The Canadian Horticulturist. 379 



bottom than at the top. The third or fourth pruning will bring the tree into 

 somewhat the form shown in Fig. 703. 



The leading shoot is cut back in proportion to its vigor at every annual 

 pruning, and the laterals shortened on the same principle. The lowest branches 

 are always kept the longest, and, when they are not sufficiently vigorous, the 

 weaker must be favored with the longer pruning. 



After the dwarf pear has been set six or eight years it will be about full 

 size, and the object will be simply to lessen the wood growth and encourage 

 fruitfulness. This is done by pruning the young shoots still shorter. Should 

 there be too many fruit spurs produced, it may be necessary to thin them out 

 more or less. 



An orchard of dwarf pears, so pruned and loaded with fruit, is an interest- 

 sight, and a pride to the owner. 



THE FALL AND THE WINTER BLENHEIM ORANGE. 



THINK I am beginning to understand the conflicting statements as 

 to the Blenheim Orange being called by some people a fall apple, 

 while I called it a winter apple. Following the dry August, the 

 whole of the apples on four or five Blenheim Orange trees began to 

 fall early in September, and the "Equinoctial" of the 22nd Septem- 

 ber stripped the trees. The fruit was large, fully ripe and colored, 

 and showed that it would not keep at all. At the same time eight or 

 ten other trees alongside held their fruit firmly through all the winds, 

 and the apples oh them were clearly immature, not fully grown, not colored, and 

 hard and firm. I sent specimens to Mr. Craig. He pronounced those that 

 had fallen to be the typical Blenheim — the others a later variety of the same. 

 He adds, " In this instance the variation is worth perpetuating." I quite agree 

 with him, for the later ones will keep till the end of winter, or even into May, 

 while the early ones will hardly keep till Christmas. The difference between 

 the two classes of trees has been noticed before, but it has never been so 

 noticeable as this year, when the dry season ripened the earlier variety before 

 its time, while the September rains apparently checked the ripening process in 

 the later variety. 



Peterborough, Ont. E. B. Edwards. 



Dishonest Apple Packers. — Apples have been received in this city dur- 

 ing the week that were faced with splendid fruit at each end of the barrels, but 

 the middle was packed with small rubbish. In one of these instances a car 

 load which was ordered to be shipped from the West direct to England was 

 stopped here and examined, and was found to be dishonestly faced at each end 

 by a layer or two of fine large apples, while the middle of the barrel containing 

 the bulk of the fruit was small and very inferior. If this is not obtaining money 

 under false pretences, we would ask what is ? Packers, beware ! — Trade 

 Bulletin. 



