The Canadian Horticulturist. 313 



Portugal, — Every promise of a large and good crop. The first shipments 

 have arrived, and are realizing prices equal to 1 5/ to 1 7/ per American barrel. 



Holland and Germany. — Early kinds short in quantity ; later sorts more 

 abundant, but total yield probably not more than one-third of the average. 



France and Belgium. — The reports to hand show that there will be a fair 

 supply of early sorts ; but of late kinds the crop will be deficient. 



England. — The main substance of the majority of reports from our home 

 districts consists principally of records of the weather, which has certainly been 

 exceptional, and 1896 must inevitably be remembered as the "frostless" year. 

 In the early spring, indications of abundant crops predominated generally 

 throughout the country. But the hopes thus raised were shattered later on 

 by long-continued drought, the injurious eflFect of which was intensified by a 

 series of excessively cold nights during the early part of May. After this we 

 had rains, but they proved extremely local, and did not favorably aflFect the 

 crop generally. 



The net result is to indicate that of early kinds our crop will be scarce 

 and soon over. Of later sorts the yield will be much below the average, and 

 altogether insufficient to affect our requirements from your side, and our 

 London markets should be prepared to receive fruit from America and Canada 

 at a much earlier date than for many years past. And I consider there will be 

 a special opening for supplies from the Hudson River. 

 Covent Garden, London, Eng. J. B. Thomas. 



APPLES. 



Messrs. Woodall & Co., Liverpool, write : The past season, as shewn 

 below, was comparatively unimportant, the total imports into Great Britain being 

 788,000 barrels, against 1,438,200 barrels in the previous season. The quality 

 and condition (especially of Canadian) were generally good, and a much larger 

 quantity could have been disposed of without aflfecting prices. A feature of the 

 past season was the Albemarle Pippin, which made its appearance in large 

 quantities, and, being of good size, clear skinned, and of excellent flavor, it at 

 once usurped the position of the Newtown Pippin, which for some time past 

 has been small and scabby. The quantity, however, was so large, that with the 

 exception of one period, only moderate prices were obtainable ; but they will 

 undoubtedly take the first position on the market, and growers of Newtowns 

 must endeavor to improve the fruit or be left in the background. The English 

 crop last Autumn was the largest on record, and it was thought that American 

 and Canadian fruit would not be wanted ; but as soon as good sound varieties 

 especially Baldwins — began to arrive, their superiority at once asserted itself; 

 and throughout the whole season there was an active demand at a compara- 

 tively high range of prices — this being particularly the case when Canadian 

 shipments came to hand, which again confirms our opinion that the English 



