, 

 and marbled with light and deep red and orange. Flesh tender and crisp, with 

 a high-flavored, somewhat aromatic taste. Very good, September and October. 

 A valuable apple for market or cooking, succeeding admirably wherever grown. 



Soil for Strawberries. — A very rich garden spot, or any soil highly 

 charged with humus, stimulates a too vigorous plant growth at the expense of a 

 good yield of perfect fruit. In addition to the extra expense of having to "work 

 the plants to death " to keep down weeds on such a soil, here is where the plants 

 first begin to sicken and to die during the long and sometimes very dry sum- 

 mers of this latitude. — Miss. Exp. Station. 



