384 The Canadian Horticulturist. 



that colony have become in England one of the most acceptable fruits for the 

 early spring, though they were unknown to us here as an article of commerce 

 prior to 1889. Expert advice on the varieties, the modes of packing, transit, 

 and all details was sought. Then the market was sounded, fruit brokers 

 approached, and the information sent throughout the colony. The mail com- 

 panies assisted, and the fruit, on arrival, was inspected and reported upon. All 

 this is unnecessary now ; a sound footing for the trade has been secured, and 

 Tasmania sent us last season 160,000 bushels of apples Some improvements 

 however, is needed in distribution here, for the growers declare that the London 

 middleman swallows too large a proportion of the profits. 



Canada has done her part in one fruit only, and that is the apple, a trade 

 which is rapidly assuming colossal proportions. In 1881 Canada sent to Great 

 Britain over 45,000,000 lbs. of fruit, and in 1891 over 68,000,000. The average 

 export of apples each year from 1891 to 1893 was over 2,000,000 bushels, 

 against only 176,000 bushels from other British possessions. In 1895 Canada's 

 exported apples amounted to nearly two million dollars. But this is only a 

 small part of what Canada can do in apples, as the records of 1896 will testify. 

 Then consider her grapes, plums, peaches, pears, tomatoes, early apples, and 

 small fruits, all of which might find a good market in the great cities of Europe, 

 if cold storage chambers of sufficient size can be secured. This, we are glad to 

 note, is one of the plans which the Hon. Sidney Fisher, the Minister of Agricul- 

 ture, has in view. 



According to the Journal above quoted, there are in Great Britain some 

 218,428 acres of orchards; they are increasing very slowly and, considering 

 a trade in fruit, if we except pears in a good season, English competition need not 

 be considered. Much development of English fruit-raising will not take place ; — 

 the difficulties are (1) the climate, (2) land tenure, (3) unprofitableness in most 

 years. We may, therefore, look with confidence upon the permanence of this 

 export trade. 



There is also hope that Australia may become a good market for Ontario 

 apples. Cranberry Pippins sent by the writer to Sidney in 1895, sold as high 

 as $3.75 per bushel case, and the freight through was only about $r per case. 

 The only bar is want of cool chambers for crossing the tropics, but we are 

 informed there are already cool chambers on board the steamers from London 

 to Sidney, so when we have them from Montreal to London, the chain will be 

 complete. 



THE IRON-CLAD APPLES. 



The dwellers in those cold parts of our continent where the thermometer 

 ranges downward into the thirties and forties below zero all through the winter, 

 and the mercury is almost sure to freeze two or three times, have been greatly 



